| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08281924B2 |
Cover for portable electronic device
A portfolio-style protective cover for portable electronic devices is disclosed. |
| US08281922B2 |
Hinge lid container and blank
A slide and shell container for consumer goods includes an outer shell and an inner slide. The inner slide includes a box and a lid, which is hingedly connected to the box at a hinge. The inner slide is slidable within the outer shell between a closed position in which the lid is closed and an open position in which the lid is open. The lid includes a lid flap which is arranged between the inner slide and the outer shell such that an engagement of the lid flap and the outer shell is capable of opening the lid. The lid flap is capable of engaging with the outer shell during movement of the inner slide from the closed position to the open position. The lid also includes a top wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall is connected through a fold line to the back wall and is connected through a fold line to the top wall. |
| US08281920B2 |
Contact lens packages
The invention provides contact lens packages in which removal of the lens is facilitated by providing a means for elevating the lens when the package is opened. |
| US08281918B2 |
Unit for transferring products
Products are transferred in an automatic manufacturing machine by a unit (1) equipped with multiple transport heads (8), and a drive system (10) comprising at least two transmission assemblies (11a, 11b) by which the heads (8) are set in motion. The transport heads (8) are divided operationally into a first group (12) and a second group (13), in which motion is induced by a respective first transmission assembly (11a) and a respective second transmission assembly (11b). |
| US08281917B1 |
System and method to automate transport of electronic devices on an assembly line for testing
Manufacture of electronic devices is usually accomplished through automated assembly lines using automated conveyors. These automated conveyors, typically comprising metallic components, cannot convey electronic devices into an RF chamber for testing (e.g., RF) during manufacture without compromising the efficacy of the shielding provided by the RF chamber. Thus, although electronic devices are assembled on automated assembly lines, a device is typically removed from the automated assembly line for testing, transported manually into an RF chamber, powered on, and then tested. After testing, the electronic device is powered down, manually removed from the RF chamber, and returned to the assembly line. Described herein are embodiments of a system and method to automatically transport electronic devices under power through an RF isolated chamber for testing (e.g., RF) as part of an automated assembly line process resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of electronic devices that can be tested. |
| US08281916B2 |
Clutch tooth index and step for multiple cast clutches in one housing
A housing for a multi-stage clutch assembly is formed to include a shoulder upon which a backing plate of a first stage clutch pack may be positioned to transfer a load from the first stage clutch pack to the housing. |
| US08281914B2 |
Auger brake clutch and drive assembly and related methods
An auger brake clutch and drive assembly and related methods for a power equipment device such as a snowblower are provided. In use with a snowblower, the auger brake clutch assembly and related methods can be used for driving both the auger and driven wheels of a snowblower. The auger brake clutch can include a transmission wheel rotatably movable for rotating at least one wheel with the transmission wheel having a contact surface. A drive pulley can be provided that has a drive surface. The drive pulley is rotatable and configured for causing the transmission wheel to rotate when the drive surface and the contact surface of the transmission wheel are in contact. An actuation plate is movable to move the drive pulley in and out of contact with the contact surface of the transmission wheel. A friction member can be provided to be selectively rotated by the drive pulley and configured to transfer the rotation to an output shaft, which can attach for example to at least one of an auger or blower blades. |
| US08281913B2 |
Transmission device for a motor vehicle
A motor vehicle transmission device is described. The transmission has an actuating unit, used for canceling a tooth-on-tooth position of coupling elements, wherein the actuating unit actuates a transmission brake when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The transmission also has a second actuating unit for actuating a disconnect clutch, the second actuating unit actuating the disconnect clutch when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The actuating unit for actuating the transmission brake and the second actuating unit for actuating the disconnect clutch are actuated in coordination with one another, in order to cancel the tooth-on-tooth position. |
| US08281907B2 |
Brake assembly having multi-piece core and replaceable friction surfaces
A brake disk (10) includes an annular core (12, 60, 82) formed from a plurality of non-annular pieces (40, 66, 68, 84), a first friction disk (14) mounted on a first side of the annular core (12, 60, 82), a second friction disk (14) mounted on a second side of the core (12, 60, 82) opposite from the first friction disk (14), and at least one fastener (58) connecting the first and second friction disks (14, 14) to the core (12, 60, 82). Also a method of assembling a brake disk from a core and friction elements. |
| US08281903B2 |
Breaking device
A braking device for vehicles comprises a body (12), a lever (13) hinged to said body that can be operated by a user of the vehicle, a hydraulic cylinder (17) having a cylinder-shaped chamber integral with the body (12) for connecting to a hydraulic braking circuit of the vehicle, the cylinder (17) comprising a piston (25) sliding in the chamber (24) and moving as a result of the action of said lever (13) to control vehicle braking. The lever (13) acts on the piston to cause the braking action by means of a cam mechanism (20, 21). |
| US08281901B2 |
Elevator door emergency opening control system
In an elevator control system, an evacuation operation control section outputs a command for evacuation operation by an elevator in case of fire. Moreover, in case of fire, the evacuation operation control section controls opening and closing of a fire door adjacent to an elevator landing based on information from a passenger detector for detecting a passenger at the elevator landing and information on a fire situation in a vicinity of the elevator landing. |
| US08281900B2 |
Industrial truck with adjustable wheel axle
In an industrial truck, in particular a fork-lift truck, having a vehicle frame and a load pickup means (16), which can be displaced in relation to the vehicle frame, at least one wheel which is closer to the load pickup means and, at a distance from this, at least one wheel (20) which is further away from the load pickup means being provided on the vehicle frame, the wheel axle (18) of at least one wheel (20) being capable of moving in relation to the vehicle frame along a movement trajectory with a movement component which is orthogonal with respect to the standing area of the industrial truck, in addition a loading force (B), which is caused by the tare weight of the industrial truck and a load (L) which may have been picked up by said industrial truck, acting on the at least one moveable wheel axle (18), which loading force changes operationally, the at least one moveable wheel axle (18) in addition has or can have an arbitrarily variable additional force applied to it. |
| US08281898B2 |
Lubrication and exhaust system for a powered surgical instrument
A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage. |
| US08281897B1 |
Automatic accumulator switching apparatus and system
A grease accumulator apparatus for use in subsea applications has a bottle with an internal chamber, a plunger positioned within the internal chamber and slidable therealong, and an end cap assembly affixed to one end of the bottle. The end cap assembly has an indicator member slidably connected thereto. The indicator member is cooperative with the plunger such that an end of the indicator member moves outwardly of the end cap assembly as the plunger moves in the bottle toward the end cap assembly. The end cap assembly has a body with a housing affixed to one end thereof. The housing has a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet. The indicator member is movable between a position in which the inlet and outlet are fluidically connected in a second position in which fluid flow is blocked between the inlet and the outlet. |
| US08281895B2 |
Stop element for a securing device
The present disclosure relates to a stop element for a securing device, with a contact element. A locking device is shiftable between unlocked and locked states. The stop element is attachable to and releasable from the securing element in the unlocked state and not releasable from the securing element in the locked state. The locking device has an actuating device which is shiftable between an active position and a passive position and when in its active position blocks the locking device in its unlocked state and is transferable into its passive position, in which the locking device is shiftable into its locked state, when the stop element is attached to the securing element. The contact element may form part of the actuating device such that the actuating device can be shifted into its passive position when the securing element contacts the contact element. |
| US08281891B2 |
Four wheel drive vehicle
A four-wheel drive vehicle includes a crankshaft that obtains the power of the engine. The rotation driving force of the crankshaft is transmitted to a secondary shaft through a belt type continuously variable transmission. The rotation driving force of the secondary shaft is transmitted to a rear wheel by a second drive shaft. A cam chain is arranged between the crank web of the crankshaft and the driving pulley of the belt type continuously variable transmission. The second drive shaft is arranged between the crank web and the driving pulley and under the cam chain. The second drive shaft is arranged to at least partly overlap the rotation trajectory C1 of the driving pulley when seen in a side view. |
| US08281890B2 |
Drive system for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles
The present invention relates to a drive system for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H), in particular for utility vehicles and farm tractors. The drive system has an infinitely variable transmission with no intermediate axle differential comprising at least a first (11) and a second (12) motor. The first motor (11) in this case is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H) and the second motor (12) is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). Furthermore the drive system has a clutch (20), by which a propulsive connection can be made between at least the first (H) and the second (V) vehicle axle, wherein the position of the clutch is adjustable (20) in a range between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a control unit (30), which actuates the clutch (20) in such a manner that its torque transmission capacity is adjusted as a function of a driving state of the vehicle. |
| US08281889B2 |
Seat structure for vehicle and vehicle incorporating same
A seat structure for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes a seat arranged rearwardly of a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle body frame. The seat includes a cushion member, and a bottom plate for holding the cushion member. The cushion member is made of an elastic material. The bottom plate is fixed to the vehicle body frame and to the fuel tank. The cushion member includes a bulging portion which bulges forwardly from a front end portion of the bottom plate and onto an upper surface of a stepped portion of the fuel tank. The bulging portion is supported on the upper surface of the fuel tank. |
| US08281887B2 |
Automobile over-bulkhead air intake system
An automobile air intake system is provided that channels air from outside the automobile engine compartment to the engine. The automobile air intake system according to an embodiment of the invention includes an intake enclosure coupled to a bulkhead across the front of the engine compartment. The automobile grille, radiator, and a front portion of the hood in front of the bulkhead form a flow channel to an intake port of the intake enclosure. Aspects of the invention include a screen extending from the bulkhead to the grille for inhibiting the flow of water and particles through the flow channel. Other aspects provide an alternative air path for channeling air from the engine compartment to the intake enclosure. |
| US08281884B2 |
Cooling system for a vehicle with hybrid propulsion
A cooling system for a vehicle with hybrid propulsion; the cooling system is provided with a hydraulic circuit, inside which a cooling fluid flows, and has: a main branch, which carries out the cooling of a heat engine and comprises at least a first pump mechanically operated by the heat engine, and at least one radiator which is hit by air when the vehicle is moving; and a secondary branch, which is connected in parallel to the main branch by means of a starting offtake and an arrival offtake, has no heat exchangers of the water/air type, carries out the cooling of a reversible electric machine which may be mechanically connected to the driving wheels, and of a first electronic power converter which controls the electric machine, and comprises at least a second pump electrically operated. |
| US08281883B2 |
Method and apparatus for transporting construction equipment in an enclosed container within the hold of a vessel
A method and apparatus for permitting construction equipment, and particularly backhoe loaders, to be transported in the hold of a seagoing vessel within the interior of an enclosed cargo container includes front and rear rollers that temporarily replace the wheels of the equipment and allow it to be driven into and out of the container without any disassembly of the equipment. |
| US08281881B2 |
Rolling cone drill bit having cutting elements with improved orientations
A rolling cone drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations. In an embodiment, the bit comprises a bit body. In addition, the bit comprises a cone cutter mounted on the bit body and adapted for rotation about a cone axis in a cutting direction. Further, the bit comprises at least one transition insert mounted to the cone cutter. Still further, the bit comprises a first asymmetric insert mounted to the cone cutter. Moreover, the bit comprises a second asymmetric insert mounted to the cone cutter. Each insert includes a cutting surface with a leading side relative to the cutting direction. The leading side of the first asymmetric insert has a leading geometry and the leading side of the second asymmetric insert has a leading geometry that is different than the leading geometry of the first asymmetric insert. |
| US08281876B2 |
Reamers and methods for directional drilling
A reamer includes a mandrel defining a mandrel axis and arms extending radially from the mandrel. Each arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The reamer includes a cutting head disposed on the distal end of each arm and cutting teeth disposed on each cutting head. The cutting heads are arcuately spaced about the central mandrel to allow the movement of debris axially along the central mandrel and at least one of the arms defines a square cross-sectional shape. |
| US08281874B2 |
Power tool with vibration damping handle
Gel-like material or viscoelastic polymer is placed in a portion having a three-dimensional shape. A power tool driving force transmission mechanism transmits a rotary driving force from a rotary drive source to operate the power tool; and a housing provides an outer shell for the power tool. A tail cover is provided at at least a region of the housing, held by an operator; and gel-like material, enclosed by a resin film into a gel pack, is placed between the tale cover and the housing. The tail cover is composed of an elastomer member and a resin member, which is integrally formed with the elastomer member and has a higher hardness than the elastomer member. A portion receiving the gel pack is composed of the elastomer member, and a portion connected to the housing is composed of the resin member. The gel pack may be substituted with viscoelastic polymer. |
| US08281870B2 |
Atomized fire apparatus that is moved and operated easily and quickly
A fire apparatus includes a housing, a water tank mounted in the housing, a support unit mounted on the housing, a spray gun mounted on and supported by the support unit, a hose having a first end connected with the water tank and a second end connected with the spray gun, a drive motor mounted in the housing and electrically connected with the spray gun to pressurize the spray gun, and an electric storage unit mounted in the housing and electrically connected with the drive motor to supply an electric power to the drive motor. Thus, the spray gun injects atomized water outward to extinguish the fires easily and quickly. |
| US08281869B2 |
Spark arrestor for processing railroad rails
A spark arrestor for processing railroad rails includes an annular body having an upper end wall provided with a first opening and a lower end wall provided with a second opening. The annular body has a pair of generally aligned, circumferentially offset, downwardly open recesses, each structured to be received over a portion of the railroad rail and each having a first plurality of downwardly extending shield elements, extending downwardly beyond the upper surface of the rail. Lateral surfaces of the annular body disposed between the downwardly open recesses have a plurality of second shield elements extending downwardly therefrom. A cutting torch or heating torch or welding torch receiving opening is provided in the annular body to facilitate insertion of the torch. The upper and lower end wall opening, each preferably having a grid structure to resist outward migration of sparks and flames from the interior of the spark arrestor. |
| US08281868B2 |
Torque transmitting load shoulder
A well drilling tool has a tubular member connected into a casing string that serves as a drill string. A load shoulder is located within the bore of the tubular member. The load shoulder has a torque transferring portion that extends from a lower terminus to an upper terminus. The load shoulder has an axial force transferring portion that faces upward. A bottom hole assembly is lowered through the casing string and lands on the load shoulder. The bottom hole assembly has a mating profile to the load shoulder so that it will be supported by the load shoulder and will receive torque transferred from the load shoulder. |
| US08281862B2 |
Testing subsea umbilicals
An aspect encompasses a method of testing a subsea umbilical where a first portion of testing is performed on the subsea umbilical, the testing comprising hydraulic testing and at least one of electrical or optical testing, and a second portion of the testing is performed independent of a diver or an ROV. |
| US08281861B2 |
Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
A method of heating a subsurface formation includes introducing a molten salt into a first passageway of a conduit-in-conduit heater at a first location. The molten salt is passed through the conduit-in-conduit heater in the formation to a second location. Heat transfers from the molten salt to a treatment area during passage of the molten salt through the conduit-in-conduit heater. The molten salt is removed from the conduit-in-conduit heater at a second location spaced away from the first location. |
| US08281857B2 |
Methods of treating subterranean wells using changeable additives
Fluid compositions and methods of making and using same are described, one composition comprising a well treatment fluid and an additive combined with the well treatment fluid, wherein the additive is selected from solids, liquids and combinations thereof, the additive having a surface shape, at least one property of the surface shape enabling it to change under influence of a controllable parameter after the composition is deployed into a hydraulic fracture or gravel pack. In methods of the disclosure, the additive exists initially in a first state, and then is changed to a second state. The first state may increase proppant flowback efficiency, while the second state may increase hydraulic conductivity. In certain embodiments, the additive may change back to its first state. |
| US08281851B2 |
Coil tubing cable head with tool release, fluid circulation and cable protection features
A cable head for use with coiled tubing electric line in well operations has upper and lower housings attached by a shearable connection to allow release of the lower housing and any downhole equipment carried thereon. A piston is slidable within the housing by fluid pumped through the coil tooling to release a locking mechanism that otherwise prevents the shearing disconnect of the housings. Flow ports in the housing to allow pumping or circulation of fluid through the cable head are positioned to remain continuously open, regardless of the piston position, to maximize the range of flow rates over which fluid can be circulated. The electric line of coiled tubing is only stripped of its armor past sealed receipt thereof in a cable passage below the flow path of the fluid, thereby avoiding exposure of the conductor to the fluid to minimize the potential for damage or failure. |
| US08281843B2 |
Actuator mechanism for venetian blinds
An actuator mechanism for window coverings, such as, Venetian blinds that eliminates the use of pull cords and tilting wands is provided. The actuator mechanism includes a stop member engageable with at least one of the slats to stop tilting movement thereof and a clutch arrangement between a drive axle and a tilt control mechanism, responsive to the stop member engaging at least one of the slats, to disengage the tilting force applied to a ladder cord supporting the slats. |
| US08281837B2 |
Pneumatic tire and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a pneumatic tire with a durability which is improved by preventing oxygen deterioration of coating rubber of a reinforcement layer, and a method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention is a pneumatic tire including a reinforcement layer having reinforcement cords. In the pneumatic tire, the reinforcement layer is covered with thin films each made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer in a way that the reinforcement is wrapped with the thin films. A method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire includes: arranging a thin film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition on an outer periphery of a making drum, the thermoplastic elastomer composition being obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer; arranging a reinforcement layer including reinforcement cords on an outer periphery of the thin film; arranging another thin film on an outer periphery of the reinforcement layer; covering the reinforcement layer with these thin films in a way that the reinforcement layer is wrapped with the thin films; making an uncured tire including the reinforcement layer; and curing the uncured tire. |
| US08281834B2 |
Assembly of pneumatic tire, noise damper, and rim
A pneumatic tire and rim assembly is provided in the cavity with a noise damper in which a sponge material extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and having a volume V2 of 0.4 to 20% of entire volume V1 of the cavity, wherein the noise damper comprises a fixing surface fixed to a surface which surrounds the tire cavity, and a free surface directed to the tire cavity, a maximum value of thickness from the fixing surface to the free surface is in a range of 5 to 50 mm, including a thick mountain portion and a thin valley portion; and at least one of outer ends of the noise damper in the circumferential direction of the tire is formed into an inclined surface portion comprising a first inclined surface rising from the fixing surface and a second inclined surface extending from the first inclined surface to the free surface. |
| US08281832B2 |
Rubber composition and pneumatic tire using the same
To provide a pneumatic tire which can reduce fuel consumption without causing reduction in grip performance and after use of which can be degraded by microorganisms. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including 100 parts by mass of a rubber component including a natural rubber and/or a diene rubber and 0.5 to 80 parts by mass of a biodegradable aliphatic polyester. The biodegradable aliphatic polyester is preferably one or more species selected from polylactic acid, polycaprolactone and polyalkylene succinate. |
| US08281830B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread pattern including land portions having rib-like configurations
A pneumatic tire has a tread pattern which comprises at least three circumferential grooves with a groove width of 6 to 18 mm and a groove depth of 6.0 to 16.0 mm extending in a tire circumferential direction, wherein, on groove walls on both sides forming the at least three circumferential grooves, first inclined walls inclined by an inclination angle of 5 to 20 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction and second inclined walls inclined by an inclination angle of 0 to 45 degrees with respect to a tire width direction are provided so as to be successively connected in the tire circumferential direction so that positions of groove ends in the tire width direction vary in the tire circumferential direction. |
| US08281828B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread having lug grooves and sipes
Provided is a pneumatic tire capable of providing improved lateral sliding resistance on snow, improved traction on snow, and improved uneven-wear resistance. The provided tire includes: at least one circumferential main groove formed in a tread portion and extending in the tire-circumferential direction; and plural columns of land areas defined in the tread portion by the circumferential main groove. Plural lug grooves and plural sipes are formed in at least one of the plural land-area columns. Each of the lug grooves extends in the tire-width direction. At least one end of each lug groove is formed as a dead end located in the corresponding land area. Each of the sipes extends so as to surround the corresponding lug groove. Each sipe intersects with the lug groove in question, and is communicatively connected to the corresponding single one of the circumferential main grooves at the two ends of the sipe. |
| US08281827B2 |
Pneumatic tire
Provided is a pneumatic tire enabling an easy estimation of the presence or absence of an internal failure of the tire only by the observation of the external appearance of the tire, by interposing a detection layer mainly composed of at least one of a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic resin, which has a softening point of 50° C. to 150° C., in an interlayer between materials constituting the tire. |
| US08281826B2 |
Sharp edged knife stop
A sharp edged knife stop can secure the position of knife blades in a cutting or chipping system and prevent the separation of knife blades. The sharp edged knife stops can also assist in the cutting or chipping and lower the amount of debris build up that would occur with the use of traditional knife stops. The sharp edged knife stop has the same inclination angle as the knife blades and the same difference in knife edge height as the knife blades above that of a retaining ring height. |
| US08281824B2 |
Instrument, a system and a container for provisioning a device for personal care treatment, and a device for personal care treatment with such a container
An instrument (23) for filling a substance supply container (1) of a device (21) for personal care treatment has a filling needle (4) having a proximal end connected or connectable to a storage reservoir (22) and a distal end, a substance transport conduit (9) extending from the proximal end to at least one outlet (10, 11) provided in a radially facing surface portion closely adjacent the distal end of the filling needle (4). A sleeve (14, 15) is arranged around the filling needle (4) and is movable between a first position closing off the at least one outlet (10, 11) and a second position proximally away from the first position and the at least one outlet (10, 11). A system (20) including such an instrument (23), a container (1) for cooperation with such an instrument (23) and for provisioning a device (21) for personal care treatment as well as a device (21) for personal care treatment including such a container (1) are described. |
| US08281821B2 |
Leak stop seal for water cooler
A water cooler assembly and/or liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, having various, alternative features including: a bottom load water cooler, including such a cooler with a door stop mechanism; an adjustable drip tray assembly; a leak stop mechanism; an adjustable bottle interface accommodating dimensional variations in water bottles; an instaboil feature; and programmable dispensing and visual display modes. |
| US08281818B1 |
Systems and methods for gauging and controlling fluids and gases from pipes and orifices
A sealing apparatus is disclosed. In some embodiments, the sealing apparatus includes a shaft assembly that couples a laterally expandable plug and a longitudinally expandable member. The plug and the expandable member are captured within the ends of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is configures so that longitudinal expansion of the expandable member results in lateral expansion of the plug. Thus, such a device can be inserted into a pipe and the plug can be expanded within the pipe to provide a seal about the shaft assembly. In some embodiments, the shaft assembly can define a longitudinally extending hollow pathway that allows flow between the two ends of the shaft assembly. Examples of how such hollow pathway and the plug operation can be implemented are disclosed. Example applications, such as pressure measurements, are also disclosed. |
| US08281816B2 |
Fluid control apparatus
There is provided a fluid control apparatus which enables reducing widths of lines for further reducing space occupied by the apparatus. Support flow-channel blocks 9 and 10 are constituted by large block portions 25 and 27 which have openings of fluid flow channels 9a and 10a abutted against openings of fluid flow channels 11c and 11d in extended flow-channel blocks 11a and 11b with seal portions 20 interposed therebetween and, also, are abutted against lower surfaces of the extended flow-channel blocks 11a and 11b, and small block portions 26 and 28 which have lower surfaces flushed with the large block portions 25 and 27 and have heights smaller than those of the large block portions. The small block portions 26 and 28 are provided with male-screw-members insertion holes 26a and 28a for mounting the support flow-channel blocks 9 and 10 to a base member 30. |
| US08281815B2 |
Microfluidic valve filler and valve unit including the same
Provided are a valve filler and a valve unit including the valve filler. The valve filler includes: a phase transition material; and a heating fluid comprising a carrier oil and a plurality of micro heating particles suspended in the carrier oil, the heating fluid being mixed with the phase transition material, wherein, when external energy is supplied, the micro heating particles receive the external energy and generate heat to melt the phase transition material into a fluid state, and when no external energy is supplied, the phase transition material hardens into a solid state. |
| US08281808B2 |
Coolant reservoir tank for fuel cell vehicle
The present invention provides a coolant reservoir tank for a fuel cell vehicle, in which the coolant reservoir tank is positioned at a bottom of the vehicle such that coolant in a coolant line is collected in the reservoir tank by gravity during shutdown of a fuel cell system and the coolant in the reservoir tank is supplied to the coolant line by a vacuum pump during startup of the fuel cell system.For this purpose, the present invention provides a coolant reservoir tank including: a coolant reservoir tank for a fuel cell vehicle, the coolant reservoir tank comprising: a reservoir housing having a predetermined volume of space; a cover for covering the top of the reservoir housing; and a plurality of ports detachably provided on at least one portion of the cover, wherein the reservoir housing and the cover are connected by a hinge type fastening member. |
| US08281807B2 |
Fluid path connectors and container spikes for fluid delivery
A fluid connector system features a stopper and an extending section. Installable within an outlet of a fluid container, the stopper defines a passage therethrough. Defining air and fluid conduits, the extending section has a first abutment member threadably connectible thereto and a second abutment member affixed thereto. The extending section is adapted to be extended through the passage of the stopper when assembled thereto. When the first abutment member is tightened about the extending section, the first and second abutment members abut against the exterior and interior sides, respectively, of the stopper. With the stopper installed within the outlet and the extending section and the abutment members therewith assembled to the stopper thereby sealing the passage therein, fluid within the container may be extracted via the fluid conduit as air exterior to the container flows therein via the air conduct to displace the fluid being extracted from the container. |
| US08281803B2 |
Balanced port housing with integrated flow conditioning
A gas regulator includes an actuator, a valve, and a balanced port housing disposed within the valve for flow conditioning to convert turbulent flow within the valve to laminar flow when the fluid reaches the sensing point of a Pitot tube disposed within the outlet of the valve. The balancing port housing includes an opening through a sidewall and disposed between a valve port of the valve and the outlet. The opening may include a partial obstruction, such as baffles or a mesh screen over which the fluid flows to convert the turbulent flow to laminar flow. The regulator may further include balanced trim having a balancing diaphragm in fluid communication with the upstream pressure to apply a force to a valve disc of the valve in the opposite direction of the force applied to the valve disc by the upstream pressure so that the upstream pressure does not affect the regulator's control of the downstream pressure. |
