| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08262161B2 |
Child restraint for vehicle
A child restraint includes a base, a seat, and an anchor belt. The anchor belt holds the base in place on a passenger seat of a vehicle. The seat mounts on the base and supports a child or infant for travel in the vehicle above the base. |
| US08262153B2 |
Vehicle pillar with opening having angled flange
A panel incorporated into a pillar of a vehicle body includes a base portion defining an opening, and a flange extending from an edge of the opening such that a portion of the flange forms an acute angle with the base portion. |
| US08262147B2 |
Pickup box retrieval implement
An implement (10) for moving a box (48) within a pickup box (42) is disclosed. The implement (10) includes an elongated body (12) having a hooking section (22). A head (28) is associated with an end of this hooking section (22). The head (28) may be disposed within a groove (46) associated with the bed (43) of the pickup box (42), and may be slid along this groove (46) until positioned under the box (48). The implement (10) can then be rotated to engage the head (28) with the underside of the box (48). A user may then pull on the implement (10) to in turn pull the box (48) along the bed (43) of the pickup box (42). The hooking section (22) of the implement may also be disposed behind a box (48) to pull the box (48) to a desired position. |
| US08262146B2 |
Handling tools for components, in particular eletronic components
A handling tool for electronic components includes a holding opening, to which a vacuum pressure may be applied and at which components to be handled are able to be held via vacuum pressure. At least one counter support, which outwardly projects beyond the opening plane in an operating position, is situated inside the holding opening. The component held by vacuum pressure is supported in the region of its surface acted upon by vacuum pressure, in such a way that this same surface bends concavely when viewed from the side of the vacuum pressure. |
| US08262143B2 |
Driving device for actuating a latch via a lock
A driving device for actuating a latch via a lock, for a motor-vehicle door closure system, includes a coupling element including a longitudinal body having ends capable of being rotatably coupled with a part, mounted movably in axial rotation, of the lock and with a part, mounted movably in axial rotation, of the latch. At least one cylinder made from rigid plastic is fixed on the body such that longitudinal portions of the body left visible are smaller than 20 mm (millimeters). |
| US08262141B2 |
Docking and undocking of liquid carrying lines to and from a docking body
A docking system for docking a liquid stream carrying line to a docking body, includes a line end having a first form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow and a docking interface which is situated on the docking body and has a second form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow. The first conically tapered form and the second conically tapered form are adapted to one another in such a way that, in the docked state, they are mutually set apart in one coupling region by an interspace defined by a sealing ring, concentrically opposing one another. The first conically tapered form is equipped on its periphery with at least one cleaning element, which extends from the first conically tapered form toward the second conically tapered form in order to capture liquid that may accumulate in the interspace. |
| US08262139B2 |
Rock-drilling equipment as well as female and male parts therefor
A threaded joint interconnects male and female parts of rock-drilling equipment, the female parts including an internal trapezoidal thread in the form of a helix thread ridge, which is delimited by a top and two flanks, a groove, having a bottom, running between two tops, and which thread ridge extends a plurality of turns between a front end and a rear end, the thread top touching an imaginary cylinder or cone that is concentric with a center axis of the female part. The bottom of the thread groove has a concave and partially circular cross-section shape along at least a part of the extension of the groove, and transforms into flanks via concave radius transitions, the radii of which decrease in the direction from the front end of the thread toward the rear one, at the same time as the radius of the groove bottom increases in the same direction. |
| US08262137B2 |
Connector
A connector includes a body portion having a cylindrical insertion hole for inserting therein a connection member, and a cylindrical connector cover. The body portion includes a claw portion elastically deformable to a radial outside. A claw release portion and a claw covering portion are arranged in the connector cover in a rotation direction. When the connector cover is located at a release position where the body portion is detachable from the connection member, the claw release portion is opposite to the claw portion, and the claw covering portion is not opposite to the claw portion. Furthermore, when the connector cover is rotated from the release position to a lock position in a connection state between the body portion and the connection member, the claw covering portion is opposite to the claw portion, and the claw portion is engaged with an engagement portion of the connection member. |
| US08262131B2 |
Automotive knee bolster system
An automotive knee bolster system includes a cross-car beam, and a variable stiffness member attached to the cross-car beam and configured to absorb occupant knee impact energy. The member includes a plurality of nested panels each having a different length and substantially the same radius of curvature. |
| US08262128B2 |
Advanced tab lock attachment for emblem
A vehicle assembly including a cover, for example, an airbag cover, having an attached plate of the type adapted to support a manufacturer's emblem, wherein the plate penetrates with tongues distributed over its circumference into perforations arranged at the vehicle assembly cover. The tongues are bent into matching slots molded on the back of the vehicle assembly cover about a bending edge arranged between the perforations and the slots. At least one of the tongues is provided at its free end with a narrower neck region and a cross-sectional enlargement extending through the perforations in the vehicle assembly cover, and the slots having a shape matching the contour of one or more of the tongue. |
| US08262127B2 |
Occupant protection device for a vehicle
An occupant protection device is provided for a vehicle, with at least one airbag module, which is entirely or partially covered by a fiber material, wherein the airbag module includes, but is not limited to at least one opening line. The at least one opening line is suitable for and/or designed for providing an opening function. The at least one opening line is covered with a tear-open region of the fiber material. The tear-open region in transverse extension over the opening line is designed homogenously. |
| US08262122B2 |
Coupler assembly with guided ball clamp
A coupler assembly for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle hitch ball is provided. The assembly includes a housing with a coupler socket adapted to receive a hitch ball. A ball clamp is disposed within the interior of the coupler housing and is movable toward and away from the coupler socket. The ball clamp has a clamping portion that retains the hitch ball within the coupler socket with the ball clamp positioned toward the coupler socket in a hitch ball retention position. A guide ramp is disposed within the coupler housing rearward of the coupler socket. The guide ramp projects toward the ball clamp and slopes upward and forward toward the coupler socket. A lateral guide member is disposed on the ball clamp rearward of the guide ramp. The lateral guide member cooperates with the guide ramp surface to limit forward movement of the ball clamp into the coupler socket. |
| US08262121B2 |
Low movement trailer hitch
A rigid trailer hitch is disclosed that uses pressure produced by a wedge into force against trailer hitch receiver walls, while still retaining a retaining pin as a backup. The wedge can be driven by rotary force translated through a compound miter or a split wedge across a retaining pin. |
| US08262114B2 |
Child vehicle having a tool-less coupling and associated method
A tool-less coupling of a child vehicle having a front frame and a rear frame includes a post coupled to one of the front or rear frames; a locking insert having at least one flexible table coupled to the post, and a head tube coupled to the other of the front or rear frame, wherein an opening in a first end of the head tube is sized to cause inward flexing of the flexible tab as the post is inserted through the head tube, and the flexible tab flexes back outwardly after passing through the opening in the head tube so that a portion of the flexible tab is adjacent an end surface of the head tube such that the flexible tab cannot move back through the opening. Accordingly, the removal of the post from the head tube is prohibited and the front and rear frames are coupled together. A method for a tool-less assembly of a child vehicle is also disclosed. |
| US08262112B1 |
Vehicle suspension and improved method of assembly
A vehicle suspension including a frame attachment portion attached to spring module having an opening defined by two side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, and a spring mount positioned within the opening with two shear springs on either side of the spring mount, wherein the spring mount includes an inboard part and an outboard part separate from the inboard part, and a through-hole positioned in at least one of the inboard or inboard parts to allow passage of a threaded connecting rod therethrough, wherein the connecting rod has been tightened to draw the inboard part of the first spring mount together with the outboard part of the first spring mount, and to compress the first shear spring between the first side wall of the spring mount and the first side wall of the opening, and also to compress the second shear spring between the second side wall of the spring mount and the second side wall of the opening of the spring module. |
| US08262110B2 |
Idler arm assembly adjustment
An idler arm assembly employed in a steering assembly of a vehicle having a body. The idler arm assembly comprises: an idler housing mounted to the body and including a bore; a pivot shaft mounted in the bore and being rotatable and telescopically slidable in the bore, with the pivot shaft having a cavity at a first end; an idler arm having a first end supported by the second end of the pivot shaft and a second end that supports the steering assembly; a ball stud having a ball end secured in the cavity and supporting the pivot shaft in the telescopically slidable direction, and a shank having threads; and a threaded cap secured to the idler housing and engaged with the threads on the shank, whereby rotation of the threads relative to the threaded cap will telescopically slide the pivot shaft relative to the idler housing. |
| US08262108B2 |
Stable stand or cart for a gas cylinder
A stable stand or cart for one or more gas cylinders includes a T-shaped base assembly having a forwardly extending base member and a lower rear cross member with three casters fixed to a lower surface thereof. An upwardly extending frame includes two upwardly extending telescoping tubes and an upper cross member fixed to the tubes. An upper and a lower C-shaped support member are fixed to the upwardly extending frame and a clamp is provided to fix the distance between the C-shaped support members. The stand or cart also includes a first flexible belt, four guide members, and a central positioning member for positioning the central positioning member for different size gas cylinders. A second flexible belt extends from the central positioning member around the gas cylinder or cylinders to hold the cylinder or cylinders to the stand or cart. |
| US08262106B1 |
Oxygen tank holder
An oxygen tank holder that is mobile and could be wheeled around by a patient as needed or when attached to a wheelchair. The oxygen tank holder includes a base mounted on a skeletal framework, with the framework including a pair of wheels that are connected by a central axle. The oxygen tank is held on the base by a pair of straps, with the oxygen tank holder being moved around with the help of a handle attached to the framework or propelled when attached to a wheelchair. A band and a stabilizer bar with a pair of mounting bolts at each end secure the holder to a wheelchair. |
| US08262104B2 |
Stand on rider with thigh pad pivotally linked to foldable foot platform
An outdoor power equipment unit, such as a mower, includes a foot platform for supporting a standing operator who operates the unit while standing atop the foot platform. The foot platform can be pivoted upwardly from a substantially horizontal orientation into a substantially vertical, folded up orientation against the rear of the traction vehicle. A thigh pad engages against the thighs of the operator and is pivotally linked to the foot platform to pivot on the traction vehicle with the pivotal motion of the foot platform. When the foot platform is horizontal, the thigh pad is pivoted to be angled downwardly and rearwardly relative to the rear of the traction vehicle. When the foot platform is folded up, the thigh pad is pivoted inwardly relative to the rear of the traction vehicle to be sandwiched between the rear of the traction vehicle and the folded up foot platform. |
| US08262102B2 |
Cargo cart with attachable skis and method of use thereof
Disclosed herein is a cargo cart that includes a bed configured for carrying cargo, the bed an upper surface and an under surface. The cart includes an axle located beneath the under surface of the bed, the axle having a first end and second end, and a first leg removably attached to the first end of the axle such that the first leg is prevented from substantial rotation about the axle, the first leg extending below the axle to a first connection location. A first ski is removably connected to the first leg at the first connection location. A second leg is removably attached to the second end of the axle such that the first leg is prevented from substantial rotation about the axle, the second leg extending below the axle to second connection location and a second ski removably connected to the second leg at the second connection location. |
| US08262101B2 |
Modular rough terrain vehicle
A rough terrain vehicle including an elongated main frame for supporting a self-contained v-haul body; first and second forwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of the main frame; third and fourth rearwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of the main frame, each arm having a wheel mounted thereon. Also included are first and second cross members pivotably connected to the arms configured to enable the main frame and the frame arms to pivot about a lengthwise axis of the main frame. First and second length-adjustable member operatively connected to the first frame arm and the third frame arm and the second frame arm and the fourth frame arm, respectively; selective movement of each length-adjustable member causing the associated arm to move up or down; and a level detector for producing and applying leveling signals to each of the length-adjustable members to maintain the elongated main frame in a relatively level orientation when the vehicle encounters uneven terrain. |
| US08262098B2 |
Rotary tool system with centering member
A rotary tool includes a collet which in one embodiment includes a bit holder defining a shank receiving bore, a transfer member for transferring rotational force from the bit holder to the shank of an accessory, and a centering member positioned within the bit holder and configured to automatically grip the shank when the shank is positioned within the shank receiving bore. |
| US08262096B2 |
Self-tightening drill chuck
The invention relates to a re-tightening drill chuck with a chuck body (1), a tightening sleeve (2) which can rotate coaxially with respect to the chuck body (1) and is axially supported on a jaw holder (3), which is mounted on the chuck body (1) and in which clamping jaws (4) are guided in guiding slots and are adjustable for clamping and release by relative rotation between the chuck body (1) and the tightening sleeve (2) with the jaw holder, wherein a stop is formed on the jaw holder (3) and a counter-stop (11) is formed on the tightening sleeve (2) for the defined delimitation of a relative rotatability of the tightening sleeve (2) with respect to the jaw holder (3) between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. |
| US08262095B2 |
Chuck
An improved shuck has one end coupling with a fabrication machine through a holding member. The chuck includes a coupling structure, a grip means and a shank. The coupling structure has a first screwing portion at one end and a fastening member at the other end. The grip means has a second screwing portion at one end engageable with the first screwing portion and a plurality of grip jaws at the other end inclined outwards. The coupling structure and the grip means are held in a through hole formed in the shank. The through hole has an internal side to form compact holding of the grip means to firmly hold a tool. After the coupling structure is anchored through the fastening member, the shank can be turned to drive the grip means to move, and the grip jaws can be expanded or contracted to release or grip the tool. |
| US08262092B2 |
Composition for gasket and gasket
Disclosed herein is a composition for a gasket, including about 100 parts by weight of a hydrogenated styrene-based block copolymer, about 70 to 99 parts by weight of a petroleum-based softener, about 10 to 25 parts by weight of a polyolefin-based resin; about 10 to 25 parts by weight of an inorganic filler, and about 10 to 25 parts by weight of a heat-resistant polymer, based on 100 parts by weight of the hydrogenated styrene-based block copolymer. The thermoplastic elastomer composition has superior physical properties, such as tensile strength, heat resistance, high-temperature restoring force and chemical resistance, while being applicable to injection-molding and recyclable, like general thermoplastic resins. Disclosed herein is further a gasket produced from the composition. |
| US08262087B2 |
Device for feeding sheets to a sheet stack with at least two clutches disposed at a distance in a sheet transport direction
In a delivery of a sheet-processing machine, in particular a printing press, provision is made for chain gripper systems for holding the sheets to be transported at the leading and trailing edges thereof. The holding devices are configured such that they can be displaced relative to one another for the purpose of format adjustment. The chain gripper system has a sprocket drive shaft and a sprocket deflection shaft for the chains of the chain gripper system. Here, provision is made for both the sprocket drive shaft and the sprocket deflection shaft to have a clutch. |
| US08262086B2 |
Sheet processing system, sheet processor and abnormal-transportation correction method
The sheet processing system includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet; a sheet stack unit that lowers along a moving route, as more sheets are stacked on the sheet stack unit, the sheets each having an image formed by the image forming unit and being transported through a first route; a processing unit provided in a housing, and applying processing to a sheet having an image formed by the image forming unit, the sheet being transported through a second route; a cover member provided so that a part of the housing is openable, partially reaching a position in the moving route when the part is opened, and allowing a user to operate the processing unit by opening the part; and a moving unit moving the sheet stack unit to a position where the sheet stack unit does not interfere with the cover member, upon abnormal transportation. |
| US08262085B2 |
Decurler and stabilizer for light-weight papers
A decurler to decurl a curled printing media being transported into a release area, the decurler comprising: a) at least one guide arm against which the printing media presses, positioned and adapted to bend the printing media along an axis substantially in a direction of transport thereof; and b) a hinge on which the guide arm is mounted, the hinge being oriented at an angle of between 0.25 degrees and 20 degrees from vertical, wherein a reaction force that the guide arm exerts on the printing media is suitable for decurling the printing media. Another decurler with a flexible strip which hangs down and presses against a middle portion of the printing media. |
| US08262083B2 |
Media cassette
A media cassette includes a body having a removable lid. The media cassette comprises a housing defining a closeable pick window; an urging plate biased towards the pick window for urging a stack of media items towards the pick window; a detent located distal from the pick window for limiting movement of the urging plate; and a detent moving mechanism operable to move the detent. The detent moving mechanism may be operated by engaging the removable lid or by insertion of the cassette into a media handler. The media cassette allows the urging plate to exert less force on the stack of media items by expanding the space available for media items located within the cassette by activating the detent moving mechanism. |
| US08262081B2 |
Trail edge guide deflector for improved media feeding
An apparatus for a media feeding system having a trail edge guide, a frame, an elevator, a feed head and a stack of media including a plurality of sheets of media disposed on the elevator, wherein the plurality of sheets of media include an uppermost set of sheets of media located at a top portion of the stack of media. The apparatus includes a trail edge deflector having a body including an angularly disposed lower surface, at least one opening, and at least one stopping surface. The angularly disposed lower surface being shaped to contact and thereby shingle the uppermost set of sheets of media, the at least one opening being shaped for complimentary sliding engagement with the trail edge guide thereby permitting the trail edge deflector to slide along a portion of the trail edge guide and the at least one stopping surface being shaped to limit downward sliding movement of the trail edge deflector along the trail edge guide. |
| US08262078B2 |
Image-forming apparatus and control method thereof
In a case that it is determined that a first feeding unit is not ready to feed upon designation of a first print job that requires air feeding, start of the first print job is waited until the first feeding unit is ready to feed. In a case that a second print job that requires roll feeding is accepted during waiting for the first print job, the second print job is executed, and the first print job that requires air feeding is executed after completion of the second print job. |
| US08262077B2 |
Image forming apparatus and sheet supply apparatus having plurality of sheet supply units
An image forming apparatus which can prevent decrease in useful lives of components for air sheet feeding without bringing about throughput degradation when performing an image forming operation using a plurality of sheet supply units. When a sheet is fed from a first sheet supply unit having a fan that is driven so as to supply sheets, then a sheet is supplied from a second sheet supply unit, and then a sheet is supplied form the first sheet supply unit again, and in a case where a suspension time period over which no sheet is supplied from the first sheet supply unit is longer than a preparation time period from when driving of the fan is started to when the fan is brought into a driving state required to supply a sheet, driving of the fan is temporarily stopped. |
| US08262066B2 |
Vapor contact-type heating device
A vapor contact-type heating device which achieves a high-quality heat treatment is provided by increasing the mixing efficiency of vapor and supplying vapor at a relatively low pressure. By providing a pressurizing duct 45 of the liquid within a vapor mixing pump 4 as a fluid transfer device and providing a vapor supply port 46 on a casing 43 in such a manner that the vapor supply port 46 opens to this pressurizing duct 45, a vapor supply region 47 is formed in the pressurizing duct 45. |
| US08262065B2 |
Cord aligning device
A cord aligning device formed with a plurality of guide holes allowing cords to be separately inserted therethrough is provided. Each of the guide holes includes a feed port into which a cord is fed, a delivery port from which the cord is delivered, an introducing portion provided continuously with the feed port, and a delivery portion provided between the introducing portion and the delivery port. The introducing portion is formed such that the area of a cross-section vertical to a centerline thereof is reduced gradually toward the delivery portion from the feed port, the area of a cross-section of the delivery portion vertical to a centerline thereof is uniform along the centerline over its total length, and the delivery portion is formed in a linear fashion. Moreover, the delivery portions of the plurality of guide holes are juxtaposed in a predetermined direction so as to form rows parallel to each other. |
| US08262064B2 |
Lifting device
The invention relates to a lifting device for lifting objects, such as motor vehicles, comprising at least one main lifting unit (22, 23), at least one additional lifting unit (24, 25), the additional lifting unit (24, 25) being disposed on the main lifting unit (22, 23) in such a way that a main lifting height (hh) of the lifting platform may be extended to a total lifting height (hg) by using the additional lifting unit (24, 25), and comprising a control unit (200) for controlling the main lifting unit (22, 23) and the additional lifting unit (24, 25), characterized in that the control unit (200) may be switched from controlling the main lifting unit (22, 23) to controlling the additional lifting unit (24, 25) as well as from controlling the additional lifting unit (24, 25) to controlling the main lifting unit (22, 23) via corresponding actuators (18, 19, 20, 21). |
| US08262063B2 |
Tool with hydraulic valve system
The invention relates to a hydraulic tool, in particular a rescue tool, provided with pivotable parts and with a hydraulic valve system having a double-action hydraulic cylinder connected thereto for driving the pivotable parts, wherein the hydraulic valve system comprises: —a differential valve element (K-7) for providing an increased speed of the outward plunger stroke of the double-action cylinder in a first position and for providing a normal speed thereof in a second position, combined with; —pressure-controlled non-return valves (T-I, T-2) for blocking the plunger of the double-action cylinder when hydraulic pressure is lost. |
| US08262061B2 |
Ball valve
A ball valve having a cam element, and a ball having a left arm and a right arm with a slot between each arm. A terminal portion of each arm is positioned adjacent the cam element. The cam element is shaped so that, when the ball is rotated from the open condition to the closed condition, the cam element forces the arms through three distances of separation. A first distance, when the ball has undergone no rotation from the fully open condition. A second distance, when the ball has undergone some rotation from the fully open condition towards the closed condition but has not reached the closed condition. A third distance in which the ball has undergone rotation to the closed condition. The third distance is greater than the first distance, and the second distance is greater than the third distance. |
| US08262060B2 |
Actuating device for an on/off valve
An actuating device for an on/off valve having a pneumatic drive that is connected to a compressed air supply by a solenoid valve, wherein when driven with a control voltage, the solenoid valve ventilates the pneumatic drive with the compressed air and, when the control voltage is not present, vents the pneumatic drive. The pneumatic drive moves the on/off valve into an operating position during ventilation and moves it into a safety position during venting. To permit the performance of partial-stroke tests in the simplest way possible, a device for performing the partial-stroke test includes a controllable switch which is closed in a quiescent state, and in this case supplies the control voltage to the solenoid valve. The controllable switch is opened by a control signal that is generated to perform the partial-stroke test. The control signal is supplied to the controllable switch by a position switch that is closed in the operating position of the on/off valve and is opened when the on/off valve reaches a predefined position in the direction of the safety position. |
| US08262052B2 |
Seating and locking system for turbomachinery
A seating and locking system for turbomachinery attached to the customer column housing the turbomachine. The seating and locking system includes two or more actuated pistons that push against a piston seat or locking groove of the turbomachine. The actuated pistons secure the turbomachine within the costumer column to prevent the turbomachine from moving and getting damaged. The seating and locking system further includes a seat attached below the customer column with two or more spring loaded rods. The seat forces the customer column and the turbomachine to remain fixed to the bottom of the vessel housing the customer column and the turbomachine. Embodiments can be used with pumps, expanders, turbines, compressors, and fans. |
| US08262041B2 |
Tool-less installation system and method of U-mounted devices
A device is configured to be secured within an equipment rack of the type having two spaced-apart mounting flanges, with each flange having a plurality of openings formed therein spaced-apart from one another a predetermined distance. The device includes an elongated body having two, opposite ends and two attachment configurations, one for each end of the elongated body. Each attachment configuration has at least one retention element to be inserted within the openings of the mounting flanges. At least one attachment configuration has a plunger pin configured to retain the device to the mounting rails. The attachment configuration is constructed and arranged to facilitate tool-less installation and removal of the device with the mounting rails. Other embodiments of the device and a method of securing the device to an equipment rack are further disclosed. |
| US08262040B1 |
Sway bar storage bracket
A sway bar storage bracket for storing a sway bar usable on an equalizer trailer hitch system between a trailer and a towing vehicle is provided. The trailer hitch system has equalizer hardware. The sway bar storage bracket comprises an elongated middle section having a first end and a second end, a first extension section having a first end and a second end with the first end of the first extension section being connected to the first end of the middle section, a second extension section having a first end and a second end with the first end of the second extension section being connected to the second end of the middle section, a first member having a first end and a second end with the first end of the first member being connected to the first end of the first extension section, and a second member having a first end and a second end with the first end of the second member being connected to the second end of the second extension section. A tightening mechanism releasably secures the sway bar storage bracket to the trailer tongue. A holding mechanism releasably holds the sway bar to the sway bar storage bracket wherein the sway bar is positionable between the sway bar storage bracket and the equalizer hardware thereby releasably storing the sway bar when not in use. |
| US08262038B1 |
Adjustable machine stabilizer with foot control rotor
A stabilizer device for connecting to the bottom support surface of a machine or article of equipment for supporting such equipment on a floor surface having a foot-actuated rotor for adjusting the length of the stabilizer shank and thereby stabilizing and balancing such equipment. |
| US08262036B2 |
Transferable patient care equipment support
An equipment support, such as an IV pole, comprises an upper portion, a lower portion having a lower end configured to engage a socket, and an actuator movable relative to the lower end. When the upper portion is gripped by a releasable gripper, the lower end can be disengaged from the socket by moving the actuator from a first position to a second position. The lower portion can be telescoped relative to the upper portion by moving the actuator from the second position to a third position. |
| US08262035B2 |
Cable retention clip
A cable retention clip (20) attached or attachable to equipment with which a plurality of cables are or will be operatively associated, wherein the clip comprises a row of upstanding open-topped cable guide members (24) and a semi-flexible or substantially rigid closure member (22) (hereinafter “lid”) securable on top of the guide members to retain cables when present therein, wherein the lid (22) is selectively securable at two or more different heights relative to the guide member (24), to retain cables of different diameters. |
| US08262031B2 |
Co-flow jet aircraft
The present invention provides an aircraft having one or more fixed wings in a flying wing configuration, where the aircraft further includes a high performance co-flow jet (CFJ) circulating about at least a portion of an aircraft surface to produce both lift and thrust. |
| US08262027B2 |
Automatic folding structure for kites
Folding structure for kites, applicable in kites equipped with an internal structure based on rods assembled within the interior of a specific external part of the kite's fabric (1). It allows the kite to be folded and unfolded. It is characterized by the fact that the internal structure is complemented by a central longitudinal rod (2) running through the entire kite. The rod (2) supports various tensing trusses (3) with folding arms (4), which are movable in both directions and associated to a further range of rods (5), and which constitutes the folding structure of the kite. |
| US08262024B2 |
Aircraft frames
The invention relates to a reinforcing frame (1) of the fuselage (2) of an aircraft, said fuselage (2) comprising a skin (3) and stringers (20), the mentioned frame (1) comprising a structural member (4) and a closed, internally hollow honeycomb member (5), the structural member (4) comprising a lower base (6) which is arranged on the inner face of the skin (3) of the fuselage (2), and through which the stringers (20) connecting the frames (1) to the rest of the structure of the fuselage (2) pass, and upper reinforcing members (7) on which the mentioned honeycomb members (5) are arranged, such that the honeycomb members (5) increase the inertia and the stiffness of the frame (1) without adding weight thereto, the frame (1) having high stiffness in the transverse direction, in addition to being intrinsically stable to local buckling. |
| US08262022B2 |
Overhead stowage bin load transfer and balance system
An ergonomically improved stowage system includes a supporting structure, a bin having a volume with an opening to receive a load, the bin being movable with respect to the supporting structure from a closed to an open position, and an attaching mechanism for attaching the bin to the structure. The attaching mechanism includes a bin pivot axis that is located in substantial alignment with a center of gravity of the bin in the closed position. |
| US08262020B2 |
Casing and front landing gear assembly for an aircraft
A casing including a wall defining an internal housing which allows retraction of a corresponding landing gear into the interior of the housing. The wall separates the non-pressurized internal housing from a surrounding pressurized zone of the aircraft. The separation wall is a shell which envelops the shape of the landing gear, on the side opposite the opening of the internal housing, and the reinforcement structure includes on one hand longitudinal reinforcement elements extending on both sides of the shell and on the other hand transverse reinforcement elements connecting the longitudinal reinforcement elements. The shell has a first zone of considerable width accommodating the wheels of the landing gear, a second zone of lesser width accommodating the rod of the landing gear, and a third zone running from the second zone of lesser width, becoming wider and accommodating a portion of the mechanism for deployment/retraction of the landing gear. |
| US08262013B2 |
Reel hub
A reel hub has a slot into which a leader block with a hook part holding a leader pin fixed to a beginning of a tape is inserted. The reel hub includes: a lever rotatably supported by the main body part and urged such that an end of the lever abuts the leader block inserted into the slot; and a lid rotatably supported by the main body part, urged in a direction to close the slot, restricted to rotate by other end of the lever when the leader block is not inserted, and forms a cylindrical surface together with the main body part when the lid covers the slot. When the leader block is inserted, the lever is pushed by the leader block to be rotated, the other end of the lever is separated from the lid, and the restriction of the rotation of the lid is canceled. |
| US08262007B2 |
Other side tool support base and/or other side tool post mounted to casting breaking apparatus, and bearing of the other side tool support base
A tool support base and a tool post for cutting a casting, in which contact surfaces in sliding contact with both side plates are formed on both sides of the tool support base and the tool post. A cut recess is formed in the sliding contact surface so as to vertically extend in the surface. Deposit welding is applied to the cut recess and a ridge of weld deposit generally flush with the contact surface is formed by grinding means that makes the weld deposit, formed by the deposit welding, flush with the contact surface. The construction minimizes wear of the contact surface as much as possible, and even if particles of casting waste materials enter gaps between the tool support base and the tool post and the side plates, the construction can avoid wear by such particles. |
| US08261997B2 |
Surface-tolerant RFID transponder device
A carrier assembly for receiving an RFID transponder chip has an attachment side for being attached to a consumer device and an operation side for receiving an RF signal in operational use of the RFID transponder chip. |
| US08261996B2 |
Smart card, telephone comprising such a card and method for executing a command in such a card
A smart card (1) storing a first and a second application (120, 220) and elements for receiving commands originating from outside the card (1), the first application (120) being capable of executing first commands, the smart card includes elements (130) for determining (706) whether a received command is implemented by the first application so as to transmit (708) the received command to the second application (220) in the case of a negative determination. Notably, the determination can implement either a table (130) listing the first commands, or conditional instructions provided within the execution code for the first application. Application of the invention to a second highly-securitized application, of the banking transaction type, and to a first less-securitized application, of the mobile telephone application type. |
| US08261995B2 |
Financial transaction card with insert member
A financial transaction card includes a substrate, a member, and a rim. The substrate is formed of a first material and defines a first major surface and an aperture extending though the substrate. The substrate further includes an account identifier linking the financial transaction card to at least one of a financial account and a financial record and is configured for use a payment toward a purchase. The member is formed separately from the substrate and defines a perimeter edge. The rim extends around at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the member and is coupled with the first major surface of the substrate adjacent the aperture in a manner at least partially coupling the member to the substrate such that the aperture and the member align with one another. Other products and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08261994B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium
The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media. |
| US08261992B2 |
Cellular camera phone
A cell phone includes: a device for wireless communication; an imager sensor for capturing an image of an object; a lens system for projecting an image of the object onto the imager; a battery for powering the cell phone; a lens system for focusing images of the object onto the imager comprising: a focus element; at least two electrodes associated with the focus element; a control system to adjust the state of focus of the focus element by controlling the at least two electrodes. |
| US08261990B2 |
Data reader having compact arrangement for acquisition of multiple views of an object
A data reader including one or more imagers, the data reader having fold mirrors (130) that permit the imagers (60) to be closer to each other and permit an optical code reader housing (82) to confine them to a smaller housing volume or capacity. A plurality of sets of fold mirrors (130) can also be employed to convey at least a portion of at least two different perspectives of a view volume (134) to different regions of an image field of a common imager (60). The sets of fold mirrors (130) may also include one or more split mirrors that have mirror components that reflect images from different view volumes (134) to different imagers (60) or different regions of an image field of a single imager (60). |
| US08261989B2 |
Method for generating image information
A method for generating image information from an object to be scanned by means of a scanning device, wherein the object to be scanned can comprise one or a plurality of surfaces, one or a plurality of bodies and/or a space, wherein the scanning device or at least parts of the scanning device or the object itself is moved during the scanning operation, and wherein the object to be scanned is scanned by the scanning device in the region of a scanning layer, is configured with regard to a simplest possible scanning operation in such a way that the beam path that scans the object is set in a manner oriented at any desired angle with respect to the scanning layer, and/or that the scanning layer is chosen in any desired position with respect to the object to be scanned. |
| US08261988B2 |
Phase locked IR encoding for peened 2D barcodes
A system reveals a 2D barcode in a document. A 2D barcode generator selects the placement and at least one colorant combination of an image and at least one colorant combination for a 2D barcode on a document, where the at least one colorant combination of the image and the 2D barcode form a metameric pair. A print system receives data from the 2D barcode generator and places the image and the 2D barcode on the document. A light source selected or tuned to a wavelength corresponding to the colorant combinations utilized by the print system reveals the 2D barcode placed thereon. A decoding element decodes and extracts data from the revealed 2D barcode. |
| US08261985B2 |
Manual recount process using digitally imaged ballots
A method for counting or recounting an optically readable sheet may comprise receiving an image the sheet and displaying the received image of the sheet for determining from the displayed image of the sheet the marking of mark spaces therein. Indications of information decoded therefrom may be superimposed and/or provided by highlighting. The counting and/or recounting need not require handling of the original sheets. |
| US08261984B2 |
Ballot processing system
A ballot processing system for processing a plurality of ballots having one or more voting selections marked thereon. The system includes an input area configured to receive a stack of ballots to be processed, an output area configured to store the processed ballots, and a transport path operable to transport each of the ballots from the input area to the output area. In an exemplary embodiment, the transport path comprises a planar section positioned between a first curve section and a second curve section to form a generally S-shaped path. The length of the transport path allows each of the ballots to be processed prior to reaching the output area. |
| US08261983B2 |
Generating customized packaging
Disclosed are various embodiments of generating customized packaging for an item associated with an order. A request to generate customized packaging for an item associated with an order is received. A user interface allowing a user to participate in design of the customized packaging is generated. Customized packaging is then generated based upon the customized packaging selected and/or designed by the user. |
| US08261980B1 |
Automated food service and billing system and method
An automated restaurant including a plurality of food delivery locations and a food preparation area. A computer system is in electronic communication with the food delivery locations and the food preparation area. Visual content stored in the computer system is displayed on display screens at each of the food delivery locations. The visual content may include information relating to a customer food order which is stored in the computer system for later delivery to a corresponding food delivery location as well as entertainment. The customer may directly enter a food order and pay for the order at the food delivery location. |
| US08261979B2 |
System and methods for venue controlled buy-back and reselling of access privileges and tickets to closed group events
Methods and apparatus for controlling venue buy-back and resale of access privileges to controlled group events limiting third party trading of subscription. |
| US08261975B2 |
Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine controlled responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that reads identifying data from a user card. The automated banking machine is operative to receive and display on a display device of the automated banking machine, electronic documents for the user. The automated banking machine may digitally sign the electronic document for the user of the machine. The automated banking machine may be in operative connection with a storage server. The storage server is operative responsive to the automated banking machine to maintain electronic documents in a data store in association with the user's financial account such as checking, savings, debit, or credit account. |
| US08261974B2 |
Integrated financial transaction and access system
A universal digital information management and transaction system facilitates a consumer's ability to organize, use and obtain personal data related to a consumer, including for example, the consumer's financial, health, and personal records. A consumer is provided with an online profile that stores all of the relevant consumer information, with a token associated with the consumer's profile to enable the consumer to securely login remotely to the system to access and manage all of their relevant information. |
| US08261966B2 |
Apparatus for secure postal and parcel receipt and storage
