| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08251578B1 |
Infrared temperature sensing device with projecting function
An infrared temperature sensing device with projecting function is using for sensing temperature of a measured body. The infrared temperature sensing device includes a temperature-sensing element, a Fresnel lens, a microprocessor and a projecting module. The temperature-sensing element is used for sensing infrared radiation and deriving at least a temperature signal. The Fresnel lens is located between the measured body and the temperature-sensing element for focusing the infrared radiation on the temperature-sensing element. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the temperature-sensing element. The projecting module is electrically connected to the microprocessor and projecting at least a body temperature value corresponding to the temperature signal. |
| US08251571B2 |
Inline mixer structure
An inline mixer structure that is compact and has a high mixing efficiency is provided. In an inline mixer structure that forms a fluid mixture by evenly mixing and diffusing different types of fluid, a cylindrical mixer body (10) that is provided with a space portion (11) that passes therethrough in an axial direction, and a plug-shaped member (20) that is integrated by being inserted from the upstream side of the space portion (11) are provided. A chemical fluid and pure water are mixed and diffused after merging inside the space portion, where the chemical fluid is radially discharged toward a space portion (11) because the downstream end portion of a chemical fluid flow path (21) that is formed in an axial direction of the plug-shaped member (20) is closed, and pure water flows in from an eccentric fluid flow path formed so as to pass through the outer peripheral surface of the mixer body (10) at a position offset from the axial center of the space portion cross-section. |
| US08251568B2 |
Method for processing a material and packing container for carrying out this method
A method for processing a material, which is stored in a flexible packing container, comprises the following steps: At least one material or material mixture is fed to a first material or material mixture already located inside the packing container via a filling opening situated on the packing container; the filling opening is closed; the materials inside the packing container are mixed; a portion of the packing container is detached, and; the material mixture is processed via the resulting opening in the package container. |
| US08251558B1 |
Headlamp system and kit providing on-road and off-road illumination
A vehicular headlamp system and corresponding kit, including (left and right) headlamps and a mode switch (control mechanism) responsive to inputs from a mode switch console or other user interface arrangements, the combination of headlamps and mode switch providing high and low beam on-road illumination and a higher level of illumination for off-road illumination using the same light source in each headlamp as is used for the on-road illumination. Cooperation between a light source driver circuit in each headlamp and the mode switch results in the light source in each headlamp being driven by more or less current, as required by the selected mode. A (daytime) running lights mode of operation may also be provided using the same light source. |
| US08251557B2 |
Production method for a headlight lens and headlight lens for a motor vehicle headlight
The invention relates to a headlight lens for a vehicle headlight, particularly for a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the headlight lens comprises a bright-molded lens body made of a transparent material, having a substantially plane optically effective surface and a convexly curved optically effective surface, wherein the headlight lens comprises a lens edge on the outside of the convexly curved optically effective surface, wherein the substantially plane optically effective surface, protrudes over the lends edge, or over part of the lens edge, in a stepped manner in the direction of an optical axis of the headlight lens. |
| US08251553B2 |
Vehicle lift systems with lighting
A vehicle lift system includes a support structure having a top surface for supporting a vehicle supported by the vehicle lift system, and at least one lighting module. The lighting module is mounted to the top surface of the support structure. The lighting module is configured to illuminate a region of the vehicle, for example, but not limited to, the underside of the vehicle. The lighting module can be mounted generally flush relative to the top surface of the support structure. In a vehicle wheel alignment lift system, the lighting module can be disposed adjacent a movable support surface of the wheel runway apparatus to provide illumination during wheel alignment procedures. |
| US08251552B2 |
Lighting apparatus and connector plate
Lighting apparatus and structures are described that are adapted for installation in housings. The housings can be pre-existing ones, such as those installed for high-intensity discharge (HID) or other types of lighting. The lighting apparatus can include a light unit (e.g., luminaire) with desired type of light source(s), for example, an array of LEDs. The apparatus can include structures that are adapted for use with the housings such that installation of a light unit requires a minimum of user effort and time. Such lighting apparatus, and related installation methods, can accordingly provide for high-efficiency lighting. Related assembly and installation techniques are also described. |
| US08251550B2 |
Illumination device with anti-glare function
An illumination device is adopted for lighting a road and includes a light source, a power storage device, a solar panel, and a light pervious encapsulant. The light source includes an LED and an optical element optically coupled to the LED, light emitted from the LED is redirected to one side of the light source by the optical element at an angle θ in respect to the road surface, wherein, −30°≦θ≦+30°. The power storage device is electrically connected to the LED. The solar panel is electrically connected to the power storage device for converting energy of sunlight directly into electricity, and the converted electricity is stored in the power storage device. The light source and the solar panel are packaged in the light pervious encapsulant. |
| US08251546B2 |
LED lamp with a plurality of reflectors
An LED module includes a housing, a plurality of LED modules, a plurality of first and second reflectors, a heat sink attached to the housing and an envelope engaged with the housing and covering the LED modules, the first and second reflectors. The housing includes a base and four sidewalls extending upwardly from edges of the base. The LED modules are mounted on the base. The first reflectors are accommodated in the housing and each cover a corresponding LED module. The second reflectors are mounted on the base and each located at a lateral side of the corresponding LED module. |
| US08251544B2 |
Lighting including integral communication apparatus
A lighting and communication system for use in a standardized light fixture is provided. The lighting and communication system includes a light source and a communication apparatus, and the communication apparatus is at least one of an audio device or a camera. At least one electrical connector configured for physical and electrical connection to the standardized light fixture is included, and the at least one electrical connector is electrically connected to the light source and the communication apparatus. |
| US08251543B2 |
Interior corner mounting module for rope light system
A mounting module for a rope light system which easily attaches to the surfaces of an interior corner of a structure that can retain and support a rope light without the need of a junction or brake in the rope light by holding the rope light in a flexure curve that does not stress the LEDS or electrical conductors of the rope light. |
| US08251528B2 |
Wavelength conversion plate and light emitting device using the same
Provided is a wavelength conversion plate having excellent luminous efficiency of a wavelength-converted light. The wavelength conversion plate includes a dielectric layer with nano pattern, a metal layer formed inside the nano pattern, and a wavelength conversion layer formed on the metal layer and having quantum dot or phosphor which wavelength-converts an excitation light to generate a wavelength-converted light. |
| US08251527B1 |
Light duct bend
Generally, the present disclosure provides a light duct bend used in a mirror-lined light duct system. In one aspect, the light duct bend includes an input region having a first propagation direction, an output region having a second propagation direction disposed at a bend angle to the first propagation direction, and a transition region connecting the input region to the output region. The transition region includes a plurality of vanes that subdivide the duct into channels, which can reduce the loss and/or disruption of collimation about one or more bends in the light duct system. |
| US08251523B2 |
Computer system with projector
A computer system includes a host, a bracket and a projector. The host includes a holding portion, and the holding portion defines a first space. The bracket is secured to the host and defines a second space. The projector is electrically connected to the host, and rotatable relative to the first space and the second space. |
| US08251522B2 |
Light modulator and projection-type display apparatus
A light modulator includes: a holding member having a frame disposed around an opening; and a light modulation panel formed in such a way that the edge thereof is held by the frame and the outer surface of the portion corresponding to the opening is flush with the outer surface of the frame or positioned outside the outer surface of the frame. |
| US08251518B2 |
Projector with adjustable light source module
A projector includes at least one light source module, an optical system, an imaging unit, and a projection lens. Each light source module includes a lamp unit and a heat-dissipating module in close contacting with the lamp unit. Each of the at least one light source module is positioned at one end of the optical system. The imaging unit is positioned at the other end of the optical system. The projection lens is positioned at the same end of the optical system with the imaging unit. Each lamp unit can be adjusted along a first direction relative to the heat-dissipating module, each light source module can be adjusted along a second direction relative to the optical system, the first direction and the second direction both perpendicular to the light emitting direction of the corresponding lamp unit. |
| US08251508B2 |
Method and system of enhancing ganglion cell function to improve physical performance
A method and a system of enhancing ganglion cell function using a gaming environment corresponding to a physical activity. The method and system may be used to implement one or more processes to improve a person's visual processing profile. In particular, the method and system may be used to improve a player's skill in the corresponding physical activity. |
| US08251503B2 |
Nonaqueous ink jet ink, process for producing nonaqueous ink jet ink, and ink jet recording method
Disclosed is a nonaqueous ink jet ink that is suitable for printing (scratch resistance and resistance to alcohol wiping) on recording media of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride, is highly safe, can be used without posing any problem of odor, has excellent properties of ink ejection from an ink jet head, and can realize a good printed image quality. Also disclosed are a process for producing a nonaqueous ink jet ink and an ink jet recording method using the nonaqueous ink jet ink. The process for producing a nonaqueous ink jet ink is a process for producing a nonaqueous ink jet ink containing at least an organic solvent, a pigment, and a fixing resin. The process is characterized in that the fixing resin satisfies a b/a value of not more than 0.020 wherein a represents the tall of integrated values of areas of all of peaks derived from the fixing resin among all of peaks detected in a proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis; and b represents the total of integrated values of areas of all of peaks derived from the compounds other than the fixing resin. |
| US08251501B2 |
Inkjet print engine having printer cartridge incorporating maintenance assembly and cradle unit incorporating maintenance drive assembly
An inkjet print engine includes a printer cartridge having an elongate body and a pair of mounting posts provided at either end of the elongate body, the printer cartridge further and defining a plurality of partitions; an ink storage module assembly having a row of ink storage modules interleaved with the partitions; a printhead assembly mounted to the elongate body and including at least one ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules; an elongate maintenance assembly mounted between the posts and configured to cap and clean the IC; a cradle unit for removably receiving the printer cartridge; and a maintenance drive assembly mounted to the cradle unit for actuating against the maintenance assembly to facilitate cleaning of the IC. |
| US08251500B2 |
Fluid storage container
A fluid storage container enables the easy removal of recovered fluid and reuse of the container without incurring the added costs of disassembly and replacing an absorbent material. In one exemplary embodiment, an ink cartridge 17 can have an ink storage unit 45 that stores waste ink, an ink inlet/outlet 55 disposed in a frame part 52 that can be the outside wall of the ink storage unit 45, an ink path 53 of which one end 53a communicates with the ink inlet/outlet 55 and the other end 53b is disposed opening into the ink storage unit, wall parts 54 that divide the ink storage unit 45 into an upper air chamber 61 and a lower fluid chamber 62 that communicate with each other through a communication path 58, and an outside air channel 87, of which one end 87a communicates with the air chamber 61 and the other end 87b enables communication with the outside at a position further from the air chamber 61 than the fluid chamber 62. Other embodiments of fluid storage containers are also disclosed. |
| US08251495B2 |
Pagewidth inkjet printhead incorporating power and data transmission film positioning protuberances
A pagewidth inkjet printhead includes an elongate ink distribution assembly connectable to an ink supply; a printhead intergrated circuit mounted to the ink distribution assembly to receive ink from the ink distribution assembly; a plurality of positioning protuberances protruding from the ink distribution assembly; a power and data transmission film positioned about the ink distribution assembly using the plurality of positioning protuberances; at least one power busbar positioned about the ink distribution assembly also using the plurality of positioning protuberances; and a cover attached to the ink distribution assembly, the power and data transmission film and the at least one power busbar interposed between the cover and the ink distribution assembly. |
| US08251490B2 |
Ink jet printing head
The present invention relates to an ink-jet print head comprising a substrate, a structural or barrier layer defining ink passage ways, and, optionally, a nozzle plate, wherein a layer of polymeric material comprising carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen atoms improves the adhesion of the layer defining ink passage ways with the substrate and/or the nozzle plate. The present invention also relates to a process of manufacturing an inkjet print head including the step of forming the layer of polymeric material comprising carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen atoms with a plasma treatment. |
| US08251489B2 |
Liquid ejecting device
A liquid ejecting device includes a head unit having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array that ejects a liquid of a same type as that of the first nozzle array and a movement mechanism that moves at least one between a target in which the liquid lands and the head unit in a movement direction that intersects with a direction of nozzle arrangement of each of the nozzle arrays. The second nozzle array is disposed in a position deviated from the first nozzle array in the movement direction and is disposed in a position deviated from the first nozzle array in the intersection direction such that an end part of the second nozzle array is located in a center part of the first nozzle array in the intersection direction that intersects with the movement direction. |
| US08251488B2 |
Method for servicing an inkjet print head on a hand held printer
A hand-held printer that includes an inkjet array having a plurality of inkjets is disclosed. The hand-held printer may include an inkjet cap sized to cooperatively engage the inkjet array, wherein the inkjet cap is movable between and open position and a closed position, and a plurality of wipers carried by the inkjet cap, wherein each of the plurality of wipers is configured to engage one of the plurality of inkjets as the inkjet cap moves from the open position to the closed position; and wherein each of the plurality of wipers includes a gasket configured to form a seal adjacent to one of the plurality of inkjets. |
| US08251486B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a platen, an absorption member, an electrode, and a potential difference generating device. The liquid ejecting head has a conductive nozzle plate that ejects liquid toward a front face of a recording object. The platen is arranged at a position opposed to the nozzle plate with the recording object placed between the platen and the nozzle plate. The absorption member is arranged at a position opposed to the nozzle plate and located farther from openings of the nozzle plate than the recording object in a direction in which the liquid is ejected. The potential difference generating device generates a difference in potential between the nozzle plate and the electrode by applying voltage to the electrode so as to form an electric field, whereby liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head is electrically attracted toward the electrode. |
| US08251479B2 |
Printing apparatus
The present invention aims to obtain preferable correction values to correct the conveying error of a conveying roller in accordance with the size of a printing medium, even when the conveying error caused by the eccentricity of the roller varies from a point to another in the longitudinal direction of a roller, depending on the amount and the state of eccentricity of the roller. To achieve this object, correction values are acquired using the whole part of or only a part of plural test patterns formed in the longitudinal direction of the roller. The correction values thus acquired correspond to the respective zones where the test patterns are formed. |
| US08251472B2 |
Printer, printing program, and printing method
A printer includes a print head in which nozzles that form an image by discharging ink are arranged in a plurality of lines. The printer prints out an image on the basis of print form data in which information of layout contents of printing elements that form the content of print is set according to the attribute of each printing element. The printer includes a print form data storage unit, a printing element data storage unit, a print form data selection unit, a printing element data selection unit, and a printing element data insertion unit. |
| US08251468B2 |
Ink refill kit
The present disclosure provides a compact and easy-to-use ink refill device that is configured to refill empty ink cartridges. The device includes an ink reservoir that stores ink, a cartridge holder that secures the cartridge during refilling, and an ink delivery system that allows ink to flow from the ink reservoir to the spent cartridge. The ink delivery system is configured to avoid ink from leaking from the reservoir before, during, and after refilling. The ink delivery system of the present disclosure is also configured to avoid overfilling or under filling. |
| US08251466B2 |
Cabinet drawer and stationary drawer glide
The stationary drawer glide and cabinet drawer incorporating the drawer glide allow for a user to easily slide open and closed a cabinet drawer without causing damage or warping to the cabinet drawer, even if there are heavy objects in the drawer. The drawer glide includes a fastening portion adapted to be affixed to an interior cabinet wall, and top and bottom portions for supporting a drawer. The drawer glide may be made of a material with a smooth surface with a low coefficient of friction to facilitate easy gliding of the cabinet drawer. |
| US08251463B2 |
Vehicle regenerative braking system with system monitor and redundant control capability
A system for providing regenerative and friction braking in a vehicle includes a brake controller for determining a desired rate of deceleration from sensor outputs which are responsive to inputs from an operator of a vehicle and a regenerative braking system operatively connected with the brake controller. A brake monitor receives the sensor inputs from the operator of the vehicle and determines an audit range of deceleration for the vehicle. If the audit range of deceleration of the vehicle is not subsequently sensed, the vehicle's driver will be alerted. |
| US08251461B2 |
Brake control device for two-wheeled motor vehicle
To improve brake force in front and rear combined brake control, a brake control device includes a front wheel brake caliper having at least two front wheel cylinders, and a rear wheel brake caliper having a rear wheel cylinder. A front wheel brake conduit is disposed between a front wheel master cylinder and one of the front wheel cylinders, and a rear wheel brake conduit is disposed between a rear wheel master cylinder and the rear wheel cylinder. A pressure amplification conduit branches from a first position in the rear wheel brake conduit and merges with the rear wheel brake conduit at a second position downstream of the first position. A combined brake conduit branches from a third position in the rear wheel brake conduit positioned downstream of the first position and is coupled to the other of the front wheel cylinders. A first switch control valve is disposed between the first position and the third position in the rear wheel brake conduit. A second switch control valve in disposed in the pressure amplification conduit. A hydraulic pump is provided in the pressure amplification conduit, and a controlling device is provided that controls the opening and closing of the valves and actuation of the hydraulic pump. |
| US08251460B2 |
Device for mounting bearings and a cycle wheel and hub including such device
Device including an inner shaft and an outer body rotatably mounted about an axis with respect to the shaft via at least one rolling bearing, the rolling bearing including an inner ring mounted on the inner shaft and an outer ring mounted in a housing of the outer body, the device including an automatic backlash elimination mechanism. The automatic backlash elimination mechanism includes a first washer having a tapered surface, and an elastic element in contact with the tapered surface of the first washer, the elastic element structured and arranged to generate a radial return force that is converted, by means of the tapered surface, into an axial force in order to eliminate the backlash related to the mounting of the rolling bearing. The first washer can be mounted on the shaft, in which case the elastic element generates a centripetal return force, or it can be mounted in the bore of the outer body, in which case the elastic element generates a centrifugal return force. A second washer can be provided so that the elastic element is positioned between the first washer and the second washer. The angle formed by the tapered surface and a plane perpendicular to the aforementioned axis is smaller than 12°. The invention also includes a wheel for a cycle, such as a bicycle, and a hub therefore which includes such device. |
| US08251458B2 |
Anti-sink rim
Device used to free a vehicle that is stuck in terrain or to reduce such risk through the use of an additional tread disposed parallel to each wheel of the vehicle. The additional tread can be an air chamber (2 or 10a and 10b) covered or not with a tire (11) or a band comprising different coupling profiles (13, 14 or 15). The tread is mounted onto an anti-sink rim comprising a conical profile (1.2) and a flange (1.1) centered in and applied against the outer side of the wheel disc by special bolts (6) inserted in respective openings in the flange and rim. The diameter of the system is smaller than that of the wheel to facilitate mounting and to avoid interference with the vehicle body. The conical shape of the rim profile (1.2) lends stiffness and enables the rims to be stacked for reduced storage volume in trunk. |
| US08251454B2 |
Backrest of the chair and adaptation device for the same
A backrest of chair in which the lower part of a back frame can be concealed neatly by a stretching material. In the backrest device of a chair where a bag like stretching material (12) knitted or woven in the shape of mesh and opening downward is stretched across a back frame (11) formed by coupling the upper ends of right and left side frames (14a) directing the vertical direction by an upper frame (14b) directing the right and left direction, and coupling the lower ends of both the side frames (14a) by a lower frame (14c) which can be fixed to a backrest supporting rod (8) erected from the upper rear of the seat body of the chair, upper portion of the stretching material (12) is made air permeable, and at least a part at the lower portion of the stretching material (12) covering the lower frame (14c) is made non-translucent. |
| US08251452B2 |
Gaming chairs
Gaming chairs include a seat sized to receive a user, a frame coupled to the seat, and a tension mechanism. The frame includes at least a foot-actuated-input-device support portion configured to support a foot-actuated input device, such as associated with a video game, in a position to receive inputs from a user's foot when the user is seated on the seat. The tension mechanism is in tension when a user is seated on the seat and applies pressure with a foot against a foot-actuated input device supported by the foot-actuated-input-device support portion and applies pressure against a back portion of the seat with the user's back. In some embodiments, the tension mechanism includes one or more straps and may be described as a strap system. In some embodiments, the gaming chair includes an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration. |
| US08251448B2 |
Dynamic chair back lumbar support system
A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines. |
| US08251447B2 |
Bio-signal analyzer, seat and bio-signal analyzing method
There are provided a bio-signal analyzer using a sensor capable of detecting, even though it is non-invasive, a more prominent bio-signal, and a seat using the bio-signal analyzer. Air cushions (10), which are sensors detecting a bio-signal in a non-invasive manner, are disposed at the positions corresponding respectively to left and right iliocostalis lumborum muscles of a person, in a substantially vertically long state along the iliocostalis lumborum muscles, with upper ends thereof being set at least at the height corresponding to a lower face of a human diaphragm. In the diaphragm, bio-signals such as heartbeats, breaths, or pulsations of aorta passing through the vicinity of the diaphragm are resonated and amplified. Further, the iliocostalis lumborum muscles are at positions where they are easily vibrated by pulsations of aorta passing through the vicinity of the lumbar region. Therefore, by disposing the air cushions (10) as described above, bio-signals amplified by the diaphragm and the iliocostalis lumborum muscles can be detected. |
| US08251446B1 |
Articulated child seat apparatus
The articulated child seat apparatus provides a base, a plurality of spaced apart rotatable rungs disposed laterally within the base, a pinion gear disposed on each rung, a rack disposed above and in communication with each pinion gear, a reversible motor driving one of the pinion gears, whereby the rack is moved forwardly and rearwardly within the base, a platform affixed to the rack and extended upwardly from the base, a seat bottom affixed to the platform, a seatback affixed to the seat bottom by a pivot, a reversible motor disposed within the seatback, the motor in communication with the pivot, whereby the seat back is pivoted upwardly and downwardly, a remote control separately controlling each motor, and a harness system fitted within the seat bottom and seatback. |
| US08251443B1 |
Vehicle armrest straddling apparatus for support of objects thereon
The vehicle armrest straddling apparatus for support of objects thereon includes a storage compartment under which a plurality of expandable legs attach. The apparatus is an accessory that straddles atop an armrest of a vehicle, and of which provides a place upon which objects maybe stored. The expandable legs extend and retract via a slot to accommodate armrests of different sizes. |
| US08251442B2 |
Two-way foldable chair
Two-way foldable outdoor chair selectively foldable from set-up position to a first flatly folded position or to a second bundled position may be prevented from being folded to the second position while at all times remaining foldable to the first position and may include an adjustable reclining position. |
| US08251439B2 |
Vehicle body
There is a pit-defining (17) housing in a vehicle pillar in a spaced relationship with a vehicle inner panel assembly. A load-transferring element includes an anchor plate (27a) attached to the vehicle inner panel assembly and arms (27b, 27c) extending away from the anchor plate. Each of the arms (27b, 27c) is joined to one of sidewalls (17b, 17c) of the pit-defining housing at that area region which extends inwardly from a terminal end (27bT, 27cT) of the arm along an inside of the arm. |
| US08251436B2 |
Devices and methods for reducing vehicle drag
A vehicle trailer is provided. The vehicle trailer includes a pair of side wall fairings having a leading edge and trailing edge. Each side wall fairing is positioned on a different wall from the other adjacent to the rear edges of each of the walls such that the leading edge of each side wall fairing contacts the wall and the trailing edge of each side wall fairing does not contact the wall. Each side wall fairing has an upward incline and downward incline. The side wall fairings can be utilized with one or more other components that are described herein. |
| US08251435B2 |
Spoiler
A spoiler includes an upper member and a lower member. The upper and lower members are joined together by vibration welding. One of the upper and lower members includes a main welding rib and an auxiliary welding rib. Each of the main welding rib and the auxiliary welding rib is protruded toward the other of the upper and members so as to be vibration welded to the other of the upper and lower members. The main welding rib is arranged to extend along a vibration direction of the vibration welding, and the auxiliary welding rib is arranged to extend along a direction perpendicular to the vibration direction. A height of the auxiliary welding rib is less than a height of the main welding rib before the vibration welding. The auxiliary welding rib is spaced apart from the main welding rib. |
| US08251433B2 |
Motor vehicle windshield and window kit
The motor vehicle windshield and window kit includes a plurality of insulated panels for covering respective interior surfaces of a windshield and at least one window of a motor vehicle to prevent sunlight and environmental noise from entering the motor vehicle, and for further providing privacy for the occupants of the motor vehicle. At least one privacy flap is substantially centrally formed through at least one of the plurality of insulated panels. Additionally, a plurality of releasable fasteners are provided for releasably securing the plurality of insulated panels to the interior surfaces of the motor vehicle windshield and the at least one motor vehicle window, so that the insulated panels cover the motor vehicle windshield and the at least one motor vehicle window to provide privacy, thermal insulation and acoustic insulation for the interior of the motor vehicle. |
| US08251428B2 |
Seat slide apparatus for vehicle
A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, formed into a longitudinal shape and adapted to be fixed to a vehicle floor, an upper rail adapted to be fixed to a seat frame, and assembled to the lower rail to be relatively movable in a longitudinal direction of the lower rail, and a detachment prevention mechanism including an elongated hole, which is formed at the bottom wall portion to open therethrough and which extends in the longitudinal direction, and a load receiving member whose upper end portion is fixed to the upper wall portion and whose lower end portion is inserted downwardly through the elongated hole so as to be movable in an extending direction of the elongated hole, and is engageable with the bottom wall portion in the vicinity of the elongated hole to restrict a movement of the upper rail in an upper direction. |
| US08251426B2 |
Collapsible seat construction for a vehicle
A stowable seat 10 for a motor vehicle 1, and in particular for a van, having a moveable bulkhead 9 is disclosed in which a backrest 11 of the seat 10 is stowed vertically above a base 12 of the seat 10 and a support mechanism 20 for the seat 10 is arranged so that no member of the support mechanism 20 is located to the rear of a vertical plane “V” aligned with a rearmost part of the stowed seat 10. This arrangement allows the moveable bulkhead 9 to be moved up to the rearmost edge of the stowed seat 10 thereby maximizing the carrying capacity of the motor vehicle 1 when the seat 10 is stowed. The support mechanisms 20 allow the seat 10 to be moved between its stowed and ‘in-use’ positions simply by moving the backrest 11. |
| US08251424B2 |
Structural arrangement of a motor vehicle
A structural arrangement of a motor vehicle, of a type including a cabin and a loading bed, between which a substantially vertical partition extends, of a type including a cabin floor that extends at a first height, and a loading floor of the bed that extends at a second height that differs from the first height of the cabin floor, and of a type including a hollow body that stiffens the structure and extends substantially vertically between the first height of the cabin floor and the second height of the loading floor. The hollow body includes two substantially vertical structural elements, and the first structural element is formed by the lower portion of the partition. |
| US08251417B2 |
Detection frame for a lifting device
A detection frame for a lifting device is provided. The frame supports a detection system whilst the frame is attached to a lifting device, the lifting device used for lifting freight, the frame comprising attachment brackets for attaching the frame to the lifting device; at least one platform for mounting the detection system to the frame, such that the frame is in spaced relation to the freight whilst mounted to the lifting device. |
| US08251414B2 |
Tow hook cover having tether hook
A tow hook cover for concealing an opening formed in a bumper cover of an automotive vehicle is provided. The tow hook cover includes a generally planar member having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface. A tether hook is disposed on the inner surface of the generally planar member. The tether hook has an elongated leg having a proximate end attached to the inner surface of the generally planar member and a distal end spaced apart from the inner surface. The distal end has a first arm extending generally normal from the elongated leg and a second arm defining an acute angle between the elongated leg and the second arm. Upon installation, the first arm extends through an aperture formed adjacent the tow hook opening prior to the second arm which deflects upon insertion. |
| US08251407B2 |
Female coupling element and a quick coupling incorporating such an element
The female quick coupling element is fitted with at least one locking member (40) movable in a housing (27) between a first position in which a fraction (46) of the locking member projects out from the housing (27) and a second position in which the fraction (46) of the locking member is disengaged from a groove in a male element endpiece (11) engaged in the female element. A control ring that is slidable relative to the body of the female element parallel to its central longitudinal axis (XA-X′A) is suitable for moving the locking member between its first and second positions. The locking member (40) is provided with at least one surface (42, 43) in the form of a portion of a sphere. The locking member moves between its first and second positions by pivoting about a fixed axis passing through the center of curvature (C40) of the surface (42, 43) in the form of a portion of a sphere of the locking member (40) and perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (XA-X′A) of the female element. |
| US08251405B2 |
Pressurized water container
A pressurized water container for water fountains, ponds, swimming pools, and aquariums has at least two housing parts and at least one seal arranged between the at least two housing parts, wherein the at least two housing parts are connectable to one another in a lockable way. The at least two housing parts have projections and matching recesses, wherein the projections engage the recesses and, by a displacement of the at least two housing parts relative to one another in opposite directions, they are lockable on one another and releasable from one another when reversing the displacement. |
| US08251401B2 |
Personal transport cart
A personal transport cart is disclosed. The cart is provided with a collapsible steering mechanism to lock the steered wheels for allowing alignment of the cart during the loading and unloading of the cart on a transport vehicle. Furthermore, the rear wheel can be locked against movement during the transportation of the cart on the transport vehicle. |
| US08251399B2 |
Instrument panel energy absorption systems
Energy absorption systems are described herein. Energy absorption systems may include an instrument panel reinforcement extending from a passenger side to a driver side of a vehicle, a bracket secured to the instrument panel reinforcement including a body and a distal strike, and an instrument panel assembly including a passenger facing surface and a catch disposed on the instrument panel assembly, wherein when an impact force is applied to the passenger facing surface of the instrument panel assembly, the catch of instrument panel assembly may engage the strike of the bracket to absorb at least a portion of the impact force. |
| US08251398B2 |
Dynamic airbag venting
An exemplary airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct having an duct opening for venting gas. The duct has a first position and a second position. The duct is configured to direct less gas out of the airbag when in the second position than when in the first position. A tether kinks about the duct to move the duct from the first position to the second position. The inflating causes the tether to kink about the duct. |
| US08251392B1 |
Device for providing more secure foot positioning on a motorcycle
A device for retaining a user's foot on a motorcycle footboard is disclosed, such as a footboard having an upper surface and a perimeter edge. The device comprises a frame configured to mount on the footboard. The frame forms a perimeter to extend about a portion of the upper surface of the footboard. The frame defines an aperture that is configured such that the portion of the upper surface of the footboard is exposed when the frame is mounted on the footboard. The frame comprises a main portion, the main portion having a front end for positioning toward a front of the footboard and a back for positioning toward a back end of the footboard. The frame also comprises an extension portion extending from the main portion. The extension portion extends forwardly from the main portion. The device includes a securing structure for removably securing the frame to the footboard. |
| US08251391B2 |
Removable wheel support device for a wheelchair
Stem (12) is secured to fork (6). Head (27), bearing surface (28), recessed portions (29 and 21), and bearing surface (31) successively engage the interior of housing (13), comprising first bearing (14), laterally movable locking ring (18) and second bearing (15). Locking ring (18) is repelled to the left in diametral direction against spring means urging ring (18). When shoulder (20) has arrived at the height of rim portion (32) of ring (18) the spring means are released. Ring (18) displaces to the right and portion (32) engages groove (29) thus locking the stem in the axial direction. Due to the side location of the button 9, the device can easily be handled using the palm of a hand. |
| US08251389B2 |
Bicycle with auxiliary power system
A bicycle is equipped with an auxiliary power system to provide extra power for driving the bicycle forward. The auxiliary power system includes a base fixed to a frame of the bicycle, a power storage device connected to the base, and a ratchet device connecting the power storage device and a main transmission system of the bicycle. When pedals of the bicycle are turned in a forward direction, it may drive the bicycle forward but not the power storage device through the ratchet device. When the pedals are turned in a rearward direction, it may drive the power storage device through the ratchet device to store extra power in the power storage device. A rider may release the power stored in the power storage device to drive the bicycle forward through the ratchet device and the main transmission system. |
| US08251388B2 |
Bicycle child seat
The teachings of the present disclosure relate to a bicycle child seat. The bicycle child seat may include a seat sized for a child, a safety harness configured to secure the child in the bicycle child seat, a bicycle frame attachment mechanism, and a seat post attachment mechanism. The seat may include a hole configured to slide over the seat post of the bicycle. |
| US08251387B2 |
Folding step-on for a vehicle
A horizontally foldable step assembly for vehicles. The foldable step assembly includes an arm for coupling with a hitch receiver and an arm for mounting a pivotally mounted step supporting assembly. The step supporting assembly is capable of rotating horizontally from a “closed” position to an “open” position, and being secured at the position by a locking mechanism. |
| US08251385B2 |
Multi-pivot vehicle suspension
An all terrain vehicle and suspension providing frame members that pivot relative to each other and independent of supported track assemblies. Suspension frame sections pivot at supported bearings and torsion couplers. An endless track of each track assembly is trained around a framework having a drive sprocket and sets of idler wheels. The track assemblies independently pivot relative to the vehicle from a track suspension frame and supported sets of idler wheels mounted to torsion biased rocker arms that resist and bias the rocker arms and idler wheels to an equilibrium position and conformally shape the track to the terrain. Improved track drive lug surfaces are shaped to prevent track derailment. The vehicle frame and track assemblies independently rise, fall and pivot as obstacles of differing configurations and types are encountered to stabilize and maintain an operator body substantially parallel to the ground. |
| US08251383B2 |
Skateboard truck assembly
A skateboard truck assembly providing improved speed reduction or braking response when the rider places the skateboard in a rear tilt or tail drag position without sacrificing the skateboard's turning responsiveness. The truck assembly comprises a pair of axle distal sections, the portion of the axle extending beyond the ends of the hanger, that are angled relative to the riding surface. The angled axle sections causes the wheels to move in an outward direction, relative to the forward direction of the skateboard, when the skateboard is placed in a rear tilt position, resulting in drag that slows or stops the forward movement of the skateboard. Preferably, the truck assembly utilizes tapered wheels having an outer circumference which is larger than the inner circumference to provide improved speed reduction and turning stability. In addition, the pivot axis is more closely aligned or aligned with the axle axis to increase turning stability. |
| US08251381B2 |
Child's carriage, in particular a stroller
A child's carriage including a frame that supports a seat for a child and from which a rear bar extends for pushing the carriage and from which a front rod extends to a fork to which a front wheel is mounted. A swivel is mounted between the front rod and the fork which swivel is covered by a housing for at least one light source and wherein the light source is controlled by a switch on the rear bar. |
| US08251379B2 |
Apparatus for transport of objects
A apparatus and method for transporting oversized objects, particularly substantially flat or planar objects. In certain embodiments the object is a material in sheet form, such as a wood sheet, metal sheet, dry wall, and the like, or a narrow object such as bed mattresses, tabletops, mirrors and plate glass, doors and the like. Preferably the object is capable of being transported by a single person. In certain embodiments the apparatus is structured to be capable of transporting a mattress through an open doorway without unloading the object. |
| US08251370B2 |
Game machine
A game machine comprises a housing, a user access panel having a controller, a money acceptor, a rotating field having a surface for receiving a plurality of objects situated thereon, a retriever that is movable along a track that is supported by the housing for enabling movement of the retriever relative to the rotating field, an object receiving area, and an outlet for access to the object received within the object receiving area. |
| US08251369B2 |
Game machine