| US08281802B2 |
Valve for anti-lock brake system
A valve for an anti-lock brake system is capable of reducing the cost of production through structural improvement of a valve housing. The valve includes a valve core, an armature located below the valve core and having a ball, a cylindrical sleeve coupled to the valve core and armature and guiding the armature to move backward and forward, a first elastic member installed between the valve core and the armature, a valve housing coupled to the sleeve and having a longitudinal hollow space, a seat plunger movably installed in the hollow space and having a first orifice, a second elastic member installed between the seat plunger and the valve housing, a seat having an outlet and a second orifice that communicates with the first orifice, and a seat housing coupled to the valve housing and the seat, supporting the valve housing and the seat spaced apart from each other, and having an inlet between the valve housing and the seat. |
| US08281799B2 |
Valve set
A valve set includes a valve body which includes a central hole and multiple passages are located around the central hole. A tubular portion extends from the valve body a flexible plate has an insertion inserted into the central hole of the valve body and the flexible plate seals the passages from an underside of the valve body. A core member is securely engaged with the tubular portion has an inlet tube. Multiple releasing probes extend from an underside thereof. A spring is mounted to the inlet tube and biased between a shoulder on the inlet tube and an inner surface of the valve body. A bottom cap is connected to the underside of the valve body. Air is introduced into the valve set via the inlet tube and released by pushing the core member and the releasing probes push the flexible plate away from the passages. |
| US08281797B2 |
Control valve having live loaded packing follower with leak-off and independent secondary seal
A control valve includes a valve body, a valve stem, and a control element. The valve body receives the stem and includes a packing box housing a packing set. A packing follower includes a bore sized to receive the stem and includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a bearing surface, the lower portion sized to extend into the valve bonnet to engage the packing set to apply a first compressive force to the packing set, the upper portion including threads and having an upper counterbore housing a secondary seal ring. A nut operatively engages the threads of the upper portion of the packing follower, the nut positioned to apply a second compressive force to the secondary seal ring, and a spring is positioned between the packing flange and the bearing surface of the packing follower, wherein the first compressive force is independent of the second compressive force. |
| US08281794B2 |
Stage device and stage cleaning method
A stage device for use in a vacuum includes a frame-shaped movable stage having a sample mounting surface, a fixed stage surrounded by the movable stage, an air bearing to float the movable stage by supplying gas to a gap between the stages, a pressure regulator to regulate a pressure of the gas, a differential pumping portion to prevent the gas from flowing outside the gap, and a controller. The controller moves the movable stage within a predetermined range under a pressure in the differential pumping portion set equal to that for movable stage in use when setting a floating height of the movable stage lower than that for movable stage in use, and under the pressure in the differential pumping portion set higher than that for movable stage in use when setting the floating height of the movable stage equal to that for movable stage in use. |
| US08281793B2 |
Formation and deposition of sputtered nanoscale particles in cigarette manufacture
Nanoscale particles are formed and deposited in situ on tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter materials by physical vapor deposition. The nanoscale particles are capable of acting as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. |
| US08281792B2 |
Electromagnetic diaphragm assist device and method for assisting a diaphragm function
A diaphragm assist device includes a magnetic mat adapted for mounting inside a human body adjacent the diaphragm. The mat is made from a material responsive to application of an electromagnetic field so as to be movable into compressive relation with the diaphragm in response to application of the electromagnetic field thereto and movable out of the compressive relation to permit the diaphragm to relax when application of the electromagnetic field is discontinued. The device also includes an electromagnetic assembly adapted for surrounding the torso of the human body in functionally cooperative relation with respect to the mat, and for alternately generating and discontinuing the electromagnetic field so that the mat alternately moves into and out of the compressive relation with the diaphragm. The device also includes a controller constructed and arranged to control an intensity level of the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic assembly. |
| US08281790B2 |
Surgical drape having an absorbent edge
A surgical drape (1) has a first absorbent region (4) on the upper side thereof. According to the invention, the first absorbent region (4) extends along at least one edge of the drape (1), the first region having a dispersion of liquid on an inclined plane better than in a region (3) or regions adjacent to the first absorbent region. |
| US08281786B2 |
Respiratory system for inducing therapeutic hypothermia
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature and in particular for inducing therapeutic hypothermia. Various embodiments of the system are described. The system includes: a source of breathing gas, which may be in the form of a compressed breathing gas mixture; a heat exchanger or other heating and/or cooling device; and a breathing interface, such as a breathing mask or tracheal tube. Optionally, the system may include additional features, such as a mechanical respirator, a nebulizer for introducing medication into the breathing gas, a body temperature probe and a feedback controller. The system can use air or a specialized breathing gas mixture, such as He/O2 or SF/O2 to increase the heat transfer rate. In addition, the system may include an ice particle generator for introducing fine ice particles into the flow of breathing gas to further increase the heat transfer rate. |
| US08281785B2 |
Breathing system
Breathing equipment (10) for use in conventional operating room procedures comprises a flexible breathing bag (12) connected at one end (12.1) via a gas redirecting connector (14) to a gas guiding tube (16) and at the opposite end to a flexible exhaust gas bridging tube (18) forming part of a gas removal conduit (20) used for the remote venting of exhaled gas via a remote discharge tube (22) also forming part of the conduit (20). A breathing piece (28) is situated at the free end of the tube (16). An inhalation gas supply tube (24) passes within the tube (22) and via the connector (14) into the gas guiding tube (16) up to a position of discharge in close proximity of a user. The connector (14) is formed to cause exhaled gases from the piece (28) to pass along the tube (16) and through the bag (12) prior to remote venting to enable use of the ‘feel’ of the bag (12) during breathing assistance. |
| US08281784B2 |
Mouthpiece for an inhaler
A mouthpiece for an inhaler for administering a drug in the form of substances, substance formulations or substance mixtures that can be inhaled comprises an inhalation channel (4) for coupling to a chamber for receiving the drug. At least one component (10) having an aerodynamic cross-section is arranged in the inhalation channel (4). |
| US08281776B2 |
Weapon, in particular range-controlled compressed air weapon
The invention pertains to a weapon that provides a range control (2), by means of which it is possible to set firing velocity, and thus impact velocity, of the ammunition or active bodies (10) to a distance to be discharged in such a way that, in particular, the non-lethal ammunition (10) continues to have a non-lethal effect. To this end, a type of pneumatic weapon (1) is described that, with the use of a shot pressure control, e.g. by means of a proportional pressure regulator (3), and/or additionally in combination with breech technology and valve technology, has a continuously variable range control. |
| US08281774B2 |
Cam adjustment module for compound archery bow
A cam system for an archery bow including a module that is readily attached to and detached from a cam while leaving the cam on the bow. The module can include a draw stop selectively moveable relative to the module, even while the module is joined with the cam, to adjust the draw stop to specific locations corresponding to different draw lengths and/or draw stop walls of the bow. The module can include a recess that surrounds only part of an axle joining the cam and bow so the entire module is removable from the cam without removing the axle. The cam system can include indexing features that precisely and consistently align features of the cam and module. These features can include first and second indexing posts, and corresponding indexing holes, that register with one another to precisely align the cam and module when joined. |
| US08281773B2 |
Single-cam compound bow
Improved compound archery bow features a cable guard that separates the crossing inside cable segments allowing the intersection locus of the crossing cable inside segments to freely glide through the guard as the bow is drawn and released, a dual cam power pulley having a power lobe cam presenting a power cable race spiraling outward on a side face of an elliptical draw lobe cam presenting a draw-lobe cable race where the power cable winds as the inside drawstring cable segment unwinds from around the power cable race of the power lobe cam, and the outside drawstring cable segment unwinds from and winds-up around the draw-lobe cable race of the elliptical draw lobe cam as the bow is drawn and released, and bow-limb mounting and limb-pod structures at the respective ends of the bow riser for anchoring, aligning and supporting extending bow limbs for flexure. |
| US08281767B2 |
Pressure booster with integrated pressure reservoir
The invention relates to a high-pressure injection system, in particular for auto-igniting internal combustion engines, with at least one high pressure pump and a high pressure reservoir, through which at least one fuel injector is supplied with a fuel under pressure. The high-pressure injection system comprises at least one pressure booster unit which has at least two pressure boosters, each with a high pressure piston which can be driven independently of the other. |
| US08281759B2 |
Anti-rotation locking mechanism for controlling mechanical play
The antirotational, mechanical lash control mechanism for two reciprocating bodies having opposing cylindrical surfaces uses a radial U-shaped groove in the outer surface of the outer housing; a radial cut in the leg of said U-shaped groove, that extends from the groove into said bore; a U-shaped clip adapted to fit the U-shaped groove, the U-shaped clip having a ledge on a leg of U-shaped clip, where the ledge extends through said cut and into said bore; and a first stop on the outer surface of the inner housing, such that the first stop abuts said ledge to control mechanical lash between the outer housing and the inner housing. To prevent rotation, the ledge has a flat surface that mates to a flat surface on the inner housing. |
| US08281758B2 |
Engine lubrication method
A four-cycle engine with an enclosed oil reservoir for mounting on a power tool is provided. An oil pump driven by a camshaft, which mates by a cam gear with crank gear that is driven by a crank shaft, inhales the oil from the oil reservoir to lubricate the engine parts. A circular arc wall surrounds around web of the crankshaft with a slight distance from the web. A scroll-shaped wall has gradually increased distance from the circular arc wall to the direction of rotation of the web and has partial overlap with the circular arc wall. In case of stock of engine oriented power take off side up or down, oil is prevented to flow from oil reservoir to combustion chamber by a weir which is provided between the circular wall and the scrolled wall. The check valve splashes breathing missed oil from the crankshaft to the breather room and causes the oil to supply lubricant to lubricate the engine parts. |
| US08281757B2 |
Variable valve train control device
The oil pressure for a hydraulic actuator (60) of a variable valve train (52,54) is controlled in accordance with a duty value of a control signal for a hydraulic control valve (66,68). When predetermined inching control execution conditions are established, inching control in which the duty value is varied in a pulsed manner between a retention duty value, which retains an operation of the hydraulic actuator, and a forced drive duty value, which forcibly drives the hydraulic actuator, is exercised instead of duty value feedback control in which the duty value is calculated in accordance with the deviation between an actual valve opening characteristic and a target valve opening characteristic. If the oil temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, inching control is exercised to ensure that the first pulse width generated after the start of inching control is wider than normal. |
| US08281756B2 |
Valve timing control apparatus
A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotating member, a driven-side rotating member arranged coaxially with the driving-side rotational member so as to be rotatable relative to the driving-side rotating member, a retarded angle chamber and an advanced angle chamber, each of which is defined by the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member, a lock mechanism locking a relative rotational phase of the driven-side rotating member at a predetermined phase between a most advanced angle phase and a retarded angle phase, an operation fluid supply-and-discharge mechanism supplying/discharging an operation fluid to/from the retarded angle chamber, the advanced angle chamber and the lock mechanism, and a first air inlet mechanism for connecting one of the retarded angle chamber and the advanced angle chamber to an outside of the valve timing control apparatus in order to allow air to flow thereinto. |
| US08281755B2 |
Internal combustion engine with provision for lubricating pistons
An internal combustion engine including a cylinder with bore and a piston disposed to reciprocate in the bore is operated by moving the piston in the bore between top and bottom dead center positions and applying lubricant to a portion of the piston that protrudes from the bore. Lubricant is wiped from the piston as the piston travels into the bore toward its top dead center position. |
| US08281754B2 |
Vehicle engine cooling apparatus
A radiator is provided within an engine room and in front of an engine for cooling engine cooling water. A shutter is provided in front of the radiator and covers a portion of a core surface of the radiator for adjusting an amount of cooling air to be directed toward the radiator. A baffle plate is provided behind a remaining portion of the core surface, which is not covered with the shutter, for directing the air, having passed through the remaining portion, to outside the engine room. |
| US08281753B2 |
Cooling apparatus
A cooling apparatus that cools with coolant a subject of cooling, which is a heat source. The cooling apparatus includes a cooling circuit, an electric pump, a switching section, and a control section. Through circulation of the coolant, air in the cooing circuit is caused to flow to an air bleeding portion and is discharged from the cooling circuit through the air bleeding portion. The switching section is capable of switching the operation mode of the electric pump between a normal mode and an air bleeding mode for collecting air in the cooling circuit to the air bleeding portion. During the air bleeding mode, the control section is capable of controlling the electric pump to change a coolant displacement from the electric pump according to a change pattern that allows stagnant air in sections of the cooling circuit to flow to the air bleeding portion. |
| US08281748B2 |
Double loop auto-adjust pet restraint device
At time it is necessary to restrain pets. Many pet restraining devices are uncomfortable for pets and some may injure pets. The Double loop auto-adjust pet restraining device applies a uniform pressure around the entire perimeter of the neck when a pet is retained in the neck area. A second loop of the Double loop auto-adjust pet restraining device can be utilized to restrain the body or torso of a pet, the device applies a uniform pressure around the entire perimeter of that body area. The Double loop auto-adjust pet restraining device uses a design that enables pets to be restrained in a very humane way. |
| US08281747B1 |
Animal containment apparatus
The animal containment apparatus provides a stand alone apparatus that may be used singularly or in plurality. Each apparatus has an adjustable angle sensor that may be set to encompass any angle up to about 180 degrees. Each sensor senses incursion of an object, alive or otherwise, into its set range area. Animals, people, or even propelled objects are sensed. A key feature is that sensed objects do not have to wear any sort of device in cooperation with the apparatus. Sensation of such objects and life forms trigger each apparatus to emit a user recorded sound. The sound may be a command or any other chosen recording. Of significant advantage is that the recorder/sound interface provides for an animal's master to record commands in a voice and structure as recognized by the animal. |
| US08281743B2 |
Milking parlour and method for operating the same
An apparatus for milking an animal provides a milking parlor (1) with a robotic manipulation device (25) and a milking stall (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation device (25). An electric control system is adapted to vary the movement of the platform in response to the performance of the robotic manipulation device (25) in servicing the milking stall (5). |
| US08281742B2 |
System for milking cows and method
A system for milking cows including a structure for retaining cows therein. Such structure includes at least one holding area within such structure, at least one exit alley connected to and extending from a predetermined portion of such at least one holding area to at least one of a predetermined housing area, at least one additional holding area, and a combination thereof. At least one of at least one milking robot, at least one automated milking machine, and a combination thereof is disposed within such at least one holding area for automatically milking at least one predetermined cow when such at least one predetermined cow is closely adjacent a predetermined side of such at least one of such at least one milking robot, such at least one automated milking machine, and such combination thereof. A method for milking cows is also provided. |
| US08281741B2 |
Plasma deposition apparatus and deposition method utilizing same
A plasma deposition apparatus is provided. The plasma deposition apparatus comprises a chamber. A pedestal is placed in the chamber. A plasma generator is placed in the chamber and over the pedestal. The plasma generator comprises a plasma jet for plasma thin film deposition having a discharge direction angle θ1 larger than 0° and less than 90° between a normal direction of the pedestal and the discharge direction of the plasma jet. A gas-extracting pipe extends into the chamber and over the pedestal. The gas-extracting pipe provides a pumping path for particles and side-products having a pumping direction angle θ2 larger than 0° and less than 90° between the normal direction of the pedestal and the pumping direction of the gas-extracting pipe. The chamber is kept at an ambient atmospheric pressure. |
| US08281732B1 |
Boat conversion towers
A boat tower conversion kit for converting from a half tower to a full tower without the need for complete removal and/or destruction of the original half tower. A custom hard top incorporates a central core platform with several integral reinforcing plates. The plates provide structural support for the later expansion of the half tower by adding the upper tower section and upper platform(s). Leg members and ladder members of the upper and lower tower sections automatically mate with one-another in coaxial alignment, and are structurally secured to one-another through the interfacing integral reinforcing plates. Integral channels, wiring conduits and tubes provide for electrical wiring, electrical and mechanical components in conjunction with the custom platform core. |
| US08281731B2 |
Delivery systems for pressure protecting and delivering a submerged payload and methods for using the same
A payload delivery system for protecting and delivering a payload submerged in a submersion medium includes a containment system. The containment system includes a container and a dehiscing system. The container includes a pressure-resistant shell defining a sealed containment chamber. The dehiscing system is operative to dehisce the shell to open the containment chamber to the submersion medium responsive to a prescribed event and/or a prescribed environmental condition. |
| US08281730B2 |
Watercraft with asymmetrical and symmetrical boat hull
A watercraft that uses a hybrid hull that has two asymmetrical front hull sections that gradually transition rearward and form two symmetrical rear hull sections separated by a tunnel. The two front hull sections are longitudinally aligned on opposite sides of the hull's center axis and form a front pickle. Each front hull section includes a flat, vertically aligned inboard surface that intersects with a conical shaped span deck that extends along the bottom of the hull and terminates at a transversely aligned front landing door or front transom. The lower edge of each front hull section gradually curves rearward and downward forming a shape keel. The two rear hull sections are v-shaped longitudinally aligned with the two front hull sections with a narrow tunnel formed between them that communicates with the span deck. Formed on each rear hull section is a delta surface with a skeg attached thereto. |
| US08281725B2 |
Directly driven seed meter hub drive
A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seek disk rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seek disk at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seek disk. |
| US08281723B2 |
Vehicle having an eddy current brake for a rail-borne transportation system, and a transportation system which is operated therewith, in particular a magnetic levitation train
A vehicle for a rail-borne transportation system includes an eddy current brake that contains a large number of magnetic poles and a mechanism for activating the magnetic poles for braking. The magnetic poles are formed by movably supported permanent magnets, and the activation mechanism switches the permanent magnets from an inactive position into an active position. |
| US08281722B2 |
Solid track comprising a concrete strip
The invention relates to a solid track comprising a concrete strip on a supporting structure that consists of individual, successively arranged segments (2) and comprising rails (6) for a rail-guided vehicle that are located on the concrete strip. The concrete strip is continuous and spans the individual segments (2) and an anti-friction layer (10) is located between the concrete strip and the segments (2). The solid track according to the invention is characterized in that the concrete strip is a profiled concrete strip (7), in which the course of the solid track in terms of curvature and lateral inclination are reflected and in that in the region of adjacent end faces (13) of two neighboring segments (2), the track is equipped with a device (200) that spans both end faces (13) and absorbs any alteration in the position of the adjacent end faces (13). This prevents the forces acting on the profiled concrete strip (7) from having a critical effect and does not impair the action of the anti-friction layer (10). |
| US08281720B2 |
Flechette cartridge
A flechette cartridge is provided, containing a plurality of flechettes, capable of firing the flechettes in a concentrated and accurate spread pattern upon firing. In particular, both low and high velocity flechette cartridges are provided, which accurately disperse flechettes in a concentrated spread pattern. The flechette cartridge minimizes the parasitic launch mass to maximize flechette payload, flechette velocity and kinetic energy, and to maximize target effects. The flechette cartridge provides a robust means for reliably stripping the flechette payload cup. |
| US08281718B2 |
Explosive foil initiator and method of making
An exploding foil initiator is disclosed and is comprised of a substrate having a conductive bridge, a flyer, a barrel adjacent the flyer and an explosive packed sleeve adjacent the barrel. The flyer is comprised of a material which does not become more ductile upon a rise in temperature, for example a silicon dioxide material. The sleeve is comprised of a thermally compliant material, such as a silicone. The bridge is provided with a necked down section having a defined thickness which is less than the remainder of the bridge deposition. |
| US08281716B2 |
Anti-marking jackets comprised of fluoropolymer and methods of using in offset printing
In a printing press having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, an anti-marking device is provided. The anti-marking device comprises a flexible jacket comprised of fluoropolymer to engage the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, the anti-marking device removably attached with free play to the transfer cylinder. In an embodiment, a base cover is installed on the transfer cylinder between the anti-marking device and the transfer cylinder. |
| US08281712B1 |
Twist-tie catch twister apparatus
A twist-tie catch twister apparatus is taught that consists of dual feed rollers that feed twist-tie material through a back opening in a catch twister into the groove of a peripheral ring, which continues around the ring penetrating the front side of the catch twister through a second opening. The twist-tie material is then retained by a twist-tie clamp and the rollers reverse rotation drawing the twist-tie material onto a workpiece. The catch twist motor rotates the catch twister one half turn twisting to hold tension on the workpiece. A twist-tie cutter, positioned between the feed rollers and split ring, severs the twist-tie material and the twist-tie tape clamp opens with the motor rotating the catch twister a predetermined number of turns and then reverses at least one half turn to release the twisted material and the split ring opens for removal of the twist-tie secured workpiece. |
| US08281711B2 |
Modular feed head with reversing motor
A feed head for a strapping machine includes a frame, a feed wheel, a tension wheel, and a feed and take-up motor mounted to the frame and operably connected to the feed wheel. The feed and take-up motor operates in forward and reverse directions to feed strapping material through the strapping machine, and to take up strapping material from the strapping machine. A tension motor is operably connected to the tension wheel and operates in a reverse direction to tension the strapping material around the load. The tension wheel is movable toward and away from the feed wheel and engages the feed wheel during strap tension and disengages from the feed wheel during strap feed. A pivot assembly operably mounts the tension motor and tension wheel to the frame to move the tension wheel toward and into engagement with, and out of engagement with the feed wheel. |
| US08281704B2 |
Delayed blowback firearms with novel mechanisms for control of recoil and muzzle climb
The mechanism comprises a main frame (1) and its extension (1′), which accommodate a barrel (21) with fixed mounting, a mobile bolt (22) and its guiding pin ensemble (66) and main spring (67) moving in the main frame (1), a mobile mass (34) and its assembly of guiding pin (60), push plate (61) and return spring (62), and a mobile mass catch sear (42) and its spring (7). The mobile mass pivots from a first position under the barrel to a downward position in reaction to the backward movement of the mobile bolt. The placement of the mobile mass in front of the chamber directs counteracting forces down on the barrel to prevent muzzle climb during operation. |
| US08281703B2 |
Mitigating recoil in a ballistic robot
Recoil mitigating devices and methods for use with projectile firing systems such as a disrupter mounted to a robotic arm. A pair of parallel spring provides dampening of axial recoil movement of the disrupter relative to the robotic arm. Forward ends of the springs are attachable to the barrel of the disrupter while rearward portions of the springs are attachable to the robotic arm by a robot mount block. The robot mount block at least partially encloses the barrel of the disrupter in connecting the parallel springs and permits axial movement of the disrupter along or through the mount during firing. |
| US08281693B2 |
Method for shaping a hexagonal tool
The method for shaping a hexagonal tool of the present invention includes the following steps: preparing a hexagonal rod having an axis and a bottom, which has a periphery; fixing the hexagonal rod on a lathe, the lathe having a clamp and a lathe tool, the hexagonal rod being clamped and rotated about the axis by the clamp, the lathe tool lathing the hexagonal rod in a single operation to form a neck portion on the hexagonal rod, a driving head being defined on the hexagonal rod between the neck portion and the bottom; and lathing a rounding edge around the periphery of the bottom by the lathe tool. As such, a hexagonal tool having a neck portion and a driving head is thus quickly formed. |
| US08281688B2 |
Wave gear device
A wave gear device is proposed having an anti-ratcheting mechanism having a simple configuration, wherein a center through-hole is formed in a cylinder hub of a wave generator, a small-diameter shaft end portion of a rotating input shaft is concentrically inserted in the center through-hole, and the two members are fastened by a fastening bolt, and a friction ring is concentrically sandwiched between the small-diameter shaft end portion and the cylinder hub and pressed in the radial direction with a prescribed force, whereby when transmission torque from the rotating input shaft to the wave generator 4 becomes excessive, slippage occurs in the rotational direction between the two members, transmission torque is limited, ratcheting generated between the two gears can be prevented. |
| US08281687B2 |
Rotation angle detection device
A rotation angle detection device includes rotary body 1 rotating in linked motion with a steering wheel; detectors 2 and 3 that rotate in linked motion with rotary body 1; detecting parts 5 and 6 for detecting rotation of detectors 2 and 3; control part 21 for detecting a rotation angle of rotary body 1 from a detection signal from detecting parts 5 and 6; latching body 23 for latching the rotation of rotary body 1; and case 8 containing rotary body 1, detection parts 5 and 6, control part 21 and latching body 23. Latching body 23 includes latching part 23B urged by elastic body 24 and brought into elastic contact with an outer periphery of rotary body 1; and releasing part 23C for releasing an elastic contact of latching part 23B to rotary body 1 and a part of which is exposed to the outside of case 8. |
| US08281684B2 |
Steering column arrangement for a motor vehicle
A steering column arrangement includes a steering spindle, which rotates about its longitudinal axis and serves to transfer a torque, generated by a steering wheel, to a steering gear, and a blocking device, which prevents the rotational motion of the steering spindle, especially in the event of a collision. The blocking device includes a stator, which is stationary in relation to the rotational motion of the steering spindle, and against which a blocking element is mounted in a relatively moveable manner. To prevent, in a reliable manner, an undesired twisting of the steering wheel, especially in the event of a collision, the blocking element is moveable into a locked position in a radial direction toward the steering spindle. |
| US08281683B2 |
Remote manipulation arm in two portions
A remote manipulation arm comprising a master arm (5) mechanically separated from a slave arm (1) with the slave arm comprising a tubular segment and a manipulation tool 12 at one end thereof and further comprising an interface system including a control portion (7) and a mechanical power portion (8) for driving the slave arm (1) through a mechanical transmission (26,27) of the slave arm wherein the mechanical power portion (8) comprises a stationary motor, a stationary casing, a drum attached to the tubular segment and a transmission capable of rotating the tubular segment (3) and wherein the remote manipulation arm further comprises a winder (32) of electrical cables leading to control motors and a circular arc shaped part between the drum and a cylindrical portion of the stationary casing. |
| US08281682B2 |
Accelerator operating device
An accelerator operating device including a body fixed to a handlebar; an accelerator lever supported on the body so as to rotate freely around a predetermined axial line and that rotates between a close position and a maximum open position; a first return spring that returns the accelerator lever to the close position; and a load generation mechanism that generates a load on a rotational operating force of the accelerator lever by frictional resistance. The load generating mechanism includes a rotational slider arranged to freely rotate around the axial line that can be pressed and rotated by opening rotation of the accelerator lever; a slide receiving part formed in the body that allows the rotational slider to slide; a biasing spring that biases the rotational slider toward the slide receiving part; and a second return spring that returns the rotational slider to a rest position. |
| US08281681B2 |
Shift-by-wire system