A receptacle for secure mail and parcel receipt and storage. The receptacle includes a top which provides a roof for the receptacle, a base, and a housing connected to the top and the base. The housing includes an upper compartment into which mail is first placed, a lower compartment into which mail is deposited from the upper compartment, a front door, located on a front of the receptacle, which is opened to provide access to the upper compartment and through which mail is placed into the upper compartment, a trap door, operatively connected to the front door, in the upper compartment, and an access door that includes a lock. The trap door rests in an open position when the front door is closed, allowing communication between the upper and lower compartments. The trap door is moved to a closed position by the opening of the front door, thereby preventing access to the lower compartment from the upper compartment. The trap door returns to the open position when the front door is closed, depositing any mail placed in the upper compartment into the lower compartment. The access door is unlocked and opened to provide access to the lower compartment, whereby mail deposited and stored in the lower compartment may be retrieved through the access door. |
| US08261965B2 |
Locking mechanism for mailboxes
An access door for a locking mailbox is provided having a mail slot configured for the receipt of items, such as letters, which can be covered by a rotatable mail slot door. The locking mailbox can also have a lock configured to selectively lock the access door to a housing of the pre-existing or new mailbox and, optionally, a theft deterrent device positioned adjacent the mail slot that projects inwardly into the housing of the mailbox when the door of the mailbox is positioned in a closed position. |
| US08261957B2 |
Locking mechanism for stapler paper presser table
Immediately after a clinch lever causes a clinch link to clinch the leg of a staple which penetrates sheets of paper to be stapled, a pressure by the clinch lever with respect to the clincher link is temporarily reduced by a pressure reducing unit. Therefore, a clincher moves down in a state where the clincher still receives the press-contacting force from a driver plate. Accordingly, the looseness occurs between the driver plate and the clincher link. A fixing plate becomes easy to draw out as much as the looseness. If the fixing plate is set to be drawn out at this timing, it can be simply drawn out to be moved to the initial position. |
| US08261956B2 |
Spring actuated pliers stapler
A spring-energized stapler having a pliers type configuration, wherein papers and like items are fastened at a front end and the stapler is normally gripped and squeezed at a rear end. A compact mechanism and independent handle linkages provide a compact overall shape in a high efficiency action. An upper handle is pivoted at a front, top of a housing with a pressing area spaced at least one half the handle length away from the upper handle pivot. A lower handle includes a multi-segment cam link to a base to provide a minimal gripping distance with a large clamping force at an anvil. A simplified front-loading mechanism provides a compact, low cost assembly. A release latch holder is located behind the striker for a compact front end. |
| US08261955B2 |
Combustion-operated setting device
The present invention is directed to a combustion-operated setting device (10) with a combustion chamber (12) for a combustible propellant, an ignition device (16) for generating an ignition spark in the combustion chamber (12), a metering device (13) for metering the propellant, and control electronics (30) for the ignition device (16) and the metering device (13). In order to improve the control electronics (30), the control electronics (30) have at least two logically separated circuits. A first circuit (33) controls the metering device (13) and a second circuit controls the ignition device (16). |
| US08261949B2 |
Adjustable-volume liquid dispensing pump
An adjustable-volume liquid dispenser is disclosed. In one embodiment, an adjustable-volume liquid dispenser includes a spout and a plunger secured to the spout. The dispenser further includes a plunger lock moveable lengthwise along the plunger. The plunger lock is securable to the plunger at a plurality of positions on the plunger to adjust a volume of liquid to be dispensed. The dispenser also includes a spring in contact with the plunger. In addition, the dispenser includes a chamber comprising an interior for containing liquid. The plunger is slidably arranged with the chamber. A portion of the plunger is disposed within the chamber. Moreover, the dispenser includes a chamber cap secured to the chamber, and a valve disposed within the chamber. The dispenser also includes a shaft secured to the chamber. |
| US08261947B2 |
Portable fuel container emissions control
An emissions device for use with a portable fuel container assembly is provided. The emissions device includes an emissions housing configured to be mounted to the portable fuel container. The emissions housing defines at least one device opening. A membrane is supported by the emissions housing and allows the passage of the vapor and prevents the passage of a liquid. An emissions filter is also located within the emissions housing and is located such that vapor exiting through the device opening must pass the emissions filter. |
| US08261944B2 |
Baby formula dispenser for filling baby bottles
A dispenser for separately dispensing warmed water and powdered baby formula, to promote expeditious preparation of baby bottles. The dispenser may have a water circuit including a threaded water storage vessel, a threaded in-line filter, an electrically powered, thermostatically controlled heating chamber, and a discharge conduit controlled by a lever. The dispenser may have a powder circuit comprising a powder storage chamber, a rotary compartmented carousel which promotes flow of stored powder for discharge through a chute, and an agitator to further promote flow of powder. An illumination lamp may be disposed to illuminate discharge areas. A catch tray may be disposed beneath the liquid and powder discharge areas. |
| US08261943B2 |
Spray bottle with refill cartridge
Refill assemblies are described herein that include: a bottle defining an internal reservoir and an opening which communicates with the reservoir; and a refill cartridge operatively coupled with the bottle, the refill cartridge including: a cartridge body defining a cartridge reservoir having a concentrated chemical agent stored therein, a refill pouch having a concentrated chemical agent stored therein or a combination thereof; and a release mechanism cooperatively engaged to the cartridge body that facilitates the flow of the chemical agent from the cartridge reservoir into the reservoir of the bottle. Refill assemblies are also disclosed that include: a spray bottle and/or containment vessel; a refill cartridge cooperatively engaged to the spray bottle and/or containment vessel and including a cartridge body defining a cartridge reservoir having a concentrated chemical agent stored therein; and a release mechanism cooperatively engaged to the cartridge body and selectively movable from a sealing position to a dispensing position relative thereto, the movement of the release mechanism from the sealing position to the dispensing position facilitating the flow of the chemical agent from the cartridge reservoir. Some refill assemblies also include: a bottle having an internal reservoir; and a refill cartridge operatively coupled to the bottle and at least partially residing within the reservoir thereof. |
| US08261941B2 |
Fluid dispenser
The present invention provides a fluid dispenser for dispensing a fluid from a container. A roller is dimensioned to engage and roll along a portion of the container when the roller moves in a first direction from a first container-engaging position to a second container-engaging position. A sensor for sensing an object in a predetermined area is disposed near the housing. A light source is operable to emit a beam of visible light therefrom. The beam of light intersects the predetermined area. A controller is programmed such that when the sensor senses an object in the predetermined area, the controller energizes the light source to illuminate a target location where the fluid from the container is to be dispensed and the controller causes the roller to move in the first direction from the first container-engaging position to the second container-engaging position, thereby dispensing the fluid from the container. |
| US08261940B2 |
Vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers
Embodiments of the invention provide vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers. In particular, embodiments of the invention can provide a beverage dispenser with a manually operated vending dispenser assembly that consumes little or no additional electrical power to dispense a beverage container using the assembly. Embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can be used with a heated or chilled compartment associated with a beverage dispenser. Furthermore, embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can operate in conjunction with a relatively small dispenser opening to limit heat transfer loss via the dispenser opening. One embodiment can provide a dispenser for dispensing a number of products. The dispenser can include at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products, and a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser. |
| US08261937B2 |
Attachment system and dispensers used therewith
A dispenser includes an upper member having a slot and a lower member attached to the upper member thereby forming a housing, the lower member having an outer surface; a stack of sheets assembled in a fan-fold configuration disposed in the housing; and a polymeric holding film having a first surface attached to the outer surface of the lower member. The holding film having a flexural modulus less than about 50 MPa, as measured according to ASTMD790 standard, and a roughness parameter, Ra of less than about 1 micrometer, as calculated according to ASME B46.1 standard. |
| US08261931B2 |
Fluid tank having a heat-activated adhesive joint
A fluid tank is disclosed. The fluid tank includes at least one joint including an adhesive that is non-tacky at a first temperature, has a flow point temperature at a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature, and a cure and bond temperature at a third temperature. |
| US08261930B2 |
Portable tank
A portable tank includes a tank interior defined by a plurality of panels, with the floor panel supported by a floor support structure. The floor support structure includes side channels with cross members connecting the side channels. A mid floor beam is received in notches formed in some of the cross members, and a rear floor beam is received in notches formed in different cross members. The mid floor beam and the rear floor beam do not span the entire length of the tank. There are cross members with smooth sided upper support surfaces in front of and behind the mid floor beam, and cross members with smooth sided upper support surfaces in front of the rear floor beam. |
| US08261929B2 |
Multiple-opening container and method
A multiple-opening container is configured to facilitate the simultaneous opening of two or more material containing compartments, thus allowing for the material contents within the multiple containing compartments to be suitably mixed upon pouring into another container, such as a pitcher, glass or cup or other like container. As a result of the simultaneous opening and pouring ability facilitated by the multiple-opening container, the time for mixing of multiple materials, such as beverages, fluids, powders or other like contents, can be suitably reduced. In addition, the de-carbonization and/or deterioration or other side affects caused from pre-mixing of the contents can be eliminated. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, engagement portion can comprise a snap clip and a ring portion configured for sealed coupling to a material containing compartment. Second compartment can be suitably filled within beverages or other materials, and then positioned within the container portion and sealed or otherwise coupled by the engagement portion. |
| US08261928B2 |
Swing bolt splash shield
A cover is provided for a removable pressure vessel lid and the cover has a peripheral flange extending over the interface of the lid and pressure vessel to direct escaping pressurized fluid away from the operator in the event of a seal leak or residual pressure upon release of the lid fasteners. The fasteners such as swing bolts engage slots in the lid flange; and, flow shields are provided on the fasteners to redirect fluid escaping at the slots and about the fasteners. |
| US08261922B2 |
Assembled dustbin
A dustbin relates to a composite dustbin that can be easily assembled by and disassembled into parts. It is also characterized by pretty appearance, small coverage of warehouse area, low transport fee and good market prospects. |
| US08261921B2 |
Parts container with adjustable rack
A parts container having adjustable racks that are adjustable in both a vertical and horizontal direction. |
| US08261920B1 |
Portable shelf unit supported by a towel bar
A shelf unit configured to be supported between a towel bar and a wall includes a tray and an end bracket extending downward adjacent each end edge of the tray. Each of the end brackets includes a mounting block and a spring extending forward from the end block to engage the towel bar. |
| US08261918B1 |
Poly-container for solid phase-liquid phase separation
A container for facilitating solid phase-liquid phase separation has all corrosive resistant materials on the liquid-contacting surfaces. A center wall of polyethylene is provided to increase the surface area available for separation. Support structure for the filter medium includes either a poly grate or a poly cuspated plastic or a combination thereof. Poly connectors and drain lines complete the structure ensuring that the container has high durability and will provide a long, corrosion-free life. A specially formulated highly lubricious material (high molecular weight polyethylene) is utilized for the poly walls to enable rapid clean out of the container. |
| US08261914B2 |
Package of disposable absorbent pants
A package of disposable pants comprises a housing portion comprising a front panel comprising a front transparent window. The package further includes a plurality of disposable absorbent pants disposed within the housing portion, each pant defining a waist opening, two leg openings, a waist end, and a crotch end. At least a first pant and a second pant are positioned within the housing portion to be visible through the front transparent window, such that neither the waist end nor the crotch end of either the first pant or the second pant is visible through the front transparent window. In another embodiment, no elastically transversely gathered portions of either the first pant or the second pant are visible through the front transparent window. In another embodiment, first, second, and third pant folded heights are each approximately one-third of the height of a fourth pant. |
| US08261913B2 |
Stackable plant pot
A stackable plant pot including a cavity provided with water flow directing gutters, a recesses centrally located water catchment region with drainage slits and suited to receive a moisture retaining device, and a soil holding region located above the water catchment region. |
| US08261912B1 |
Hangtag for a tool socket
A hangtag for a tool socket is provided. The hangtag has a body board connected to a fixing device which is inserted into and holds a tool socket. The hangtag is adapted to being displayed vertically with the body board being removably attached to a display rack hook and the fixing device with tool socket being attached to and suspended beneath the body board. |
| US08261911B2 |
Portable wrench holder
The present invention discloses a wrench holder comprising a main frame, a hand grip, a slidable fastener, two knobs and a cover plate. There is a plurality of recesses defined on the main frame for wrenches to be held. The hand grip is rotatably allocated at the bottom of the main frame, and the slidable fastener is movably applied at the bottom of the main frame as well to limit the hand grip revolving against the main frame. The cover plate provides the wrenches held within the main frame to be sheltered. The wrench holder of the present invention is designed to improve protection for wrenches and convenience for users. |
| US08261907B2 |
Wound closure adhesive remover
A kit for storing and applying an adhesive removing device comprising an enclosure which includes a base portion and a removable top layer releasably secured to the base portion; an adhesive removing device including at least one wiping mechanism which includes at least one absorbent portion; and a biocompatible composition including a solvent and a moisturizing agent embedded in the absorbent portion of the wiping mechanism. A method for storing and applying an adhesive removing device comprises a series of steps for using the adhesive removing device to remove an adhesive from a surface. |
| US08261902B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing unclaimed cash redemption receipts in a self-service cash redemption machine
A coin exchange machine (10) and method in which a coin counting mechanism (25, 23) receives a plurality of coins from a customer and counts the coins to determine a total, a dispensing mechanism (20) dispenses a receipt (17a) in exchange for the coins, and wherein before accepting coins for totaling and before dispensing the receipt, the machine (10) causes a display of a notice (21, 22) with a request for the customer to indicate acceptance through a user interface; wherein the machine (10) receives the customer's acceptance of the notice (21, 22) through the user interface; and wherein only after the customer's acceptance, the machine (10) then proceeds to receive and count coins deposited by the customer and to dispense the receipt (17a) to the customer for redemption. The machine (10) keeps a record of the transactions for performing a reconciliation routine to identify unredeemed receipts. |
| US08261900B2 |
Wet clutch
A wet clutch comprising at least one friction disk (10) which is loaded by a piston (5) against an end disk (4). In order to run a forced pressure medium flow over the friction surfaces (11, 12) of the wet clutch, two pressures cavities (7, 8) having a connection in the region of the friction surfaces, are loaded with varying pressures. In order to improve such arrangements, the invention proposes that the leakage flow flowing over the supports of the friction disks is limited. |
| US08261899B2 |
Shifting collar apparatus and method for reducing the force required for disengaging a fixed holding feature
The present invention is an apparatus and method of using the apparatus to disengage a shifting collar from a fixed holding feature with reduced force regardless of whether the vehicle is positioned on an inclined or a declined slope. |
| US08261897B2 |
Freewheel clutch
A freewheel clutch that has sprags, which are located between an inner locking track and an outer locking track and two sliding discs which each feature one inner axis adjacent to the inner locking track, one outer axis adjacent to the outer locking track as well as one middle section which connects the axes, and has an axial inwardly directed bending. The bending extends from the outer axis to the inner axis and preferably features a maximum embossing depth which is lower than the wall thickness of the middle section. |
| US08261896B2 |
Tuned mass dampers and vibration isolation apparatus
A tuned mass damper is provided for use with a structure that vibrates at a first axial surge mode and a second axial surge mode, when exposed to a predetermined frequency range. The tuned mass damper includes a housing, an endcap, two masses, and two springs. The first and second masses are disposed in a housing cavity. The first tuned mass damper spring is disposed in the cavity coupling the first mass and the endcap. The second tuned mass damper spring is disposed in the cavity coupling the first and second masses. The tuned mass damper has first and second resonant frequencies in the predetermined frequency range to damp the first and second axial surge modes, respectively. The second mass resonates at an amplitude that is greater than an amplitude at which the first mass resonates, when the two masses are subjected to the second axial surge mode. |
| US08261895B2 |
Hydraulic shock absorber
There is provided a hydraulic shock absorber including a spring receiver that is supported so as to be not rotatable with respect to the axle bracket. The spring receiver is divided into a spring receiver base portion that has an outer diameter smaller than an inner periphery of an axle-side tube, and a spring receiver cylindrical portion that is inserted into an inner periphery of the axle-side tube and a suspension spring is seated thereon. A lower end engagement portion provided at a lower end of the spring receiver cylindrical portion is seated on an upper end engagement portion provided at an upper end of the spring receiver base portion, so that the spring receiver cylindrical portion is concentrically set to the axle-side tube. |
| US08261891B2 |
Method of siliciding thermostructural composite materials, and parts obtained by the method
Within the pores of a porous thermostructural composite material, there is form an aerogel or xerogel made up of a precursor for a refractory material, the precursor is transformed by pyrolysis to obtain an aerogel or xerogel of refractory material, and then it is silicided by being impregnated with a molten silicon type phase. The aerogel or xerogel is formed by impregnating the composite material with a composition containing at least one organic, organometalloid, or organometallic compound in solution, followed by in situ gelling. The method is applicable to improving the tribological properties or the thermal conductivity of C/C or C/SiC composite material parts, or to making such parts leakproof. |
| US08261890B2 |
Brake assembly with brake shoe and brake lining plate, and associated method
A brake assembly of the type having a brake shoe platform and one or more brake plates mounted on the platform, each brake plate having a brake lining and a backing plate attachable to an outer surface of the platform, is characterized in that the platform has a series of circumferentially spaced apertures each adjacent its rear edge, and a series of circumferentially spaced recesses communicating with its front edge. The backing plate has two rear flanges each being L-shaped and having an inner portion depending from its inner surface and a rearwardly projecting outer tongue portion, these rear flanges being sized to pass through the apertures in the brake shoe platform. Also, the backing plate has two front flanges, each having an inner portion depending from its inner surface and an outer tongue portion, these front flanges being arranged to slide into the recesses at the front edge of the platform. |
| US08261886B2 |
Safety device for elevator and rope slip detection method
In a safety system for an elevator, slip detection means detects a slip between a drive sheave and a main rope. A safety gear is mounted to a car, the safety gear being electrically operated by an actuator to cause the car to make an emergency stop regardless of whether a running direction of the car is upward or downward. A safety gear controller cuts power supply to a hoisting machine motor and causes the safety gear to make a braking operation upon detection of the slip between the drive sheave and the main rope by the slip detection means. |
| US08261884B2 |
Mechanical energy storage system
A mechanical energy storage system includes a containment vessel, a drive shaft operatively connected to a generator/motor and supported for rotation in the containment vessel. A support structure is attached to the drive shaft and configured for radial extension from a rest position proximate the drive shaft. A resilient member having a mass and extending circumferentially around the drive shaft is connected to free ends of the support structure and configured to store elastic energy when the support structure extends radially from its rest position. Upon rotation of the drive shaft, the resilient member stores both elastic and rotational energy commensurate with its mass and elastic properties. |
| US08261880B1 |
Step ladder apparatus
A step ladder apparatus for retention within a stake pocket comprising a frame assembly a plurality of step assemblies and an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly includes a frame flange and a wedge member. The frame assembly is positioned within the stake pocket so that the frame flange overhangs one end of the stake pocket. The base of the wedge member is inserted into the stake pocket opposite the frame flange so that the wedge flange overhangs the stake pocket on a side opposite the frame flange. As a result, the flanges cooperate to substantially preclude downward movement of the frame assembly, and, in turn, removal of the frame assembly in a downward direction from the stake pocket. |
| US08261879B2 |
Liquid tank building system using movable scaffolding
Disclosed is a scaffold installed within a large structure such as a pressure vessel or a tank of a ship, and an insulation system construction method using the same. The scaffold for use in performing desired work within a large structure includes a supporting structure installed adjacent to both side surfaces and a top surface of the large structure, and a carrying unit installed movable along the supporting structure to allow materials to be carried or to provide a working space for a worker thereon, wherein the supporting structure is installed to be movable along a wall surface of the large structure. |
| US08261876B2 |
Automotive trim part for sound insulation and absorption
A sound insulating trim part is provided. The sound insulating trim part includes an absorbing area and an insulating area. The absorbing area includes at least a first portion of a porous fibrous layer. The insulating area includes a mass layer and a decoupling layer. The mass layer includes a second portion of the same porous fibrous layer. The second portion has a dynamic Young's modulus (Pa) of at least about (96·AW·t) with AW being an area weight (g/m2), and t being a thickness (mm) of the porous fibrous layer. The mass layer also includes at least a substantially air impervious barrier layer between the porous fibrous layer and the decoupling layer. The thickness of the first portion of the porous fibrous layer in the absorbing area is larger than the thickness of the second portion of the same porous fibrous layer in the insulating area. |
| US08261868B2 |
Energy management system for a hybrid-electric vehicle
Some embodiments provide a system for optimizing electrical power management in a vehicle. The system includes a HVAC device and a thermal storage device, both configured to provide heating and cooling to an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The system further includes a controller connected to an electrical storage device and an electrical generating device. The controller receives electrical power generated by the electrical generating device and directs the electrical power to satisfy the vehicle's power requirements and/or stores the electrical power in at least one of the electrical storage device and the thermal storage device. Furthermore, the controller directs at least one of the HVAC device and the thermal storage device to provide heating and cooling to the occupant compartment of the vehicle, depending on the available storage of the thermal storage unit or occupant compartment demands. |
| US08261866B2 |
Wheel assembly with in-wheel motor
A wheel assembly with an in-wheel motor in which a wheel driving apparatus formed of a motor or a combination of a motor and a reduction mechanism is provided in a wheel, includes an oil supply apparatus that is driven by rotational output of the motor, and an oil supply flow path that leads oil that has been drawn up by the oil supply apparatus to the wheel driving apparatus. The oil supply apparatus is structured so that oil can be supplied to the wheel driving apparatus via the oil supply flow path when the motor is rotating in the forward direction as well as when the motor is rotating in the reverse direction. |
| US08261861B2 |
Cooling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle
A cooling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle including a power unit which is arranged at a position between a pair of right and left-hand members so as to be offset towards an engine-side side member of the pair of right and left-hand members. A gap formed between the generator and a generator-side side member of the pair of right and left-hand members is larger than a gap formed between the engine and the engine-side side member, thereby avoiding propagation of heat from the generator and the drive motor to the inverter and improving the heat radiating performance of the first radiator. |
| US08261858B1 |
Element containing thermally stable polycrystalline diamond material and methods and assemblies for formation thereof
The disclosure provides a super abrasive element containing a substantially catalyst-free thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) body having pores and a contact surface, a base adjacent the contact surface of the TSP body; and an infiltrant material infiltrated in the base and in the pores of the TSP body at the contact surface. The disclosure additionally provides earth-boring drill bits and other devices containing such super abrasive elements. The disclosure further provides methods and mold assemblies for forming such super abrasive elements via infiltration and hot press methods. |
| US08261853B2 |
Ergonomic handle for a power tool
It is an object of the invention to provide a fatigue reducing structure in a hand-held power tool. A representative screwdriver 100 includes a body 101, an anvil 106, a driver bit 110, a driving motor 120, a handgrip 130, a trigger 131, a rear end groove 109 pressed forward toward the driver bit 110, while being held with first and second fingers of user's hand on a housing rear end 101a side of the body 101, a circular arc portion 130c having a horizontal section of a circular arc shape on a rear end of the handgrip 130 and a middle portion 109b having a horizontal section of a circular arc shape on a housing rear end 101a side of the holding part, which circular arc shape has a curvature larger than that of the circular arc shape of the first circular arc portion. |
| US08261848B2 |
Drilling apparatus
A plurality of weight hammers (7,8) are provided, and each of the plurality of weight hammers has a shape for substantially evenly applying a hammering force with respect to a surface to be hammered of an object to be hammered (11), about a center line of the object to be hammered. Rotors (9, 10) for driving the weight hammers (7,8) are provided to the same rotating shaft (22) in such a positional relation that an engagement claw (9a) of one rotor (9) engages and drives one weight hammer (7), and, when engagement of the weight hammer (7) is released, an engagement claw (10a) of another rotor (10) in driving engages another weight hammer (8). The rotors are driven by the same driving means (26). |
| US08261842B2 |
Expandable wellbore liner system
A setting tool has an expansion cone drive sub-assembly operable to axially move an expansion cone of the setting tool through the liner to radially, plastically expand the liner. With the wellbore liner residing outside of a wellbore, the setting tool is changed to enable decoupling the wellbore liner from the setting tool while leaving at least the expansion cone drive sub-assembly substantially assembled. |
| US08261836B2 |
Downhole deployment valves
Methods and apparatus enable reliable and improved isolation between two portions of a bore extending through a casing string disposed in a borehole. A downhole deployment valve (DDV) may provide the isolation utilizing a valve member such as a flapper that is disposed in a housing of the DDV and is designed to close against a seat within the housing. The DDV includes an operating mechanism for opening/closing the DDV. In use, pressure in one portion of a well that is in fluid communication with a well surface may be bled off and open at well surface while maintaining pressure in another portion of the casing string beyond the DDV. |
| US08261835B2 |
Dual acting rod piston control system
A downhole tool is hydraulically actuated through a control system that features rod piston(s) that are double acting. The piston bore is in a single housing component with an annular cavity that provides access to all piston bores to move the pistons in a first direction. The housing component that has the piston bore also includes an internal sleeve in a passage in the housing. A second control system connection communicates with a sealed annular space defined between the sleeve and the passage wall that holds the sleeve. A series of radial ports communicate from the annular space into each piston bore on the opposite side of each piston from the annular cavity so that each piston is double acting with a bore in a single housing component. |
| US08261833B2 |
Methods and compositions for consolidating particulate matter in a subterranean formation
Methods and compositions for consolidating particulate matter in a subterranean formation are provided. In one embodiment, a method of treating a subterranean formation includes coating a curable adhesive composition comprising a silane coupling agent and a polymer having a reactive silicon end group onto proppant material; suspending the coated proppant material in a carrier fluid to form a proppant slurry; introducing the proppant slurry into a subterranean formation; and allowing the curable adhesive composition to at least partially consolidate the proppant material in the subterranean formation. |
| US08261829B2 |
Well fishing method and system
A well fishing method and system is described. In at least one example of the invention, a method of retrieval of material (e.g., a tubing string) having broken control or monitoring lines from a cased well is provided. The method comprises: isolating, from the well casing, broken lines above the material to be retrieved, thereby creating a substantially axial work passage; grasping the material to be removed through the substantially axial work passage; and pulling the material to be retrieved and the restrained lines from the well. Example shrouds, probes and other members are also described. |
| US08261826B2 |
Wellbore pressure control with segregated fluid columns
A method of controlling pressure in a wellbore can include placing a barrier substance in the wellbore while a fluid is present in the wellbore, and flowing another fluid into the wellbore while the first fluid and the barrier substance are in the wellbore. The first and second fluids may have different densities. Another method can include circulating a fluid through a tubular string and an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore, then partially withdrawing the tubular string from the wellbore, then placing a barrier substance in the wellbore, then partially withdrawing the tubular string from the wellbore and then flowing another fluid into the wellbore. A well system can include at least two fluids in a wellbore, the fluids having different densities, and a barrier substance separating the fluids. |
| US08261825B2 |
Methods for improving the productivity of oil producing wells
Methods for treating clastic formations bearing brine and at least one of black oil or volatile oil using a composition containing a nonionic polymer and solvent. The solvent at least one of solubilizes or displaces at least one of brine or oil in the clastic formation. Methods for treating a formation having at least one fracture using a composition containing a nonionic polymer and solvent. Methods for making a composition for treating a clastic formation bearing brine and at least one of black oil or volatile oil. |
| US08261822B2 |
Flow regulator assembly
A system for and method of supplying an injection fluid to a well assembly so that the injection fluid flows at a substantially constant flow rate. The fluid can be injected at a single site in the well assembly or multiple sites. A flow control regulator is included that attaches to the well assembly and provides a self adjusting flow control for the fluid being injected. The regulator includes a slidable floating sleeve having an orifice through which the fluid flows. The sleeve includes an inlet port that can register with a fluid supply port to allow the injection fluid to make its way into the sleeve. The fluid exits the sleeve through the orifice to generate a pressure differential across the orifice that in turn exerts a sliding force onto the sleeve. Moving the sleeve misaligns the inlet port and fluid supply port thereby throttling flow through the regulator to a predetermined flow rate. |
| US08261820B2 |
Drilling and opening reservoirs using an oriented fissure
A system and method for increasing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface reservoir and/or sequestering waste material such as carbon dioxide by utilizing a connection between two well bores and a flexible linear cutting device, such as a segmented diamond wire saw, to form a fissure beginning at the connection of the well bores and extending along a specified the length of the well bores. Methods and systems relate to hydrocarbon production and/or waste sequestration, including for extracting or recovering oil or gas from coal beds or tar sands. |
| US08261819B1 |
Systems and methods for measuring a fluid level within a well
A method of determining a fluid level in a well space without substantial venting of gas to the atmosphere or injecting a gas at high pressure. Gas being produced by the well is used to create a pressure differential between two spaces. A wave is induced in the well space by causing the two spaces to come into gaseous communication for a selected time internal. Pressure changes are measured as the induced wave travels through the gas in the well space from the measurement system to a fluid surface and back to the measurement system to determine a round trip travel time of the wave. The fluid level is calculated from the round-trip travel time and a speed of the wave as one-half of the product of the wave speed and the round-trip time. |
| US08261817B2 |
Modular hydraulic operator for a subterranean tool
A modular pressure operated actuator can be coupled with a downhole tool to selectively operate it at least once. In the preferred embodiment the module can be mounted adjacent an isolation valve and after a fixed number of on and off pressure cycles allow a spring to push an actuator to operate the valve to an open position. The actuator, in another embodiment, can be reset with a tool run into the module to move the actuator back against a power spring and hold that spring force until the pressure cycling begins again. The preferred application is for a formation isolation ball valve but other valves, such as sliding sleeves, or other types of downhole tools can be actuated with the module that permits a retrofit of a hydraulic operation to a heretofore purely mechanically actuated tool. |
| US08261812B2 |
Method for equalization of the heat transfer of a cast product during the solidification thereof on a metal conveyor belt of a horizontal strip casting installation
A method of casting near-net-shape, rectangular metal strands includes providing a horizontally circulating metal conveyor belt (7) with a cooled bottom and a melt feeder (3′) for casting the metal melt onto the conveyor belt (7), smooth/pinch rollers (14) for feeding the solidified pre-strip under mechanical tension to a driver (16), a pressure device (11, 12, 13) arranged above the cast product (4) in a region of the deflection roller (8) of the metal conveyor belt (7) which is located downstream in a casting direction, for applying an adjustable pressure from above to the cast product (4) solidifying into the pre-strip (5). Immediately behind the metal conveyor belt (7) and upstream of the pinch rollers, a cooling device (17, 19, 19′) is provided for cooling the bottom of the pre-strip (5) after the pre-strip leaves the conveyor belt. |
| US08261803B2 |
Plate press
A plate press (1), in particular a one-level or multilevel cycle press, including at least one heating plate (2), at least one press plate (5) and at least one press cushion, disposed between the press plate (5) and the heating plate (2), which press cushion comprises a cushion layer (4) which is liquid at least at the operating temperature of the plate press (1), which cushion layer is defined on one side by a fluid tight membrane (3), wherein the press plate is disposed on a side facing the press blank and the membrane (3) includes a flexible polymeric material. The membrane (3) is connected to the press plate (5). |
| US08261802B2 |
Device for mounting elastic member in absorptive article
A device for installing an elastic member including a conveying line for continuously conveying sheets to be mounted, a feeding device for continuously feeding elastic members, and a guide for guiding the elastic members fed from the feeding device, to installation positions on the raw materials to be mounted on the conveying line. The guide has an upper section and a lower section detachably attached to the upper section. A guide path whose surrounding is closed is formed between the upper section and the lower section. The elastic members are guided to the installation positions through the guide path. |
| US08261797B2 |
Rubber composition for coating textile cord and tire using the same
The present invention provides a rubber composition for coating a textile cord, and a tire using the rubber composition, wherein rolling resistance is lowered, and processability and rubber strength are excellent, as compared with a rubber composition for coating a textile cord comprising raw materials derived from petroleum resources as a main component, and a tire using the rubber composition, while considering environments and providing for the future decrease in petroleum resources supply. The rubber composition for coating a textile cord comprises 25 to 80 parts by mass of silica and 1 to 15 parts by mass of a silane coupling agent on the basis of 100 parts by mass of a diene rubber, wherein a nitrogen adsorbing-specific surface area of said silica is 70 to 150 m2/g. |
| US08261794B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire that can maintain processability and tire performance such as rolling resistance or a wet performance, overcome the problem of non-conductivity by a tread rubber of silica formulation or the like, and sustain conductive performance of a tire over a long period of time is provided. The pneumatic tire includes a non-conductive tread, and a continuous conducting path comprising a conductive rim strip and a side wall, a cement rubber being applied to a ground region of the tread and a contact region between the tread and the side wall to form a continuous coating film, wherein the cement rubber includes a rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing from 50 to 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 250,000 to 450,000, and from 10 to 30 parts by weight of carbon black having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N2SA) of from 700 to 1,300 m2/g and a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption of from 300 to 550 cm3/100 g, the rubber composition being dissolved in an organic solvent. |
| US08261787B2 |
System for transferring a viscous liquid between containers
A system for transferring a viscous liquid between bottles that comprises a first bottle from which liquid is to be drained, a second bottle for receiving the liquid, a first bottle connector that attaches to the first bottle and a second bottle connector that attaches to the second bottle. Each bottle connector has a bottle engaging section that engages the bottle and a connection section that engages the connection section on an opposing bottle connector. Each connection section is genderless and comprises a plurality of outwardly extending members and a member receiving section between each adjacent members. When used to drain fluids from one bottle to another, an outwardly extending member of one connector is received in a member receiving section of the other connector to place the outwardly extending members in interlocking relation. The connection section can comprise a locking mechanism to lockingly join the two connectors together. |
| US08261786B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispensing powder samples
Method and apparatus for parallel dispensing of powder samples is described. Powder samples are dispensed into at least two powder sample holders, each said sample holder having a through passage which preferably generally tapers from a first aperture through which powder is introduced into said passage and a second aperture through which powder, when permitted to do so, flows from said passage. The lower apertures of the sample holders are preferably sealed using a resilient film. The powder samples are dispensed by substantially simultaneously perforating the film covering each aperture and agitating the powder samples to cause them to flow from their respective sample holders. Also disclosed are a method of generating a library of powder samples and a library of powder samples. |
| US08261781B2 |
Medical apparatus
A medical apparatus includes: a first vessel for supplying a first liquid; a second vessel for supplying a second liquid; a mixing vessel for mixing the first and second liquids; a connector including a first flow passage connected to the first vessel, a second flow passage connected to the second vessel, a third flow passage connected to the mixing vessel and joined to the first flow passage and the second flow passage, and a discharge port which communicates with the third flow passage; and a flow passage opening/closing device provided in the third flow passage at a joint part where the first flow passage and the second flow passage join the third flow passage or at a part on a discharge port side relative to the joint part and which is operative to open/close the third flow passage. |
| US08261776B2 |
Sound pressure level feedback control
Methods and systems are provided for predicting internal sound pressure within a flow passage, by measuring a vibration velocity response of a wall of the flow passage, for example, using accelerometers. A radiation model may then be used for predicting externally radiated sound pressure to provide feedback to control a process control system. Methods and systems are also provided for predicting externally radiated sound pressure based on internally-mounted pressure transducer sensor data. |
| US08261773B2 |
Multi-position micro-fluidic valve system with removable encoder assembly
A micro-fluidic valve actuator assembly is provided for controlling a multi-position micro-fluidic valve device for switching between a plurality of discrete fluid distribution positions. The actuator assembly includes a housing having an exterior wall and an interior wall defining an interior through-chamber. A drive assembly is rotatably positioned within the chamber, having a drive axis of rotation positioned substantially co-axial with the chamber axis. A removable, stand alone, self contained encoder assembly is positioned within the actuator housing. The encoder assembly includes an encoder shaft rotatably mounted to a support structure for rotation about an encoder shaft axis. The encoder assembly further includes an encoder wheel mounted to the encoder shaft for rotation about the encoder shaft axis, and an encoder module mounted to the support structure. The encoder module cooperates with the encoder wheel, as a preset unit, to determine the rotational position of the encoder shaft about the encoder shaft axis. When the encoder assembly is oriented in a mounting position, the encoder shaft can be rotatably coupled to the drive assembly, while the support structure is free of rigid coupling directly to the housing. |
| US08261771B2 |
Flowline flapper valve