Game machine comprising a housing with a number of upright walls, said housing being adapted to accommodate playing means, for instance pick-up means such as a grabber; wherein the upright walls of the housing comprise at least one translucent panel; and a pattern of multicolor LEDs is provided on the inner side of the housing behind this at least one translucent panel, said multicolor LEDs being connected to a control unit for controlling the color emitted by each multicolor LED, which control unit and at least one translucent panel are adapted to impart a determined impression of color to the at least one panel. |
| US08251368B2 |
Game system
A game system having a frame supporting a hoop wall, bounce floor, bounce wall and ball return floor. The hoop wall has a cutout and multiple hoops facing the bounce wall. The hoops are vertically clear of one another. A plurality of balls is used to play the game. A score is made when a ball is thrown from behind the hoop wall towards the bounce floor and off the bounce wall reversing direction into a hoop. |
| US08251365B2 |
Device and method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product
The invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product, particularly of banknotes. The invention is based on a device and a method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product, particularly of banknotes, by means of a separator (1, 2, 3) having a drive (4, 7) and a controller (8) for monitoring and controlling the angular speed (w) of the separator, and is based on monitoring of the angular speed of the separator by the controller for changes and the determination of faulty separation, if the change of the angular speed is greater than a permitted deviation, or if the angular speed falls below a threshold value (S). |
| US08251360B2 |
Sheet handling device/method with multiple control
A sheet handling apparatus is presented that includes a first module arranged along a sheet conveyance route from the upstream to the downstream thereof, and a second module arranged adjacent to the first module. The first module includes a first control part to transmit destination information and category information of discriminated sheets and to execute conveyance control to the sheet residing along the first conveyance route. The second module includes a second control part to execute conveyance control to the sheets residing along the second conveyance route, and to transmit information of the number of sheets in each category stacked in the first stacking device. The first control part is configured to execute a cross-check to determine whether the information of the number of sheets in each category received from the second control part matches the information of the number of sheets transmitted to the second control part. |
| US08251359B2 |
Spine formation device, bookbinding system, and processing method of bundle of folded sheets using same
A spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer to convey a bundle of folded sheets with a folded portion of the bundle forming a front end of the bundle, a clamping unit disposed downstream from the sheet conveyer in a sheet conveyance direction for squeezing a folded portion of the bundle in a direction of thickness of the bundle, a contact member against which the folded portion of the bundle is pressed, disposed downstream from the clamping unit, an elevation unit to move the contact member vertically, and a controller. The clamping unit includes multiple pressure rollers arranged in a single line along the folded portion of the bundle, a planar clamping member disposed facing the multiple pressure rollers vertically, to press the bundle against the multiple pressure rollers, and a unit to move the pressure rollers and the clamping member close and away from each other. |
| US08251355B2 |
Front fork
A suspension spring and a double-rod damper are installed in the interior of a front fork which comprises a body-side tube and a wheel-side tube. The double-rod damper comprises a piston housed in a cylinder, and an upper rod and a lower rod connected to the piston. The upper rod is formed to have a smaller diameter than the lower rod. By providing an orifice which allows working oil in an upper oil chamber formed around the upper rod to flow into a reservoir while causing the pressure in the upper oil chamber to increase, expansion and contraction of air bubbles mixed into working oil in the cylinder is prevented, thereby improving the response of a damping force generated in the front fork. |
| US08251353B2 |
Device for fixing a perforated aeration membrane
An arrangement for introducing gas bubbles into a liquid, a device for fastening a perforated aeration membrane to an aerator base plate, and an aerator base plate therefor. The aerator base plate has an undercut groove in at least one rim region thereof, into which a locking body clamping the membrane in the groove fits clampingly. The locking body has a generally circular cross-section. The groove has an at least substantially oval cross-section. The locking body is designed to be generally cylindrical. |
| US08251352B2 |
Venturi apparatus for pouring and aereating beverages
An improved venturi apparatus for the incorporation of air into a liquid. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an entry section, a cylindrical section, and an outflow section. Lateral tubes extend from the cylindrical section so as to form an acute angle relative to both the central and cross-sectional axes of the cylindrical section, thereby preventing leakage of liquid out through the lateral tubes during use and subsequent handling. The entry section includes a breather tube connected to the cylindrical section. |
| US08251344B1 |
Pocketformer with flow channel
A pocketformer for use with an anchor body in post-tensioning concrete has a body having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end and an interior, a front face formed adjacent the first end, and a tubular member formed in the interior of the body. The first side tapers from the second end to the first end. The second side tapers from the second end to the first end. The first side has an angle of taper greater than an angle of taper of the second side. The body has a generally hollow interior. The tubular member extends from the first end to the second end within the interior of the body. The angle of taper of the first side is approximately 45°. |
| US08251343B2 |
Tool hanger
A device for holding and displaying hand tools, especially for exhibiting such products in a retail establishment. The hanger consists of a bracket having a slot for hanging the device on a hook, peg, etc. The bracket is connected to a connecting member that has a tool holder. The bracket can be disconnected from the tool holder by a snap fastener which also allows the bracket to be pivoted downwardly behind the connecting member for compact storage and shipping. The snap fastener also allows for different types and sizes of tool holders to be connected to the bracket, depending upon the tool being displayed. |
| US08251339B2 |
Mounting apparatus for storage device
A mounting apparatus includes a frame, a resilient grounding piece and a fastener both made of conducting material. The frame includes an end arm, a first fixing arm connected to the end arm, and a second fixing arm pivotably connected to the end arm. Two pins protrude from an inner side of each of the first and second fixing arms, for correspondingly engaging in fixing holes of a storage device. The resilient arm is fixed to an outer side of the second fixing arm and includes a resilient arm bending away from the second fixing arm. The fastener is fixed to an inside surface of the resilient grounding piece and is pressed by the resilient grounding piece to extend through the second fixing arm and insert into the threaded hole of the storage device, to connects the storage device to ground cooperating with the resilient grounding piece. |
| US08251338B2 |
Constant bearer
A constant bearer having a fastening part, a load-bearing part and a spring system which is arranged between the fastening part and the load-bearing part for generating a carrying force which remains constant over a carrying travel of the load-bearing part with respect to the fastening part, where the spring system has a suspension system for absorbing the load, a compensation device for compensating for changing spring forces of the suspension system over the carrying travel, and a prestressing device for setting a prestressing force of the suspension system. |
| US08251336B2 |
Seat track mechanism for vehicle
A seat track mechanism for a vehicle, includes a lower rail mounted to a vehicle floor; an upper rail supported by the lower rail and slidable relative to the lower rail; and spherical rotators held between the lower and upper rails, the spherical rotators rolling via a sliding movement of the upper rail. One of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one horizontal flat portion parallel to a widthwise direction of the seat track mechanism and parallel to a direction of the sliding movement of the upper rail, and the other of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one rotator supporting recess having a circularly arcuate shape in cross section which is uniform in a lengthwise direction of the seat track mechanism, the spherical rotators being held between the rotator supporting recess and the horizontal flat portion. |
| US08251334B2 |
Pivotable support shaft for display
A pivotable support shaft for connecting a display with a base member and supporting the display is disclosed. The support is designed to enable the display to have different postures in working condition and package and transporting condition. For example, in the working condition, the screen of the display may be pivotable between a pitch-up angle of about 20° and a pitch-down angle of about −20°, and in the package and transporting condition, the screen of the display may be pivoted down to a pitch-down angle of about −90° where the screen faces downwardly to reduce the package size and improve the transportation stability. |
| US08251333B1 |
Supporting apparatus
A supporting apparatus includes a supporting member, two movable members slidably received in the supporting member, and a pivot member pivotably attached to the supporting member and arranged between the movable members. Wherein when one of the movable members is operated to move relative to the supporting member, the movable member drives the pivot member to pivot, the pivot member drives the other movable member to move. |
| US08251331B2 |
Article holder adapted for being supported by a fence
A fence hanger apparatus is generally comprised of two vertical hanging support brackets. The two vertical hanging support brackets each have an upper portion terminating in a U-shaped hook for hanging the apparatus over the top rail of a fence, and a lower portion. A vertical member has an upper end and a lower end and is positioned approximately midway between the two vertical hanging support brackets and is substantially parallel to the upper portions of the two vertical hanging brackets. The upper end of the vertical member extends substantially to the same height as the U-shaped hooks. The vertical member has a front face, a rear face and two side faces. The front face of the vertical member is provided with means for attaching hanging members. A U-shaped latch is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the vertical member for attaching the apparatus to a vertical post of a fence. The lower portions of the two hanging support brackets are secured to the lower end of the vertical member with securing means. |
| US08251330B2 |
Removable device configured to secure an instrument and to be mounted on a platform
The present teachings relate to a device configured to secure an instrument and to be removably mounted to a platform. The device can comprise a mounting base platform, a guide rod plate, and a securing means. The guide rod plate can be slidably secured to the mounting base platform, and the securing means can be configured to slidably move the guide rod plate with respect to the mounting base platform. The device can secure an instrument within, for example a firearm or a scope. The device can be mounted to a platform, for example, a camera tripod. |
| US08251329B2 |
Cam holder system
A cam holder system is described. A cam mechanism allows the holder to accept sheet material and be closed easily, while still maintaining strong holding power. The holder is formed by two or more separate pieces of extruded rigid material that slide together. End caps can be used to hold the pieces in alignment with each other so that they do not slide apart when the holder is opened. The cam is located near the middle of the assembly so that the user has leverage when opening and closing the holder. The holder can be squeezed in one direction to open the holder, and in the other direction to close the holder. A lever arm for closure is located above the cam, and a lever arm for opening is located below the cam. The receiving slot is located on-center so that the holder and the sheet material remain aligned with each other during use. |
| US08251327B2 |
Adjustable container holder and method
A container holder adapted to hold a container between two spaced apart prongs is provided herein. The prongs clamp the container with a clamping force large enough to hold the container, but small enough to avoid damaging the container. The prongs may be spaced apart to fit different-sized containers, while the clamping force still meets these criteria. The clamping force may be provided by a substantially constant-force spring or a variable-force spring. In a method according to the present invention, a stack of nested containers is held in a container holder as described, for subsequent removal of a selected container from the stack. |
| US08251322B2 |
Cathode ray tube monitor to flat panel monitor conversion bracket
A conversion bracket is described. Specifically, the conversion bracket allows a mounting system for use with a computer system having a CRT monitor to be used with a computer system having a flat panel monitor. The conversion bracket may comprise a two prong mounting adapter and a flange to secure the conversion bracket to the CRT monitor caddy. |
| US08251319B2 |
Controlling the boundary layer of an airfoil
This invention relates to a method and system (10) for controlling the boundary layer of an airfoil (12) to reduce profile drag during flap deflection. The system (10) comprises first means for blowing air from a lower surface (14) of the airfoil (12) to trip airflow from laminar flow to turbulent flow during positive flap deflection; and second means for applying a suction force at the lower surface (14) of the airfoil (12) to preserve laminar flow during negative flap deflection. |
| US08251315B2 |
Formation flight device intended for a solar coronagraphy mission
The present invention relates to a device making it possible to study the solar corona on a space mission requiring the formation flight of two satellites: an occulting satellite (OCC), the role of which is to create an artificial eclipse of the sun from the point of view of a coronagraph (10) onboard a second satellite, called carrying satellite (COR). The invention presents the advantage of proposing a formation flight device intended for a solar coronagraphy mission comprising fixed solar panels (11a), requiring no deployment, thanks to a dissymmetrical accommodation of the coronagraph (10) reflected in a shifting of said coronagraph (10) to a side of the carrying satellite (COR). |
| US08251313B2 |
Ice protection system for aircraft
The ice prevention system of the present invention utilizes, in combination, a de-ice subsystem and anti-ice subsystem in a new configuration on an aircraft with engines located behind its wings. Depending on the vertical location of the engines with respect to the wings, the anti-ice subsystem is configured on an upper or lower portion of a leading edge of the wings. If the engine is located above the wing, the anti-ice system is configured only on a section of the wing aligned with the engine and only on the upper portion of the leading edge. If the engine is located below the wing, the placement of anti-ice system is reversed. The de-ice subsystem is configured on the opposite portion of the leading edge adjacent to the anti-ice subsystem and on the remainder of the leading edge of the wing. |
| US08251307B2 |
Airborne manipulator system
A manipulator arm system on a ducted air-fan UAV is disclosed herein. The target site may be accurately located by the UAV, and the manipulator system may accurately locate the payload at the target site. The manipulator arm may select tools from a toolbox located on-board the UAV to assist in payload placement or the execution of remote operations. The system may handle the delivery of mission payloads, environmental sampling, and sensor placement and repair. |
| US08251303B2 |
Hard drive destruction system
A system for destroying a memory device (e.g., a hard drive) having data stored thereon. The system has a grind chamber with a rotatable grind wheel positioned therein. A pressure arm presses the memory device against the grind wheel as the grind wheel rotates. The rotating grind wheel grinds the memory device into particles from which the data stored on the memory device cannot be recovered. The particles are collected in a receptacle adjacent the grind wheel. The system may include a plurality of guides configured to maintain the memory device in a substantially stationary position relative to the pressure arm as the grind wheel grinds the memory device into particles. |
| US08251291B2 |
Rotational bar code orientation sensor
A rotational bar code is presented. The rotational bar code includes a structure at least a portion of which includes a cylindrical surface having at least one of an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, and a plurality of vertically-oriented symbols horizontally abutted in a non-periodic unique pattern on one of the outward-facing surface or the inward-facing surface. The surfaces are radially disposed about a rotational axis of the cylindrical surface. The vertically-oriented symbols are unique for at least a predefined segment of an arc of the cylindrical surface. An angular orientation of the cylindrical surface is identifiable based on the plurality of vertically-oriented symbols. |
| US08251290B1 |
Bar code validation using a wireless communication device
A wireless communication device optically receives and processes a bar code and a background item to the barcode to generate image data. A processing system processes the image data to identify a bar code portion of the image data and to identify a background portion of the image data. The processing system processes the barcode portion of the image data to generate decoded data. The processing system processes the background portion of the image data to generate background data. The processing system processes the decoded data and the background data to determine if the bar code is valid. The wireless communication device generates a bar code valid signal if the bar code is valid and generates a bar code invalid signal if the bar code is invalid. |
| US08251289B2 |
Data protecting electronic device
A data protecting electronic device is adapted to read and store information, and includes: a circuit board; a first loop circuit, having a first contact and a second contact, constituting a wire mesh, and positioned on the circuit board; a substrate, configured on the circuit board; a data reading element, electrically connected to the first loop circuit, and one end thereof being passed through the circuit board to position on the substrate; a cover, covering the circuit board; a flexible circuit board, stuck to inner faces of the cover, and including a second loop circuit having a third contact and constituting the wire mesh; an electrical conductor, having a first end connected to the second contact and a second end connected to the third contact; and a conducting element, electrically connected to the first contact and covered by the cover. |
| US08251286B2 |
System and method for conducting secure PIN debit transactions
The invention relates to a system for secure multi-factor authentication using dynamic data, the system including a card reader, and a computer having a display, wherein the card reader is configured to read card information from a data card, provide a scramble code to the computer, receive user input data indicative of user input responsive to a graphical numeric display based on the scramble code, generate PIN data based on the user input data, generate a PIN block including the PIN data and the card information, and transmit the PIN block for authentication. |
| US08251284B2 |
Covers having RFID functionality for portable electronic devices
A cover for electronic hand-held devices providing RFID-operability and/or other functional keypad overlay to extend or expand the operation of the device to permit the user to perform additional actions or transactions facilitated by the RFID-operable cover. Method of using the cover for conducting business transactions are also included. |
| US08251277B2 |
Thermal sleeve, method for manufacturing a thermal sleeve, and combination cup and thermal sleeve
A thermal sleeve is provided according to the invention. The thermal sleeve can be provided as a cup sleeve for wrapping a cup and providing thermal insulation. The cup sleeve includes a creped paper product having a first end, a second end, a first cup opening, and a second cup opening, and an adhesive holding the first end and the second end together to form a wrap wherein the wrap is sized to enclose a cup. A method for manufacturing a cup sleeve is provided. A combination cup and cup sleeve is provided. |
| US08251276B2 |
Octagon-shaped food-transport container
A container is adapted to transport food or other articles. The container includes a floor, two side walls, a front end closure coupled to the side walls, and a rear end closure coupled to the side walls. |
| US08251271B2 |
Nailing machine
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nailing machine, including: a drive unit that drives a blade to strike a nail; a blade guide that includes a guide groove to guide the blade; a guide plate that is attached on the blade guide to cover the guide groove; and a magazine that is held with respect to the blade guide and that feeds a nail to the guide groove, wherein the nailing machine further includes a blade fixing unit that limits a movement of the blade when the guide plate is detached. |
| US08251270B2 |
Plastic grocery bag dispenser with side panels and guide bar
A plastic bag dispenser with side panels and guide bar includes: a) a base frame with a back and bottom section with open front adapted to hold a plastic bag roll; b) a swing arm and core rod adapted to receive a plastic bag roll for rotation and to move downwardly as the plastic bag roll is depleted; c) a first and second set of opposing side panels located on the base frame for stabilizing the movement of the plastic bag roll; d) an elongated open guide bar having a top and sides located on the open fronted bottom section for movement of bags from the plastic bag roll; and, e) a rip tongue located on the open fronted bottom section with an upward taper adapted to catch and separate a passing bag when pulled forward through the guide bar and over the rip tongue. Mounting mechanisms for the present invention are also detailed. |
| US08251258B2 |
Systems and methods of selecting and dispensing products
Embodiments of a dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user are disclosed. The dispensing system may include an input/output device and a dispenser. The input/output device may be adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user. The dispenser may be adapted to dispense a plurality of diluent components, the diluent components and a ratio of the diluent components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user. |
| US08251257B2 |
Vessel having CO2 compressed gas source
The compressed CO2 gas source is an insert that can be fixed in a sealed manner in an opening of the vessel. The insert has a high-pressure CO2 cartridge, a pressure-regulating valve for discharging CO2 therefrom and a control element that is accessible from the outside and that can be actuated to pierce the high-pressure CO2 cartridge. The control element can be automatically interlocked and blocked against further actuation after it has first been actuated. |
| US08251256B2 |
Method of dispensing a metered amount of granular material
A method is provided for dispensing a controlled quantity of a granular material. The method employs a dispenser including a reservoir that retains granular material. The reservoir is supported in the dispenser with a passageway defined between opposing ends. The dispenser is first positioned in a loading orientation for the outflow of material from the reservoir through a nozzle to a metering cup. A baffle positioned proximate the opening of the metering cup stabilizes the controlled volume directed into the cup from the reservoir. Once the metering cup is filled, the dispenser is inverted. Then, the volume of material is directed from the cup through the passageway and out of an opening adjacent a diffuser, through which the material is spread. |
| US08251255B1 |
Aerosol spray texture apparatus for a particulate containing material
A method of applying texture material to a surface. A block of chip material is provided. A physical structure of the chip material is not substantially altered when the chip material is exposed to a propellant material. The block of chip material is processed to obtain chips, and the chips are combined with a coating portion to obtain acoustic texture material. Propellant material is arranged within the product chamber such that a liquid phase portion of the propellant material is mixed with the acoustic texture material, and a gas phase portion of the propellant material pressurizes the acoustic texture material within the product chamber. The chip material may be urethane, in which case the propellant material may be di-methyl ethylene. |
| US08251253B1 |
Pivoting collapsible electrical device cover
An electrical device cover comprises a base with an opening in a back wall of the base sized to receive an electrical device and a lid coupled to the base at a first base end through a hinge, the lid pivotable between and open position and at least one closed position. The base comprises a notch on a base wall extending away from the first base end. A first lid end is hingedly coupled to the first base end such that the first lid end is selectively adjustable with respect to the base toward and away from the second base end. A lid pin extends from the lid towards the notch when the lid is in at least one closed position wherein the lid pin seats in the notch when the first lid end is selectively adjusted toward the second base end. |
| US08251246B2 |
Partitioned container with system for selectively providing access to a selected compartment
A container including a top wall, the top wall defining a container first aperture and a container second aperture. A first and a second lid are provided. The first and second lid are configured so as to be each movable between a lid closed position and a lid opened position for selectively blocking and freeing respectively the container first and second apertures. A lock is configurable between a lock first configuration and a lock second configuration. In the lock first configuration, the container first lid is locked in the closed position by the lock and the container second lid is freely movable between the opened and closed positions. In the lock second configuration, the container second lid is locked in the closed position by the lock and the container first lid is freely movable between the opened and closed positions. |
| US08251244B2 |
Respirator
A closing device is provided for a container of a respirator with two container shells (2, 2′) joining each other at front surfaces, with at least one tightening strap (4), which encloses a part of a container shell outer surface located at right angles to the front surfaces. Two holding elements (5, 5′) are each provided with a recess (6, 6′) and are formed at the free ends of the tightening strap (4). A closing element (7) is formed in a U-shaped pattern with two legs (8) and meshes with each recess (6, 6′) of the holding elements (5, 5′). The legs (8) of the closing element (7) can be pulled out of the recess (6, 6′) of the holding elements (5, 5′) to take off the tightening strap (4). |
| US08251243B2 |
Closure having a segmented locking ring
A closure (100) having a hub (102) and pivotally connected head (104). The head is locked in a closed position within the hub by a locking ring (106). The locking ring is polygonal in shape and includes a substantially cylindrical surface and a conical surface. The device further includes a pressure warning device (126) which has a secondary function as a locking mechanism inhibiting unintentional opening of the head when the system is pressurized. |
| US08251241B2 |
Container lid with cutting mechanism for allowing easy-open access to products in sealed containers and beverage container including container lid
A lid facilitates opening a sealed container and includes a connecting rim engageable with the sealed container and encircling a lid surface, and threads disposed on an inside surface of the connecting rim. A cutting tab is disposed on the lid surface. The cutting tab is sized and positioned to engage a seal of the sealed container when the lid is threaded onto the sealed container via the threads. In one application, the lid is applied to a pre-filled container including a product sealed in the container. The lid serves to open the seal and provide access to the product. |
| US08251236B1 |
Closure with lifting mechanism
A closure having a device for lifting a liner from a container opening. The lifting device being a finger projecting from a hinge connection within the closure. The hinge connection is positioned from a depending skirt of the closure. The hinged finger disengages the liner from a sealing engagement with the container while engaging along substantially the same annulus spaced from the liner edge. A plurality of the hinged fingers may be used for the lifting device. The closure may be used in various retort and aseptic applications, as well as provide for tamper indication. |
| US08251233B1 |
Shelving systems
A shelving system and a shelf for that system are disclosed. The shelving system may include a frame base; upright frame bars connected to the frame base, the upright frame bars including a plurality of apertures; and a plurality of shelves. One or more of the plurality of shelves may include front, left, right, and rear walls, the left and right walls including at least one connector configured to be received in one or more apertures of the plurality of apertures; at least one base member connecting the front and rear walls; and at least one glide sheet configured to allow gravity to move the items supported on the at least one glide sheet toward the front wall, the shelf being free from a locking mechanism that secures the at least one glide sheet to one or more other components of the shelf. |
| US08251229B2 |
Cylindrical module handler with panels
In one embodiment, a system for removing a plastic wrap from a cylindrical module includes a conveyor transporting the cylindrical module toward a disperser with the cylindrical axis of the module parallel to the direction of conveyor movement. In another embodiment, the disperser is a travelling head disperser thereby providing relative movement between the modules and the disperser. The direction of the wrap around the module is determined and the cover is removed during rotation of the module, either by unwrapping the plastic or by slitting the plastic and then rotating the module. The equipment used to handle a cylindrical module is moved out of the path of movement of a conventional rectangular module so an installation can handle both rectangular and wrapped cylindrical modules. |
| US08251226B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating residues
The apparatus for separating residues from a thermal waste treatment into one fine fraction and one coarse fraction comprises a housing (1) abutting on swinging elements (2), said housing having a plurality of diagonally offset plates (3.1-3.5) that are disposed one beneath the other and are connected to said housing (1) by their side edges, and being equipped with means (5) for generating a vibration component oriented in the direction of the plates (3.1-3.5) disposed diagonally offset downward. The apparatus further comprises one suction line (6) as well as an inlet opening for a gas that may be passed between the plates for wind sieving. Residues or slag from a waste treatment plant or an incineration plant are supplied to this apparatus in order to separate them into at least one fine fraction and one coarse fraction. |
| US08251224B2 |
Product packaging with expanding structures
A product packaging with expanding structures. The product packaging includes a body configured to house a toy. The body includes a central section configured to receive the toy, a front section coupled to the central section and having a transparent region configured for viewing the toy and a storage region for receiving an accessory, and a rear section configured to rotate relative to the central section and having expandable features. |
| US08251218B2 |
Container with pivoting cover
Disclosed is a package for storing a product, such as smokeless tobacco, which includes, inter alia, a container that has opposing upper and lower surfaces, and a container sidewall that extends between the upper and lower surfaces to define an interior for storing a plurality of products. The upper surface of the container has an apex intermediate a first region and a second region and the container sidewall defines an opening sized and configured to release at least one of the products. The package also includes an outer cover having an upper section and a cover sidewall depending from the upper section. The outer cover is configured to retain the container and selectively seal the opening. The container pivots about the apex to transition between open and closed positions. |
| US08251215B2 |
Inflatable device with air bag and a packaging method by using the same
An inflatable device with air bag includes an air bag, two first assembly portions and two second assembly portions. The two first assembly portions are respectively fastened at two sides of the air bag, and the two second assembly portions are respectively fastened at another two sides of the air bag. The two second assembly portions correspond to the two first assembly portions. Thereby, by utilizing the assembly portions to repeatedly assemble the air bags, the dimension of the inflatable device with air bag is quickly expanded to a proper size to wrap the objects with different sizes. It prevents the object from being impacted, and achieves the waterproof effect and the moisture-proof effect. A packaging method by using the inflatable device with air bag is also disclosed. |
| US08251207B2 |
Footwear customization kit
A footwear customization kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear in a steam environment. |
| US08251201B2 |
Bottle processing system
The invention relates to a device and a method of processing containers. Herein, a processing system is used in which all of the processing units for the containers are kinematically rigidly coupled to one another. According to the invention, a specified number of containers is supplied to the first processing unit of the system and the working speed of the system is reduced after the last container has left the first processing unit and before the specified number of the first containers has reached the second processing unit. |
| US08251200B2 |
Steps or plates for a conveying device, and conveying device
Step cheek (20.1, 20.2) for a conveying device (1) having a plurality of steps (2) or plates, wherein each step (2) or plate has two lateral step cheeks (20.1, 20.2) which stand substantially perpendicular with respect to a tread element (9) and a seating element (14) of the step (2) or plate. The step cheek (20.1, 20.2) comprises a single-piece, deep-drawn metal sheet, wherein the metal sheet has a three-dimensional shape with an at least partially circumferential rim (26) and a step socket (32) which is enclosed or surrounded by the metal sheet. |
| US08251199B2 |
Conveyor apparatus
A conveyor apparatus is provided that includes a frame and a cross conveyor. The cross conveyor has a movable belt sized and configured to receive and move material. The cross conveyor is supported by the frame. The frame has a base and a plurality of rotatable members attached to the base. The rotatable members are configured to rotate to move the frame. The frame is sized and configured to be positionable adjacent to a mobile bridge conveyor having a tripper conveyor device such that a portion of the cross conveyor is positionable under an upper end portion of the tripper conveyor device to receive material from the tripper conveyor device and move the material to a storage area or stacking area for stacking the material. The tripper is preferably constrained to the frame of the mobile bridge conveyor. |
| US08251198B2 |
Self-service cash handling machine and method with configurable coin storage
A self-service change redemption machine (10) has an intake area (18) for receiving batches of mixed coinage and conveying the coins to a coin sorter (22) for sorting, counting and directing coins into a plurality of coin chutes (26). From there, the coins are routed to coin receptacles such as bags (60). Multiple bags are provided for certain denominations. To fill multiple bags for a given denomination, repositionable diverter mechanisms (30) are provided between the chutes (26) and pluralities of bags for the respective denominations. The bags are held by bag holders (34) which extend downward from a substantially rigid one-piece chassis (40), which also supports the diverter mechanisms (30). The machine (10) has buttons (80) responsive to inputs from a user to turn on the machine, to process coins that are input through the intake area (18) and to issue the voucher or other form of credit. Instructions for using the machine (10) and other information are displayed on a screen display (15). |
| US08251194B2 |
Solenoid valve
A solenoid valve device that includes a solenoid valve; a drive circuit that drives the solenoid section; a current sensor that detects a current applied to the solenoid section; and a control unit that controls, when the solenoid valve is served as the pressure control valve, the drive circuit by performing a feedback control based on the current detected by the current sensor so that a current in accordance with an output pressure command is applied to the solenoid section, and controls, when the solenoid valve is served as the solenoid pump, the drive circuit without performing the feedback control so that a pump current is applied to the solenoid section. |
| US08251193B2 |
Torque transmission device
A torque transmission device, in particular in the drive train of a motor vehicle, with a hydrodynamic torque converter (6), including a converter cover (14), which can be connected torque proof or is connected torque proof with a drive unit (3). The converter cover can be coupled with a turbine shell (21) through a pump shell (20), which can be bridged by a converter lockup clutch (30) that includes a piston (28) axially movable relative to the converter cover (14) within limits. The piston (28) is connected torque proof with a drive plate (50) in a first connection portion (51). The drive plate is connected torque proof with the converter cover (14) in a second connection portion (52), wherein an additional connection portion (53; 56) is provided, in which the drive plate (50) is connected torque proof with the converter cover (14). |
| US08251192B1 |
Suitcase
A suitcase has a vacuum system which draws air out of clothing and areas adjacent to clothing being stored in the suitcase. |
| US08251189B2 |
Railway brake cylinder
A railway brake cylinder includes a body (11′); a piston (13′) mobile relative to the body (11′) to act on a brake linkage and delimiting with the body (11′) a pressure chamber (10′) adapted to be supplied by a pneumatic pressure agent source; an auxiliary actuating member (26′) mobile relative to the body (11′) and the piston (13′), mechanically connected to manual operating elements to cause it to occupy either a rest position in which it is away from the piston (13′) or a pushing position in which it is in contact with the piston (13′); two orifices (73′, 51′) in fluid communication with the chamber (10′) and the atmosphere, respectively; and selective connecting elements (28′) between the two orifices (73′, 51′), the elements (28′) being mechanically connected to the auxiliary actuating member. |
| US08251187B2 |
Pneumatic brake device
The invention relates to a pneumatic brake device having a spindle movable in the axial direction and a yoke, on which the spindle is supported such that a rotation of the spindle is prevented. According to the invention, a first and a second yoke toothed ring having sets of teeth (8; 10) directed toward each other are connected to the yoke in a rotationally fixed manner. Furthermore, a spindle toothed ring with sets of teeth on both sides is rigidly connected to the spindle between the two yoke toothed rings. |
| US08251186B2 |
Mounting components within an elevator
A method and an adapter kit for fastening a first elevator component to a second elevator component. The kit comprises a first bracket having two opposing walls interconnected by a web configured for attachment to the first component wherein a slot extending parallel to the web is provided in each of the opposing walls. A second and a third bracket is provided each having two opposing walls interconnected by a web wherein a slot is provided in the web extending between the two opposing walls. The second and third brackets are mountable to the second component by their respective slots. The first bracket is mountable to the second and third brackets by the slots in its opposing walls when the first bracket is positioned such that its opposing walls lie adjacent to the opposing walls of the second and third brackets, respectively. |
| US08251184B2 |
Hydraulic load lifter with energy recovery system
Provided is a system, lifting column and method for the energy efficient lifting and lowering of a load, such as a vehicle. The system includes a lifting column having a frame with a movable carrier and a drive which acts on the carrier. The drive includes a power source for power supply to a motor, a pump in an ascent mode driven by the motor and in a decent mode driving the motor as a generator for energy-recovery, and motor control unit for control of the motor. The motor control unit is arranged such that the power supply of the motor is manipulated for speed control of the carrier in at least the ascent mode. |
| US08251182B2 |
Automatic lubricant dispenser using opposite directional pressurization
An automatic lubricant dispenser is detachably mounted on a bearing of a machine to continuously supply lubricant to the bearing. The dispenser includes a housing for storing the lubricant inside, a piston upwardly compressing the lubricant inside the housing, a spring installed at a bottom of the piston, for compressing and elastically supporting the piston, and a flow pipe installed vertically by extending through both the housing and the piston. The flow pipe is formed with an inflow hole on a top portion thereof and an inside hollow channel so that the lubricant compressed by the piston flows into the flow pipe and is then discharged into a bottom of the housing. An operator can voluntarily control the accurate flow amount of the fluent lubricant. |
| US08251178B2 |
Linkage-driven power step
A movable step apparatus that includes a mounting frame, at least one step, and a rotary drive mechanism is provided. The movable step apparatus also includes a drive link and a follower link. The drive link is operatively connected to the drive mechanism to move the at least one step between retracted and extended positions. The follower link is pivotally connected to the drive link and pivotally connected to the at least one step. The follower link drives the at least one step to extend and retract the at least one step. The movable step apparatus further includes at least one link pivotally connecting the at least one step to the mounting frame to move between the retracted and extended positions. |
| US08251176B2 |
Self-retracting lifeline with disconnectable lifeline
A self-retracting lifeline includes a replaceable lifeline and comprises a housing, a drum rotatably operatively connected to the housing, a lifeline, and a locking member operatively connected to the drum and moveable from an unlocked position to a locked position for locking the drum relative to the housing to assist in replacing the lifeline. |
| US08251175B1 |
Corrugated acoustical panel
An acoustical panel construction useful as a suspended ceiling tile having a rectangular shape bounded by edges and establishing a face area comprising at least one corrugated layer or layers of a total thickness, the layer or layers having a multitude of parallel flutes extending across an expanse of the rectangular shape substantially from one edge of the panel to an opposite edge, the flutes being formed by walls of the layer or layers and being of known volume, a series of apertures each of known area through the wall or walls of the flutes communicating with the atmosphere at the face, the aperture area, flute cavity volume associated with an aperture, and the total thickness of the corrugated layers associated with an aperture being arranged to produce a maximum absorption frequency between 200 and 2,000 Hz. |
| US08251174B2 |
Method for bonding honeycomb cores
A method for splicing honeycomb core together to form a core structure, such as an acoustic panel for an aircraft. The core structure may comprise a first honeycomb core, a second honeycomb core, and an intermediate bonding part disposed between the first and second honeycomb cores. The intermediate bonding part may comprise a syntactic core wrapped with or sandwiched between a non-foaming film adhesive. The syntactic core sandwiched between a first and second layer of film adhesive and a first and second honeycomb core is then compressed by vacuum and cured to bond the honeycomb cores together, forming the core structure. |