A shift-by-wire (SBW) device includes a capacitor, which stores electric power. When an abnormality occurs in a battery or an electric power supply system, an actuator of the SBW device receives electric power from the capacitor and changes a shift range of an automatic transmission to a P range at least once. Furthermore, when a lever of a P range releasing arrangement is operated, the P range of the automatic transmission is released. |
| US08281680B2 |
Power-augmenting transmission structure for an electric car
A power-augmenting gear structure for an electric car includes a low-speed and power-augmenting transmitting route additionally installed in a gear case, with an output shaft of an electric motor extending in the gear case. The gear case has transmission gears forming conventional normal speed transmitting routes with normal speed reducing ratio for running on common flat roads, and a low-speed and power-augmenting transmitting route to be used in case of moving up an upward slope or coping with a condition needing a large torque. Then the electric motor may be reduced in its size, weight and cost, without necessity of enlarging it to have a large power. |
| US08281667B2 |
Method for determining the mass flow through a coriolis mass flowmeter arranged on a rotating filling element
In a method for determining mass flow with a Coriolis mass flow measuring device arranged on a rotary filler, a correction value Δ{dot over (m)} is ascertained, which is proportional to the RPM n of the rotary filler. This correction value is subtracted from the conventionally ascertained value {dot over (m)} of the mass flow. The corrected measured value {dot over (m)}corr is thus {dot over (m)}corr={dot over (m)}−Δ{dot over (m)}. |
| US08281663B2 |
Active acoustic driver for magnetic resonance elastography
A driver for applying an oscillating stress to a subject undergoing a medical imaging procedure, such as with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), includes a passive driver located in the bore of the magnet and in direct contact with the skin of the subject. A remotely located active driver includes a linear motor and a sealed diaphragm that produces acoustic pressure waves in response to an applied current. The pressure waves are directed through a tube and into a chamber formed within the passive driver. Vibrations produced in response to the pressure waves create shear waves that are directed into the subject to aid in the imaging procedure. |
| US08281658B2 |
Method to produce 3-D optical gyroscope my MEMS technology
A gyroscope sensor includes a gyro disk. A first light source is configured to provide a first light beam adjacent to a first edge of the gyro disk. A first light receiver is configured to receive the first light beam for sensing a vibration at a first direction of the gyro disk. |
| US08281657B2 |
Gauge lens with embedded anti-fog film and method of making the same
The gauge lens with anti-fog film includes a substantially planar transparent lens substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface and a thin film possessing anti-fog properties adjacent and substantially covering the inner surface of the lens substrate to provide a low angle of contact for water and moisture. The anti-fog film is bonded to the lens substrate during the molding process that produces the lens substrate shape. The anti-fog film comprises a hydrophilic material or is coated with a hydrophilic coating. In addition to the anti-fog film, in another embodiment, the outer surface of the lens substrate has a hard coat film adjacent and substantially covering the outer surface of said lens. The materials for the lens substrate, anti-fog film, and hard coat film are selected based on the application, performance, and stability of the gauge lens in the environment that it is operated. |
| US08281655B2 |
Fuel gauging system utilizing a digital fuel gauging probe
A fluid measurement system utilizes one or more digital probes that communicate over a digital bus to a fluid gauging computer. The digital probes incorporate a capacitance to digital circuit that converts probe capacitance to a digital value. The digital value is communicated to the fuel gauging computer via a data bus. |
| US08281653B2 |
Test stand for an internal combustion engine
A test stand for an internal combustion engine is provided with a drive (2) and/or load system (3), a force transmission device (4) for connecting the internal combustion engine with the drive and/or load system (3), and a sensor and evaluation system for automatically collecting and evaluating measurement variables, wherein the force transmission device (4) comprises a system for detecting torque and rotation angle (6), which system is coupled to the internal combustion engine in a torsionally stiff manner, to achieve a coupling between the test object and the system for detecting torque and rotation angle, which coupling is improved for exact measurements, the force transmission device has at least one vibration damper (7) which is arranged on that side of the system for detecting torque and rotation angle (6) which is opposite to the internal combustion engine. |
| US08281652B2 |
Method for testing the functionality of an oxidation catalyst of an internal combustion engine
A method of testing the functionality of an oxidation catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine, particularly a diesel engine, of a motor vehicle, includes the following steps: (a) verifying whether the motor vehicle is at a standstill; (b) verifying whether the internal combustion engine is idling; (c) verifying whether a temperature lies within a predetermined range upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalyst. Then, if all of the steps (a) to (c) yield an affirmative result, an intervention in the engine management is made in such a way that a predetermined temperature is set in the oxidation catalyst; (e) hydrocarbons (HCs) are actively produced by post-injecting fuel at a late point in time; (f) a lambda value is measured upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalyst as soon as the predetermined temperature from step (d) has been reached, and while HCs are actively produced in step (e). Then, a difference is determined between the lambda values measured upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalyst. If the difference is less than a predetermined value, a conclusion is reached that the oxidation catalyst is damaged. |
| US08281651B2 |
Vehicular abnormality diagnosing apparatus
A vehicular abnormality diagnosing apparatus that diagnoses an abnormality regarding a connection state of a pair of members that are mounted in a vehicle and connected together, includes a detecting portion that outputs, as an output signal, a first detection signal when the pair of members are in a normal connected state, and a second detection signal when the pair of members are in a state other than the normal connected state; a counting portion that counts at least one of the number of times that the output signal changes from the first detection signal to the second detection signal and the number of times that the output signal changes from the second detection signal to the first detection signal, as an output signal fluctuation count; and a determining portion that determines that there is an abnormality in the connection state when an abnormality determining condition including a condition that the output signal fluctuation count during a predetermined period be equal to or greater than a predetermined count is satisfied. |
| US08281650B2 |
Misfire determination device and misfire determination method for internal combustion engine
When a rotation fluctuation amount of an engine exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that there is a possibility that a misfire has occurred. Then, when a rotation fluctuation pattern of the engine coincides with a first rotation fluctuation pattern, it is determined that a misfire has occurred; whereas, when the rotation fluctuation pattern does not coincide with the first rotation fluctuation pattern, it is determined whether the rotation fluctuation pattern coincides with a specific rotation fluctuation pattern in consideration of a lock-up state of a lock-up clutch or whether an engine rotational speed is lower than a threshold. When the determination is affirmative, occurrence of a misfire is determined on the basis of whether the rotation fluctuation pattern of the engine coincides with a second misfire determination pattern that is defined to be smaller in variation of a rotation fluctuation amount than the first rotation fluctuation pattern. |
| US08281646B2 |
Measurement tool and method of use
This invention relates to a measurement tool, and in particular to a measurement tool for use in determining the density and/or viscosity of a stationary or moving fluid. The measurement tool has been designed for use in borehole applications during the location and exploitation of oil and gas reserves. The measurement tool has a resilient pipe with a substantially uniform cross-section along its length, and the fluid is located within the pipe. The pipe carries an exciter which is connected to a signal generator, the exciter and signal generator being adapted to impart transverse and/or rotational oscillations to the pipe. Measuring the frequency of the oscillations can be used to determine the density and/or the viscosity of the fluid within the pipe. |
| US08281644B2 |
Hydrostatic tester
A hydrostatic tester is provided with an elevated test surface allowing tests to be made inside sleeves, pants legs or other hard to reach locations of completed garments. A constant force spring is engaged by way of a straight line clamp to apply pressure and maintain a consistent and constant force on a sandwich seal. A clamping mechanism can be moved to the left or right of test area to provide a clear unobstructed access to position test item. A raised gasket on the test surface prevents hard contact between test surface and seal ring avoiding damage to test items. A blood pressure bulb is used as a pressure source to force water from a reservoir to the test area. A low pressure gauge is positioned for easy viewing to monitor test pressure. |
| US08281640B2 |
Check weight, method and system to ensure traceability of same
A check weight (1) that is used to check a gravimetric measuring instrument, specifically a balance, or to check a further weight, is provided with a means of identification. This marking which is applied on the outside surface of the check weight includes a permanently affixed machine-readable identification code (2) which makes the specific weight piece individually recognizable. This opens the possibility for a method whereby an individually identifiable check weight can be traced back in time. A system for tracing check weights back in time includes one or more reader devices (6) that serve to record the marking, one or more processors (10) wherein the machine-readable identification code can be converted back into an identification code that can be electronically processed, and one or more data storage units, in particular a database (8) serving to store at least the data contained in the identification code. |
| US08281637B2 |
Forming tools and associated methods
Provided are tools, tool kits, and associated methods for forming and/or clasping needs associated with, for example, jewelry making activities. The tools herein releasably secure forming pegs and restrain lateral movement of the forming pegs to a first line of action. The tools also translate an actuation force along a second line of action to relative lateral movement of the forming pegs along the first line of action. |
| US08281630B2 |
Method for hydroforming and a hydroformed product
The invention has as its object to perform hydroforming so that no buckling or wrinkles remain at a hydroformed product with a long expanded region and comprises performing a first step of raising the internal pressure in a state with the metal tube fixed in position at the two ends or a state applying axial pushing actions of 10% or less of the total amount of axial pushing action, then applying axial pushing actions while holding the internal pressure at a constant pressure so as to expand the metal tube near the ends, then performing a second step of raising only the internal pressure without applying any axial pushing action so as to thereby expand a center of the metal tube, then performing a third step of lowering only the internal pressure to the value of the constant pressure without applying any axial pushing action, then repeating the first to third steps one or more times, then raising the internal pressure in the state not applying any axial pushing action or applying an axial pushing action of 10% of the total axial pushing action amount or less. |
| US08281629B2 |
Method of producing ring member
A method of producing a ring member includes a cutting process in which a rectangular sheet is formed by cutting a strip-shaped material pulled out from a coiled material; a joining process in which opposite edges of the sheet are butted, and a cylindrical member is formed by joining the edges to each other; and a ring formation process in which a ring member is formed by cutting the cylindrical member in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the cylindrical member. In the cutting process, the strip-shaped material is i) cut along one of a first section line parallel to an edge of the strip-shaped material facing a direction in which the strip-shaped material is pulled, or a second section line perpendicular to the edge, and then ii) cut along the other of the first or second section line, that is perpendicular to the line previously cut. |
| US08281627B2 |
Device for actuating a locking member
The invention relates to a device for actuating a locking member (10) of a functionally essential component (40), particularly a steering column (40) of a motor vehicle, having a gear box (20), being operatively connected to the locking member (10), wherein the locking member (10) can be moved into a locked position (1) and into a released position (2), and vice versa, wherein the locking member (10) engages into the functionally essential component (40) in the locked position (1), the locking member (10) is released from the functionally essential component (40) in the released position (2), an actuation device (30) is provided that can be accessed by a user, said actuation device being signal-connected to the gear box (20) during normal operation, by means of which an electronic actuation of the gear box (20) can be effected via an intentional actuation of the actuation device (30), said gear box moving the locking member (10) into the respective position (1, 2) thereof.The invention provides that the actuation device (30) is mechanically decoupled from the gear box (20) during normal operation, and that the actuation device (30) can be mechanically coupled to the gear box (20) during emergency operation such that a movement of the locking member (10) into the respective position (1, 2) thereof, is carried out via manual actuation of the actuation device (30). |
| US08281624B2 |
Anti-shoplifting device for projecting holders
There is disclosed an anti-shoplifting device for projecting holders (4), in particular for the display of blister packs, comprising a first (1) and a second body (2), which are mutually movable between a locked position, in which they define an opening (21) for the passage of a hooked projecting holder, ensured by locking assembly (8, 9, 10), and an unlocked position achieved by unlocking assembly (12, 13, 14, 15) acting on the locking assembly (8, 9, 10). The locked and unlocked positions are such that the device is respectively hooked or removable from the projecting holder (4). Further, the first and second bodies (1, 2) are rotateably coupled in a separable manner by a rotating structure. |
| US08281623B2 |
Top-loading drum type washing machine
A top loading drum type washing machine is provided. The washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet, and a drum rotatably installed in the tub. Openings respectively provided in the cabinet, the tub and the drum may be aligned to allow laundry items to be loaded into and removed from the drum. A door may be provided at the opening formed in the drum to open and close the opening. At least one side assembly may be provided an axial end of the drum to support rotation of the drum by a motor. A buffer may be connected between the at least one side assembly and the tub, and a suspension may be connected between the at least one side assembly and the cabined to absorb and damp vibration. |
| US08281619B2 |
Stack progressive pressing for making shaped articles
A method for forming shaped articles (28′) includes preparing a stack (26) having at least an adjacent set (27) of preformed material (28) and forming mold (30), where the preformed material (28) has an edge portion (34) that extends beyond a periphery of the forming mold (30), and the forming mold (30) has an external surface (32) with a desired surface profile of a shaped article. The stack (28) is heated. The stack (28) is advanced through a constriction (56) that has an internal surface configured to fold the edge portion (34) of the preformed material (28) into contact with the external surface (32) of the forming mold (30) as the edge portion (34) passes through the constriction (56), thereby forming a shaped article (28′) from the preformed material (28). The shaped article (28′) is then separated from the forming mold (30). |
| US08281618B2 |
Alkali-free glass substrate and process for producing the same
The invention provides an alkali-free glass substrate small in the variation of the thermal shrinkage and a process for producing the same. An alkali-free glass substrate of the invention has an absolute value of a thermal shrinkage of 50 ppm or more when the alkali-free glass substrate is heated at a rate of 10° C./min from a room temperature, kept at a holding temperature of 450° C. for 10 hr and then cooled at a rate of 10° C./min. |
| US08281614B2 |
Water-cooled air conditioner
A water-cooled air conditioner is provided, and includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a cooling tower, and a boiler. The indoor unit cools or heats a space, and includes a first heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between air and refrigerant. The outdoor unit is installed separately from the indoor unit and includes a second heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between water and refrigerant. The cooling tower is connected to the outdoor unit, and cools water flowing to the second heat exchanger. The boiler is connected to the outdoor unit, and increases a temperature of the water flowing to the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is formed with a plurality of thin plates separated from one another by predetermined gaps through which refrigerant and water flow. The second heat exchanger includes an anti-freezing device that prevents freezing of water within the second heat exchanger. |
| US08281612B2 |
Cooling room
The invention provides a mobile container for cooling produce. The container includes a box-like housing and a plenum wall creating a plenum chamber and a treatment zone. Within the treatment zone, produce can be placed. A plurality of openings are located within the plenum wall to allow conditioning air flow to pass between the plenum chamber and the treatment zone. The openings are of a non-uniform size such that the conditioning air passes from the plenum chamber into the treatment zone through the openings in a substantially uniform manner, allowing the produce to be cooled in a substantially uniform manner. |
| US08281611B2 |
Icemaker for a refrigerator
An automatic icemaker for a refrigerator is disclosed. The automatic icemaker includes an ice mold body having a front side, a back side, and a plurality of ice chambers for containing water therein for freezing into ice cubes, each ice chamber having a top opening having a frontal portion adjacent the front side; an ice stripper disposed along the front side and extending over the ice chambers, the ice stripper being configured to completely cover the frontal portion of the top opening of each ice chamber; and an ice rake disposed between the front side and the back side, the ice rake including a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of rake fingers extending outward from the shaft for moving ice cubes out of the respective ice chambers and onto the ice stripper. |
| US08281609B1 |
Man portable micro-climate
A closed loop portable cooling system for a person comprises an air circulation pad, a desiccant module, an air pump module and a heat pump module. The air circulation pad is worn by the person and provides cooling air to the person's body and removes warm moist air from the person's body. Air is delivered and removed locally to evaporation chambers adjacent to the person's skin. The warm moist air removed from the evaporation chambers is dried, compressed and cooled. It is then returned to the air circulation vest. The system is a closed loop system so that outer protective garments may be worn over it. |
| US08281608B2 |
Tubular conduit
The tubular conduit system of this invention allows modules requiring utilities to be positioned at any desired location within a cabinet, such as a refrigerator. The conduit is mounted to the cabinet of a refrigerator/freezer or the doors thereof and includes at least one electrical conductor positioned between the outer and inner walls and at least one fluid conduit within the inner wall. The conduit can be made of joined sections using connectors to also couple a module to the conduit such that modules can be installed at consumer selected locations prior to delivery of the refrigerator/freezer to the consumer. |
| US08281605B2 |
Bernoulli heat pump with mass segregation
Embodiments of a heat transfer apparatus, and related methods, involve a curved flow path, a heat source external to and in thermal communication with at least a portion of an inner radial boundary of the curved flow path, and a working fluid, including a heavier component and a lighter component, flowing through the flow path. The flow path causes the working fluid to experience centrifugal force so as to preferentially force the heavier component toward the exterior wall portion and thereby cause the lighter component to preferentially absorb heat from the interior wall portion. |
| US08281603B2 |
Fastener assembly for connecting rocket engine nozzles
A sliding connection between components of dissimilar materials includes a first mating surface formed on a first component and a second mating surface formed on a second component and configured to mate with the first mating surface. The first component is connected to the second component at the first and the second mating surfaces by a fastener including a shank, a sleeve received by the shank, and a resilient member received by the shank and contained by the sleeve. The resilient member is configured to press the first mating surface and the second mating surface against one another and to permit the first mating surface to slide against the second mating surface. |
| US08281602B2 |
Circumferentially self expanding combustor support for a turbine engine
A bullhorn or support for a turbine combustor is provided. The support maintains proper positioning of the transition element relative to the combustor while also allowing for certain movements of the support to alleviate mechanical stresses during turbine operation. The support is constructed from at least two pieces having an interlocking and releasable connection. |
| US08281596B1 |
Combustor assembly for a turbomachine
A combustor assembly for a turbomachine includes combustor housing and a flow sleeve arranged between the combustor housing and a combustor liner. The flow sleeve defines a first annular fluid passage, and a second annular fluid passage. A quaternary cap is mounted to the combustor housing. The quaternary cap includes a first fluid plenum fluidly connected to the first annular fluid passage, a second fluid plenum fluidly connected to the second annular fluid passage, and a plurality of vanes fluidly connected to each of the first and second fluid plenums. Each of the plurality of vanes includes a body portion having a first fluid channel coupled to the first fluid plenum, and a second fluid channel coupled to the second fluid plenum. The first fluid channel extends completely through the body portion and the second fluid channel extends partially into the body portion. |
| US08281595B2 |
Fuse for flame holding abatement in premixer of combustion chamber of gas turbine and associated method
A fuel nozzle assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine including: a nozzle body having a front and an inner tube defining a fuel passage extending through the nozzle body, wherein the front proximate to a combustion section of the combustor; an outer casing around the inner tube, wherein an air passage is defined between the outer casing and the inner tube; a gas conduit arranged in the air passage and having an outlet proximate to the front of the nozzle body, wherein fuel starts flowing through the expandable conduit only after a flashback condition occurs in the combustor, and a premix fuel passage and port discharging fuel to a premix section of the combustor, wherein the gas conduit has an inlet open to the premix fuel passage. |
| US08281590B2 |
Steam-based electric power plant operated on renewable energy
A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency.Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere. |
| US08281588B2 |
Turbomachine system and turbine therefor
A turbomachine system comprises a first turbocharger comprising an exhaust gas flow first turbine for location in an exhaust path and a first compressor driven by said first turbine; a turbomachine for location in the exhaust path upstream or downstream of said first turbocharger and comprising an exhaust gas flow second turbine and a second compressor driven by said second turbine. The first turbine has an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the second turbine. One of said first and second turbines is a radial outflow turbine. The arrangement provides for a relatively compact package. The radial outflow turbine may have a particular structure in which there is provided a deflector member at or near its inlet for directing the gas outwards, a stator for introducing swirl and a downstream turbine rotor. A shroud is fixed to blades of the turbine rotor to prevent leakage and to provide additional structural rigidity. |
| US08281586B2 |
Method for operating an engine to adjust turbocharger performance characteristics
A method to operate an electronically controlled internal combustion engine having an electronic central unit with memory a turbocharger and exhaust gas recirculation valve to determine performance characteristics of said variable geometric turbocharger. |
| US08281584B2 |
Wood-pellet cogeneration unit with stirling engine in condensing technology
In a wood-pellet cogeneration unit comprising a pellet feed, a combustion chamber, an ash removal device and a stirling engine, in order to achieve an optimum efficiency, provision is made for an exhaust gas recuperator (11) to preheat combustion air (10) and for wood pellets to be gasified with a portion of this hot air (13), for this portion (13) of the hot combustion air (10) to be directed above a grate (4) into a gasification combustion chamber (3a) and for the fuel gas (18) thus produced to be sucked downwards through the grate (4) together with the ash by a side channel blower (7), for the fuel gas (18) under the grate (4) to be displaced with a flow impulse of the rest (14) of the hot combustion air (10) in such a way that, firstly, a low lambda value close to the CO limit is maintained and, depending on the temperature of the combustion chamber (3b), the combustion at a central nozzle (19) is stabilized, or, with increasing temperature of the combustion chamber (3b), the state of flameless combustion increasingly appears, wherein a potential vortex (20) is produced in the combustion chamber (3b), said potential vortex (20) intensively mixing exhaust gas (6), fuel gas (18) and hot combustion air (14), such that fuel gas (18) and ash particles burn completely. |
| US08281580B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a particulate filter
A method to monitor a particulate filter includes determining an equivalent bypass area corresponding to a difference between a mass flowrate of an exhaust gas feedstream flowing to the particulate filter and a mass flowrate of the exhaust gas feedstream flowing through porous walls of a substrate. |
| US08281575B2 |
Emissions control filter assembly and system
A removable exhaust treatment unit for an aftertreatment assembly is provided. The removable exhaust treatment unit include a housing, at least one exhaust treatment element coupled within the housing, and a flange on one end of the housing. The removable exhaust treatment unit also includes a plurality of apertures on the flange configured to receive a plurality of fasteners. The removable exhaust treatment unit further includes at least one handle coupled to the flange. |
| US08281572B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for reducing NOx emissions from an engine system
Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling NOx conversion in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes a duty cycle factor module and a NOx conversion mode selection module. The duty cycle factor module is configured to determine a duty cycle factor of an internal combustion engine where the duty cycle factor represents predicted driving conditions of a vehicle in which the internal combustion engine is housed. The NOx conversion mode selection module is configured to command NOx conversion in the SCR system according to a first NOx conversion mode if the duty cycle factor is within a duty cycle factor range and according to a second NOx conversion mode if the duty cycle factor is not within the duty cycle factor range. |
| US08281567B2 |
Deployable rocket engine in a combination jet and rocket engine
A propulsion system for a combined aircraft/spacecraft including: a jet engine having a longitudinal axis defined in a direction from a front end at an air intake to a rear end at a jet exhaust: a front end at an air intake to a rear end at the jet exhaust; a rocket engine having a longitudinal axis defined normal to a rear end at a rocket exhaust; a common engine housing having an elongated shape and wherein the jet engine and the rocket engine are configured substantially coaxially and with respective rear ends facing the same direction when the rocket engine is operated. |
| US08281562B2 |
Tire and metal/rubber composite therefor
Tire comprising a crown surmounted by a tread, a crown reinforcement, two sidewalls and two beads, a carcass reinforcement passing into the two sidewalls and anchored by means for anchoring in the two beads, said anchoring means comprising, in at least one bead, a circumferential alignment of at least one anchoring reinforcing member oriented circumferentially and cooperating with a rubber composition referred to as ‘anchoring rubber’; this tire is characterized in that this anchoring reinforcing member is a metal cable having two layers of construction M+N comprising an inner layer C1 of M wires of diameter d1 wound together in a helix at a pitch p1, this layer C1 itself being surrounded by an outer layer C2 of N wires of diameter d2 wound together in a helix at a pitch p2, this anchoring cable furthermore having the following characteristics (d1, d2, p1 and p2 in mm): 2≦M≦4 M+3≦N≦M+7 0.25 |
| US08281561B2 |
Flexible draper belt drive for an agricultural harvesting machine
An agricultural harvesting machine including a flexible cutterbar and associated draper belts for carrying cut agricultural material to a center location. The belts are guided by a drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller for each belt is pivotable about an axis generally at 90 degrees to the axis of the belt and the drive roller for each belt is translatable axially to minimize diagonal stresses caused by flexing of the elongated endless belt. |
| US08281560B2 |
Treeless western saddle
A treeless western saddle comprising a flexible base coupled to an underside of a flexible substrate. A seat section is integrally formed in the flexible substrate. A pommel section is integrally formed in the flexible substrate. The flexible base has an upper stirrup aperture and a lower stirrup aperture formed in a lateral side of the flexible base. The underside of the flexible substrate has a cavity formed in a lateral side of the underside of the flexible substrate, the cavity to extend from the upper stirrup aperture to at least the lower stirrup aperture. |
| US08281559B2 |
Packaging machine having an ultrasonic device
The present invention relates to a packaging machine having an ultrasonic device (1), the ultrasonic device (1) comprising: an ultrasonic generator (2) which generates electric vibrations; an ultrasonic converter (3) which converts the generated electric vibrations into mechanical vibrations of the same frequency; a transformation intermediate piece (4) which transfers the mechanical vibrations to a sonotrode (5); the sonotrode (5) comprising a sound-radiating end surface (6) at which it reflects the mechanical vibrations, so that a standing wave to be passed into a packaging foil (18, 19) is formed, and the sound-radiating end surface (6) being disposed in a vacuum and/or in a modified atmosphere. |
| US08281552B2 |
Exterior wall construction product
Slotted header tracks for exterior wall applications. In exterior wall framing, the exterior wall sheathing is required to have a horizontal gap at or near the floor line for anticipated vertical movement between the floors. To accommodate orthogonal movement of the studs relative to the track, a plurality of slots are located along the flanges of the header track. An area for exterior sheathing attachment is created by leaving the upper portion of the flange solid for sheathing attachment and providing slots on the lower portion of the flange. Embodiments may include elongate reinforcing grooves on the slotted track's flanges and/or web, tabs for supporting and positioning exterior sheathing elements, connector elements for connecting the track to another surface, and second slots along the length of the web of the track to allow for limited drift movement of the track. |
| US08281551B2 |
Corrugated shearwall
A prefabricated shearwall including a central diaphragm having a height generally defined by top and bottom edges, and a width generally defined by a pair of end sections. The diaphragm further includes at least one corrugation extending in the height direction at least partially between the top and bottom edges. The corrugation increases the ductility and ability of the shearwall to withstand lateral forces such as those generated in earthquakes, high winds, floods and snow loads. |