A check valve assembly has a body having a central cavity intersected by upstream and downstream flow passages. A seat is secured by a threaded engagement in the upstream flow passage. An access bore intersects the cavity and has a support shoulder formed in it. A holder is supported on the support shoulder. A flapper is pivotally secured to the holder and located in the cavity for movement between an open position and a closed position blocking flow through the seat. A straight edge portion in the access bore engages a straight edge portion of the holder to prevent rotation of the holder. A fastener extends through a hole in the support shoulder into engagement with the seat to prevent rotation of the seat. |
| US08261761B2 |
Selectively movable seat arrangement and method
Disclosed herein is a selectively movable seat arrangement. The seat arrangement includes, one or more seat members movable between a passable position where a member is passable therethrough and an impassable position where the member is prevented from passing therethrough, and a counter in operable communication with the one or more seat members, the counter capable of allowing movement of the one or more seat members to the passable position to allow passage of a member a selected number of times and then to the impassable position thereby preventing passage of another such member for a period of time. |
| US08261760B2 |
Control device adapted for collapsible umbrella
A control device is applied to a base of an umbrella stem. A buckle sits in the base whose upper portion sets a controlling device controlled by the buckle and whose lower portion radially disposes a spool disk. The peripheral wall of the spool disk having ratchets defined thereon is embraced by a spool groove. Two ends of a spiral spring are respectively fixed to the base and the spool disk to generate an elastic force driving the spool disk's rotation. A shift block positioned under the base of the controlling device has a continuous torsion to contact the spool disk and clasp the ratchets. A disk cord provides one end fixed on the spool disk and wound around the spool groove and the other end penetrating the controlling device and the base to join an upper accommodation of the umbrella. |
| US08261759B2 |
Cleaning apparatus with fastening device
A cleaning apparatus, in particular a high-pressure cleaning apparatus, is provided, on which at least one fastening device for fastening the cleaning apparatus to a carrier is disposed. The at least one fastening device comprising at least one tensioning section on which a tensile force, which is directed at the carrier, acts when the cleaning apparatus is fastened to the carrier by means of a tensioning element. At least one retaining section is connected to the at least one tensioning section, for retaining the at least one fastening device on the cleaning apparatus. The at least one fastening device has at least one support section in order to be supported on the cleaning apparatus. The support section is connected to the at least one tensioning section by at least one connecting section, the at least one connecting section yielding if the tensile force exceeds a maximum permissible tensile force. |
| US08261755B2 |
Fuel injection system of compression ignition internal combustion engine
An object of the present invention is to control the discharge amount of unburned fuel components in the internal combustion engine. According the present invention, the number of times of execution of sub fuel injection is changed based on the operation range within which the operation state of the internal combustion engine falls so that the lower the engine load of the internal combustion engine is, and the lower the number of engine revolutions of the internal combustion engine is, the more the number of times of execution of sub fuel injection is increased. Furthermore, the lower the atmospheric pressure is, the lower the temperature of the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is, or the lower the temperature of the intake air of the internal combustion engine is, the more an operation range in which the number of times of execution of sub fuel injection is large is expanded to higher loads and higher revolutions. |
| US08261753B2 |
Wig with integral clinging foundation
A wig with integral clinging foundation for enhanced securement of the wig to the head of a wearer. A plurality of hair strands are attached to a foundation base element. One or more securement elements are connected to the periphery of the foundation base element. Each securement element is flexible and has an inner surface including unidirectional piled fiber adapted to cause frictional engagement between the securement element and a portion of either the skin or the natural hair of the head of the wearer. The frictional engagement occurs in a frictional direction which is generally toward the crown portion of the foundation base element. As a result, the wig can be easily slipped onto the head of a wearer, yet remain effectively secured thereto. Thus, the construction of the wig allows it to be worn securely, comfortably and universally for wearers with and without their own natural hair. |
| US08261752B2 |
Crank type automatic cigarette tube injector
A crank type cigarette tube injector, for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube, includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the housing, and a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than two cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and improved portability. |
| US08261751B2 |
Guiding system, position controlling apparatus, and guiding method
A guiding system includes a capsule-type apparatus and a position controlling apparatus. The capsule-type apparatus includes a permanent magnet, which is fixed to a capsule-shaped casing, and is introduced into a subject. The position controlling apparatus includes a relative position controlling mechanism that changes a relative position between a predetermined axis and the subject, and a magnetic field generating mechanism that forms, in a space in which the subject is laid, a magnetic field that includes at least one of a component of a trapping magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet to the predetermined axis and a component of a gradient magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet in a direction same as or opposite to a direction in which the relative position is changed. |
| US08261750B1 |
Method for treating patella subluxation
A method for treating patella subluxation includes positioning the patient for examination of an affected knee joint. It is then determined if there is subluxation of the patella, which may occur by palpation. If subluxation is found, an affected fibrous tissue adjacent to the patella is located. This may occur through implementing imaging technology, such as live imaging where a temporally changing image of the internal components of the knee may be viewed, static imaging where a temporally fixed image of the internal components of the knee is captured, or through palpation by a practiced medical professional. An effective amount of a neurotoxin is then introduced into the affected fibrous tissue, such as through injection. The method also may include an additional step of manipulating the patella into the patellofemoral groove, which may occur manually. Thereafter, various diagnostics and exercises are implemented to monitor and rehabilitate the affected area. |
| US08261749B2 |
Augmentation and repair of vocal cord tissue defects
A method for corrective surgery in a human subject of a vocal cord defect amenable to rectification by the augmentation of tissue subadjacent to the vocal cord defect, the method comprising: injecting an effective amount of autologous in vitro cultured fibroblast cells into the lamina propia, Reinke's space, the lateral tissue or the lateral edge of the vocal cord tissue of the subject in a position subadjacent to the vocal cord defect, wherein the in vitro fibroblast cultured cells are retrieved from the subject. |
| US08261747B2 |
Methods, devices and formulations for targeted endobronchial therapy
The present invention provides an improved means of treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the nosocomial patient, preferably with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim in reliably sufficient amounts for therapeutic effect. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The treatment means eliminates the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit. The treatment means also concentrates the therapeutic agent specifically at affected sites in the lung such that therapeutic levels of administrated drug are achieved without significant systemic exposure of the patient to the drug. The invention further provides a dose control device to govern this specialized regimen. |
| US08261745B2 |
Ventilation interface
A respiration assist mask having an input gas feed tube, a ventilation interface, a facial interface and nasal inserts. The gas feed tube can connect to the ventilation interface and form a seal. The ventilation interface may be joined with the facial interface to form a seal between the ventilation interface and the facial interface, as well as between the facial interface and the face of a user. Additionally, nasal inserts may be inserted into a portion of the facial interface and form a seal between the inserts and the facial interface. |
| US08261744B2 |
Oxygen breathing device with redundant signal transmission
The invention relates to an arrangement of a plurality of oxygen breathing devices, in particular for providing oxygen to passenger or crew of an aircraft, each oxygen breathing device comprising an oxygen source, wherein oxygen is stored, in particular in chemically bound form or compressed form, an oxygen guiding device for guiding oxygen from the oxygen source to a person. According to the invention, an arrangement of a plurality of oxygen breathing devices is provided, wherein a first one of said plurality of oxygen breathing devices further comprises an integrated transmitter comprising a sender adapted for wireless communication with a receiver of a second one of said oxygen breathing devices and a receiver adapted for wireless communication with a sender of said second oxygen breathing device, wherein said second oxygen breathing device is arranged in a distance from the first oxygen breathing device, wherein the sender and receiver of said integrated transmitter are adapted to receive and send at least a decompression signal signalising the need to activate oxygen supply from said oxygen source via said oxygen guiding device, and wherein preferably said transmitter is connected to said oxygen source to activate oxygen supply via said oxygen guiding device upon receipt of such decompression signal. |
| US08261742B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting desired pressure in positive airway pressure devices
Systems and methods for adjusting a desired pressure in a positive airway pressure (PAP) device are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) providing breathing gas under positive pressure to a patient via a PAP device based on current desired pressure, b) monitoring a characteristic of the breathing gas, patient, or PAP device indicative of respiration, c) creating a breathing cycle signal having a first level associated with inhalation and a second level associated with exhalation, the signal being based on the monitored respiration characteristic, d) performing an abnormal breathing check based on the monitored respiration characteristic and the breathing cycle signal, and e) if abnormal breathing is detected, increasing the current desired pressure until a maximum desired pressure is reached, otherwise, decreasing the current desired pressure until a minimum desired pressure is reached. Several embodiments of an apparatus associated with the method are also provided. |
| US08261734B2 |
Heat generating body, heat insulating method using the same and packaging material for die molding heat generation
A heat generating body including a a moldable heat generating composition containing surplus water as a connecting substance interposed and heat sealed between packaging materials, which is characterized in that the packaging materials are each constituted of a substrate and a covering material; that the substrate is substantially planar and does not have an accommodating pocket; that the packaging materials each has a bending resistance of not more than 100 mm; that the packaging materials are each a non-elastic body at least at a temperature between 25° C. and 60° C., has a breaking strength of 500 g/mm2 or more at 25° C. and has a breaking elongation of 30% or more at 90° C. The heat generating body is suitable for relaxation of symptoms of menstrual pain. |
| US08261731B2 |
Cooking device and associated methods
A cooking device comprises a center assembly including a rear panel and a pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to the rear panel. The center assembly may be movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The cooking device also includes a front panel, a top panel and a diffuser plate carried by the center assembly when the center assembly is in the expanded position, and a cooking surface carried by the center assembly when the center assembly is in the expanded position. The center assembly, front panel, top panel, diffuser plate and cooking surface collapsed so that the center assembly, front panel, top panel, diffuser plate and cooking surface may be transported in a substantially flat configuration. |
| US08261730B2 |
In-situ wafer processing system and method
An integrated wafer processing system and a method thereof is disclosed. In one embodiment, a wafer stack of sliced wafers includes a base, and a plurality of sliced wafers extending outwardly from the base, where the plurality of sliced wafers are obtained by slicing a portion of a work piece, where the base is an uncut portion which is the remaining portion of the work piece or a plate attached by welding to the plurality of sliced wafers and where the work piece is mono-crystalline or multi-crystalline silicon. Further, the wafer stack of sliced wafers are treated in-situ in cleaning and wet chemical tanks for processes such as damage etching, texturization and oxide etching and also treated in-situ in high temperature furnaces for processes such as diffusion and anti-reflection coating. |
| US08261729B2 |
Shuttlecock launching apparatus
A shuttlecock launching apparatus which comprises a storage for shuttlecocks, first and second launching wheels, a transfer assembly for transferring a single shuttlecock from the storage to the launching wheels, the transfer assembly being controlled by a cam wheel and cam follower which causes and guides the horizontal movement of the transfer assembly. |
| US08261723B2 |
Fuel return block
A fuel return block has a body with a coaxial inlet and outlet generally perpendicular to the body, a return port communicating with an inlet, and a vent generally parallel to the inlet and the outlet while communicating with the return port. The inlet and the outlet have external threading for connection to a fuel tank and to a fuel line. A common space between the inlet, the outlet, the return port, and the vent has a particular geometry conducive to ventilation of the fuel return block but not allowing escape of fuel through the vent. The inlet secures to a manufacturer's fitting upon the fuel tank so no second opening is required. The fuel return block equalizes pressures of the inlet, the outlet, and the return port preventing tank damage and interruptions to fuel delivery from negative pressure. |
| US08261719B2 |
Fuel pump, in particular for a fuel system of a piston engine
A fuel pump according to the invention includes a housing and a part, which is a moving part during operation and which bears on a housing region at least indirectly. It is proposed that the fuel pump includes a coating which is applied to the housing region on a side of the housing region which faces towards the moving part, and that the coating is composed of a plastic. |
| US08261718B2 |
High pressure pump and method of reducing fluid mixing within same
Mixing a pumped fluid with a lubrication fluid within a pump can undermine the lubricity of the lubrication fluid. In order to reduce mixing of fluids within a pump of the present disclosure, a pump is provided that comprises a housing, a piston, a first annulus, and a second annulus. The housing includes an inlet for the pumped fluid, an inlet for the lubrication fluid provided at a first pressure, and a piston bore fluidly coupled to the inlet for the pumped fluid. The piston is moveable within the piston bore. The first annulus is fluidly coupled to the inlet for the lubrication fluid. The second annulus is configured to be fluidly coupled to a drain circuit provided at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The first annulus and the second annulus are located along the length of the piston bore. |
| US08261713B2 |
Cranking device of an internal combustion engine
A cranking device of an internal combustion engine includes an electric machine having a drive unit, which electric machine is in mechanical operative connection with a commutator by way of an armature shaft. A protective element is disposed in the region of the drive unit, particularly the stator and/or armature, in such a way that a separating effect is provided with respect to an operating region of the commutator. |
| US08261712B2 |
Automatic choke system
In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an automatic choke system for use in an engine having a muffler and a choking mechanism that are located remotely apart from one another. The system includes a thermally responsive device, at least one component that serves to connect, at least in part, the device to the choking mechanism, and a further mechanism for conveying heat from the muffler to the device. Additionally, the system in at least one embodiment includes at least one of: (a) a pipe for conveying a fluid from a first location proximate the muffler to a second location proximate the device, the pipe being comprised within the further mechanism; and (b) a rotatable axle that spans a majority of a distance between the first location and a third location that is proximate the choking mechanism, the axle being comprised within the at least one component. |
| US08261711B2 |
Ignition device of internal combustion engine and electrode structure of the ignition device
An ignition device having an electrode structure including an anode, a cathode, an auxiliary electrode, an anode coating, an auxiliary electrode coating, and an anode supporting body. A coated surface of the anode is opposed to a coated surface of the auxiliary electrode with the anode coating, a combustion space, and the auxiliary electrode coating therebetween. An exposed surface of the anode is opposed to an exposed surface of the cathode with the combustion space therebetween. A distance D1 from the coated surface of the anode to the coated surface of the auxiliary electrode via the anode coating, the combustion space, and the auxiliary electrode coating is shorter than a distance D2 from the exposed surface of the anode to the exposed surface of the cathode via the combustion space (D1 |
| US08261705B2 |
Camshaft and phaser assembly
An assembly is provided comprising an SCP camshaft (130) having an inner shaft (140) and an outer tube (124) and a hydraulically operated twin vane phaser (110) having two output members (114, 116) coupled respectively for rotation with the inner shaft (140) and the outer tube (124) of the SCP camshaft (130). Each of the output members (114, 116) of the twin phaser is axially clamped to a respective one of the inner shaft (140) and the outer tube (124) of the SCP camshaft (130). A support bearing (150) for the twin vane phaser (110), having passageways (142) for supplying pressure medium to working chambers of the twin vane phaser (110), is formed separately from the SCP camshaft (130). |
| US08261702B2 |
Internal combustion engine with direct cooling of cylinder components
A multicylinder internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a gasket mounted between the cylinder block and cylinder head. A coolant passage extends through the cylinder block and laterally along an uppermost portion of a shared cylinder wall extending between adjacent engine cylinders. The laterally extending cooling passage is defined at least in part by a passage formed in the cylinder head gasket. |
| US08261701B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine has a cylinder (2) and a crankcase (4). A combustion chamber (3) is formed in the cylinder (2) and is delimited by a piston (5). The piston (5) rotationally drives a crankshaft (7) in a rotational direction (21) via a connecting rod (6). The crankshaft (7) is arranged in a crankcase interior space (17). A mixture inlet (9) is provided in the crankcase interior space (17). In the crankcase interior space (17), at least one flow conducting element (23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73) is provided which is spatially fixed and this flow conducting element projects into the crankcase interior space (17) and lies opposite to the rotational direction (21) of the crankshaft (7). |
| US08261698B1 |
Animal/pet carrier system
An animal pet carrier system comprising a bag having a door for the pet to access the bag, wherein at least a portion of the door comprises a mesh, and wherein the door can be temporarily dosed to secure the pet in the bag; a speaker system secured to an interior side of the bag, an audio connector wire having a first connector end and a second connector end, the first connector end operably connects to the speaker system; a pocket disposed on the bag, wherein the pocket is for storing a digital audio player, and wherein the second connector end operably connects to the digital audio player. |
| US08261692B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and reaction container
A substrate processing apparatus comprises a reaction chamber which is to accommodate stacked substrates, a gas introducing portion, and a buffer chamber, wherein the gas introducing portion is provided along a stacking direction of the substrates, and introduces substrate processing gas into the buffer chamber, the buffer chamber includes a plurality of gas-supply openings provided along the stacking direction of the substrates, and the processing gas introduced from the gas introducing portion is supplied from the gas-supply openings to the reaction chamber. |
| US08261688B2 |
Torch for thermal spraying of surface coatings, and coatings obtained thereby
A torch (1) for thermal spraying of surface coatings, of the type that comprises a head (3) and a bracket (2) for the head (3), in which the head (3) pivots relative to the bracket (2). The invention also relates to the coatings obtained using the torch, whether of polymer, metal or ceramic materials, on any substrate coated thereby, whether of polymer, metal or ceramic or composite materials. The invention is applicable to different types of thermal spray torches, using plasma spray, combustion spray, High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF), or Low Velocity processes. |
| US08261687B2 |
Catalyst-spreading device that uniformly spreads catalyst on a substrate in a device for producing carbon nanotubes
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is provided a catalyst-spreading device comprising: a mesh boat which stores catalyst to be spread on a substrate and includes a bottom having a mesh net, a transportation unit which transports the mesh boat or the substrate, and a vibration unit which vibrates the mesh boat to spread the catalyst on the substrate. |
| US08261686B2 |
Flood illuminated cluster with telltales
An illuminated gauge assembly includes a top surface of a light housing that includes a scale and a light guide that extends through the light housing for distributing light onto the surface of the top surface. A single light source is disposed below the light housing and directs through the light guide onto the top surface of the light housing. |
| US08261684B2 |
Shock absorbing cockpits
A watercraft cockpit includes a floor, sidewalls and forward and rearward bulkheads. A frame assembly having four corners supports the cockpit and includes an upper frame and a lower frame that are rotatably connected to one another. A pair of shock-absorbing members is provided at each of the four corners of the frame so that the entire cockpit is isolated from shocks. By cushioning the entire cockpit as a whole, the need for individual shock-absorbing seats is obviated. The walls of the cockpit are spaced apart from the sidewalls of the watercraft and are interconnected to the sidewall of the watercraft by a flexible member so that the sidewalls of the watercraft move up and down in response to shocks independently of the walls of the cockpit. Each shock-absorbing member preferably includes an airbag and a dashpot but other shock-absorbing members are within the scope of the invention. |
| US08261680B2 |
Decoration-making assist tool and method for making a decoration item
A decoration-making assist tool includes a first and a second plates. Each plate includes a straight base edge and a peripheral edge connected to the ends of the base edge. A connecting portion pivotally connects the two plates to each other so that they can be folded to overlap each other. The first plate includes recesses formed at the peripheral edge and N elongated holes. The second plate includes (N+1) elongated holes. The ends of these elongated holes are adjacent to the peripheral edges of the plates. When the two plates overlap each other, the recesses and the ends of the elongated holes of the first plate communicate with corresponding ends of the elongated holes of the second plate. |
| US08261678B2 |
Workpiece processing attachment and sewing machine
A workpiece processing attachment detachably attached to a sewing machine including a presser foot, a presser bar having the presser foot detachably attached to its lower end, a presser bar vertically moving mechanism, a sewing needle, a needle clamp having the sewing needle detachably attached thereto, a needle bar having the needle clamp attached thereto, and a needle bar vertically moving mechanism, the workpiece processing attachment, including a body detachably attached to the lower end of the presser bar; a connecting element capable of being connected to the needle clamp and movable up and down with the needle bar being moved up and down by the needle bar vertically moving mechanism; a needle penetrating the workpiece to form a hole in the workpiece; and a needle vertically moving mechanism moving the needle up and down by the up and down movement of the connecting element. |
| US08261675B2 |
Plastic pallet system
A plastic pallet system is provided for the support, storage, and transportation of articles. The plastic pallet system includes a plurality of top boards and a plurality of runner assemblies. Both the plurality of top boards and the plurality of runner assemblies may be formed of plastic. A method for manufacturing the plastic pallet system is also provided. |
| US08261673B2 |
Pallet with lead board
A pallet having an upper deck and a lower deck secured by supporting block members. The upper deck may include a plurality of board members and may be provided with at least one lead board operable to serve as an energy attenuator. The lead board may comprise a composite material and may be formed using pultrusion techniques. The lead board may be separated or spaced from an adjacent board member by a gap or scallop type area and may be operable to flex inwardly or otherwise upon impact to absorb energy. The gap or scallop type area may be suitable to operate in combination with the lead board as a handle mechanism for grabbing or lifting the pallet. The lead board may also be used to attach shipping straps. |
| US08261671B2 |
Bogie lateral movement-limiting system
A bogie lateral movement-limiting system capable of effectively restricting the lateral movement of a derailed bogie. The system comprises derailment prevention guards (62a, 62b) laid along the inside of paired left and right rails, and a lateral movement-limiting device (52) installed on the lower part of the bogie (30). The device (52) has a stopper (51) projecting downward at a position between the wheels of the bogie and slidingly contacts with the inner surfaces of the derailment prevention guards (62a, 62b) in case of a derailment of bogie. |
| US08261669B2 |
Conveyance device
The invention provides a conveyance device, suitable for traveling along a surface and conveying an explosive charge, the conveyance device including a propulsion member having two opposite ends, the propulsion member being displaceable between a longitudinally extended position wherein the ends are displaced away from one another; and a longitudinally contracted position wherein the ends are displaced toward one another; an outer gripping member and an inner gripping member, each gripping member being displaceable between a circumferentially expanded position wherein an outer perimeter of the gripping member is displaced away from a center of the member so as to, in use, abut at least part of the surface; and a circumferentially contracted position wherein an outer perimeter of the gripping member is displaced towards the center of the member so as to be spaced apart from the surface; the propulsion member and the gripping members being configured in order for sequential displacement of the propulsion member and gripping members to result in peristaltic displacement of the conveyance device relative to the surface. |
| US08261664B2 |
Loading of explosives
A system (10) for loading a flowable explosive into blast holes includes a mobile explosives supply unit (12) having at least one explosives feed line for feeding a flowable explosive from the supply unit (12) into a blast hole, a global positioning system (GPS) unit (14) operable to determine the position of a blast hole, and a blast hole identification processor (16) in communication with the GPS unit (14) operable to receive from the GPS unit (14) a blast hole co-ordinate position. The processor (16) is configured or programmed uniquely to identify the blast hole based on the co-ordinate position of the blast hole. |
| US08261656B2 |
Apparatus for preparing a beverage from water-cooled sterilized water and an instant product
An apparatus for preparing a beverage from water and an instant product includes a water supply system for supplying water, a heating device for sterilizing water by heating it; and a cooling device for cooling water heated in the heating device. The cooling device uses water from the water supply system as cooling-water. The water that is sterilized in the heating device has preferably previously been used in the cooling device as cooling-water. The cooling device includes a counter flow heat exchanger. |
| US08261654B2 |
Axial piston machine having swivel cradle actuating pistons and displacement limiting devices
An axial piston machine is provided, which has a swivel cradle, the inclination of which can be modified in relation to a rotational axis of a cylinder drum. A regulation system acts on the swivel cradle, which has a first regulator for adjusting the inclination of the swivel cradle in a first displacement direction and a second regulator for adjusting the inclination in an opposite second displacement direction. The first and second regulators are located on opposite sides of the swivel cradle in relation to the rotational axis. The axial piston machine also has a device for limiting the displacement of the swivel cradle, which has a first adjustable limiting device and a second adjustable limiting device, which each act on the swivel cradle and are located on opposite sides of the swivel cradle in relation to the rotational axis. |
| US08261653B2 |
Firearm having a new gas operating system
M-16/AR-15 firearms modified with a new gas operating system are described. The modification of the firearm with the new gas operating system has a forward mounted gas and recoil spring system in which high pressure propellant gases from the cartridge expand in the barrel and operate the firearm. |
| US08261651B2 |
Air or fire rifle with noise dampener
A rifle has a barrel defining a bore therein. A noise damper is provided adjacent a distal end of the barrel and defines a distal extension of the bore of the barrel. The noise damper includes a housing that is over-molded or over-injected on the barrel, such that the barrel, the noise damper and its housing define an integral assembly. |
| US08261648B1 |
Braiding mechanism and methods of use
A device and method for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The braiding machine comprises a disc with a mandrel extending from the center in a perpendicular direction and a plurality of catch mechanisms arranged circumferentially around the edge of the disc. A plurality of filaments are temporarily affixed to the mandrel, each filament extending from the mandrel toward the edge of the disc and engaging the edge of the disc at a discrete point of engagement The plurality of catch mechanisms are attached to actuators adapted to move the catch mechanisms in a generally radial direction relative to the edge of the disc to allow the catch mechanism to engage a subset of the filaments and move the engaged filaments beyond the circumferential edge of the disc. |
| US08261647B2 |
Self locking adjustable blade guide for band saw
An adjustable blade guide for a band saw such as a band saw on a sawmill utilized for sawing lumber. The blade guide is easily adjusted to account for variations in the diameter of the lumber to be cut, and is self locking. |
| US08261638B2 |
Hand tool adapter
A hand tool adapter of the present invention includes a plastic main body and at least six metallic sockets. The main body is formed with at least six holes, and the sockets are fixedly received in the holes respectively. Each socket has a non-circular bore whose axial vector is different those of the bores of the other sockets. Further, each bore has a dimension different from those of the other bores. |
| US08261635B2 |
One-direction rachet wrench
The present invention relates a one-direction ratchet wrench, which has a driving head with a first cavity and a second cavity. There are walls located on the top and the bottom portions of the second cavity, and a pin hole is extended from the second cavity to the walls. A ratchet wheel is rotatably mounted in the first cavity, and there is a plurality of ratchet teeth in the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel and a receptacle formed in the middle to receive and drive workpieces. A pawl is located in the second cavity and one of its sides has a plurality of teeth engaged with the ratchet teeth. A pin is inserted in a pin hole for an elastic assembly to hitch on. The elastic assembly has a first elastic element and a second elastic element. One end of the second elastic element links to the pawl and the other end links to the first elastic element. The first elastic element hitches on the pin and one of its ends sticks against the inner wall of the second cavity. Thus, the present invention is able to effectively control workpieces being driven in one-direction. |
| US08261631B2 |
Rotary machine with separately controllable stations
A rotary machine may have multiple stations that have a linear motion operated by a cam and a rotational motion operated by individual motors mounted on each station. Each station may perform a motion profile that is proportional to the machine's central axis rotation or, in some cases, independent of the central axis rotation. In some embodiments, each station may rotate to orient a part prior to processing. In one embodiment, the cam driven linear motion may enable a station to lower for loading and unloading, then raise for processing. The rotary machine may have various mechanisms at each station for processing a part. One such embodiment is a rotary machine that may be outfitted with compound dispensing mechanisms at each station. |
| US08261628B2 |
Electromechanical driving device for use in a tailgate of a motor vehicle
An electromechanical driving device (1) for use in a tailgate of a motor vehicle, with an electric motor (2) for the rotary drive of a spur gear (4) which is accommodated in a gear housing (3) and is operatively connected to a gear arrangement (5) in order to drive an output shaft (19) for a window wiper mechanism, wherein the spur gear (4) is accommodated rotatably in the gear housing (3) by means of a co-rotating spur gear shaft (6), wherein a shaft section (7) of the spur gear shaft (6) extends out of the gear housing (3) on which means for actuating a closing mechanism (8) for closing the tailgate and/or a tailgate window are accommodated. An electromechanical driving device (1) for use in a tailgate of a motor vehicle is therefore provided, said driving device, which is used to selectively actuate a wiper mechanism or a closing mechanism, having a simple design and comprising a gear housing which is designed in accordance with a known construction for driving a wiper mechanism. |
| US08261625B2 |
Stepper actuator having a breaking mechanism
A stepper actuator including a brake drum and a central gear mechanically connected thereto. The brake drum and the central gear are selectively rotatable in opposing first and second rotational directions. First and second actuation members are moveable through first and second actuation cycles to incrementally rotate the central gear. The actuation members engage and subsequently disengage the central gear as they move through their actuation cycles. The actuation members are configured to rotate the central gear during engagement therewith. A braking assembly is operatively connected to the first and second actuation members and is frictionally engaged to the brake drum to prevent rotation of the brake drum when the first and second actuation members are each in a retracted position as occurs when neither is moving through a corresponding actuation cycle. The braking assembly disengages the brake drum when one of the actuation members is moved from its retracted position and into its actuation cycle as facilitates the incremental rotation of the central gear. |
| US08261624B2 |
External sensor adjustment system and method
In accordance with one embodiment, a system may include an external position adjuster configured to move a sensor within an agricultural tank without requiring access inside the agricultural tank. In another embodiment, a method may include magnetically coupling a sensor to a structure located inside an agricultural tank, wherein the sensor is adjustable to different positions inside of the agricultural tank in response to user input from outside of the agricultural tank. |
| US08261620B2 |
Method and apparatus for the non-destructive measurement of the compressive strength of a solid
An apparatus and a method are described that determine the compressive strength of a solid by rebound. The method and apparatus have a reduced sensitivity to error sources, i.e. gravity, internal friction and operator interference (unsteady holding of the instrument). The improvements are achieved by contactless measuring of the quotient of rebound to inbound velocity recorded immediately before and after the impact. Matching the mass of the mallet (3) to the plunger (5) yields higher efficiency, less angular variation of the impact energy and lighter weight. Added benefits of the invention are: Extended range of measurement and simplified mechanical adjustments, calibration and maintenance. |
| US08261618B2 |
Device for measuring properties of working fluids
There are provided embodiments of a sensing device that comprise a sensing element, a substrate, and a bonding element, each being selected for environments that utilize caustic working fluids such as automotive fuel. Material for use as the bonding element can form molecular bonds with ceramics and glass. In one embodiment, the sensing device comprises a receptacle or cavity, in which are located the sensing element and the bonding element. This configuration facilitates the formation of bonds between the bonding element and each of the sensing element and a peripheral wall of the cavity. Such bonds are configured in a tensile bonding area and a shear bonding area, the combination of which is useful to secure the sensing element in the cavity. The sensing device can further comprise a seal such as an o-ring disposed in annular relation to the substrate to seal the sensing device to a peripheral device such as a fluid fitting, which may be found in a fuel system of an automobile. |
| US08261617B2 |
Micro piezoresistive pressure sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A micro semiconductor-type pressure sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The micro semi-conductor-type pressure sensor is implemented by etching a cavity-formation region of a substrate to form a plurality of trenches, oxidizing the plurality of trenches through a thermal oxidation process to form a cavity-formation oxide layer, forming a membrane-formation material layer on upper portions of the cavity-formation oxide layer and the substrate, forming a plurality of etching holes in the membrane-formation material layer, removing the cavity-formation oxide layer through the plurality of etching holes to form a cavity buried in the substrate, forming a membrane reinforcing layer on an upper portion of the membrane-formation material layer to form a membrane for closing the cavity, and forming sensitive films made of a piezoresisive material on an upper portion of the membrane. |
| US08261615B2 |
Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, including: at least one mechanically oscillatable membrane, which has a plurality of natural eigenmodes; and at least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and/or which receives mechanical oscillations from the membrane. The driving/receiving unit and the membrane are embodied and matched to one another in such a manner, that the membrane executes only mechanical oscillations, which correspond to modes, which lie above the fundamental mode of the membrane. |
| US08261607B2 |
System and method for sensing pressure using an inductive element
Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value. |
| US08261606B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting decrease in tire air pressure and program for detecting decrease in tire air pressure
An apparatus includes a rotating wheel speed ratio calculation means for calculating, based on rotation velocity information, a rotating wheel speed ratio between front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle; a wheel torque calculation means for calculating a wheel torque of the vehicle; an initialization means for obtaining a relation at a normal internal pressure between the wheel torque and the rotating wheel speed ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels; a storage means for storing the relation obtained; a comparison means for comparing the rotating wheel speed ratio obtained by the rotating wheel speed ratio calculation means with the rotating wheel speed ratio at a normal internal pressure obtained from the wheel torque obtained by the wheel torque calculation means and the relation; and a judgment means for judging whether a tire air pressure is decreased or not based on a comparison result. |
| US08261605B2 |
Method and device for controlling a fuel metering system
A method and a device for controlling a fuel metering system are described. The fuel metering system includes at least one injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. An electric current value is applied to the at least one injector, and a rail pressure value is determined based on the electric current value. |
| US08261602B2 |
Three-dimensional nanoscale metrology using FIRAT probe
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is a force sensor for a probe based instrument. The force sensor can comprise a detection surface and a flexible mechanical structure disposed a first distance above the detection surface so as to form a gap between the flexible mechanical structure and the detection surface, wherein the flexible mechanical structure is configured to deflect upon exposure to an external force, thereby changing the first distance over a selected portion of the gap, the change in distance at the selected portion orienting a probe tip of the force sensor for multi-directional measurement. |
| US08261598B2 |
Apparatus for performing a reaction in a droplet and method of using the same
An apparatus for processing a biological and/or chemical sample in a liquid droplet (1) is provided. The apparatus includes a processing compartment (20), a base (21) and at least one circumferential wall (25). The processing compartment (20) is defined by at least a part of the base (21), at least a part of the circumferential wall (25) and an inlet member (4). The inlet member (4) is located on top of the processing compartment (20), and includes at least one droplet inlet channel (3), which extends through the inlet member (4) and includes a contraction (2) between the inlet opening (28) of the droplet inlet channel (3) to the environment and the outlet opening (27) to the processing compartment (20). There is furthermore provided a method of processing a biological and/or chemical sample in a liquid droplet (1). The method includes disposing a medium into the processing compartment (20) of the apparatus of the invention that is immiscible with the liquid droplet (1), so that the contraction (2) is immersed in the medium. The droplet (1) is disposed into the droplet inlet channel (3) such that it is located below the contraction (2) of the droplet inlet channel (3). A process is performed on the biological and/or chemical sample in the droplet (1). |
| US08261597B2 |
Method and device for determining the quality of milk produced by machine milking
A method for determining the quality of milk wherein a sample is examined and the type of at least one detected object is determined on the basis of at least one object recognition rule. |
| US08261596B2 |
Seal assembly with leak monitoring
A seal assembly is provided for a joint between a first pipe segment and a second pipe segment. The seal assembly has at least one primary sealing member mounted on the first flange and at least one supplemental sealing member mounted on the first flange between the first pipe segment and the at least one primary sealing member. A first sealed containment area is formed between the at least one primary and at least one supplemental sealing members when the sealing members are compressed. A plurality of conduits are formed in the first flange. A first supply conduit is located between the at least one primary sealing member and the at least one supplemental sealing member and a return conduit is located so that the at least one primary sealing member is positioned between the supply conduit and the return conduit. |
| US08261595B2 |
Method and system for fluid valve leak detection
A method detection of leakage through at least one first valve includes admitting an amount of fluid into a first control volume in operable communication with the at least one first valve, thereby pressurizing the first control volume. The first control volume is isolated and a rate of change of pressure in a second control volume in operable communication with the at least one first valve is measured. A system for detecting leakage across at least one first valve includes a first control volume receptive of an amount of fluid and a second control volume in flow communication with the first control volume. At least one first valve is located between the first control volume and the second control volume, and a rate of change in pressure in the second control volume indicates a rate of leakage through the at least one first valve. |
| US08261594B2 |
Leak detection system