| US08251168B2 |
Air cooling system including airflow deflector for electric drive machine
An electric drive machine includes an axle assembly having a central axle housing. An electric drive motor, having a motor housing, is oriented along an axis and disposed within the central axle housing. An air cooling system includes a blower fluidly connected to and positioned upstream of an opening of the central axle housing. An airflow path through the central axle housing includes an upstream segment and a downstream segment. The upstream segment extends from the opening to an airflow deflector, and is configured for airflow in a first direction along an axial path. The downstream segment extends from the airflow deflector to the motor housing, and is configured for airflow in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, along a helical path. |
| US08251164B2 |
Hybrid vehicle drive system
A drive system is provided for a hybrid vehicle that has an engine with a crankshaft and a motor/generator having a shaft member. The drive system includes a starter sprocket connected for rotation with the shaft member and a crankshaft sprocket connected for rotation with the crankshaft. A chain is engaged with the starter sprocket and the crankshaft sprocket. A planetary gear set is configured to multiply torque of the motor/generator, with the multiplied torque being provided to the engine crankshaft via the sprockets and the chain to start the engine. |
| US08251163B2 |
Climbing devices based on thermo-reversible dry adhesives
One embodiment of the invention includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in climbing devices. |
| US08251161B2 |
Device for actuating a bottom tool
A downhole tool may include a generally hollow piston having a trigger element extending therefrom, the piston configured to slide along an axial cavity extending through a tubular body of the tool. The trigger element may move from a first position where the trigger engages a support on the body and the piston is fixed, to a second position where the trigger disengages and the piston is released. The tool may also include a generally tubular relief sleeve releasably coupled with the piston using a shear pin, while the trigger element is in the first position, and disposed between the trigger and an extension of the piston, to allow the sleeve to slide between the trigger and the extension after shearing of the pin. The piston, sleeve and pin may be configured to allow the sleeve to release from the piston in response to the shearing of the pin. |
| US08251160B2 |
Measurement while drilling apparatus and method of using the same
A method and apparatus used to transmit information to the surface from a subsurface location during the process of drilling a bore hole is described. A novel pressure pulse generator or “pulser” is coupled to a sensor package, a controller and a battery power source all of which reside inside a short section of drill pipe close to the bit at the bottom of the bore hole being drilled. The assembled apparatus or “MWD Tool” can be commanded from the surface to make a measurement of desired parameters and transmit this information to the surface by encoding data in pressure pulses generated by a pulser valve that includes a stator and a rotor which may be open and closed to create pressure pulses. |
| US08251156B2 |
Compliant shifting mechanism for right angle drill
A compliant shifting mechanism can change the operation of a power tool between first and second operating conditions. The shifting mechanism can provide two distinct forces on a gear set during movement of the gear set between the two operating conditions. The shifting mechanism can provide a user with a tactile sensation of the completion of the transition between the two operating conditions without the gear set completing the full transition. A shifting mechanism can automatically complete the change between operating conditions, regardless of an alignment between the gear set and another component. The two distinct forces can be a torsional resistance force and a bending resistance force. |
| US08251154B2 |
Tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves and method
A tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves includes, a tubular, a plurality of sleeves disposed at the tubular, and a plurality of engagable members being movable through the tubular with each of the plurality of engagable members being configurable to selectively engage with at least one of the plurality of sleeves and such engagement at least temporarily preventing passage of an engaged engagable member by an engaged sleeve. |
| US08251149B2 |
Method and apparatus to transport subterranean oil to the surface
A method to extract oil for a pool of oil in the ground utilizes an interconnected series of rotating helical blades extending from the surface of the ground through a canted bore to the pool of oil. The blades can be staggered and interconnected with a gear arrangement that moves oil from pool to pool and up to the surface of the ground. |
| US08251145B2 |
Pressure relieving transition joint
A method of completing a wellbore having a branch wellbore extending outwardly from a window in a parent wellbore comprises positioning a tubular string in the window, wherein the positioning comprises deflecting the tubular string from the parent wellbore into the branch wellbore. The method also comprises providing a particulate barrier outside and against the tubular string proximate the window, the particulate barrier substantially excluding transport of particulate matter from the branch wellbore into the parent wellbore outside of the tubular string through the window. The method also comprises the tubular string passing fluid into the tubular string proximate the window from a formation proximate to the window while substantially excluding transport of particulate matter from the formation proximate to the window into the tubular string. |
| US08251140B2 |
Fluid monitoring and flow characterization
A wireline logging tool and method for fluid monitoring and flow characterization in individual zones of controlled salinity is disclosed. The tool and method advantageously facilitate zone-specific testing. Sets of packers are used to create hydraulically distinct zones proximate to the tool. Coiled tubing and isolation valves are used to selectively introduce and remove an electrically conductive fluid such as brine to and from a selected zone. Individual sensors are disposed near each zone to make zone-specific measurements while fluid properties are changed, e.g. while salinity is changed to cause salinity fronts in the formation. |
| US08251123B2 |
Casting core assembly methods
A casting core assembly includes a metallic core and a ceramic core. The process for forming the casting core assembly includes inserting a ceramic plug of a metallic core and ceramic plug core subassembly into a compartment of the ceramic core. The ceramic plug is secured to the ceramic core. |
| US08251119B2 |
Control rod mechanism and system
A reversible control rod mechanism adapted for selectively and repeatedly rotating a shaft bidirectionally and thereby moving an attached load bidirectionally. |
| US08251118B2 |
Combination window shutter for fire and shade
The present invention is a device that provides protection for a window from exterior fires which might ignite combustibles by radiation through the glass and/or break the glass and allow direct flame impingement, and also operates as a non-solid shutter or shade allowing privacy and shade. The shutter consists of metal or other noncombustible screen, mesh or slats spaced or pierced so that they allow some light to penetrate for shade control but protect the window glass from heat radiation and flying debris created by an external firestorm. The shutter can be raised and lowered manually, or with mechanical assistance, as by means of a chain lift or other roll-up/down mechanism for shade and privacy control, but will drop (close) automatically when released by a fusible link of the appropriate temperature setting to provide the fire protection. The unique features of the invention are the spacing of the slats, mesh or screen openings, sized to interrupt the coherent passage of heat radiation waves, and a mechanism to override manual operation so that shutter will automatically close during a fire. |
| US08251114B2 |
Pneumatic tire
Provided is a pneumatic tire having an improved driving stability with reduced weight by use of an inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer. A pneumatic tire of the present invention includes: a pair of bead portions; a carcass layer bridged between the pair of bead portions; a belt layer disposed on an outer circumferential side of the carcass layer; an inner liner layer disposed along an inner surface of the carcass layer, the inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition that is obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer; and bead cores buried in the bead portions, respectively. The inner liner layer is wound up around the bead cores from an inner side of the tire to an outer side thereof. At least one wound-up part of the inner liner layer extends to a position where the wound-up part overlaps the belt layer. |
| US08251113B2 |
Handbag, a system a method for interchanging storage containers
A handbag, a system and a method interchange storage containers which hold personal items and/or professional items. The handbag may have an outer shell that may have walls defining a cavity. The handbag has an insert with portions defining three or more containers. The handbag has a purse insert with sides defining an inner volume of the purse insert. The handbag has a purse shell with sections defining a chamber. The purse insert fits within the insert, and the insert fits within the outer shell. The purse insert may be transferred into an alternate insert, placed in a purse shell or carried independently. The insert is transferrable between the outer shell and an alternate outer shell. Moreover, the purse insert fits within the purse shell and is transferrable from the insert to the purse shell. |
| US08251111B2 |
Balloon inflator
A balloon inflator includes a nozzle adaptor configured to fit over an outlet of an inflation nozzle. A nozzle receipt is provided by the balloon inflator housing to selectively receive the nozzle adaptor and a switch is provided at the nozzle receipt. The nozzle adaptor is adapted to trigger the switch when received at the nozzle receipt. The switch controls the power supplied to the motor, such that different motor operating parameters are realized when the switch is triggered and when the switch is not triggered. In a particular embodiment, the nozzle adaptor includes vent channels that exhaust a portion of the air to the atmosphere when a balloon is fitted over the alternate outlet. |
| US08251109B2 |
Filler neck
The invention relates to a filler neck (1) for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle which has at least one tubular section (3) provided in the area of the filler inlet to receive the outlet pipe (4) of a fuel delivery nozzle. The filler neck (1) according to the invention has the distinguishing feature of at least one insert forming a constriction as a flame barrier, which encloses the outlet pipe (4), forming at least one gas passage gap (7), the gap dimension being selected so that any flashback is prevented. |
| US08251106B2 |
Unit for repairing and inflating an inflatable article, vehicle comprising a unit for repairing and inflating inflatable articles, and relative method
A unit, for repairing and inflating an inflatable article, defines a volume for a sealing fluid; an inlet for compressed air; and an outlet connected fluidically to the inlet via the volume to inject the sealing fluid into the inflatable article by means of the compressed air. More specifically, the inlet is connected by releasable fluidic connecting means to a fluidic outlet port of a pneumatic circuit of a vehicle having a compressed-air source and at least one pneumatic actuator connected to the compressed-air source. |
| US08251104B2 |
Reinforcing bar binder
In a reinforcing bar binder in which a wire reel around which a reinforcing bar binding wire is wound is rotatably housed in a housing chamber in a binder main body, the wire is pulled out from the wire reel and wound around reinforcing bars, and the reinforcing bars are bound by twisting the wound portion, an opening is formed through one of both side walls of the housing chamber at a position corresponding to a shaft receiving portion formed on the wire reel. On the one side wall, a reel receiver which is supported so as to come into and come out from the opening is fitted to the shaft receiving portion of the wire reel when it is pushed into the inside of the side wall. A reel stopper moves along the wall surface of the one side wall and can engage with the reel receiver fitted to the shaft receiving portion. A leaf spring urges the reel stopper engaged with the reel receiver to the pushing-in side. |
| US08251102B2 |
Heddle frame
A heddle frame (1) is driven via drive rods (15), which pass through its lateral sampsons (13). To that end, the lateral sampsons (13) each have a corresponding channel (19). The play between the circumferential face (22) of the drive rods (15) and the channel wall face (21) of the respective channel (19) has an intermediate layer (24), which extends over the full length, or portions, of the drive rod (15). The intermediate layer (24) preferably comprises an impact-proof, permanent-elastic, damping material. A slight residual play allows the introduction of the drive rods (15) and the intermediate layer (24) into the channel (19) without force. |
| US08251093B2 |
Fuel supply apparatus for a combustor
A fuel supply apparatus for a combustor configured to prevent or substantially prevent a flashback from being generated from the combustor. A fuel supply apparatus includes a fuel distribution part having a first opening part and a second opening part, the fuel distribution part configured to alternately discharge a fuel from the first opening part and the second opening part; and a housing having a first channel and a second channel, wherein an intermediate part of the first channel is coupled to and in fluid communication with the first opening part, and an intermediate part of the second channel is coupled to and in fluid communication with the second opening part. |
| US08251089B1 |
Relief system for process fluids under pressure
A relief system for process fluids under pressure. The system includes a normally open isolation valve in fluid communication with a process system under pressure through an upstream conduit. A buckling pin actuator is in fluid communication with the upstream conduit through a sensing line. A spring activated actuator is engaged with the isolation relief valve in order to retain the isolation valve in a closed position. A buckling actuator bypass valve is supplied with non process fluid pressure to an input port and the buckling actuator bypass valve also includes a first output port to the spring activated actuator and a second output port to a vent whereby pressure in the process system above a predetermined level will actuate the buckling pin actuator, moving said buckling actuator bypass valve to said second outlet port to vent and thereby moving the spring activated actuator in order to open the isolation valve. |
| US08251078B2 |
Umbrella handle
Umbrella handle assemblies are provided for maintaining a position of a canopy relative to a support pole of an umbrella. The handle assemblies can be slidable along the pole, but can also be actuated to cause the assemblies to be generally fixed at a given longitudinal position along the pole in order to maintain an open or closed position of the canopy. The handle assemblies can include a handle that can be actuated to cause a brake component of the assemblies to engage with the pole to secure the handle assembly relative to the pole. |
| US08251077B2 |
Liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method and storage medium
A liquid processing apparatus and method capable of separately collecting first and second processing liquids from each other, and preventing a formation of a defect (such as watermarks and particles) on a target substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the liquid processing apparatus includes a substrate holding device, a processing liquid supply device to supply a first processing liquid and a second processing liquid, a rotating cup, an outer discharge portion and an inner discharge portion to respectively discharge the first processing liquid and the second processing liquid received from the first receiving surface of the rotating cup, and a discharge portion switch device to open/close the outer discharge portion. The lower end of the first receiving surface of the rotating cup extends to a lower position than the position of the substrate held by the substrate holding device. The first processing liquid is discharged toward the outer discharge portion when the discharge portion switch device moves up, and the second processing liquid is discharged toward the inner discharge portion 16 when the discharge portion switch device moves down. |
| US08251074B2 |
Adjustable applicator
An adjustable applicator employed for application of a cosmetic or a care product such as for application of mascara, coloring strands of hair, for dental flossing or for applying pharmaceuticals or cleaning agents is provided. In one embodiment, an adjustable applicator includes an applicator element having a bore, a filament wherein the filament is housed inside the bore of the applicator element and a clasping means wherein the applicator element angularly deforms when a force is applied on the clasping means such that the angular deformation occurs on the radial axis of the applicator element. Also disclosed is a device for packaging and dispensing a substance that includes an adjustable applicator. |
| US08251071B2 |
Powerhead of a power injection system
A contrast media injection system includes detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols. |
| US08251069B2 |
Combination bite block, tongue depressor/retractor and airway
A combination bite block, tongue elevator/retractor and airway for establishing and maintaining an open airway while preventing emergence clenching and the resulting dental and soft tissue damage associated with emergence clenching in procedures where anesthesia and/or sedation are used, or when the patient is not in control of their own airway, regardless of the cause. The inventive subject matter includes a tongue elevator/retractor component in both right and left conformations; and a bite block component. The bite block component is a wedge shaped, compressible component that is inserted between the upper and lower molars on either the right or left side of the mouth. The tongue elevator component is comprised by a flat portion of that is inserted into the side of the bite block, and an optional curved portion that retracts the tongue off of the posterior pharynx when in place. |
| US08251061B2 |
Methods and systems for control of gas therapy
A gas therapy system involves sensing the blood gas concentration of the patient and adapting a gas therapy based on the sensed gas concentration. Disordered breathing may be detected bases on blood gas concentration, and gas or cardiac electrical therapy may be adapted to treat the detected disordered breathing. One or more of sensing the blood gas concentration, detecting disordered breathing, or adapting the therapy may be performed at least in part implantably. The gas therapy is delivered to the patient through an external respiratory device, such as a positive airway pressure device. |
| US08251053B2 |
Block splitting assembly and method
The invention relates to equipment and related methods for producing concrete blocks. The equipment and methods described herein utilize splitting assemblies having larger projections and/or smaller projections or peaks disposed on at least one side of a splitting line and which engage the workpiece as it is split into at least two pieces. |
| US08251051B2 |
Bug killing gun
A bug killing gun includes a compressed gas source fluidly connected to a chamber connected to a barrel. A compressed gas release mechanism is connected to the compressed gas source. A projectile storage magazine stores particulate projectiles and is located adjacent the chamber. A projectile loading mechanism moves the projectiles into the chamber from the magazine. A cocking mechanism is mechanically connected to the compressed gas source, the compressed gas release mechanism, and the projectile loading mechanism. A stock houses and supports the compressed gas source, the compressed gas release mechanism, the barrel, the chamber, the projectile storage magazine, the cocking mechanism and the projectile loading mechanism. When the gun is cocked, the projectile loading mechanism loads a predetermined quantity of the particulate projectiles into the chamber. When the compressed gas release mechanism is activated the projectiles are ejected from the chamber into the barrel and expelled from the gun. |
| US08251046B2 |
Fuel system for an internal combustion engine
A fuel system for a diesel engine has both a low pressure pump, which extracts fuel from the fuel tank, and a high pressure pump, which is fed by the low pressure pump and supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injectors supply fuel to the engine cylinders, with a small portion of fuel routed back into the fuel system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the injector return fuel is routed into a low pressure fuel line between the low and high pressure fuel pumps, with return fuel from the fuel rails returned through a fuel cooler to the fuel tank. The low pressure fuel line has a filter disposed therein and the injector return fuel is returned to the low pressure fuel line upstream of the filter. |
| US08251044B2 |
Vehicle control system
A method is provided for controlling an engine via an outlet control device of an intake manifold, such as via variable valve lift operation. The engine may further include an inlet control device, such as an electronic throttle, as well as coordination between the inlet and outlet control devices for controlling airflow in the engine. |
| US08251043B2 |
Variable valve lift control systems and methods
An intake valve control system comprises a torque control module and an opening control module. The torque control module controls torque output by an engine based on a torque output target. The opening control module opens intake valves of M cylinders of the engine to a first lift position when the torque output target is less than a torque threshold and selectively transitions the intake valves of N of the M cylinders to a second lift position. N and M are integers greater than zero, and N is less than M. The second lift position is open further than the first lift position. |
| US08251042B2 |
Control unit and control method for torque-demand-type internal combustion engine
When a fuel-supply cutoff condition is satisfied, an ECU executes a program including: calculating the target torque; detecting the engine speed NE; calculating the target KL based on the target torque, NE and MBT; controlling an engine using the throttle valve opening amount based on the target KL, the base fuel ignition timing, and the fuel injection amount based on the current KL until the target KL becomes equal to or lower than the KL lower limit; controlling the engine using the throttle valve opening amount based on the KL lower limit, NE, the target ignition timing calculated based on the current KL and the target torque, and the fuel injection amount based on the current KL when the target KL reaches the KL lower limit; and actually starting a fuel-supply cutoff when the target ignition timing reaches the retardation limit timing. |
| US08251041B2 |
Accelerated compression ignition engine for HCCI
An internal combustion engine has cylinder wall cavities located near the top dead center stroke end to allow optimizing the compression ratio in first stage compression, as function of fuel octane number used. The volume of the cylinder wall cavities is designed to be adjustable, even when the engine is operating. Using a conventional piston motion, the second stage compression becomes accelerated as soon the upper piston ring seals-off the cylinder wall cavities. This is due to the sudden significant reduction in volume. During the power stroke, after the upper piston ring opens the cylinder wall cavities; their fuel content is ignited by second stage combustion products. Because the torque required during accelerated compression is no greater than during first stage compression, stresses in the crankshaft are no more than in conventional spark ignition engines. This allows small displacement engines to be of light weight and to be hand cranked. |
| US08251039B2 |
Heat shield
A heat shield includes a plurality of elements for shielding temperature-sensitive components. The elements are substantially matched to the respective contour of the component which is to be shielded and which at least partially overlap one another. The elements are fixed but moveable relative to one another in an overlapping region. |
| US08251036B2 |
Flexible seal and molded rigid chamber
A connection between an expansion chamber outlet and a rubber cuff that accommodates an inlet portion of a throttle body exhibits an overmolded, hot plate or spin weld type of connection between an expansion chamber wall outlet portion and the rubber cuff. The rubber cuff may have a bellow in it to absorb shock and force from the throttle body. The rubber cuff may be insert molded around the expansion chamber outlet such that the joined interface between the rubber cuff and the expansion chamber is from the molding. The molded interface prevents separation due to air forces through the chamber and cuff. A cuff recession on a cuff inside diameter receives a protuberance of the throttle body inlet portion. A band clamp fits around the outside diameter of the cuff, adjacent the throttle body inlet protuberance, to prevent movement relative to the throttle body. |
| US08251035B2 |
Engine control apparatus and engine control method
An engine control apparatus is provided that controls an engine which is restarted using an AC motor. The engine control apparatus comprises an engine rotational direction determining section, a restart command determining section and an engine restart prohibiting section. The engine rotational direction determining section is configured to determine a rotational direction of the engine. The restart command determining section is configured to determine if a restart command occurred while a rotational speed of the engine is decreasing due to an idle stop command. The engine restart prohibiting section is configured to selectively prohibit the engine from being restarted by the AC motor in response to the restart command upon determining the engine is rotating backward. |
| US08251029B2 |
Valve timing controller
A valve timing controller is provided with a driving rotor rotating along with a crankshaft, a driven rotor rotating along with a camshaft, a planetary gear performing a planetary motion to adjust a rotational phase between the camshaft and the crankshaft, a motor shaft rotating for controlling the planetary motion, a cylindrical planetary carrier supporting the planetary gear and being connected with the control shaft so that the planetary gear performs the planetary motion, and a lubricating mechanism. The lubricating mechanism includes an introducing port which opens on a side surface of the second rotor axially confronting the planetary carrier. The introducing port extends across a supporting outer surface and a connecting inner surface. The lubricant is introduced into an interior of the first rotor through the introducing port. |
| US08251027B2 |
Continuous variable valve lift apparatus
A variable valve lift apparatus may include an input unit, a control link disposed to a control shaft, a driving cam that is provided with a contact portion and pivotally disposed to the control shaft, a valve opening unit that contacts the contact portion and is opened and closed in accordance with pivoting of the driving cam, wherein the control link, the input unit and the driving cam are connected by a connecting unit, and contact positions of the valve opening unit and the contact portion are variable according to a relative rotation angle of the control link around the control shaft. |
| US08251026B2 |
Variable valve actuator
A variable valve actuator presses rocker arms using force transmitted from a drive cam to open/close valves of an engine, and includes a swing arm, which is pivotably coupled to the engine on a first side thereof, and at least two pressing means, which come into contact with the rocker arms on first sides thereof, are pivotably coupled to a second side of a swing arm on second sides thereof, and press the rocker arms when pressed by the drive cam. Thereby, the variable valve actuator can adjust a lift time and a lift distance of each valve without changing positions of the drive cams and the camshaft, and more easily adjust the lift time of each valve, and have very excellent applicability to the engine due to simple internal configuration. |
| US08251024B2 |
Cooling system expansion tank
An expansion tank for an engine cooling system comprises a housing forming a main chamber and a swirl chamber, the swirl chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall. An inlet connection discharges through an inlet orifice towards a collector duct having an entrance. From the inlet orifice the coolant is directed as a stream or jet along the adjacent surface of the cylindrical wall towards the entrance of the collector duct, guided by circumferential ribs. The kinetic energy of the stream is converted into pressure energy so that the pressure delivered from the outlet connection is slightly above the pressure at the top of the swirl chamber, above the level of liquid. This swirl chamber pressure is set by the relief pressure allowed by a filler cap, the gain in pressure helping to avoid cavitation in a coolant circulation pump. |
| US08251022B2 |
System and method for storage and delivery of a fuel additive on-board a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
A system for storage and delivery of a fuel additive on-board a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle having a purely electric mode of operation and a hybrid mode of operation and having a fuel tank configured to store a fuel includes a reservoir configured to store the fuel additive, a pump that delivers the fuel additive to the fuel tank, a first and second conduit, a controller that actuates the pump to deliver the fuel additive from the reservoir, an electric motor, a battery, and an internal combustion engine configured to consume the fuel during the hybrid mode of operation. A method of storing and delivering the fuel additive on-board the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes storing the fuel additive within the reservoir and actuating the pump via the controller to deliver the fuel additive from the reservoir to the fuel tank. |
| US08251021B1 |
Hydronic assembly of manifold with hydraulic separator and endsuction pumps
An air elimination device with a hydraulic separator in a compact format that eliminates numerous separate field installed components and connections and can be cost effectively made by means of spun, bent, bored, milled sheet copper or brass sheet, copper or brass tube or rod utilizing brazing, soldering and threading of parts. The device can be made to include a manifold, particularly with compact end suction pumps and can serve as a transition adaptor to other modular mechanical components. |
| US08251020B2 |
Leash having a speed-limiting braking mechanism and system and method for using same
An apparatus, a system and a method have a speed-limiting braking mechanism. The apparatus may use a leash to limit a velocity of movement of a pet relative to a velocity of movement of a user of the apparatus. The speed-limiting braking mechanism within the apparatus may prevent the relative velocity from exceeding a predetermined threshold without abruptly stopping unwinding of the leash. The speed-limiting braking mechanism may have a rotatable pinion component connected to one or more brake shoes. The leash may be connected to a spool. Unwinding of the leash may rotate the spool, and rotation of the spool may rotate the pinion component. If the relative velocity exceeds the predetermined threshold, the one or more brake shoes may engage a braking liner to maintain the relative velocity at the predetermined threshold. |
| US08251019B2 |
Can the barking dog systems
Can the Barking Dog is an audible device that individuals can use to train their dogs to refrain from barking uncontrollably. This item comprises a small metal aluminum container that has loose material (media) inside to create a jarring audible noise. Users simply shake the device creating a noise that stops a dog from barking. The container may be coated in rubber for increased durability. The device may have a wrist loop attached to the top making it easy for users to carry the device while walking a dog. The loose materials may be metal marbles or other items that create a metal-on-metal sound that is effective in capturing a dog's attention. The device may be designed with a button-operated component that compresses the loose material allowing users to silence the device in between uses. Further, the dog-bark inhibiting and training device includes a kit and a method of use. |
| US08251017B2 |
Biome in a box system
A biome in a box system comprising a transparent external container having a first size and a top edge and a transparent internal container having a second size configured to fit within the external container. The internal container is for placement of a habitat and has at least one handle configured to hang over and suspend from the top edge of the external container. The system further includes a hinged lid having a side wall extending over the at least one handle and the top edge and a drain assembly under the transparent internal container. |
| US08251014B2 |
Anti-spilling, self-righting livestock feeder
An anti-spill, self-righting animal feeder particularly suitable for horses comprising a hollow bowl-shaped vessel with means on the top rim of the vessel to limit the degree of tipping from the vertical including a radially outwardly extending flange mounted on the top rim and an internal inwardly and downwardly extending flange integral therewith defining a trap for feed at the top of the bowl together with weight means on the bottom of the vessel such that the center of gravity of the feeder rises when it is tipped from the vertical. |
| US08251011B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus
An apparatus, which performs a plasma process on a target substrate by using plasma, includes first and second electrodes in a process chamber to oppose each other. An RF field, which turns a process gas into plasma by excitation, is formed between the first and second electrodes. An RF power supply, which supplies RF power, is connected to the first or second electrode through a matching circuit. The matching circuit automatically performs input impedance matching relative to the RF power. A variable impedance setting section is connected to a predetermined member, which is electrically coupled with the plasma, through an interconnection. The impedance setting section sets a backward-direction impedance against an RF component input to the predetermined member from the plasma. A controller supplies a control signal concerning a preset value of the backward-direction impedance to the impedance setting section. |
| US08251008B1 |
Bird repeller
A device for projecting ice cubes onto a roof to scare away birds, especially pigeons. The use of ice is environmentally friendly and will not jam gutters. |
| US08251007B2 |
Restraint system for securing a user on a watercraft, and watercraft having a restraint system
A restraint system for securing a user on a watercraft, on which the user at least partially rests. The restraint system has a belt strap which is passed around the body of the user. Also, the restraint system has two stepped straps which are fitted onto the belt strap in the area of the stomach of the user and also in the area of the back of the user and are each passed through the step of the user. A connecting strap, one end of which acts on the belt strap in the area of the stomach of the user, can be fitted at its other end to the watercraft. Also, this invention relates to a watercraft having such a belt system. |
| US08251005B2 |
Spar structures
A spar platform comprising a deck; a buoyant tank assembly, comprising three spaced buoyant sections connected to the deck; a counterweight; and a counterweight spacing structure connecting the counterweight to the buoyant tank assembly. |
| US08251002B2 |
Pontoon-type floating structure
A pontoon-type floating structure comprising an upper deck that is to be maintained above water level and that is to receive and support a load by the load resting thereon; and a horizontal array of chambers disposed underneath the upper deck, with the chambers providing a first set of chambers that provide the structure with buoyancy, and a second set of chambers with water having access thereto so that the second set of chambers, under steady state conditions, do not provide buoyancy. |
| US08251001B2 |
Circular stitcher for sewing machine
A circular stitcher including a main base attachable to an upper surface of a sewing machine bed or to an upper surface of a needle plate; a movable base provided at the main base so as to be movable in a predetermined direction; a pin including a needle capable of piercing the workpiece cloth and having an engagement portion, and a holder that holds a base end of the needle; a lock element that is provided at the movable base and that locks and unlocks the engagement portion of the needle; and an operation element that is provided at the movable base and that allows a finger operation of the movable base in the predetermined direction by a user. |
| US08251000B2 |
Spool holder and sewing machine provided therewith
A spool holder includes a spool holder base to which a plurality of thread spools is attachable, and a support base having a pivoting member. The spool holder base includes a first spool holder base, a second spool holder base continuous to the other end of the first base and a connection connecting the first and second bases. The spool holder further comprises a thread guide mechanism. The divided spool holder base is switchable between a storage position where the spool holder bases are adjacent and a use position where the first base is swung about the pivoting member and the second base is swung so that the spool holder bases are spread so as to be nonparallel to each other. |
| US08250998B2 |
Sewing machine provided with auxiliary table
A sewing machine includes a sewing machine bed, an auxiliary table detachably attachable to the bed, a guide member guiding the table between a first position where the table is held in parallel to an upper surface of bed and a second position where the table is detachably attached to the bed, and an engaging member mounted on the table so as to engaging the guide member. The guide member and the engaging member are engaged with each other, so that a tilt of the table to the upper surface of bed is limited within a predetermined angular range when the table is positioned between the first and second positions. The guide member has a bearing portion and a side plate having a groove guiding the engaging member from the first to second positions. The engaging member has a sliding contact portion brought into sliding contact with the bearing portion. |
| US08250996B2 |
Process and apparatus for burning coal instead of oil
The present invention provides a process for burning coal instead of oil comprising the stages of coal gasification, gas combustion and optionally gas purification, utilization of residual heat of flue gas and flue gas discharge. The present invention further provides an apparatus for burning coal instead of oil. By present invention, the fuel cost for an oil-burning apparatus can be reduced by about four-fifths, so the resources of oil and natural gas can be saved either. Furthermore, the present invention has the advantages such as good reliability, high heat efficiency, high level of automation, high return on investment and good environmental benefits. |
| US08250995B2 |
Log cartridge burning system
A Log Cartridge Burning System is provided comprising a simple, convenient and manageable wood burning system which can easily be applied for use to cook and heat. The log cartridge is comprised of a flammable body of compressed material and a bore formed and sealed by the use of a protective outer paperboard tube and a protective inner paperboard tube together with a top and bottom paperboard cover which serve to hold and maintain the integrity of the entire cartridge without the use of any wax binders. The flammable body of compressed material may be made partly or entirely from natural combustible materials such as sawdust or wheat hulls. The burn pot is specially designed to accommodate the log cartridge of the present invention. The log cartridge burning system can easily be utilized in a variety of appliances such as a patio heater or fireplace, barbecue or grill, or other cooking and heating appliances. |
| US08250992B2 |
Ladder attachment platform
A ladder attachment platform is provided that includes a base for attachment to a ladder that has first and second side rails and a plurality of rungs that extend between in a lateral direction. Also included is a user platform for having a user stand thereon that is carried by the base. The user platform may be positioned with respect to the ladder so that it is not located between a first plane that extends through the first side rail and is perpendicular to the lateral direction and a second plane that extends through the second side rail and is perpendicular to the lateral direction. |
| US08250989B1 |
System and method for processing and distributing freight containers
A system and method for optimally managing the inventory of railroad freight cars and for transporting and processing the unladen cars to reloading points. The system provides a means for returning unladen cars at one or more strategically located yards or aggregation facilities where the cars are cleaned, inspected, repaired/maintained, stored and blocked for ultimate delivery. After such processes the cars may be treated as generic, and used for the transport of any materials within the constraints of the car type, rather than being dedicated to specific products and returned to a specific production facilities as in current practice. As well, the method provides a means by which multiple car operators may pool their collective rail car assets to further optimize the rail car supply chain. The method provides a means to determine candidate locations for such aggregation facilities/processing yards, and for optimal inventory control, sorting by next destination, and transit scheduling to deliver unladen cars to their next reloading points. The system and method are particularly useful in transporting specific polymer resins to a manufacturing region and returning the rail car through the aggregation/processing facility such that the cleaned, repaired, inspected, stored and blocked car may be used at any resin production facility. |
| US08250982B2 |
Pyrotechnic signaling means
Pyrotechnic signaling means (10) are ignited manually by pulling on a pulling member (24). In known pyrotechnic signaling means (10), the pulling member (24) has a short cable which is knotted to an operating means (26). A knot such as this can be produced only manually, thus making the production of pyrotechnic signaling means (10) quite complex. In addition, an ignition device (14) for known pyrotechnic signaling means (10) has a hole through it for a firing bolt (36) which is connected to the pulling member (24). This allows moisture to enter the pyrotechnic signaling means (10) through the ignition device (14). The pyrotechnic signaling means (10) according to the invention provides for the pulling member (24) to be formed from flexible strip-like sections (48, 50), which are connected by film hinges (54) and can be collapsed, saving space, when not in use. The sections (48, 50) can be integrally connected to an operating means (46), such that the entire pulling member (24) can be formed integrally from plastic and manual fitting of the individual components of the pulling member (24) is superfluous. The invention also provides for the ignition device (14) to be sealed by a coupling device (42) of the pulling member (24) until the pyrotechnic signaling means (10) are activated. This means that no moisture can pass through the ignition device (14) before the pyrotechnic signaling means (10) are activated. |
| US08250977B2 |
Printing press with replaceable sleeve shell segments for a cylinder
A variable-diameter printing press cylinder is provided. The variable-diameter printing press cylinder includes a cylinder body, a first shell segment having a first circumferential end portion and a second shell segment having a second circumferential end portion. The first and second shell segments are mounted on the cylinder body via the first and second circumferential end portions. A method of varying a circumference of a cylinder in a printing press and a printing press are also provided. |
| US08250972B2 |
Select serving and flavored sparkling beverage maker
The present invention relates generally to method and a device to make a single or a multiple serving of a select flavored, carbonated beverage. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. |
| US08250971B2 |
Device for producing coffee
A device with an infusion chamber defined by at least two parts movable in relation to each other to close and open the infusion chamber; a duct to supply pressurized hot water to the infusion chamber; at least one pump to supply pressurized hot water to the infusion chamber; and a dispensing unit to dispense coffee from the infusion chamber. The dispensing unit has at least a first configuration and a second configuration, according to the type of coffee to be dispensed; the two parts defining the infusion chamber have at least a first reciprocal position to define a larger infusion volume and a second reciprocal position to define a smaller infusion volume and the dispensing unit is switched to one or other of said at least two configurations when said at least two parts are in the second reciprocal position. |