| US08281543B2 |
Systems and methods for ballasting covers for gas-holding sludge digestors
A method of ballasting a cover of a sludge digester that is comprised of a storage tank and the cover. The method includes placing a ballast into the storage tank in a first predetermined position, placing the cover onto the storage tank, lowering a lifting member of a lifting device through an access port in the cover and into the storage tank, securing the lifting member to the ballast, using the lifting device to lift the lifting member and the ballast until the ballast is in a second predetermined position that is substantially above the first predetermined position, engaging a support bracket attached to the cover with a support member; and securing the ballast to the cover with the support member while the ballast is in a third predetermined position that is substantially below the second predetermined position. |
| US08281541B2 |
Hold down connector
A hold down connector is provided for securing together multiple building members. The hold down connector resists movement of the building members when connected to an elongated tie member. In one embodiment, the hold down connector includes a transverse portion connected to first and second elongated legs with at least one aperture at elongated connections between the transverse portion and the first leg and between the transverse portion and second leg. In another embodiment, the hold down connector includes a transverse portion connected to first and second elongated legs with the transverse portion partially supported by transverse extensions of the first and second legs. A hold down connector in accordance with embodiments results in increased load bearing properties, construction from thicker materials, and easy installation. |
| US08281539B2 |
Shingle layer or shingle having thick appearance
A shingle layer of shingle is provided having an increased thickness adhesive coating on at least a portion of its rear surface, with granules embedded therein, with the granules being of a size range that is larger than the fine particles normally applied to the rear surface of a shingle layer. |
| US08281535B2 |
Packaging prefinished fiber cement articles
Protected prefinished fiber cement articles are manufactured by applying a protective layer on the finished surface of a fiber cement article. The protective layer protects the finish layer of the prefinished fiber cement article during handling, storage, and transport. Removing the protective layer leaves no residue on the finish layer, does not damage the finish layer, and does not substantially tear the protective layer. Protected prefinished fiber cement article are typically stacked on pallets for storage and transport. Optionally, spacers may be placed between the stacked protected prefinished fiber cement article. |
| US08281534B2 |
Formed steel beam for steel-concrete composite beam and slab
A built-up beam fabricated a plurality of profiled steel plates is disclosed. The built-up beam includes a first lower profiled steel plate including a bottom portion, a side-vertical portion bent upwardly and vertically from one lateral edge of the bottom portion, a supporting portion bent horizontally from an upper end of the side-vertical portion, and a first center-vertical portion bent vertically and upwardly from the other lateral edge of the bottom portion. A second lower profiled steel plate is arranged symmetrically about the first center-vertical portion of the first lower profiled steel plate and connected to the first lower profiled steel plate. The second lower profiled steel plate has a cross-section symmetrical or asymmetrical to the first lower profiled steel plate. The built-up beam includes a first upper profiled steel plate including a top face portion and a second center-vertical portion bent vertically and downwardly from one lateral edge of the top face portion, the first upper profiled steel plate being connected to one upper side of the first center-vertical portion of the first lower profiled steel plate. A second upper profiled steel plate is arranged symmetrically about the second center-vertical portion of the first upper profiled steel plate and connected to the other upper side of the first center-vertical portion of the second lower profiled steel plate. The second upper profiled steel plate has a cross-section symmetrical or asymmetrical to the first upper profiled steel plate. Thus, a slab can be placed within the depth to thereby reduce the story height. |
| US08281530B2 |
Starter element for stackable inter-engaging bricks
A starter element for stackable inter-engaging bricks, blocks and stones for building mortarless walls is disclosed. The starter element comprises an horizontally extending strip having a first portion customized to be adjustably attached to a structure, a second portion having an upper part with an interlock element projecting upwardly therefrom to be in engagement with the mortise interlock element of the brick and a third portion sloping downwardly from the interlock element to be in at least partial contact with an inside surface of the brick. The starter element can also comprise means adapted to allow the drainage of water and the passage of air behind the wall. |
| US08281522B1 |
Ventilated roofing system
A multi-layered roofing system and method of construction which replaces standard sloped or flat roof surfaces is herein disclosed. The system comprises a roof surface having a dual layer construction provided by two (2) layers of roof sheathing material which are separated by vented spacing members. A top layer of sheathing material is covered with a top layer of roofing felt, shingles, rolled roofing, or the like. The system utilizes various vented spacing channels, vented drip edge elements, and a vented ridge vent that provide for a ventilating gap within the roof. The ventilating gap runs the entire length of the roof and helps to moderate interior building temperatures, thereby improving energy efficiency. |
| US08281518B2 |
Louvre control system
A shutter having a rectangular frame with side members and end members, and in which at least one of the side members is hollow, and a plurality of louvres extending from one side member to the other side member, and being rotatably mounted in the side members, and a control linkage within at least one of the side members, the control linkage having at least one control element, and each louvre having at least one control member engaging the respective control element, the control members being located spaced radially from the rotation axes of the louvres. |
| US08281517B2 |
Wall planting system
A modular wall planting system includes at least a pair of planting units each comprising a mounting structure mountable to a vertical wall surface, and a trough extending outwardly from the mounting structure and including an upwardly opening aperture, the trough defining an interior compartment divided into a first section and a second section at least partially divided from the first section, wherein the first section is adapted to receive plant matter therein, the second section is adapted to receive fluid drained from the first section, and wherein the trough includes at least one weep aperture adapted to allow water to drain from the interior compartment and the second section to an exterior of the trough. The system further comprises a fluid line extending into the interior of the trough and adapted to transport a fluid thereto, wherein the individual planting units are adapted to be secured to a wall structure in at least a partially vertically aligned manner such that a lower planting unit of the pair of planting units receives fluid drained from the interior of a higher planting unit via the at least one weep aperture of the trough. |
| US08281516B2 |
Apparatus and methodologies for fertilization, moisture retention, weed control, and seed, root, and plant propagation
An all-natural fiber biodegradable generally planar mat for use in the germination, growth enhancement and propagation of plants and trees and the suppression of weed growth is provided. The present invention comprises a generally planer layer of at least one or a combination of natural fibers including, but not limited to, human hair, animal hair, coconut fiber, seaweed, kelp, cotton, corn silk and peat moss, and alternatively may incorporate a plurality of man-made fibers. Such mat may be constructed using needle punching, hydro-entanglement, or aero-entanglement. The generally planar mat in a wide variety of constructions is used in various methodologies of promoting seed germination, root growth, spot growth on existing plantings, landscaping under-laminate, soil additive, and as a weed control and pest deterrent in the horticultural field. Within such context, the present invention is useful for the retention of moisture and both the active and passive fertilization of the plant(s) with which it is associated either under, within or on the surface of the soil. |
| US08281515B2 |
Methods for growing and harvesting algae and methods of use
Methods for increasing the growth and biomass of algae and algae lipids by growing the algae in the presence of a polycationic substance such as soluble or insoluble chitosan and/or chitin are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of harvesting algae from an aqueous environment by growing the algae in aggregated clumps and/or mats (formed by the inclusion of soluble or insoluble chitosan and/or chitin or other polycationic or cationic substances) that can be easily removed from the aqueous environment either by filtration, surface skimming, and/or growing in a porous containment device, such as a natural or synthetic fabric, and removing the fabric from the aqueous environment containing the aggregated algae. The methods disclosed have direct applications in biofuel and energy production, agricultural feedstock production, nutrient production, greenhouse gas reduction, removal of microconstituents from water, and water reclamation. |
| US08281514B2 |
Organic insect extermination lamp
Disclosed embodiments provide a method and apparatus for an organic insect extermination lamp, which continuously kills mosquitoes and other biting insects without the use of hazardous chemicals, pesticides or electrocution. The organic insect extermination lamp includes a housing; a fixture including a power source and an LED light source for attracting mosquitoes and other biting insects without emitting substantial heat; at least one covered reservoir having a closable cap for holding a natural exterminating substance; and a natural exterminating substance, wherein the natural exterminating substance decomposes to produce natural exterminating fumes for killing mosquitoes and other biting insects. |
| US08281512B2 |
System and method for carrying firearms
A system is provided for simultaneously carrying two firearms is provided wherein said system has a first firearm; a receiving bracket attached to said first firearm; a second firearm having a trigger; a holster housing said second firearm, said holster having a mounting bracket acting in concert with said receiving bracket such that said mounting bracket is releasably attached to said receiving bracket, and wherein said holster restricts access to said trigger of said second firearm housed within said holster. |
| US08281507B2 |
Three dimensional illuminated greeting cards
A three-dimensional illuminated greeting card which combines a unique card construction having a 3D pop-out structure with one or more lights contained therein. The 3D pop-out structure forms an internal cavity in which illumination means and other electronic components are contained. One or more sides of the 3D structure are made of translucent or semi-translucent material, creating a screen that can be illuminated from behind by one or more miniature lights, such as LED lights. The light or lights may be connected to an integrated circuit chip that can be programmed with various lighting effects. The greeting card may optionally include other electronic components which are configured to play sound or music or perform other electronic effects. |
| US08281500B2 |
Device and method for increasing evaporation rates of blow-down apparatus
A drying container insert that manages the evaporation rate of liquid solutions when subjected to blow-down gas flows. Certain gas flow separator baffles or framed inserts with vanes may be especially effective to enhance evaporation when combined with aggressive blow-down flow rates and centrifugal force. The centrifugal force applied to the evaporating liquid protects sample integrity by preventing the solution(s) from splashing out of the drying container. Such splashing, when high blow-down gas flow rates are directed into the sample containers, affects yield and purity. |
| US08281497B2 |
Lamp holder comprising lamp-clamping pins and being mounted at a variable rotation angle on the lamp housing surface
A lamp holder 20 for use mounted on a lamp housing 4a surface having a flat shape to hold a plurality of tubular lamps 5 while arranging the lamps in parallel on the lamp housing surface providing a predetermined interval between the lamps includes a holder board 21, and three lamp-clamping pins 22a, 22b and 22c that are provided in a protruding manner at each end portion of the holder board, the lamp-clamping pins at each end portion of the holder board being disposed to have a positional relation such that they are capable of clamping the lamp that passes through them, and the lamp holder being arranged to provide, by being mounted at a variable rotation angle on the lamp housing surface, an interval of a desired size between the lamps. |
| US08281495B2 |
Two dimension layout and point transfer system
A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. The laser light planes also project lines that will intersect along the ceiling at a point that is truly plumb above the crossing point on the floor. The laser planes also provide an “implied” plumb line that is projected in space, which is visible along a solid vertical surface to between the intersecting floor and ceiling points. |
| US08281488B2 |
Method for producing a dimensionally accurate honeycomb body
A method for producing a honeycomb body having a honeycomb structure disposed in a housing, includes at least forming a honeycomb structure, inserting the honeycomb structure into a housing, carrying out a heat treatment operation on the honeycomb structure having the housing, contacting outer regions with a molding, at least during the inserting step or the heat treatment step, and reproducing a desired outer contour of the housing with contact faces of the molding. A molding and an exhaust gas treatment unit produced with a thin housing in a dimensionally accurate manner, are also provided. |
| US08281486B2 |
Method for machining a gas turbine rotor
A method for machining a gas turbine rotor which is provided with a cooling air slot which concentrically extends around the axis of the gas turbine rotor and is supplied with compressed cooling air via axial cooling air holes which at the side lead into the slot base of the cooling air slot, and the opening of which is covered by bridges which are arranged in a distributed manner over the circumference and spaced apart from each other by gaps. A crack-resistant slot shape is achieved without intervention into the configuration of the bridges by a material-removing tool, particularly a milling tool, being lowered in the gaps between the bridges one after the other into the cooling air slot and in this way the slot base of the cooling air slot being machined and widened over the entire circumference. |
| US08281480B2 |
Method for manufacturing wireless receiver
A method for manufacturing a wireless receiver is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a metallic casing having an accommodating space with both opposite ends thereof and having an front opening and a rear opening in communication with the accommodating space; forming a positioning base having a mounting trough by joining to the accommodating space of the metallic casing, the mounting trough being in communication with the accommodating space and rear opening; providing a receiving module, assembling the receiving module in the accommodating space, the receiving module being fixed by inserting it into the mounting trough via the rear opening; and providing a housing, assembling the housing to the rear opening, the housing sealing the rear opening to block the receiving module from sliding out of the rear opening. Therefore, the whole size of the wireless receiver can be reduced. |
| US08281479B2 |
Stylus flashlight housing and method for making same
A method for making a flashlight housing comprises providing a blank of an electrically conductive material, impact extruding the blank of electrically conductive material to form an elongated hollow member that has an internal cavity open at a first end and that has a reduced inner diameter portion proximate a second end thereof, and coating the elongated hollow member with a coating material. The flashlight housing may have a tail cap, and may have O-rings for sealing at the rearward end of the tail cap, at the forward end of the housing, and at the interface between the housing and the tail cap. |
| US08281476B2 |
Multilayered tube and manufacturing method thereof based on high pressure tube hydroforming
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a multilayered tube, including: preparing an outer tube, an inner tube having an outer diameter of 95˜98% of an inner diameter of the outer tube, and dies with a shaping void having a diameter of 100.20˜100.30% of an outer diameter of the outer tube; mounting the outer tube on the shaping void, with the inner tube inserted into the outer tube; plastically expanding the inner tube to be brought into contact with the outer tube by injecting a fluid into the inner tube until a pressure of the fluid reaches a first forming pressure inside the inner tube; elastically expanding the outer tube to be brought into contact with the shaping void by increasing the pressure of the fluid until the pressure of the fluid reaches a second forming pressure inside the inner tube; and elastically recovering the outer tube to allow the outer tube and the inner tube to be coupled to each other by removing the fluid from the inner tube, wherein the first forming pressure is in the range of 10˜20% of yield strength of the inner tube, and the second forming pressure is in the range of 10˜20% of yield strength of the outer tube and is maintained for 2˜3 seconds. |
| US08281474B2 |
Tool and method of use for extraction of failed wheel bearings
A tool and method of use directed to the extraction of a wheel bearing's outer ring. When a tractor or trailer's wheel bearing fails and is in need of replacement, the present invention provides for a quick and easy means of extracting the remaining wheel bearing component residing in the wheel rim, the outer ring. The tractor wheel bearing extraction tool of the present invention is comprised of two pieces. The first piece is inserted into the wheel cylinder within the wheel rim and locks to the wheel bearing outer ring. The tool's first piece thus provides for a punching back for the second piece of the tractor wheel bearing extraction tool. The second piece is a hammering rod and is inserted into the opposite end of the wheel cylinder within the wheel rim. The hammering rod locks into the first piece and allows the user to hammer out the outer ring wheel bearing component with one strike. |
| US08281473B2 |
Wearable surface for a device configured for material comminution
A method of making a wearable surface for a device configured for material comminution includes positioning inserts adjacent to a first metal structure positioning a second metal structure adjacent to the inserts and the first metal structure such that there is a gap between the second metal structure and the first metal structure, and positioning at least one explosive adjacent to the second metal structure. The one or more explosives are ignited adjacent to the second metal structure to cause a portion of the first metal structure to deform to attach the inserts to the first metal structure. The wearable surface may be, for example, a semi-autogenous layer of a roller or may be a wearable surface of a crushing body of a crushing device configured to impact, crush, or grind material such as rock, minerals, ore or agglomerated material. Devices that include such a wearable surface are also disclosed. |
| US08281471B2 |
Ceiling radiation damper fusible link tool
This invention provides for a ceiling radiation damper fusible link tool and method of inserting a fusible link for a ceiling radiation damper. The fusible link tool has a holder capable of holding a fusible link and a handle connected to the holder so that the holder may be inserted into a ceiling radiation damper by a user. |
| US08281466B2 |
Broken heart shaped urn
Complementary broken heart shaped urns for storing ashes of the deceased having multiple chambers in an upper heart shaped portion as well is in a lower portion that also serves as the base whereby multiple cremated remains can be stored. |
| US08281463B2 |
Intermediate fixing element
The inventive intermediate fixing element (1) is embodied in one piece by injection moulding and comprises a plate (2) which is substentially flat and comprises a first or top surface and a second or lower surface, at least one anchoring element (6), for example in the form of a herringbone or a tree produced directly by the top surface moulding and hooks (7) which are produced directly by the lower surface moulding and whose shape, sizes and thermoplastic material are selected in such a way that said hooks, after being shaped in a mould and extracted therefrom, substentially recover the initial shape thereof, wherein said hooks are sufficiently flexible in order to be bent during extraction from the mould. |
| US08281462B2 |
Bundle tie
A bundle tie or strap has a locking device provided with a through-going channel, in which locking device there is secured an elongate strip. The strip and the channel have counterdirected teeth, whereby the strip is insertable in the channel but not withdrawable therefrom. For infeed of the strip in the channel and for tightening, there is pivotally connected to the locking device a feeder crank with teeth on a circle sector shaped portion. The bundle tie is manufactured in its entirety in the opened state by injection moulding in one single continuous piece. |
| US08281461B2 |
Button head tie
A button head tie has a button head and a tie strap. The button head is a generally flat member having an aperture for receiving the tie strap. The aperture includes lead-in ramps to facilitate tie strap insertion and is configured to prevent angled tie strap insertion. The tie strap is a flat elongate member having a wedge that is captured within the aperture. The remainder of the strap passes through the aperture. The wedge and strap have teeth and serrations on both sides, respectively, the teeth and serrations being engageable. In use, the strap is looped around a bundle and inserted into the aperture to either side of the wedge. Strap insertion force is reduced by standoff tabs which elevate the wedge out of aperture, temporarily, during installation. When loop tension is applied to the bundle, the wedge is pulled into the aperture, compressively locking the strap. |
| US08281459B2 |
Integrated locking hinge
A locking hinge that includes a first hinge element including a body defining a first hole and a second hinge element including a body defining a second hole. The locking hinge also includes a dowel assembled through the first hole in the first hinge element and the second hole in the second hinge element defining a hinge joint axis permitting translation of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element along a first axis and a second axis, and rotation of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element. |
| US08281455B2 |
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner may include a main body, a dust collector, at least one pressing member, and a driver. The dust collector may be detachably attached to the main body and may include a dust storage chamber. The at least one pressing member may compress dust stored in the dust storage chamber. The driver may be disposed in the dust collector and actuate the at least one pressing member. |
| US08281454B1 |
Multi-blade ice removing windshield wiper assembly
A multi-blade ice removing windshield wiper assembly has a support frame carrying an axially rotatable elongate body having three radially extending spacedly arrayed windshield engaging blades. A toothed blade having a plurality of teeth scores accumulated frost and ice on a windshield while windshield wiper arm moves in a first direction. Spacedly adjacent shaving blade clears away the scored frost and ice from the windshield as the windshield wiper arm moves in the second opposite direction. Third flexible wiper blade removes rain and water from the windshield and may be selectively engaged when the frost and ice removing blades are not needed. Locking mechanism positionally secures the elongate body within the support frame to prevent unwanted axial rotation of the body within the support frame. |
| US08281453B2 |
Fixing base for a windshield wiper
A fixing base (1) for a windshield wiper (100) includes a connecting piece (110) and a wiper blade (120). The fixing base (1) includes a bottom plate (10) and two wings (20). Both sides of the bottom plate (10) abutting the wiper blade (120) form a hook (11) respectively to be engaged with the wiper blade (120). The wings (20) extend from both sides of the bottom plate (10) and each has a first chamfer piece (22), a second chamfer piece (23), a first notch (24) and a second notch (25). The shaft rod (21) is provided between the first notch (24) and the second notch (25). The first notch (24) and the second notch (25) provide a space adjacent to the shaft rod (21) for allowing various kinds of the connecting pieces (110) to be assembled with the fixing base (1). |
| US08281449B1 |
Brush with retractable bristles for easy cleaning
A brush wherein the bristles are retractable to facilitate the cleaning thereof in an efficient and effective manner. The apparatus generally comprises bristles disposed on a bristle-holding tree, wherein the bristles extend through apertures of a housing in an extended position. There is also provided a stem base engaged with the bristle-holding tree such that the stem base imparts longitudinal force upon the bristle-holding tree, causing the bristle-holding tree to move longitudinally relative to the housing, causing the bristles to move from an extended position to a retracted position to permit easy cleaning of hair from the brush. The brush provides locking capabilities which allow a user to hold the brush in one hand and remove hair with the free hand. |
| US08281447B1 |
Paint brush holder
A paint brush holder comprising a handle having an attachment portion. The attachment portion has a brush attachment end. The brush attachment end has a plurality of pins. The handle has an associated a slide lock track and slide lock. |
| US08281445B2 |
Heated eyelid cleanser
Embodiments of the invention include a heated eyelid cleansing apparatus, a method of manufacturing a heated eyelid cleansing apparatus, a kit for providing treatment to the eyelids, and a method for cleansing an eyelid with a heated eyelid cleansing composition. The apparatus comprises an eyelid cleansing composition, a fabric pad impregnated with the eyelid cleansing composition, and a heating element. The heating element may be encased within the fabric pad or it may be external to the fabric pad. |
| US08281444B2 |
Cleaning pig
A cleaning pig for a pipeline for long-distance transportation of a fluid material is advanced in the pipeline in a travel direction by the fluid material transported in the pipeline. The cleaning pig has a pig body and two collars connected to the pig body and spaced apart from one another. The pig body and the collars fill a pipe cross-section of the pipeline. An intermediate space is delimited between the two collars. A pressure opening is arranged at a trail end of the pig body in the travel direction. A pressure conduit connects the pressure opening to the intermediate space. A suction device is arranged in the intermediate space. A suction outlet is connected by a suction conduit to the suction device. The pressure conduit is connected to at least one jet opening directed with a jet action against an inner wall of the pipeline. |
| US08281442B2 |
Wind turbine blade inspection and cleaning system
In one embodiment, a system includes a blade maintenance vehicle. The blade maintenance vehicle includes a self-contained balance configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on an upwardly facing edge of a horizontally positioned wind turbine blade. |
| US08281438B2 |
Washing machine and method of controlling a washing machine
A washing machine and a method of controlling a washing machine are provided. A drum may be rotated from a stopped state to a specific angle less than 180 degrees. While the drum is rotated, a laundry amount may be sensed based on a current value of a motor that rotates the drum. The laundry amount may be sensed simply and accurately. |
| US08281437B2 |
Multi-purpose tool
A multi-purpose tool includes a tool handle and any combination of a bottle opener, a corkscrew, a zester, a lemon/lime peeler, a cutting blade and a wine bottle opener provided on the tool handle. |
| US08281436B2 |
Inflatable body support with dog-bone-shaped hand wells
An improved inflatable body support with novel dog-bone-shaped hand wells that do not create material stress points when they are stretched while in use in place of the prior art oval-shaped hand wells that do create material stress points when they are stretched while in use. |
| US08281433B2 |
Apparatuses for supporting and monitoring a person
Embodiments disclosed herein related to person support apparatuses and systems, and in particular, to such apparatuses and systems that incorporate or are used with vital signs monitoring devices. |
| US08281430B1 |
Sling for extracting and transporting people
An extraction and transfer sling facilitating lifting of an injured, incapacitated, or person of interest for any reason that may be warranted by emergency services or assistance. The sling has several embodiments each capable of supporting a thigh, buttocks, and back region of a person being lifted. Additionally the sling can include shoulder, head, and leg including foot support for transporting a lifted person from one location to another location. |
| US08281429B2 |
Anal-genital viewing device and method
Viewing device comprised of two or more mirrors and an illumination component for self-viewing the anal-genital region while seated on a toilet bowl. The preferred embodiment comprises a forward mirror and a rear mirror positioned within a toilet bowl at angles with respect to each other, to the user's eye and to the user's anal-genital region such that when the user peers between slightly spread legs into the forward mirror an upward directed image of the user's anal-genital region is visible. The device preserves the region of the toilet bowl directly below the anal-genital region free of mirrors and all supportive apparatus. |
| US08281421B2 |
Closet flange system for existing installation
A system is provided herein which includes a closet flange insert and at least one spacer to be positioned between the closet flange insert and an installed closet flange. The closet flange insert includes a toilet connecting flange which extends radially outwardly from a through pipe. The through pipe is sized to be inserted into a pipe section of a closet flange. Each spacer includes spaced apart first and second faces, and spaced apart inner and outer edges extending between the first and second faces. The inner edge defines an opening extending through the body, the opening sized to permit passage therethrough of the through pipe of the closet flange insert but not the toilet connecting flange of the closet flange insert. With the subject invention, a system is provided which allows the closet flange insert to be mounted atop an installed closet flange flush with surrounding finished flooring. |
| US08281418B2 |
One-piece protective device
A one-piece protective device includes a shirt member and a pants member. The shirt member includes a proximal end comprising a neck area and a distal end comprising a waist area. The pants member includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the pants member is integrally joined with the distal end of the shirt member to form the waist area. The one-piece device is compressed around the body of the user to conform about the contour and shape of the user.The one-piece protective device also includes a plurality of pockets formed within the shirt member and pants member, wherein a plurality of pads disposed within the plurality of pockets. The device also includes a plurality of fasteners, such as zippers and fasteners, for securing the pads within the pockets. An elastic band is disposed at the waist to hold the device around the waist area of the user. The one-piece protective device is fabricated from stretchy material to provide increased elasticity. |
| US08281417B2 |
Space-saving scuba diving mask
A mask for aquatic activities, the mask comprising a relatively rigid frame carrying at least one transparent lens, and a flexible skirt joined with a perimeter of the frame. The mask also includes a strap for holding the mask against a user's head and buckles for adjusting the length of the strap. The buckles are joined with lateral sides of the frame by brackets extending from the lateral sides. The brackets are made of a selected flexible material. |
| US08281413B2 |
Slip lock grommet
A grommet locking device, which combines the advantages of both a grommet and a cord lock in a single unitary device. The grommet locking device allows a user to tighten a cord with one hand. The grommet locking device includes a front piece having a locking mechanism and a back piece that are attached together with a piece of fabric therebetween. A cord is moveable within the locking mechanism between a first locked position and second unlocked position in order to tighten or loosen a portion of the garment, such as a hood of a jacket. |
| US08286261B2 |
Scanning probe in pulsed-force mode, digital and in real time