A leak detection system has: a test chamber connected to a vacuum pump; a filling device for filling a test piece with helium gas; a transfer device for transferring the test piece between a ready-for-detection position in which the test piece is ready to be carried into the test chamber and a filling-operation position in which the operation of filling helium gas by the filling device is performed; a carrying device for carrying the test piece from the ready-for-detection position to a detection position inside the test chamber; a sealing device for hermetically sealing the test chamber in a state in which the helium-gas-filled test piece is in the detection position; and a leak detector for detecting helium to be leaked out of the test piece when, after having sealed the test chamber by the sealing device, the test chamber is evacuated by the vacuum pump to a predetermined pressure. |
| US08261592B2 |
Method of providing a solenoid housing
The invention relates to a method of providing a solenoid housing, including the steps of providing a solid cylinder of malleable material having a first part and a second part; reducing a diameter of the first part of the cylinder to be less than a diameter of the second part of the cylinder; compressing the second part in an axial direction toward the first part, resulting in a flattened disc generally perpendicular to the first part; raising at least a part of a perimeter of the flattened disc in a direction toward the first part for defining a raised wall; and wherein the first part, second part, and raised perimeter are all integrally connected as a single piece. |
| US08261590B2 |
Roll position setting method of Sendzimir mill
A roll position setting method for a Sendzimir mill that can easily adapt to combinations of roll sets and enables each roll to be set in a position optimal for operation. Each eccentric angle of first and second backing bearings is set by adjusting a bottom screw device so that an upper surface of the bottom work roll reaches a pass line of the rolled material based on first function. For top side roll setting, the eccentric angle of fourth backing bearings is set by adjusting top side screw devices so that a second function, different from the first function, is optimized. |
| US08261589B2 |
Method and device for coiling thin metal strip, especially hot rolled or cold-rolled thin steel strip
A method for coiling thin metal strip, especially hot-rolled or cold-rolled thin steel strip, on a coiler mandrel, which is adjusted in diameter, in which, at the beginning, the inner windings of the coil are coiled on the adjusted coiler mandrel diameter, and, after the final winding of the coil, the coiler mandrel is pulled out, or the coil is taken off, wherein one or more profile grooves are pressed into one inner winding or into several adjacent inner windings on the circumference during rotation of the coil. |
| US08261586B2 |
Lock assembly including a rotary blocking device and tamper resistant mechanism
A lock including a housing having an opening for a locking bolt, a locking bolt movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, an actuator positioned within the housing, and a rotary blocking device that prevents the locking bolt from moving to the unlocked position is disclosed. The lock may optionally include a tamper resistant mechanism that is designed such that attempting to forcibly move the locking bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position while the actuator remains in the locked condition causes the locking bolt to engage the tamper resistant mechanism. |
| US08261578B2 |
Hydrogen loading of near net shape optics
A method of making a fused silica article that is loaded with hydrogen. A fused silica glass near net shape part is provided and is loaded with a molecular hydrogen in a range from about 0.1×1017 molecules/cm3 up to about 1×1019 molecules/cm3. The thinner shape of the near net shape part enables the shape to be loaded more quickly than previous methods. A fused silica article loaded with hydrogen using the method is also described. |
| US08261575B1 |
Self cooling motor system
A self cooling motor system includes an internally cooled motor assembly operationally interconnected to a heat transfer assembly. The internally cooled motor assembly includes a winding assembly having one or more winding, each winding constructed of an electrically conductive material and having a fluid passage extending lengthwise therethrough. A fluid heat transfer media flows through the winding(s) while the internally cooled motor assembly is in operation, and the fluid heat transfer media is structured to remove a predetermined amount of heat from the winding(s) of the motor assembly. The fluid heat transfer media is transferred to the heat transfer assembly, where heat is dissipated from the fluid heat transfer media, reducing its temperature to a preselected exit temperature, prior to reintroduction into the winding(s) of the internally cooled motor assembly. |
| US08261573B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator, in which a main body includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. A cold air generation chamber for the freezing chamber, a cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating chamber, and a machine room are provided on an uppermost part of the main body to allow for increased space in the refrigerating and freezing chambers. |
| US08261560B2 |
Methods of using hydrofluoroethers as heat transfer fluids
An apparatus is provided that includes a device and a mechanism for heat transfer. The mechanism includes a hydrofluoroether heat-transfer fluid wherein the heat transfer fluid is represented by the following structure: Y—Rf—CH2OCH2Rf—Y wherein Rf may be the same or different and is, independently, selected from the group consisting of perfluorinated alkylene groups which may be linear, cyclic, or branched having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, partially fluorinated alkylene groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and derivatives thereof wherein one or more carbon atoms are replaced by catenated nitrogen or oxygen heteroatoms, wherein each Rf contains at most one hydrogen atom, wherein Y represents H, F, or an RfCH2OCH2— group, and wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the molecule is at least 6. A method of transferring heat including the device and the provided heat-transfer fluid is also provided |
| US08261558B2 |
Self-adjusting insulation, including insulation particularly suited for pipe or duct
Embodiments disclosed herein include insulation used to insulate elongated members, such a pipe or duct, as examples. The insulation can address a number of features, including but not limited to expansion and compression of insulation material, expansion and compression of the elongated member insulated, and the ability to adapt the insulation for elongated member of different sizes and lengths. In one embodiment, the insulation is comprised of at least one plank comprised of a flexible polymeric foam configured to be wrapped around an elongated member. In order for the insulation to self-adjust to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the foam material, the plank is comprised of a plurality of flexible polymeric foam profiles. At least one flexible polymeric foam spacer may also be provided that self-adjusts to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the elongated member to prevent or reduce gaps in insulation. |
| US08261557B2 |
Heat transfer devices based on thermodynamic cycling of a photonic crystal with coupled resonant defect cavities
A heat transfer device exploits the properties of photonic crystal solids with resonant defect cavities to execute a thermodynamic cycle to accomplish the conversion between heat flow and useful energy. In a heat pump or refrigerator configuration, an actuator cyclically performs work on the photonic crystal to cycle the photonic crystal between a first state to permit the crystal to collect thermal energy from a cold region to heat the crystal and a second state to permit the photonic crystal to radiate electromagnetic energy to a hot region to cool the photonic crystal. A mechanism cycles the emission band of the photonic crystal for more efficient collection of heat energy and radiation of electromagnetic energy in the cycle. |
| US08261553B2 |
Drive train comprising an expander driven by fluid or steam
The invention is characterized in that the expander is integrated into the secondary side of the transmission by means of one or more of the following features: the expander has a housing which substantially completely surrounds the expander; the expander is equipped with a drive shaft which projects out of the housing and has a coupling element that is fixed to the drive shaft and that produces a drive connection. The housing of the expander is mounted on the secondary side on the exterior of a transmission housing that surrounds the transmission, or is mounted from the exterior and partially inserted into the transmission housing, in such a way that the coupling element of the drive shaft projects into the transmission housing, producing a direct or indirect drive connection to the transmission output; the transmission has a heat exchanger, which is used to cool transmission oil for lubricating the transmission and/or actuating clutches or brakes inside the transmission, the working medium of the expander being conducted through the heat exchanger in such a way that heat is dissipated from the working medium to partially or completely condense the latter or that heat in the heat exchanger is transferred to the working medium of the expander to heat the latter. |
| US08261550B2 |
Power unit for an automotive vehicle and vehicle including such a power unit
A power unit for an automotive vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine electrically connected to electrical power storage arrangement, and a turbocharger comprising a first turbine located in an exhaust line of the engine. This power unit further includes a second turbine, located in an exhaust line of the engine and drivingly connected to the electric machine, and a transmission set. A first input/output of the transmission set is connected to the second turbine and a second input/output of the transmission set is connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The transmission set has an adjustable speed reduction ratio between its first and second inputs/outputs. |
| US08261542B2 |
System, method, and device for locomotive exhaust gas recirculation cooling and catalyst heating
A method of heating an engine exhaust gas of an engine, including flowing a first exhaust gas at a first temperature within and along internal flow channels of a catalyst brick, and flowing a second exhaust gas at a second, different, temperature around an exterior of the catalyst brick. Heat may be transferred between the gases and the catalyst brick to achieve various operations. |
| US08261541B2 |
Exhaust system of outboard motor
An exhaust system of an outboard motor includes: an exhaust passage forward portion including exhaust passages for leading exhaust in the exhaust passage of an exhaust manifold; an exhaust passage reversed portion formed in parallel with the exhaust passage of the exhaust passage forward portion and including exhaust passages communicating with an exhaust passage in an engine holder; and an exhaust passage U-turn portion including an exhaust passage communicating with the exhaust passage of the exhaust passage forward portion and the exhaust passage of the exhaust passage reversed portion. A catalyst for purifying the exhaust is disposed at a junction between the exhaust passages. |
| US08261537B2 |
Mounting device for an injector in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
A mounting device for an injector in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine; the mounting device is provided with a tubular support body, which is made of a thermally conductive material, houses the injector therein, and is adapted to be coupled to a connection tube laterally extending outwards from an exhaust conduit of the exhaust system at a lower end thereof; an upper portion of the support body is thermally coupled to an upper portion of a nose of the injector so that a high thermal exchange occurs by conduction between the upper portion of the nose of the injector and the upper portion of the support body; and a lower portion of the support body is thermally insulated from a lower portion of the nose of the injector so that a reduced thermal exchange occurs by conduction between the upper portion of the nose of the injector and the upper portion of the support body. |
| US08261536B2 |
Method to detect fuel vaporizer coking
A method of supplying fuel vapor to an exhaust aftertreatment device of a motor vehicle is provided. The method includes evaporating fuel on a voltage-biased, resistive heating element, the element set in an enclosure configured to release fuel vapor to the exhaust-aftertreatment device, and indicating that the element is degraded if a current flowing through the element is less than a threshold current. In some embodiments, the threshold current is based on the ambient temperature and/or the amount of fuel in the enclosure. |
| US08261535B2 |
Enhanced post injection control system for diesel particulate filters
A post injection control system for regulating diesel particulate regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) with a diesel engine includes a mass airflow sensor that generates a mass airflow signal. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of exhaust and generates an exhaust temperature signal. And a control module commands post injection at a post injection value determined from the mass airflow signal and at a post injection rate determined from the exhaust temperature signal. |
| US08261533B2 |
Exhaust purification apparatus of internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine wherein exhaust gas from the cylinder groups (1, 2) is supplied to a common NOx storage catalyst (12). When the NOx storage catalyst (12) should release the SOx, the average air-fuel ratio of one cylinder group (1) is made rich and the average air-fuel ratio of the other cylinder group (2) is made lean. At this time, the air-fuel ratios of the cylinders (3) of one cylinder group (1) are made one target rich air-fuel ratio selected from two predetermined target rich air-fuel ratios, while the air-fuel ratios of the cylinders (3) of the other cylinder group (2) are made one target lean air-fuel ratio selected from two predetermined target lean air-fuel ratios. |
| US08261531B2 |
Hydrocarbon retaining system for flex-fuel combustion engine
Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described. |
| US08261530B2 |
Cambered aero-engine inlet
An inlet of a nacelle for channeling inlet airflow to a fan of a gas turbine engine includes a forward lip and an inner surface. The forward lip extends around a centerline axis of the engine and is adapted to accommodate a flow angle of incoming airflow. The inner surface extends from the forward lip along the centerline axis of the engine to adjacent the fan. The inner surface has a first profile above the centerline axis of the engine and a second profile below the centerline axis of the engine. The first profile and the second profile are adapted to define an inlet centerline axis that extends below the centerline axis of the engine at a face of the fan. |
| US08261528B2 |
System for heating an airstream by recirculating waste heat of a turbomachine
An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an application and process that incorporates a waste heat source to increase the temperature of the airstream entering an inlet section of a combustion turbine. An embodiment of the present invention may perform an anti-icing operation that reduces the need to operate the IBH system. |
| US08261524B1 |
Pickup tine bar linkage
An tine reel for a round baler pickup unit allows tine position to be altered dependant of rotational position of the tine reel and the lateral position of the tine on the pickup. A plurality of tine bars are mounted on the tine reel, with separate tine bars provided for the centrally located tines and the outboard located tines. A linkage connects the centrally located inboard tine bars to the outboard tine bars so that rotation of the outboard tine bars by a tine reel cam and cam follower mechanism is transferred to the inboard tine bar without the need for a second cam or second cam follower mechanism. The linkage configuration is adjusted to provide optimal tine extension position for both the centrally located and the outboard located tines. |
| US08261518B2 |
In-line deformation binding apparatus
A deformation binding apparatus for fabricating a package defining a content area therein such as a mailpiece. The deformation binding apparatus including axial and radial binding mechanisms for deformation binding sheet material along first and second bind lines, respectively. The axial and radial binding mechanisms are in-line such that the sheet material may be passed along a unidirectional path to form the mailpiece. Furthermore, the bind lines are orthogonal to enclose at least a portion of the mailpiece. The axial binding mechanism includes first and second rotating elements each having a substantially axial array of intermeshing teeth and a drive device for driving at least one of the rotating elements. The radial binding mechanism includes first and second rotating discs each having a plurality of teeth disposed about the circumference of each and a drive device for driving at least one of the rotating discs. |
| US08261515B2 |
Mailpiece container for stacking mixed mail and method for stacking mail therein
A system is provided for stacking mail having an escort assembly for handling each mailpiece. The system comprises a containment device, a transport mechanism and a detachment mechanism. The containment device includes a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein. The containment device, furthermore, has a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof. The transport mechanism includes first and second transport segment, the first transport segment conveying escort assemblies and respective mailpieces over an open end of the containment device and the second transport segment lowering the escort assemblies and respective mailpieces into the open end of the containment device. The transport mechanism furthermore aligns the edges of the mailpieces along one of the vertical walls of the containment device and positions the escort assembly through the slot of the containment device. The detachment mechanism is operative to release the mailpieces from the respective escort assembly and move the escort assemblies through the slot of the containment device. |
| US08261514B2 |
Apparatus and method for loading drums into drum container
An apparatus and method for loading drums into a drum container, in which a function of gripping a lid of the drum container is added to a gripper used when a drum filled with radioactive waste is loaded into the drum container, thereby considerably reducing loading time of the drums, risk of dropping the drum, and preventing a radiation exposure risk. The apparatus includes a drum feeder transferring a drum, a drum container into which the drums transferred through the drum feeder are sequentially loaded, a support frame on which a lid of the drum container is placed when the drums are being loaded, and a crane having a gripper that selectively grips and transfers the drum or the drum container lid. The gripper includes radial gripper arms, an arm hydraulic unit reciprocating the gripper arms, jaws on inner sides of the gripper arms and gripping an outer surface of the drum, and latches for latching the drum container lid. |
| US08261511B1 |
Method and apparatus for making sloped concrete floors
A tool for changing a substantially level or unlevel floor to a sloped floor having a predetermined slope includes a float stick formed of a rigid, cuttable material so that it can be cut to length as required by the size of the floor. The float stick has a sloped top edge and a flat bottom edge. The sloped top edge slopes downwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of the float stick at a predetermined slope per linear unit. A spirit level is mounted to the float stick and is calibrated so that its bubble is centered when the flat bottom edge is level. At least one vertical bore is formed in the float stick and an adjustment peg is disposed within the bore. The adjustment peg is extended from the bore to level the flat bottom edge of the float stick on an uneven floor. |
| US08261510B2 |
Method of building elevated water storage tanks
The disclosed liquid storage tank has a concrete tower section. A steel tank shell above the tower section encompasses a tank volume that has a capacity of at least 100,000 U.S. gallons. A concrete ringbeam at the top of the tower section surrounds an internal area between the ringbeam and an access tube that extends from within the tank volume into an interior of the tower section. The ringbeam has an integral upper wall above a ring-shaped, upwardly-facing supporting face that is at least about 4″ inches wide and resists downward forces. A series of laterally adjacent concrete dome segments creates a dome that has a vaulted upper surface and essentially covers the internal area. Each of the dome segments has an outer end that sits on the supporting face of the ringbeam, and an inner end that is positioned above the outer end. Lateral sides on each segment define a segment angle, and the sum of the segment angles of the adjacent segments is less than 360 degrees. Fill sections extend between adjacent dome segments. A pourback creates a continuous surface from the top of the upper wall on the ringbeam to a raised portion of the dome segments. A steel liner covers the dome. The liner has a vaulted upper surface and is connected to the tank shell. In building the tank, precast dome segments can be temporarily supported, with the support being removed after all the segments are placed. |
| US08261506B2 |
Method of manufacturing a floor panel
Described is a simple and inexpensive method of manufacturing a floor panel (2) with which a floor panel (2) can be produced with a beveled or recessed edge (10a, 10b, 25, 26), a top surface layer (4) extending continuously and in one piece from a top side (3a) of a core (3) over the beveled edge (10a, 10b, 25, 26). A panel body (12) is first of all provided with a core (3, 13), a top side (3a, 13a) of the core (3, 13) being provided with a top surface layer (4). A recess (15) is then formed from a side surface (13b) into the panel body (12), the recess extending under the top surface layer (4) and leaving a freestanding ledge (16) which includes the top surface layer (4). The recess (15) is then closed by fixing the first and second recess surfaces (15a, 15b) to one another. |
| US08261505B2 |
Synthetic shingle or tile with stress relief nail zones
A relatively rigid roofing shingle or tile is provided, having relatively flexible stress relief nail zones, that may comprise variations in thickness relative to the remainder of the shingle or tile, or variations in materials, such as will allow for relative movement of the shingles or tiles due to temperature variations resulting in expansion or contraction, or due to other forces, such that the movement will be between the shingles or the tiles and the nails or other fasteners that are used to secure the shingles or tiles to a roof or other surface, and is preferably within the elastic limits of the fastening zones of the shingles or tiles. |
| US08261500B2 |
Wall panel system including a retractable floor anchor and method
A wall panel system including a retractable floor anchor for converting a wall panel assembly between a sliding configuration and a pivoting configuration. The wall panel system includes a sliding wall panel assembly and a pivoting wall panel assembly that may be configured to slide or pivot. A retractable floor anchor configured to be included in the pivoting wall panel assembly includes retractable spindle that is coupled to a base member by a linear actuator. The spindle is rotatably coupled to a door closer included in the retractable floor anchor. |
| US08261491B2 |
Concealed electrical door operator
A door assembly includes a first door skin, a second door skin spaced apart from the first door skin and a door operator disposed between the first door skin and the second door skin. An arm extends from the door operator. The door operator includes a motor moving the arm to move the door between a closed position and an open position and between the open position and the closed position. A current sensor generates a current signal corresponding to the current to the motor. A position sensor in communication with the door arm generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the door relative to the frame. A controller communicates with the sensor and the motor. The controller controls a motor current to the motor in response to the current signal and the position signal. |
| US08261490B2 |
Quickly slideable and incrementally adjustable barrier
A barrier for the inside of a home. The barrier includes two partitions that slide relative to each other to increase and decrease a distance between ends of the barrier. The partitions slide into and out of confronting relationships with each other. The partitions engage each other at upper and lower locations and further at a medial location where an elongate member of one partition is received in a tube engaged to the other partition. A threaded piece upon being turned brings pressure to bear upon an end of the tube such that the partitions can be incrementally expanded apart and thereby pressurized between two locations within the home so as to block off one portion of the home. The threaded piece is slideable along the elongate member. |
| US08261488B2 |
Plant container assembly and method
A transplantable plant container assembly is provided for containing a growing medium for a plant that significantly promotes air root pruning. The container assembly includes a container device that includes a sidewall support and a bottom support collectively defining an interior cavity. The sidewall support is comprised of a lattice framework defining a plurality of spaced apertures that extend from an interior wall to an exterior wall thereof. A relatively thin, moisture absorbent liner material is disposed adjacent to the lattice framework. The liner material is sufficiently penetrable to enable root penetration therethrough, by the plant, at the apertures. However, the liner material must also have sufficient structural integrity, when moist, to bound the growing medium and moisture across the spaced apertures of the lattice framework when contained in the interior cavity. |
| US08261486B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling liquid delivery and distribution to plants
This invention provides a system and methods for providing liquid to a plant or a seed that can germinate into a plant. The system includes: a liquid delivery device; an actuator; a vessel; and a vessel support; wherein the actuator is operable to cause the liquid delivery device to deliver the liquid to the plant or seed only when the vessel is brought into proximity with the vessel support. |
| US08261484B2 |
Detachable sinker with water soluble attachment
A detachable sinker automatically detaches from fishing line after immersion in water. The sinker includes weight attachable to the line by means of a rapidly disintegrating water soluble material. The disintegrating material may comprise a product that when dry withstands a casting load and when wet rapidly dissolves. The weight may be biodegradable or dissolvable. The sinker may include a wildlife attractant released by the disintegrating material or by the dissolvable weight, may be rated according to an approximate time or depth at which the weight or attractant will release from the line, may display readable indicia corresponding to a weight value, a release time, or a depth, and may include an attachment means coupling the disintegrating material to the line, such as an elongated clamp for compressing the fishing line and the disintegrating material, a mass of moldable adhesive, or a perforated attachment for threading the disintegrating material therethrough. The sinker may be an assembly including the detachable sinker and a fixed sinker. |
| US08261483B2 |
Cradle for a fishing rod and reel
A receptacle that is removably attached onto a support means and is functional for supporting a fishing rod and reel therein in an upright vertical position. More particularly, the invention pertains to a cradle that is of a shape and size to firmly support the fishing rod and reel without the need for any type of brackets, bolts, straps, clips or the like. More importantly, the cradle is easily supported in a manner that allows the fisherman to freely move about without any interference from the rod and reel and further the invention is completely hands-free in function. |
| US08261477B1 |
Label
The present invention relates generally to labeling, and particularly to retail shelf labels and methods of making the same. A sheet having a retail shelf label according to an embodiment includes a liner, a transparent face layer, and a cover layer having graphics printed thereon. Adhesive couples the face layer atop the liner, and adhesive couples the cover layer atop the face layer. Cut lines in the face and cover layers define a perimeter of the label, and a cut line in the cover layer separates the cover layer into two distinct portions respectively separable from the face layer. At least a portion of the adhesive coupled to the face layer inside the label perimeter releases from the liner to removably couple the label to a shelf edge. |
| US08261475B1 |
Figurative print on a plane print carrier and use of such figurative print
The invention relates to a figurative print for a plane print carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the figurative print comprises a primary, a secondary, and a tertiary figurative element. Each of the three elements shows an angular displacement of between 0° and 90° in relation to a perpendicular view of the figurative print on the plane print carrier so that the figurative print appears with a special effect, when the print is viewed from an oblique position relative to a perpendicular viewing. |
| US08261474B2 |
Packaged toilet lid appliques
Packaged decorative thin-film appliqués for the exterior surface of toilet seat lids have a backer panel with a back side and an opposing release side, the release side having a release layer opposite the back side, the decorative thin-film appliqué having an application side facing and in contact with the release layer of the backer card, and a decorative side opposite the application side, the decorative side bearing printed images or indicia, and an appliqué frame substantially surround the decorative thin-film plastic appliqué and in contact with the release layer of the backer panel, the appliqué frame bearing printed images or indicia different from the decorative thin-film appliqué, and a separation between the decorative thin-film appliqué and the appliqué frame at which the decorative thin-film appliqué is separable from the backer panel with the appliqué frame remaining on the backer panel. A pre-packaged appliqué for hygienic and decorative use on a toilet set lid is thus provided for retail sales. |
| US08261471B2 |
Continuously adjusting resultant force in an excavating assembly
In one aspect of the present invention, a method of excavation with pointed cutting elements, comprising the steps of providing a excavating assembly with at least one pointed cutting element, the pointed cutting element comprising a rounded apex that intersects a central axis, the pointed cutting element further has a characteristic of having its highest impact resistance to resultant forces aligned with the central axis; engaging the at least one pointed cutting element against a formation such that the formation applies a resultant force against the pointed cutting element; determining an angle of the resultant force; and modifying at least one excavating parameter to align the resultant force with the pointed cutting element's central axis. |
| US08261470B2 |
Modular footwear
The present invention relates to a modular footwear to provide a variety of footwear comprising: an outer enclosure, where the outer enclosure includes a base portion, a front portion, side portions and a rear portion, where the front portion includes an expansion joint and side portions include a first expansion joint and a second expansion joint; an inner enclosure, where the inner enclosure removably inserts within the outer enclosure through a first cavity; and a fastening mechanism, where said fastening mechanism secures the footwear to a foot of a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the fastening mechanism includes a plurality of eyelets along an edge of the side portions and laces, where said laces pass through the eyelets. The rear portion may include a peripheral portion, where said peripheral portion includes a first attachment mechanism for enabling a detachable engagement of the outer enclosure with the inner enclosure. |
| US08261468B2 |
Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
This invention relates generally to footwear with a shoe sole, including at least one insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic is removably inserted within the shoe upper, the sides of which hold it in position. The shoe sole includes a concavely rounded side or underneath portion, which may be formed in part by the insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic may extend the length of the shoe sole or may form only a part of the shoe sole and can incorporate cushioning or structural compartments or components. The insertable midsole orthotic permits replacement of midsole material which has degraded or has worn out in order to maintain optimal characteristics of the shoe sole and allows customization for the individual wearer to provide tailored cushioning or support characteristics for the purpose of orthopedic, podiatric, corrective, prescriptive, therapeutic and/or prosthetic purposes. |
| US08261466B2 |
Clothes dryer drive and blower system
An automatic clothes dryer having separately driven drum and blower. |
| US08261465B2 |
Equipment and method for producing and/or treating a fibrous web
Device and process for producing and treating a fibrous web. The device includes a moistening unit structured and arranged to simultaneously influence a cross machine moisture profile of the web and the curl of the web independently of each other. 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. |
| US08261464B2 |
Swivel mounting device
A device comprising a swivel mount and its method of use are described. The device can be used in pairs with a variety of different power tools useful for working on metal or wood. The purpose of the tool is to insure a precise linear alignment between the measuring device and the moving part of the power tool that removes material from the wood or metal. The swivel mount includes a mounting block, a ball shank, and a swivel body mounted on the ball of the shank. The swivel mount attaches to one portion of the measuring device that is linearly adjustable with respect to the material removing part of the power tool. A second swivel mount attaches to a portion of the power tool that maintains a fixed distance with respect to the moving part of the power tool. |
| US08261463B2 |
Layout positioning device
A device for positioning photographs and the like with respect to each other so that they may be moved as a group as they are repositioned over (or removed entirely from) a workpiece such as a scrapbooking page. In alternative embodiments, the device also serves as a platform for other scrapbooking tools (cutting blades, pens, etc.) that can be applied to one or more of the photographs. |
| US08261462B2 |
Picture hanging, positioning and leveling device
The present invention relates to a picture hanging, positioning and leveling device for use in marking one or more points on a wall or other vertical surface where fastener devices should be installed in order to precisely hang one or more pictures or other objects at their desired locations on the wall. The device includes an elongate frame component which, in one embodiment, may be a carpenter's level-like apparatus, one or more first extension components extending up from the elongate frame and one or more second extension components extending out from the first extension component in a plane parallel with the face of the elongate frame. Each second extension component in configured to include at one end both a hook element for insertion into hanging elements on the back of the objects to be hung and a marking element for marking a point on the wall for the subsequent installation of a fastener device. |
| US08261455B2 |
Reciprocating tool
An arcuate action tool attachment is adapted to receive an input and to convert that input into reciprocating output motion along an arcuate path. The tool may be adapted to be combined with an existing linear reciprocating device or a rotary device, or the tool may comprise a single unit including a linear reciprocating device or a rotary device. The tool may be fitted with one or more curved or arc-shaped accessories, such as saw blades or the like, that reciprocate along the arcuate paths that may have substantially the same radius of curvature as the accessory. |
| US08261453B2 |
Plastic pipe cutting tool
The present invention relates to a plastic pipe cutting tool comprising a housing body with handle, a blade holder mounted on the housing body and a rotatable blade associated with the blade holder to form a cutting opening, is characterized in that said housing body is provided with a motor which is drivable connected with said blade, and is further provided with a power supply which is electrically connected with the motor by switch to form a loop circuit. The plastic pipe cutting tool according to the present invention is driven by electric and can decrease labor intensity, and is light and easy-carried. |
| US08261451B2 |
Razor having separate blade groups for shaving and trimming/sculpting
A razor system is provided for shaving facial and body hair, the razor system having a handle and a razor cartridge. The razor cartridge has a primary group of blades and a second group of blades, such that the primary group of blades makes a first common plane and the second group of blades makes a second working plane. The first common plane and the second working plane are directionally-opposed. The present invention further relates to a method of shaving with the razor system. |
| US08261450B1 |
Razor and auxiliary handle
A handle and stand apparatus for holding a razor in an upright configuration includes a housing defining an interior area and an open top and bottom. A plurality of gripping members extends upwardly in the interior area and each includes a distal end adjacent the open top. A clamping member is situated in the open top of the housing defining a bore configured to receive the handle of the razor into the interior area. The clamping member is rotatable between a clamped configuration in which the gripping members are urged inwardly about the razor handle and a released configuration in which the gripping members are released away from the razor handle. A vibration device may be situated in the housing interior area to cause water droplets to be dislodged from the razor when energized. The apparatus may include a counter circuit and display to monitor a number of razor uses. |
| US08261448B2 |
Pulling roll material for manufacture of sheet glass
A method of making sheet glass using a pulling roll comprised of a high-temperature millboard material. The millboard comprises aluminosilicate refractory fiber, silicate, mica, and kaolin clay. A method of manufacturing a pulling roll is disclosed, together with a roll produced by the methods disclosed herein. The method comprises forming a pulling roll and densifying at least a portion of the pulling roll by exposing to the pulling roll to high temperatures. |
| US08261446B2 |
Injector seat that includes a coined seal band with radius
A fuel injector apparatus and method is provided for use in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine that includes a body, a valve seat, closure member, and an orifice plate. The valve seat comprises the intersection of two angled surfaces with a radius before assembly of the fuel injector. During assembly of the fuel injector, a member presses against the radius edge of the sealing surface of the valve seat to create an oblique third sealing surface or sealing band that is coined into the valve seat. The sealing band provides an improved seal between the valve closure member and the valve seat which operates to prevent leakages of fuel in the fuel injector. |
| US08261445B2 |
Aluminum tube-aluminum fin baseboard radiator
A baseboard radiator element is formed of an aluminum tube and fins or vanes of aluminum sheet. An elongated strip of sheet aluminum is bent into a fin assembly of generally rectangular fins alternating with spacer members, with the fins having central apertures. The fin assembly is placed into a fixture and the tube is forced through the aligned apertures to create strong mechanical and thermal contact between tube and fins. The fin structure can be used with center tubes of other materials. A brass or steel connector insert is fitted into the end of the aluminum tube, and the end of the tube is deformed inward using a collet or jaw device to create a hermetic seal with the tube. The process can also be used for joining aluminum tubing to tubing of aluminum or other materials. |
| US08261444B2 |
Turbine rotor fabrication using cold spraying
A method of manufacturing a rotor includes: (a) providing a core shaft; (b) cold spraying alloy powder particles onto the core shaft; (c) controlling the cold spraying to form sections at least of different shape along the core shaft to thereby form a near-net shape rotor; and (d) heat treating the near-net shape rotor to relieve stresses and to form diffusion bonding across interfaces between individual powder particles and the core shaft, and finish-shaping said near-net shape rotor. |
| US08261442B2 |
Method for splicing a bend-optimized optical fiber
A method of splicing a bend-optimized optical fiber in which a mesh of nanometer-scale pockets is formed in the cladding of the fiber is provided. The method may include cleaving the fiber; heating a section of the fiber at a distance from an end of the fiber; allowing the fiber to cool; transmitting light through the fiber; and splicing the fiber by analyzing an image of the fiber. Alternatively, the method may include heating a section of the fiber; allowing the fiber to cool; cleaving the fiber through the section of the fiber that was heated; transmitting light through the fiber; and splicing the fiber by analyzing an image of the fiber. |
| US08261441B1 |
Cable jacket repairing
In one aspect, a method to repair a cable jacket includes disposing a shrink tube on a damaged area of a cable jacket of a cable. The shrink tube includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The method also includes heating the shrink tube to seal the damaged area and tapering the first end portion of the shrink tube by cutting the shrink tube. Another aspect includes a device to taper end portions of a cable jacket shrink tube repair. A further aspect includes a device to dispose a tube on a cable. |
| US08261439B2 |
Method for contacting electronic components by means of a substrate plate
One unhoused electronic component, e.g., a semiconductor power component, has at least one connecting surface disposed on a top side and/or on a bottom side for fastening and/or for electric contacting. One side of the component is attached to and/or electrically contacts a direct copper bonding ceramic substrate, at an opposing connecting surface in the region of the connecting surface. An electrically insulating carrier film is created on the substrate on the side facing the component outside the region of the connecting surface and extending beyond the bottom side. An electrically conducting conductor part is attached to and/or electrically contacts the connecting surface on the top side. A pre-formed, three dimensional structure is formed extending beyond the area of the top side, thus creating an electrically insulating mass between the carrier film and the three-dimensional structure of the conductor part. |
| US08261437B2 |
Method for manufacturing a circuit board
According to the present invention, a circuit board having a further-microfabricated circuit pattern that can be manufactured in further simplified steps is obtained. For such purpose, a mold 10, which has protrusions 11 formed in a pattern corresponding to a circuit pattern, is used to apply a conductive material layer (metal paste) 13 to head portions of the protrusions 11 of the mold 10. The mold is heat- and pressure-welded to the surface of a substrate 20 that is made of a resin film or the like. Accordingly, a pattern comprising the protrusions 11 and the conductive material layer (metal paste) 13 are transferred to the substrate 20. After transfer, the resin substrate (resin molding 30) is immersed in a copper sulfate plating bath for electrolytic plating treatment. Copper ions in the plating bath were deposited inside each recess 31 while the conductive material layer 13 is used as a base material for the formation of a metal wiring 32. A pattern of the recesses 31 transferred to the substrate-20 side is determined depending on a pattern comprising the protrusions 11 on the mold 10. Thus, a microfabricated high-density circuit pattern formed with metal wirings 32 having arbitrary aspect ratios can be obtained. |
| US08261436B2 |
Fabricating process of circuit substrate
A circuit substrate fabricating process includes a base layer, a patterned conductive layer, a dielectric layer, an outer pad and a conductive block. The patterned conductive layer is disposed on the base layer and has an inner pad. The dielectric layer is disposed on the base layer and covers the patterned conductive layer. The outer pad is disposed on the dielectric layer. The conductive layer is passed through the dielectric layer and connected between the outer pad and the inner pad, wherein the outer pad and the conductive block are formed as an integrative unit, and an outer diameter of the outer pad is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the conductive block. In addition, a fabricating process for the circuit substrate is also provided. |
| US08261433B1 |
Portable racking tool for electric equipment replacement and method for replacing electrical components
An electrical device removal tool, such as for circuit breakers, that is lightweight, portable, and rugged for providing electrically operated controlled insertion and removal of electrical equipment by an operator from a remote location using a coupling device for engagement with the electrical equipment housing. |
| US08261425B2 |
Method of making a telescoping steering column assembly
A telescoping steering column assembly includes upper and lower jackets having inner and outer surfaces and telescoping ends, respectively, and two sleeves disposed therebetween and having an annular cavity defined within each of the sleeves to hold bearings therewithin. One bearing is connected to the outer jacket and the other bearing is connected to the inner jacket. A method of making the assembly includes the steps of disposing the inner jacket within the outer jacket followed by disposing the sleeves therebetween and injecting a plastic material therethrough to form bearings. The plastic material is extracted from one of the apertures in each of the jackets to provide a sliding engagement between one of the bearing and the inner jacket and another bearing and the outer jacket. |
| US08261423B2 |