| US08250970B2 |
Substance holder with removable insert
A substance holder and an insert for use in the substance holder. The insert elevates a brewing substance, filter or pod above a floor of the substance holder. The substance holder and insert allow water to infuse the brewing substance and allow beverage to drain through a portion of the insert for draining into a container. The insert is retained in the holder and is selectively removable from the holder to facilitate actions, for example but not limited to cleaning of the holder and insert as well as replacing the insert with other structures which may be used with the holder. |
| US08250968B2 |
Wort copper with an external boiler
A wort copper and a method of boiling wort, with the wort copper having an external boiler arranged outside of the wort copper, which cyclically heats wort from the wort copper, wherein the heated wort is re-supplied to the wort copper, and comprises an infeed tube and a rising pipe, through which wort heated by the external boiler rises upwards in the wort copper, as well as at least one intake opening is provided in the rising line for sucking in wort from a wort reservoir of the wort copper, wherein the cross-sectional surface of the rising pipe enlarges at least section-wise towards the upper end of the rising pipe. |
| US08250966B2 |
Method of manufacturing bellows
Method for producing at low cost bellows which show high durability even when used in a quite reactive atmosphere. The method for manufacturing bellows includes the steps of: I: forming an untreated bellows from a flat base plate, the base plate including 15 to 30 wt % of Cr, 5 to 40 wt % of Ni, 0.9 to 6 wt % of Al, less than 1 wt % of Mo, less than 0.1 wt % of Mn, less than 0.1 wt % of C, less than 0.1 wt % of S, less than 0.1 wt % of P and a balance of Fe and an unavoidable impurity (relative to 100 wt % of the base plate); and II: heating the untreated bellows at a temperature of 750 to 895° C. in an atmosphere which contains water and hydrogen and in which the volume ratio of hydrogen to water (H2/H2O) is in the range of 2×103 to 1×1012, thereby forming an Al2O3 passivation film on a surface of the untreated bellows. |
| US08250963B2 |
Vehicle-mounted personnel access platform assembly with ballistic protection
A vehicle-mounted personnel access platform assembly with ballistic protection is designed for mounting on a tactical vehicle. The platform assembly includes at least one mounting brace, and at least one access platform carried by the mounting brace. The access platform defines a raised horizontal surface for supporting personnel at an elevated location adjacent a body of the tactical vehicle. A ballistic wall adjacent the access platform is adapted for residing a spaced distance from the body of the tactical vehicle to protect personnel staged on the access platform. |
| US08250961B2 |
Anti-terrorist system
A system and/or method for securing areas (e.g. airport terminals, courtrooms, embassies, borders, property surrounding critical infrastructure, areas within cities/towns, etc.) against terrorists is provided. In certain example embodiments, a system and/or method is provided wherein individuals pass (e.g. walk, drive, etc.) through a gateway before gaining access to a secured area. Signals capable of detonating certain explosives that might be carried by the individuals passing through the gateway are emitted in or proximate the gateway. The gateway may be shielded to minimize damage to the surrounding areas. In certain example embodiments, arc currents are generated to trigger the detonation of explosives. In certain example embodiments, explosives may be detonated using cellular signals. |
| US08250959B2 |
Dicing element assembly for a food processor
A dicing element assembly comprises a dicing element having multiple elements defining multiple openings through which food may pass and a management tool having multiple projections sized to be received by the dicing openings, with at least some of the projections having a coupling element for releasably coupling the dicing elements when the projections are received within the dicing openings. When the projections are received within the dicing openings, the coupling element couples with the dicing element and a user may move the dicing element by moving the management tool without touching the dicing element. |
| US08250958B2 |
Electric saw device
An electric saw device includes a first saw blade and a second saw blade. The first and the second saw blades are respectively driven by a small transmission shaft and a large transmission shaft to rotate in opposite directions. A round rib is disposed on an inner end surface of the first saw blade, and at least three recessed holes are arranged in a top end surface of the round rib at equal angle intervals. A steel ball is accommodated in each of the recessed holes, and protrudes out of the recessed hole. Protruding ends of the steel balls urge against an inner surface of the second saw blade, so as to limit a distance between the first saw blade and the second saw blade, and form a rolling friction when the first and the second saw blade rotate in the opposite directions. |
| US08250954B2 |
Band saw and method of spatially positioning a band saw blade
A band saw, a band saw assembly, and a method of spatially positioning a band saw blade are suggested. The band saw comprises a band saw blade against which a sawing material is adapted to be guided in a feed direction. A guide for the band saw blade has at least one magnet exerting a force on the band saw blade determining the spatial position thereof. The at least one magnet is adjustable in its force effect and the force is directed transversely to the feed direction. The guide, as viewed in the feed direction of the sawing material, has a front magnet and a rear magnet, the magnets facing a front area and a rear area, respectively, of the band saw blade. A method of spatially positioning a band saw blade is executed while a sawing material is guided against the band saw blade in a feed direction. A magnet force is exerted on the band saw blade. The magnet force, and thereby the position of the band saw blade is adjusted transversely to the feed direction. The magnet force, as viewed in the feed direction of the sawing material, is exerted on a front area and on a rear area of the band saw blade. |
| US08250953B2 |
Tripper assembly for a clamshell lathe
A tripper assembly for use in advancing a clamshell lathe tool slide including a tool for milling a portion of a workpiece such as a tube or pipe, the tool slide being operatively connected to a rotatable ring of the clamshell lathe and the tripper assembly operatively connected to a stationary ring of the clamshell lathe. The design of the tripper assembly is such that the position, engaged or disengaged, of the tripper element can be easily ascertained. |
| US08250951B2 |
Tool of tool set
A tool is made from a body and includes a driving end formed on a proximal end of the body for performing a specific procedure and a connecting end formed on the distal end of the body by bending the distal end. The distal end is formed to have a rectangular cross section prior to forming the connecting end. |
| US08250950B2 |
Multiple-bit hand tool with locking axial post
The hand tool (1) has a body (7), and a chuck (4) with an axial opening (3) on an axis of the tool. A tool element (2) is movable between a retracted position generally within the body, and an extended operative position wherein the tool element extends through the axial opening and chuck, the chuck having a stop (15) for blocking further extension of the tool element once in its operative position. A movable means (16) blocks the tool element against retraction when in the operative position, the movable means being dislodgeable when retraction is desired, to a position where the movable means no longer blocks the tool element against retraction. In the preferred embodiment, the hand tool has multiple tool elements (six for example), spaced around the axis of the tool. Each tool element, when extended, has a proximal end which abuts the distal end (14) of an axial post in the handle of the tool. The actuation mechanism (5, 8, 9, 10), in addition to moving the tool elements axially, preferably provides means (9, 10) for moving the distal end of the axial post radially, i.e. Away from axis and the tool element, for retraction of the tool element.multiple-bit hand tool with locking axial post. |
| US08250949B2 |
Tool assembly with coaxial/universal coupling
A tool assembly includes a body having a receptacle. An adapter includes a shoulder, a head, and a neck interconnecting the head and the shoulder. The head engages with an inner periphery of the receptacle, allowing joint rotation of the adapter and the body. The head is slideably received in the receptacle between first and second positions. A C-clip is received in a retaining groove in the inner periphery of the receptacle. When the head is in the first position, the shoulder is received in the receptacle, the C-clip distends and clamps the shoulder to keep the adapter to be coaxial to the body. When the head is in the second position, the shoulder is outside of the receptacle, the C-clip abuts an outer periphery of the head, and the head is rotatable to a position such that the adapter is at an angle to the body. |
| US08250946B2 |
Parking brake for a vehicle
A vehicle, comprising a brake operating lever, mounted to pivot on a lever bracket, a coupling unit, which couples a brake cable to the brake operating lever, a locking device with teeth and a locking bolt, tensioned against the teeth by means of a first spring element and a release unit, with at least one first lever, said locking bolt and the first lever having an articulation. A parking brake which permits a secure braking and release and also avoids making noise on operation and on releasing may be achieved, whereby the articulation for the locking bolt and the first lever is arranged on the lever bracket and the articulation is provided on the lever bracket in a displaceable manner. |
| US08250943B2 |
Actuating device for motor vehicle transmissions
An actuating device for motor vehicle transmissions, especially for automatic transmissions has a selector lever (1), a transmission structure for sensing and transmitting the shift commands from the actuating device to the motor vehicle transmission, as well as a hinge structure with a four-bar mechanism (2) in which the selector lever (1) is mounted in such a way that it can perform shifting motions. The actuating device presents a small space requirements for installation with good ergonomic properties, good force-displacement curve at the selector lever qualities, as good sensing and signal transmission aspects. Visual shift gates and gear shifting gates can also be embodied at actuating devices of very compact design. |
| US08250941B2 |
Method of designing gear using CAD system, and gear
A method of designing a gear in which a tooth trace of the tooth flank, which is to be engaged with another mating tooth flank, is curved with respect to an axial direction of the body of the gear. The mating tooth flank of the mating gear is designed in such a manner that a desired tooth contact can be achieved. Accordingly, sufficient design precision can be attained. Furthermore, stress at the tooth flanks can be controlled when the gears are engaged with each other, thereby leading to high durability of the gears. |
| US08250940B2 |
System and method for controlling contact between members in operable communication
A system to control a contact force and a positional relationship between members in operable communication is provided. The system comprises a first member, a second member in operable communication with the first member, a contact force and a positional relationship existing between the first member and the second member. The system further comprises first biasing members being configured to bias and position the first member, the contact force and positional relationship being influenced by a response of the first biasing members to the contact forces between the members in operable communication. |
| US08250936B1 |
Utility viewer
A device is used to view utilities that have been potholed and covered up due to rain or crew shutdowns. The device includes a cylindrical body which is driven into the ground and has a light so the pipe can be viewed from above ground. |
| US08250935B2 |
Torque measurement device and arrangement composed of a torque measurement device and a drive shaft
The invention relates to a torque measurement device having a torque measurement shaft disposed between two flanges, whereby an intermediate shaft is provided between at least one of the two flanges and the measurement shaft, which intermediate shaft is disposed axially at the same height as the measurement shaft, on a different radius. |
| US08250929B2 |
Load device for SOFC stack and a high-temperature furnace using the same
A load device for planar solid oxide fuel cell stack comprises: a balance plate, a high-temperature compressed column, a load cell, an elastic member, an equalizing ring, and an actuator. The balance plate is disposed abutted against the fuel cell stack, and the high-temperature compressed column is disposed on the balance plate, and the load cell and the elastic member are arranged at a top portion of the high-temperature compressed column. The actuator, being placed on the equalizing ring, is used for providing a load to the equalizing ring, the load cell, the elastic member and the high-temperature compressed column Thereby, the load exerted by the actuator can be detected from the measurement of the load cell while the relationship between the load variation and performance of the SOFC stack can be read directly or transmitted to an external device for display. |
| US08250921B2 |
Integrated motion processing unit (MPU) with MEMS inertial sensing and embedded digital electronics
A module operable to be mounted onto a surface of a board. The module includes a linear accelerometer to provide a first measurement output corresponding to a measurement of linear acceleration in at least one axis, and a first rotation sensor operable to provide a second measurement output corresponding to a measurement of rotation about at least one axis. The accelerometer and the first rotation sensor are formed on a first substrate. The module further includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to receive both the first measurement output from the linear accelerometer and the second measurement output from the first rotation sensor. The ASIC includes an analog-to-digital converter and is implemented on a second substrate. The first substrate is vertically bonded to the second substrate. |
| US08250919B2 |
Vibratory gyroscopic device for determining angular velocity
A vibratory gyroscopic device to determine the rotation rate of an object and method of manufacturing thereof, the device including a plurality of supporting springs arranged in pairs to exhibit bilateral symmetry via each pair (i.e., mirror-image symmetry) relative to each other such that the asymmetries in the characteristics of the ring (e.g., resonant frequency, response to angular velocity), caused by asymmetries in the structure of the ring, are reduced. |
| US08250914B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for parking brake tensioning fixture
The present invention provides a parking brake tensioning apparatus, method, and system. Generally described, the device is for adjusting the tension cable of a parking brake in a vehicle. The device has an inner housing for receiving the handle of the parking brake. Also, the device has a deformable member attached to the housing, and is preloaded with a predetermined load. The device further has a force probe, or rod, having a first end connected to the deformable member and a second end in contact with a component of the vehicle. In addition, the device has a switch for generating a control signal when a predefined force value is applied to the deformable member by adjusting the tension of the tension cable through an adjustment tool. Furthermore, the device has a relay for transmitting the control signal to the adjustment tool once the predefined force value is reached, thus disabling the adjustment tool. Other embodiments are also claimed and described. |
| US08250905B2 |
Device for processing a knock sensor signal
For the processing of a knock sensor signal during the detection of knocking in a combustion engine, in order to allow for inexpensively designed, efficient, and accurate bandpass filtering, a signal processing device (10) has an analog filter (20), a sigma-delta modulator (30) designed for analog-digital conversion, a CIC filter (40) designed to decimate the sampling rate, and a digital filter (50). |
| US08250902B2 |
System and method for measuring aeration of a liquid
A system and method for measuring aeration of a liquid in a liquid channel operates by sending an ultrasonic wave into a liquid channel, receiving a signal corresponding to the echo from the liquid channel and calculating a level of aeration of the liquid in the liquid channel based on the reflected signal. |
| US08250901B2 |
System and method for calibrating a rotary absolute position sensor
A system includes a rotary device, a rotary absolute position (RAP) sensor generating encoded pairs of voltage signals describing positional data of the rotary device, a host machine, and an algorithm. The algorithm calculates calibration parameters usable to determine an absolute position of the rotary device using the encoded pairs, and is adapted for linearly-mapping an ellipse defined by the encoded pairs to thereby calculate the calibration parameters. A method of calibrating the RAP sensor includes measuring the rotary position as encoded pairs of voltage signals, linearly-mapping an ellipse defined by the encoded pairs to thereby calculate the calibration parameters, and calculating an absolute position of the rotary device using the calibration parameters. The calibration parameters include a positive definite matrix (A) and a center point (q) of the ellipse. The voltage signals may include an encoded sine and cosine of a rotary angle of the rotary device. |
| US08250900B2 |
Pre-calibrated replaceable sensor module for a breath alcohol testing device
The present invention describes a replaceable breath alcohol sensor module that can be replaced with a new pre-calibrated breath alcohol sensor module or re-calibrated. The breath alcohol sensor module requiring calibration can be removed from the body of a Breath Alcohol Testing Device (commonly called “breathalyser” or “breathalyzer”). The breath alcohol sensor module can be separately calibrated for accurate calculation of “percent blood alcohol concentration” (% BAC) based on breath air samples and then re-installed into the breath alcohol tester or the old breath alcohol sensor module can be replaced with a new pre-calibrated breath alcohol sensor module. The present invention improves upon and/or replacing the current method of re-calibration at a breathalyzer service center. |
| US08250896B2 |
Press-die and press-working method
A movable die is provided to be displaceable in an upper die. When the upper die is moved downward to press a steel plate together with a lower die, only the movable die first abuts on the steel plate to carry out forming together with the lower die. Then, the upper die is further moved downward to form a part which has not been formed by the movable die. |
| US08250894B2 |
Releasing mechanism and leveling apparatus
A release mechanism for use in a leveling apparatus that performs a leveling process on a work object that has been wound in a coil configuration as a result of the work object being passed between a front side work roll in contact with the front side surface of the work object and a back side work roll that is in contact with the back side surface of the work, wherein the releasing mechanism switches between a work clamp state that allows performance of the leveling process and a release state that releases the work object from the clamp state by displacing a work roll support member that supports one of the work rolls relative to the another support member to change a distance between the work rolls by utilizing rotational movement of an electric motor. |
| US08250891B2 |
Tube
A tube, which is especially employed for making the main frame tube of a bicycle, is fabricated by means of a 6-4Ti alloy sheet being fed to the forming mold with a feed device, being cold-rolled with the stamping block, winding the circumferential side of the forming mold as a tube blank with a spiral clearance extending along the tube blank, and welding the tube blank at the spiral clearance as a seam of the finished tube. In this way, the fabricated tube has an advantage of providing a high strength to resist being deformed easily. |
| US08250888B2 |
Door knob assembly
A door knob assembly having an access device operable to lock and unlock a door from a door frame. The door knob assembly device includes a spindle and the inner and outer knobs are operatively attached to the spindle. The spindle is operable to move a latching member between a first and second position so as to engage and disengage the door frame. The door knob assembly includes a locking member and a biasing member biasing the locking member so as to engage the rosette and fix the outer knob with respect to the rosette. The door knob assembly further includes an access device operable to receive a code. The access device includes a cam assembly operable to position the cam assembly between a first cam and a second cam position when the proper code is provided so as to fix and release the outer knob relative to the rosette. |
| US08250886B2 |
Washing-drying/drying machine
A washing-drying/drying machine includes a tub mounted in a cabinet; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub for receiving laundry; a cooling water supply unit for supplying cooling water to condense moisture in air discharged from the drum; and a condensing plate mounted between the drum and an inner wall of the tub for receiving the cooling water to condense the moisture in the air. |
| US08250883B2 |
Process to obtain liquefied natural gas
A process to obtain liquefied natural gas (LNG) which comprises the use of air as refrigerant in an open or closed cycle. The invention also refers to a system to carry out said process and uses thereof. |
| US08250881B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling temperature of a temperature maintenance storage unit
A temperature maintenance storage unit includes a fan assembly, an evaporator coil assembly, a compressor unit, and an interior within which goods may be stored, with the fan assembly configured to selectively generate air currents over the evaporator coil assembly and within the interior. The temperature maintenance storage unit further includes an insulation pack assembly comprising a sealed generally flexible insulation pack containing a temperature control fluid, an insulation thermostat and an interior thermostat, with the insulation thermostat monitoring the temperature of the insulation pack assembly and the interior thermostat monitoring the temperature of the interior. The insulation pack assembly being mounted directly to the evaporator coil assembly with the insulation thermostat selectively activating the fan assembly in response to monitored temperatures of the insulation pack assembly, and with the interior thermostat selectively activating the compressor unit in response to monitored temperatures of the interior. |
| US08250880B2 |
Dispenser and refrigerator having the same
A dispenser has a dispenser cover having an accommodating space with an open front surface, a tray slidably retracted in the dispenser cover, and a protrusion elastically contacted with one of the dispenser cover and the tray to thusly be relatively moved. Accordingly, the sliding of the tray can smoothly be performed, and an unexpected tray separation due to a small external force applied thereto upon opening/closing the refrigerator door can be prevented. |
| US08250878B2 |
Air conditioning and energy recovery system and method of operation
A system (20) for conditioning air (30) includes conditioning circuits (26, 28). Each of the circuits (26, 28) includes a heat transfer coil (54, 60) residing in a supply section (22) of the system (20), and a heat transfer coil (56, 62) residing in a return section (24) of the system (20). A controller (50) in communication with the circuits (26, 28) determines one of a heating mode (78, 110) and a cooling mode (148, 150) for an interior space (34). The controller (50) selectively actuates the conditioning circuits (26, 28) to condition outside air (30) entering the supply section (22) to produce conditioned supply air (36) for provision into space (34) and to recover heating and cooling energy from return air (38) entering the return section (24) from the space (34) prior to its discharge from the system (20) as exhaust air (44). An additional cooling circuit (218) residing in a cooling section (214) pre-conditions outside air (30) by reducing the temperature of outside air (30) before supply section (22) of system (20) conditions outside air (30) for interior space (34). |
| US08250874B2 |
Refrigerant cycle device
A subcool condenser having a condensation heat exchange portion, a receive portion and a supercool heat exchange portion is used as an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as a radiator in a cooling operation mode so that COP in the cooling operation mode is increased. In contrast, in a heating operation mode, a refrigerant bypass device that causes the refrigerant to flow so as to bypass the supercool heat exchange portion is provided so that pressure loss generated in the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger is decreased. Thereby, driving force of a compressor can be decreased and COP in the heating operation mode can be improved. |
| US08250873B2 |
Anti-condensation control system
System and methods for providing anti-condensation system are disclosed. A relative humidity (RH) sensor signal from a sensor on or near a control surface is received. An AC power input is received. A phase of the AC power input is modulated at least partly in response to the sensor signal in such a manner that a phase-modulated AC power output provided to a heater is a) substantially constant at a first power level (P1st) in a low RH region ranging from 0% RH to a first RH (RH1), b) varying as a function of the sensor signal from P1st to a second power level (P2nd) in an intermediate RH region ranging from RH1 to a second RH (RH2), and c) substantially constant at P2nd in a high RH region beginning at RH2. |
| US08250870B2 |
Combined vortex reducer
A vortex reducer for the guidance of bleed airflows (21), is arranged in an inter-disk chamber (3) between two rotor disks (1, 2) of the compressor of a gas turbine with at least one shaft, and includes at least one ring (11) with circumferentially disposed hole passages, in which bleed air tubes (15) are arranged. In order to provide a vortex reducer, which requires small material input and, therefore, has low weight, while producing directed bleed airflows with low pressure losses, the hole passages include first hole passages (13) and second hole passages (14), and bleed air tubes (15) are provided only in the first hole passages (13), with the bleed air tubes (15) being evenly distributed on the circumference of the ring (11), and the second hole passages (14) being devoid of bleed air tubes (15). |
| US08250866B2 |
EGR extraction immediately downstream pre-turbo catalyst
A turbocharged, diesel engine has a small catalyst provided upstream of the turbocharger with EGR collected from the exhaust stream downstream of the catalyst and upstream of the turbocharger. By making the catalyst small, it packages into a pipe coupling the manifold to the turbocharger, readily reaches lightoff, and absorbs little exhaust energy, thereby providing acceptable conversion of hydrocarbons and CO, but still allowing fast turbocharger response. In one embodiment, the engine has two cylinder banks, two exhaust manifolds, and two pre-turbo catalysts installed upstream of the turbine. |
| US08250864B2 |
Method for controlling the torque of a hybrid drive unit and hybrid drive unit
A method is for controlling the torque of a hybrid drive unit, which includes a combustion engine and at least one electric machine capable of being operated alternatively as a motor or as a generator. The electric machine, when operated as a motor, is powered by an energy storage device and supplies a positive electric motor torque which together with a combustion engine torque of the combustion engine produces a total drive torque of the hybrid drive unit. A hybrid drive unit includes a respective torque control. In the event that a desired torque is greater than a consumption-optimized combustion engine maximum torque, the electric machine is operated as a motor having an electric motor torque. An electric motor maximum torque is specified as a function of at least one state parameter of the energy storage device. |
| US08250863B2 |
Heat exchange with compressed gas in energy-storage systems
In various embodiments, compressed-gas energy storage and recovery systems include a cylinder assembly for compression and/or expansion of gas, a reservoir for storage and/or supply of compressed gas, and a system for thermally conditioning gas within the reservoir. |
| US08250862B1 |
Vehicle
A hydrostatic transaxle comprises: a housing; an axle disposed in the housing; a hydraulic motor having a rotary axis disposed in the housing; an inward-and-outward opened hole formed in the housing and disposed on the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor; and first and second motor shafts prepared to serve as a motor shaft of the hydraulic motor for driving the axle. One of the first and second motor shafts is selected to be disposed on the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor in the housing. When the first motor shaft is selected, an outer end of the first motor shaft is disposed in the housing so as to face the hole. When the second motor shaft is selected, an outer end of the second motor shaft projects outward from the housing through the hole. |
| US08250861B2 |
Energy storage system including pressurized reservoir
An energy storage system includes a reservoir defining an interior chamber, a collapsible bladder positioned within the interior chamber and having working fluid therein, a one-way valve in fluid communication with the interior chamber and operable to permit entry of replacement air into the interior chamber as working fluid exits the bladder, a reversible pump/motor in fluid communication with the bladder, and an accumulator containing working fluid and gas. The accumulator is in selective fluid communication with the reversible pump/motor to deliver pressurized working fluid to the reversible pump/motor when operating as a motor, and to receive pressurized working fluid discharged by the reversible pump/motor when operating as a pump. |
| US08250853B1 |
Hybrid expander cycle rocket engine
A hybrid expander cycle rocket engine with separate turbopumps for a fuel and an oxidizer, where the fuel pump is driven by gaseous fuel passed from the fuel pump and through a heat exchanger formed within the nozzle or combustion chamber and passed through the fuel turbine and then into the combustion chamber. The oxidizer turbopump is driven by the gas generator with the fuel diverted from the fuel pump and burned with some of the oxidizer from the oxidizer pump. |
| US08250850B2 |
Engine using hydrogen as a fuel
A pollution-free propulsion engine includes a rotating arm, a hollow axle defining a fuel delivery chamber, and hydrogen and oxygen sources. The rotating arm is formed with a detonation chamber, an opening and two tubular ducts therebetween. The axle is inserted into the opening. A pair of holes is formed in the axle to establish paths of fluid communication from the fuel delivery chamber through the ducts and into the detonation chamber as the rotating arm turns. The hydrogen source comprises a thin palladium binding layer deposited onto an aluminum sheet. Hydrogen molecules that are trapped in the binding layer are released, and the hydrogen is fed into the delivery chamber, through one duct and into the detonation chamber. At the same time, oxygen is delivered into the detonation chamber through the other duct, and the oxygen-hydrogen combination is detonated to release energy, which is converted into mechanical energy. |
| US08250849B2 |
Power system with computer-controlled fuel system
Various embodiments of a fuel-control system for regulating the administration of a first fuel to a fuel consuming device are disclosed. In one aspect, the fuel-control system includes a system-controlling device adapted to consume a primary source of electrical power. The system controlling device is also adapted to consume a secondary source of electrical power, with the secondary source produced by noncombustibly consuming a second fuel. |
| US08250847B2 |
Combined Brayton-Rankine cycle
A power generation system that comprises a first power generator; a first turbine operable to drive the first power generator; a vaporizer operable to vaporize a working fluid, wherein the vaporized working fluid turns the first turbine; and a condenser operable to condense the vaporized working fluid exiting the first turbine, wherein the condenser is coupled to the vaporizer such that the condensed working fluid is vaporized in the vaporizer. The power generation system also comprises a second power generator; a second turbine operable to burn a fuel to drive the second power generator; a switch to selectively operate the second turbine independently of the first turbine; and a heat exchanger coupled to the second turbine to receive flue gas from the second turbine when operated, wherein heat is transferred in the heat exchanger from the flue gas to the vaporized working fluid after the vaporized working fluid exits the vaporizer and prior to the vaporized working fluid entering the first turbine. |
| US08250846B2 |
Push-pull chain and actuator
A push-pull chain that can bend in one direction only, and is provided with at least two rollers on each of the driving pins, one of the rollers engages a drive sprocket and the other of said at least two rollers engages a chain guide surface. An actuator for e.g. opening and closing a window that uses this dual-roller push-pull chain. A link driven push-pull chain that can bend in one direction only, with links that is shaped as an engagement surface for engaging a drive sprocket. An actuator for e.g. opening and closing a window that uses the link driven push-pull chain. |
| US08250839B2 |
Drive adapter for riding lawnmower
An accessory drive attachment is provided. The accessory drive attachment may be attached to a lawnmower that has a hydrostatic transmission. The transmission system of the lawnmower may be used to drive a shaft of the accessory drive attachment. An accessory such as a leaf blower, air compressor, pressure washer, or electric generator may be attached to the accessory drive attachment and driven by the shaft. |
| US08250837B2 |
Detergent products, methods and manufacture
A water-soluble pouch suitable for use in machine dishwashing and which comprises a plurality of compartments in generally superposed or superposable relationship, each containing one or more detergent active or auxiliary components, and wherein the pouch has a volume of from about 5 to about 70 ml and a longitudinal/transverse aspect ratio in the range from about 2:1 to about 1:8, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:4. The water-soluble pouch allows for optimum delivery of dishwashing detergent. A process for the manufacture of multi-compartment pouches and a pack to contain the pouches are also disclosed. |
| US08250834B2 |
Apparatus for applying drinking straws
Described is an apparatus for applying a drinking straw on a receiving surface of a stand up bag which can be supplied on a conveying surface to a transfer device for drinking straws. To increase the conveying speed of said apparatus, the transfer means should be arranged such the drinking straw while being handed over encloses an acute angle with the conveying surface. |
| US08250830B2 |
Devices and methods for flangeless installations
A flangeless mounting system, suitable for in-wall speakers and other components, includes a panel that is finished to provide at least a superficially continuous junction between the edges of the panel and the surrounding wall, ceiling, or other structure. A rim advantageously extends outwardly from a first surface of the panel by a small distance, which in currently preferred embodiments is about 1/16th inch to ⅛th inch,. A collar is preferably installed about the inner edge of the opening, and a receiver is attached to the collar or directly to the panel. Magnetic, threaded, detent, and frictional means are contemplated for maintaining the component in position relative to the receiver. |
| US08250829B2 |
Module attachment apparatus
Exemplary systems and methods described herein can be used to secure a rail to a module or the rail to a support using a nut that can be inserted at a desired point of mounting. Another exemplary system describes a flashing to be inserted under a roof shingle, wherein the flashing is secured to a support for a rail or module. Yet another exemplary system describes a clamp that secures a rail or module and is adjustable along the length of a post. Spacers can be added to the post to extend the adjustment range of the clamp. |
| US08250823B2 |
Dowels and methods for the assembly of insulating panels
The invention relates to a dowel having cutting devices at the lower side of the pressing plate at the circumference of said pressing plate for cutting into the insulating panel when the pressing plate is pulled into the insulating panel. The invention further relates to a method, in which a bore-hole is drilled through the insulating panel into the substructure, the dowel and the expansion element are inserted into the bore-hole, the expansion element is driven into the pressing plate and the dowel sleeve, and wherein simultaneously the pressing plate is pulled into the insulating panel under compression of the insulating panel, and the insulating panel is cut in at the circumference of the pressing plate by means of cutting devices. The invention further relates to a method in which a bore-hole is drilled through the insulating panel into the substructure, a circle with at least the radius R is cut into the insulating panel by means of cutting devices, the dowel and the expansion element are inserted into the bore-hole, the expansion element is driven into the pressing plate and the dowel sleeve, and simultaneously the pressing plate is pulled into the insulating panel under compression of the insulating panel. |
| US08250820B2 |
Semi-curtain facade
A building facade including an exterior envelope including facade elements, a rain barrier, profiled holding and supporting elements fixed vertically to floor edges, a thermal insulation system including a first insulating element in front of floor edges and a second insulating element on the inside, between floors, a vapor barrier, and an interior lining. The first insulating element is basically continuous across the surface of the facade, or is essentially free of air pockets, two adjacent breadths of the first insulating element being separated by a flat surface of the profiled elements projecting forwards of the floor edges. |
| US08250819B2 |
Association of two hollow section ends made of plastic using a connector
An association formed from two hollow section ends, the inside of which is based on a plastic that are butted together by a connector, the connector including a body with a central part and two flanges made of plastic that are engaged in the hollow section ends respectively and that have an anchoring mechanism capable of keeping the hollow ends in place around the connector. The anchoring mechanism of the connector is made of plastic and includes at least one element that is flexible and comes into friction contact with the inside of the hollow section ends. |
| US08250817B2 |
Guy anchor reinforcement
A reinforcing system for a guy anchor used in a guyed or additionally guyed tower includes a concrete structure formed around the guy anchor. The concrete structure has a top surface slightly above grade level. The reinforcing system further includes a supplemental anchor shaft. The supplemental anchor shaft is attached to the existing anchor head and extends down into the concrete structure, where it is retained and encased therein. The concrete structure preferably has a base and at least one wall that extends down from the base and has a surface that faces the tower to resist horizontal forces. The reinforcing system is sufficiently strong to keep the guy anchor in place even if the original anchor shaft completely corrodes. The supplemental anchor shaft does not generally come into contact with soil. It therefore resists corrosion and is expected to provide a long service life. |
| US08250803B1 |
Insect trap
An insect trap comprising a transparent tube coated on an exterior surface with a tacky adhesive is placed where insects typically travel. When the insects crawl over the tube, they become ensnarled and stuck in the adhesive. The trap is preferably available in a kit comprising a variable quantity of tubes in a housing and a means to customize the length of tubes. |
| US08250801B2 |
Bird decoy system
A bird decoy system comprising: a transducer located on a housing; a switch located on the housing; a transmitter located within the housing, and in communication with the transducer; an electronics compartment comprising: a receiver located in the electronics compartment; a receiving antenna in communication with the receiver; a CPU located within the electronics compartment, and in communication with the receiver, the CPU configured to send a signal to cause a decoy motor to activate causing the decoy to move; a connection plug attached to the electronics compartment and in communication with the CPU; and a motorized bird decoy with a plug removeably attachable to the connection plug. A bird decoy system comprising: a decoy stand base; a decoy stand rod extending generally orthogonally from the decoy stand base; a rotatable sleeve in rotatable communication with the decoy stand rod; a bird shaped decoy fixedly attached to the rotatable sleeve. |
| US08250800B1 |
Rifle chamber cleaning tool with debris capturing recesses
A rifle chamber cleaning tool comprising a single piece of material with an annular scraping head and a plurality of elongated fingers, comprising debris capturing chambers within the elongated fingers. The scraping head and fingers are shaped so as to fit snugly when inserted between the lug recesses inside the rifle chamber. The distance between the fingers is roughly equivalent to the distance between the locking lugs inside the rifle chamber. |
| US08250798B2 |
Frame back retainer
A frame back retainer for a multi-use frame includes a tab-like structure and a fastening structure. The tab-like structure defines an aperture at a first end and defines a graduated ramp portion at a second end. The tab-like structure includes at least one securing arm depending from the tab-like structure near the aperture. The fastening structure is positioned through the aperture of the tab-like structure and mounted to the multi-use frame. The fastening structure defines a raised pedestal profile from a surface of the multi-use frame for allowing rotation of the tab-like structure relative to the fastening structure. The at least one securing arm engaging an outer edge of the fastening structure to rotatably attach the fastening structure to the tab-like structure. In operation, the user rotates the tab-like structure relative to the fastening structure about an axis to engage or disengage the graduated ramp portion within the multi-use frame. |
| US08250795B2 |
Devices and methods for presenting information in traffic areas
A ground-mounted device for presenting a message can comprise a ground-mounted base, a cover, and one or more panels. The ground-mounted base can have a support surface, a first retainer extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the base, and opposing ends that are substantially rounded. The cover can be configured to be removably attached to the base. The cover can substantially span the support surface. The cover can extend beneath the first retainer when the cover is attached to the base. The one or more panels can be securable to the base with at least a portion of the panel extending over the cover to inhibit movement of the cover away from the base. |
| US08250794B2 |
Emergency information sign
An emergency information sign (10) comprising a base substrate (12) and an indicia layer (14) positioned over the base substrate (12). Exposed areas (24) of the base substrate (12) and covering areas (26) of the indicia layer (14) together form emergency information indicia. The base substrate (12) and the indicia layer (14) each carry phosphorescent materials (20, 22), which absorb and store light from a primary light source (16/18) and emit this stored light during dark conditions. |
| US08250791B2 |
Visual presentation clip assembly
A visual notification device comprising a clip having a visual presentation may be attached to a food or drink container to indicate that a consumer who has temporarily left their seating or standing location, or food or drink container unattended, will return thereby avoiding the loss of a seating or standing location, or the disposal of unconsumed food or drink. The clip includes head with a front and rear face for displaying visual information such as text, an image, a logo, a trade name, an emblem, etc., an elongated body, a clip leg extending from the back of the clip behind the body, and a cap for connecting the assembly to a key ring or other attachment device. |
| US08250784B2 |
Shoe insole
An insole providing cushioning and control of foot motion. The insole includes a stability cradle and pods secured to the underside of the insole core or base. A lateral heel pod and a medial heel pod have differing material properties selected to help control foot pronation. |
| US08250779B2 |
Overshoe