A microscope, in particular a scanning probe microscope, comprising a programmable logic device. |
| US08286258B2 |
Monitor method and monitor apparatus for monitoring data of hardware
A monitor method and a monitor apparatus for monitoring a data of hardware are provided. The data has private information, identification information and at least one first network transmission address. The monitor apparatus comprises a storage unit and a processing unit. The data is stored in the storage unit according to the identification information. The processing unit is configured to record the identification information and the at least one first network transmission address of the data in a mark information table. In response to a sending system call, when a transmission is arranged to transmit the private information of the data to a second network transmission address which is different from the at least one first network transmission address, the processing unit will output a signal to cease the transmission. |
| US08286248B1 |
System and method of web application discovery via capture and analysis of HTTP requests for external resources
A method for discovering the structure, state transitions, and patterns of behavior of users of a web application includes a method for causing the web application to make HTTP requests for resources from an external supplier; capture of the requests for the external resources; extraction of meaningful data from the captured requests; and analysis to draw conclusions based on the extracted data. A system of invention provides a reference implementation of the method. |
| US08286246B2 |
Circuits and methods for efficient data transfer in a virus co-processing system
Various embodiments of the present invention provide circuits and methods for improved virus processing. As one example, such methods may include providing a system memory, a general purpose processor and a virus co-processor. The methods further include receiving a data segment at the general purpose processor, and storing the data segment to the system memory using virtual addresses. The data segment is accessed from the system memory by the virus co-processor using the virtual addresses. The virus co-processor then scans the data segment for viruses and returns a result. |
| US08286239B1 |
Identifying and managing web risks
Systems, methods and apparatus for identifying web risks use a web risk service external to network edges of at least one system. The web risk service receives a web request from a computer within the at least one system, the web request identifying at least one network address. The web risk service determines a web risk index score for the at least one network address, and compares the determined web risk index score to at least one threshold value. Based on the comparison, the service determines how to handle the web request, e.g., by forwarding, blocking, and/or logging the web request. |
| US08286231B2 |
System and method for information sharing between non-secure devices
A method for communicating information packets from a first host system operating in a first security domain and in accordance with a non-secure communications protocol, using a dataguard, to a second host system operating in a second security domain different than the first security domain, and where the second host system is also operating in accordance with the non-secure communications protocol. The method may involve: using a first driver operating with the dataguard to interface the dataguard with the first host system; using a first proxy task group operating with the dataguard to interface the dataguard to the first driver and to communicate with the first driver in accordance with a protocol of the first security domain; using a second driver operating with the dataguard to interface the dataguard to the second host system; and using a second proxy task group operating with the dataguard to interface the dataguard to the second proxy task group and to communicate with the second driver in accordance with a protocol of the second security domain. |
| US08286230B2 |
Method and apparatus for associating tickets in a ticket hierarchy
A method and apparatus for associating session ticket includes a ticketing authority server. The ticketing authority server receives a ticket generation request and information about a client node. It identifies a master session ticket associated in a storage element with the client node. The ticketing authority server then generates a derivative session ticket for the client node and associates the derivative session ticket with the master session ticket. Finally, the ticketing authority server stores information about the client node and the derivative session ticket in the storage element. |
| US08286228B2 |
Secure streaming container
A system and method for securely streaming encrypted digital media content out of a digital container to a user's media player. This streaming occurs after the digital container has been delivered to the user's machine and after the user has been authorized to access the encrypted content. The user's operating system and media player treat the data stream as if it were a being delivered over the Internet (or other network) from a streaming web server. However, no Internet connection is required after the container has been delivered to the user and the data stream suffers no quality loss due to network traffic or web server access problems. In this process of the invention, the encrypted content files are decrypted and fed to the user's media player in real time and are never written to the user's hard drive or storage device. This process makes unauthorized copying of the digital content contained in the digital container virtually impossible. |
| US08286227B1 |
Enhanced multi-factor authentication
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing multi-factor authentication. In one aspect, a method includes determining that the identity of a user has been successfully proven using a first of two or more authentication factors, allowing updates or requests for updates to be initiated after the identity of the user has been successfully proven using the first authentication factor, logging the updates or requests for updates that are initiated after the identity of the user has been successfully proven using the first authentication factor, determining that the identity of the user has not been successfully proven using a second of the two or more authentication factors, and reverting the updates, or discarding the requests for updates, based on determining that the identity of the user has not been successfully proven using the second authentication factor. |
| US08286223B2 |
Extensible access control architecture
Software for managing access control functions in a network. The software includes a host that receives access control commands or information and calls one or more methods. The methods perform access control functions and communicate access control results or messages to be transmitted. The host may be installed in a network peer seeking access to the network or in a server controlling access to the network. When installed in a peer, the host receives commands and exchanges information with a supplicant. When installed in an access control server, the host receives commands and exchanges information with an authenticator. The host has a flexible architecture that enables multiple features, such as allowing the same methods to be used for authentication by multiple supplicants, providing ready integration of third party access control software, simplifying network maintenance by facilitating upgrades of authenticator software and enabling access control functions other than peer authentication. |
| US08286219B2 |
Safe and secure program execution framework
A system and method is provided that makes sure the instruction sets executing on a computer are certified and secure. The system and method further facilitates a generic way to intercept the instruction loading process to inspect a loaded code segment first, before the computer gets a chance to execute the code segment. Further, a profiling component can monitor all executing processes running in a system and profile the behavior of the program. If the behavior is suspicious, established by a set of predefined rules, the profiler can take necessary actions to notify a system administrator and suspend or terminate execution of the program. |
| US08286217B2 |
Method and system for fast channel change
A method and system for fast channel change (FCC) between multicast digital video feeds wherein each digital video feed is converted to a set of slotted multicasts, each having the same content but delayed in time relative to each other, metadata associated with the digital video feed and the slotted multicasts is published using an on-the-wire format to downstream client devices (e.g. set-top boxes), when a user selects the digital video feed (i.e. a new channel) the client device uses the metadata to select a slotted multicast that minimizes the total time to reach the next random access point (RAP) while allowing a maximum leave-join delay. Both a FCC server that generates the slotted multicasts and a FCC middleware on the client devices are connected to a common time reference, and the method and system provide for adjusting to clock drift on the FCC server relative to the common time reference. |
| US08286215B2 |
Pausing television programming in response to selection of network address
A time sequential signal comprising audiovisual content and network addresses is received and displayed on a display device by the systems of the invention in a time sequential manner. The display of the time sequential signal is paused whenever a displayed network address is selected. While pausing the display, data corresponding to any selected network address is accessed and displayed on the display device. The corresponding data may comprise a web page accessed through the Internet or an interval page that is transmitted within the vertical blanking intervals of the time sequential signal. While pausing the display of the time sequential signal, the time sequential signal is recorded so that it can be viewed in the order it was recorded as soon as a resume display command is received by the system. |
| US08286214B2 |
Method and system to combine broadcast television and internet television
Provided is a method and system for receiving and displaying video from both an Internet and a broadcast video source. Also provided is a frame controller for receiving video data from an Internet video stream and from a cable broadcast video stream, the frame controller further in communication with a television display and causing the Internet video stream and the cable broadcast video stream to each be displayed in a separate frame on the television display. |
| US08286213B2 |
HTTP based video streaming apparatus and method in mobile communication system
An HTTP based video streaming apparatus and method of a mobile communication system is disclosed. A memory, such as a storing disk, stores content files received from a server of a transmitting party, a random access searching unit searches the random access point in the memory and transmits a content file request message to the transmitting server if the random access point does not exist in the memory, and a display unit displays the files from the random access point. Therefore, HTTP streaming service from a random point required by a user can be provided when the streaming has begun, and the random access function can be supported by even if the part required by the user has not yet been transmitted to receiving party. |
| US08286212B2 |
On-demand asset distribution
On-demand asset distribution is described. In embodiment(s), a client device can maintain an on-demand asset received from a content distributor, such as with a recording media. The client device can allocate upstream bandwidth for distribution of segments of video data for the on-demand asset to other requesting client devices. When the client device that maintains the on-demand asset receives a request from another client device for the on-demand asset, the segments of the video data for the on-demand asset can be communicated to the requesting client device utilizing the allocated upstream bandwidth. |
| US08286208B2 |
Grid recording for video-on-demand
A set top box determines DVR requests that the set top box is not able to record based on a number of scheduled DVR requests. The set top box provides the DVR request to a DVR management server. The DVR management server selects another set top box to record the television content associated with the DVR request based on a number DVR requests the other set top box is scheduled to record. The DVR management server issues a command to the other set top box to record the television content associated with the DVR request. The other set top box provides the recorded television content, associated with the DVR request, to the set top box. |
| US08286197B2 |
Method and system for comprehensive socket application programming interface loopback processing
Methods and systems for comprehensive socket API loopback processing on a computing device. In an exemplary method and system, a socket API processes loopback calls without resort to a TCP/IP protocol stock or lower level systems (e.g. network drivers), reducing overhead requirements and processing burdens imposed on the TCP/IP stack and lower level systems and improving overall computing device performance. |
| US08286191B2 |
Dynamically composing data stream processing applications
Techniques for dynamically modifying inter-connections between components in an application are provided. The techniques include receiving a data producer profile for each output port within a software application to be executed on one or more processors, receiving a data subscription profile for each input port of each component of the application, establishing connections between the output ports and the input ports of the components in the application based on a comparison of each data producer profile and each data subscription profile, executing the application on one or more processors to process streams of data, receiving either or both of a new data producer profile or a new data subscription profile during the execution of the application, and establishing at least one new connection between an output port and an input port based upon a revised comparison of the received data profiles that include the new data profile. |
| US08286190B2 |
System and method for providing user input information to multiple independent concurrent applications
In a system for providing user input information to multiple independent, concurrent applications, the applications send subscription messages to a device receiving user input such as a telephone receiving key presses from a keypad. Each subscription message identifies a pattern of user input that the application is to be notified of. The device monitors the user input to identify the occurrence of the identified patterns. When a specified pattern of user input is detected, the device notifies the corresponding application via a signaling channel linking the application with the device. The subscription messages use regular expressions including various formats to specify the patterns of interest, such as a single digit (explicitly or wildcard), one of a set of digits, a range of digits, and a repeating pattern of digits. The subscription messages can also contain tags associated with the regular expressions, which are returned to the application upon reporting the occurrence of a pattern to enable the application to readily identify the context of the notification. |
| US08286189B2 |
System and method for automatically generating computer code for message flows
Computer-executable code is automatically generated for a message flow in a message queuing infrastructure by determining a type of the message flow, inputting message flow parameters, and generating the computer-executable code based on the type of the message flow and the message flow parameters. The generation of code can also implement a design pattern, which is input based on the determined type of message flow. The computer-executable code can be, for example, Extended Structured Query Language (ESQL) code. The type of the message flow can identify, for example, a transformation requirement of the message flow. The transformation requirement can be, for example, one of (i) transformation from a first Extensible Markup Language (XML) message to a second XML message, (ii) transformation from an XML message to a Message Repository Manager (MRM) message, and (iii) transformation from a first MRM message to a second MRM message. |
| US08286185B2 |
Managing transfers of information in a communications network
The invention features various techniques for managing transfers of information in public packet switched communications networks. One aspect of the invention features a system for extracting data from sources of network-based information in a communications network. An object embedding-program locates a script program and causes the script program to extract data from a page of information. |
| US08286177B2 |
Technique for conserving software application resources
Systems and methods of adjusting allocated hardware resources to support a running software application are disclosed. A system includes adjustment logic to adjust an allocation of a first hardware resource to support a running software application. Measurement logic measures at least one hardware resource metric associated with the first hardware resource. Service level logic calculates an application service level based on the measured at least one hardware resource metric. When the first application service level satisfies a threshold application service level, the allocation of the first hardware resource is iteratively reduced to reach a reduced allocation level where the application service level does not satisfy the threshold application service level. In response thereto, the allocation of the first hardware resource is increased by an increment, such that the application service level again satisfies the threshold application service level. |
| US08286174B1 |
Executing a multicomponent software application on a virtualized computer platform
A virtualized computer platform is established and maintained by virtualization software on one or more physical computers. A multicomponent software application may execute on the virtualized computer platform, with different components of the application executing in different virtual machines, which are supported by the virtualization software. The virtualization software may also provide, and/or facilitate the provision of, one or more services that may be beneficial to the operation of the multicomponent software application, such as automated provisioning, resource allocation, VM distribution, performance monitoring, resource management, high availability, backup, disaster recovery, alarms, security, etc. In some embodiments of the invention, some of these services are provided through coordinated efforts of a system resource manager, a VM manager, an application monitor and an application resource manager. In some of these embodiments, an application monitor and an application manager may be included with a multicomponent software application in a single installation package. |
| US08286171B2 |
Methods and systems to fingerprint textual information using word runs
The present invention provides methods and systems to enable fast, efficient, and scalable means for fingerprinting textual information using word runs. The present system receives textual information and provides algorithms to convert the information into representative fingerprints. In one embodiment, the fingerprints are recorded in a repository to maintain a database of an organization's secure data. In another embodiment, textual information entered by a user is verified against the repository of fingerprints to prevent unauthorized disclosure of secure data. This invention provides approaches to allow derivative works (e.g., different ordering of words, substitution of words with synonyms, etc.) of the original information to be detected at the sentence level or even at the paragraph level. This invention also provides means for enhancing storage and resource efficiencies by providing approaches to optimize the number of fingerprints generated for the textual information. |
| US08286169B2 |
Dynamic scheduling an interval for polling devices based on a current operational power mode in an extensible firmware interface architecture
In some embodiments, the invention involves a platform-based firmware to provide a programmable scheduling timer interval. Dynamic scheduling intervals for non-interrupt driven device drivers and services utilize polling to determine device activity. In at least one embodiment, the disclosed subject matter reduces power consumption of a platform by decreasing the frequency of the system timer-tick when the platform is running in a lower power state. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08286165B2 |
Server management apparatus and server management method
A server management apparatus for lowering migration costs during scale-in/scale-out and workload consolidation of a cluster system(s) to thereby reduce power consumption is disclosed. The apparatus manages a physical server group which renders operative a virtual server group thereon and, when putting into practice a cluster system including a plurality of virtual servers placed in the physical server group, manages the layout state of virtual servers pursuant to the load state of the virtual server group. When executing scale-in, a virtual server operating on a physical server with the minimum number of operative virtual servers is specified as a shutdown target. When executing scale-out, a workload variation is predicted to control a scale-out destination of cluster system so that load variation-resembled cluster systems gather on the same physical server. The scale-in execution timing is delayed if the predicted load variation tends to rise and accelerated if it falls. |
| US08286161B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program for setting and updating a relationship between a logical processor and a physical processor
An information processing apparatus includes a control operating system executing a process for allocating a plurality of logical processors to a physical processor in a time division manner, and a guest operating system for which a logical partition as an application entity of the logical processor is set. The control operating system sets and updates, as address conversion tables for determining an allocation relationship between the logical processor and the physical processor, two address conversion tables of a first conversion table that sets an allocation relationship between a logical partition address space and a physical address space and a second conversion table that sets an allocation relationship between a virtual address space in the guest operating system and the physical address space. |
| US08286159B2 |
Method and apparatus for gryphing a data storage medium
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. |
| US08286158B2 |
Method and system for installing portable executable applications
According to the invention, a first executable environment is provided. The first executable environment is for execution within an operating system environment of a host computer system. The first executable environment is not an emulator for emulating any of another processor and another operating system. A software application is provided for installation and execution within the operating system environment. The software application is for fixed installation and not for installation in a portable fashion for being ported from one host computer system to another. The software application is then installed within the first executable environment, the installed software application installed within a removable peripheral memory storage device for execution within the first executable environment. |
| US08286156B2 |
Methods and apparatus for performing resilient firmware upgrades to a functioning memory
This invention relates generally to methods and computer readable media for upgrading firmware stored in a non-volatile memory, in phases, and restoring firmware in-situ to compensate for failed firmware upgrades. In various embodiments, methods and computer readable media can upgrade and restore the firmware as the non-volatile memory remains functioning. In one embodiment, a method includes designating a first copy of firmware for accessing, and designating a second copy of the firmware for upgrading. The method continues by accessing one or more firmware instructions from the first copy. It also can include upgrading at least a portion of the second copy with at least a portion of new firmware. Upgrading the second copy can be coincident or substantially coincident to accessing the one or more firmware instructions in the first copy. |
| US08286152B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer products for just-in-time compilation for virtual machine environments for fast application startup and maximal run-time performance
Systems, methods, and computer products for just-in-time compilation for virtual machine environments for fast applications start-up and maximal run-time performance. Exemplary embodiments include a just in time compilation method for a virtual machine environment coupled to a memory, including identifying a program structure for compilation, creating a low optimization compiled version of the program structure that is relocatable in the memory, storing into a persistent cache the low optimization compiled version of the program structure that is relocatable and relocating the low optimization compiled version of the program structure into a virtual machine address space in the memory, wherein relocating the low optimization compiled version of the program structure includes transforming the low optimization compiled version to a compiled version with fixed addresses in the memory that can be executed. |
| US08286148B2 |
System and method for managing long names in an application programming interface
Software managing long names in an application programming interface receives a request to perform a requested operation on one or more fields, the application comprising a first operation operable to perform the requested operation on at least one field type. The software determines whether the field type of any of the fields is incompatible with the first operation. If the field types of the one or more fields are compatible with the first operation, then the software performs the requested operation on the one or more fields using the first operation. If the software determines that the field type of at least one of the fields is incompatible with the first operation, then it converts the request into a call for a second operation operable to perform the requested operation on the one or more fields and performs the requested operation using the second operation. |
| US08286145B2 |
Program re-writing apparatus
A program re-writing method which re-writes an inputted program into a program for a processor for controlling whether or not a process is executed based on a yes or no execution flag, said program re-writing method including: inserting a comparison process into the inputted program, the comparison process comparing first address information, which is memory address information accessed by a first memory access process included in the inputted program, and second address information, which is address information of a memory accessed by a second memory access process included in the inputted program, and writing a comparison result into the yes or no execution flag; and inserting a yes or no execution flag-attached logic preservation process into the inputted program, the yes or no execution flag-attached logic preservation process being a process executed based on a value of the yes or no execution flag and preserving the same result as a result of the inputted program when executed. |
| US08286141B2 |
Instruction-trace generation program, instruction-trace generating device, and instruction-trace generating method
An instruction trace of a first instruction string is generated from a second instruction string obtained by sampling, at predetermined intervals, the first instruction string. The second instruction string is divided into partial instruction strings. A combination of the partial instruction strings is selected based on the similarity of stored partial instruction strings. A plurality of combination patterns are generated by combining instructions included in the selected partial instruction strings. A likelihood is calculated for each of the combination patterns, and the combination patterns are stored in the storage unit based on the likelihood. |
| US08286140B2 |
System, computer program, and method for a static code coverage analyzer for computer programs
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for analyzing a computer program including an analysis module constructed to generate a work file including test instance elements associated with a program under test, count a total number of each test instance in the program under test, and create a test case corresponding to each instance. |
| US08286139B2 |
Call stack sampling for threads having latencies exceeding a threshold
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for sampling call stack information. An accumulated latency time is monitored for a set of threads executing in a data processing system. The call stack information is obtained for the thread in response to a thread in the set of threads having an associated accumulated latency exceeding a threshold. |
| US08286138B2 |
Multi-threaded detection of a game software debugger
An anti-debugging mechanism is implemented into a game application, such that the anti-debugging mechanism is difficult to detect, difficult to bypass, and difficult to remove. The anti-debugging mechanism is implemented in a simulated thread pool. The anti-debugging mechanism executes on a different thread than the thread on which the game application executes and is randomly activated. When a debugger is detected, the performance of the debugger is hindered by halting the game application on a different thread than the game thread. Further, a period of time is allowed to elapse before the game application is halted. |
| US08286137B2 |
Accelerating model checking via synchrony
A system and method for program verification by model checking in concurrent programs includes modeling each of a plurality of program threads as a circuit model, and generating a full circuit for an entire program by combining the circuit models including constraints which enforce synchronous execution of the program threads. The program is verified using the synchronous execution to reduce an amount of memory needed to verify the program and a number of steps taken to uncover an error. |
| US08286135B2 |
Performance visualization including hierarchical display of performance data
Systems and methods provide a display indicating performance characteristics of a computer application. The display may include a call graph having nodes that represent subunits of the application. A first set of statistics for the subunit may be represented in the size or dimensions of the node. A second set of statistics may be displayed in the interior of the node. A third set of statistics may be displayed in response to selecting the node. |
| US08286134B2 |
Call stack sampling for a multi-processor system
A computer implemented method for sampling call stack information. Responsive to identifying a set of interrupts, a determination is made as to whether all processors in a plurality of processors have generated the set of interrupts. A number of addresses are identified for a set of interrupted threads identified by the set of interrupts response to a determination that all of the processors have generated the set of interrupts. A determination is made as to whether the identified address falls within a set of address ranges. Responsive to a determination that the identified address falls within the set of address ranges, a sampler thread is notified to obtain call stack information. |
| US08286133B2 |
Fuzzing encoded data
A test tool is provided for testing a software component. The tool receives data structured and formatted for processing by the software component. The structured data might conform to a schema defining valid inputs that the software component is able to parse/process. The test tool selects a discrete part of the structured data and fuzzes the selected discrete part. The test tool determines whether there are any parts of the structured data whose validity can be affected by fuzzing of the discrete part of the structured data. The fuzzed discrete part of the structured data is analyzed and a related part of the structured data is updated to be consistent with the fuzzed discrete part. The fuzzing tool passes the structured data with the fuzzed part and the updated part to the software component being tested. The software component is tested by having it process the data. |
| US08286132B2 |
Comparing and merging structured documents syntactically and semantically
A method of performing a three-way merge includes receiving first, second, and third versions of a structured document containing first, second, and third pluralities of elements respectively; deserializing the first, second, and third versions to generate first, second, and third tree-structured data models respectively representing the first, second, and third versions; generating an identifier for each node of each data model that is unique within the data model by applying identifier determination rules to a context describing the element corresponding to the node; comparing each identifier in the first data model with each identifier in the second data model to identify each node in the first data model not having matching identifiers with any node in the second data model and to link each pair of nodes having matching identifiers; and applying comparison rules to the contexts of each linked pair of nodes to identify differences therebetween. |
| US08286129B2 |
Mode-switched variable signal attributes in block diagrams
A programming element is provided that defines model attributes in response to mode change events in a graphical modeling environment. Such definition may involve any signal attribute such as dimensions, data types, complexity and sample times. Events that trigger definition of model attributes may be explicit signaling events generated by other elements, elements within the block diagram programming environment, and elements external from the environment. Implicit events may also trigger definition of model attributes, such as a change of attribute in an input signal. |