Methods for crimping a polymeric stent onto a delivery balloon
A medical device-includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen. |
| US08261421B2 |
Method for setting up and controlling a hydraulic tensioner for applying a preload on one or a plurality of bolts
A method of establishing and checking the axial preload in a tightening portion (34) of at least one shank of the screw or stud type (4). The establishing of the preload involves a step of tensioning an extension portion (33) of the shank (4) comprising the tightening portion (34) using a shank (4) gripper member (9) and a tensioner (6). The checking method involves a step in which, prior to establishing the preload, the tensioner is brought into a rest configuration and the gripper member (9) is brought into contact with the tensioner (6) in said rest configuration, and a step in which, having established the preload, the tensioner is returned to said rest configuration, and the tensioner in said rest configuration is pressed toward one of the ends of the extension portion (33) and the difference between the initial length (Liθ) and the final length (Lfθ) of the extension portion (33) is compared against a threshold. |
| US08261418B2 |
Method for manufacturing surface acoustic wave device
A method for manufacturing a surface acoustic wave filter device includes a step of forming grooves in one principal surface of a piezoelectric substrate, a step of embedding a metallic film in the grooves to form IDT electrodes, a step of performing a process of removing a portion of the piezoelectric substrate from the one principal surface of the piezoelectric substrate, thereby forming a recessed portion including the bottom surface in which the IDT electrodes are embedded, and a step of bonding a cover member to the piezoelectric substrate. |
| US08261416B2 |
Cord management system
A cord management system includes a strap. The strap has a first set of magnets attached to a first location on the strap and a second set of magnets attached to a second location on the strap. The strap also includes at least two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, the first set of magnets is magnetically attached to the second set of magnets so that a first segment of the strap located between the first set of magnets and the second set of magnets forms a loop configured to secure a cord that is wrapped around the strap. In a second mode of operation, the first set of magnets is magnetically detached from the second set of magnets so that the first segment no longer forms the loop. The strap is also configured to be coupled to an object. |
| US08261415B2 |
Apparatus for cotton ginning, processes and methods associated therewith
An apparatus and method for cotton ginning are disclosed. For example, an apparatus for cotton ginning comprises a belt and one or more rollers which are operatively connected. The belt is configured to have a contoured surface such that unprocessed cotton is processed so that cotton seeds are separated from cotton fiber, with the cotton fiber being held by the contoured surface. A method of cotton ginning comprises feeding unprocessed cotton into an apparatus that contains at least two belts wherein two of the at least two belts are operatively connected to each other so as to generate an arced contour and wherein the arced contour applies a normal force to cotton fibers allowing separation of the cotton fibers from cotton seeds. |
| US08261413B2 |
Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a first fixing member, and a second fixing member. The first fixing member can extend through the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The first fixing member includes a first magnet. The second fixing member can extend through the second connecting member and be received in the first connecting member. The second fixing member includes a second magnet. The first fixing member is engaged with the second fixing member under the magnet force between the first magnet and the second magnet. |
| US08261405B2 |
Wiper blade assembly having rotatable auxiliary beam
A wiper blade assembly for wiping a windshield of a vehicle actuated by a wiper arm includes a flexible elongated wiper blade adapted to elastically contact with the windshield of the vehicle, a guide beam adapted to transfer the load and motion applied from the wiper arm to the wiper blade, the guide beam having an initial curvature, a plurality of connection members provided along a longitudinal direction of the guide beam, and a plurality of auxiliary beams rotatably coupled to the connection members, serving to hold the wiper blade. |
| US08261402B2 |
Fabric pad for a steam mop
A steam pad for use with a steam mop is provided. The steam pad includes at least one layer of fabric having at least one fastener that corresponds to at least one fastener on the steam mop. In another embodiment, the steam pad comprises a first layer of fabric, a corresponding second layer of fabric, where the first and second layer are joined around the perimeter and where the second layer of fabric has at least one fastener that corresponds to at least one fastener on the steam mop. |
| US08261401B1 |
Cleaning tool device for vertical blinds
The present invention is directed to a cleaning tool for hanging blinds. The cleaning device of the present invention provides an easier and more convenient way of cleaning vertical blinds. |
| US08261399B2 |
Oral care implement with mechanical energy harvesting
A mechanical energy harvesting toothbrush may employ circuits and devices to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Such conversion can be done using piezoelectric devices to convert stresses and strains from bending of the toothbrush head and/or bristles during use, and can be done using electromagnetic generators involving passing a magnet through a coil to induce current. The resulting electric energy may be rectified, and stored in a storage device, such as a capacitor or rechargeable battery. A switching circuit may be configured to detect the level of energy stored in the storage device, and to close an electrical connection when a predetermined level of energy (e.g., a charge) has been reached. The predetermined level may correspond to a desired amount of brushing (e.g., taking into account stroke length and force, and the number of strokes), and the closing of the electrical connection may be used to power output devices when that desired amount of brushing has been reached. |
| US08261396B2 |
Ceiling fan cleaner with rotatable roller cleaner
The present invention is a ceiling fan cleaning apparatus comprising a roller cleaner (20) enveloping a central hub (22) and rotatable with respect to the central hub (22), the central hub (22) attached at one end to an elongated member (10), and a first pulley (32) connected fixedly to one end of the roller cleaner (20) and such that rotation of the first pulley (32) causes an equal rotation of the roller cleaner (20), and a second pulley (34) located close to a second end of the elongated member (10) and a chain (36) connecting the first and second pulleys (32, 34). A hand crank (38) is connected to the second pulley (34) so that a user is able to rotate the roller cleaner (20) by turning the hand crank (38). |
| US08261394B2 |
Apparatus for moving tunnel part of boarding bridge
An exemplary apparatus is for moving a tunnel part of a boarding bridge equipped with a tunnel (100) that consists of a first tunnel part (110), a second tunnel part (120), and a third tunnel part (130) in sequence from one side and can be moved so that the second tunnel part (120) and third tunnel part (130) are placed in contact and are connected to each other based on the first tunnel part (110). The apparatus includes a first rope (210) with one end coupled with the first tunnel part (110) and its other end coupled with the third tunnel part (130). A first pulley (220) that fixedly coupled to the second tunnel part (120) by hooking the first rope (210) at a position that is separated toward the other end side rather than both ends of the first rope (210) and is interlocked and moved in accordance with the moving displacement of the other end of the first rope (210). A second rope (230) is installed separately from the first rope (210) with one end coupled with the first tunnel part (110) and its other end coupled with the third tunnel part (130). A second pulley (240) is fixedly coupled to the second tunnel part (120) by hooking the second rope (230) at a position that is separated toward one end side rather than both ends of the second rope (230) and is interlocked and moved in accordance with the moving displacement of the other end of the second rope (230). |
| US08261392B2 |
Sole and method of manufacturing sole
A method of manufacturing a sole according to the present invention includes the steps of obtaining a rubber part by previously crosslinking a polymer mixture containing 50 to 100 mass % of a diene-based polymer and 0 to 40 mass % of an acrylonitrile component in a polymer component of the polymer mixture, halogenating the rubber part, and bonding the rubber part and thermoplastic resin to each other by molding said thermoplastic resin on said rubber part. |
| US08261388B1 |
Human cushion apparatus
The present invention may be used for support of a human on a cushion. A mattress apparatus may have a base member of generally rectangular shape with four upstanding peripheral side walls. A plurality of bars may be disposed on the base member in a rectangular matrix configuration and the plurality of bars may have a separation space longitudinally and laterally between adjacent bars. A gas member of generally elongated tubular shape may be positioned longitudinally in each of the longitudinal separation spaces with each of the gas members having a gas conduit connected to a first pressurized gas source. Lateral gas tubes that may be of generally rectangular shape may be positioned transversally of the longitudinal gas tubes with a first end of each lateral gas tube connected to the first pressurized gas source or to a second pressurized gas source. A bed sheet covering the base member to enclose the top of the mattress apparatus. |
| US08261383B2 |
Device for rescue from the interior of a confined space through a manhole, method of utilization thereof and uses
A device for rescue from the interior of a confined space via a manhole which includes at least a tray, a prying structure and two elements for tightening of a person to the tray and the prying structure respectively. The tray is elongated and includes on one of its sides at least two means of coupling where the prying structure is inserted; the other side being smooth. Also defined is a method of utilization of said device. |
| US08261382B2 |
Providing varying degrees of elevation to moveable head-rest and back-support sections of bed frame
A bed frame having the functionality of providing varying degrees of elevation to moveable head-rest and back-support sections of the bed frame. Adjustable arms couple a pivotal section of the frame of slats with a front rail panel. The pivotal section of the frame of slats is positioned in the head-rest and back-support sections of the bed frame. Since the pivotal section of the frame of slats is configurable to be tilted, the adjustable arms may be used to tilt the pivotal section of the frame of slats and hence tilt the head-rest and back-support sections of the bed frame to varying degrees of elevation. |
| US08261381B2 |
Safety bed frame mounting system
A safety bed including a bed frame with a head board, side boards and a footboard, pivotally attached guard members, and a vertically adjustable mattress support structure which is attached to the side boards. The mattress support structure is capable of being lowered within the confines of the bed frame to prevent a patient from crawling out of the safety bed. The mattress support structure capable of being raised within the bed frame to grant a health care provider access to the patient. The raising and lowering of the mattress support frame does not affect height of the side boards or guard members. |
| US08261380B2 |
Stretcher accessory for turning a patient
A stretcher is provided as an accessory to a bed to facilitate a supine-to-prone or prone-to-supine transfer of a patient from the bed to the stretcher or vice-versa. The stretcher comprises a base frame, anchor means for clamping or otherwise securing the stretcher to a position adjacent the bed, and a patient support litter. The stretcher also includes a mechanical, non-bladder-based lift mechanism operable to preferentially raise either a left longitudinal side, or a right longitudinal side, but not both, of the patient support litter, in order to tilt the patient support litter toward the patient support surface of the adjacent bed. The stretcher is also collapsible for easy storage. |
| US08261377B2 |
Bidet for toilet bowl
A bidet device for toilet bowls is mounted on a toilet bowl for washing an anus and the inner part of an intestine or a vagina, and includes a main body (10) mounted on a rear side of a toilet bowl and having a control part C, a main wash bidet part (15) provided below a center protrusion (11) of the main body (10) for spraying water, an in-body wash bidet part (30 or 40) attached to the main body (10) for cleansing the intestine and the vagina, a purifier part (20) for purifying the water ejected through the main wash bidet part (15) and the in-body wash bidet part (30 or 40), and a water ejection regulator part (14) provided on the control part C for selectively supplying the water to one of the main wash bidet part (15) and the in-body wash bidet part (30 or 40). |
| US08261372B2 |
Golf glove
A golf glove comprises a palm portion and a plurality of digits comprised of a first material. A plurality of grip pads of a second material such as silicone is provided on the digits and/or the palm portion. The grip pads comprise a plurality of bumps having geometric shapes. In at least one embodiment, the bumps are hexagonal in shape. The bumps may be provided directly on the first material of the glove or may be provided on a thin base layer. The bumps are arranged on the glove such that they contact the grip of a golf club when the golf club is gripped by a golfer. Accordingly, the bumps may be positioned on tip portions of the fingers and thumb and also along a line extending between a hypothenar region of the palm and a portion of the palm located between the finger and thumb. |
| US08266706B2 |
Cryptographically controlling access to documents
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to cryptographically controlling access to documents. In aspects, documents are encrypted to protect them from unauthorized access. A security principal seeking to access a document first obtains the document. The document includes an identifier that identifies security data associated with the document. The security data includes an encrypted portion that includes authorizations for security principals that have access to the document. A security principal having the appropriate key can decrypt its authorization in the security data to obtain one or more other keys that may be used to access the document. These other keys correspond to access rights that the security principal has with respect to the document. |
| US08266699B2 |
Multiple-path remediation
A security information management system is described, wherein a database of potential vulnerabilities is maintained, along with data describing remediation techniques (patches, policy settings, and configuration options) available to protect against them. At least one vulnerability is associated in the database with multiple available remediation techniques. In one embodiment, the system presents a user with the list of remediation techniques available to protect against a known vulnerability, accepts the user's selection from the list, and executes the selected technique. In other embodiments, the system uses a predetermined prioritization schedule to automatically select among the available remediation techniques, then automatically executes the selected technique. |
| US08266696B2 |
Techniques for network protection based on subscriber-aware application proxies
Techniques for responding to intrusions on a packet switched network include receiving user data at a subscriber-aware gateway server between a network access server and a content server. The user data includes subscriber identifier data that indicates a unique identifier for a particular user, network address data that indicates a network address for a host used by the particular user, NAS data that indicates an identifier for the network access server, flow list data that indicates one or more open data packet flows, and suspicious activity data. The suspicious activity data indicates a value for a property of the open data packet flows that indicates suspicious activity. It is determined whether an intrusion condition is satisfied based on the suspicious activity data. If the intrusion condition is satisfied, then the gateway responds based at least in part on user data other than the network address data. |
| US08266693B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for identifying unwanted data communicated via a session initiation protocol
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying unwanted data communicated via a session initiation protocol. In use, packets associated with an electronic message communicated over a network utilizing a session initiation protocol are identified. Additionally, it is determined whether the packets include unwanted data. Furthermore, a reaction is performed, based on the determination. |
| US08266691B2 |
Renewable integrity rooted system
A method of validating software is disclosed. The method may include receiving, at a first function, a first hash and a first version. The first function may validate a second function according to the first hash and first version. The second function may receive a second hash and a second version, and the second function may validate a third function according to the second hash and second version. The first version and first hash may be stored within the first function, for example. The first version and first hash may be stored within a manifest, for example.In another embodiment, a method of validating software may include storing a plurality of functions and storing a version and hash for each function. Each function may be verified according to the respective version and hash, and each function may verify at least one other function. |
| US08266690B2 |
Temporally synchronized video display unit screensaver or wallpaper based on user preferences
A method of generating an audiovisual object such as a wallpaper or screensaver keyed to a user's preferences, local time, and location, comprising: collecting a set of user preferences for a user; providing a metadata stream associated with an audiovisual input; comparing elements within the metadata stream with the set of user preferences to form a comparison; and outputting an audiovisual object to the user's video display unit if the comparison indicates that the metadata stream matches one or more elements of the set of user preferences. User preferences may be collected from user habits based on metadata streams associated with the audiovisual input, or may be directly input by the user. The methods above may also be stored on a computer readable medium. |
| US08266689B2 |
Bilateral communication using multiple one-way data links
A bilateral data transfer system comprising a first node, a second node, a first one-way link for unidirectional transfer of first data from the first node to the second node, and a second one-way link for unidirectional transfer of second data from the second node to the first node, wherein the unidirectional transfer of the first data across the first one-way link and the unidirectional transfer of the second data across the second one-way link are independently administered by the bilateral data transfer system. Under such bilateral data transfer system, each of the one-way data links may be subject to separately administered security restrictions and data filtering processes. Hence, it enables secure bilateral communications across different network security domains. |
| US08266682B2 |
System and methods for weak authentication data reinforcement
This document discusses, among other things, a system and methods for weak authentication data reinforcement. In an example embodiment, authentication data is received in a request to authenticate a user. In response to authentication being detected to be weak authentication data, it may be determined whether the request to authenticate is associated with a human user. An example embodiment may include initiating an authentication process based on determining that the request to authenticate is associated with the human use. |
| US08266680B2 |
Predictive HTTP authentication mode negotiation
A client system and a server system use a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) authentication mode preference header to negotiate an HTTP authentication mode. The client system sends an HTTP request to the server system. In response to the HTTP request, the server system sends an HTTP response to the client system. The HTTP response includes an HTTP authentication mode preference header. The HTTP authentication mode preference header indicates whether a preferred HTTP authentication mode is connection-based HTTP authentication or request-based HTTP authentication. In subsequent HTTP requests to the server system, the client system uses the HTTP authentication mode indicated by the HTTP authentication mode preference header. |
| US08266675B2 |
Information processor, method for managing the same and computer program product
An information processor is provided that can maintain security in the entire network and use recording media resources efficiently. An image forming apparatus includes a user information memorizing portion for memorizing local user data of users who have ever used the image forming apparatus, a user information deleting portion for deleting any one or more of the local user data when the local user data memorized in the user information memorizing portion has an amount greater than a predetermined value, an authentication request portion for requesting an authentication server to authenticate a user who desires to use the image forming apparatus, and a user information generating portion, when local user data of the user authenticated by the authentication server are not memorized in the user information memorizing portion, for generating local user data of the user in the user information memorizing portion to let the same memorize the generated data. |
| US08266671B2 |
Policy-enabled aggregation of IM user communities
A method of automatically aggregating an online user community, and graphical user interface for same, the method including one or more of the following: a user creating the online community; the user defining an aggregation policy for the online user community; a service provider retrieving the aggregation policy; the service provider applying the aggregation policy to an other user; determining whether the other user fits the aggregation policy; adding the other user to the online user community; the user defining an anti-aggregation policy; the service provider retrieving the anti-aggregation policy; determining whether the other user fits the anti-aggregation policy; and removing the other user from the online user community when the other user fits the anti-aggregation policy. |
| US08266667B2 |
Systems and methods for awarding affinity points based upon remote control usage
Systems and methods for providing and promoting television programming, advertisements, and other content to selected viewers. A display is provided on a remote control device, prompts are provided on the display, and viewer responses to those prompts are monitored, stored in memory, and thereafter processed to reward viewers for responding properly to the prompts. Various methods for promoting such programs are also described. |
| US08266666B2 |
System for controlling media presentations
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a remote controller that manages operations of a set-top box (STB) having a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, a user interface (UI) with one or more components, and a controller operably coupled to the RF transceiver and the UI. The controller can be adapted to cause the RF transceiver to establish a communication session with a subsystem of an interactive media communication system, cause the RF transceiver to transmit to the subsystem a request for media content, cause the UI to present media content supplied by the subsystem without interrupting operations of the STB, and cause the RF transceiver to transmit to the subsystem one or more commands directed to the STB. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08266665B2 |
TV screen capture
A method may include receiving, by a video client, a screen capture request, determining a type of screen capture, generating screen capture type information based on a result of determining the type of screen capture, analyzing at least one of screen capture data or screen capture type information, and providing a service to a user of the video client based on the analysis of the at least one of screen capture data or screen capture type information. |
| US08266661B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing template-based prefix caching for use in video-on-demand applications
A method and apparatus for performing template-based prefix caching advantageously identifies common prefixes (i.e., initial video segments) in video titles, stores common prefixes only once in a prefix cache, and uses these common prefixes when serving requests for video content. This advantageously enables a prefix cache to scale to a large number of video titles, since the cache stores each common prefix only once. A new video title that uses an already existing prefix may be advantageously added without requiring additional storage in the prefix cache. Template-based prefix caching also advantageously reduces the bandwidth required to distribute prefixes when new titles are ingested into the system—if the required template is already available in the prefix cache, prefix-caching is enabled instantly for this title and no additional bandwidth is required to distribute the prefix. |
| US08266659B2 |
Technique for collecting data relating to activity of a user receiving entertainment programs through a communications network
In a broadband communications system, information is collected which relates to user-issued commands for accessing programming content and manipulating recorded programming content. The commands are monitored to determine when such content is accessed (i.e., requested, selected or played) and manipulated (i.e., rewound, fast-forwarded, paused, etc.) by a user. Data associated with a command to request, select or manipulate programming content is read from the user-issued command and forwarded to a processor for presentation of the programming content. The read data is stored and made available for analyzing user activity respecting programming content provided by the broadband communication system. Such analysis may relate to the popularity of specific programs, the frequency in which specific commercials are skipped or played, the most popular times that a specific program or type of program is accessed, and the like. |
| US08266658B2 |
Wireless communication device automatically connecting for HDMI devices
A wireless node device determines an origination port number, communicates with the wireless node device to exchange a destination port number determined by the wireless node device and the origination port number determined by the wireless node device, and associates the origination port number with the destination port number. Further, the wireless node device input formats supported by the wireless node device, reserves wireless resources for wirelessly transmitting the content data, determines one of the obtained input formats as an output format and notifies the wireless node device of the determined output format, and wirelessly transmits the content data to the wireless node device through a pair of ports indicated by the origination port number and the destination port number associated with each other. |
| US08266656B2 |
Method for making selections in search criteria in TV EPGs
An embodiment of the present invention provides a television electronic programming guide that allows users to combine multiple search criteria within a single search. The electronic program guide receives a television program search criteria set containing a plurality of search criteria and provides a search result set containing television programs that meet the television program search criteria set. The search criteria in the television program search criteria set may be combined in various ways to form a complex search. For one embodiment the search criteria are combined in a Boolean AND combination. One embodiment of the present invention provides a television electronic programming guide that allows users to dynamically add or remove search criteria from a programming guide search without initiating a new programming guide search. The electronic program guide receives a revision to the television program search criteria set, and revises the search result based upon the revision. |
| US08266650B2 |
Multiplex transmission interface method of electronic service guide
The present invention discloses an electronic service guide multiplex transmission interface method comprising: Step S102 in which an electronic service guide system generates electronic service guide broadcasting data according to system configuration data and the electronic service guide broadcasting data is sent to a multiplexer via a interface; the step S104 in which the multiplexer receives and multiplexes the electronic service guide broadcasting data and the multiplexed electronic service guide broadcasting data is transmitted to a modulation emitter; step S106 in which the modulation emitter receives the multiplexed electronic service guide broadcasting data, modulates the data and transmits the modulated data to user terminal; and step S108 in which the user terminal is tuned to receive the electronic service guide broadcasting data and demultiplexes it, and generates, stores and displays electronic service guide service navigation information. |
| US08266647B2 |
System and method to validate restriction event control streams sent to a video distribution system
Systems and methods to validate restriction event control streams sent to a video distribution system are provided. A particular method includes receiving a control stream from a content provider via a content proxy device. The control stream is associated with a restriction event and directs a media service delivery platform to associate a substitute service with a virtual network for at least one geographical region. The method also includes evaluating validity of the control stream based on content proxy information associated with the content proxy device. |
| US08266641B2 |
Disc loading and ejecting structure for slot-in optical disc drives
A disc loading and ejecting structure for a slot-in optical disc drive aims to drive a compact disc into and out of the slot-in optical disc drive to solve the problems of conventional techniques that they are bulky and occupy too much space. The structure includes a driving portion and a guiding portion that are located at two opposite sides of the slot-in optical disc drive. The driving portion includes a roller with the rotation axis parallel with a positioning surface of the compact disc. A first end edge of the compact disc is abutted on the guiding portion and a second end edge is leaned on the roller. The roller can rotate and move reciprocally in parallel with the direction of the rotation axis to drive the compact disc into and out of the slot-in optical disc drive. |
| US08266637B2 |
Privacy modes in a remote desktop environment
Techniques described maintain privacy of a remote desktop client when the remote client interacts with and displays the desktop of the host device. The described techniques enable such privacy and control even when the host computing device does not run an operating system with session support. The host includes a virtual display driver, which is not associated with a physical display, and a physical display driver, which is associated with a physical display. The techniques associate the virtual display driver with a mirror driver of the host, while disassociating the physical display driver from the mirror driver. The mirror thus driver provides contents of the virtual display to the remote client. Additionally, because the virtual display driver is not associated with a physical display, the contents of the virtual display (and hence the interactions of the remote client) are not displayed at the host. |
| US08266634B2 |
Resource assignment system with recovery notification
The application discloses a resource assignment system including recovery notification procedures or methods to notify an application or node of potentially lost resources. The recovery notification procedures or calls are invoked in response to a recovery notification registration function. In response to recovery notification registration, a recovery notification or call is generated to report lost resources. |
| US08266632B2 |
Method and a system for the composition of services
Method for multiphase service composition in a distributed computing environment comprising at least one client and at least one server, and involving at least one service, which defines a specific format for composition messages associated with multiphase remote procedure calls. This format is different from the one of regular server messages. Once such a composition message is received by the client, it recognizes this specific format and can automatically invoke at least one service on any server by sending a new request message including the arguments passed in this composition message. |
| US08266628B2 |
Switching between multiple software entities using different operating modes of a processor
The computer program includes a virtualization software that is executable on the new processor in the legacy mode. The new processor includes a legacy instruction set for a legacy operating mode and a new instruction set for a new operation mode. The switching includes switching from the new instruction set to the legacy instruction set and switching paging tables. Each of the new operating mode and the legacy operating mode has separate paging tables. The switch routine is incorporated in a switch page that is locked in physical memory. The switch page has a first section to store a part of switching instructions conforming to the new instruction set and a second section to store another part of the switching instructions conforming to the legacy instruction set. |
| US08266625B2 |
Prioritization and termination of image processing apparatus applications based on memory usage and user login type
An image processing apparatus that enables to start an application that is required to start by stopping an application that is not used by a user to reserve an available memory capacity when receiving a startup request. A first determination unit determines a memory usage of the application that receives the startup instruction. A second determination unit determines an available memory capacity. A third determination unit determines an application that is not used by a user. A stopping unit stops the application determined by the third determination unit among the executing applications when the memory usage determined by the first determination unit is more than the available memory capacity determined by the second determination unit. A starting unit starts the application that receives the startup instruction using the available memory capacity that increases because the stopping unit stops the determined application. |
| US08266616B1 |
Computer system provisioning using templates
A method of computer system provisioning comprises defining a container as a plurality of computer system resources sufficient to run a workload, defining a workload as a set of processes executable on the container and monitored as a single entity, and modeling the container and/or the workload as a template that contains at least some of information for deploying the container and/or the workload. |
| US08266615B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering percepta
An apparatus and method for obtaining a storage medium with a deeply customizable set of installed content. Soft assets (e.g., programs, songs, videos, etc.) that form the content are selected from among a much larger set of preinstalled soft assets previously stored on storage media, such as disk drives. In some embodiments, based on a user's selections, the non-selected assets are permanently erased from a storage medium, while the remaining assets are available as installed (wherein substantially no further processing is required to install them). In some embodiments, a new device uses the storage medium to provide its user with a fully functional device without the need to separately install the soft assets from a plurality of sources (e.g., from program-distribution CDROMS and the like). Some embodiments include the storage medium having the soft assets installed, and including a program that elicits selections from a user and erases non-selected assets. |
| US08266614B2 |
Methods and apparatus for pre-configuring software
A system, operating on a first computerized device, deploys an agent to a second computerized device. The agent, operating on the second computerized device, obtains the configuration data. The system receives, at the first computerized device, from the agent operating on the second computerized device, configuration data specific to the second computerized device. The system creates software for the second computerized device utilizing the configuration data. The software is customized based on the configuration data specific to the second computerized device. The system then deploys the software to the second computerized device for operation on the second computerized device. |
| US08266606B2 |
Self-optimizable code for optimizing execution of tasks and allocation of memory in a data processing system
A mechanism is provided for increasing efficiency of tasks by observing the performance of generally equivalent code paths during execution of the task are disclosed. Embodiments involve a computer system with software, or hard-coded logic that includes reflexive code paths. The reflexive code paths may be identified by a software or hardware designer during the design of the computer system. For that particular computer system, however, one of the code paths may offer better performance characteristics so a monitor collects performance data during execution of the reflexive code paths and a code path selector selects the reflexive code with favorable performance characteristics. One embodiment improves the performance of memory allocation by selectively implementing a tunable, linear, memory allocation module in place of a default memory allocation module. |
| US08266604B2 |
Transactional memory compatibility management
Transactional memory compatibility type attributes are associated with intermediate language code to specify, for example, that intermediate language code must be run within a transaction, or must not be run within a transaction, or may be run within a transaction. Attributes are automatically produced while generating intermediate language code from annotated source code. Default rules also generate attributes. Tools use attributes to statically or dynamically check for incompatibility between intermediate language code and a transactional memory implementation. |
| US08266603B2 |
Technique for allocating register to variable for compiling
The present invention relates to allocating registers to variables in order to compile a program. In an embodiment of the present invention a compiler apparatus stores interference information indicating an interference relationship between variables, selects a register and allocates the register to each variables in accordance with a predetermined procedure, without allocating the same register to a set of variables having interference relationships. The compiler further replaces multiple variables having the same register allocated thereto with a new variable and generates an interference relationship by merging the interference relationships each concerning one of multiple variables. The compiler further updates interference information according to the generated interference relationship and allocates to each variable in the program using the new variable a register, selected in accordance with the predetermined procedure without allocating the same register to a set of variables having the interference relationships, based on the updated interference information. |
| US08266601B2 |
Framework for interoperability of solvers
A framework may be provided for facilitating adoption of mathematical and logical solvers. A model, representing a problem, may be defined. The model may be defined: via a series of statements in a type safe common-language-specification compliant modeling language; via an intermediate format; or via a series of calls to a standardized application program interface. The framework may translate the defined model to an intermediate format, which many solvers may understand. The framework may provide a number of solver-related services including, but not limited to, services for creating a model, analyzing a model, selecting a well-suited solver based on analysis of a model, decomposing a model into multiple sub-models and providing the multiple sub-models to multiple solvers as multiple parallel threads, data binding, simulation, and post optimality analysis. |
| US08266595B2 |
Removal of asynchronous events in complex application performance analysis
A method and apparatus for identifying a minimum call tree data structure from a plurality of call tree data structures are provided. With the apparatus and method, call tree data structures are generated for two or more executions of a build of a computer program. The apparatus and method perform a “tree-minimization” operation in which the two or more call trees generated during runs of the computer program are walked and only those nodes that are present in each of the tree data structures are maintained in a minimized tree data structure. In addition, the minimum values for these common nodes are maintained in the minimized tree data structure. In this way, asynchronous events are removed from the minimum tree data structure and analysis may focus on those areas of the computer program that are consistent between runs of the computer program. |
| US08266594B2 |
System, method and program product for correcting semantic errors in code using peer submitted code snippets
A method, system and program product for correcting semantic errors in code in an integrated development environment. The method includes inputting, using a code editor, code being developed in an integrated development environment, identifying, in a syntax tree constructed for the code inputted, one or more nodes containing semantic errors pertaining to use of a third-party library, choosing a node containing the semantic errors, displaying suggestions for correcting the semantic errors identified for the node chosen, where the suggestions include peer submitted code snippets associated with collaboration records located to correct the semantic errors identified for the node chosen, selecting a code snippet from the code snippets displayed and executing the code inputted in the integrated development environment, such that, the code snippet selected is automatically invoked to correct the semantic errors identified for the node chosen. |
| US08266592B2 |
Ranking and optimizing automated test scripts
Technologies are described herein for ranking and optimizing test scripts utilized in the automated testing of software products. A score is calculated for each test script from various metrics collected from executions of the test script. Metrics utilized in calculating the score for a test script may include those indicating the propensity of the script to result in “false failures” and/or those indicating the effectiveness of the script for finding product bugs. The test scripts are then ranked by their score, and this ranking is used in determining the frequency of execution of the test script in future testing. |
| US08266590B2 |
Managing dynamic configuration data for a set of components
Data for a dynamic configuration of a set of producer components is stored in a set of component objects and a set of relationship objects. When an event is received indicating a change to the dynamic configuration, a component object and/or relationship object is updated to reflect the change. The component and/or relationship object(s) can be used to notify one or more listening components of modifications to the dynamic configuration. In this manner, listening components are only loosely coupled with producer components making any necessary adjustments to configuration changes easier to implement. |
| US08266589B2 |
Optimizing the handling of source code requests between a software configuration management (SCM) system and a software integrated development environment (IDE) using projected ancillary data
The present invention can include a solution for optimizing the handling of source code requests by a software configuration management (SCM) system by using projected ancillary data. When a SCM system receives a request for a source code file from a software integrated development environment (IDE), ancillary data can be projected for the requested source code file. Ancillary data can represent supplementary source code files and/or a revision update for an existing source code file. The projected ancillary data can be appended to a response message that already contains the requested source code file. The response message can then be sent to the software IDE. |
| US08266584B2 |
Statechart development environment with a plurality of user-selectable event modes
Various embodiments of a system and method enabling a user to create a statechart and select an event mode for the statechart are disclosed. The statechart may be created in a graphical manner in response to user input and displayed on a display. A graphical user interface enabling a user to select from a plurality of event modes for the statechart may be displayed. The plurality of event modes may include both a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode. The statechart may be configured to receive events from an external program either synchronously or asynchronously, depending on which event mode the user selects. |
| US08266582B2 |
Method for creating unified binary files
A method for creating a unified binary file that may be executed on a plurality of hardware platforms. The unified binary file includes hardware independent code and a plurality of hardware dependent binary files for a variety of hardware platforms. When the unified binary file is executed on a supported hardware platform, an appropriate hardware dependent file is identified and installed. A method for preparing a software package supported on a plurality of hardware platforms for distribution. A unified binary file is created for each corresponding file of the software package. Each unified binary file includes installation directory information and dependent file information. |
| US08266581B2 |
Software development apparatus with regulated user access
A software system development apparatus is provided. The software system development apparatus may include a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor. The apparatus may also include a system design tool program stored on the computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, is operable to regulate user access to at least one aspect of the system design tool according to one or more authorization categories of users of the system design tool. The system design tool may also be operable to generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting from a collection of reusable software components stored and described in a catalog in accordance with the Reusable Asset Specification (RAS). |