A sandal type overshoe for releasable mounting on primary footwear, e.g., a boot or shoe, is disclosed. The overshoe comprises a sole with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a hindfoot portion. Toe, side and heel anchor pieces are disposed along the perimeter of the sole and accept two removable lace pieces, one of which connects the front anchor piece and the side anchor pieces, and one of which connects the heel anchor pieces to the side anchor pieces. The sole portion has a ground engaging surface that can provide enhanced traction or other functionality. |
| US08250774B2 |
System for mounting an object to a surface
A system for mounting an object such as a flat screen television on a surface such as a wall. A mounting template is fastened to the surface and defines multiple sets of openings corresponding to multiple mounting configurations. Wall brackets are removably secured within the openings and are then fastened to the surface. Object spacers are fastened to mounting locations on the object corresponding to the mounting configuration of the wall brackets, and are connected to the wall brackets to secure the object to the wall. A level may be secured within the mounting template. The mounting template may include fold lines to facilitate packaging and storage of the mounting template. |
| US08250768B2 |
Handheld power tool
A handheld power tool having a power tool that executes a reciprocating motion, in particular a reciprocating power saw with a reciprocating sawblade (14), is disclosed. To prevent the power tool from sawing untrue during the cutting operation, in particular between the upper and lower cutting edges, the power tool is assigned at least one force transducer (19), which measures the magnitude of a transverse force, oriented transversely to the direction of motion, that occurs at the power tool, and at least one actuator (21), which acts on the power tool as a function of the measured magnitude of the transverse force, is provided for transverse force compensation (FIG. 2). |
| US08250767B1 |
Tile knife apparatus
The tile knife apparatus provides a specialized blade particularly useful in tile work, coupled with an ergonomic handle which provides maximum leverage with a comfortable grip and natural alignment with the blade. The apparatus is especially suited to tile spacer removal and adhesive removal. The blades are provided in varied embodiment widths, including 1 millimeter, 3 millimeters, and 5 millimeters. The blade has a flat edge so that prying and scraping are best facilitated, without excessive injury risk to hands or tile. Each feature of the handle works in coordination with the blade features to facilitate natural hand alignment with work to be performed, while ensuring against hand fatigue. The handle enables easy grip and provides gradually coordinated surfaces and rounded convex ends to avoid user fatigue and hand injuries such as blisters and undue callusing. The ergonomic handle provides for ambidextrous use. |
| US08250758B2 |
Internal yaw drive exchange for a wind turbine tower
A method for removing and replacing an article of wind turbine equipment, such as a yaw drive, internal to a nacelle of a wind turbine tower without use of an external windfarm site crane or external rigging on the wind tower. External rigging of wind turbine tower components may expose workers and the equipment inside the nacelle to outside weather and hazardous wind conditions. The yaw drive is internally rigged with an internal support crane within the nacelle to an internal winch capable of supporting the yaw drive during a lift to the base of the wind turbine tower. |
| US08250754B2 |
Method of manufacturing a medical electrical lead with insert-molded electrode
A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body and at least one tubular electrode sub-assembly positioned over and attached to the external surface of the lead body. The lead body includes at least one elongated conductive element, such as a cable, that is electrically connected to a coiled electrode of the tubular electrode sub-assembly. The tubular electrode sub-assembly includes a tubular liner and an electrode embedded in the outer surface of the liner. In some embodiments, only a portion of the inner surface of the tubular liner is attached to the lead body which may potentially improve flexibility of the medical electrode lead in the area occupied by the tubular electrode sub-assembly. |
| US08250751B2 |
Method of manufacturing a printed circuit board
Printed circuit boards have circuit layers with one or more copper filled through-holes and methods of manufacturing the same. An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention enhances thermal characteristics of filled through-holes of printed circuit boards to provide extra reliability to the printed circuit boards. In one embodiment, a printed circuit broad has a plurality of through-holes to connect copper patterns on different layers of the printed circuits broad. Here, at least one of the through-holes is copper plated closed at both ends with at least 70% volume of the through-hole plated with copper to, e.g., enhance thermal characteristics of the through-hole, thereby providing extra reliability to the printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board includes a surface conductor (or cap) that is directly plated over the copper filled barrel plated through-hole. |
| US08250750B2 |
Method for manufacturing tape wiring board
A method for manufacturing a tape wiring board in accordance with the present invention may employ an imprinting process in forming a wiring pattern, thereby reducing the number of processes for manufacturing a tape wiring board and allowing the manufacturing process to proceed in a single production line. Therefore, the manufacturing time and cost may be reduced. A profile of the wiring pattern may be determined by the shape of an impression pattern of a mold. This may establish the top width of inner and outer leads and incorporate tine pad pitch. Although ILB and OLB process may use an NCP, connection reliability may be established due to the soft and elastic wiring pattern. |
| US08250749B2 |
Method of producing a proximal connector end of an implantable lead
A connector for an implantable medical lead that is electrically and mechanically connectable to an implantable medical device, has a connector pin made of a first conducting material. A tubular insulator made of an insulating material concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the pin. A connector ring made of a second conducting material is concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the insulator. The insulator is connected to the connector ring by spark plasma sintering in the case of an active fixation lead, and is connected to the ring and the pin by spark plasma sintering in the case of a passive fixation lead. |
| US08250742B2 |
Die ejector
A die ejector comprises a chamber which can be subjected to vacuum and comprises a cover plate having a hole, a plurality of plates which are arranged in the interior of the chamber, protrude into the first hole and are jointly and also individually displaceable in a direction extending perpendicularly or in an oblique way in relation to the surface of the cover plate, and drive means in order to displace the plates. The drive means comprise a drive mechanism which comprises a motor and a pin which can be moved along a predetermined path and which is movable by the motor between two positions back and forth. Each of the plates comprises a path-like opening. The path-like opening is different from plate to plate in such a way that the plates are displaced in a predetermined sequence in the mentioned direction when the pin is moved along the path. |
| US08250741B2 |
Mechatronic system and method for positioning bolts in order to provide a frame with a reconfigurable surface using memory effect actuators
A reconfigurable computer-controlled system is provided based on the positioning of bolts. A greater density of bolts per unit area increases the variety of figures or shapes that can be defined by a frame or tool used in the industry, such that it is no longer necessary to construct rigid surfaces with each change made to the shape of the product to be produced or surface to be formed. The use of the memory effect material as an actuator in the reconfigurability mechanism is the key to the success of the reconfigurable system and the control system owing to the permissibility of small bolts which can be adapted to standard sizes and shapes. The mechatronic system uses the positioning of bolts for the reconfigurability of surfaces to manufacture and shape materials. |
| US08250740B2 |
Method for making an inspection fixture, and mold assembly used in the method
In a method for making an inspection fixture, a detachable mold assembly and a hardenable fluid are firstly prepared. Secondly, the hardenable fluid is poured into the mold assembly, and a plurality of molding pins are inserted into the mold assembly. Thirdly, a main body with a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the molding pins (i.e., the locations thereof) are formed in the mold after the hardenable fluid hardens. Fourthly, the mold assembly is detached, and the part is removed from the mold. Finally, a plurality of positioning pins is mounted into the positioning holes of the molded part, the positioning holes having remained upon removal of the molding pins. |
| US08250737B2 |
Method for manufacturing head including light source unit for thermal assist
Provided is a method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a light source unit with a light source and a slider with an optical system. The method comprises steps of: adhering by suction the light source unit with a back holding jig; moving the back holding jig, then aligning a light-emission center of the light source with a light-receiving end surface of the optical system in directions within a slider back surface of the slider; bringing the light source unit into contact with the slider back surface, with a suction surface of the back holding jig tilted from the normal to the slider back surface; applying a load to a load application surface of the unit substrate by a loading means to bring a joining surface of the light source unit into conformity with the slider back surface; and bonding the light source unit and the slider. This method can improve the conformity, thereby achieving adequately strong junction and adequately high accuracy in position. |
| US08250733B2 |
Automatic winder for an inside brushless stator
In one embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing an internal wound stator includes a winding arbor, a stator loader, a first movable member, and a second rotating member. The stator includes an interior opening and multiple axial slots. The interior opening has a diameter larger than an exterior dimension of the winding arbor. The winding arbor includes an interior and a port being at a central portion of the member. The stator loader supports the stator. The first movable member moves port of the winding arbor through the interior opening of the stator along a first axial slot of the axial slots. The second rotating member rotates the stator and the port of the winding arbor with respect to one another to align the port with a second axial slot of the axial slots. The first movable member moves the port through the second axial slot of the stator. |
| US08250727B2 |
Automatic banding method
A machine for manufacturing a band of desired length having a fastener at one end thereof, the machine having a spindle for maintaining a spool of metal band material in proximity to the machine; structure for feeding and ejecting a metal strip into the machine; structure for determining the location of the end of the band; placement structure for positioning the fastener; holding structure for bending the band about the fastener; structure for crimping the fastener to the band; and a cutter for cutting a desired length of the band; width controls for controlling the manufacturing process. |
| US08250725B2 |
Joining polymer workpieces to other components
A shape memory polymer workpiece is attached to a second workpiece. A face of the SMP workpiece is placed against an attachment surface of the second workpiece. The second workpiece has an attachment hole(s). The SMP workpiece is activated (e.g., heated) to a softening temperature and a portion extruded into the attachment hole of the facing surface of the second workpiece. The SMP piece is held while still heated against the second workpiece, the material flowing as result of the shape memory effect to form an attachment. As the SMP material cools while still under load its modulus increases fixing the attachment geometry. Reheating the attached parts without pushing them together reverses the process. |
| US08250724B2 |
Method for handheld computer device
A minimum Z height handheld electronic device and methods of assembly is described. The electronic device includes a single seamless housing having a front opening and a cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the seamless housing without a bezel. |
| US08250720B2 |
Roller burnishing apparatus with pressing-force detecting device
There is disclosed a roller burnishing apparatus including a first member moved relative to an object to be burnished, a second member movable relative to the first member in a relative movement direction, a burnishing roller held by the second member such that the burnishing roller is rotatable, a biasing device which biases with a biasing force the second member relative to the first member in one of two opposite directions along the relative movement direction, and a pressing-force detecting device that detects a pressing force with which the burnishing roller is pressed against the object and which is based on the biasing force of the biasing device. |
| US08250718B2 |
Zipper hole punch treatment
The disclosure relates to a reclosable zipper for a package or bag wherein apertures are formed at periodic package-width intervals passing through the interlocking elements of the zipper profiles in order to minimize the mass of zipper material in areas where side seals of packages or bags will be subsequently formed. The otherwise interlocking elements upstream of, or at the trailing edge of, the apertures are deformed so as to prevent interlocking of the elements through a limited area. This allows a separator pin to pass through the area of the apertures and pass between the zipper profiles, eliminating or reducing the collision of the separator with the zipper profiles and subsequent potential damage to the zipper profiles. |
| US08250717B2 |
Bonding clip
A bonding clip formed of a metal and having unitary or multi-part construction is used to electronically bond together wires of adjacent wire mesh cable trays. The bonding clip binds the wire mesh cable trays by penetrating the protective coating one the wire mesh cable trays with teeth-like projections in order to permit conductive contact between the wires. The bonding clip has a profile that permits maintenance of the cross-sectional area formed by the wires of the wire mesh cable trays. |
| US08250716B2 |
Retained tension metal locking tie with 360 degree seal
A cable tie is disclosed. The cable tie includes a strap with an extended tab and a locking head secured to the strap. The locking head has a top and a bottom. The bottom of the locking head includes at least one relief slot that enables the locking head to deform when the cable tie is installed around a bundle of objects. The bottom of the locking head also includes at least one tab that extends away from the locking head. The extended tab of the strap, the at least one front tab of the locking head and the at least one relief slot in the bottom of the deforming locking head enable the cable tie to provide a 360 degree seal around the bundle of objects. |
| US08250714B2 |
Handgrip for handlebar
A handgrip includes a tubular grip body having at least two angularly spaced-apart resilient clamp portions projecting outwardly and axially from an annular end thereof, a substantially U-shaped rod member having a bight portion, and non-threaded head and threaded end portions, and a sleeve ring sleeved around the resilient clamp portions and having first and second curved retaining grooves receiving respectively the resilient clamp portions, a head-receiving groove section receiving the non-threaded head portion, and a guide groove section receiving the threaded end portion. A nut member is disposed outwardly of the guide groove section, and engages threadedly the threaded end portion. The nut member pulls the threaded end portion when tightened so that the bight portion pushes one of the resilient clamp portions toward the other resilient clamp portion. |
| US08250710B2 |
Hinge
An interfering assembly of a hinge includes a male element including a first raised portion and a second raised portion, and a female element defining a through hole. A sliding surface apart from a center of the through hole protrudes from the female element. An inner slot and an outer slot are formed beside the sliding surface. The female element defines a first depressed portion and a second depressed portion correspondingly engaged with the first and second raised portions. Widths of the inner slot and the outer slot are gradually varied. During rotation of the rotating member, the first and second raised portions are slid out from the first and second depressed portions, respectively, and then in frictional engagement with the sliding surface, together with partial portions covering the inner and outer slots, correspondingly. |
| US08250704B2 |
Suction nozzle assembly and vacuum cleaner having the same
A suction nozzle assembly for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The suction nozzle assembly includes a suction nozzle assembly body, a hair collecting unit that is disposed on the suction nozzle assembly body, and an elevating unit for raising and lowering the hair collecting unit, wherein if the front of the suction nozzle assembly body contacts a wall, the elevating unit raises the hair collecting unit, and if the suction nozzle assembly body is separated from the wall, the elevating unit lowers down the hair collecting unit to a previous position. |
| US08250700B2 |
Cleaning pad and cleaning implement
The present invention relates to a cleaning implement comprises a handle; a head portion pivotally attached to the handle comprising an upper surface and a lower surface connected to the upper surface by side edges; and a cleaning pad removably attached to the head portion, the cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer which extends over the lower surface of the head portion and a scrubbing strip which extends along a side edge of the head portion. |
| US08250698B2 |
Hybrid cleaning device including absorbent and contact elements
A device comprising an absorbent structure and one or more wiping elements integrated into the absorbent structure is disclosed. The absorbent structure is preferably a sponge or foam structure and the wiping elements are squeegees, nodules, or combinations thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the wiping elements include anchor features that are embedded within the absorbent stricture. |
| US08250696B2 |
Device for collection of debris
A device (10) for collecting debris from a ground surface (18). A flexible generally planar member (17) has openings (16) therethrough. When the device is laid on and forwardly moved over the ground surface (18) debris on the ground surface passes upwardly through the openings onto collection surfaces (25) of the device. The device has transversely extending barriers (67) positioned whereby, debris passing upwardly through the openings (16) passes upwardly over the barriers (67) and then downwardly to the following collection surface (25). The barriers (67) at least partially obstruct movement of collected debris on the collection surfaces (25) back into the openings (16) under deceleration of the device as it is forwardly moved over the ground surface. |
| US08250693B1 |
Fold out ramp
A ramp assembly provides a transition surface from a vehicle floor to an alighting surface. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that rotates between a stowed position and a deployed position. A panel is rotatably coupled to the ramp portion about a first axis. The ramp assembly further includes an actuator that provides a rotational force to the ramp portion that drives the ramp portion through a deployment motion. The deployment motion includes a first phase during which the rotational force rotates the ramp portion about the first axis. The deployment motion further includes a second phase during which the rotational force moves the first axis in a downward direction. |
| US08250691B2 |
Tunnel washer, and washing method
In a continuous washing machine, a drum (2) comprising, in longitudinal direction (4), washing chambers (12), which are adjacent to and separate from each other and through which the laundry items (22) to be washed can be conveyed in longitudinal direction of the drum (2), can be driven so as to rotate about its longitudinal axis (4) in two opposing directions of rotation (B, C), whereby a first direction of rotation (C) corresponds to a washing mode and the second direction of rotation (B) corresponds to a conveying mode. Arranged inside the washing chambers (12) are entrainment devices (14) extending in outward direction toward the interior wall of the drum (2) and being non-rotationally connected to the drum (2), said entrainment devices carrying along the laundry items (22) and the treatment fluid (20) during the rotation of the drum (2) in washing mode. The washing chambers (12) that are separate from each other are formed by a screw (6), said screw being connected along its outside edge (8) to the drum (2). |
| US08250687B2 |
Patient lift with adjustable knee pads and sling hooks
An apparatus is provided for lifting and transporting patients. The apparatus may include a base frame, a central frame, a knee pad, and a boom configured to pivot relative to the central frame. The knee pad may have a guide and a rail configured to travel within the guide to allow positioning and adjustment of the knee pad relative to the central frame. The guide may be configured to selectively secure the rail at any location within an adjustment range of the knee pad. The boom may have at least one hook portion for attachment of a device for holding the patient during lifting. The hook portion may include a hook formed from a curved portion of a central member and a clip attached to the curved portion and movable between a closed position and an open position. |
| US08250684B2 |
Baby bath sink insert
A baby bathing apparatus comprising an easily stored, relatively planar expanse of material configurable into a relatively concave configuration for deployment at least partially within a basin, and a method of forming the same. A material and configuration of a deployed bathing apparatus comfortably and securely retain a baby during bathing. One or more fastening means can be employed to securely yet detachably retain the expanse in a deployed configuration, while also allowing the bathing apparatus to resume a non-deployed, relatively planar configuration. |
| US08250680B2 |
Urinal
A urinal includes: a urinal body; a high-frequency sensor which radiates a radio beam obliquely passing through an upper surface of the urinal body toward a bowl and receives a reflected wave from an object so as to generate a detection signal; and a valve which discharges or stops flushing water to the urinal body in response to the detection signal. An angle formed between a first plane including the upper surface of the urinal body and a second plane including a radiation surface of an antenna of the high-frequency sensor is in a range of more than 0 degree to less than 90 degree. A cross line where the first plane and the second plane intersect with each other is substantially parallel to a horizontal direction of the urinal body. The radio beam is a linearly-polarized wave. An excitation direction of the radio beam intersects with the cross line. An intensity of the radio beam passing through the urinal body is larger than that of the radio beam reflected by the upper surface. |
| US08250673B2 |
Nitrile rubber article having natural rubber characteristics
An improved process and material for making elastomeric nitrile rubber articles is disclosed. In particular, the process and material formulation can produce nitrile rubber based articles, which exhibit force-strain characteristics that are comparable to those of natural rubber latex articles, while maintaining the tensile strength properties of nitrile rubber. The process includes an accelerator composition at the pre-cure stage having a dithiocarbamate, a thiazole, and a guanidine compound. The invention also includes an elastomeric nitrile rubber product made by the process, such as examination, surgical, or work gloves. |
| US08250671B2 |
Utility jacket for dog walking
A jacket that is worn by a person walking a dog includes a main torso covering portion which can be closed to protect and provide warmth to the wearer's torso. A leash that can be utilized as a belt can be used to snuggly fit the jacket around the user's waist. The jacket also includes an exterior pocket that includes a roll of waste bags, typically in a roll. The exterior pocket includes an opening on the front surface of the pocket where a grommet is typically attached around the perimeter of the opening. The bag is pulled through the opening in the grommet to gain access to the bag. The lead bag is removed from the roll along the perforation separating the bags such that the walker can manually remove a bag from the pocket and tear the first bag away from the following bag while leaving the following bag in a position that is easily gripped for the next required cleaning. |
| US08256017B2 |
Using optical deflection of cantilevers for alignment
A calibration leveling system and method are provided which improve printing and imaging at the nanoscale including improved tip-based deposition and nanolithography. The system can include a scanning probe instrument having a video camera with an adjustable lens. The scanner can be coupled to a one or two dimensional array of cantilevers comprising cantilever tips for imaging or printing. The scanning probe instrument has one or more motors for controlling the scanner in the z-axis. The z-axis motors position the scanner so that the cantilever tips are in a level orientation relative to the surface of a substrate. Once the cantilever tips are level with the substrate, the positions of the z-axis motors can be recorded for future reference. |
| US08256016B2 |
Application rights enabling
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for controlling capabilities of a user software application. A user software application is provided, the user software application including a set of disabled operations. Content capable of being operated on by one or more of the disabled operations in the set of disabled operations is received. Application rights information operable to enable an operation in the set of disabled operations to operate on content within a context specified in the application rights information are received and the operation in the set of disabled operations is enabled to operate on the received content. Methods and apparatus for providing content to be operated on by a user software application and methods and apparatus for providing a configurable, context-dependent user software application are also described. |
| US08256015B2 |
Method and apparatus for authentication of data streams with adaptively controlled losses
Methods, components, and systems for efficient authentication, either through a digital signature or message authentication codes, and verification of a digital stream sent from a source to a receiver via zero or more intermediaries, such that the source or intermediary (or both) can remove certain portions of the data stream without inhibiting the ability of the ultimate receiver to verify the authenticity and integrity of the data received. According to the invention, a source may sign an entire data stream once, but may permit either itself or an intermediary to efficiently remove certain portions of the stream before transmitting the stream to the ultimate recipient, without having to re-sign the entire stream. Applications may include the signing of media streams which often need to be further processed to accommodate the resource requirements of a particular environment. Another application allows an intermediary to choose an advertisement to include in a given slot. |
| US08256011B2 |
Media package, system comprising a media package and method of executing program code
A media package storing program code, the media package comprising a medium storing a first part of the program code intended to be executed on a processor external to the media package, and a processing device storing a state and a second part of the program code, the first and the second parts of the program code being adapted to interact when executed so as to execute the program code. The processing device comprises a processor for verifying the state and for executing the second part of the program code if the verification of the state indicates that this is authorized; and a first interface for communication with the processor external to the media package. The processing device further comprises a second interface adapted to interact with a state change device in order to set the state from a first state not authorizing execution of second part of the program code to a second state authorizing execution of second part of the program code. The second interface is a Radio Frequency interface adapted to, when the media package is in the first state, interact with at least one anti-theft portal. Also provided is a system. |
| US08256010B2 |
Providing access to a data item using access graphs
An approach is described for controlling access to a data item using one or more access graphs. The approach entails distributing a compact package of access-related information to a recipient that pertains to the access graphs. The recipient can use the access-related information to access the data item through the access graphs in an off-line mode of operation. In one implementation, the access-related information includes markers associated with edges between nodes in the access graphs. One type of marker can link the data item to two or more nodes of the access graphs. This type of marker can be used to implement a logical AND operation among two or more policy factors. |
| US08256009B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing digital rights of secure removable media
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for managing rights object of SRM in a digital rights management system. The method for managing rights object bound to the SRM, comprises: transmitting ROAP trigger from a rights issuer to a terminal; transmitting an RO request message from the terminal to the rights issuer and transmitting a response message to the RO request message from the rights issuer to the terminal; and transmitting the rights object included in the response message from a DRM agent of the terminal to a DRM agent of the SRM and installing the rights object in the SRM. Accordingly, the SRM can receive its own rights object from the rights issuer through the terminal. |
| US08256008B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for outputting information and forming image via network, and computer product
An information output apparatus includes a tray determining unit that determines an output tray to which printed sheets are output, a secret information generating unit that generates first secret information corresponding to tray identification information for identifying the output tray determined, a transmitting unit that transmits the first secret information generated by the secret information generating unit to a terminal, an input accepting unit that accepts an input of second secret information from a user, and a tray controlling unit that specifies the output tray based on the first secret information when the second secret information and the first secret information coincide with each other, and allows a slot of the specified tray to be open. |
| US08256004B1 |
Control transparency framework
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, systems and computer program products for a control transparency framework which is, in one embodiment, a transparent (i.e. easy to understand) and actionable risk/reward approach for organizational processes, controls, training and development. The control transparency framework method includes identifying threats to an organization, developing a risk score for each of the threats to develop a threat portfolio, developing a maturity portfolio, developing a control portfolio, determining a gap portfolio, and developing a control transparency portfolio to close gaps. A gap exists between a target state maturity level of each identified threat and a current maturity level of each control assigned to handle each identified threat, such that the gap occurs if the target state maturity level is at a level that is lower than the control maturity level. |
| US08256002B2 |
Tool, method and apparatus for assessing network security
Tools and methods in which user interaction via a common user interface enables the assessing of network security prior to implementation of the network, as well as assessing the security of existing networks, portions of existing networks, or modifications to existing networks. A network security model useful in realizing the tools and methods is also disclosed. |
| US08256001B2 |
Managing add-ons
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing recommendations for an add-on to a base program operating on a computing device, thus allowing a user to make a more informed decision as to whether to allow the add-on to be installed or not. To make the recommendation, collection software is queried for information about an add-on when installation or instantiation of the add-on is detected on the computing device. Information about the add-on is collected by the collection software, which comprises one or more add-on detection programs. A recommendation for applying the add-on (or not) is generated using the collected information, where the recommendation comprises a ranking based on detection program prioritization. |
| US08255998B2 |
Information protection method and system
A method for protecting objects in a computer system against malware is disclosed. An object is analyzed to determine whether it is infected by malware, and if it is determined to be infected, a backup copy of the object is located in a backup of the objects. The infected object is replaced with the backup copy. |
| US08255997B2 |
Contextual alert of an invasion of a computer system
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing contextual feedback to a user of a computer system upon detection of an invasion of the computer system are provided herein. An invasion of the computer system is detected and a contextually appropriate alert is selected from a set of alerts. The alert is played immediately upon detection of the invasion so that the user is alerted to the invasion within close temporal proximity to the user's action that resulted in the invasion of the computer system. In addition, details of the invasion are logged to a diagnostic log file for later use by support personnel in repairing the computer system. |
| US08255995B2 |
Methods and apparatus providing computer and network security utilizing probabilistic policy reposturing
A system defines at least one key event to be monitored by at least one agent, and creates a graphical model for the at least one key event. The system observes the at least one key event. The system infers a degree of attack on the computer system based on an observation of the at least one key event in conjunction with a result of an effect the at least one key event has on the graphical model. The system then adjusts a security policy based on an output of the graphical model. |
| US08255988B2 |
Direct peripheral communication for restricted mode operation
A computer that self-administers operating in restricted and unrestricted operating modes boots from a main processor and operates normally in the unrestricted operating mode and operates from an alternate processor in a security module in the restricted operating mode. The alternate processor may communicate directly with peripheral devices such as a display controller and keyboard. Because the main processor is not used and may not even be started in the restricted operating mode, viruses, shims, and other related attacks are virtually eliminated. In one embodiment, the security module may operate as a PCI bus master when in the restricted operating mode. |
| US08255987B2 |
Communication abuse prevention
Communication abuse prevention techniques are described. In an implementation, a reputation level for a communication is determined based on relation information for a sender and an intended recipient of the communication. A challenge is invoked that is to be completed by the sender before the communication is sent. The challenge is selected based on the reputation level for the communication. |
| US08255986B2 |
Methods of securely controlling through one or more separate private networks an internet-connected computer having one or more hardware-based inner firewalls or access barriers
A method of securely controlling through a private network a computer protected by a hardware-based inner access barrier or firewall and optionally configured to operate as a general purpose computer connected to the Internet, comprising: two separate network connections separated by an inner hardware-based access barrier or inner hardware-based firewall protecting a private network connection configured for connection to a private network of computers but not protecting a public network connection configured for connection to a public network configured to include the Internet, the method including the step of controlling at least one operation of the computer, the control being provided through the private network and the operation involving data and/or code transmitted to the public network. Another method includes the step of controlling an operation of a second or third private protected unit of the computer, the control being provided through a second or third private network, respectively. |
| US08255973B2 |
Provisioning remote computers for accessing resources
Systems and techniques are provided for controlling requests for resources from remote computers. A remote computer's ability to access a resource is determined based upon the computer's operating environment. The computer or computers responsible for controlling access to a resource will interrogate the remote computer to ascertain its operating environment. The computer or computers responsible for controlling access to a resource may, for example, download one or more interrogator agents onto the remote computer to determine its operating environment. Based upon the interrogation results, the computer or computers responsible for controlling access to a resource will control the remote computer's access to the requested resource. |
| US08255972B2 |
Method to automatically map business function level policies to it management policies
A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for transforming a high-level policy associated with a high layer to a low-level policy associated with a low layer. Mapping between high-level objects in a high layer and low-level objects in a low layer is derived by an automated discovery tool. The high-level policy is mapped to the low-level policy according to the mapping (e.g., by substituting the high-level objects with the low-level objects and by performing a syntax transformation). In one embodiment, a low-level policy is transformed to a high-level policy according to the mapping. As exemplary embodiments, policy transformations in traffic shaping and data retention are disclosed. |
| US08255969B2 |
Upgrading software of set-top box
In an apparatus and method to upgrade software of a set-top box, when a malfunction renders it impossible to receive software upgrade data through System Information (SI), the data is received through Program Specific Information (PSI). Accordingly, it is not only possible to upgrade the software when a malfunction occurs, but also to recover from the malfunction. |
| US08255967B2 |
Method and apparatus for high speed data services
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device to transmit interactive TV services using minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cables including a controller to receive a very high digital subscriber line (VDSL) signal at the minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cable and adapt the VDSL signal for transmission over the minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cable to form an adapted VDSL signal which can subsequently be used for presentation of interactive TV services. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08255962B2 |
Edge device reception verification/non-reception verification links to differing devices
A video processing system and method of operation transports a video stream between a video source and a remote wireless device and includes a communication interface and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry couples to the communication interface, establishes a reception verified communication link with the remote wireless device via the communication interface, and establishes a non-reception verified communication link with the video source via the communication interface. The processing circuitry further receives the video stream (and an audio stream) from the video source via the communication interface using the non-reception verified communication link and transmits the video stream (and audio stream) to the remote wireless device via the communication interface using the reception verified communication link. |
| US08255959B2 |
Content suspension and resumption method and apparatus
A first playback apparatus instructs a server apparatus to suspend playback of content, and the first playback apparatus stores identification information of the content for which suspension of playback was instructed and suspension information indicating the location at which playback of content was suspended. In response to a request from a second playback apparatus, the first playback apparatus presents the second playback apparatus with the stored suspension information, and the second playback apparatus selects the content, which is to be played back, in accordance with the suspension information presented. |
| US08255954B2 |
Method and system for communicating changes in a broadcast system to other broadcast components
A broadcast system includes a program guide system, a traffic and scheduling system having a traffic and scheduling database having a program schedule therein. The system also includes a broadcast operation channel management system initiating a channel mapping change or channel definition change using the program schedule and communicating a change notification to a traffic scheduling system from the broadcast operation channel management system, extracting channel data from the channel mapping or channel definition change. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates the channel data to a program guide system. |
| US08255943B2 |
Broadcast area authentication
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for authenticating local and remote devices associated with a broadcast area. For example, in one embodiment, a broadcast station can broadcast a first over-the-air broadcast that includes a token. A local device can scan for and identify the token in the first over-the-air broadcast it receives. The local device can then transmit the received token and user registration to an authentication server. The authentication server can use the token and user registration information to create a unique broadcast identifier. The authentication server can then transmit the unique broadcast identifier to the broadcast station and the local device. The broadcast station then broadcasts a second over-the-air broadcast that includes a unique broadcast identifier. Once the local device receives the unique broadcast identifier from the second over-the-air broadcast and the authentication server, it can be authenticated as being in the broadcast area. |
| US08255940B2 |
Broadcast area authentication
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for authenticating local and remote devices associated with a broadcast area. For example, in one embodiment, a broadcast station can broadcast a first over-the-air broadcast that includes a token. A local device can scan for and identify the token in the first over-the-air broadcast it receives. The local device can then transmit the received token and user registration to an authentication server. The authentication server can use the token and user registration information to create a unique broadcast identifier. The authentication server can then transmit the unique broadcast identifier to the broadcast station and the local device. The broadcast station then broadcasts a second over-the-air broadcast that includes a unique broadcast identifier. Once the local device receives the unique broadcast identifier from the second over-the-air broadcast and the authentication server, it can be authenticated as being in the broadcast area. |
| US08255939B1 |
Interactive television offer presentations
A method, a system, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for interactive television offer presentation are provided. The method comprises assigning a unique marketing key to a subscriber, storing the unique marketing key and information of the subscriber in a database, detecting a request from the subscriber comprising the unique marketing key, retrieving the information from the database based on the unique marketing key, and making at least one offer of a product or service to the subscriber based on the information. |
| US08255937B2 |
Spindle motor having a clamping device
A spindle motor is disclosed which is configured such a manner that a rotor is press-fitted into a portion of a rotor fastener corresponding to a radially thicker portion out of outer portions of the rotor fastener of a clamping device, and a portion of the rotor fastener corresponding to a relatively thinner radial portion is filled up with an adhesive to adhesively couple a case with the rotation shaft side. Consequently, even if the rotation shaft side is coupled with the case, the case is not damaged to therefore enhance the reliability of the product. |