| US08286128B2 |
Methods for type analysis in systems for code generation
A method for identifying a structure of a type to generate a model of the type includes the step of providing at least one replacement type for a basic type provided by a programming language. An identification of initialization, by a constructor, of an instance of the at least one replacement type is received. A type model comprising a description of a data layout of the instance of the type is generated responsive to the received identification. |
| US08286126B1 |
Systems and methods for specifying states within imperative code
Systems and methods which implement declarative language for specifying states within imperative code are shown. According to embodiments an application program developer declaratively identifies one or more states within the imperative code of the application program. Declarative language identifying a particular state of an application program may both operate to identify the state and to describe the state so that the state may be selected or “jumped to” without a user having to navigate the application program flow to arrive at the state. Particular states may be described using a difference or “delta” between the particular state and another state, such as a base state. Transitions may be implemented between states, such as to provide animation, fading, color change, et cetera. |
| US08286124B2 |
Printed circuit board design assisting method, printed circuit board design assisting device, and storage medium
A printed circuit board design assisting method, device and storage medium are provided. The assisting method includes referring to the position of terminals of a grid array package part, and attributes indicating whether each of the terminals is a power source terminal or a ground terminal, and selecting the power source terminals as a terminal to be researched, searching for a new connection path between the terminal which has been selected, and one of the ground terminals, by way of a first decoupling capacitor, determining whether there is duplication of paths between the new connection path and an connection path between the terminals connected by way of a second decoupling capacitor, changing the position of the second decoupling capacitor if duplication is detected, and re-searching a connection path between the terminals by way of the second decoupling capacitor, which is not in duplicate with the new connection path. |
| US08286118B2 |
Integrated circuit devices and methods and apparatuses for designing integrated circuit devices
Methods and apparatuses to design an Integrated Circuit (IC) with a shielding of wires. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a shielding mesh of at least two reference voltages (e.g., power and ground) is used to reduce both the capacitive coupling and the inductive coupling in routed signal wires in IC chips. In some embodiments, a type of shielding mesh (e.g., a shielding mesh with a window surrounded by a power ring, or a window with a parser set of shielding wires) is selected to make more routing area available in locally congested areas. In other embodiments, the shielding mesh is used to create or add bypass capacitance. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08286117B2 |
Macro layout verification apparatus to detect error when connecting macro terminal in LSI design layout
A macro layout verification apparatus for verifying a layout of a macro to be placed as a functional block on a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes: a unit, which assumes as a virtual wiring line, a wiring line that uses an unused intra-macro channel located adjacent to an intra-macro wiring line; a unit which calculates a parallel wiring length along which the virtual wiring line and the intra-macro wiring line run; and a unit which outputs information concerning the virtual wiring line when the parallel wiring length exceeds a reference value defined as a design rule. |
| US08286116B1 |
Composite wire indexing for programmable logic devices
Various techniques are disclosed to identify composite wires from segmented wires of a programmable logic device (PLD). In one example, a method includes associating segmented wires of the PLD with a plurality of wire index values based on connections identified by interface templates. The method further includes identifying a plurality of composite wires according to the wire index values. Each composite wire comprises a set of the segmented wires associated with a corresponding one of the wire index values. The composite wires are adapted to interconnect programmable logic blocks of the PLD. |
| US08286115B2 |
Fast routing of custom macros
A system for creating layout and wiring diagrams for an integrated circuit (IC) includes a placement engine configured to receive a hierarchical schematic and to create a placed layout. The system also includes a flat layout engine configured to receive the hierarchical schematic and to create a flat layout and a back annotation engine coupled to the placement engine and the flat layout engine, the back annotation engine configured to receive the hierarchical placed layout and the flat unplaced layout and to create a flat placed layout there from. |
| US08286114B2 |
3-dimensional device design layout
A method for defining a layout of 3-D devices, such as a finFET, is provided. The method includes determining an area required by a desired 3-D device and designing a circuit using planar devices having an equivalent area. The planar device corresponding to the desired 3-D device is used to layout a circuit design, thereby allowing circuit and layout designers to work at a higher level without the need to specify each individual fin or 3-D structure. Thereafter, the planar design may be converted to a 3-D design by replacing planar active areas with 3-D devices occupying an equivalent area. |
| US08286111B2 |
Thermal simulation using adaptive 3D and hierarchical grid mechanisms
A thermally aware design automation suite integrates system-level thermal awareness into design of semiconductor chips, performing fine-grain static and/or transient thermal simulations of the chips based on thermal models and boundary conditions. The thermal simulations are performed in accordance with one or more grids, with boundaries and/or resolutions being determined by adaptive and/or hierarchical multi-dimensional techniques. The adaptive grid techniques include material-boundary, rate-of-change, and convergence-information heuristics. For example, a finer grid is used in a region having higher temperature gradients compared to a region having lower temperature gradients. The hierarchical grid techniques are based on critical, intermediate, and boundary regions specified manually or automatically, each region having a respective grid resolution. For example, a critical region is analyzed according to a grid that is finer than a grid of an intermediate region, and resolution of a grid of a boundary region is adapted to boundary conditions. |
| US08286110B1 |
System and method for adapting electrical integrity analysis to parametrically integrated environment
A system and method is provided for generating a programmably implemented model which emulates a power delivery network serving an integrated circuit (IC) core in an electronic system. The system and method generally comprise measures for establishing a power integrity (PI) topology including models for a voltage regulator module that generates at least one predetermined supply voltage level, and for a conductive power rail portion of the power delivery network (PDN). The system and method further comprise measures for interconnecting to the conductive power rail portion model a first behavioral model indicative of the current consumption characteristics of the IC core, and a second behavioral model indicative of the current consumption of an IO interface buffer driving an output signal of the electronic system. |
| US08286106B2 |
System and method for interacting with status information on a touch screen device
A method for interacting with a computing device, involving presenting a first mode of a touch interface, where the touch interface is configured as a user interface of the computing device, where the touch interface comprises at least one status icon, and where in the first mode, the status icon is not selectable by touch input. The method further includes receiving, from a user using the computing device, a first input indicating a desire to switch from the first mode to a second mode of the touch interface; and in response to receiving the first input, presenting the user with the second mode of the touch interface, where in the second mode, the status icon is selectable by touch input, and where the status icon displays a corresponding status of the computing device. |
| US08286105B2 |
Mobile terminal and idle screen display method for the same
A mobile terminal and idle screen display method for the same are provided. The mobile terminal includes a memory unit for storing an idle screen image, a display unit for displaying the idle screen image, an input means for generating a selection signal to select a zone of the idle screen image, and a control unit for controlling transmission of the idle screen image from the memory unit to the display unit, for zooming-in, and for displaying a selected zone of the idle screen image. |
| US08286099B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for rotational graphical user interface navigation
A display module displays a first face of a virtual multidimensional solid comprising a plurality of faces. Each face comprises graphical user interface controls for a unique function set. An input module receives a rotational command that rotates the multidimensional solid around at least one axis. A rotation module rotates the multidimensional solid to display a second face in response to the rotational command, displaying the rotation of the multidimensional solid. |
| US08286094B2 |
Apparatus and method for printing file using toolbar button
An apparatus and method for printing by using a toolbar button is provided. The apparatus includes a user interface for receiving printing options to be selected by using the toolbar button, and a controller for creating the toolbar button to allow a user to print the file based on a selected printing option and inserting the created toolbar button into a host application. Accordingly, the user can print the file by setting a desired printer and printing option by using the toolbar button without using an additional user interface. |
| US08286093B2 |
Replacement motherboard configuration
In a system to configure a replacement motherboard, one or more subsystems are provided to determine whether the replacement motherboard is in a manufacturing mode, determine whether firmware for the replacement motherboard is unlocked, and receive an input from a user to configure the replacement motherboard when the replacement motherboard is determined to be in the manufacturing mode and the firmware is unlocked. |
| US08286088B2 |
Patient medical parameter trend indicative user interface display system
A system according to invention principles advantageously automatically displays a parameter value within the closest Flowsheet parameter acquisition time interval column. A user interface system provides patient medical parameter data for trend indicative display covering a time period comprising user selectable acquisition time intervals. The system includes an acquisition processor for acquiring, from a patient monitoring device, data representing a patient parameter comprising a plurality of data values at a corresponding plurality of different times within multiple user selectable patient parameter acquisition intervals of a time period. The data processor determines for a particular user selectable acquisition time interval a patient parameter data value closest in time to a center time point of the particular user selected acquisition time interval and excludes other patient parameter data values acquired within the particular user selectable acquisition time interval. A generator generates data representing an image showing a trend indicative display of the patient parameter including the determined patient parameter data value associated with the particular user selectable acquisition time interval and omits the excluded data values. |
| US08286086B2 |
On-widget data control
A system and method are directed towards enabling control of widgets using on-widget data controls. A visitor may enter selective personal information and determine what information is made available on a social networking webpage. A visitor to a social networking website may select to not have their information displayed at a social networking website, while still being displayed at another social networking website. A visitor's information may be displayed within a reader roll, an association listing, a visitor comment page, or the like. An owner of a social networking website may also select not to have a visitor's information displayed on the website. In one embodiment, selecting not to display information may be performed by ‘mousing’ over the information and selecting a display option. Social networking websites may look to a centralized registration system to determine whether to display the visitor information. |
| US08286077B2 |
Remote batch editing of formatted text via an HTML editor
Remote batch editing of formatted text may be provided. A request to edit a source document comprising text using a first markup language may be received. The source document may be converted to a second markup language and provided to the requestor. Changes to the converted document may be received and edit commands may be generated for those changes. The edit commands may then be applied to the source document. |
| US08286075B2 |
Reducing resource requirements when transforming source data in a source markup language to target data in a target markup language using transformation rules
Transforming source data in a source markup language to target data in a target markup language using transformation rules mapping source tags to corresponding target tags. In an embodiment, the transformation rules (e.g., in an XSL) are preprocessed to identify and store source tags (“referenced tags”), which need to be processed to apply the transformation rules of other source tags. The source tags in the source data (e.g., XML) are retrieved sequentially (e.g., by SAX parser) and the contents are stored in memory if the source tag is one of the identified referenced tags. The target tags are generated (e.g., as XML) using the contents stored in memory for another source tag matching a transformation rule immediately upon reading the source tag. Only a few of the contents of source tags and the identifiers of the referenced tags may need to be stored in memory. As a result, the memory requirements may be reduced. |
| US08286074B2 |
XML streaming parsing with DOM instances
An apparatus, method, and program product are provided for parsing a document. A match point tuple is passed to a parser instance. The match point tuple comprises a match point. The parser instance stream parses an XML stream. In response to a match point statement in the XML stream matching the match point expression in the match point tuple, the parser instance constructs a DOM instance comprising XML content matching the match point. In a sample embodiment, the match point tuple further comprises a filter, and the parser instance adds XML statements that pass the filter to the DOM instance and discards statements that do not pass the filter. |
| US08286073B2 |
Method for performing a load-on-demand operation on assigned graphic objects in a computer operating environment
A method for performing a load-on-demand operation on assigned graphic objects allows a user to load a computer file without the assigned graphic objects to shorten the loading time of the computer file. The assigned graphic objects can be subsequently loaded by the user by activating an “assigned to” object. |
| US08286072B2 |
Variable formatting of cells
Variable formatting for cells in computer spreadsheets, tables, and other documents is provided. For a selected range of cells, cell formats vary with the value in each cell (or an associated value). Formats can include color-scale backgrounds, in-cell elements (e.g., icons and data bars), and other cell formats that can be varied with a value. |
| US08286071B1 |
Insertion of standard text in transcriptions
A computer program product, for automatically editing a medical record transcription, resides on a computer-readable medium and includes computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to obtain a first medical transcription of a dictation, the dictation being from medical personnel and concerning a patient, analyze the first medical transcription for presence of a first trigger phrase associated with a first standard text block, determine that the first trigger phrase is present in the first medical transcription if an actual phrase in the first medical transcription corresponds with the first trigger phrase, and insert the first standard text block into the first medical transcription. |
| US08286069B2 |
System and method for editing web-based video
A web-based video editing system configured to edit an interactive video is provided. The web-based video editing system includes an editing system configured to receive and process one or more user interactive video editing requests, wherein the editing system is configured to process the requests by generating information indicative of a linked list; a communication device configured to: receive the generated information; examine a current state of the interactive video; and generate information indicative of the examined current state of the video; and a graphical user interface in communication with the communication device and configured to display the edited interactive video. |
| US08286067B2 |
Method for transmitting sampled data and control information between a DSP and an RF/analog front-end
A method for delivering control information together with sampled data between a DSP and an RF/analog front-end in a high speed communication modem, which embeds sampled data and control information in frames to be transferred over one interface. A frame may comprise various fields, each may consist of one or more bytes or octets. The frame may have a data field for carrying the sampled data, and at least one control field for transferring the control information to update RF/analog front-end registers. The control field may include an octet containing a control address, an octet containing a control command, and an octet containing control data. The frame may also provide means of synchronization, e.g., by using a sync field to identify the frame boundary. |
| US08286066B2 |
Non-volatile memory with bi-directional error correction protection
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses related to NVM devices with bi-directional error correction protection. In some embodiments, multiple multi-level parity cells are used to represent parity values stored in codewords of an NVM device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08286065B2 |
Method and apparatus for channel encoding and decoding in a communication system using low-density parity-check codes
An apparatus and method for encoding a channel in a communication system using a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code. The method includes determining a number of parity bits to be subjected to puncturing; dividing the parity bits at predetermined intervals, and determining a number of puncturing bits, which are subjected to puncturing within the predetermined intervals; determining positions of puncturing parity bits corresponding to the determined number of puncturing bits; and repeatedly performing puncturing on the puncturing parity bits corresponding to the determined positions at the predetermined intervals. The predetermined intervals are determined by dividing a length of parity bits by a length of one column group in a parity-check matrix. |
| US08286060B2 |
Scheme for erasure locator polynomial calculation in error-and-erasure decoder
A method to generate an erasure locator polynomial in an error-and-erasure decode. The method generally includes the steps of (A) storing current values in multiple registers at a current moment, (B) generating first values by multiplying each current value by a respective one of multiple constants, (C) generating second values by gating at least all but one of the first values with a current one of multiple erasure values of an erasure position vector, (D) generating next values by combining each one of the second values with a corresponding one of the first values, (E) loading the next values into the registers in place of the current values at a next moment and (F) generating an output signal carrying the current values at a last moment such that the current values form the coefficients of the erasure locator polynomial. |
| US08286058B2 |
Blind transport format detection based on decoder metric
The present invention relates to a receiver device and method of detecting a block length of a data block in a data network, wherein a respective theoretical maximum value for a metric of a decoding operation is calculated for each of a plurality of candidate block lengths, and the calculated respective theoretical maximum value is compared to a respective actual value of the metric obtained for each of the plurality of candidate block lengths by the decoding operation. The candidate block length with the highest ratio between the respective actual value and the respective theoretical maximum value is then selected from the plurality of candidate block lengths to determine the block length of the data block. |
| US08286057B2 |
Iterative decoding of packet data
A receiver employs iterative decoding of packet data, where the packet data represents a data frame encoded with at least two logical dimensions. A logical dimension refers to a layer, or sub-layer, of a layered network architecture. Consequently, a first logical dimension of encoding might refer to error detection in a packet frame at the data link layer, while a second logical dimension of coding might refer to error detection/correction encoding at a physical layer. For example, a data frame might be divided into several packets, each with a corresponding cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value as coding in the first logical dimension, which are then transmitted with a convolutional code as coding in the second logical dimension. The receiver performs iterative decoding in the first and second logical dimensions until either i) all errors are identified and corrected or ii) another type of stopping condition is met. |
| US08286056B2 |
Encoding and application of extended hamming checksum
A method for calculating an extended hamming checksum and applying the extended hamming checksum to a data packet, the method comprising forming a packet extended hamming checksum mask, calculating a hamming code, calculating an extended hamming checksum using the packet extended hamming checksum mask and the hamming code, and inserting the extended hamming checksum into the data packet. |
| US08286055B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of operating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array configured to comprise memory cells coupled by bit lines and word lines, a page buffer unit configured to comprise page buffers and flag latches, wherein the page buffers, coupled to one or more of the bit lines, each are configured to comprise a plurality of latches for storing logic operation results for error correction and configured to store data read using a read voltage, and the flag latches each are configured to classify the page buffers into some page buffer groups each having a predetermined number and to store flag information indicating whether an error has occurred in each group, and an error detection code (EDC) checker configured to determine whether an error has occurred in each of the page buffer groups. |
| US08286041B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of saving and restoring internal state of the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a scan chain which includes: first flip-flops contained in a first circuit and second flip-flops contained in a second circuit, wherein the first flip-flops and the second flip-flops are connected in a series connection in a scan path test mode to operate as a shift register, and a first selecting circuit configured to selectively output a test data in the scan path test mode and internal state data indicating an internal state of the first flip-flops and read from a memory circuit in a restoring operation in a normal mode to the series connection. The semiconductor integrated circuit further includes a backup control circuit configured to control the scan chain in a saving operation in the normal mode such that the internal state data is stored in the memory circuit without passing through the second flip-flops, in the restoring operation in the normal mode such that the internal state data from the first selecting circuit is set in the first flip-flops without passing through the second flip-flops, and in the scan path test mode such that the test data is shifted in the series connection. |
| US08286039B2 |
Disabling outbound drivers for a last memory buffer on a memory channel
Memory apparatus and methods utilizing multiple bit lanes may redirect one or more signals on the bit lanes. A memory agent may include a redrive circuit having a plurality of bit lanes, a memory device or interface, and a fail-over circuit coupled between the plurality of bit lanes and the memory device or interface. |
| US08286030B1 |
Information lifecycle management assisted asynchronous replication
Technologies are described herein for providing assisted asynchronous replication between a first storage server having a first current state and a second storage server having a second current state. An instruction to roll back a first storage server from the first current state to a previous state according to a previous snapshot is received. The first storage server is then rolled back from the first current state to the previous state according to the previous snapshot. A determination is made as to whether the previous snapshot is available on a second storage server. Assistance data is then retrieved. A last consistency point common to the first storage server and the second storage server based on the assistance data is identified, where the last consistency point is at or prior to the previous snapshot. The second storage server is rolled back from the second current state to the last consistency point. |
| US08286028B2 |
Backup method and disk array apparatus
A backup method makes a backup of cache data to a nonvolatile memory by using a controller, the cache data being stored in the volatile memory. The backup method includes writing the cache data stored in the volatility memory in a selected area of the nonvolatile memory, generating party data by operating the parity operations between each of the predetermined parts of the cache data in the volatile memory, verifying whether an error found in the part of the cache data in the nonvolatile memory can be recovered by using the parity data, and rewriting the part of the cache data when the error found in the part of the cache data in the nonvolatile memory cannot be recovered by using the parity data in an area of the nonvolatile memory different from the selected area. |
| US08286027B2 |
Input/output device including a mechanism for accelerated error handling in multiple processor and multi-function systems
An I/O device includes a host interface that may receive and process transaction packets sent by a number of processing units, with each processing unit corresponding to a respective root complex. The host interface includes an error handling unit having error logic implemented in hardware that may determine, as each packet is received, whether each transaction packet has an error and to store information corresponding to any detected errors. The error handling unit may include an error processor that may be configured to execute error processing instructions to determine any error processing operations based upon the information. The error processor may also generate and send one or more instruction operations, each corresponding to a particular error processing operation. The error handling unit may also include an error processing unit that may execute the one or more instruction operations to perform the particular error processing operations. |
| US08286024B2 |
Memory device, host device, and sampling clock adjusting method
A memory card includes a memory controller configured to perform control for sending and receiving a command signal, a response signal, a data signal, and a status signal in synchronization with a clock signal, and a memory-side pattern signal storage unit configured to store a tuning pattern signal to be sent to a host device. The tuning pattern signal is used by the host device to adjust the phase of the clock signal for use as a sampling clock signal. The memory card sends a first tuning pattern signal through a command line and a second tuning pattern signal through a data line concurrently. |
| US08286022B2 |
Intra-pair differential skew compensation method and apparatus for high-speed cable data transmission systems
A differential serial communication receiver circuit automatically compensates for intrapair skew between received differential signals on a serial differential communication link, with deterministic skew adjustment set during a receiver training period. Intrapair skew refers to the skew within a pair of differential signals, and is hence interchangeable with the term differential skew in the context of this document. During the receiver training period, a training data pattern is received, such as alternating ones and zeros (e.g., a D10.2 pattern as is known in the art), rather than an actual data payload. The differential serial communication receiver circuit includes a differential skew compensation circuit to compensate for intrapair skew. The differential skew compensation circuit receives a pair of complementary differential input signals including a noninverting input signal and an inverting input signal, and in response generates a skew compensated first differential output signal and a skew compensated second differential output signal. The differential skew compensation circuit compares the relative delay of the skew compensated first differential output signal and the skew compensated second differential output signal, and in response delays at least one of the noninverting input signal or the inverting input signal to reduce intrapair skew. |
| US08286017B2 |
Low power mode for a network interface
A network interface including: a medium access control device configured to operate at a first power state during an inactive power mode, and operate at a second power state during an active power mode; a physical layer device including (i) an energy detect module configured to detect energy on a medium during the inactive power mode, and (ii) an energy save module configured to time a first pre-determined period subsequent to the energy detect module detecting energy on the medium. The medium access control device is further configured to, subsequent to the energy detect module detecting energy on the medium, transition to the second power state of the active power mode, and communication with the medium access control device via the medium is enabled subsequent to expiration of the first pre-determined period. |
| US08286014B2 |
Power management for a system on a chip (SoC)
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for sending a first link handshake signal between a first subsystem and a power management unit (PMU) of a system on a chip (SoC) to request entry into a power saving state for the first subsystem, sending a second link handshake signal between the first subsystem and the PMU to acknowledge the request, and placing the first subsystem into the power saving state without further signaling between the PMU and the first subsystem. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08286008B2 |
Multi-phase voltage regulator on motherboard
A multi-phase voltage regulator includes a pulse width modulation control unit, a pulse signal extension circuit, M counts of current providing paths, and a feedback signal switching circuit. The pulse width modulation control unit generates N counts of pulse signals in a first cycle period. The pulse signal extension circuit receives the N counts of pulse signals in a second cycle period and divides the N counts of pulse signals into M counts of pulse signals, wherein M=N×2K, K is a positive integer, and the second cycle period is 2K times the first cycle period. The M counts of current providing paths generate corresponding M counts of sensing voltages. The feedback signal switching circuit receives the M counts of sensing voltages, successively switches the M counts of sensing voltages into N counts of sensing voltages, and transmits the N counts of sensing voltages to the pulse width modulation control unit. |
| US08286006B2 |
Packetized power
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for producing and delivering packetized power within a DC computing environment. Within the DC computing environment a power requirement or request is communicated to a power router. The power router then determines a power source capable of fulfilling the power requirement and then causes the power to be delivered in packetized form. The packetized power is appended to a message header which allows the power packet to be received by the requesting device. |
| US08286005B2 |
Confidential information memory apparatus, erasing method of confidential information, and erasing program of confidential information
A tamper resistant apparatus 101 is mounted inside of a PC 900 and stores confidential information A through C. The tamper resistant apparatus 101 receives data from an application 118 which operates on the PC 900, processes the data using the confidential information A through C, and returns processed data to the application 118. To the tamper resistant apparatus 101, plural external sensors 110 provided to the PC 900 are connected. The plural external sensors 110 detect opening/closing of a case of the PC 900 or movement of the body of the PC 900 and send a detection signal to the tamper resistant apparatus 101. On inputting the detection signal from the plural external sensors 110, the tamper resistant apparatus 101 selects and erases confidential information to be erased from the confidential information A through C according to the tamper resistant policy stored previously. |