| US08266575B1 |
Systems and methods for dynamically reconfiguring a programmable system on a chip
Systems and methods for dynamically reconfiguring a programmable system on a chip. A graphical user interface for dynamically reconfiguring a programmable system on a chip includes graphical user interface (GUI) display elements of a plurality of parameter values presently controlling operation of a device on a target apparatus. The GUI display elements are operable to accept modifications to the plurality of parameter values and for communicating the modifications to the programmable system on a chip. The GUI display elements may present parameter values in alphanumeric and/or graphical formats, and may accept changes via keyboard or cursor directing device input. |
| US08266573B2 |
Method and system for test point insertion
It is desired to suppress an increase of the TAT or a repetition of processing in inserting a test circuit on designing. A test point insertion method includes: extracting a plurality of logic cones from a net list; generating an order for the plurality of logic cones based on a connection relation of logic cells in each of the plurality of logic cones; and setting a test point in each of the plurality of logic cones in turn in accordance with the order. |
| US08266568B2 |
Power mesh management method
The invention discloses a power mesh managing method utilized in an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a standard cell and a standard-cell power supplying mesh corresponding to a first direction. The power mesh managing method includes: defining a power supplying network including a first plurality of power meshes growing along the first direction and a second plurality of power meshes growing along a second direction, and defining an assistant connecting network on a third metal layer, wherein the assistant connecting network includes a plurality of assistant connecting lines growing along the second direction, the first plurality of power meshes are formed on a first metal layer, the second plurality of power meshes on a second metal layer, the third metal layer is below the first metal layer, and the second metal layer is above the first metal layer. |
| US08266567B2 |
Semiconductor layout modification method based on design rule and user constraints
A method of modification of a semiconductor layout is provided. The layout comprises objects of semiconductor material with corners and edges. The method comprises a step of receiving (61) a set of proximities, triggers and design rules, the proximities indicating relations between neighboring edges and/or corners, the triggers defining boundaries for the modification within which boundaries the proximities are valid, the design rules describing physical requirements for the semiconductor layout. The method further comprises a step of generating (62) a set of constraints, based on the received proximities, triggers and design rules, each constraint in the set of constraints defining a limit within which the semiconductor layout may be modified without changing the proximities. Then the set of constraints to obtain a modified semiconductor layout is solved (63). |
| US08266564B2 |
Verification apparatus, verification method, and computer-readable recording medium for supporting engineering change order
A verification apparatus includes a reference circuit-side point extraction unit that extracts a point where the input value of a signal changes due to a logic change in a reference circuit in a state before and after the logic change, based on information regarding a signal that has changed due to the logic change in the reference circuit; a circuit to be verified-side point extraction unit that extracts a point where the input value of a signal changes due to a logic change in a circuit to be verified in a state before and after the logic change, based on information regarding a signal that has changed due to the logic change in the circuit to be verified; and a verification script generation unit that generates a verification script with use of the points extracted by the reference circuit-side point extraction unit and the circuit to be verified-side point extraction unit. |
| US08266559B2 |
Nonlinear driver model for multi-driver systems
A precharacterized cell library for EDA tools includes driver model data includes output current signals indexed by output voltages. The driver model can then generate a model output by interpolating the output current signals using the output voltage to generate an output current. The output current can then be used to generate an updated output voltage across a predetermined time increment. The output current signals can then be interpolated using the updated output voltage to generate a new output current, when can be used to update the output voltage once again across the next time increment. By repeating this process across a time frame for the model output signal, a model output current and output voltage signals can be generated that match the actual output current and voltage signals from a driver in a multi-driver system. |
| US08266558B2 |
Methods for forming arrays of small, closely spaced features
Methods of forming arrays of small, densely spaced holes or pillars for use in integrated circuits are disclosed. Various pattern transfer and etching steps can be used, in combination with pitch-reduction techniques, to create densely-packed features. Conventional photolithography steps can be used in combination with pitch-reduction techniques to form superimposed patterns of crossing elongate features with pillars at the intersections. Spacers are simultaneously applied to sidewalls of both sets of crossing lines to produce a pitch-doubled grid pattern. The pillars facilitate rows of spacers bridging columns of spacers. |
| US08266557B1 |
Method and system for direction dependent integrated circuit layout
In accordance with the present method and system for anisotropic integrated circuit layout we extract a set of anisotropic design rules for integrated circuit manufacturing systems that have directional preference. We enhance various physical design tools to read and process anisotropic design rules in order to generate anisotropic design layout that takes advantage of an anisotropic manufacturing system. |
| US08266556B2 |
Fracturing continuous photolithography masks
A method, system, and computer usable program product for fracturing a continuous mask usable in photolithography are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A first origin point is selected from a set of points on an edge in the continuous mask. A first end point is identified on the edge such that a separation metric between the first origin point and the first end point is at least equal to a threshold value. Several alternatives are determined for fracturing using the first origin point and the first end point. A cost associated with each of the several alternatives is computed and one of the alternatives is selected as a preferred fracturing. Several pairs of origin points and end points are formed from the set of points. Each pair has a cost of a preferred fracturing between the pair. The continuous mask is fractured using a subset of the several pairs. |
| US08266554B2 |
Dynamic provisional decomposition of lithographic patterns having different interaction ranges
A method for obtaining mask and source patterns for printing integrated circuit patterns includes providing initial representations of a plurality of mask and source patterns. The method identifies long-range and short-range factors in the representations of the plurality of mask and source patterns, and provides a plurality of clips including a specified number of mask patterns. Short-range factors having overlapping ranges for each of the clips are specified. The method includes determining an initial processing priority for the plurality of clips, and determining a patterning relationship between integrated circuit patterns and the mask and source patterns. A primary objective is determined which expresses the printability of the integrated circuit patterns in terms of the patterning relationship. The method defines and iteratively solves a master problem employing the primary objective to generate values for the long-range factors, and solves subproblems employing a second objective for generating values for the short-range factors. |
| US08266551B2 |
Method and apparatus for binding user interface elements and granular reflective processing
An approach is provided for binding user interface elements and granular reflective processing. An information management infrastructure determines to detect an event, from a first device, for specifying one or more user interface elements for transfer to a second device. The information management infrastructure further identifies one or more processes bound to the user interface elements. The information management infrastructure also determines at least one of a user context, an execution context within the user context, and one or more other execution contexts for the processes, wherein the one or more other execution contexts are from at least one of the user context and one or more other user contexts. The information management infrastructure further causes, at least in part, serialization of at least one of the user context, the execution context, and the one or more other execution contexts. The information management infrastructure further determines to transmit the serialization to the second device to initiate reconstruction of the at least one of the user context, the execution context, and the one or more other execution contexts. |
| US08266550B1 |
Parallax panning of mobile device desktop
A computer-implemented user interface method includes displaying on a mobile device desktop a background image and one or more foreground items over the background image, receiving a user input to pan across the desktop, and panning the background images and one or more foreground images in a parallax manner relative to each other. |
| US08266544B1 |
HTML pop-up control
A computer-implemented method includes setting minimum boundaries for a pop-up window based on content, displaying the content in the pop-up window, receiving an input to change a layout of the content, calculating new minimum boundaries for the pop-up window based on the layout change, resizing the pop-up window using the new minimum boundaries and displaying the content in the resized pop-up window. |
| US08266542B2 |
Rendering and sorting book search results as three dimensional icons
Illustrated is a system and method to prepare for display, within a Graphical User Interface (GUI), a subset selection pane, an icon and summary pane, and a sort pane. The system and method further to include to prepare for display, within the icon and summary pane, a result set that includes an icon representing a three dimensional book and a textual summary of the book. The system and method also includes enabling a screen object, within the subset selection pane, to receive input to select a subset of the result set to be displayed within the icon and summary pane. Further, the system and method includes enabling a screen object, within the sort pane, to receive input to select the subset of the result set to be sorted and displayed within the icon and summary pane. |
| US08266537B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing multimedia information configuring graphical user interface
An apparatus to manage a multimedia-information-configuring graphical user interface includes a storage unit that includes a mapping information table to store a state of a widget and an action mapped to the state and a current state table to store a current state of the widget, an input unit to receive GUI-setting data to set a configuration and an operation of the widget, and a control unit to generate the mapping information table by parsing the GUI-setting data, searches the mapping information table for the action using the current state table, and to perform the action found by the searching. |
| US08266536B2 |
Physical-virtual environment interface
Apparatus, methods, and computer-program products are disclosed for automatically interfacing a first physical environment and a second physical environment to a virtual world model where some avatar controller piloting commands are automatically issued by a virtual world client to a virtual world server responsive to the focus of the avatar controller. |
| US08266535B2 |
Teleforum apparatus and method
A method and apparatus of providing a teleforum. The method includes generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees and transmitting a message to each invitee, inviting him or her to become a teleforum participant. Teleforum participants who accept the invitation are connected to the teleforum in a listen-only mode. During the teleforum, a teleforum participant may request active participation in the teleforum. The method also includes allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum. Active participation may include but is not limited to such activities as: speaking to the teleforum, asking a question, responding to a poll, making a donation, providing information, leaving a message, being transferred to a subconference, receiving feedback from participants, leaving a voicemail, volunteering for future activities or receiving media transmitted outside of the teleforum. |
| US08266533B2 |
Method and system configured to assess a fee for communication facilitation regarding publication information
A method and system are configured to assess a fee for communication facilitation regarding publication information. An electronic publication system includes a publication module configured to generate a user interface based on an information search. The user interface includes search result information associated with a first entity and communication initiation information associated with the first entity. The communication initiation information includes identification information configured to identify a contact module of the first entity. The communication initiation information is configured to be selectable to facilitate communication between a second entity and the first entity. The publication system also includes a receiving module configured to receive a lead data record from a communication system that facilitates communication between the first entity and a second entity via the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information generated from the publication module. The publication system also includes a fee assessment module configured to receive the lead data record from the receiving module and to assess a fee to the first entity based on the lead data record. |
| US08266528B1 |
Spelling suggestions based on an input sequence including accidental “delete”
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing spelling suggestions in response to user input. One example method comprises receiving user input via a keyboard associated with a computing device, the input specifying a sequence of characters of a word the user wishes to enter into a text-based application of the computing device. The method further comprises generating suggestion words based on the sequence of characters and on an alternate sequence of characters, where the alternate sequence of characters is generated by replacing characters in the sequence of characters with alternate characters corresponding to keys proximately located on the keyboard to keys corresponding to characters in the sequence of characters. In one example, the sequence of characters includes non-letter characters such as a DELETE character, the method further including replacing the DELETE character with a letter corresponding to a key adjacent to the DELETE key on the keyboard. |
| US08266527B2 |
Electronic album creating apparatus, electronic album editing apparatus, information processing system, electronic album creating method, and storage medium storing program
An apparatus of an original album editor uploads to a server album data in which instructions of allowed object that allows editing and information on content type of editing allowed for the allowed object are embedded. An apparatus of an admitted subscriber downloads the album data from the server, and edits the album data within allowance in accordance with the instructions and information embedded in the album data. |
| US08266524B2 |
Editing a document using a transitory editing surface
Technologies are described herein for editing a document using a transitory editing surface. A word processing program displays a document in a window. Upon detection of the placement of an insertion pointer within a paragraph of text in the document, an editing surface is created overlaying the paragraph in the window and containing the contents of the underlying paragraph. User input is monitored by the word processing program while the editing of the contents is processed by the editing surface. When editing is complete, the modified contents of the editing surface are copied into the document and the editing surface is destroyed. |
| US08266523B2 |
System and method for schema evolution in an E-commerce network
A method and computer system are described for conducting commercial transactions. An enhanced type of XML schema may be used which supports integrity constraints and polymorphism. Schemas are identified by the use of Uniform Resource Names. XML processors residing on transaction servers or trading partner servers parse document instances by retrieving the URNs corresponding to the schemas used to interpret the document. The URNs are converted to location-dependent URIs in order to locate the schemas. URNs are resolved to location-dependent URIs by use of the LDAP protocol. URNs may be converted to LDAP URLs which are used to search LDAP compliant directories. The directories serve as registries for the URI values corresponding to the URNs. |
| US08266522B2 |
Method and device for temporally displaying advertising content on a webpage
A computer-implemented method and computing device for temporally displaying advertising content on a webpage are disclosed. The webpage on which the advertising content is displayed may have a plurality of graphical, textual and audio/visual components. The advertising content is displayed around a first area of the webpage, for example, around a video player, such that it hides the original content of the webpage around the first area (e.g. hides the original content of the webpage around the video player). The transparency of the advertising content is increased over a defined time interval so that over the time interval, the underlying original content of the webpage around the first area (e.g. around the video player) becomes increasingly visible. At the end of the time interval, the advertising content disappears entirely. No user input is required to trigger the fade out of the advertising content. The fade out occurs automatically. |
| US08266518B2 |
Anti-tamper process toolset
A tool set is provided that uses a series of modules (e.g. spreadsheet workbooks) for assessing risks/threats to and attacks against a project and developing countermeasures against such risks/threats/attacks. The project may cover a wide berth of functionality from alarm systems, computer security, building projects, etc. The roll up feature of the spreadsheet may be employed to evaluate changing scenarios in a short period of time. Ranked threats and countermeasures operable to defeat such threats may be displayed in a tree diagram generated by one or more of the modules. |
| US08266517B2 |
Creation of an interface for constructing conversational policies
A method and apparatus for taking a visual or verbal representation of a conversational policy and translating the representation into an XML file. The XML file can then be output in one or more formats, such as code used in a policy, a Word version of the XML file, or a visual representation of the XML file. |
| US08266514B2 |
Map service
Map service techniques are described. In an implementation, one or more computer-readable media comprise instructions that are executable by a computer to recognize from text an action that is performable by a particular one of a plurality of webpages and parse a set of parameters from the text to be passed to the particular said webpage to cause the webpage to perform the action. |
| US08266511B2 |
Decoding device and decoding method
A decoding device includes a BM calculator calculating a branch metric in a Log-MAP algorithm from received data and extrinsic information, an ACS operator calculating a maximum value of a path metric based on the branch metric, a correction term calculator calculating a Jacobian correction value of the path metric, and a correction operator correcting the path metric by adjusting a value of the Jacobian correction value based on a size of the received data and adding the adjusted correction value to the maximum value. |
| US08266510B1 |
High-throughput pipelined and scalable architecture for a K-Best MIMO detector
A high throughput and scalable MIMO detector can use a K-Best detection algorithm to find K combinations of transmit symbols that are likely to be the symbols that were actually transmitted. The K-best MIMO detector can include a plurality of stages, where each stage may correspond to a transmit antenna, and each stage can find K best symbol combinations based on information from a previous stage. To find the new K best symbol combinations, at each stage, a plurality of metrics for potential combinations are computed and sorted by magnitude. The MIMO detector preferably uses a high throughput, merge sorting algorithm to sort the metrics. |
| US08266509B2 |
Edge incremental redundancy memory structure and memory management
A wireless device for implementing Incremental Redundancy (IR) operations includes an IR memory dedicated to storing data related to the IR operations. The IR memory includes a Type I IR memory adapted to store IR status information of a Radio Link Control (RLC) data block and a Type II IR memory adapted to store the RLC data block. |
| US08266508B2 |
Computational efficient convolutional coding with rate matching
An error coding circuit comprises a non-systematic convolutional encoder for coding an input bit stream to produce two or more groups of parity bits, an interleaver circuit for interleaving parity bits within each group of parity bits, and a rate-matching circuit for outputting a selected number of the interleaved parity bits ordered by group to obtain a desired code rate. |
| US08266500B2 |
Method and apparatus for interleaving data in a mobile communication system
An interleaving method to which time-first-mapping is applied for a plurality of channel-coded and rate-matched code blocks in a mobile communication system is provided. The interleaving method includes determining sizes of a horizontal area and a vertical area of an interleaver, generating modulation groups with adjacent coded bits in a vertical direction according to a modulation scheme, sequentially writing the modulation groups in the horizontal area on a row-by-row basis, and sequentially reading the coded bits written in the interleaver in the vertical area on a column-by-column basis. |
| US08266499B2 |
CRC protection of data stored in XOR buffer
An XOR unit is provided in a hard disk controller for calculating an XOR of two operands stored in a buffer memory. The XOR unit includes an XOR calculator for calculating the XOR of the operands and a CRC of the XOR resulting from the calculation. An XOR buffer is also included in the XOR unit for storing the XOR result and the CRC of the XOR result, and a CRC calculator for calculating a CRC of the XOR result stored in the XOR buffer. The CRC calculated by the CRC calculator is compared with the CRC of the XOR result stored in the CRC buffer to determine whether the XOR result has been corrupted in the XOR buffer. The XOR result stored in the XOR buffer is determined to be corrupted if the CRC calculated by the CRC calculator and the CRC stored in the XOR buffer do not match. |
| US08266495B2 |
Systems and methods for performing concatenated error correction
A system and method is provided for performing concatenated error correction. In one implementation, an apparatus for encoding data includes an outer encoder to generate a code word corresponding to received input data and a parity circuit to compute parities of logical cells of data, the logical cells of data being obtained from the code word and having a first logical cell. The apparatus also includes an inner encoder to generate an error correction bit for the first logical cell based on a first parity corresponding to the first logical cell, and to insert the error correction bit in the first logical cell. |
| US08266493B1 |
Low-density parity check decoding using combined check node and variable node
A technique for decoding low-density parity check codes includes performing a combined check node and variable node calculation. Decoding is initialized using channel likelihood values estimated from a received physical signal. The decoding iteratively updates the variable nodes. Performing a combined check node and variable node calculation can enable reduced memory usage and faster convergence for the decoder. |
| US08266489B2 |
Recovering from a link down event of a two-way serial connection
A method for surviving a link down event in a two-way serial-connection link. The method includes sequentially numbering packets to be transmitted across the link, successfully transmitted packets being acknowledged and after the link down event. Only packets unacknowledged are retransmitted when a device coupled to the link attempts to survive the event, each unacknowledged packet being retransmitted in accordance with its number within the sequence. |
| US08266488B2 |
Encoding and decoding systems with header and data transmission success indication
A transceiver includes a receiver that receives and demodulates a first encoded block of data. The first encoded block of data includes a first redundancy version that corresponds to a first payload portion and a first header portion. The first encoded block of data is received from a communication device that is remote from the transceiver and that is in a cellular telecommunication network. A transmitter transmits an acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) signal that includes a dedicated decoding status indicator for the header portion. |
| US08266485B2 |
Test mode soft reset circuitry and methods
A soft-function trigger state machine includes state machine logic defined to use a scan-in waveform to sample a scan-clock waveform to obtain a sampled data pattern. The state machine logic is defined to compare the sampled data pattern to a soft action pattern to determine whether the sampled data pattern matches the soft action pattern. The state machine logic is also defined to trigger an action associated with the soft action pattern when the sampled data pattern matches the soft action pattern. |
| US08266483B2 |
Method for operating a register stage of a dual function data register
A method for operating a register stage of a dual function data register. A data register having master and slave latching circuits is used for concurrently storing two different words of data. Data is shifted into the master latching circuit in response to a first clock signal, and data stored in the master latching circuit is shifted into the slave latching circuit in response to a second clock signal. The first and second clocks are generated from a source clock in response to a control signal, which can be asserted at different times to initiate shifting operations from either the master latching circuit or the slave latching circuit. In otherwords, shifting operations can be initiated either on a rising edge of the source clock, or on a falling edge of the source clock. |
| US08266476B2 |
Multiprocessor system, its control method, and information recording medium
To provide a multiprocessor system in which data transmission efficiency is unlikely to be affected if a damaged processor should exist among a plurality of processors. The multiprocessor system has a plurality of processing modules, including a predetermined number, being three or more, of processors, and a bus for relaying data transmission among the respective processing modules, and specifies at least one damaged processor; selects as a communication restricted processor subjected to communication restriction at least one of the processors connected to the bus at a position determined according to a position where the damaged processor is connected to the bus; and restricts data transmission by the communication restricted processor via the bus. |
| US08266471B2 |
Memory device including a memory block having a fixed latency data output
A memory block includes a memory circuit and a clock generation unit. The memory circuit may output read data in response to being clocked by a clock signal having a selectable delay that may be dependent upon a time taken for the read data to be output by a memory core after the read command is received at the memory block. The clock generation unit may cause the read data to be provided as an output of the memory block in response to being clocked by a selected data clock signal. The data clock signal may be selected from one of several clock edges generated by one of several clock edges of a system clock such that regardless of the frequency of the system clock, the read data is provided by the memory block a predetermined amount of time after the read command is received at the memory block. |
| US08266462B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a boosting-step-down transformer and power control method
A fixing unit fixes a toner image transferred onto a recording medium to the recording medium by heating and pressurizing the toner image. An auxiliary power supply unit includes a charging element that is charged by a power supplied from a main power supply unit. Each of the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit supplies a power to the fixing unit. A power control unit controls the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit, so that the power supplied from at least one of the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit to the fixing unit is kept sufficient. |
| US08266459B2 |
Supplying voltage to digital subcircuits
Circuit, method for operating a circuit, and use, having a voltage regulator, which has a regulator output for providing a supply voltage, which for the supply can be connected to at least one first digital subcircuit via a first switch and to a second digital subcircuit via a second switch, wherein the voltage regulator is formed to output a first status signal dependent on the supply voltage, and to turn on the first switch by the first status signal is connected to a first control input of the first switch, and the first switch is formed to output a second status signal dependent on its switching state, and to turn on the second switch by the second status signal is connected to a second control input of the second switch. |
| US08266458B2 |
Estimating power consumption of a virtual server
Embodiments of the invention disclose a system and a method for estimating the power consumption of virtual servers that operate in various hardware configurations and making a charge. The system consists of a resource utilization measurement unit that measures utilization of a hardware resource by an operation of a virtual server. The system also includes a conversion unit that converts the utilization of the hardware resource measured by the resource utilization measurement unit to utilization of a hardware resource in a case where the operation of the virtual server is performed in a reference server including a preset hardware configuration. The system further includes a virtual power consumption calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of the utilization in the reference server obtained by the conversion by the conversion unit, as power that can be assumed to be consumed by the operation of the virtual server, power consumption in a case where a similar operation is performed in the reference server. The system further has an accounting unit that makes a charge for the operation of the virtual server on the basis of the power consumption calculated by the virtual power consumption calculation unit. Other embodiments are also provided. |
| US08266454B2 |
Secure flash memory using error correcting code circuitry
A processor and memory system includes memory, a table of exceptions, and a processor. The memory includes a plurality of memory blocks. The table of exceptions identifies at least one of the plurality of memory blocks that includes an expected error. The processor diagnoses a security fault based on data stored in at least one of the plurality of memory blocks and the table of exceptions. |
| US08266451B2 |
Voice activated smart card
A portable device including a biometric voice sensor configured to detect voice information and to take an action in response to speech spoken into the voice sensor. The device also includes a voice processor configured to process the voice sensor signal characteristics. The portable device may encrypt the detected signal and may compare the detected signal characteristics with voice characteristics that are stored in a memory of the portable device for applications such as voice enabled authentication, identification, command execution, encryption, and free speech recognition. The voice sensor may include a thin membrane portion that detects pressure waves caused by human speech. The portable device may be a contact-type smart card, a contactless smart card, or a hybrid smart card with contact and contactless interfaces. The device may be powered by an internal battery or by a host via contacts or by a power signal making use of the antenna in a contactless implementation. |
| US08266450B2 |
Information processing device, encryption method of instruction code, and decryption method of encrypted instruction code
It is possible to achieve the protection of software with reduced overhead. For example, a memory for storing an encrypted code prepared in advance and a decryptor module for decrypting the code are provided. The decryptor module includes, for example, a three-stage pipeline and a selector for selecting one output from the outputs of each stage of the pipeline. When a branch instruction is issued and subsequent inputs of the pipeline are in the order of CD′1, CD′2, . . . , the decryptor module outputs a first decrypted code by performing a one-stage pipeline process to CD′1. Next, the decryptor module outputs a second decrypted code by performing a two-stage pipeline process to CD′2, and the decryptor module outputs a third decrypted code by performing a three-stage pipeline process to CD′3 (and subsequent codes). Therefore, in particular, the overhead to CD′1 can be reduced. |
| US08266448B2 |
Apparatus, system, method, and computer program product for generating and securing a program capable of being executed utilizing a processor to decrypt content
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating and securing a program, and secrets including confidential keys, capable of being executed utilizing a processor to decrypt content. In operation, a second party's program for decrypting content from a third party is generated by a second party, and then secured in a process involving the second party in such a manner that it can be subsequently executed on the processor, without revealing the contents of the second party's program, nor any secrets provided by third party, or used by the second party, in securing the program, nor any portion of the third party's content while being handled by the program. |
| US08266447B2 |
Method and apparatus for the secure processing of sensitive information
The subject matter of the invention relates to a system (1) and to a method for securely processing information, particularly sensitive information by means of a signature and/or encryption principle, comprising at least the following: a mobile passive first storage unit (1) for retrievably storing first information, a processing device (3) which is adapted for interacting with the first storage unit (2) in order to process information, comprising: a decryption-protected second storage unit (6) for retrievably storing second information corresponding to the first information, a computer unit (5) for (cryptographically) processing information, an information transmission unit (4), for transmitting the information of the first and/or the second storage unit (2, 6) to the computer unit (5). |
| US08266444B2 |
Chip integrated protection means
The invention relates to a chip for processing a content, comprising at least a microprocessor. Said chip includes an integrated non-volatile programmable memory for storing protection data and protected data, said protection data being intended to be used for authorizing/denying access to said protected data by said microprocessor under execution of a program. The invention allows to protect program and data dedicated to a chip-integrated conditional-access system and to protect features as external connections and downloaded data directly on the chip. |
| US08266441B2 |
One-time password credit/debit card
A one-time password (OTP) generator in combination with a conventional credit/debit card comprising a card having a magnetic bar stripe, raised imprint card numbers and name, expiration date and four digit code as are known in the art is provided. Full smart card functionality may also be provided. The card also includes a microprocessor and software, dedicated chip or a memory chip for generating the OTP. A visual and/or audio display is provided on the card to output the OTP to the user. The end user inputs the OTP to access the secured system. The credit/debit card functionality may be used apart from the OTP generator functionality. |
| US08266440B2 |
Information processing apparatus and authentication information migration method
An information processing apparatus of the present invention converts user authentication information based on a second one-way function into a second converted value if authentication with a first converted value obtained by converting the user authentication information based on the first one-way function is successful. |
| US08266437B2 |
Electronic vouchers and a system and method for issuing the same
A system and method for issuing electronic vouchers representing value. An issuing server generates an eVoucher that a recipient may use to purchase goods and services from a merchant's e-commerce Web site. The eVoucher includes an image, such as a corporate logo, that identifies the issuing merchant. Nonimage data, such as a unique identifier for the eVoucher and encrypted arbitrary text, is embedded in the eVoucher image and is used to track the use of the eVoucher and to verify its authenticity. |
| US08266433B1 |
Method and system for automatically migrating encryption keys between key managers in a network storage system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system, in a network storage system, for a remote key manager performing cryptographic operations upon a failure of a protected key manager, using a hardware encryption key (key) automatically migrated from the protected key manager. During initialization, the protected and remote key managers authenticate the communication channel (e.g. trustee link) between each other. A new key generated by dedicated hardware of the protected key manager is used by the protected key manager to perform cryptographic operations on data of a storage server. The remote key manager then requests and obtains the new key from the protected key manager across the trustee link. Upon a failure of the protected key manager, the remote key manager performs cryptographic operations on data of the storage server using the migrated key, ensuring accessibility and security of such data. |
| US08266432B2 |
Centralized identification and authentication system and method
A method and system is provided by a Central-Entity, for identification and authorization of users over a communication network such as Internet. Central-Entity centralizes users personal and financial information in a secure environment in order to prevent the distribution of user's information in e-commerce. This information is then used to create digital identity for the users. The digital identity of each user is dynamic, non predictable and time dependable, because it is a combination of user name and a dynamic, non predictable and time dependable secure code that will be provided to the user for his identification. The user will provide his digital identity to an External-Entity such as merchant or service provider. The External-Entity is dependent on Central-Entity to identify the user based on the digital identity given by the user. The External-Entity forwards user's digital identity to the Central-Entity for identification and authentication of the user and the transaction. The identification and authentication system provided by the Central-Entity, determines whether the user is an authorized user by checking whether the digital identity provided by the user to the External-Entity, corresponds to the digital identity being held for the user by the authentication system. If they correspond, then the authentication system identifies the user as an authorized user, and sends an approval identification and authorization message to the External-Entity, otherwise the authentication system will not identify the user as an authorized user and sends a denial identification and authorization message to the External-Entity. |
| US08266431B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing encryption of data at rest at a port of a network device
Methods and apparatus for performing encryption for data at rest at a port of a network device such as a switch are disclosed. Specifically, when data is received from a host during a write to a storage medium such as a disk, the data is encrypted by the port prior to transmitting the encrypted data to the storage medium. Similarly, when a host attempts to read data from the storage medium, the port of the network device receives the encrypted data from the storage medium, decrypts the data, and transmits the decrypted data to the host. In this manner, encryption and decryption of data at rest are supported by the port of the network device. |
| US08266429B2 |
Technique for securely communicating and storing programming material in a trusted domain
A “trusted domain” is established within which content received from a communications network, e.g., a cable TV network, is protected from unauthorized copying thereof, in accordance with the invention. In an illustrative embodiment, the trusted domain includes a device associated with a user which receives content from the cable TV network. The content may be encrypted using a content key in accordance, e.g., with a 3DES encryption algorithm before it is stored in the device. In addition, a first encrypted content key version and a second encrypted content key version are generated by respectively encrypting the content key with a public key associated with the device and another public key associated with the user, in accordance with public key cryptography. The first and second encrypted content key versions are stored in association with the encrypted content in the device storage. The encrypted content can be migrated from a first device to a second device, and can be decrypted in the second device if the second device is associated with the same user, and also provided with the second encrypted content key version. |
| US08266428B2 |
Secure communication system and method of IPv4/IPv6 integrated network system
An Internet Protocol version 4/Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv4/IPv6) integrated network system includes at least one first node for creating identification information capable of identifying each secret key shared with at least one second node, and for exchanging the created identification information with each second node in a secure negotiating process. Each second node creates identification information capable of identifying each secret key shared with each first node, and performs the secure negotiating process based on the secret keys corresponding to the identification information exchanged through the secure negotiating process. Thereby, secure communication complying with Security Architecture for the Internet Protocol (IPSec) can be implemented based on the secret keys in the IPv4/IPv6 integrated network system of a Network Address Translation-Protocol Translation (NAT-PT) environment. |
| US08266425B2 |
URL-based certificate in a PKI
A method of requesting and issuing a certificate from certification authority for use by an initiating correspondent with a registration authority is provided. The initiating correspondent makes a request for a certificate to the registration authority, and the registration authority sends the request to a certificate authority, which issues the certificate to the registration authority. The certificate is stored at a location in a directory and this location is associated with a pointer such as uniform resource locator (URL) that is derived from information contained in the certificate request. The initiating correspondent computes the location using the same information and forwards it to other corespondents. The other correspondents can then locate the certificate to authenticate the public key of the initiating correspondent. |
| US08266423B2 |
Protection against attacks by generation of errors on jump instructions
A method for securing a program against attacks by error, i.e. in a chip card, wherein at least one jump instruction, including a relative address chosen from a plurality of possible relative addresses, is identified in the program, wherein the at least one jump instruction makes it possible to reach a targeted address inside the memory area extending before and after the jump instruction and regrouping the plurality of possible relative addresses, inside the memory area, wherein an instruction to be preserved is identified and, in order to secure at least the instruction, at least one first non-operative batch including at least one instruction is inserted, the insertion being carried out in such a way as to ensure that the insertion is compatible with maintenance of the address targeted by the jump instruction inside the memory area and that the insertion is compatible with the normal running of the program. |
| US08266418B2 |
Computer system and method of booting the same
Provided are a computer system and a method of booting the same. The computer system includes: a first storage unit for storing a booting-related program including an operating system program and data, the stored program and data being retained even when a power voltage is not supplied; and a second storage unit for storing data, the data being lost when the power voltage is not supplied for a predetermined time or longer. The method includes: a first step of performing a booting operation using the booting-related program stored in the first storage unit and storing the booting-related program stored in the first storage unit in the second storage unit when the second storage unit is detected and the booting-related program is not stored in the second storage unit; a second step for performing a booting operation by executing the booting-related program stored in the second storage unit when the second storage unit is detected and the booting-related program is stored in the second storage unit; and a third step of backing up the booting-related program stored in the second storage unit to the first storage unit when a predefined backup condition is met. |