| US08255934B2 |
Apparatus for loading disks and its method of orientating different disks
An apparatus for loading disks and its method of orientating different disks includes housing, a print device, a drawer device, a base with multiple sets of sensor and a transport mechanism. The drawer device includes a disk tray, a driving mechanism, an attaching element, a swing element, an elastic element and a set of disk attachment. The transport mechanism is connected to the drawer device for moving disk tray upon the base. The transport mechanism through a controller automatically controls the various functions of the various components of the drawer device. |
| US08255933B2 |
Method and system for reading data, related network and computer program product therefor
A system for receiving data, such as data from streaming protocols arranged in client requests, includes a plurality of worker threads for receiving the data; a master thread configured for assigning a given worker thread to handling an incoming client request; a parser module configured for parsing the data of the incoming client request received via the assigned thread, and identifying when a complete client request has been received. The master thread is configured for releasing the given worker thread from assignment to handling the incoming client request when the parser module indicates that the complete incoming client request has been received. |
| US08255925B2 |
Method and system for recovering stranded outbound messages
A method for recovering and requeueing lost messages is disclosed. The lost messages are intended for delivery from a first computer program to a second computer program but are instead stranded in locations internal to the first program. The method extracts one or more of these stranded messages from the location internal to the first program, determines the original destination of each stranded message and delivers that message to the second program. Delivery of each message to the second program is facilitated by using message queues provided by middleware type software programs. The desired middleware program can be selected by the user of the method, and the method provides for the necessary formatting of each recovered message according to the selected middleware. Absent use of the present method, these stranded messages would not be routed to their original destinations. |
| US08255920B2 |
Time management control method for computer system, and computer system
In a time management control method of a computer system for managing each individual time of a plurality of virtual systems, a service process or retains an overall system time and a difference time between the overall system time and a virtual system time for each virtual system, and a firmware in the virtual system acquires the overall system time and the difference time, calculates a difference time between the overall system time and the change time of the virtual system, adds the both difference times, and informs the service processor. Accordingly, the virtual system time can be changed without time management hardware in each virtual system. Further, since service processor performs update processing only, it is also possible to prevent a time set error caused by delayed calculation processing etc. |
| US08255917B2 |
Auto-configuring workload management system
A multi-partition computer system provides a configuration inspector for inspecting partitions to determine their identities and configuration information. The system also includes a policy controller for automatically setting workload-management policies at least in part as a function of the configuration information in response to a command. Computer partitions may be inspected to acquire configuration information such as identity and configuration information regarding workload containers contained by each of the partitions. An automatic policy generator may be triggered to generate policies for allocating resources to workloads as a function of the configuration information. |
| US08255912B2 |
Techniques for setting events in a multi-threaded system
To set one or more events without intermediate scheduling of threads in a multi-threaded system, a scheduler is first rendered essentially ineffective. The events are then set, for example, by repeatedly calling a function to set a single event, once for each event to be set. The scheduler is then restored to its normal effectiveness. The scheduler may be rendered ineffective by artificially setting the priority of the current thread being processed to the highest possible priority level. This prevents the current thread from being preempted by another thread during the time that events are being set. After all events have been set, the priority of the current thread is restored to the original priority level, which then restores the scheduler to its normal effectiveness. |
| US08255911B2 |
System and method for selecting and assigning a basic module with a minimum transfer cost to thread
According to one embodiment, parallel processing optimization method for an apparatus configured to assign dynamically a part of some of basic modules, into which a program is divided and which comprise a execution rule which defines a executing order of the basic modules and are executable asynchronously with another modules, to threads includes identifiers based on the execution rule wherein the some of the basic modules are assignable to the threads, and configured to execute in parallel the threads by execution modules, the method includes managing the part of some of the basic modules and the identifiers of the threads assigned the part of some of the basic modules, managing an executable set includes the some of the basic modules, calculating transfer costs of the some of the basic modules when data, and selecting one of the basic module with a minimum transfer cost in the transfer costs. |
| US08255909B2 |
Synchronizing access to resources in a hybrid computing environment
Synchronizing access to resources in a hybrid computing environment that includes a host computer, a plurality of accelerators, the host computer and the accelerators adapted to one another for data communications by a system level message passing module, where synchronizing access to resources includes providing in a registry, to processes executing on the accelerators and the host computer, a key associated with a resource, the key having a value; attempting, by a process, to access the resource including determining whether a current value of the key represents an unlocked state for the resource; if the current value represents an unlocked state, attempting to lock access to the resource including setting the value to a unique identification of the process; determining whether the current value is the unique identification of the process; if the current value is the unique identification accessing the resource by the process. |
| US08255901B2 |
Methods and systems for configuring software applications
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for customizing software application programs, including self-service applications. In one implementation, a customer selects software components from a standard set of components provided by a developer. The selected software components are then used to form a customized software application. Thereafter, the customized software application may be used by an end user to perform one or more tasks. |
| US08255898B2 |
System software update method
Provided is a computer system including a first server and a storage system. In the first server, a first virtual server and a second virtual server are operated. Upon reception of a request to boot the first virtual server, the second virtual server judges whether system software of the first virtual server, which is requested to be booted, matches system software of the first server in which the first virtual server is operated. In the case where the system software of the first virtual server and the system software of the first server do not match, the second virtual server updates the system software of the first virtual server before booting the first virtual server. |
| US08255897B2 |
Software updating system, information processing apparatus and method, recording medium and program
It is made possible to update software appropriately. When additional software is installed, update management data for the additional software is generated. When the update management data for the additional software is attached to the additional software in advance, that data is used. If the update management data is not attached, cycles for confirming the presence of updates and the like are determined based on the nature of the software, and the update management data is thus generated. Then, the generated update management data is set in an update management table. The presence of software updates is checked for based on the cycles for confirming the presence of updates in the update management table. |
| US08255895B2 |
Distributing and synchronizing objects
A method and apparatus for distributing and synchronizing objects. One or more embodiments of the invention provide for distributing copies of the objects locally. By copying objects (including the data and behavior for the object) into local address space, the object's methods may be executed locally thereby avoiding excessive network traffic. The state of the various object copies across a network may not be synchronized due to local changes and modifications. To synchronize the objects, one or more embodiments of the invention provide for the use of a policy that specifies conditions as to when objects are synchronized. Embodiments of the invention provide flexibility in setting the policy to accommodate varying applications. For example, a policy may provide for synchronization that is based temporally (e.g., every 10 minutes or daily at 10:00 P.M.). Alternatively, a policy may provide for synchronization based on the type or number of messages transmitted. In one or more embodiments, a default policy may be utilized that provides for the synchronization of local objects whenever a client issues a request from the remote server. In such an embodiment, the remote server transmits any updated object information when it responds to the local object request. The updated object information may be utilized to synchronize the objects. |
| US08255894B2 |
Update data transmission method, computer program for practicing the method, host device and firmware writing system
Time required sending firmware updates to a peripheral device, e.g., a printer, is shortened without changing the communication speed. A server sequentially reads records of source data in a first format, deletes blocks of consecutive blank data that are contained in object data in records of the first format and are longer than management data in a second format, segments the object data before and after the blanks, connects the object data in records of the first format into units of a certain length, generates management data for each of the segmented object data and connected object data to produce target records in the second format, and sends the update data composed of the target records of the second format to the printer. Records of the first format written in ASCII code are binary converted, and binary records in the second format are sent to the printer. |
| US08255891B2 |
Computer-implemented method and system for improved data flow analysis and optimization
A computer-implemented method and system for improved data flow analysis and optimization are disclosed. The method and system generates data flow analysis information from vectorized processing components, the data flow analysis information including an input information set and an output information set, generates hole information from the vectorized processing components, selects needed holes based on the input information set, the output information set, and the hole information, and modifies a portion of the data flow analysis 10 information by retaining needed holes and removing holes not identified as needed holes from the vectorized processing components. |
| US08255887B2 |
Method and apparatus for re-using memory allocated for data structures used by software processes
A memory management mechanism requires data structures to be explicitly deallocated in the programming code, but deallocation does not immediately make the memory available for reuse. Before a deallocated memory region can be reused, memory is scanned for pointers to the deallocated region, and any such pointer is set to null. The deallocated memory is then available for reuse. Preferably, deallocated memory regions are accumulated, and an asynchronous memory cleaning process periodically scans memory to nullify the pointers. In order to prevent previously scanned memory becoming contaminated with a dangling pointer before the scan is finished, any write to a pointer is checked to verify that the applicable target address has not been deallocated. |
| US08255882B2 |
Selecting formats for multi-format instructions in binary translation of code from a hybrid source instruction set architecture to a unitary target instruction set architecture
A method, according to one aspect, may include estimating costs associated with translating a multi-format instruction of a source instruction set architecture to instructions of a target instruction set architecture by using a different format of the multi-format instruction for each of the costs, and selecting a format for the multiformat instruction based at least in part on the estimated costs. Methods of organizing or grouping multi-format instructions based on register use relationships. Software, hardware, and computer systems to implement the methods are also disclosed. |
| US08255880B2 |
Counting instruction and memory location ranges
Illustrative embodiments cover a data processing system for processing instructions and monitoring accesses to memory location ranges. An instruction for execution is identified. A determination is made as to whether the instruction is within a contiguous range of instructions. Execution information relating to the instruction is identified if the instruction is within the contiguous range of instructions. With memory location accesses, an access to a memory location is identified. A determination of whether the memory location is within a contiguous range of memory locations is made. Access information is identified if the memory location is within the contiguous range of memory locations. |
| US08255878B2 |
Program development support device
Via an internal bus 69, a host emulation unit 61 of a control procedure unit 60 loads a program under development into, and sends program execution control commands to, a program under development execution unit 70 which includes an engine processor. In response to these program execution control commands, the program under development execution unit 70 performs execution starting, stopping, pausing, or resumption of the program under development. On the other hand, execution mode setting information for the program under development is sent from an execution mode setting unit 62 of the control procedure unit 60 via the internal bus 69 to the program under development execution unit 70, in response to commands from the user. Based upon this execution mode setting information, the program execution operation by the engine processor is controlled by the program under development execution unit 70. As a result, during the development of a program to be executed by the engine unit of a mobile communication terminal which comprises a host unit and an engine unit which comprises an engine processor and which operates under the management of the host unit, it is possible to provide a satisfactory development environment. |
| US08255876B2 |
Execution difference identification tool
Displaying instrument output is disclosed. Instrument output data is received. A difference between two or more corresponding portions of data included in the received instrument output data is determined. At least a selected part of the received instrument output data is displayed in a manner that highlights the difference. |
| US08255874B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically extracting interface of embedded software
Provided is an apparatus and method for automatically extracting an interface of embedded software. The method defines an interface of embedded software as a test item for test of the interface of the embedded software, and generates an interface symbol corresponding to the defined test item. The location of the interface symbol is determined, and a test case is generated based on the interface symbol and its location in the software. Embodiments of the invention thus facilitate the testing of software at interfaces between layers in the software. |
| US08255870B2 |
Application access for support users
One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for providing a support function in maintaining a computing system. The system includes a computer-implemented interface configured to receive a support user identification and a system user identification. The system also includes a support user implementation engine configured to set a support mode based on the support user identification and to log the support user into the computing system based on the system user identification. The system also includes one or more applications implemented by the computing system configured to perform one or more functions on the computing system in accordance with the system user identification and the support user identification. |
| US08255868B1 |
Method and system for providing setup assistance for computing system implemented applications
A method and system for providing setup assistance for applications includes a process for providing setup and/or operational assistance for applications whereby as a user implements a given computing system implemented application, the user of the computing system implemented application is offered assistance for setting up and/or operating all, or part of, the computing system implemented application based, at least in part, on the amount of data, and/or the type of data, the user is entering and/or has entered, for use with and/or by the given computing system implemented application. |
| US08255862B2 |
System and method for analyzing temperature rise of a printed circuit board
A system and method that can analyze a temperature rise of a printed circuit board (PCB). The system and method receives attribute parameters of the PCB from an input device, and generates a temperature rise formula according to the received attribute parameters. Additionally, the system and method calculates a temperature rise of a local area surrounding each component on the PCB according to the temperature rise formula. |
| US08255859B2 |
Method and system for verification of multi-voltage circuit design
Multi-voltage circuit design verification segregates design elements into iso-voltage-rail blocks. Information on cross-over connections between the iso-voltage-rail blocks is obtained. Voltage effects are simulated in the circuit design, and, based on the cross-over information, the simulation results are modified. This yields more accurate results of simulations for multi-voltage circuit designs. |
| US08255858B2 |
Method for adjusting capacitance of capacitors without affecting die area
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for adjusting geometry of a capacitor includes fabricating a first composite capacitor residing in a first standard cell with a first set of process parameters. The method further includes using a second standard cell having substantially same dimensions as the first standard cell. The method further includes using a capacitance value from the first composite capacitor to adjust a geometry of a second composite capacitor residing in the second standard cell, wherein the second composite capacitor is fabricated with a second set of process parameters. The geometry of the second composite capacitor can be adjusted to cause the second composite capacitor to have a capacitance value substantially equal to the capacitance value from the first composite capacitor. |
| US08255854B2 |
Architecture and method for compensating for disparate signal rise and fall times by using polarity selection to improve timing and power in an integrated circuit
A method for reducing delay in an integrated circuit by compensating for differences in rise and fall delay times comprises creating a timing graph; computing minimum delay tuples for nodes in the timing graph; if there is not at least one feasible delay tuple, determining a longest path and computing minimum delay tuples for the longest path; changing polarities on the longest path to reduce delays; updating the timing graph by transferring new polarity and delay values; performing timing analysis to determine a new longest path if the new longest path is shorter than the prior longest path, accepting a resulting polarity selection and computing minimum delay tuples for the longest path; if the new longest path is not shorter than the prior longest path, accepting a resulting polarity selection and implementing changes in a user-program bitstream. |
| US08255852B2 |
Distributable serializable finite state machine
A distributable and serializable finite state machine and methods for using the distributable and serializable finite state machine are provided wherein finite state machine instance can be location-shifted, time-shifted or location-shift and time-shifted, for example by serializing and deserializing each instance. Each instance can be located-shifted between agents, and a persistent memory storage location is provided to facilitate both location-shifting and time-shifting. Finite state machine instances and the actions that make up each instance can be run in a distributed fashion among a plurality of agents. |
| US08255849B1 |
Solver for modeling a multilayered integrated circuit with three-dimensional interconnects
Systems and methods for modeling a multilayer integrated circuit include three-dimensional interconnect models in multilayered substrates for greater accuracy. Mesh models are used to resolve effects of nearby elements and grid models are used to resolve effects of far-away elements. Sidewall mesh elements of three-dimensional interconnects are projected onto parallel (or substantially parallel) grids between the top and bottom walls of the interconnects so that grid models can be used to resolve three-dimensional effects of interconnects in multilayered substrates. |
| US08255846B2 |
Development tool for comparing netlists
System, method, and program product analyze netlists for related electrical circuit designs by comparing predefined physical characteristics between the netlists. A baseline reference score is generated for one of the netlists and a normalized score is generated for the other netlist. The baseline reference score and the normalized score are used to generate a similarity score that is displayed on a display monitor. Preferably, the similarity score is displayed as a percentage. |
| US08255845B2 |
System and method for generating flat layout
The present invention provides a method for generating flat layout design view that comprises importing port definitions of a first hierarchical block of digital instances from a source as a schematic symbol, importing port definitions of digital instances within the first hierarchical block from the source, instantiating the schematic symbol as a hierarchical layout instance in the flat layout, binding the hierarchical layout instance to the schematic symbol, and embedding digital layout block instances within the design layout by replacing the digital instances of a digital layout block with digital layout instances of a top layout module of the design layout. |
| US08255842B2 |
Thin-film transistor circuit, design method for thin-film transistor, design program for thin-film transistor circuit, design program recording medium, design library database, and display device
A thin-film transistor circuit includes a crystallized semiconductor thin film two-dimensionally partitioned into crystal-grain-defining areas each of which accommodates a crystal grain larger than a predetermined size, thin-film transistors each of which has a channel region placed at the center position of a corresponding one of the crystal-grain-defining areas, and wirings which interconnect the thin-film transistors. |
| US08255837B2 |
Methods for cell boundary isolation in double patterning design
A method of designing a double patterning mask set for a layout of a chip includes designing standard cells. In each of the standard cells, all left-boundary patterns are assigned with one of a first indicator and a second indicator, and all right-boundary patterns are assigned with an additional one of the first indicator and the second indicator. The method further includes placing the standard cells in a row of the layout of the chip. Starting from one of the standard cells in the row, indicator changes to the standard cells are propagated throughout the row. All patterns in the standard cells having the first indicator are transferred to a first mask of the double patterning mask set. All patterns in the standard cells having the second indicator are transferred to a second mask of the double patterning mask set. |
| US08255832B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and storage medium
When an N-upped paper document was viewed by previewing, visibility thereof was poor because contents corresponding to N pages are displayed collectively. Expansion thereof for improving the visibility makes the operability poor. An image processing device of the present invention includes: a determining unit for determining whether or not image data corresponding to an inputted document is image data of an N-up document in which contents corresponding to N pages (N≧2) are arranged in one page; a first thumbnail generating unit for generating a first thumbnail of 1-up that is a thumbnail of any of the N pages when the image data corresponding to the inputted document is determined to be the image data of the N-up document by the determining unit; and a display unit for preview-displaying the first thumbnail. |
| US08255829B1 |
Determining system level information technology security requirements
Systems and methods provide system level information technology security requirements. A requirements component outputs prompts via a user interface, including questions regarding a type of data associated with a project application, how the project application authenticates and authorizes users, a processing and storage characterization of the project application and corresponding sets of selectable responses. The component receives selections of at least one of each set of selectable responses, identifies a set of security requirements for the project application based on the selections, and outputs the set of security requirements via the user interface to assist an application team in developing the project application. The component may identify a security test associated with at least one of the set of security requirements, and output the identification of the security test. The component may output information associated with a corresponding set of security requirements in response to receiving an audit request. |
| US08255828B2 |
Command user interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls
An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls and for presenting logical groupings of particular functionality controls associated with a selected top-level functionality. Underneath a row of top-level functionality tabs, functionalities controls associated with a given top-level functionality tab are presented in logical groupings. Selection of a particular tab switches modes of the user interface to present controls for functionalities associated with the selected tab. |
| US08255826B2 |
Method and apparatus for resizing buffered windows
Methods and apparatuses for resizing buffered windows. In one aspect of the invention, a method to resize a buffered window on a data processing system includes: determining an estimated size for a window which has a first pixel image of a first size buffered in a first window buffer; allocating a second window buffer which is large enough to buffer the window in the estimated size; and buffering a second pixel image of the window in a second size in the second window buffer. In one example according to this aspect, a portion of a frame buffer is updated to the second pixel image to display the window in the second size. A portion of the second window buffer, storing the data that represents the second pixel image, is clipped to update the corresponding portion of the frame buffer. |
| US08255825B2 |
Content aware adaptive display
Content aware adaptive display is described. In embodiment(s), a media image can be displayed on an integrated display of a media device. The media device can detect that a display device is proximate the media device, determine a display orientation for the media image at the display device, and communicate the media image to the display device that then displays the media image in the determined display orientation. |
| US08255820B2 |
Electronic paper display device event tracking
A system for and method for tracking events occurring on an electronic paper display device is presented. The system and method may include detecting an event occurring at the electronic paper display device, identifying the event and a status of the electronic paper display device, wherein the identification of the event comprises using a data structure mapping electronic content structure to one or more identifiers, and transmitting the one or more identifiers associated with the event via a network to a network accessible device. |
| US08255816B2 |
Modifying a magnified field model
An example method of modifying a model of a field includes presenting a representation of field data in a first window and receiving a selection of a portion of the representation of the field data. The method further includes presenting the portion of the representation in a second window, creating a magnified portion, where the representation and the magnified portion are presented concurrently. The method further includes receiving a request to modify the field data presented in the magnified portion, modifying the field data based on the request, and based on the modified field data, updating the magnified portion and the representation to obtain a modified magnified portion and a modified representation, respectively. The method further includes concurrently presenting the modified magnified portion in the second window and the modified representation in the first window. |
| US08255815B2 |
Motion picture preview icons
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method that presents a preview of a set of images in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a device. The method presents a GUI element to represent the set of images in the GUI, where the GUI element is moveable within the GUI. The method then displays within said GUI element a sequence of the images in the set of images to provide a preview of the set of images. |
| US08255814B2 |
Temporary text and graphic feedback for object manipulators
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to temporarily display information relating to an object manipulator. A graphic object is displayed in a computer graphics program. An object manipulator is then displayed on the graphic object. Cursor input where a cursor is placed over the object manipulator is received. In response to the cursor input, information relating to the object manipulator is temporarily displayed. |
| US08255812B1 |
Embedding user-selected content feed items in a webpage
A computer-implemented method of serving content includes receiving information identifying one or more content items in a content feed. The one or more content items have been individually selected by a first user at a first client. Code is provided that, when incorporated into a webpage, instructs the webpage to display or list the selected one or more content items. |
| US08255809B2 |
Webtop: multiple applet delivery within a fixed-sized viewing space
A technique for executing applets is provided. Initially, a webtop applet is loaded into, for example, a browser window. The webtop applet displays the list of applets available to a user. The user selects one or more applets from the list received by the webtop applet. The webtop applet generates a separate JInternal frame for each selected applet, and each JInternal frame executes its associated applet within a separate window. The windows assume different configurations such as being resized, repositioned, cascaded, tiled, windowed, minimized, maximized, or overlapped with one or more other windows within a fixed-size view space of the browser window. Each window is manipulated by the user separately from the other windows which are contained within the fixed sized view space. |
| US08255806B2 |
Unified secure virtual machine player and remote desktop client
A virtual machine (VM) is accessed by receiving user log-in information, the log-in information identifying a user and a corresponding VM, the VM having a local copy and a remote copy. A selected copy of the VM is identified based on at least one of a policy and a user selection, the selected copy being one of the local copy and the remote copy of the VM. A desktop generated by the selected copy of the VM is presented to the user in a common application graphical user interface, the common application graphical user interface being used regardless as to whether the selected copy of the VM is the local copy or the remote copy. |
| US08255800B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating attorney client relationships, document assembly and nonjudicial dispute resolution
Computer network systems and related methods enable interactive legal document assembly by one or more persons working independently or collectively. The disclosed system facilitates optional lawyer engagements, attorney representations, review of documents, finalization of documents and nonjudicial dispute resolution in the event of disputes. |
| US08255797B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
There is disclosed, as an example, an output information generation method in an information processor capable of synthesizing multiple data in insertion areas defined in form information to generate output information, the method comprising: a registration step of registering multiple data with priorities and multiple form information having form information corresponding to the respective priorities in a storage unit; a direction step of directing generation of output information by specifying any of the multiple data and any of the form information stored in the storage unit and directing generation of output information; and a generation step of selecting form information corresponding to the priority of each of the data specified by the direction step and synthesizing the multiple data into the insertion areas in the selected form information to generate output information. |
| US08255795B2 |
Optimal viewing of digital images and voice annotation transitions in slideshows
A system and a method are disclosed for optimally viewing a non-square aspect ratio photo or video within a non-square aspect ratio display area of a screen. In addition, a system and a method are disclosed for positioning and storing a reference point (e.g., a relative center point) of an image within a display area of a screen. Further, in a slideshow configuration, a system and a method allows for transition between images using sound annotations associates with a particular image. |
| US08255790B2 |
XML based form modification with import/export capability
A form user interface modification engine for use in customizing forms of an application is provided. The modification engine includes an export component which retrieves a first binary format form for customization. The export component deserializes the first binary format form and converts the first binary format form into a first XML format form. An import component of the modification engine receives a customized XML format form created using the first XML format form and serializes the customized XML format form. The customized XML format form is then stored as an XML layer with a reference to the associated binary format form. |
| US08255789B2 |
Providing spreadsheet features
Heuristic based feature degradation and/or restoration is disclosed. In some embodiments, a feature is provided with respect to a set of spreadsheet cells. The feature consumes processing power. If a degradation threshold associated providing the feature is satisfied, the feature is at least partially degraded so that an expected latency of providing the feature is at least in part avoided. If a restoration threshold associated with providing the feature is satisfied, the feature is at least partially restored for the set of cells. |
| US08255782B2 |
Method for constructing LDPC code in the mobile digital multimedia broadcast system
A method for constructing LDPC (Low-Density Parity-Check) code in the mobile digital multimedia broadcast system is provided, wherein the Low-Density Parity-Check matrix of the LDPC code is iteratively constructed according to a code-table and expansion method, and the code-table is a part of the constructed Low-Density Parity-Check matrix. According to the constructing method of the present invention, the LDPC code having excellent performance of error correcting coding which is applicable to the mobile digital multimedia broadcast system. |
| US08255780B2 |
Scalable VLIW processor for high-speed viterbi and trellis coded modulation decoding
An application specific processor to implement a Viterbi decode algorithm for channel decoding functions of received symbols. The Viterbi decode algorithm is at least one of a Bit Serial decode algorithm, and block based decode algorithm. The application specific processor includes a Load-Store, Logical and De-puncturing (LLD) slot that performs a Load-Store function, a Logical function, a De-puncturing function, and a Trace-back Address generation function, a Branch Metric Compute (BMU) slot that performs Radix-2 branch metric computations, Radix-4 branch metric computations, and Squared Euclidean Branch Metric computations, and an Add-Compare-Select (ACS) slot that performs Radix-2 Path metric computations, Radix-4 Path metric computations, best state computations, and a decision bit generation. The LLD slot, the BMU slot and the ACS slot perform in a software pipelined manner to enable high speed Viterbi decoding functions. |
| US08255779B2 |
System and method for accelerated forward error correction (FEC) synchronization
A system and method are provided for accelerating forward error correction (FEC) synchronization in a communicating receiver. On the transmitter side, the method accepts an energy waveform representing a packet of data symbols, encodes the packet, and creates an FEC block. Prior to transmitting the FEC block, an electromagnetic waveform is transmitted representing an FEC flag character. Then, an electromagnetic waveform representing the FEC block is transmitted a predetermined first period of time after the transmission of the FEC flag character. For example, the first time period may be immediately following the FEC flag character transmission or a predetermined number of idle characters following the transmission of the FEC flag character. |
| US08255778B2 |
Hybrid ARQ transmission method with effective channel matrix and decision statistics resetting
A method for decoding of multiple wireless signals by a chase combining hybrid-automatic-repeat-request CC-HARQ receiver includes demodulating wireless signals received from respective mobile sources using an effective channel matrix and decision statistics; updating log-likelihood-ratios LLRs and decoding the received codewords using the corresponding updated LLRs; determining set of correctly decoded codewords using a cyclic redundancy check; updating the effective channel matrix and decision statistics responsive to the step of determining; and resetting the effective channel matrix and decision statistics in the event that the number of decoding errors for a codeword exceeds its maximum limit after storing the updated LLRs of all remaining erroneously decoded codewords for which the number of decoding errors is below the respective maximum limit. |
| US08255775B2 |
Method and apparatus of candidate list augmentation for channel coding system
The present invention discloses a candidate list augmentation apparatus with dynamic compensation in the coded MIMO systems. The proposed path augmentation technique in the present invention can expand the candidate paths derived from the detector to a distinct and larger list before computing the soft value of each bit. Consequently, the detector is allowed to deliver a smaller list, leading to reduction in computation complexity. Moreover, an additive correction term is introduced to dynamically compensate the approximation inaccuracy in the soft value generation, which improves the efficiency and performance of the coded MIMO systems. |
| US08255774B2 |
Data storage system with non-volatile memory for error correction
The present disclosure provides a data storage system with non-volatile memory for error correction. In one example, a data storage system is provided and includes a first data storage device comprising a first non-volatile data storage medium and a second data storage device that comprises a second non-volatile data storage medium. The system also includes a controller configured to store data to the first data storage device. The controller is configured to selectively generate error correction information for selected portions of the data based on at least one attribute associated with the data and store the error correction information in the second data storage device. |
| US08255773B2 |
System and method of tracking error data within a storage device
Systems and methods of tracking error data are disclosed. A method includes receiving a first checksum associated with error locations of a first error correction code operation and receiving a second checksum associated with error locations of a second error correction code operation. The first checksum is compared to the second checksum and an action is initiated on a region of a memory array based on a result of the comparison. |
| US08255772B1 |
Adaptive memory scrub rate
In one embodiment an example apparatus includes a memory with an error detection system (EDS) that detects an error event in the memory. The error event involves at least one bit in the memory changing state erroneously. The apparatus also includes a scrub logic to scrub the memory and correct memory errors (e.g., bit errors). The apparatus also includes a scrub rate adaptive logic to selectively control a memory scrub frequency associated with the scrub logic where the control is based, at least in part, on a number of error events detected by the EDS during an interval of time. A memory scrub frequency is the rate that a memory is periodically scrubbed to remove errors. |
| US08255765B1 |
Embedded parity coding for data storage
A low-density parity check (LDPC) decoder comprises a decoded data stream generator that generates a decoded data stream based on a received data stream and a set of matrix-based codewords. The matrix-based codewords form a LDPC parity check matrix H. A decoder control module at least one of prewrites or replaces a selected portion of at least one of the plurality of codewords with zeros prior to generation of the decoded data stream. |
| US08255764B1 |
Embedded parity coding for data storage
A decoder system comprises a tensor-product code (TPC) decoder that decodes a received data stream to generate a decoded signal. A mark module that replaces low-density parity check (LDPC) parity bits of the decoded signal with 0s to generate a reset output signal. A deinterleave module deinterleaves error correction parity bits that are within the reset output signal to generate a deinterleaved signal that comprises a decoded portion and a concatenated portion. The concatenated portion comprises the error correction parity bits. A parity decoder module removes the concatenated portion from the deinterleaved signal. |
| US08255762B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with error correction
This disclosure concerns a memory including: a first memory region including memory groups including a plurality of memory cells, addresses being respectively allocated for the memory groups, the memory groups respectively being units of data erase operations; a second memory region temporarily storing therein data read from the first memory region or temporarily storing therein data to be written to the first memory region; a read counter storing therein a data read count for each memory group; an error-correcting circuit calculating an error bit count of the read data; and a controller performing a refresh operation, in which the read data stored in one of the memory groups is temporarily stored in the second memory region and is written back the read data to the same memory group, when the error bit count exceeds a first threshold or when the data read count exceeds a second threshold. |
| US08255756B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless LAN system, interference detecting method, and interference avoidance method
A wireless communication apparatus, a wireless LAN system, an interference detecting method, and an interference avoidance method which detect the occurrence of a communication error caused by the occurrence of interference. A wireless communication apparatus (100) comprises a transmitted packet interference error detecting circuit (120) composed of an ED value detecting circuit (105) for measuring the ED value prior to packet transmission, an Ack error detecting circuit (106) for detecting an Ack error in the transmitted packet, and a transmitted packet interference error determining circuit (107). When the Ack error is detected in a packet transmitted on condition that the measured ED value exceeds the threshold value of interference determination, the apparatus (100) determines it to be an interference error. |