| US08286003B2 |
Address list management apparatus, address list management method, and storage medium
An address list management apparatus stores, for each user of an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a different address list that lists address information pieces for transmission of image data by the MFP. Upon being instructed by a logged-in user to transmit image data, the MFP transmits, to the address list management apparatus, a request for the address list that specifies the user. Upon receiving the request, the address list management apparatus transmits, to the MFP, a sending list pertaining to the user. The sending list is created by deleting secret information from address information pieces in the address list, and modifying such address information pieces so that image data is transmitted to the address list management apparatus. The address list management apparatus refers to the address list, and transfers the image data to the specified address. |
| US08286001B2 |
Method and central processing unit for processing encrypted software
The present invention provides a central processing unit for processing at least one encrypted software. The encrypted software comprises at least one encrypted software section. The encrypted software section is encrypted with a management key MK, and the MK being encrypted with a device key DK as a encrypted MK. The central processing unit comprises processing and cache unit, and cryptographic unit. The cryptographic unit comprises device key storage unit for storing the DK, a plurality of management key storage units for storing MKs, wherein each management key storage unit corresponding to a management key index MKI, and decryption unit. The decryption unit decrypts a encrypted MK with the DK to obtain a MK, stores the MK to a management key storage unit, and output a MKI corresponding to the management key storage unit, thus the MKI is used to correspond to the encrypted software section. Wherein, the decryption unit invokes corresponding MK according to the MKI and decrypts the encrypted software section, and directly transfers the decrypted software code and/or data to the processing and cache unit. |
| US08285999B1 |
System and method for authenticating remote execution
With the widespread use of the distributed systems comes the need to secure such systems against a wide variety of threats. Recent security mechanisms are grossly inadequate in authenticating the program executions at the clients or servers, as the clients, servers and the executing programs themselves can be compromised after the clients and servers pass the authentication phase. A generic framework is provided for authenticating remote executions on a potentially untrusted remote server—essentially validating that what is executed at the server on behalf of the client is actually the intended program. Details of a prototype Linux implementation are also described, along with some optimization techniques for reducing the run-time overhead of the present scheme. The performance overhead of this technique varies generally from 7% to 24% for most benchmarks, as seen from the actual remote execution of SPEC benchmarks. |
| US08285998B2 |
Dynamic image content tamper detecting device and system
Regularity information such as time codes embedded preliminarily through an electronic watermark is detected from a predetermined number of pieces of continuous frame data of video content through the electronic watermark. In the case where the electronic watermark is not detected from the predetermined number of pieces of continuous frame data, a non-detection count is calculated, and falsification of the predetermined number of pieces of frame data is determined on the basis of the detected regularity information and the non-detection count. Accordingly, falsification such as deletion, addition, and replacement of video content is detected with high accuracy using the electronic watermark. |
| US08285993B1 |
System and method for establishing a shared secret among nodes of a security appliance
A method for distributing a shared secret key among a plurality of nodes is described. Each node establishes a secret key, the number of nodes being more than two nodes. A node distributes by a ring protocol executing over computer network connections an encrypted version of the secret key of each node to other nodes of the plurality of nodes. Each node decrypts the secret keys of other nodes so that each node has the secret key of other nodes. Each node combines the secret keys of other nodes to form a shared secret key available to other nodes. |
| US08285991B2 |
Electronically signing a document
An electronic signature device includes a processor, a memory, a user input device including a first biometric input device, and a device interface, all communicatively connected by at least one bus. A method of personalizing the electronic signature device to a user includes receiving a digitized biometric signature of the user via the first biometric input device. A cryptographic key is generated. A biometric electronic template is generated based on the digitized biometric signature. The cryptographic key and the biometric electronic template are stored in the memory. |
| US08285988B2 |
Method and system for command authentication to achieve a secure interface
Aspects of a method and system for command authentication to achieve a secure interface are provided. Command authentication between a host and a slave device in a multimedia system may be achieved by on-the-fly pairing or by an automatic one-time-programming via a security processor. In an on-the-fly pairing scheme, the host may generate a host key based on a host root key and host control words while the slave may generate slave key based the host key, a slave root key and slave control words. The slave key may be stored and later retrieved by the slave device to obtain the host key for authenticating host commands. The host may be disabled from generating and/or passing the host key to the slave. In an automatic one-time-programming scheme, the security processor may burn a random number onto a one-time-programmable memory in the host and slave devices for command authentication. |
| US08285980B1 |
System-on-a-chip (SoC) security using one-time programmable memories
A system-on-a-chip includes a first memory and a processor. The first memory is configured to store a boot code. The processor is configured to (i) access the first memory, and (ii) execute the boot code when booting up. The processor is configured to, while booting up, determine whether a first one-time-programmable memory has been previously programmed based on the boot code. The processor is configured to, in response to the first one-time-programmable memory not having been previously programmed based on the boot code, (i) load firmware from a second memory into a third memory, and (ii) execute the firmware loaded into the third memory. The processor is configured to, in response to the first one-time-programmable memory having been previously programmed, verify a digital signature of the firmware. |
| US08285979B2 |
Boot algorithm
A method, chip and computer program product for booting from a secondary boot source. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) retrieving primary boot code from an on-chip primary boot source on the same chip as a processor, the primary boot code comprising at least a boot discovery algorithm for determining the location of an external secondary boot source external to said chip, (2) executing the primary boot code on the processor, including the boot discovery algorithm, thus operating the processor to check each of a plurality of locations to determine the location of the external secondary boot source, (3) retrieving the secondary boot code from the determined location and (4) continuing the booting of the processor by executing the secondary boot code on the processor. |
| US08285973B2 |
Thread completion rate controlled scheduling
A method, processor and processing system provide management of per-thread pipeline resource allocation in a simultaneous multi-threaded (SMT) processor by counting indications of instruction completion for each of the threads. The indication may be the commit phase of the pipeline, which indicates results of the pipeline instruction execution are ready for write-back. The completion counts are used in a relative or absolute form to control the pipeline resource allocation. The decode or fetch rates of instructions for the threads can be controlled from the relative or absolute completion counts, providing control of scheduling instructions among the threads for execution by execution pipeline(s). Alternatively, or in combination, the thread priority registers in any thread priority management scheme can be controlled by comparison and/or scaling of the completion counts. |
| US08285972B2 |
Lookup table addressing system and method
Lookup table addressing of a set of lookup tables in an external memory is achieved by: transferring a data word from a compute unit to an input register in a data address generator; providing in at least one deposit-increment index register in the data address generator including a table base field for identifying the location of the set of tables in memory, and a displacement field; and depositing a section of the data word into a displacement field in the index register for identifying the location of a specific entry in the tables. |
| US08285971B2 |
Block driven computation with an address generation accelerator
A processor includes at least one execution unit that executes instructions, at least one register file, coupled to the at least one execution unit, that buffers operands for access by the at least one execution unit, an instruction sequencing unit that fetches instructions for execution by the at least one execution unit, and an address generation accelerator. The address generation accelerator, responsive to an initiation signal received from the instruction sequencing unit, computes and outputs first and second effective addresses of operands of an operation. |
| US08285969B2 |
Reducing broadcasts in multiprocessors
Disclosed is an apparatus to reduce broadcasts in multiprocessors including a plurality of processors; a plurality of memory caches associated with the processors; a plurality of translation lookaside buffers (TLBs) associated with the processors; and a physical memory shared with the processors memory caches and TLBs; wherein each TLB includes a plurality of entries for translation of a page of addresses from virtual memory to physical memory, each TLB entry having page characterization information indicating whether the page is private to one processor or shared with more than one processor. Also disclosed is a computer program product and method to reduce broadcasts in multiprocessors. |
| US08285964B2 |
Systems and methods for classifying and transferring information in a storage network
Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves. |
| US08285957B1 |
System and method for preprocessing a data set to improve deduplication
The technique introduced here includes a system and method for preprocessing a data set to improve deduplication, and more specifically for reducing latency. The technique illustratively utilizes one or more preprocessing steps, including a “skipping” step and a “folding” step, which can be applied to a data set prior to deduplication to reduce the time consumed by deduplication. The folding step is applied to segments of the data set to reduce the length of the segments. The skipping step can be applied to the data set prior to the folding step to remove particular segments of the data set, to further improve deduplication performance in certain circumstances. The overall effect of the skipping and folding steps of this technique is to produce a data set of reduced total length for consideration in identifying duplicate data, which aids in reducing the time required for deduplication. |
| US08285956B2 |
Efficient logging for asynchronously replicating volume groups
A system and method for logging for asynchronously replicating volume groups. A write request to write data to a location in a volume may be received. Metadata associated with the write request may be stored. It may be determined if the write request possibly overlaps with one or more earlier write requests to the volume that have not yet been replicated to a secondary storage. The data may be stored in a replication log only if the write request possibly overlaps with one or more earlier write requests to the volume. The data may not be stored in the replication log if the write request does not overlap with one or more earlier write requests to the volume. The data may be written to the location in the volume. Changes to the volume may periodically be replicated to the secondary storage using the replication log. |
| US08285951B2 |
Control apparatus for controlling peripheral device, non-volatile storage element, and method thereof
A control apparatus for controlling at least one peripheral device includes a non-volatile storage element and a controller. The non-volatile storage element is used for storing at least one control information set. The controller is externally coupled to the non-volatile storage element and includes a read-only storage element which stores a segment of program code. The controller loads the segment of program code to execute the segment of program code for reading at least one portion of the control information set from the non-volatile storage element to control the operation of the peripheral device. |
| US08285948B2 |
Reducing storage system power consumption in a remote copy configuration
A storage system in a remote copy configuration includes a redirect mechanism. The redirect mechanism determines whether to redirect read operations to a remote storage system, which is part of the remote copy configuration, based on a power management policy and a redirect policy. The redirect mechanism takes into account response time data, input/output demand, power utilization data, and input/output classes and priorities to determine whether to redirect read access requests to the remote storage system. Redirection of read operations to the remote storage system results in reduced power consumption at the local system. |
| US08285936B2 |
Cache memory with power saving state
A data processing apparatus 1 comprises data processing circuitry 2, a memory 8 for storing data and a cache memory 5 for storing cached data from the memory 8. The cache memory 5 is partitioned into cache segments 12 which may be individually placed in a power saving state by power supply circuitry 15 under control of power control circuitry 22. The number of segments which are active at any time may be dynamically adjusted in dependence upon operating requirements of the processor 2. An eviction selection mechanism 35 is provided to select evictable cached data for eviction from the cache. A cache compacting mechanism 40 is provided to evict evictable cached data from the cache and to store non-evictable cached data in fewer cache segments than were used to store the cached data prior to eviction of the evictable cached data. Compacting the cache enables at least one cache segment that, following eviction of the evictable cached data, is no longer required to store cached data to be placed in the power saving state by the power supply circuitry. |
| US08285932B2 |
Mass storage system with improved usage of buffer capacity
The present invention relates to a mass storage system with improved usage of buffer capacity, and more specifically to a mass storage system for real-time data storage with an embedded controller. According to the invention, the mass storage system has a first data path between a real-time data interface and a mass storage array, the first data path including a data buffer without access latency, and a second data path between an embedded processor and the mass storage array, wherein the data buffer without access latency is also used as a data buffer for non real-time data transfers between the embedded processor and the mass storage array. |
| US08285931B2 |
Methods for reducing cache memory pollution during parity calculations of RAID data
A redundant array of independent disk (RAID) stack loads a first parity block of RAID data into a first memory address of a main memory of a data processing system. A first parity calculation is performed on a first plurality of data blocks of the RAID data with the first parity block loaded from the first memory address of the main memory into a register of the processor of the data processing system and a cache memory associated with the processor. The RAID stack loads subsequent parity blocks of RAID data into subsequent memory addresses of the main memory, where a difference between the first memory address and the subsequent memory addresses equals to one or more multiples of an alias offset associated with the cache memory. A second parity calculation is performed on a second plurality of data blocks and the second parity block of the RAID data. |
| US08285927B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for solid-state storage as cache for high-capacity, non-volatile storage
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for solid-state storage as cache for high-capacity, non-volatile storage. The apparatus, system, and method are provided with a plurality of modules including a cache front-end module and a cache back-end module. The cache front-end module manages data transfers associated with a storage request. The data transfers between a requesting device and solid-state storage function as cache for one or more HCNV storage devices, and the data transfers may include one or more of data, metadata, and metadata indexes. The solid-state storage may include an array of non-volatile, solid-state data storage elements. The cache back-end module manages data transfers between the solid-state storage and the one or more HCNV storage devices. |
| US08285923B2 |
Disk drive and method using native command queuing tags to identify logical block size and implement protection information
“A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk wherein a Native Command Queuing (NCQ) access command is received from a host. The NCQ access command comprises at least one logical block address (LBA) associated with a logical block, and a tag field for identifying the access command. The tag field is evaluated to determine a size of the logical block, and the logical block is transferred between the disk drive and the host. The logical block comprises user data and protection information for implementing end-to-end protection. The tag field comprises a tag number selected from a range of numbers, where the range of numbers comprise a first range of numbers for identifying a logical block comprising user data and protection information, and a second range of numbers for identifying a logical block comprising user data without protection information.” |
| US08285922B2 |
Address generator using LUT cascade logic network
The address generator has a hash network for producing hashed Y1, which is obtained by hushing X1, to an input vector X=(X1, X2), a tentative address generator Y1 for making an address generation function f(X) to a tentative address A′ when no hash collision occurs and otherwise making one of unique addresses A to A′, a data regenerator for producing X″=f−1(A′), a unique address generator for producing A′ when X″ coincides with X and otherwise producing “invalid value”, a complementary address generator for producing (X) to X, to which the unique address generator produces “invalid value”, and otherwise producing “invalid value”, and an output combiner which produces, when the outputs of the unique address generator and the complementary address generator have values other than the “invalid value”, the values as a unique address A and otherwise produces “invalid value” as A. |
| US08285921B2 |
Configurable flash memory controller and method of use
A FLASH memory controller is disclosed. The controller comprises a microcontroller. The microcontroller including firmware for providing different mappings for different types of FLASH memory chips. The controller also includes FLASH control logic for communicating with the microcontroller and adapted to communicate via a FLASH data bus to at least one FLASH memory chip. The FLASH control logic including mapping logic for configuring the FLASH data bus based upon the type of FLASH memory chip coupled thereto. A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides the following advantages: Configurable data bus on the FLASH memory controller through software to simplify routing complexity. Configurable chip select and control bus for flexibility of FLASH memory placement. Elimination of external resistor network for layout simplicity. A scalable architecture for higher data bus bandwidth support. Auto-detection of FLASH memory type and capacity configuration. |
| US08285917B2 |
Apparatus for enhancing flash memory access
An apparatus for interfacing between a CPU and Flash memory units, enabling optimized sequential access to the Flash memory units. The apparatus interfaces between the address, control and data buses of the CPU and the address, control and data lines of the Flash memory units. The apparatus anticipates the subsequent memory accesses, and interleaves them between the Flash memory units. An optimization of the read access is therefore provided, thereby improving Flash memory throughput and reducing the latency. Specifically, the apparatus enables improved Flash access in embedded CPUs incorporated in a System-On-Chip (SOC) device. |
| US08285914B1 |
Banked memory arbiter for control memory
A device includes a memory that includes a number of banks. The device receives requests for accessing the memory, determines the banks to which the requests are intended, determines one or more of the banks that are available, selects one or more of the requests to send to the memory based on the one or more of the banks that are available and have a request to be serviced, and sends the selected one or more requests to the memory. |
| US08285910B2 |
Method and system for taking over devices
A method and system for taking over devices are provided. In a solution, a first control board first performs topology discovery on a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) bus, and reserves resources for a Switch (SW) where a NON-Transparent (NT) bridge is located and devices connected to down ports of the SW according to a set resource reservation policy when the topology discovery proceeds to the NT bridge, where the SW and the devices are currently controlled by a second control board. After the SW and the devices are taken over from the second control board, the resource reserved in advance may be allocated to the SW and the devices, so that the devices that are taken over operate normally under control of the first control board. Dual control is implemented through direct taking over devices, and a response speed for processing a device request is improved. |
| US08285909B2 |
Hardware assisted endpoint idleness detection for USB host controllers
In some embodiments, an electronic apparatus comprises at least one memory module, and a universal serial bus (USB) host controller coupled to the memory, wherein the USB host controller implements hardware assisted idleness endpoint detection. |
| US08285908B2 |
Bus bridge and method for interfacing out-of-order bus and multiple ordered buses
A method for interfacing an out-of-order bus and multiple ordered buses and a bus bridge. The bus bridge includes multiple ordered bus interfaces, where each ordered bus interface is coupled to an ordered bus. A flow control logic circuit is coupled to the out-of-order bus and to the multiple ordered bus interfaces. The flow control logic circuit controls a flow of transaction requests between the out-of-order bus and each of the ordered buses interfaces. The flow control logic circuit includes an updating circuit for updating dependency resolution attributes and data readiness attributes associated with transaction requests, and a shared memory unit for storing the dependency resolution attributes, the data readiness attributes and the transaction requests where the transaction requests are destined to the ordered buses. A managing circuit, coupled to the shared memory unit and to the multiple ordered bus interfaces, is used to determine a readiness of each transaction request based on a dependency resolution attribute and a data readiness attribute associated with the transaction request, and for managing a dequeueing of ready transaction requests to the ordered bus interfaces based on an availability of the ordered bus interfaces. |
| US08285906B2 |
Alternate use of computer storage device bays
A module is provided for installation in a drive bay of a computer and is adapted to accommodate expansion circuitry rather than the electromechanical devices conventionally installed in drive bays. A system interface board is provided for insertion into an expansion socket on the computer's motherboard and is connected to the module, thus interfacing the expansion circuitry to the computer. The expansion circuitry can be greater in volume and is more accessible and more easily cooled than expansion circuitry installed in expansion sockets on the motherboard. |
| US08285903B2 |
Requests and data handling in a bus architecture
The present invention relates to improved methods for processing requests and sending data in a bus architecture. The present invention further relates to an improved bus architecture for processing requests and data. There is provided a method for processing read requests in a bus architecture comprising at least one master device connected to at least two slave devices via a bus. The architecture comprises an allocator for allocating incoming requests from the master device to a target slave device and an optimiser for each slave device. Each optimiser is for buffering incoming requests for the respective slave device. The method comprising the steps of: a) the master device sending a read request for a first slave device to the bus; b) the allocator generating a current-state indicator associated with the read request. The current-state indicator has an initial value, The method further comprises c) the allocator generating a priority indicator associated with the read request; d) the allocator sending the read request, the current-state indicator and the priority indicator to the optimiser of the first slave device; e) the optimiser of the first slave device receiving the read request, the current-state indicator and the priority indicator. Finally, if the initial value of the current-state indicator equals the value of the priority indicator, the method comprises processing the read request; or if the initial value of the current-state indicator does not equal the value of priority indicator, the method comprises deferring processing of the read request until a later time. |
| US08285901B2 |
Communication between an accessory and a media player using an extended interface lingo
An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo. |
| US08285899B2 |
SD card including smart card and method for accessing to the same based on a file system
A smart SD card and a method of accessing the same are disclosed, which resolve a problem of incompatibilities between drivers of various smart SD cards. The smart SD card includes a SD interface (201), a SD memory (203), a smart card (204) and a SD controller (202). The method of accessing the SD card includes: an application program performing a write operation on the smart card interface file and notifying the SD controller establishing a communication connection with the smart card; the application program reading the interface file and receiving response data returned by the smart card via the SD controller; the establishing of the connection being successful, the application program writing the smart card operation commands into the interface file, and the SD controller forwarding the commands to the smart card; the application program reading the interface file and receiving response data returned by the smart card via the SD controller. |
| US08285895B2 |
Handshake free sharing in a computer architecture
A system arrangement including a memory unit having a memory interface in accordance with a handshake-free protocol between the memory and an accessing master, a bus connected to the memory unit and first and second masters. The first master operative to access the memory unit through the bus and the memory interface and operative to perform interrupts following reception of an interrupt request through an interrupt interface. The second master operative to access the memory unit through the bus and memory interface. The second master being configured to transfer an interrupt request to the first processor before accessing the memory unit. |
| US08285888B2 |
Communication system, communication control apparatus, and communication method
According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a first communication control apparatus and a second communication control apparatus. The first communication control apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a generating unit, and a transferring unit. The second communication control apparatus includes a receiving unit and a processing unit. The acquiring unit acquires a computer file. The generating unit generates transfer information including the computer file and added information indicating a content of processing designated by a user of the first communication control apparatus from among plural contents of processing relating to the computer file. The transferring unit transfers the transfer information to the second communication control apparatus. The receiving unit receives the transfer information. The processing unit performs processing on the computer file included in the transfer information in accordance with the content of processing indicated by the added information included in the transfer information. |
| US08285885B2 |
Universal serial bus device and universal serial bus system
A universal serial bus (USB) device and a USB system are provided. The USB device comprises an electrical physical layer (EPHY) module, a logical physical layer (LPHY) module and a link layer module. The EPHY module reads the voltages of first and second transmission lines of a USB cable to extract a recovery clock and data. The LPHY module detects the recovery clock and data to output an indication signal. When the recovery clock is not detected, the LPHY module sets the indication signal to a predetermined value. The link layer module determines whether the indication signal is at the predetermined value, and makes a state machine thereof leave a normal operation state when the indication signal has been maintained at the predetermined value over a predetermined time period. |
| US08285882B2 |
Output apparatus, information processing apparatus, and network system
An output apparatus includes an IP-address setting unit, a setting change detection unit, and a notification information creation unit. The IP-address setting unit sets an IP address of the output apparatus. The setting change detection unit detects a change in the setting of the IP-address setting unit. The notification information creation unit creates information that will be notified to a device that satisfies predetermined conditions upon detection of the setting change by the setting change detection unit. |
| US08285880B2 |
Servicing requests that are issued in a protocol other than the protocol expected by the service
Techniques are provided for servicing requests that are issued in a protocol other than the protocol expected by the service. For example, many people want to use their mobile devices to interact with services, which require the ability to have multiple related messages in a session. However, their mobile devices do not have protocols that support interacting with such services. One technique provided herein is to interpose an intermediary between the mobile devices and the services to provide session capabilities on behalf of the mobile devices. |
| US08285876B2 |
J2EE application versioning strategy
The present invention is a method, system, and computer program product enabling multiple versions/releases of a J2EE application to be served to clients from a single application server. One or more JNDI proxies are situated between each client and the application server. The JNDI proxies allow a same public “service name” to be utilized by different clients to access different programs/services on the application server. The JNDI proxies do this by translating the service name into a non-public “alias name” on behalf of the client. The alias name is a private name that the service provider who administers the application server understands and uses to locate the specific version of programs/services that the clients need. |
| US08285874B2 |
Routing systems and methods for implementing routing policy with reduced configuration and new configuration capabilities
In some embodiments, a method and routing system parameterize a routing policy and apply the parameterized-routing policy to a route. Parameters are assigned to at least some policy statements of the policy. The parameterized policy may be called with parameters stored in a parameter table. In some embodiments, common blocks of the policy may be identified and assigned parameter sets. A commonized routing policy may be reused within more than one policy.In some embodiments, a method and routing system may evaluate a configuration file to determine relationships between route attributes. The relationships may be expressed in one or more mathematical functions, and when a route is received from a peer, the attributes of the route may be modified based on the mathematical functions.In some embodiments, a router and method for implementing routing policy and traffic engineering are provided. Routing policy may be implemented by performing a policy translation on a policy configuration to generate an internal-policy representation. Attribute-operator pairings of the internal-policy representation may be verified with one or more client dynamic load libraries (DLLs). When the attribute-operator pairings have been verified, the internal-policy representation may be compiled and stored in a system database. A client protocol may be notified that the routing policy has been modified. |