| US08266413B2 |
Processor architecture for multipass processing of instructions downstream of a stalled instruction
A processor triggers a first advanced execution processing pass to an instruction sequence in response to a first stalled instruction and initiates execution of a further instruction in the instruction sequence that stalls during the performance of the first advanced execution processing pass. A second advanced execution pass is performed through the instruction sequence in which the further instruction is processed again to provide a valid result after stalling. In one form, the first instruction is performed while the processor operates in a normal execution mode and the first and second advanced execution processing passes are performed while the processor operates in an advance execution mode. |
| US08266412B2 |
Hierarchical store buffer having segmented partitions
A hierarchical store buffer included in a hierarchical microprocessor includes a plurality of execution clusters. An embodiment of a hierarchical store buffer includes a first-level store buffer configured to receive data values to be written to a memory subsystem from the plurality of execution clusters and store the received data values prior to writing the data values to the memory subsystem and a plurality of second-level store buffers each operatively coupled with the first-level store buffer, each second-level store buffer being included in a respective execution cluster. In the embodiment, the second-level store buffers each are configured to receive data values to be written to the memory subsystem from one or more execution units of the respective execution cluster and store the received data values prior to copying the data values to the first-level store buffer, where the first-level store buffer and the second-level store buffer are collectively configured to copy the stored data values to the first-level store buffer. |
| US08266411B2 |
Instruction set architecture with instruction characteristic bit indicating a result is not of architectural importance
Instead of having a processor with an instruction set architecture (ISA) that includes fixed architected operands, an improved processor supports additional characteristic bits for computing instructions (e.g., a multiply-add, load/store instructions). Such additional bits for the certain instructions influence the processing of these instructions by the processor. Also, a new instruction is introduced for further usage of the proposed method. Typically these additional characteristic bits as well as the instruction can be automatically generated by compilers to provide relatively well-suited instruction sequences for the processor. |
| US08266402B2 |
Retaining disk identification in operating system environment after a hardware-driven snapshot restore from a snapshot-LUN created using software-driven snapshot architecture
A program, method and system are disclosed for managing a snapshot backup restore through a hardware snapshot interface, i.e. a hardware-driven snapshot restore, based upon a software-driven snapshot backup, e.g. created with software such as volume shadow copy service (VSS). When conventional hardware-driven snapshot restores are performed using a snapshot backup that was created using the VSS-based software such as copy services, data access issues can arise, due to the operating system assigning of a new disk signature to the disk being restored. This problem can be overcome by temporarily storing the original disk signature and then overwriting the new, incorrect disk signature after initializing the restore. This can ensure that the operating system identifies the source LUNs (and accordingly, the drive letter and mount points of the disk) using the same disk signature as before the restore. |
| US08266398B2 |
Method and apparatus for preserving memory contents during a power outage
A method and apparatus for preserving contents of a volatile memory when a main (e.g., AC) power source is disconnected. The apparatus comprises flash memory, a controller for writing to the flash memory and a temporary power source. The temporary power source may be a relatively low power battery or supercapacitor. The apparatus is removably attached to a computing device (e.g., via a USB port). When main power of the device is disconnected, the temporary power source provides power for the apparatus, the volatile memory containing data to be safeguarded, and sufficient processing resources to transfer the data. For example, an auxiliary processor may be powered (instead of a relatively high-power processor) or just one core of a multi-core processor. Data are written to the apparatus and can be recovered when main power is reconnected. Or, the apparatus may be detached and attached to a different device for data recovery. |
| US08266396B2 |
Memory system comprising blocks operable in parallel
According to one embodiment, a free blocks included in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory are classified into a plurality of free block management lists. When a free block is acquired at normal priority, the free block is acquired from the free block management list in which a number of free blocks is larger than a first threshold. When a free block is acquired at high priority, the free block is acquired from the free block management list irrespective of the first threshold. |
| US08266393B2 |
Coordination among multiple memory controllers
Systems and methods that coordinate operations among a plurality of memory controllers to make a decision for performing an action based in part on state information. A control component facilitates exchange of information among memory controllers, wherein exchanged state information of the memory controllers are further employed to perform computations that facilitate the decision making process. |
| US08266392B2 |
Cache access mechanism
Techniques for improving cache accesses in an object-relational mapping space are described herein. In one embodiment, in response to a first cache request received at a first cache API associated with a transaction for updating a data entry of the relational database, the updated data of the data entry is stored in a local cache, where the local cache is one of members of a cache cluster, and an invalidation message is sent to remaining members of the cache cluster to invalidate corresponding cache entries of the remaining members. In response to a second cache request received at a second cache API associated with a transaction for loading data from a data entry of the relational database, the loaded data is stored in the local cache without sending an invalidation message to the remaining members of the cache cluster. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08266389B2 |
Hierarchical memory arbitration technique for disparate sources
A hierarchical memory request stream arbitration technique merges coherent memory request streams from multiple memory request sources and arbitrates the merged coherent memory request stream with requests from a non-coherent memory request stream. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a merged memory request stream from a plurality of memory request streams includes merging coherent memory requests into a first serial memory request stream. The method includes selecting, by a memory controller circuit, a memory request for placement in the merged memory request stream from at least the first serial memory request stream and a merged non-coherent request stream. The merged non-coherent memory request stream is at least partially based on an indicator of a previous memory request selected for placement in the merged memory request stream. |
| US08266388B2 |
External memory controller
A memory controller to provide memory access services in an adaptive computing engine is provided. The controller comprises: a network interface configured to receive a memory request from a programmable network; and a memory interface configured to access a memory to fulfill the memory request from the programmable network, wherein the memory interface receives and provides data for the memory request to the network interface, the network interface configured to send data to and receive data from the programmable network. |
| US08266385B2 |
Technique and apparatus for identifying cache segments for caching data to be written to main memory
A memory apparatus having a cache memory including cache segments, and memorizing validity data indicative of whether or not each of the sectors contained in each cache segment is a valid sector inclusive of valid data; and a cache controlling component for controlling access to the cache memory. The cache controlling component includes a detecting component for detecting, when writing a cache segment back to the main memory, areas having consecutive invalid sectors by accessing validity data corresponding to the cache segment, and a write-back controlling component issuing a read command to the main memory, the read command being for reading data into each area detected, making the area a valid sector, and writing the data in the cache segment back to the main memory. |
| US08266383B1 |
Cache miss processing using a defer/replay mechanism
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for processing cache misses resulting from a request received from one of the multiple clients of an L1 cache. The L1 cache services multiple clients with diverse latency and bandwidth requirements, including at least one client whose requests cannot be stalled. The L1 cache includes storage to buffer pending requests for caches misses. When an entry is available to store a pending request, a request causing a cache miss is accepted. When the data for a read request becomes available, the cache instructs the client to resubmit the read request to receive the data. When an entry is not available to store a pending request, a request causing a cache miss is deferred and the cache provides the client with status information that is used to determine when the request should be resubmitted. |
| US08266381B2 |
Varying an amount of data retrieved from memory based upon an instruction hint
In at least one embodiment, a processor detects during execution of program code whether a load instruction within the program code is associated with a hint. In response to detecting that the load instruction is not associated with a hint, the processor retrieves a full cache line of data from the memory hierarchy into the processor in response to the load instruction. In response to detecting that the load instruction is associated with a hint, a processor retrieves a partial cache line of data into the processor from the memory hierarchy in response to the load instruction. |
| US08266375B2 |
Automated on-line capacity expansion method for storage device
The storage system provides a logical volume and includes a plurality of disk devices and a controller, coupled to the plurality of disk devices, which manages a plurality of storage areas provided by the plurality of disk devices. The host includes an application which sends data to a logical volume and an operating system which manages a block position of the logical volume. If the operating system receives a request from the application to expand a first capacity of the logical volume, the operating system sends a write request to the logical volume. In response to the write request, the controller allocates at least one of the plurality of storage areas to the logical volume. The controller monitors a second capacity of storage areas allocated to the logical volume relative to a third capacity of the plurality of storage areas. |
| US08266374B2 |
Method of identifying physical characteristic information of optical disc and related controller thereof
A method of identifying physical characteristic information of an optical disc includes: deriving a reading result by reading at least a first region of the optical disc, where a location of the first region is specified in a Blu-ray disc specification for recording information associated with recording management of a BD recordable disc; and identifying a first physical characteristic of the optical disc according to the reading result. |
| US08266373B1 |
Content addressable memory (CAM) device and method for updating data by multiplexing between key register and mask value input
A content addressable memory (CAM) can include a CAM memory array having both a data field and a mask field. A multiplexer (MUX) can selectively load data from either a register or an external data input to one or both fields of the CAM memory array. |
| US08266372B2 |
High bandwidth memory interface
A DRAM system configured for high bandwidth communication, the system includes at least one DRAM having resistive termination devices within the DRAM, and a controller connected to the DRAM through a data bus. The controller includes resistive termination devices and the data bus includes at least one clock line driven intermittently. The data bus provides write data from the controller to the DRAM, and provides read data from the DRAM to the controller. |
| US08266367B2 |
Multi-level striping and truncation channel-equalization for flash-memory system
Truncation reduces the available striped data capacity of all flash channels to the capacity of the smallest flash channel. A solid-state disk (SSD) has a smart storage switch salvages flash storage removed from the striped data capacity by truncation. Extra storage beyond the striped data capacity is accessed as scattered data that is not striped. The size of the striped data capacity is reduced over time as more bad blocks appear. A first-level striping map stores striped and scattered capacities of all flash channels and maps scattered and striped data. Each flash channel has a Non-Volatile Memory Device (NVMD) with a lower-level controller that converts logical block addresses (LBA) to physical block addresses (PBA) that access flash memory in the NVMD. Wear-leveling and bad block remapping are preformed by each NVMD. Source and shadow flash blocks are recycled by the NVMD. Two levels of smart storage switches enable three-level controllers. |
| US08266360B2 |
I2C-bus interface with parallel operational mode
An electronic circuit has an interface for an I2C-bus. The interface comprises a first node for a clock line of the I2C-bus; a second node for a data line of the I2C-bus; and an I2C-bus controller for controlling an operation of the interface under combined control of the clock line and the data line. The circuit has a plurality of further nodes for connecting to a plurality of further data lines. The controller has an operational mode for control of receiving from the further nodes, or for control of supplying to the further nodes, a plurality of data bits in parallel under combined control of the clock line and the data line. |
| US08266356B2 |
Interconnecting computing modules to form an integrated system
Systems, methods and portable devices are provided for interconnecting one or more computing modules within an enclosure together to form an integrated system. A portable device may include a communication interface configured to be removably coupled to each computing module for interconnecting them together to form the integrated system. A portable device may also include memory configured to store an integrated system personality that serves as a point of authority for each computing module of the integrated system. The integrated system personality may include an identifier of the integrated system. |
| US08266354B2 |
Zoned initialization of a solid state drive
Zoned initialization of a solid state drive is provided. A solid state memory device includes a controller for controlling storage and retrieval of data to and from the device. A set of solid state memory components electrically coupled to the controller. The set is electrically divided into a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is at least partially initialized independent from the second zone. An interface is coupled between the controller and the set of solid state memory components to facilitate transfer of data between the set of solid state memory components and the controller. |
| US08266352B2 |
Key-operated memory-programmable control coupled to a personal computer
The keys which are used to activate the machine functions are embodied as keys (T1 Tn) which are directly connected to one of the SPS inputs (9). One of the several key planes can be selected by the user interface (13) of the PC coupled to the SPS. A control unit (4), which is connected to the SPS inputs (9) and which processes data in the SPS, is provided. Said control unit contains information about the keyboard layout of the keys (T1 Tn) on the respectively selected key plane by the PC by means of the data interface (8) and comprises a key signal which is arranged on the SPS entry (9). |
| US08266351B2 |
System and method for secure complex event processing in heterogeneous environments
Certain example embodiments relate to a system for secure complex event processing (CEP). The system includes an input adaptor configured to receive at least one input event from at least one external source system. The at least one input event comprises at least one event-specific disclosure permission concerning data of the input event. A CEP engine is configured to process the at least one input event and to produce at least one corresponding complex output event. A security enforcer is configured to remove data from the at least one output event that is not in accordance with the at least one event-specific disclosure permission defined in the corresponding at least one input event. An output adaptor is configured to send the at least one output event to at least one external target system. |
| US08266350B2 |
Method and system for supporting portable desktop
A method is disclosed for a portable peripheral memory storage device. The peripheral memory storage device is coupled with a workstation. In a first mode of operation, a portion of the peripheral memory storage device is mounted on the workstation for operation therewith as a storage medium in a first mode of operation. In a second other mode of operation data within the peripheral memory storage device is used to support a personal desktop on the workstation. |
| US08266345B2 |
Dynamic A-MSDU enabling
A dynamic A-MSDU enabling method is disclosed. The method enables the recipient of an aggregate MAC service data unit (A-MSDU) under a block ACK agreement to reject the A-MSDU. The method thus distinguishes between A-MSDU outside of the block ACK agreement, which is mandatory, from A-MSDU under the block ACK agreement, which is optional. The method thus complies with the 802.11n specification while enabling the recipient to intelligently allocate memory during block ACK operations. |
| US08266344B1 |
Recycling buffer pointers using a prefetch buffer
A network device may include an off-chip memory to store a free-list of buffer pointers. The network device may further include an on-chip controller that includes a prefetch buffer. The prefetch buffer may store unallocated buffer pointers that point to available memory locations in a different off-chip memory. The on-chip controller may receive an unallocated buffer pointer, determine, in response to receiving the unallocated buffer pointer, whether the prefetch buffer is full, store the unallocated buffer pointer in the prefetch buffer when the prefetch buffer is determined not to be full, and store the unallocated buffer pointer in the free-list, in the off-chip memory, when the prefetch buffer is determined to be full. |
| US08266341B2 |
Display apparatus, control method thereof and control method of external device
A display apparatus, a control method thereof and a control method of an external device are provided. The display apparatus includes a contents processing unit which reproduces contents, a communication unit which communicates with an external device which reproduces contents, and a control unit which receives reproduction information of the contents reproduced in the external device from the external device through the communication unit, and controls the contents processing unit to reproduce contents corresponding to the contents reproduced in the external device, based on the received reproduction information. |
| US08266339B2 |
Direct memory access (DMA) transfer of network interface statistics
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includes maintaining statistics, at a network interface, metering operation of the network interface. The statistics are transferred by direct memory access from the network interface to a memory accessed by at least one processor. |
| US08266336B2 |
Video device
A video device includes a signal generating circuit configured for generating video signals; an internal resistor connected to the output port of the signal generating circuit and matching with an external resistor of an external device; a detecting circuit connected to two ends of the internal resistor through two input ports thereof, and configured for detecting voltages of the two ends of the internal resistor and outputting a voltage difference therebetween; a controlling circuit connected to the output port of the detecting circuit, and configured for determining whether or not the external device is connected to the video device according to the voltage deference, and outputting a controlling signal to the signal generating circuit; an auxiliary detecting circuit connected to the output port of the controlling circuit, and configured for generating an auxiliary detecting signal transmitted to the internal resistor. |
| US08266335B2 |
Video display device, method of displaying connectors, transmission-line state detection device, transmission line-state detection method and semiconductor integrated circuit
A video display device includes: connectors to which cables transmitting video signals are connected; a display panel displaying video by the video signal inputted to the connector from an external device through the cable; a display control unit displaying connector indications indicating the connectors on the display panel; a cable detection unit outputting a step waveform signal to the connector and detecting connection/disconnection of the cable to the connector based on a reflected signal of the step waveform signal, and wherein the display control unit changes the appearance of the connector indications displayed on the display panel according to a detection output of the cable detection unit. |
| US08266331B2 |
Transmitting retry request associated with non-posted command via response credit channel
In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, at a first computing device coupled to a second computing device via a bus, receiving a request from the second computing device to complete a non-posted command, where the request is received via a request credit channel of the bus, and where the first computing device is configured to receive requests to complete non-posted commands and requests to complete posted commands via the request credit channel. The method also includes removing the request to complete the non-posted command from the request credit channel. The method further includes transmitting a retry request associated with the non-posted command to the second computing device via a response credit channel of the bus. |
| US08266328B2 |
Disk device assigned ID codes for storage areas of external storage device
Provided are systems and methods to communicate data transfer of data between a disk device and an external storage device. A host can generate a control command to communicate with an external storage device, and a disk device to receive the control command from a host to identify and communicate with an external storage device when connected to the external storage device and to configure the external storage device by assigning an ID code to each storage area of the external storage device. |
| US08266326B2 |
Frameworks for integrating information systems
Techniques for integrating Information Systems with Application Servers are disclosed. The techniques can be used to implement a configurable connector interface that connects to existing interfaces used to access various Information Systems. The configurable connection interface can encapsulate these existing interfaces. Accordingly, the configurable connector interface can serve as a standard interface that can be used to connect an application server to various Information Systems. The configurable connection interface can be implemented as a “Resource Adaptor” that can be modified to fit the requirements of a particular existing interface used to access a particular information system (e.g., a database driver developed for a particular relational database). A Graphical User Interface (GUI) can be used to conveniently modify and deploy the modified Resource Adaptor file. These operations can conveniently be performed by using a deployment tool through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). |
| US08266324B2 |
Domain specific domain name service
The present invention provides a computer implemented method for resolving a universal resource identifier (URI). The client computer receives the universal resource identifier, which is comprised of a domain name. The client computer looks up a row corresponding to the domain name in a domain specific domain name service (DNS) server list. The row includes at least a first internet protocol address. The client computer transmits a domain name service (DNS) query addressed to the first internet protocol address responsive to looking up the row. Upon receiving a valid response in at least one packet, wherein the at least one packet is from the first internet protocol address, the client computer resolves the universal resource identifier to a second internet protocol address. |
| US08266318B2 |
Systems for distributing content data over a computer network and method of arranging nodes for distribution of data over a computer network
The invention is a system for distributing content data over a computer network and a method of arranging receiver nodes in a computer network such that the capacity of the server is effectively multiplied many times over, and may even be increased exponentially. The invention takes advantage of the excess capacity many receiver nodes possess, and uses them as repeaters. The distribution system includes nodes having databases which indicate their ancestors and descendants so that reconfiguration of the distribution network may be accomplished without burdening the system's primary sever. The invention includes a process for configuring a computer information distribution network having a primary server node and user nodes docked in a cascaded relationship, and reconfiguring the network in the event that a user node departs from it. The process includes the steps of providing a new user node (or connection requesting user node) with a connection address list of nodes within the network, having the new user node (or connection requesting user node) go to the node at the top of the connection address list, determine whether that node is still part of the distribution network, and connect thereto if it is, and if it is not, to go to the next node on the connection address list. When a user node departs from the distribution network, a propagation signal is transmitted to the nodes below it in the network, causing them to move up in the network in a predetermined order. |
| US08266312B2 |
Method of streaming size-constrained valid XML
Methods (100), systems (200), computer program products, and signal bearing mediums for streaming an eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-type document (210) over a communication network (240) are described. A sequence of commands are received and synchronously converted (112) into XML-type fragments (230) for assembling and streaming a single XML-type document for a mobile device (220) in the communication network (240). The size of the XML-type document (210) exceeds the size limit imposed by the available memory on the device but less than the size limit imposed by the transport layer of a communication network (240). A DTD of the XML-type document (210) can be broken up into logically independent elements. The XML-type fragments (230) are assembled (114) in a buffer that is constrained to be smaller in size than the size constraint of the transport layer of the communication network (240). Periodically, the assembled fragments (230) are flushed (116) from the buffer to the transport layer of the communication network (240) dependent upon the DTD of the XML-type document (210) without a limitation on the size of a message to communicate the XML-type document (210) over the transport layer without loss of information. |
| US08266311B2 |
Strategies for transmitting in-band control information
Strategies are described for transmitting control information from a host module to a client module. The host module transmits the control information in-band along with a stream of media content information packets. The control information can be used to govern the operation of the client module. In one case, the control information alerts the client module to a discontinuity in streams, which may be the result of the user changing channels via the host or client module, etc., issuing a seek instruction, and so forth. Transmitting the control information in in-band fashion is advantageous because it reduces the need for complex linking between the control information and the associated content information. |
| US08266308B2 |
System, method, and device for communicating between a field device, device controller, and enterprise application
A system for communicating between a field device, a device controller for the field device, and an enterprise application distinct from the device controller includes a single communication device configured to communicate with each of the field device, the device controller, and the enterprise application. The single communication device is configured to facilitate communication between the field device and the device controller, and the field device and the enterprise application. The single communication device is configured to replicate data received from the field device and, after replication of the data, separately filter the data for the device controller and the enterprise application. |
| US08266297B2 |
Method and system for routing
A method and system for routings are disclosed. The method includes: receiving a SIP request message that carries semantic information of a service; by using the semantic information carried in the SIP request message as an input, searching for the service through semantic inference; generating a standard service request message which carries found service information, and sending the message to an application server that handles the service. The present invention increases the quantity of services available for requesting, and improves the flexibility of requesting services. |
| US08266295B2 |
System and method for detecting and mitigating DNS spoofing trojans
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for detecting and/or mitigating domain name system (DNS) spoofing Trojan horse (or Trojan) code. Trojan code (sometimes called malware or malicious software) is a common computer security problem. Some Trojans modify the DNS resolution mechanism employed by the infected computer, such that the computer traffic, when browsing the Internet, is routed to a location not intended by the rightful owner of the computer. The present invention can detect this phenomenon from a remote device or location and may take action to mitigate its effects. |
| US08266292B2 |
Memorable resource names
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for generating a human memorable resource name. Both a first part of the resource name and a second part of the resource name are generated, where both parts respectively comprise a memorable alphanumeric string (e.g., easily remembered). The first and second parts of the resource name are combined with an intervening separator symbol to generate the first resource name, comprising the first part, the symbol, and the second part. The first resource name is compared against a desired threshold to determine if it can be used as the name for the resource. If the first resource name does not meet the threshold a second resource name is generated for the resource. |
| US08266283B2 |
Media file access and storage solution for multi-workstation/multi-platform non-linear video editing systems
A novel system, method and computer program product for accessing digital media files stored in a media storage device via a server device in communication with the media storage device. There is provided a tool for allowing multiple non-linear editing systems to safely open up and work from and collaborate on the same “Project”. The tool manages ownership and permissions over different editors' contributions to shared Projects and implements “symbolic links” to create a virtual file and folder structure that creates an “optimized view” of the Project for each editor, that keeps work organized so that it is clear which editor is editing what and that allows each editor to maintain his/her own settings for the Project. |
| US08266276B1 |
System and method to monitor performance of different domains associated with a computer or network
A system to monitor performance may include at least one probe to collect data related to performance of an associated domain. The system may also include at least one base station to receive data from associated ones of the at least one probe. |
| US08266274B2 |
Method and apparatus for data processing
A method and system can include multiple data handling stages for manipulating tracked information associated with content distributed to users and/or computers, such as static objects, media objects, and/or software objects, for example. The content can be distributed as widget instances and the associated tracked information can be received over a network. The information received can be associated with a session corresponding to each widget instance and/or with multiple identifiers, such as widget, user, content, session, content aggregation point, processor, and/or placement identifiers, for example. Data handling processes, including sorting, storing, filtering, combining, queuing, and/or authenticating, for example, can be performed during the data handling stages. The processed information can be used to determine modifications to a behavior associated with widgets and/or widget containers. |
| US08266272B2 |
Methods for IT network representation and associated computer program products
A method of creating an IT-network representation including automatically discoverable active elements and not automatically discoverable, passive elements. A logical discoverable-elements representation of the IT network is produced, by running a network auto-discovery tool. The representation includes the automatically discoverable active elements and a discoverable-elements network topology. Representations of not automatically discoverable elements are manually inserted, by a user by means of a network-element editor, between automatically discovered elements into said discoverable-elements representation. Thereby a combined logical representation is created which models the IT network with its automatically discoverable elements and non automatically discoverable elements. |
| US08266269B2 |
Systems and methods for providing content and services on a network system
Systems and methods for managing and providing content and services on a network system. Aspects of the invention include location-based determination of network content and services that may be provided to client computers. Other aspects of the invention include authorization and authentication components that determine access rights of client computers. Additional aspects include systems and methods for redirecting client computers to different network content. The disclosed systems and methods may be used in numerous network system applications. |
| US08266266B2 |
Systems and methods for providing dynamic network authorization, authentication and accounting
Systems and methods for selectably controlling and customizing source access to a network, where the source is associated with a source computer, and wherein the source computer has transparent access to the network via a gateway device and no configuration software need be installed on the source computer to access the network. A user may be prevented access from a particular destination or site based upon the user's authorization while being permitted to access to other sites that the method and system deems accessible. The method and system can identify a source without that source's knowledge, and can access customizable access rights corresponding to that source in a source profile database. The source profile database can be a remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) or a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) database. The method and system use source profiles within the source profile database to dynamically authorize source access to networks and destinations via networks. |
| US08266262B2 |
Providing network security services for multiple requesters
A security initialization system receives a first initialization request from a first requester to access a first database storing security data and stores context data for the first initialization request that identifies an initialization operation associated with the first database. The security initialization system receives a second initialization request from a second requester to access a second database storing security data and updates the context data to identify an initialization operation associated with the second database. The security initialization system receives a shut down request from one of the requesters, where the shut down request includes data for identifying a corresponding initialization operation in the context data. The security initialization system updates the context data to show that the corresponding initialization operation has a shut down request and determines whether a security module is to be shut down using the context data. |
| US08266257B1 |
Systems and methods for reducing the amount of time required to reconnect to a computing network
As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for reducing the amount of time required to reconnect to a computing network. In one example, an exemplary method for accomplishing this task may include: 1) initiating a DHCP request for an IP address and then, while waiting for the DHCP request to resolve, 2) identifying a prior IP address previously used by the computing device to access the computing network, 3) probing the computing network to ensure that the prior IP address is not currently in use by other devices within the computing network, and 4) accessing the computing network using the prior IP address. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08266256B2 |
Virtualization for low-power networks
Techniques are generally described that relate to a method and system for associating a virtual device operating in a virtual network having a virtual device coordinator with a low-power device. Example methods may include receiving, by the virtual device coordinator, a low-power device descriptor from the low-power device. The virtual device coordinator may be arranged to determine a low-power device classification based on the received low-power device descriptor. The virtual device may be configured, by the virtual device coordinator, based on one or more of the low-power device classification and/or the low-power device descriptor. The virtual device coordinator may be adapted to store an association record indicating that the virtual device is associated with the low-power device. |
| US08266254B2 |
Allocating resources in a distributed computing environment
A solution in a distributed computing environment is deployed and includes selecting a solution template corresponding to the solution, the solution template defining requirements for a plurality of computing elements; selecting resources within a computing infrastructure which match the requirements; and deploying the solution by configuring the resources according to the solution template. |
| US08266253B2 |
Server system and event message transmission method therefor, client terminal and connection method and program therefor, and recording medium
The present invention provides techniques for allowing a server system to reduce the amount of communications and perform efficient operations. A server system returns an event message in response to an HTTP request including an application identifier from a client terminal. The server system comprises a first through a fourth server, where the first server receives the HTTP request from the client device and transfers the HTTP request to a plurality of installed second servers, the third server transmits a server identifier of the second server, to which the HTTP request has been transferred, to the fourth server after the HTTP request has been made, and the fourth server transmits an application identifier included in the HTTP request and an event message to the second transmission server indicated by the server identifier, and the second server suspends the HTTP request transferred from the request reception server, and transmits the HTTP request to the client device when it receives the event message from the fourth server. |
| US08266252B2 |
Method for document delivery to a mobile communication device
A process for viewing a selected portion of a document on a mobile communication device without having to request multiple pages of the document contents containing document global properties applied to the selected part of the document, comprising marking pages of the document within a server, based on size required by the mobile device, associating properties and attributes of the selected portion with the pages, and transmitting the pages with the properties and attributes for display by the mobile device. |
| US08266249B2 |
Providing remote access to multimedia content
Remote access to multimedia content is provided to hardware devices that have been predesignated as approved. For example, a customer premises equipment (CPE) device such as a set-top box may transmit digital television content to a mobile telephone. The multimedia content may be simulcast to multiple remote hardware devices by the CPE device. |
| US08266247B2 |
Relay processing apparatus, control method and program therefor, and terminal control server
A relay processing apparatus for relaying communications between a process for a control program that generates control commands for a terminal and a process for an HTTP server program that returns, to the terminal, a command constituting an HTTP response to a HTTP request received from the terminal, comprises: a terminal request processor for initiating the process performed by the control program upon the reception of a function call from the HTTP server program that initially received the HTTP request; and a control request processor for receiving from the control program a command corresponding to a function call, and for transmitting to the terminal request processor a notification that the command has been received, wherein, when the reception notification is received, the terminal request processor is permitted to return the processing to the HTTP server program, and the HTTP server program is permitted to return the command included in the HTTP response issued for the HTTP request. |
| US08266236B2 |
Scanner sharing device
A scanner sharing device includes a scanner device connection terminal for a scanner device to be connected thereto, a plurality of computer connection terminals for a plurality of computers to be connected thereto, a connection switching unit selectively connecting one of the plurality of computer connection terminals with the scanner device connection terminal, and a switch control unit controlling the operations of the connection switching unit. When the scanner sharing device is in an automatic switching mode, the switch control unit maintains the connection between the computer connection terminal associated with that one computer and the scanner device connection terminal until the switch control unit receives a processing completion signal. |
| US08266233B1 |
System and method for alert-presentation conflict resolution
A system and method for suppressing operation of alert logic at a communication device so as to reduce a quantity of alerts presented by various alert logic elements, where each alert logic element is operable to cause an alert for a given event to be presented. Conflict-resolution logic executable by a processor may receive an alert notification for the given event, determine which alert logic elements are operable to present an alert for the given event, determine which of the alert logic elements are running and a priority for each of the alert logic elements, suppressing operation of the alert logic elements that are running and do not have the highest priority, and providing alert notification to the alert logic element that is running and having the highest priority. The alert logic element receiving the alert notification causes the alert for the given event to be presented. |
| US08266232B2 |
Hardware processing of commands within virtual client computing environment
Commands are processed by hardware within a virtual client computing environment, such as graphics-related commands processed by graphics hardware. A server computing device includes graphics hardware, a virtual client computing environment, and a server computing environment. The graphics hardware processes graphics-related commands into responses. The virtual client computing environment includes an encoding application that issues the commands. The server computing environment includes a decoding application. The encoding application includes a first thread that receives the commands and places them onto a first queue. The encoding application includes a second thread that receives the responses from a second queue and communicates the responses to a remote display device. The decoding application includes a third thread that receives the commands from the first queue, communicates the commands to the graphics hardware, receives the responses from the graphics hardware, and places the responses onto the second queue. |
| US08266230B2 |
Active removal of e-mail recipient from replies and subsequent threads
A computer program product prevents the delivery of undesired e-mail message. A remove request is received from a non-desiring client. The remove request identifies a first subject line or a first body text from a previous e-mail message. An active request is updated with the remove request. Responsive to updating the active requests, the non-desiring client is redacted from a previously received message within a message file. The previously received message includes a second subject line that matches the first subject line, or a second body text that matches the first body text. |
| US08266229B2 |
System and method for message processing and routing
A message routing system that allows applications at either end of the system to run as-is without modification. The system functions in a multithreaded environment and is capable of handling complex routing rules and message transformation. It is also capable of learning and executing new routing rules and message transformations in formats previously unrecognized by the system. The system enables precise and reliable logging of messages throughout processing and supports publication of enterprise-wide broadcast messages. The system further preferably employs cooperating inbound and outbound transport processes for consuming, routing, processing, safely storing and publishing messages in batches of logical units of work to ensure that the logical units of work are not lost in system transactions. The system also preferably utilizes a replay server for preserving and replaying messages that might otherwise fail to reach their intended destinations. |