| US08255754B2 |
Range extension and noise mitigation for wireless communication links utilizing a CRC based single and multiple bit error correction mechanism
A novel and useful range extension and in-band noise mitigation mechanism that uses conventional CRC error detection codes to correct single and multiple bit errors in packets received over a communications link. The CRC error correction mechanism of the invention is particularly suitable for use with communication protocols with weak error correction capabilities. The mechanism uses the linearity property of the CRC calculation to detect the existence of errors in the received packet. The entire received packet is searched for single bit errors and are corrected in a single cycle. If no single bit errors are found, the mechanism then searches for multiple bit errors. Packet retransmissions are used to detect and mark the location of multiple bit errors. Multiple bit errors are corrected by trying a plurality of hypotheses of single bit error corrections. Each hypotheses pattern is investigated to find matching CRC patterns for correction using the single bit, single cycle CRC error correction method. |
| US08255749B2 |
Ascertaining configuration by storing data signals in a topology register
Topology discovery of a target system having a plurality of components coupled with a scan topology may be performed by driving a low logic value on the data input signal and a data output signal of the scan topology. An input data value and an output data value for each of the plurality of components is sampled and recorded. A low logic value is then scanned through the scan path and recorded at each component. The scan topology may be determined based on the recorded data values and the recorded scan values. |
| US08255747B1 |
System and method for providing resolutions for abnormally ended jobs on a mainframe computer system
The present invention relates to a system method for automatically providing resolutions for abnormal end codes from a mainframe system. An abnormal end code for a mainframe computer system is received from a user. A storage device is accessed to determine if there is a resolution for the abnormal end code. If there is a resolution for the abnormal end code, the resolution is provided to the user. If there is not a resolution for the abnormal end code, it is determined what question should be asked of the user. The question and the answer to the question received for the abnormal end code help determine the correct resolution for the abnormal end code. |
| US08255743B2 |
Error detection and/or correction through coordinated computations
Techniques are generally described for addressing computation errors via coordinated computation on two computing platforms are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more cuts may be taken of a computation to observe variables, and the observations may be analyzed to detect errors. Corrections may be created for the detected errors. The disclosed techniques may be employed in power and/or energy minimization/reduction, and debugging, among other goals. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed. |
| US08255742B2 |
Dynamically replicated memory
Dynamically replicated memory is usable to allocate new memory space from failed memory pages by pairing compatible failed memory pages to reuse otherwise unusable failed memory pages. Dynamically replicating memory involves detecting and recording memory faults, reclaiming failed memory pages for later use, recovering from detected memory faults, and scheduling access to replicated memory pages. |
| US08255741B2 |
Facilitating error detection and correction after a memory component failure
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that can be reconfigured to provide error detection and correction after a failure of a memory component in a memory system. During operation, the system accesses a block of data from the memory system, wherein each block of data in the memory system includes an array of bits logically organized into R rows and C columns, including two checkbit columns containing checkbits, and C−2 data-bit columns containing data bits, wherein each column is stored in a different memory component, and wherein the checkbits are generated from the data bits to provide block-level detection and correction for a failed memory component. Next, upon examining the block of data, the system determines that a specific memory component in the memory system has failed. If the failed memory component contains a data-bit column for the block of data, the system uses checkbits from the two checkbit columns to correct the data-bit column, and then stores the corrected data-bit column. Next, the system generates and stores new checkbits in a functioning memory component, wherein the new checkbits provide single-error-correction and double-error-detection for erroneous bits in the block of data, but do not provide for detection and correction of a failed memory component. |
| US08255738B2 |
Recovery from medium error on tape on which data and metadata are to be stored by using medium to medium data copy
A copy export application emented in a computational device receives a request to perform a copy export operation of data and metadata to a selected tape in a tape library coupled to the computational device. The copy export application copies the data from the computational device to the selected tape. The copy export application determines a medium error on the selected tape while copying the metadata from the computational device to the selected tape, subsequent to completion of the copying of the data from the computational device to the selected tape. The copy export application sends a request to a tape control application to replace the selected tape by a new tape and copy the data from the selected tape to the new tape. The copy export application copies the metadata to the new tape. |
| US08255737B1 |
System and method for a redundant communication fabric in a network storage system
The techniques introduced here include storage systems including a storage controller configured to access data and a storage subsystem including a storage device having n ports, where n is an integer greater than one, and where the storage device is configured to store the data and to make the data available to the storage controller via each of the n ports. The storage systems also include a communication fabric configured to couple the storage controller to each of the n ports of the storage device via m paths, where m is an integer greater than n, so that the storage system is configured to tolerate failure in up to m−1 paths through the communication fabric, such that the data in the storage device remains accessible to the storage controller even in the presence of failure in up to m−1 paths of the m paths. |
| US08255733B1 |
Clock delay and skew control systems and methods
A method of providing a clock signal for an embodiment includes performing a calibration for a closed loop control system to determine a control signal value that provides a desired tuning of the closed loop control system. The control signal value is stored and provided to a delay circuit, wherein a delay range and a delay step size of the delay circuit is based on the control signal value. A delay select control signal is provided to the delay circuit to select a specific delay within the delay range. |
| US08255730B2 |
Power management unit and systems LSI having the power management unit
A power management unit for controlling power supply voltages of first and second power domains to which first and second CPUs belong respectively includes a power IC which supplies first and second power supply voltages to the first and second power domains respectively; a clock generating portion which generates first and second clocks and supplies the first and second clocks to the first and second CPUs respectively; and a power and clock control portion which is connected both to the power IC and to the clock generating portion. |
| US08255725B2 |
Information processing apparatus and power-saving control method
According to one embodiment, a power management module in an information processing apparatus is configured to execute a process of setting a power-down signal to a peripheral device in an active state in response to a power-down signal generation command, a process of setting the information processing apparatus in a sleep state in response to a sleep state transition request signal, a process of restoring the information processing apparatus to a working state in response to generation of a predetermined wakeup event, and a process of setting the power-down signal in an inactive state before a predetermined time has passed since the restoration of the information processing apparatus to the working state. |
| US08255724B2 |
Control of awake time in mobile device with event based time period followed by sleep mode algorithm
A method of operating a mobile device comprises operating the mobile device in a low power mode, switching the mobile device to a high power mode in response to an event, identifying the event as specific type of event, selecting a time period according to the identified type of event, preventing an algorithm for switching the mobile device to the low power mode from executing, for the time period, and (ultimately) executing the algorithm. |
| US08255723B2 |
Device having multiple instruction execution modules and a management method
A multiple instruction execution modules device that comprises a first instruction execution module and a second instruction execution module and a context switch controller; wherein the first instruction execution module is logically identical to the second instruction execution module but substantially differs from the second instruction execution module by at least one power consumption characteristic; wherein the context switch controller controls a context switch between the first instruction execution module and the second instruction execution module; wherein an instruction execution module that its context has been transferred is shut down. |
| US08255722B2 |
Microcontroller with clock generator for supplying activated clock signal to requesting module to conserve power
The disclosed implementations provide for power reduction in microcontrollers by reactivating a clock in the microcontroller for one or more peripheral modules in response to an internal or external trigger event, thus allowing the one or more peripheral modules to respond to events while operating in a low-power sleep mode. In some implementations, one or more peripheral modules in a microcontroller provide a clock request signal to a clock generator in the microcontroller. In response to the clock request signal, the clock generator reactivates one or more oscillator sources. The clock generator resumes clock generation only for the one or more requesting peripheral modules, keeping power consumption in the microcontroller to a minimum and not disturbing other modules in the microcontroller. |
| US08255721B2 |
Seamless frequency sequestering
A method and apparatus for seamless frequency sequestering is herein described. In response to a frequency throttle event, controlling software, such as an OS, is provided access to a throttled amount of frequency associated with the frequency throttle event, while another amount of frequency is transparently sequestered for performance of non-controlling software tasks. |
| US08255716B2 |
Power optimization for data services
Systems and methods for optimizing the power of a battery in a mobile device are provided. The systems and methods include receiving a request from at least one of a plurality of applications running on the mobile device. The systems and methods further include determining user characteristics from interacting with at least one of the applications and determining a user dwell time threshold based upon the user's interactions with an application. The systems and methods further include buffering requests if the user dwell time is less than the user dwell threshold level. |
| US08255715B2 |
Storage system and power control method thereof with mode selection defined by timeout period and power supply
In the process of controlling a plurality of storage devices 190 in any one of a normal mode and a plurality of power-saving modes (such as standby and LRPM), a controller 110 selects the storage devices whose mode should be shifted from the normal mode to any of the power-saving modes; and before shifting to control of the selected storage devices in any of the power-saving modes, the controller calculates time and electric power required to make the selected storage devices return from each power-saving mode to the normal mode; and based on each calculated value, the controller sets a combination of power-saving modes and the number of storage devices that satisfy the return conditions defined by the host timeout period and the supplied power; and then, the controller controls the selected number of storage devices in the set combination of power-saving modes. |
| US08255714B2 |
System and method for establishing a direct link on the high throughput channel of a multi-rate channel wireless communications network
A system and method for wireless communication over multi-rate channels are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a first wireless device; a second wireless device; and an access point that can communicate over high-rate and low-rate channels. One or more of the first and second wireless devices and the access point can include neighbor information on the wireless stations in the wireless network. One or more of the first and second wireless devices and the access point may be configured to transmit a frame in an attempt to establish a direct link over the first channel between the first and second stations. Before transmitting the frame, the one or more of the first and second wireless devices and the access point may determine whether a direct link can be established over the first channel between the first and second stations, based at least partly on the neighbor information. This scheme can significantly reduce time wasted for unsuccessful direct link setup attempts for the high-rate channel transmissions. |
| US08255712B2 |
Computing device and method for protecting a power button of the computing device
A method protects a power button of a computing device. The computing device includes a front panel and a motherboard. The front panel includes a protection switch and a power button. The motherboard includes a power protection unit that displays a power-on simulation icon and a power-off simulation icon on a display screen when the power button is pressed. The power protection unit controls a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of the motherboard to output a first voltage level when the power-off simulation icon is selected, and shuts off the protection switch to enable the power button according to the first voltage level. The power protection unit controls the GPIO pin to output a second voltage level when the power-on simulation icon is selected, and turns on the protection switch to enable the power button according to the second voltage level. |
| US08255711B2 |
Power supply circuit
A power supply circuit for a graphic card on a motherboard includes first to fourth electrical switches. The first electrical switch is connected to the motherboard to receive a power good signal from the motherboard. The second electrical switch is connected between the first electrical switch and each of the third and fourth electrical switches. The third and fourth electrical switches provide power to the graphic card. The first electrical switch is turned on or off according to the voltage of the power good signal. The second electrical switch is turned on or off by the first electrical switch, so as to selectively control one of the third and fourth electrical switches turn on to output power to the graphic card. |
| US08255710B2 |
Information processor, computer readable recording medium which records data evacuation program, and data evacuation method
An information processor includes a set information storage unit storing evacuation residual quantity information representing an evacuation residual quantity as a residual quantity of the battery that corresponds to electric power necessary for executing a data evacuation process for storing data, stored in a memory of the information processor, onto a nonvolatile recording medium, a battery residual quantity detecting unit detecting the battery residual quantity of the battery, a load information collecting unit acquiring load information representing an electric load of the information processor, an evacuation residual quantity setting unit setting the evacuation residual quantity based on the load information collected by the load information collecting unit, and controls the set information storage unit to store the evacuation residual quantity information representing the set evacuation residual quantity, and an evacuation control unit controlling execution of the data evacuation process. |
| US08255707B2 |
System and method for providing a one-step testing architecture
In one embodiment, a method includes powering on a testing system, whereby a unit present signal is included in the system, the unit present signal communicating to a management complex unit (MCU) that a unit under test (UUT) has been inserted into a corresponding architecture, the signal being sent through a relay such that it can be sent or connected at a later time. The UUT is installed in the system and a programming protocol is initiated. The system is then powered off, whereby the unit present signal is set to open and the system is subsequently powered on.When the UUT is plugged in, the MCU does not see it. The system can include a second relay that allows power being fed to the UUT to be broken such that when the UUT is subsequently powered up, the board is reset and not removed from the architecture. |
| US08255700B2 |
Lockstep mechanism to ensure security in hardware at power-up
A system and method of ensuring hardware security of a device, such as an integrated circuit having secure data stored thereon. The integrated circuit or other hardware device can implement one or more configurable fuses that limit access to one or more secure locations within the device. The secure locations may contain secure data. The state of the configurable fuses can be ensured, thereby limiting access to secure locations, by forcing the occurrence of a logical state prior to allowing access to hardware locations configured by the fuses. A configurable non-secure access code can be used to force the occurrence of the logical state. Receipt of the non-secure access code by the hardware device forces the occurrence of the hardware state, thereby ensuring access only to those secure locations configured by the fuses. |
| US08255697B2 |
Portable or embedded access and input devices and methods for giving access to access limited devices, apparatuses, appliances, systems or networks
A portable or embedded access device is provided for being coupled to, and for allowing only authorized users access to, an access-limited apparatus, device, network or system, e.g. a computer terminal, an internet bank or a corporate or government intranet. The access device comprises an integrated circuit (IC) providing increased security by bridging the functionality of biometrics input from a user and, upon positive authentication of the user's fingerprint locally to provide secure communication with the said access-limited apparatus, device, network or system, whether local or remote. A corresponding method of using the portable device or the embedded device is disclosed for providing a bridge from biometrics input to a computer locally, into secure communication protocol responses to a non-biometrics network. A method of providing secured access control and user input in stand-alone appliances having an embedded access control or user input device according to the invention is also disclosed. |
| US08255692B2 |
Method of providing secure tamper-proof acquired data from process instruments
Field devices used to measure process parameters can also function as a data historian by storing process data and associated time stamps. In response to a request for stored process data, the field device uses a cipher and a secret method to generate an encrypted validation string that is provided along with unencrypted information including the process data and time stamps. A validation service that maintains a secure database of field devices and their associated ciphers and secret methods can validate the unencrypted information by using the validation string. |
| US08255685B2 |
System and method for validating certificate issuance notification messages
To validate a received certificate issuance notification message, a device may verify that the certificate issuance notification message conforms to expected norms or authenticate a signature associate with the certificate issuance notification message. Upon validating, the device may then transmit a uniform resource locator, extracted from the certificate issuance notification message, to a network entity configured for processing certificate issuance. |
| US08255683B2 |
E-mail firewall with policy-based cryptosecurity
An e-mail firewall applies policies to e-mail messages between a first site and second sites in accordance with administrator selectable policies. The firewall includes a simple mail transfer protocol relay for causing the e-mail messages to be transmitted between the first site and selected ones of the second sites. Policy managers enforce-administrator selectable policies relative to one or more of encryption and decryption, signature, source/destination, content and viruses. |
| US08255682B2 |
Early authentication in cable modem initialization
A system that eliminates some of the security vulnerabilities in the prior art systems by using a new sequence of steps to perform initialization of the cable modem: Instead of performing authentication after the cable modem has been registered, the cable modem authentication step is performed immediately after the cable modem completes ranging. Thus an early authentication method and system are provided. The control of authentication is shifted from the cable modem to the CMTS. Instead of the CMTS relying on a Registration Request message (REG-REQ) to determine whether a cable modem must perform authentication (that is to determine if BPI+ is enabled) the CMTS configuration is what determines whether a cable modem must perform authentication. |
| US08255681B2 |
Security for mobile devices in a wireless network
A network and associated methods and apparatus are described. The network includes a wireless access node which is operable to receive first packets from a plurality of wireless computing devices attempting to access the network. Each of the first packets corresponds to one of a plurality of traffic types. At least one of the traffic types corresponds to an encrypted wireless protocol. The wireless access node is configured to associate one of a plurality of identifiers with each of the first packets. Each of the plurality of identifiers corresponds to one of the plurality of traffic types. The wireless access node is further configured to transmit all first packets received from the wireless computing devices to a gateway on the network regardless of destination addresses associated with the first packets. The gateway is operable to determine that a particular one of the first packets from a first one of the wireless computing devices is directed to a second computing device on the network. The gateway is further operable to prevent the particular first packet from reaching the second computing device in response to determining that the particular first packet is directed to the second computing device. |
| US08255674B2 |
Implied storage operation decode using redundant target address detection
A logic arrangement and method to support implied storage operation decode uses redundant target address detection, whereby target addresses of previous instructions are compared with the target address of the current instruction, and if equal, and the target addresses of previous instructions are not used as sources, the current instruction is decoded as a store instruction. This allows a redundant operation in an instruction set architecture to be redefined as a store instruction, freeing up opcodes normally used for store instructions to be used for other instructions. |
| US08255671B2 |
Processor employing split scheduler in which near, low latency operation dependencies are tracked separate from other operation dependencies
In an embodiment, a scheduler implements a first dependency array that tracks dependencies on instruction operations (ops) within a distance N of a given op and which are short execution latency ops. Other dependencies are tracked in a second dependency array. The first dependency array may evaluate quickly, to support back-to-back issuance of short execution latency ops and their dependent ops. The second array may evaluate more slowly than the first dependency array. |
| US08255665B2 |
SIMD processor with register addressing, buffer stall and methods
A single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) processor including a plurality of addressing register sets, used to flexibly calculate effective operand source and destination memory addresses is disclosed. Two or more address generators calculate effective addresses using the register sets. Each register set includes a pointer register, and a scale register. An address generator forms effective addresses from a selected register set's pointer register and scale register; and an offset. For example, the effective memory address may be formed by multiplying the scale value by an offset value and summing the pointer and the scale value multiplied by the offset value. |
| US08255664B2 |
Methods and apparatus for address translation functions
Techniques are described for efficient reordering of data and performing data exchanges within a register tile or memory, or in general, any device storing data that is accessible through a set of addressable locations. In one technique, an address translator is placed in the path of all or a selected set of address busses to a storage device to provide a programmable and selectable means of translating the storage device addresses. An effect of this translation is that the data stored in one pattern may be accessed and stored in another pattern or accessed, processed and stored in another pattern. The address translation operation may be carried out in a single cycle, does not involve the physical movement of data in swap operations, allows data to effectively be ordered more efficiently for algorithmic processing and therefore saves power. Address translation functions are shown to be useful for vector operations and a new type of storage unit using built in address translation functions is presented. |
| US08255662B2 |
Storage management apparatus and storage management method
A reference-capacity calculating unit calculates a reference capacity of each of storage devices storing therein data on the basis of an actual capacity of each storage device. A difference calculating unit calculates a difference value between the reference capacity calculated by the reference-capacity calculating unit and the actual capacity of each storage device. A maximum-value retrieving unit retrieves the maximum difference value out of the respective difference values of the storage devices calculated by the difference calculating unit. A defined-capacity determining unit determines a defined capacity, which is an actually-used capacity of each storage device, on the basis of a value obtained by subtracting the maximum difference value from the reference capacity calculated by the reference-capacity calculating unit. |
| US08255660B1 |
Data migration between multiple tiers in a storage system using pivot tables
Technologies are described for implementing a migration mechanism in a data storage system containing multiple tiers of storage with each tier having different cost and performance parameters. Access statistics can be collected for each territory, or storage entity, within the storage system. Data that is accessed more frequently can be migrated toward higher performance storage tiers while data that is accessed less frequently can be migrated towards lower performance storage tiers. Each tier can be associated with a range of ILM statistics referred to as the bucket for that tier. A pivot table may be provided that relates the tiers and the buckets. Operations on the pivot table can provide counts of how many territories may be promoted or demoted between any two pairs of tiers. |
| US08255658B2 |
Memory management method and computer using the same
The present invention provides a memory management method, including the steps of: securing a memory area by a program executed by a computer; storing an object in the memory area in accordance with the execution of the program; bringing the memory area into a release reservation state in accordance with the program instructing the memory area to be released; moving the object to a memory area not to be released while another object in the memory area not to be released and not to be brought into the release reservation state refers to the object in the memory area to be released including the memory area to be brought into the release reservation state; and releasing the memory area to be released. |
| US08255656B2 |
Storage device, memory controller, and data protection method
A storage device, a memory controller, and a data protection method are provided. The method includes when receiving a read command sent by a host, adopting a corresponding output flow rate limit to determine an operation that is executed on read data corresponding to the read command by the host according to location information included in the read command or a type of a transmission interface between the host and the storage device. The method also includes executing an interference procedure by the storage device to prevent the read data from being copied to the host or slow down the speed of copying the read data to the host when identifying that the operation is a copy operation. |
| US08255655B2 |
Authentication and securing of write-once, read-many (WORM) memory devices
These embodiments relate to authentication and securing of write-once, read-many (WORM) memory devices. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a controller operable in first and second modes of operation after stored security information is validated, wherein in the first mode of operation, the memory device operates in a read-only mode, and wherein in the second mode of operation, the memory device operates in a write-once, read-many (WORM) mode. In another embodiment, the controller is operative to perform security methods. |
| US08255652B2 |
Remote storage disk control device and method for controlling the same
A storage device system includes an information processing device, a first storage device equipped with a first storage volume, and a second storage device equipped with a second storage volume. The information processing device and the first storage device are communicatively connected to one another. Also, the first storage device and the second storage device are communicatively connected to one another. The information processing device is equipped with a first write request section that requests to write data in the first storage device according to a first communications protocol, and a second write request section that requests to write data in the second storage device according to a second communications protocol. The information processing device creates first data including a first instruction to be executed in the second storage device. |
| US08255651B2 |
System and method for high performance enterprise data protection
High performance, enterprise-level data protection system and method provides efficient block-level incremental snapshots of primary storage devices, and instant availability of such snapshots in immediately mountable form that can be directly used in place of the primary storage device. Related systems and applications are described, including an “Enterprise Image Destination” (EID) for backup images; a mirroring technique whereby a replacement physical primary facility may be created while working with a second storage unit as the primary source file system; and a technique for eliminating redundant data in backup images when multiple systems with partially common contents (e.g., operating system files, common databases, application executables, etc.) are being backed up. A number of examples showing “Fast Application Restore” (FAR) with the use of the invention are also provided. |
| US08255650B1 |
Systems and methods for making incremental physical to virtual backups of computer system data
Systems and methods are provided for capturing a complete baseline image of the operating environment of a host computer system on an external storage device and for generating incremental backups of the operating environment as changes to the operating environment are identified to create an aggregate baseline image of the operating environment of the host computer system. The external storage device can be disconnected from the host computer system and connected to a remote host where the aggregate baseline image can be used launch a remote host environment on a virtual machine running on the remote host. The remote host environment allows a user to make changes to the remote host environment and the changes can be written back to external storage device as a delta image that is included in the aggregate baseline image. The aggregate baseline image can then be synchronized with the native host. |
| US08255648B2 |
Maintaining storage device backup consistency
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for maintaining a storage device backup consistency group. The method comprises receiving a first I/O command for a first storage device, receiving a second I/O command for a second storage device, identifying a transaction comprising both the first I/O command and the second I/O command, accessing a storage device backup consistency group for the first storage device, determining whether a backup for the second storage device is a member of the storage device backup consistency group, and performing a predefined corrective action if a backup for the second storage device is not a member of the storage device backup consistency group. The predefined corrective action may comprise detecting or creating a backup for the second storage device and then adding the detected or created backup to the storage device backup consistency group, invalidating the second I/O command, and/or issuing a warning. |
| US08255646B2 |
Storage apparatus and logical volume migration method
This storage apparatus includes a first logical volume migration unit for migrating the logical volume of a first storage area targeted for power source shutdown to a second storage area that is not targeted for power source shutdown based on an external command, and a second logical volume migration unit for migrating an expiration date-defined logical volume from the second storage area to a third storage area of a post-expiration migration destination when the expiration date of the expiration date-defined logical volume set with an expiration date for migrating the logical volume is reached. The first logical volume migration unit balances and migrates the expiration date-defined logical volume to the second storage area by referring to the expiration date of the expiration date-defined logical volume and taking into consideration the migration timing to the third storage area. |
| US08255645B2 |
Non-volatile memory cache performance improvement
In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory. |
| US08255643B2 |
Memory system and data processing method thereof
A method of processing data of a nonvolatile memory includes performing a randomization operation on a data unit including page data to be programmed into the nonvolatile memory and page metadata corresponding to the page data and generating a random seed; and programming the randomized data unit, and the random seed into the nonvolatile memory, the randomized data unit including the randomized page data and the randomized page metadata. The random seed is programmed within the page metadata and a position at which the random seed is programmed is based on a characteristic of the page data. |
| US08255642B2 |
Automatic detection of stress condition
A stress of a computerized system may be detected based on actions performed by the computerized system in respect to a storage system, such as comprising a secondary storage. The stress detection may be performed automatically based on an age of data blocks accessed by the storage system. The stress may take into account a number of accesses to the storage system by the computerized system. Stress detection may be performed automatically based on a decision procedure. |
| US08255641B2 |
Modifying delete notifications in a storage stack
A filter between a filesystem and a storage device in a storage stack can be configured to modify a delete notification, such as by modifying an existing delete notification or creating a new delete notification. A storage stack filter can receive an existing delete notification and determine a modified range of deleted data in response to receiving the existing notification, where a modified delete notification indicates the modified range of deleted data. A new delete notification can be created with a storage stack filter positioned below a filesystem in a storage stack, where the new delete notification indicates a range of deleted data. The new or modified delete notification can be passed down the storage stack. |
| US08255640B2 |
Media device with intelligent cache utilization
A portable media device and a method for operating a portable media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, a battery-powered portable media device can manage use of a mass storage device to efficiently utilize battery power. By providing a cache memory and loading the cache memory so as to provide skip support, battery power for the portable media device can be conserved (i.e., efficiently consumed). According to another aspect, a portable media device can operate efficiently in a seek mode. The seek mode is an operational mode of the portable media device in which the portable media device automatically scans through media items to assist a user in selecting a desired one of the media items. |
| US08255635B2 |
Claiming coherency ownership of a partial cache line of data
According to method of data processing in a multiprocessor data processing system, in response to a processor request to modify a target granule of a target cache line of data containing multiple granules, a processing unit originates on an interconnect of the multiprocessor data processing system a data-claim-partial request that requests permission to promote only the target granule of the target cache line to a unique copy with an intent to modify the target granule. In response to a combined response to the data-claim-partial request indicating success (the combined response representing a system-wide response to the data-claim-partial-request), the processing unit promotes only the target granule of the target cache line to a unique copy by updating a coherency state of the target granule and retaining a coherency state of at least one other granule of the target cache line. |
| US08255632B2 |
Pre-fetch control apparatus
A pre-fetch control apparatus is equipped with a next-line pre-fetch control apparatus 38. An address overflowed from a pre-fetch address queue 26 is stored in the next-line pre-fetch control apparatus 38. An access address issued by a processor unit and stored in a register 25 is compared with the address stored in the next-line pre-fetch control apparatus 38 and, if the two addresses are identical, a value obtained by adding a data block size λ of cache memory to the address stored in the next-line pre-fetch control apparatus 38 is stored again in the next line pre-fetch control apparatus 38. When the address issued by the processor unit is identical with that stored in the next-line pre-fetch control apparatus 38 a predetermined number of times, the occurrence of continuous accesses is presumed and pre-fetching is carried out for all addresses that have not hit the pre-fetch address queue. |
| US08255631B2 |
Priority-based prefetch requests scheduling and throttling
A method, processor, and data processing system for implementing a framework for priority-based scheduling and throttling of prefetching operations. A prefetch engine (PE) assigns a priority to a first prefetch stream, indicating a relative priority for scheduling prefetch operations of the first prefetch stream. The PE monitors activity within the data processing system and dynamically updates the priority of the first prefetch stream based on the activity (or lack thereof). Low priority streams may be discarded. The PE also schedules prefetching in a priority-based scheduling sequence that corresponds to the priority currently assigned to the scheduled active streams. When there are no prefetches within a prefetch queue, the PE triggers the active streams to provide prefetches for issuing. The PE determines when to throttle prefetching, based on the current usage level of resources relevant to completing the prefetch. |
| US08255630B1 |
Optimization of cascaded virtual cache memory
The present invention includes storing in a main memory data block tags corresponding to blocks of data previously inserted into a buffer cache memory and then evicted from the buffer cache memory or written over in the buffer cache memory. Counters associated with the tags are updated when look-up requests to look up data block tags are received from a cache look-up algorithm. |
| US08255629B2 |
Method and apparatus with data storage protocols for maintaining consistencies in parallel translation lookaside buffers
A storage apparatus receives a first and second access requests for accessing items in a same clock cycle. The apparatus includes two stores, each storing a subset of the plurality of items, the first access request being routed to a first store and the second access request to a second store; miss detecting circuitry for detecting a miss in the accessed store; item retrieving circuitry for retrieving an item whose access generated a miss from a further store; updating circuitry for selecting an item to overwrite in one of the two stores, the updating circuitry being responsive to the miss detecting circuitry detecting the miss in an access to the first or second store and to at least one further condition to update both of the two stores with the item retrieved from the further store by overwriting the selected items. |
| US08255628B2 |
Structure for multi-level memory architecture with data prioritization
A design structure for controlling computer-readable memory includes a plurality of memory locations, a usage frequency of a data unit stored in a first memory location is determined. The data unit is moved to a second memory location, different from the first memory location that is selected based on a correspondence between a known latency of the second memory location and the usage frequency of the data unit, in which the second memory location is the primary data storage location for the data unit. |
| US08255623B2 |
Ordered storage structure providing enhanced access to stored items
An ordered storage structure implemented based on a content addressable memory (CAM). In an embodiment, a set of identifiers are formed with an order matching a desired access order for items. Each item is stored with a corresponding identifier in an entry of the CAM, with the identifiers being stored in the searchable fields/columns of the CAM. Thus, the items can be retrieved in the desired access order by providing the identifiers as search key inputs to the CAM in the desired access order. |
| US08255610B2 |
Crossbar circuitry for applying a pre-selection prior to arbitration between transmission requests and method of operation of such crossbar circuitry
Crossbar circuitry has data input and output paths, and at each intersection between a data input and output path, a crossbar cell is provided. A transmission circuit is responsive to a stored routing value to couple a data input path to a selected data output path. Pre-selection circuitry cooperates with the pre-selection circuits of other crossbar cells on the same data output path to use the bit lines of the data output path to compare quality-of-service values associated with multiple asserted transmission requests and to determine a subset thereof which have a highest value of the quality-of-service values. Arbitration circuitry implements a predetermined priority scheme to choose from that subset of requests and to cause the configuration storage circuit of only one crossbar cell associated with the same data output path to have its routing value programmed to the first value, thereby resolving conflict between multiple asserted transmission requests. |
| US08255609B2 |
Switch apparatus for switching display, keyboard, and mouse
A switch apparatus includes first to third video graphics array (VGA) interfaces, first to sixth universal serial bus (USB) interfaces, a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch, and first to eighteenth electronic switches. The first VGA interface is connected to the second and third VGA interfaces through the electronic switches. The first USB interface is connected the second and third USB interfaces through the electronic switches. The fourth USB interface is connected to the fifth and sixth USB interfaces through the electronic switches. The SPDT switch is used to control the first VGA interface to be selectively connected to the second or third VGA interface, and control the first USB interface to be selectively connected to the second or third USB interface, and control the fourth USB interface to be selectively connected to the fifth or sixth USB interface. |
| US08255607B2 |
SAS expander-based SAS/SATA bridging
Described herein is an improved mechanism for bridging between SAS and SATA drives based upon existing SAS expanders in a SAS domain. In particular, a bridge capable of translating between SAS and SATA protocols is embedded in or coupled to an expander. When a SAS initiator request is received at the expander, the expander can route the request, based on a routing table, either directly to a destination SAS device or to the bridge for necessary translation before it is transmitted to a destination SATA drive. The routing table includes corresponding relationships between all SAS addresses and Phys through which those SAS and SATA devices are attached to the expander. SATA devices can be virtualized in the expander through a few assigned addresses in the routing table in a SAS discovery process. |
| US08255602B2 |
Effective mixing real-time software with a non-real-time operating system
This disclosure describes a processor system that allows non-real time code to execute normally, while permitting a real time interrupt in hardware or software to execute with minimal added latency. |
| US08255601B2 |
Transmitting system, apparatus, and method
A system includes a first apparatus and a second apparatus connected via a transmission path. The first apparatus includes a transmitting unit that transmits a request as at least one packet and retransmits the at least one request packet if a time period between the request and a response is not less than a predetermined time period; and a receiving unit that receives the response as at least one response packet and discards any error packet and any redundant packet from among the received at least one response packet. The second apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives the at least one request packet and discards any error packet from among the received at least one request packet; and a transmitting unit that determines a response type, selectively makes the at least one response packet redundant for any response of a specific type, and transmits the redundant response packets. |
| US08255600B2 |
Method and system for interlocking data integrity for network adapters
Certain aspects of a method and system for interlocking data integrity for network adapters are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include executing a plurality of interlocking checks within a network adapter. Each interlocking check may comprise receiving a plurality of input check values associated with a plurality of input data packets corresponding to a first protocol. A plurality of check values may be generated which are associated with the plurality of input data packets and a plurality of output data packets corresponding to a second protocol. The data integrity of the plurality of input data packets and the plurality of output data packets may be validated based on one or more comparisons between one or more of the generated plurality of check values and one or more of the received plurality of input check values. |
| US08255598B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing item sequence numbers in an item processing system
Method and apparatus for managing item sequence numbers in an item processing system. The invention provides for overrun prevention and management of item sequence numbers, which form a part of an image key. In example embodiments, a buffer is provided to determine how close a current item sequence number (ISN) is permitted to be to an overrun value. When the current ISN reaches the buffer value, new entries of documents are prevented or at least restricted from being processed. In some embodiments, a “force mode” is provided in which a sorter can be made to start a new entry even if the buffer value has been exceeded. In such an embodiment, the system can be set up so that a hard stop is enforced when the ISN is within a certain range of the overrun value. |
| US08255597B2 |
Interfacing device and method, for example for systems-on-chip
An interface device, such as for a System-on-Chip (SoC) bus, transfers data from an input queue through an output to a target. The interface device includes a buffer network for buffering input data when the target is not available for receiving the data. A multiplexer switches between a first operating condition for directing to the target the data from the input queue, and a second operating condition for directing to the target the buffered data from the buffer network. A finite-state machine selectively switches the multiplexer between the first operating condition and the second operating condition based on an acknowledgement signal received from the target. This indicates the availability of the target for receiving the data. |
| US08255594B2 |
Handling legacy BIOS services for mass storage devices using systems management interrupts with or without waiting for data transferred to mass storage devices
A method, system, and computer program product containing instructions for handling legacy BIOS services for mass storage devices using system management interrupts. In response to receiving a request for an input/output service, a system management interrupt is generated to enter system management mode. A system management RAM (SMRAM) is accessible to code executing inside system management mode. Sub-operations to perform the requested service are identified, and code is executed outside the SMRAM to perform a sub-operation to fulfill the request. The sub-operations identified for execution outside SMRAM include any sub-operations that require waiting for data to be transferred. Other code executing inside the SMRAM may perform additional sub-operations that do not require waiting for data transfers to fulfill the request. System management mode is exited before invoking the code to perform the sub-operation to execute outside the SMRAM. |
| US08255592B2 |
Managing data movement in a cell broadband engine processor
A cell broadband engine processor includes a memory a power processing element (PPE) coupled with the memory, and a plurality of synergistic processing elements. The PPE creates a SPE as a computing SPE for an application. The PPE determines idles ones of the plurality of SPEs, and creates an idle one of the plurality SPEs as a managing SPE. Each of the plurality of SPEs is associated with a local storage. The managing SPE informs the computing SPE of a starting effective address of the local storage of the managing SPE and an effective address for a command queue. The managing SPE manages movement of data associated with computing of the computing SPE based on one or more commands associated with the application. A computing SPE sends the one or more commands to the managing SPE for insertion into the command queue. |
| US08255588B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, signal processing system, program and medium
A signal processing apparatus and method for processing an input signal. A first signal processing unit processes the input signal, and an expansion unit adds a second signal processing unit. A detecting unit detects whether the one or more additional second signal processing units has been added on to the expansion unit. A communication unit performs data transfers between the first signal processing unit and second additional signal processing unit via wireless communication, and a control unit coordinates the first signal processing unit and the one or more additional signal processing units. |
| US08255585B2 |
Identifying when a self-powered device is connected to a medical device by triggering an alert about a potential risk to patient
In some aspects, a method includes determining whether a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device is connected to a USB monitoring device that is connected to a medical device and drawing power from the medical device. The medical device is configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient. The method also includes determining whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device if the USB peripheral device is determined to be connected to the USB monitoring device. |
| US08255583B2 |
Digital interface system to support ethernet and cable connection state displaying method thereof
A digital interface system to display an inappropriate connection state of a digital interface (High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) in an HDMI connection supporting an Ethernet function and a cable connection state displaying method therefore. When a user intends to use the Ethernet function by connecting the HDMI cable, the inappropriate connection of the HDMI cable is displayed on a screen by a message or a diagram. Also, in case of a plurality of connected HDMI cables, the position of an inappropriate HDMI cable is indicated on the screen. Even though it is difficult to distinguish a general HDMI cable from an HDMI with HDMI Ethernet and Audio Return Channel (HEAC) cable, an inappropriate HDMI cable connection is accurately identified. |
| US08255578B2 |
Preventing access to a device from an external interface
Prior to customer use of a device, communication with the device is allowed via multiple pins of an external interface of the device. One or more pins of the multiple pins via which communication with the device is to be prevented during customer use of the device are identified. The one or more pins are monitored, and a remedial action is taken if particular activity is detected on the one or more pins. Various different remedial actions can be taken, such as resetting or disabling the device. |
| US08255576B2 |
Universal serial bus (USB) to digital video
This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for switching serialized video information (e.g., non-packet-based video information) and Universal Serial Bus (USB) information (e.g., packet-based information) to a common output (e.g., to a physical USB interface). |
| US08255573B2 |
Communication network system, gateway, data communication method and program providing medium
This invention relates to provide a communication network system, a gateway, and a data communication method, in which the gateway has an advanced functionality. A person who issues an access request can retrieve a desired access destination easily by the following configuration: functions of routing information providing and authentication processing are added to a gateway that performs protocol conversion between two different communication networks; when an access request is issued from a public communication network such as Internet to a terminal in a local (private) communication network connected to the gateway, a request terminal is authenticated to enable prevention of unauthorized data writing and reading; and an access request user who succeeded in the authentication is provided with an active terminal list comprising accessible terminal information, or with a user condition table. |
| US08255571B2 |
Updating multiple computing devices
A system includes a server site that includes a memory for storing update data sets that correspond to data sets stored on multiple computing devices of a user. The system also includes a synchronization manager for determining that one computing device associated with the user and another computing device associated with the user are absent one or more data updates stored in the memory at the server site. The synchronization manager is configured to send in parallel, absent establishing a data transfer lock, the one or more data updates to the both computing devices of the user for updating the corresponding data stored on each computing device. |
| US08255561B2 |
Dynamic modification of a subscriber connection
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request to modify a subscriber connection to a network element. The method also includes modifying attributes of the subscriber connection, within a memory of the network element, without disconnecting the subscriber connection from the network element. |
| US08255558B2 |
Method and system for distributed infrastructure for streaming data via multiple access points
Methods and systems for distributed infrastructure for streaming data via multiple access points. Aspects of one method may include apportioning multimedia information among a plurality of transmitting devices based on feedback channel information received from a destination receiving device by, for example, a transmission controller device. The transmitting devices may transmit the multimedia information to the destination receiving device. A transmitting device that may not be apportioned multimedia information may transmit a probing signal. The destination receiving device may generate feedback channel information for a transmitting device, for example, based on the multimedia information or the probing signal received from the respective transmitting device. The apportioning of the multimedia information may be dynamically adjusted based on updated feedback channel information received from the destination receiving device. |
| US08255551B2 |
Adaptive bitrate management for streaming media over packet networks
A method including providing pseudo-streaming media data to a terminal; receiving a transport control protocol (TCP) acknowledgement from the terminal; estimating one or more network conditions of a network based at least in part on the TCP acknowledgement; determining an optimal session bitrate based on the estimated one or more network conditions; and providing pseudo-streaming media data to the terminal based on the optimal session bitrate. |
| US08255549B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering IP multimedia subsystem services
A method and apparatus for delivering IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having an aggregator element that aggregates a number of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services, and a presentation element that presents a web page with the aggregated IMS services. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08255547B2 |
Method and apparatus for file sharing between a group of user devices with separately sent crucial portions and non-crucial portions
A communication system and method for operating the same includes a group of user devices and a content delivery network in communication with the group of user devices. The content delivery network selects a plurality user devices from the group of user devices, divides the content into a crucial portion and a non-crucial portions, and encrypts the crucial portions differently for each of the user devices in the group using conditional access encryption. The content delivery network communicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices, communicates the encrypted crucial portion to the plurality of user devices separately from the non-crucial. The plurality of user devices assembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content. |
| US08255539B2 |
System and method for extending sessions
A system and method of managing computer sessions are provided. The preferred method opens a session (such as for access to a database) and creates a token that includes a session opening time and a measure of the session duration. If the token is used within a predefined time window before the end of the session, the session is extended by updating the token to reflect a new session duration. The time window and duration of a session extension may be adjusted according to usage patterns of the system. The session may be extended recursively. The token expires when the last of the session extensions expires. |
| US08255537B2 |
Vehicle communication device
A vehicle communication device for using a plurality of applications in an inter-vehicle communication, and performing a control to avoid congestion of its own vehicle and the other vehicles. There is a vehicle communication device including a plurality of application units for performing the inter-vehicle communication, a lower protocol unit for transmitting and receiving data between vehicles, and a middleware unit intervening between said application units and the lower protocol unit. The middleware unit includes a transfer service processing unit, a communication control service unit, and a transmission/reception control processing unit. The communication control service unit controls a congestion avoiding process of its own vehicle and other vehicles based on application priority received for each of the application units, priority for each vehicle, and channel usage rate obtained from the lower protocol unit. |
| US08255536B2 |
Bandwidth and latency controller
Systems and methods described relate to controlling bandwidth and latency in a remote computing environment. A controller establishes a remote session between a client and a remote server. Data transfer between the client and the remote server is routed through the controller. The controller regulates bandwidth consumption and latency in the remote session by simulating a session bandwidth that can be less than the available bandwidth and by injecting delays into data packets transferred in the remote session. Such systems and methods can be used to prioritize remote client sessions and test deployment of applications in a remote computing environment. |
| US08255535B2 |
Method and system to generate execution-based scheduling signature for an application
A method and system to profile applications are provided. The system may include a capture module to capture resources consumption data for an application and a requirements generator to generate resources requirement data for the application. The resources requirement data may be generated by the requirements generator utilizing the resource consumption data. The system may further include a profile generator to generate a profile for the application. The profile may comprise the resources consumption data and the resources requirement data. |
| US08255534B2 |
Policy analyzer
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing policy rules defined for a subscriber and determining packet treatment in a network. Definitions are retrieved pertaining to policy rules for a subscriber. At least one policy point in a network is determined based on the retrieved definitions. The packet treatment is determined at each of the at least one policy point. The packet treatment is shown for each of the at least one policy point. Packets may be injected into the network at injection points and statistics may be collected. The statistics may be compared with results of analyzing policy rules for the subscriber. |
| US08255532B2 |
Metric-based monitoring and control of a limited resource
Detecting unauthorized or excessive use of a resource is disclosed. The value of a metric is updated based at least in part on a first data associated with a current event associated with the metric and a second data associated with a most recent prior event associated with the metric. Responsive action is taken if the updated value of the metric exceeds a threshold. |
| US08255530B1 |
Traffic management in digital signal processor
Network traffic is manages using a digital signal processing integrated circuit (DSP). The DSP performs one or more of the following functions on the incoming network traffic: classification, policing, congestion control, segmentation and reassembly, queuing, scheduling, shaping and label switching. The DSP may have one or a plurality of processing cores. In one embodiment of the invention, each processing core of the DSP is dedicated to specific traffic management layer. The DSP, used in management of network traffic, provides quality of service (QoS) or class of service (CoS) control. |
| US08255529B2 |
Methods and systems for providing deployment architectures in cloud computing environments
A decision system for providing customized deployment architectures to users of a cloud computing environment. The decision system can identify one or more parameters for analyzing applications and processes running in a cloud, monitor the applications and processes executed in the cloud, and collect information such as usage of cloud resources, number and type of computing processes instantiated, software programs utilized by the computing processes. The decision system can then generate customized deployment architectures based on the collected information. |
| US08255527B2 |
Methods for transmitting multimedia files and advertisements
The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file. |
| US08255524B2 |
Arrangement and a method relating to performance monitoring
The present invention relates to an arrangement for monitoring performance in a network comprising a number of network devices or nodes, services and users, in real-time. The arrangement comprising information collecting means, generating means for generating performance KPI indicators depending on a number of definition performance parameters for one or more of said network nodes. The generating means comprise or communicate with decision graph generating means adapted to generate decision graph structures representing respective KPI values and combination probabilities in dependence of KPI definition performance parameters and in dependence of additional or correlation parameters. The generating means comprise decision graph content updating means adapted to update the decision graph structure or structures using said collected information to enable prediction of KPI status/behavior and message sending means are provided which are adapted to send out messages or notifications relating to one or more prediction results. |
| US08255523B1 |
Server side disambiguation of ambiguous statistics
Tracking data communications are received for single properties that include ambiguous event statistics. The event statistics are disambiguated by an analytics processing system by identifying account and visitor identifier pairs from account identifiers and visitor identifiers in the tracking data communications. For each account and visitor identifier pair, ambiguous event statistics are ordered by the corresponding event times and disambiguated. |
| US08255522B2 |
Event detection from attributes read by entities
A method for detecting events based upon attributes read by a plurality of entities includes receiving data pertaining to the read attributes from the plurality of entities, performing a correlation analysis on the data to identify a number of independent variables existing among the read attributes for each of a plurality of groupings of the plurality of entities in a first hierarchical level of the plurality of hierarchical levels, comparing the identified number of independent variables with a nominal number of independent variables for each of the plurality of groupings in the first hierarchical level, and determining that an event has been detected in response to the identified number of independent variables falling outside of a predetermined value of the nominal number of independent variables for a particular grouping in the first hierarchical level. |
| US08255515B1 |
Rate limiting per-flow of traffic to CPU on network switching and routing devices
A network device for use in a networking system. The network device includes a packet processor adapted to receive control packets at a network port of the network device. The packet processor is also adapted to assign a CPU code to the control packets. The network device also includes a CPU in communication with the packet processor and a lookup table indexed by the CPU code and in communication with the packet processor. According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more entries in the lookup table define a rate limit in accordance with which packets characterized by the CPU code are delivered from the packet processor to the CPU. |
| US08255511B1 |
Network performance monitoring
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring transaction response times. The method and apparatus can identify service request sequences corresponding to a transaction and the start and stop times for the transaction. The invention can be applied non-intrusively/non-invasively to the service packets communicated between a source and destination node. |
| US08255504B1 |
Systems and methods for data source management
Systems and methods for data source management using custom data sources are described. The system includes a custom data source created in response to a data source request, and a number of configuration modules to handle obtaining a connection with a data source. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08255501B2 |
Establishing an IP session between a host using SIP and a device without an IP address
An apparatus and method for establishing an IP session between a host 105 using a session initiation protocol and a device or mobile station 103 without an IP address is described. The apparatus includes a network interface 405 for receiving, via an IP connection, a session request that includes a host contact corresponding to the host and a device identifier corresponding to the device; a controller 407 for parsing the session request to determine the device identifier; preparing a message for the device that includes the device identifier and the session request, and presenting the message to the network interface, the message to be delivered to the device via a non-IP connection and to result in the device obtaining a device IP address and sending an acknowledgment of the SIP session request that includes the device IP address. |
| US08255499B2 |
Remotely configurable user device for accessing a distributed transaction system
A system for interfacing predetermined external services provided by service providers to a user at a fixed location includes a processing platform running an operating system and a plurality of physical system resource interfaces for interfacing with available physical system resources allowing a user to gain access to the predetermined external services, a data store associated with the processing platform stores configuration information defining ones of a plurality of external services, a communication interface enables the operating system to communicate with a central office to download of configuration information for one or more of the external services and to facilitate access to a selected one of the external services. |
| US08255497B2 |
Method of discovery and communication with industrial equipment
A method, a computer-readable medium, a software application, and a computer-based apparatus for initially establishing communication with a device on a local area network (LAN) in a substantially automated manner. A broadcast discovery request is transmitted over the network and the network is monitored for responses from devices connected to the network. A responding device is selected and a determination is made as to if a primary IP address of the selected device is within a predetermined subnet. Otherwise, a determination is made as to if a current alternate IP address of the selected device is within the predetermined subnet. Otherwise, a new alternate IP address is generated and may be conditionally assigned to the selected device. One of the primary IP address, the current alternate IP address, or the new alternate IP address is used to connect to the selected device for the purpose of communicating with the selected device. |
| US08255496B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a network topology during network provisioning
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a provisioning instruction including a device identifier from an external management entity, receiving the device identifier from a network device, associating the provisioning instruction the network device, and sending a portion of the provisioning instruction to the network device. The device identifier being associated with a virtual resource. The associating is based on the device identifier of the virtual resource and a device identifier of a network device. The portion of the provisioning instruction is sent to the network device based on the associating. |
| US08255494B1 |
Installable web applications
According to one general aspect, a method of executing a web application installed on an apparatus may include executing, via a processor included by the apparatus, a web browser. The method may include loading, via the web browser, the web application. In some embodiments, the web application may include a manifest and at least a portion of a web site and wherein the web application was packaged as an installable entity. The method may further include managing, by the web browser, the execution of the web application. The method may include accessing, via the web browser, from a local storage medium one or more portions of the web site included by the web application. In some embodiments, the one or more portions of the web site may have been stored in the local storage medium when the web application was installed. |
| US08255493B2 |
Automated dynamic portlet rendering
A portlet from a portal server is received at a computing device. A second server is queried for an initial portlet visibility rule for the portlet. The initial portlet visibility rule is received from the second server. A determination is made as to whether to render the portlet based upon the initial portlet visibility rule. The portlet is rendered in response to determining that the initial portlet visibility rule indicates to render the portlet. |
| US08255488B2 |
Information communication terminal, information distribution apparatus, information distribution system, content management method, broadcast reception method, information distribution method, programs and storage medium
In a server serving as an information distribution apparatus and an information communication terminal, contents are managed by using content identifiers (content IDs) managed as IDs conforming to a rule of uniformity. Particularly, in the information communication terminal, a content ripped from a recording medium such as a CD, and stored in a storage element, such as a had disk drive, is also managed by using a content identifier acquired from the information distribution apparatus. In this way, contents stored in the storage element can be managed by using content IDs each managed as an ID common to the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus. In communication between the information communication terminal and the information distribution apparatus, a content identifier conforming to a rule of uniformity is used for identifying a content to which the content identifier is assigned, so that the terminal is capable of downloading the content as well as acquiring additional information relevant to the content from the apparatus. |
| US08255484B2 |
Provisioning of computer systems using virtual machines
A provisioning server automatically configures a virtual machine (VM) according to user specifications and then deploys the VM on a physical host. The user may either choose from a list of pre-configured, ready-to-deploy VMs, or he may select which hardware, operating system and application(s) he would like the VM to have. The provisioning server then configures the VM accordingly, if the desired configuration is available, or it applies heuristics to configure a VM that best matches the user's request if it isn't. The invention also includes mechanisms for monitoring the status of VMs and hosts, for migrating VMs between hosts, and for creating a network of VMs. |
| US08255481B2 |
Information delivery device and information processing method
There is provided an information delivery device including a command transmission unit configured to accept a command request from a client and to transmit a command corresponding to the command request to a device, an information obtaining unit configured to obtain device information transmitted from the device as a response to the command, and an information storage unit configured to store the device information obtained by the information obtaining unit. The device may further include a judgment unit configured to judge which of current device information obtained by the information obtaining unit and past device information stored in the information storage unit should be provided for a requesting source, the current device information corresponding to device information presently set to the device, and an information providing unit configured to provide one of the current device information and the past device information for the requesting source in accordance with a judgment result of the judgment unit. |
| US08255476B2 |
Automated tape drive sharing in a heterogeneous server and application environment
A method and system for automatically sharing a tape drive in a heterogeneous computing environment that includes a first computer and second computer. The first computer receives a message that includes a shared tape drive identifier, a source port identifier of the second computer, and a reservation status change for the tape drive. Based on the tape drive identifier, the first computer determines that the tape drive is connected to the first computer. The source port identifier is determined to not identify any host bus adapter installed in the first computer. In response to the first computer determining that the reservation status change indicates a reservation or a release of the tape drive for the second computer, the first computer sets the tape drive offline or online, respectively, in an application executing in the first computer. |
| US08255475B2 |
Network interface device with memory management capabilities
An input/output (I/O) device includes a host interface for connection to a host device having a memory and a network interface, which is configured to receive, over a network, data packets associated with I/O operations directed to specified virtual addresses in the memory. Packet processing hardware is configured to translate the virtual addresses into physical addresses and to perform the I/O operations using the physical addresses, and upon an occurrence of a page fault in translating one of the virtual addresses, to transmit a response packet over the network to a source of the data packets so as to cause the source to refrain from transmitting further data packets while the page fault is serviced. |
| US08255470B2 |
System and method for message recall in a unified messaging
A method and system for managing messages in a unified messaging (UM) platform to enable message recall is disclosed. The UM platform deposits a message from a sender into a UM mailbox of a recipient. It is then determined whether the sender of the message is a UM subscriber. If the sender is a UM subscriber, a copy of the message or a link to the message is deposited into a UM mailbox of the sender. The UM platform then provides a message recall option with the copy of the message or the link to the message in the UM mailbox of the sender. If the sender is not a UM subscriber, a recall message including a randomly generated message recall URL is sent to the sender. This allows the sender to select the randomly generated message recall URL to send a message recall request to the UM platform, which deletes the message from the mailbox of the recipient in response to the message recall request. |
| US08255467B1 |
Device management and sharing in an instant messenger system
A system and method for providing device management and sharing in an Instant Messenger system is provided. An instant messenger server and an enhanced instant messenger module are operatively coupled together. The enhanced instant messenger module has an instant messenger process and a networked device process, the instant messenger process being operable to provide instant messaging functions and services to a user and the networked device process being operable to provide data from networked devices to the instant messenger server. |
| US08255465B2 |
Network communications
Methods and systems for communicating information between computer networks in which the information to be communicated is required at one location (e.g. for processing) but only available at another location. The information may be absent deliberately (for privacy reasons) or may simply be unavailable as an artifact of the computer network(s) involved. The required information, such as the internal client IP address, is inserted into the outgoing network communication in a manner that does not to materially affect the normal transit or utility of the network communication (e.g. as custom headers). The information is preferably inserted in an encrypted form, so that it may pass over a public network and be invulnerable to unauthorised scrutiny. |
| US08255460B2 |
Method and system for providing personalized network based marketing dialogues
Systems and methods for personalizing marketing dialogues are disclosed. Specifically, embodiments of the systems and methods presented may allow obtain a set of user actions from a participant. The set of user information may include user information, such as demographics, and may also contain event related information, such as a purchase or the user clicking on a link in an email. A program or script may be generated having decision branches. At each decision branch, a first dialogue or a second dialogue may be selected based on the user information. The personalized program or script may be presented to the user based on the user information. |
| US08255458B2 |
Systems and methods for conducting internet content usage experiments
A system and method for efficiently executing a plurality of live parallel Internet content usage experiments using a large pool of randomly selected participating users (separated into control and test groups) while minimally disturbing offered content is provided. In an illustrative implementation, a content provider communicates the parameters for a content usage experiment to a content server. A complimentary test subject verification script operates on the content server that determines which client computing devices are to be included in the experiment group. In operation, a participating client computing device requests content from the content provider's server. The content provider's server executes the test subject verification script to determine if the client computing device is to be considered as a test subject. The content usage of the experiment content and non-experiment content is tracked and compared to each other to determine if the experiment content impacted content usage. |
| US08255452B2 |
Systems and methods for universal enhanced log-in, identity document verification, and dedicated survey participation
Systems and methods are provided for controlling access via a computer network to a subscriber server. A log-in server receives a query to connect through the computer network to the subscriber server, and the log-in server receives registrant identification data. A first session is established between the log-in server and the subscriber server to validate the registrant identification data, and to generate a session password. A second session is established between the log-in server and the subscriber server. The second session is configured to authorize, based in part on the registrant identification data, access to at least a portion of a website associated with the subscriber server. |
| US08255442B2 |
Parallel efficiency calculation method and apparatus
This invention is to provide a parallel efficiency calculation method, which can be applied, even in a case where a load balance is not kept, to many parallel processings including a heterogeneous computer system environment, and quantitatively correlates a parallel efficiency with a load balance contribution ratio and a virtual parallelization ratio, as parallel performance evaluation indexes, and parallel performance impediment factor contribution ratios. A parallel efficiency Ep(p) is calculated by using a load balance contribution ratio Rb(p) representing a load balance degree between respective processors included in a parallel computer system, a virtual parallelization ratio Rp(p) representing a ratio, with respect to time, of a portion calculated in parallel by the respective processors to processings executed in the parallel computer system, and a parallel performance impediment factor contribution ratio Rj(p) representing a ratio of a processing time of a portion of each parallel performance impediment factor to a total processing time of all the processors included in the parallel computer system as follows: E p ( p ) = R b ( p ) · 1 R p ( p ) · ( 1 - ∑ j = 1 j Others R j ( p ) ) ( 4 - 4 ) J is the parallel performance impediment factor number. |
| US08255437B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding
There is provided a multimedia data decoding method and apparatus. The decoding method includes generating a data area comprising a first media data area, a second media data area, and a third media data area, and generating a media information area comprising first, second, and third track areas each corresponding to the first, second, and third media data areas. The multimedia data decoding method and apparatus has an effect of being capable of constructing a slide show by only a small amount of multimedia data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can reduce. |
| US08255429B2 |
Configuration change without disruption of incomplete processes
Various embodiments include one or more of systems, methods, software, and data structures to provide flexibility when configuring systems to new or different processes while not disrupting incomplete processes. Some embodiments include receiving input representative of a configuration change to at least one configuration setting and storing a copy of a setting of the at least one configuration setting from a current configuration to an historical configuration setting storage location. Such embodiments may further include storing the input representative of the configuration change into the current configuration. Following such configuring processes already initiated may be completed according to the copied historical configuration setting and new processes may be initiated according to the new configuration setting. These and other embodiments are described herein. |
| US08255428B2 |
Graphical representation of assets stored on a portable media device
A user interfaces can deliver enhanced information regarding media assets stored on a portable media device. A graphical user interface for database browsing and navigation can include a list of values of a metadata item and a graphical representation of the distribution of media assets across the values on the list, such as a pie chart where the size of different wedges reflects the fraction of media assets having a particular value. As a user browses a list, the graphical representation can be modified to emphasize the correspondence between different graphical elements and different entries on the list. |
| US08255420B2 |
Distributed storage
A server for managing access to distributed storage comprising a plurality of storage devices includes a file service manager for receiving a request to store a file in the distributed storage and an allocation manager for selecting a cluster within the distributed storage to be used when storing the file. The allocation manager is configured to communicate with at least one other allocation manager in another server so as to determine which allocation manager selects the cluster to be used. |
| US08255419B2 |
Exclusive scope model for role-based access control administration
Architecture that creates a class of role-based scopes that can be declared “exclusive”, which automatically means that no user can access the scope unless the user is granted that exact scope. The exclusive scope excludes an object from the new scopes and existing scopes. In other words, the exclusive scope is a write restriction from a domain scope. The exclusive scope denies user access unless the user is granted the exclusive scope. The exclusive scope can be applied to a group of user objects. The exclusive scope is explicitly assigned to the object to grant access to an exclusive group. Moreover, the exclusive scope is immediately write-protected upon creation. |
| US08255416B2 |
System and method for contextual data modeling utilizing tags
A computer-aided methodology of morphological analysis of a set of text data objects and associated graphic images named contextual data modeling (CDM) involves personal discovery of meaningful interrelations of parametric values and names of text data objects using permutation of a data table; plus viewing, for each text data object listed in the table, an integrated dialog box (item screen), containing the text data object's parametric data and other data; plus viewing tags that represent at least some of the text data objects. Display of the item screens and tags may be concurrent and coordinated with display of text data objects in the data table. Near real time operation may serve to optimize retention of perceived data in a computer user's short term working memory as reasoning leads to modeling (manipulating) the data, including editing and colorization, until the user's reasoning is reflected in the displayed data. |
| US08255414B2 |
Search assist powered by session analysis
One embodiment selects from a set of query-suggestion pairs a first query and a subset of query-suggestion pairs that each has the first query as its query; computes a Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) value for each query-suggestion pair from the subset of query-suggestion pairs; ranks the subset of query-suggestion pairs according to their respective LLR values; removes from the subset of query-suggestion pairs all query-suggestion pairs whose LLR values are below a predetermined LLR threshold; computes a Pointwise Mutual Information (PMI) value for each remaining query suggestion pair from the subset of query-suggestion pairs; removes from the subset of query-suggestion pairs all query-suggestion pairs whose PMI values are below a predetermine PMI threshold; and constructs a ranked set of suggestions for the first query, wherein the ranked set of suggestions comprises one or more suggestions of the remaining query-suggestion pairs from the subset of query-suggestion pairs. |
| US08255413B2 |
Method and apparatus for responding to request for information-personalization
The present invention relates to an advanced search engine. The advanced search engine may include a client component for monitoring an end-user's browsing activity, a remote server (may comprise one or more computers) for storing and processing data received from the client component, and a module that process web pages and serves search results to end-users. The advanced search engine may collect web pages for keywords of proven interest, fetch web pages requested by end-users, generate snippets or abstracts of the web pages, eliminate duplicate web pages, rank the importance of the web pages, and provide relevant web pages or links to web pages in response to an end-user search request for information regarding one or more keywords, for example. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings. |