| US08266228B2 |
Tagging communication files based on historical association of tags
To associate an email with a tag, an email client may receive a tag corresponding to an email attribute, wherein the email attribute is an historical email tag. The email client stores the tag to a record keyed by the email attribute, and receives an email tag request, the email tag request having a word attribute, and looks up at least one record based on the word attribute to find the tag. The email client presents the tag of the at least one record to a user. The email client receives a user selection of the tag to form a selected tag, and sends an email having the selected tag as part of the email header, wherein the email comprises the email tag request. |
| US08266226B2 |
System and method to enhance user presence management to enable the federation of rich media sessions
A method and system is provided to enhance user presence management to enable the federation of rich media sessions. The method is implemented on a system and includes a presence manager server receiving a notification of user activity of one or more users taking place on one or more participating ecosystem sites in a participant ecosystem. The method further includes processing the user activity of the one or more users based on preferences of the one or more participating ecosystem sites established during a registration process and stored in a preference repository. The method further includes sending a notification of the user activity of the one or more users to the one or more participating ecosystem sites in the participant ecosystem to enable the participating ecosystem sites to at least one of communicate the user activity of the one or more users to one or more users and maintain a session of the one or more users. |
| US08266223B2 |
Automatic display of messages on display screen
A method, Internet protocol television (IPTV) enabled communication device, and computer program product for automatic message services are provided. A processor executes instructions from a memory. An input and output (I/O) device is for transmitting and receiving, respectively. A client application is stored in the memory and configured to provide the automatic message service. The client application receives input of a message to be presented at an appropriate time, receives input of an action associated with the message, receives input of a recipient for the message, and presents the message for display to the recipient at the appropriate time. |
| US08266222B2 |
Software application launching method and apparatus
A handheld computer includes a housing and a display supported by the housing and configured to display images representative of computer program applications. The handheld computer also includes a memory and a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the display and configured to run applications stored in the memory. The handheld computer also includes a software application that is stored in the memory. The handheld computer further includes a launching application stored in the memory. This launching application has an image on the display representative of the software application and the launching application carries out computer program steps to modify the launching environment prior to running the software application such that the software application runs properly on the handheld computer, the software application not originally designed to run on the handheld computer. |
| US08266219B2 |
Method and system for instant messaging conversation security
A method for securing an instant messaging (“IM”) conversation between at least a first and a second user, the first and second users having a first and a second client, respectively, in communication over a network, the method comprising: receiving a command from the first user through an input device and a graphical user interface (“GUI”) presented on a display of the first client to disable copying of the IM conversation; and, transmitting a message to the second client to inform the second client and the second user that copying of the IM conversation has been disabled. |
| US08266216B2 |
Scalable peer-to-peer network with a directory service
A method for creates a directory service in a scalable peer-to-peer-network, which is distributed to groups having at least one peer. In order to release a resource and to start a search enquiry for a resource, allocation values are formed using an allocation instruction according to the resource allocation values from a predefined address area. Only one group is responsible for each allocation value and the release of a resource or search enquiry for a resource is transmitted to the responsible group only. |
| US08266214B2 |
System and method for collaborative web-based multimedia layered platform with recording and selective playback of content
The present invention relates to a method and system for creating a collaborative file in a shared network including: accessing one or more user machines in a shared space, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list; loading a media application with tools into one or more user machines; using a stage manager tool from the media application to stage and correlating media-layer events according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application, wherein the content composed of the media-layer events are described by at least a user, media-layer events, time and command; recording content associated with one or more of layers according to a user, media-layer events, time and command; and accessing said content based upon a user, media-layer events, time and command. |
| US08266206B2 |
System and method of managing media content
A system and method of managing media content is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes sending a request for a media content item from a user computer to a server via an interface to an online site. The method also includes receiving the media content item at the user computer. Further, the method includes selecting a library associated with a media content player application and, upon receipt of the media content item, automatically adding the media content item to the selected library of the media content player application at the user computer. |
| US08266201B2 |
System and method for distributing processing of a single-process application having first and second objects in a network having local and remote processes
A computer system and method are provided for making modifications to runtime coding of object-oriented software that enables distributed execution by automatically modifying object class definitions as the objects are loaded into the executing process. The code modifications cause instances of the classes to interact with a distributed runtime system that allows all objects to be transparently migrated between processes, thereby permitting load balancing and periodic maintenance, without manual recoding of the application source code and without need for a priori knowledge of the program flow. |
| US08266200B2 |
Application interaction system, application interaction method, recording medium, and application interaction program
An application interaction system includes: means (136) for storing extraction rules; means (141) for storing conversion rules; means (132) for selecting an extraction rule in means (136); means (133) for extracting data from a first application according to the selected extraction rule; means (134) for selecting a conversion rule in means (141); and means (131), according to the selected conversion rule, for supplying data extracted by means (133) to paste to a second application; and further, means (112) for presenting the selected extraction rule to the first application and supplying the extraction rule after alteration according to data alteration instructions specified in the presented extraction rule, and/or means (122) for supplying information indicating the alteration content according to the data alteration instructions supplied by means (131). |
| US08266199B2 |
Specialized processing block for programmable logic device
A specialized processing block for a programmable logic device incorporates a fundamental processing unit that performs a sum of two multiplications, adding the partial products of both multiplications without computing the individual multiplications. Such fundamental processing units consume less area than conventional separate multipliers and adders. The specialized processing block further has input and output stages, as well as a loopback function, to allow the block to be configured for various digital signal processing operations. |
| US08266198B2 |
Specialized processing block for programmable logic device
A specialized processing block for a programmable logic device includes circuitry for performing multiplications and sums thereof, as well as circuitry for rounding the result. The rounding circuitry can selectably perform round-to-nearest and round-to-nearest-even operations. In addition, the bit position at which rounding occurs is preferably selectable. The specialized processing block preferably also includes saturation circuitry to prevent overflows and underflows, and the bit position at which saturation occurs also preferably is selectable. The selectability of both the rounding and saturation positions provides control of the output data word width. The rounding and saturation circuitry may be selectably located in different positions based on timing needs. Similarly, rounding may be speeded up using a look-ahead mode in which both rounded and unrounded results are computed in parallel, with the rounding logic selecting between those results. |
| US08266196B2 |
Fast Fourier transform twiddle multiplication
An FFT engine implementing a cycle count method of applying twiddle multiplications in multi-stages. When implementing a multistage FFT, the intermediate values need to be multiplied by various twiddle factors. The FFT engine utilizes a minimal number of multipliers to perform the twiddle multiplications in an efficient pipeline. Optimizing a number of complex multipliers based on an FFT radix and a number of values in each row of memory allows the FFT function to be performed using a reasonable amount of area and in a minimal number of cycles. Strategic ordering and grouping of the values allows the FFT operation to be performed in a fewer number of cycles. |
| US08266195B2 |
Filter adaptive frequency resolution
In signal processing using digital filtering the representation of a filter is adapted depending on the filter characteristics If e.g. a digital filter is represented by filter coefficients for transform bands Nos. 0, 1, . . . , K in the frequency domain, a reduced digital filter having coefficients for combined transform bands, i.e. subsets of the transformed bands, Nos. 0, 1, . . . , L, is formed and only these coefficients are stored. When the actual filtering in the digital filter is to be performed, an actual digital filter is obtained by expanding the coefficients of the reduced digital filter according to a mapping table and then used instead of the original digital filter. |
| US08266193B2 |
Real time universal date and time conversion
A method and system makes date-time conversions and complex date-time calculations between dates of different calendaring systems. The conversion method herein allows embedded, real-time conversion in computer applications and systems between multiple calendaring systems. A date of a first date-time format is converted to any date of a second date-time format after a transformation to a temporal reference or epoch date. The conversion method can be embedded into any code space to enable full date-time conversion abilities. The real-time conversion of the conversion method requires no conversion tables and no post-processing manipulation thus eliminating the need for individual programmers to re-create the same date cross reference tables, or post processing algorithms. The conversion method supports conversion between any two date-time formats including the various existing Gregorian conventions. |
| US08266192B2 |
File-sharing system and method for processing files, and program
Provided is a technique capable of efficiently operating files and directories that are stored in storage located in a physically far place from a file server, without causing a network latency. An index creation program is also loaded in a cloud computing environment, and a flag, which indicates whether or not to execute batch processing to a directory that has been migrated to the cloud side, is provided, whereby it becomes possible to collectively execute index creation processing for the migrated directory on the cloud side. More specifically, upon completion of migration of all files under a given directory to the cloud side, a flag, which indicates whether or not to perform batch processing on the cloud side, is validated for the metadata of the directory. Such a batch processing flag can be held for each application such as applications of the index creation processing and the virus check processing. |
| US08266184B2 |
Generating a service-oriented architecture policy based on a context model
A solution for generating a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) policy based on a context model is provided, which generates an application scope of the SOA policy; generates a context model; generates an action list for the context model based on action semantic modules customized by a user; generates a condition part of the SOA policy according to the context module; generates an action part of the SOA policy according to the action list; and combines the condition part and the action part to generate the SOA policy. |
| US08266182B2 |
Transcoding for a distributed file system
A method for transcoding a file on a distributed file system is described. The distributed file system stores portions of the file across a plurality of distinct physical storage locations. A request to transcode the file is received. The file is transcoded from a first format to a second format using a processing unit of at least one of the physical storage locations. |
| US08266179B2 |
Method and system for processing text
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of processing an electronic text document. The method includes obtaining a character from the document. The method also includes obtaining a hash input code from a character map, the hash input code corresponding to the character. The method also includes modifying a hash value based on the hash input code if the hash input code indicates that the character is part of a token, or asserting the hash value if the hash input code indicates that character is not part of a token. |
| US08266178B2 |
Management apparatus, information processing apparatus, and method therefor
A management apparatus to manage log information related to a process in a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus operating in cooperation with each other. The management apparatus includes a reception unit to receive first log information associated with a first user managed by the first information processing apparatus and to receive second log information associated with a second user managed by the second information processing apparatus from the first and second information processing apparatuses, respectively, which independently perform user management. The management apparatus also includes a log management unit to manage third log information. If the first user corresponds to the second user, then the third log information is generated by merging the first log information associated with the first user and the second log information. |
| US08266177B1 |
Empirical database access adjustment
Computer implemented methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for empirically adjusting access to a database (1). An apparatus embodiment comprises: coupled to the database (1), a database discovery module (11) for determining authorized accesses to the database (1); coupled to the database (1), a command monitoring module (12) for monitoring actual accesses to the database (1); and coupled to the database discovery module (11) and to the command monitoring module (12), an analysis module (13) for comparing actual accesses with authorized accesses. |
| US08266176B2 |
Storage system and file access determination method of the same
A storage system configured to be applied to a broad range of access forms to the file and improve performance of file access control processing. The storage system may store a part of the access control information of a variable size in the basic attribute area of the file, and store the storage format information in the basic attribute area of the file or in the file system metadata area. At the time of processing the access to the file, with reference to the storage format information, the storage system may decode a part of the access control information into an access mask bit string as needed, and perform the preceding access control processing. |
| US08266174B2 |
Behavior history retrieval apparatus and behavior history retrieval method
A meta classification section assigns the degree of accuracy capable of identifying an individual to person feature information containing a face, color, shape, etc., and person passage information and stores the metadata of the person feature information and the person passage information for each degree of accuracy, a discrete retrieval section retrieves the person to be retrieved in the high accuracy metadata stored by the meta classification section, a dependence determination section determines a person having a dependence on the person to be retrieved using a plurality of retrieval results hit in the discrete retrieval and the high accuracy metadata, a query generation section regenerates a retrieval key from the identifier of the person having a dependence and the identifier of the person to be retrieved, and a discrete candidate-to-candidate retrieval section retrieves the person corresponding to the regenerated retrieval key in the low accuracy metadata. |
| US08266172B2 |
Data parallel query analysis
A method of analyzing a data parallel query includes receiving a user-specified data parallel query that includes a plurality of query operators. An operator type for each of the query operators is identified based on a type of parallel input data structure the operator operates on and a type of parallel output data structure the operator outputs. It is determined whether the query is a prohibited query based on the identified operator types. |
| US08266171B2 |
Product fix-effectiveness tracking and notification system and method
Methods and apparatus are provided for tracking the effectiveness of a modification that has been installed into a product in response to an issued modification notice. A product removal database having removal data stored therein that are associated with one or more products is periodically accessed at a user-specified periodicity. One or more user-selected fix-effectiveness algorithms are executed to determine if at least a portion of the periodically accessed removal data matches one or more user-specified keywords that correlate to the modification. If it is determined that at least a portion of the periodically accessed removal data matches the one or more user-specified keywords, then an alert is transmitted to a preset destination. |
| US08266169B2 |
Complex queries for corpus indexing and search
Computer methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture therefor, are disclosed for developing a complex-query pattern that is transformed into a region-matching transducer. A corpus-level transducer and the region matching transducer are combined. The combined transducer is applied to a corpus to identify strings therein that satisfy patterns defined in the corpus-level transducer, including the complex-query pattern, with each identified pattern being recorded in a corpus index. The corpus and the corpus index are made available for receiving a query with the query tag for querying the corpus and applying the query using the corpus index to identify locations in the corpus that satisfy the query. |
| US08266165B2 |
Adaptive parameterized search algorithm
A method is disclosed for conducting a search in which measurements of a time-varying property are made and updated during the search, and in which the measurements might be uncertain. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, one or more search algorithm parameters (e.g., the maximum branching factor of a search tree, a depth cutoff for a search tree, a time cutoff, a threshold, etc.) are adjusted dynamically during the search based on at least one of: the degree of uncertainty of the measurements, the variability of measurements over time (e.g., standard deviation, etc.), and the fraction of members whose measurement is better than a threshold. In addition, the illustrative embodiment enables the search space to be pruned based on these criteria. |
| US08266160B2 |
Computer-aided morphological analysis of data items
Improvements to computer-aided methodology of morphological analysis of a set of text data objects and associated graphic images. The methodology, named contextual data modeling (CDM), involves personal discovery of meaningful interrelations of parametric values and names of text data objects using automated permutation of a data table; plus viewing for each item listed on the table an integrated dialog box (item screen), containing the item's parametric data and other data; plus concurrent and coordinated display of the data table and graphic images associated with items on the data table. Near real time operation optimizes retention of perceived data in the 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. |
| US08266157B2 |
Method and system for using social bookmarks
A method and system for using social bookmarks wherein a social bookmark is a triplet of the entities of user, document, and tag. The method including: collecting multiple bookmarks; representing the bookmarks as a three-dimensional space or matrix of the number of times a user u, used tag t to bookmark document d; measuring the similarity of two entities of the same type; and using the similarity to weight bookmarks or entities. The weightings may be used to provide a measure of a usefulness of a bookmark for describing a document for retrieval purposes. Two-dimensions of the bookmark space may also be used to predict the third-dimension. |
| US08266156B2 |
Collaborative content evaluation
In an example embodiment, a system for evaluating published content is provided. The system includes at least one processor and a plurality of components including instructions executable by the at least one processor. The components include a reputations component to determine a reputation value for each of a plurality of users of a network-based community. A reporting component is to receive a communication from one of the plurality of users, the communication identifying content accessible within the network-based community as objectionable. An evaluation component is to evaluate the identified content based on the reputation value of the one of the plurality of users to determine an action to take with respect to the identified content. A validation component is to take the action with respect to the identified content based on the evaluation of the identified content. |
| US08266150B1 |
Scalable document signature search engine
A document signature index and search system is disclosed. The logical structure of the signature index that includes search tables is defined. Also specified is a system of creating, managing and using the signature index. The system includes an index engine and search engine. The search tables are compact in disk usage and suitable for differential computation, making large scale deployment feasible. With the introduction of meta-data and an algorithm of multiple value dual binary searching, the search engine based on the search tables is very efficient in searching for signatures from large search tables which may store millions of signatures. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US08266147B2 |
Methods and systems for database organization
A relational database having a plurality of records is organized by using a processing arrangement to perform a clustering operation on the records so as to create a number of clusters. At least one of the clusters is characterized by a selected metadata parameter. The clustering operation is performed to optimize a calculated value of a selected precision factor for the selected metadata parameter. The selected metadata parameter is selected to optimize execution of a database query and the value of the selected precision factor is related to efficiency of execution of the database query. |
| US08266144B2 |
Techniques to perform relative ranking for search results
Techniques to perform relative ranking for search results are described. An apparatus may include an enhanced search component operative to receive a search query and provide ranked search results responsive to the search query. The enhanced search component may comprise a resource search module operative to search for resources using multiple search terms from the search query, and output a set of resources having some or all of the search terms. The enhanced search component may also comprise a proximity generation module communicatively coupled to the resource search module, the proximity generation module operative to receive the set of resources, retrieve search term position information for each resource, and generate a proximity feature value based on the search term position information. The enhanced search component may further comprise a resource ranking module communicatively coupled to the resource search module and the proximity generation module, the resource ranking module to receive the proximity feature values, and rank the resources based in part on the proximity feature values. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08266136B1 |
Mechanism for performing fast directory lookup in a server system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel technique for maintaining directory-based quota, for performing directory notification to a client system, and performing other such operations by efficiently finding ancestral directory associations on a server system without performing multiple accesses to data structures associated with the directory associations. Since data structures do not need to be accessed multiple times, performance of the server system can be improved. |
| US08266134B1 |
Distributed crawling of hyperlinked documents
Techniques for crawling hyperlinked documents are provided. Hyperlinked documents to be crawled are grouped by host and the host to be crawled next is selected according to a stall time of the host. The stall time can indicate the earliest time that the host should be crawled and the stall times can be a predetermined amount of time, vary by host and be adjusted according to actual retrieval times from the host. |
| US08266133B2 |
Determination of a desired repository
A system receives a search query from a user and searches a group of repositories, based on the search query, to identify, for each of the repositories, a set of search results. The system also identifies one of the repositories based on a likelihood that the user desires information from the identified repository and presents the set of search results associated with the identified repository. |
| US08266132B2 |
Map aggregation
A system described herein includes a text extractor component that extracts text from a digital image and a determiner component that automatically determines whether or not the digital image is a map of a geographic region based at least in part upon the extracted text. The system additionally includes a correlator component that generates correlation data that causes the digital image to be correlated with a portion of a reference map that pertains to the geographic region if the determiner component determines that the digital image is a map of the geographic region. |
| US08266129B2 |
System for endoscope data management, and system and data manager for washing data management
A system for endoscope data management of an endoscopic image of a body acquired by an endoscope is provided. An image filing apparatus retrieves the image from the endoscope, and records data of the image and scope ID assigned to the endoscope in association with one another. A washer washes the endoscope. A memory is incorporated in the washer, for storing log information of washing of the endoscope. A data manager retrieves the log information on line with the washer, to record the scope ID and the log information in association with one another. A server device records the data of the image, the scope ID and the log information on line with the image filing apparatus and the data manager. Furthermore, the data manager includes an editor for editing the log information of the washer. |
| US08266126B2 |
System with multiple conditional commit databases
A system for processing a transaction is disclosed. The system comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to check a condition using data in a first database, wherein the data is associated with a transaction, wherein the data in the first database is latched before checking the condition and is unlatched after checking the condition. The processor is further configured to indicate to a second database to check the condition using data in the second database, wherein the data is associated with the transaction. The data in the second database is latched before checking the condition and is unlatched after checking the condition. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US08266125B2 |
Systems and methods for managing databases
Systems and methods for managing databases are disclosed. One disclosed system includes a processor-addressable physical memory and a processor in communication with said processor-addressable physical memory and configured to execute an environment and to allocate an environment memory to said environment. In such a system, said environment is configured to maintain a database of objects in a database memory within said environment memory. An application executes in an application memory within said environment memory, and upon instantiation of a database object, the application environment allocates memory in said database for said database object, the database providing master storage for said database object. Upon an instruction to obtain said database object from said application, the environment provides to said application a reference to said database object; and upon an access operation on said database object by said application, provides to said application direct access to data of said database object. |
| US08266117B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracing data in audit trail, and computer product
In an information system, a web server records web access logs of a client outside of a LAN. A mail server records transmission/reception logs of e-mails. A DB server records access right operation logs. A task application server records DB access log. An administrative server collects logs recorded in the web server, the mail server, the DB server, and the task application server, and operation logs of the client terminals to trace a person and an operation related to information leakage using the collected logs. |
| US08266111B2 |
Distributed database system providing data and space management methodology
A distributed database system providing data and space management methodology. In a distributed database system having an allocation page for tracking allocation and deallocation of data pages including a deallocation bit for tracking data page deallocation, a method for determining when to clear the deallocation bit during recovery comprises: during runtime operation, generating log records recording allocation and deallocation of data pages, setting the deallocation bit during deallocation of a data page by a transaction, and clearing the deallocation bit after the transaction has committed; during recovery following a failure, identifying a particular log record corresponding to the deallocation bit set during deallocation of a given data page; determining whether the deallocation of the given data page recorded in the particular log record committed prior to the failure; and if the deallocation of the given data page committed prior to the failure, clearing the deallocation bit. |
| US08266110B1 |
Integrated archival and backup
Various systems and methods can integrate archival and backup. One method involves accessing a first backup image and generating a first set of indexing information for the first backup image. The first set of indexing information identifies one or more data items included within the first backup image. The method then compares the first set of indexing information to a second set of indexing information associated with a second backup image, which is generated subsequent to a time at which the first backup image is generated. Based upon this comparison, the method can identify a first data item of the one or more data items as having been modified or deleted after the time at which the first backup image was generated. The method can then copy the first data item from the first backup image to an archival data repository, prior to deletion of the first backup image. |
| US08266109B1 |
Performance of scanning containers for archiving
Various systems and methods for performing archive operations are disclosed. One method involves receiving a request to perform an archive operation on a number of data storage containers. The request is received by an archive computer system. A determination is made whether to exclude a given storage container from the archive operation based on information stored in a profile. |
| US08266107B2 |
Method for mirroring a log file by threshold driven synchronization
A method for of accelerating database log hardening using specific per block data protection and damage control is provided. A per write specification is implemented to determine when database log data is mirrored synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous mirroring is performed upon reaching a predetermined threshold, based on one or more parameters such as transaction value, both individual and cumulative, and the quantity of data written since the last synchronous mirroring. As data is added to the database log, it is written specifying asynchronous mirroring to the primary log file. Once a threshold is met, a write specifying synchronous mirroring is performed to both the primary and secondary log files, thereby hardening the log file in both primary and secondary storage subsystem. |
| US08266105B2 |
System for automatically replicating a customer's personalized computer system image on a new computer system
The Computer Image Replication System automatically replicates a customer's computer system image, including all of the customer's data, programs, device drivers, program preferences, personalizations, and file directory structures on a new computer system. The Computer Image Replication System is part of a Data Shadowing System which comprises a memory module that is connected to a monitored computer system via an existing communication medium, such as an input/output port, to store the shadowed data. The memory module includes a memory device for data storage, as well as software, including a control software component that is automatically installed on the monitored computer system when the memory module is first connected to the monitored computer system, as well as associated module software for maintaining a record of the data stored on the memory device and controlling the operation of the memory device. |
| US08266101B1 |
Share nothing database cluster and real time synchronization by signaling
A transaction signaling method in data replication and synchronization that detects the transaction, reads the signal, and based on the signal value it either simply clears the signal or sends a signal to each of its remote databases in the cluster, tells the remote database that next transaction is originated from the signaling layer of another database, and applies the same transaction to the remote database. Unlike current technologies, this technology allows updates at all databases in the cluster simultaneously. It provides users with a method to not only scale out the reads, but also scale out the updates. It synchronizes the databases in the cluster in real-time and eliminates the need of database backups. It not only increases the availability of data but also offers zero data loss when a disaster happens. It may also improves the performance on updates because it eliminates the overhead of cache transfer existed on conventional clustering technologies such as Oracle Real Application Cluster that share the same storage. |
| US08266099B2 |
Offloading storage operations to storage hardware using a third party server
In a computer system with a disk array that has physical storage devices arranged as logical storage units and is capable of carrying out hardware storage operations on a per logical storage unit basis, a third party server is provided to offload storage operations from a file system to storage hardware. The third party server transfers configuration information associated with composite storage operations to the physical storage devices through an out-of-band path to enable composite storage operations to be executed without involving the file system. |
| US08266096B2 |
Vendor portfolio management in support of vendor relationship management analysis, planning and evaluation
Various examples include a system and methods in support of vendor relationship management, analysis, planning and evaluation including dealing with collections of vendors called vendor portfolios. In various examples the system includes a database, vendor portfolio definer, a vendor portfolio populator, and a vendor portfolio analyzer. The database houses vendor data. In various examples the vendor portfolio definer allows vendor portfolios to be created, meta data, including complex documents, to be associated with vendor portfolios, and user access permissions to be assigned to vendor portfolios. In various examples the vendor portfolio populator facilitates user selection of the vendors that will make up the collection of vendors in the vendor portfolio. The vendor portfolio analyzer analyzes a business metric using vendor portfolios. In various examples the vendor portfolio analyzer allows user to perform what-if analysis on vendor portfolios. In various examples the vendor portfolio definer includes a risk management definer, the vendor portfolio populator includes a risk management screener, and the vendor portfolio analyzer includes a risk manager to facilitate managing vendors base on the organizational risk they pose. In various examples the database contains information about obligations owed to and from a vendor and the vendor portfolio analyzer includes an obligation analyzer to analyze the organizational impact of vendor obligations. |
| US08266095B2 |
Substrate processing system and operation inspecting method
There is provided a substrate processing system that can automatically inspect the operation of various kinds of parts of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus without increasing the load of a main controller in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. In the substrate processing system of the present invention, inspection data of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 under operation are shared and collected online by a main controller 5, a data collection auxiliary computer 2 and a data collecting computer 3 through a network 6, and the operation state is collectively inspected by an inspecting computer 4. |
| US08266088B2 |
Tracking policy decisions in a network
An apparatus is disclosed for creating and storing policy data records comprising data identifying network policy decisions. After a data packet is received, a network policy decision is made based on information in the packet and one or more network policies. A policy data record identifying the network policy decision is created, and the policy data record is stored. |
| US08266083B2 |
Large scale manifold transduction that predicts class labels with a neural network and uses a mean of the class labels
A method for training a learning machine for use in discriminative classification and regression includes randomly selecting, in a first computer process, an unclassified datapoint associated with a phenomenon of interest; determining, in a second computer process, a set of datapoints associated with the phenomenon of interest that is likely to be in the same class as the selected unclassified datapoint; predicting, in a third computer process, a class label for the selected unclassified datapoint in a third computer process; predicting a class label for the set of datapoints in a fourth computer process; combining the predicted class labels in a fifth computer process, to predict a composite class label that describes the selected unclassified datapoint and the set of datapoints; and using the combined class label to adjust at least one parameter of the learning machine in a sixth computer process. |
| US08266067B1 |
Method and system for automatic scoring of the intellectual properties
Novel methods of IP or patent management and monetization based on IP/patent pooling and scoring systems are disclosed. In addition, novel partnership methods with IP producing entities (such as universities) are disclosed which produce incentives and efficiencies far and above other methods. Systems and methods are disclosed for valuation of IP instruments and distribution of IP revenue/proceeds. Examples of methods for scoring IP instruments, using a transactional and event driven point/value system, are disclosed for tracking, monitoring, distribution and allocation of proceeds in a complex pooling arrangement of IP instruments. |
| US08266064B1 |
Purchases for another involving digital content items
Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer readable mediums for facilitating the purchase involving digital content items by purchasing parties for other recipients. For example, a server may be employed to encode at least one network page that facilitates a purchase involving a digital content item in an electronic commerce system by a first party to be delivered via a network to a destination device of a second party. The electronic commerce system may also initiate a disposition of the digital content item via the network with respect to the second party upon a consummation of the purchase by the first party. |
| US08266063B2 |
Software distribution method and apparatus
The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for distributing digital information, such as software applications, to application users. By providing the digital information on unused memory space of a computer system, and providing a process for authorizing access to the information, the information can be efficiently and cost effectively transferred to users. Traditional inventory and distribution channel difficulties are avoided. |
| US08266062B2 |
Server side reversible hash for telephone-based licensing mechanism
A system and method are disclosed relating to authenticating software licenses associated with a software product. During an installation process, a purchaser of a software product may contact a vendor representative via a telephone connection and verbally relay a data packet, which may be an installation ID. The vendor server creates a reversible hash from the data packet, a known seed value and additional information relating to the software product or license. The server encrypts the hash to generate a confirmation ID, and sends the confirmation ID to the software product purchaser. |
| US08266060B2 |
Content usage rule management system
A content user terminal including a utilization unit that provides a content utilization, and an interface unit 137 that inquires the content utilization availability to the portable content usage rule management device via a wireless communication and obtains a content utilization permission data which is a inquiry result via a wireless communication. The utilization unit provides the content utilization based on the obtained content utilization permission data. The portable content usage rule management device includes a copyright data storage management unit that stores and manages the content usage rule, an interface unit that receives the inquiry result of the content utilization availability from the content user terminal via a wireless communication, and a copyright data processing is unit that responds to the received inquiry result, judges the content utilization availability based on the stored content usage rule and creates a content utilization permission data based on the judge result. The interface unit sends the created content utilization permission data to the content user terminal via a wireless communication. |
| US08266056B2 |
System and method for manufacturing a punch-out RFID transaction device
The present invention relates to a process for producing an irregularly shaped Radio Frequency operable transaction device using conventional International Standards Organization dimensions for conventional transaction cards. The invention provides for normal manufacture of a plurality of transaction cards joined together in a single sheet. The outline of a RFID transaction device is impressed in a center portion of one of the transaction cards. A RFID transaction device may then be removed, or punched out of the transaction card in accordance with the transaction device outline. |
| US08266055B2 |
Method and system for processing data related to a deferred annuity having a minimum contract value
A computer-implemented process for processing data related to an investment product having a guarantee of withdrawals available on a periodic basis includes receiving by a processor data indicative of a request for a withdrawal from an account of the investment product, the amount of the withdrawal, aggregated with amounts of any other withdrawals during a current time period, being no more than a maximum amount available for withdrawal during the time period in accordance with the guarantee. The processor determines based on the current account value and data indicative of the guarantee whether the entire amount of the withdrawal is to be deducted from the account value, and responsive to determining that less than the entire amount is to be deducted, determines the amount to be deducted from the account value. |
| US08266053B2 |
Dynamic credit management
A method for providing a financial evaluation of at least one financial instrument or of an issuer supports the provision of a dynamic credit limit. A dynamic credit limit may be associated with a counterparty or a debt security of the counterparty, for example. The method includes obtaining counterparty credit quality data associated with a transaction of the financial instrument between a party and a counterparty. Debt market data is obtained where the debt market data is associated with or relevant to the transaction. A dynamic credit limit is determined for the counterparty or a financial instrument of the counterparty based on at least one of the inputted counterparty credit quality and the obtained debt market data. The dynamic credit limit may be defined in terms of a credit exposure versus time. |
| US08266051B2 |
Biometric risk management
The present invention provides methods and systems for managing Risk by associating a biometric profile with other data relevant to a Risk subject. Computerized systems can receive informational data that relates generally to Risk variables and relate the information to known biometric profiles. Compiled information can be situated and conveyed to a compliance department and be able to demonstrate to regulators that a financial institution has met standards relating to Risk containment. |