| US08285873B2 |
Application network communication
Techniques are provided to discover and integrate applications in an application router framework. The discovery operation includes receiving a registration notification for an application on a network, adding information describing the application to a repository into a data structure and publishing the data structure onto an application router. Association operations include querying one or more application routers on an application network for meta-data and other information on applications, exchanging the meta-data and other information between the application routers and associating the applications together automatically using their respective application protocols. Routing operations include receiving application information in an application protocol format, converting the application information in the application protocol format into a neutral protocol format and forwarding the application information in the neutral protocol format along with state information to other application router devices on the network. |
| US08285869B1 |
Computer data backup operation with time-based checkpoint intervals
A system and method for controlling a backup operation to backup data from a source device to a backup storage device are described. Backup software creates checkpoints during the backup operation. Each checkpoint represents a point from which the backup operation can be re-started in case of failure. The backup software enables an administrator to specify a desired time interval between the checkpoints. The backup operation is performed using a backup protocol which uses a transfer frame size to determine when to create each checkpoint. The backup software translates the checkpoint time interval specified by the administrator into an appropriate transfer frame size in order to achieve the desired checkpoint time interval. The transfer frame size may be dynamically adjusted between each checkpoint. |
| US08285867B1 |
Real-time priority-based media communication
Representative embodiments are disclosed of a real-time priority-based communication system and method for communicating media streams made up of multiple media message sub-streams, the communication system comprising a chunk configurator for dividing media message sub-streams into chunks, a state machine configured to translate between information regarding the media message sub-streams and the chunks and state associations to the information, the state associations written into a header for each of the chunks, a queue for holding the chunks waiting to be transmitted, and a processor for executing a scheduling algorithm, wherein the scheduling algorithm determines ones of the chunks in the queue to transmit next. |
| US08285864B2 |
Service delivery system using intermediary application management subsystem for managing setup provisioning delivery and updating of services
Exemplary service delivery platform and management systems and methods are described herein. An exemplary method includes an intermediary application management subsystem, which is configured to communicate with an end-user access device and with an application server that is configured to deliver a service to the end-user access device, receiving a software application from a developer, the software application configured to be executed by the end-user access device to access the service delivered by the application server, setting up the service for selection by the end-user access device, receiving a request to subscribe to the service delivered by the application server, the request initiated by the end-user access device, and provisioning the service for delivery from the application server to the end-user access device. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08285859B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing distribution of information and queries in information spaces
An approach is provided for managing symmetric and asymmetric communication among information spaces with respect to their distributed nature. An information space is composed of semantic information brokers that handle internal processes of the information space. One or more of the semantic information brokers compute a stability factor corresponding to each of a plurality of semantic information brokers in an information space. The one or more semantic information brokers then select one or more of the plurality of semantic information brokers as a master semantic information broker based on the computed stability factors. The one or more master semantic information brokers manage communication among the plurality of semantic information brokers. |
| US08285858B2 |
Signaling using binary form of SIP messages
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for negotiating the usage of a binary object representation of SIP messages. More specifically, the negotiation for the binary SIP transmission can be done by exchanging text-based SIP messages or other similar messages over standard SIP connection channels. If the negotiation is successful, then binary SIP messaging may be employed to enhance the ease and efficiency with which a SIP message is generated, transmitted over a communication network, and parsed/processed by a SIP network element. |
| US08285856B1 |
Methods and systems for integrating a messaging service with an application
Systems and methods for integrating a messaging service with an application may comprise integrating a front end of the application with the messaging service. Furthermore, systems and methods for integrating a messaging service with an application may comprise integrating a messaging service login and an application login, the messaging service login being associated with the messaging service and the application login being associated with the application. Moreover, systems and methods for integrating a messaging service with an application may comprise configuring the messaging service to initiate business logic based upon at least one of opening a session with the messaging service and closing a session with the messaging service. |
| US08285855B2 |
System, method and user interface for network status reporting
A method and user interface for informing a user of the status of a network connection are provided. Conventionally, the “connected” icon in the system tray only informs the user that the computer is linked to a network medium, such as an Ethernet or wireless access point. This icon does not indicate whether a routable IP address has been obtained. In this invention, an icon is used to inform the user that the network connection is disabled, connecting, connected (routable IP address obtained), or in a warning state. The warning state indicates that a non-routable IP address (e.g. autonet address) has been obtained, which will likely be unsatisfactory to the user. However, when connected to an 802.11 ad-hoc network, or when IP status checking is disabled, a non-routable IP address is deemed acceptable, and thus the “connected” icon is displayed. |
| US08285848B2 |
IP address allocation in a network environment
A network access server (NAS) provides a connection to a user in a data communications network, where the NAS is capable of communicating with a home gateway server (HGS) maintaining a pool of IP addresses for allocation to authorized users associated with the NAS. The NAS includes a first memory for storing an identification of a user, an requester for asking the HGS for an IP address on behalf of the user; and a second memory associated with the first memory for storing the IP address of the user received from the HGS. The NAS may further include a detector for periodically detecting connection of the user to the NAS and a keep-alive sender for periodically informing the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS, a receiver for receiving periodic queries from the HGS about the status of the user connection to the NAS and a responder responsive to said periodic queries for informing the HOS that the use is still connected to the NAS, and/or a receiver for receiving periodic signals from the user and a forwarder responsive to said receiver for forwarding information to the HGS that the user is still connected to the NAS. A home gateway server (HOS) provides mechanisms to assign an IP address to a user via a NAS, and to monitor the status of the IP address after assignment. |
| US08285844B2 |
Server scanning system and method
A technique for quickly locating, diagnosing and fixing problems with one or more servers is presented. The technique improves upon prior art techniques by providing a centralized utility by which multiple servers may be viewed and modified. More particularly, the technique allows a user to view, in a consolidated format, features of multiple servers and to modify parameters of such servers from a remote location. |
| US08285839B2 |
Urgent communications that overcome receiving device impediments
A communication attempt directed towards a recipient device can be identified. At least one proximate device geographically proximate to the recipient device can be automatically detected. Responsive to the determining of the proximate devices, a digitally encoded message can be wirelessly conveyed to one or more of the determined proximate devices. In various embodiments the message can be a text message, an instant message, and/or a voice message. The digitally encoded message can direct a user of the proximate device to inform a user of the recipient device of the communication attempt. |
| US08285837B2 |
Recording and/or use of generation information
An object (e.g., a video, a widget, etc.) may carry generation information, indicating the length of the referral chain that led to the object's being downloaded. Some users become aware of the object through initial publicity. When these users download an instance of the object, that instance is a generation zero instance. The object may contain a mechanism (e.g., a link) that invites other users to download an instance of the objects. When a user follows such a link and downloads an instance of the object, the downloaded instance has a higher generation than the instance that presented the link to the user. For example, if a generation zero object refers a download, then the downloaded object instance may have generation one. Generation information may be collected and analyzed to determine how successfully an object propagates. |
| US08285835B1 |
Graphical analysis of states in a computing system
A system and method for visually depicting component states in a computing system. A graphical analysis tool includes a graphical user interface for use in viewing the history of a selected component. A user selects a system component for viewing and then using a timeline “drags” the state of the selected component to various points on the timeline in order to view states of the component at the selected point in time. States of the selected component may also be played forward or backward in a continuous manner. Logging agents in the system are configured to log data corresponding to detected events and forward the log data to a central repository. The analysis tool may access the data in the repository for use in creating visual displays. Point-in-time snapshots of a component may also be stored in the central repository and used to reproduce the history. |
| US08285831B2 |
Image display apparatus and control method
A communication unit that communicates with the information terminal; an image display unit that forms and displays an image; a control unit that controls the image display unit; a storage unit that stores model data defining a model of web screen information for instructing the control of the image display unit; and a generation unit that generates the web screen information that can be displayed in the information terminal by selecting the model data stored in the storage unit, and configuring, in the model indicated by the model data, an instruction unit for instructing a control item that controls the display unit. The communication unit transmits the web screen information generated by the generation unit to the information terminal, and the control unit controls the control item of the image display unit based on an instruction signal transmitted as a result of specifying the instruction unit of the web screen information displayed in the information terminal. |
| US08285825B1 |
Method and system for managing network resources based on a dynamic quorum
A method and system is disclosed for dynamically administering a quorum of multiple members based on their involvements in using at least one network resource in a computer network. At least one system administrator responsible for managing a particular network resource will divest his power to the members of the quorum so that his own involvement can be minimized. After identifying one or more stakeholders out of a group of users of the network resource, a weight for each user is updated in one or more rounds of evaluation based on his use of the network resource. The quorum membership is then modified accordingly based on the updated weights of the users so that the network resource is managed appropriated by relevant users. |
| US08285823B2 |
Domain name service server
A DNS server system provides IP addresses for a host in a computer network. Upon receiving a request from a client for an IP address associated with a domain name, the requested IP address is retrieved from an object oriented database and transmitted to the client. The DNS server system provides configuration access from a client in a computer network. Communicative coupling is established between a client web browser and a DNS server system web server. A user interface adapted to provide configuration access to a DNS server system is requested. The user interface is downloaded from the DNS server system over the computer network. |
| US08285822B2 |
Policy configuration and simulation
Techniques for policy configuration and simulation are presented. A graphical user interface (GUI) permits a user to visualize network resources and their relationships to one another. The user can select a resource and receive another view within the GUI to see policies for that resource and relationships between the policies. The user can also select a particular policy and alter its configuration. The altered configuration can then be simulated within the network and the results presented back to the user within the GUI. |
| US08285816B2 |
Methods of issuing a certificate for a domain name
The invention provides methods for efficiently registering a domain name and issuing a certificate without a Subscriber submitting a separate request for the certificate. In some embodiments, a notice may be provided to the Subscriber, after requesting to register a domain name, that a certificate may be issued for the domain name. The certificate may be saved in a Subscriber's account to enable the Subscriber to use the certificate at a later time. In yet other embodiments, a single vetting process may be used to facilitate one or more of: creating a Subscriber's account; registering a domain name; and issuing a certificate. |
| US08285815B2 |
Broadcast data receiving apparatus and method of controlling the broadcast data receiving apparatus
According to one embodiment, a broadcast data receiving apparatus comprises a transmission/reception module, a storage module, and a control module. The transmission/reception module transmits and receives data to and from an external apparatus through a network. The storage module stores a plurality of html files. The control module configured to read an html file of a language from the first storage module. The language accords with a request received by the transmission/reception module from the external apparatus through the network. The control module controls the transmission/reception module, causing the same to transmit the html file, thus read, to the external apparatus through the network. |
| US08285813B1 |
System and method for emulating different user agents on a server
A system and method for emulating a multitude of different user agents on a server-side is disclosed herein. On a server-side, an acceptable user agent string for receiving full content from the web-site with a browser sniffing agent is identified. The acceptable user agent is emulated by transmitting a HTTP request with the acceptable user agent string, allowing for access to the full content of the web-page of the web-site. |
| US08285812B2 |
Peer-to-peer synchronous content selection
Various technologies for sharing digital images within an instant messaging (IM) session between two users. In one implementation, a first user uploads a set of images to the second user. The set of images may be displayed as thumbnails on the displays of both users. By clicking on one of the thumbnails, either user may make the associated image appear as a larger image on both users' displays. In the event that both users click on different images simultaneously, or near-simultaneously, a protocol may be employed that selects which image is displayed. |
| US08285811B2 |
Aggregating media collections to provide a primary list and sorted sub-lists
Systems and methods are provided for aggregating a local media collection of a user with one or more shared media collections shared with the user to provide an aggregate media collection for the user. In general, one or more shared media collections shared with the user are first discovered. Optionally, the user may select one or more of the shared media collections for aggregation with the local media collection of the user. The shared media collections selected by the user, or alternatively all of the shared media collections, are then aggregated with the local media collection of the user to provide an aggregate media collection for the user. The aggregate media collection is provided as a primary list including an entry for each unique media item in the aggregate media collection. Sorted sub-lists are utilized to populate the primary list. |
| US08285809B2 |
Segmentation and transmission of audio streams
A system, method and computer-readable code for segmenting an audio stream into a plurality of small digital audio files using gaps in the natural language of the audio stream is provided. The small digital audio files are transmitted, loaded, and played in a specific order, such that from the user's perspective, the audio stream is reproduced in an apparently seamless manner. This is done without reassembling the audio stream, either in whole or in part. The small digital audio files are created using natural language gaps, and are generally small enough to ensure that a first small digital audio file can be downloaded and played without significant delay, while successive small digital audio files are downloaded to be played in the future. Accordingly, the user receives audio-on-demand in a timely manner. |
| US08285808B1 |
Loading of web resources
A method and apparatus for improving loading of web resources. A server receives a request for a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document requested by a client network application. The server retrieves the requested document. The server automatically modifies objects referenced in the HTML document that have an external source such that loading of those objects by the client network application will be deferred. The server inserts a client-side script loader or a reference to the client-side script loader into the HTML document. The client-side script loader is configured to, when executed by the client network application, attempt to load the objects that have been deferred. The server transmits the modified HTML document to the client network application. |
| US08285805B2 |
Communications system including protocol interface device providing enhanced operating protocol selection features and related methods
A communications system may include data storage devices each using at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols. Further, at least one of the data storage devices may operate using multiple operating protocols. The system may also include mobile wireless communications devices for accessing the at least one data storage device, and each may use at least one of the plurality of operating protocols. Moreover, the system may further include a protocol interface device. The protocol interface device may include a front-end proxy module for communicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols. The protocol interface may also include a protocol engine module for communicating with the data storage devices using respective operating protocols. The protocol engine module may also select a desired operating protocol for communicating with the at least one data storage device from the multiple operating protocols. |
| US08285792B2 |
Server, method, and program for providing financial information
A financial information providing system 1 includes a synchronous distribution node 10, asynchronous distribution node 20, and data providing system 30, client terminal 40. The synchronous distribution node 10 and asynchronous distribution node 20 distribute messages including financial information. The data providing system 30 edits the messages distributed by the synchronous distribution node 10 and asynchronous distribution node 20 and transmits an edited message to the client terminal 40. Each server 31 of the data providing system 30 adds a group number and sequence number to a message distributed by the synchronous distribution node 10 and adds a sequence number to a message distributed by the asynchronous distribution node 20. |
| US08285790B2 |
Virtual universe avatar activities review
Methods, services, program products and devices are provided for tracking avatar activities within a virtual universe domain. A proximity threshold of an avatar is defined with respect to proximity to an artifact located within a virtual universe domain. Activity by the avatar within the virtual universe domain is tracked, with activity data generated from the tracking. The activity data is analyzed to determine proximity of the avatar to the artifact within the proximity threshold, and a report is generated from the analyzing, the report noting a determined proximity of the avatar to the artifact within the proximity threshold. In one aspect, the report is provided to a supervisory entity. |
| US08285788B1 |
Techniques for sharing files within a collaborative communication system
A group communication system is disclosed. The group communication system integrates a number of electronic communication tools to meet various communication needs among registered users in the system. According to one embodiment, a file is shared among members in a group. Instead of having a copy of the file be sent directly to all recipients at the same time, the file is retained in a store and downloaded therefrom to a client machine when a recipient decides to access the file. Further a mechanism is provided to retain a history of the file shared between or among the members so that everyone in the group can see what has been shared in the group. |
| US08285785B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product providing graphical user interface that facilitates management of multiple simultaneous communication sessions
In one aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a user interface for a communication terminal. The user interface provides at least one of a first view and a second view that provide a user with a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication. |
| US08285784B2 |
Service creation via presence messaging
A system, method and computer readable medium for service creation via presence messaging comprising assigning an information exchange state associated with a presence message and directing the presence message to at least one of a service provider from a predetermined set of service providers. |
| US08285783B2 |
Distribution system and distribution method
A portable terminal apparatus including an individual identification acquiring device and a unit for transmitting individual identification information. A central controller allows for comparing a piece of individual identification data, stored in a storage unit to the received individual identification information and, if an individual identification code could be specified, the portable terminal apparatus obtains information from the base apparatus. The distributive information storage unit stores information to be distributed. Information relative to a material displayed on a large-sized image display apparatus is transmitted from the base apparatus to the portable terminal apparatus through a communication line. |
| US08285770B1 |
Method of and circuit for generating parameters for a predistortion circuit in an integrated circuit using a matrix
A method of generating parameters for a predistortion circuit in an integrated circuit using a matrix is disclosed. The method comprises storing a first column of a first matrix; generating the remaining columns of the first matrix based upon the first column of the matrix; generating a plurality of rows of a second matrix by performing a first set of calculations; and generating the remaining rows of the second matrix by selectively shifting the first rows of the second matrix. |
| US08285769B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and the correcting method
A signal processing apparatus includes a first filter on an in-phase signal channel; a second filter on a quadrature signal channel; a plurality of filter stages having each of more than one signal paths crossing each other which connects the first filter and the second filter; and at least more than one of the filter stages of more than one of a plurality of the filter stages includes a switching circuit disconnecting more than one of the signal paths and a correction unit correcting direct current offsets of the first filter and the second filter by using the switching circuit. |
| US08285768B2 |
Apparatus for evaluating a mathematical function
An apparatus for evaluating a mathematical function at an input value is provided. The apparatus includes a device for selecting a mathematical function, a device for inputting a value at which to evaluate the function, a device for identifying an interval containing the input value, the interval being described by at least one polynomial function, a device for retrieving at least one control point representing the polynomial function from at least one look up table, a device for deriving the polynomial function from the control points, a device for evaluating the function for the input value and a device for providing data representing the evaluated function at an output. |
| US08285767B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating a random number
An apparatus and method for generating a random number are provided, the apparatus having at least one generator circuit, each generator circuit being configured to provide a first operating mode and a second operating mode, in the first operating mode each generator circuit operating as an oscillator, and in the second operating mode each generator circuit operating as a state retention element. A control signal generator then generates a control signal for input to each generator circuit. Each generator circuit is responsive to the input control signal being at a set level to operate in the first operating mode, and is responsive to the input control signal being at a clear level to operate in the second operating mode. On a transition of the input control signal from the set level to the clear level, each generator circuit is configured to capture within the state retention element a current value of the oscillator, and to output that current value to form at least part of the random number. Such an approach provides a particularly simple, efficient and low area apparatus for generating a random number. |
| US08285766B2 |
Microprocessor shifter circuits utilizing butterfly and inverse butterfly routing circuits, and control circuits therefor
Microprocessor shifter circuits utilizing butterfly and inverse butterfly circuits, and control circuits therefor, are provided. The same shifter circuits can also perform complex bit manipulations at high speeds, including butterfly and inverse butterfly operations, parallel extract and deposit operations, group operations, mix operations, permutation operations, as well as instructions executed by existing microprocessors, including shift right, shift left, rotate, extract, deposit and multimedia mix operations. The shifter circuits can be provided in various combinations to provide microprocessor functional units which perform a plurality of bit manipulation operations. |
| US08285760B1 |
System for organizing computer data
A system for organizing computer data by the use of naming rules, grouping rules, and sequencing rules. These rules name and sort data in a consistent and convenient manner, which can, in part or whole, be employed by a human, computer, or both. |
| US08285759B2 |
Techniques to support disparate file systems
Techniques for supporting disparate file systems are provided. A native file system is managed so as to be capable of supporting a protocol associated with access attempts to files of the file system, wherein the protocol is associated with a non-native and disparate file system. The files are managed, maintained, and served from the native file system to a plurality of similar and disparate operating systems and to similar and disparate file systems. |
| US08285754B2 |
Preserving references to deleted directory entries
A method, system, and computer usable program product for preserving references to deleted directory entries are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An instruction to delete an entry is received. A second entry referencing the entry is identified. The second entry is marked as a ghost reference to the entry. The entry is converted to a deleted entry. A ghost attribute with a value of “false” may be added to the entry. A ghost attribute or tag with a value of “false” may be added to the second entry. The ghost tag may correspond to an attribute of the second entry that references the entry. An entry may be deleted by setting a value of a ghost attribute in the entry to true. The second entry may be marked as the ghost reference by setting a value of a ghost attribute or a ghost tag in the second entry to true. |
| US08285751B2 |
Systems and methods of networking enhancements using location based services
A location based service and method configured to provide a mechanism for information to a subscribing user. The method is implemented on a computing infrastructure and includes querying one or more databases for matching information of a third party that is associated with one or more mobile devices that pass within a predefined location at one or more predefined intervals. The method further includes providing location information to a subscribing user of the one or more mobile devices that have the matching information and pass within the predefined location. |
| US08285749B2 |
Computer system and recording medium
A computer system comprising storage devices having different characteristics, a client computer, and a file access controller managing the storage devices with the HSM is disclosed. The file access controller provides a normal directory tree and a virtual directory tree, according to the configuration, and provides a first file stored in a first storage device through the normal directory tree and the virtual directory tree. And, the file access controller switches providing of a second file stored in a second storage device, depending on a used directory tree, which is used by the at least one client computer, and which is the normal directory tree or the virtual directory tree. Examples of the switch are about accessibility of the second file and recall processing of the second file. |
| US08285748B2 |
Proactive information security management
A method and apparatus for proactive information security management is described. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method for controlling access to sensitive information, the method comprising: maintaining access constraint data that can be used to control access to the sensitive information, wherein the access constraint data includes match pattern data and apply pattern data; receiving a semantic query from a querier requesting access to the sensitive information; based on the match pattern data, determining whether the semantic query should be constrained according to the apply pattern data; where said semantic query should be constrained according to the apply pattern data, rewriting the semantic query according to the apply pattern data to produce a rewritten query; executing the rewritten query against a database that contains the sensitive information; and returning any results of executing the rewritten query. |
| US08285745B2 |
User query mining for advertising matching
Systems and methods to determine relevant keywords from a user's search query sessions are disclosed. The described method includes identifying search session logs of a user, segmenting the search session logs into one or more search sessions. After the segmentation, the search sessions are analyzed to compose a list of semantically relevant keyword sets including at least a first keyword set and a second keyword set. The described method further includes determining a semantic relevance between the first and second keyword sets according to the frequency at which the first and second keyword sets are reported in the query results and displaying one or more semantically high relevant keyword sets after being filtered by a threshold. |
| US08285744B2 |
Indexing and searching manufacturing process related information
Indexing agents and/or data brokers are leveraged to provide search query results related to manufacturing processes. The indexing agents allow different manufacturing configuration data types to be “sub-indexed,” allowing them to be easily searched. In one instance, the sub-indices can be aggregated together to create an overall index to facilitate in query searches of the configuration data. Separate indexing agents can be utilized for indexing contents of the configuration components for the human-machine interface (HMI) and control system and the like. Data brokers can be employed to facilitate in responding to query searches by indexing/searching real-time process variables (tags) and historical data in persistent storage. A search engine can then be employed to aggregate the search results and present them to a user in a selectable fashion. User selected results are then rendered in the proper format and displayed to the user. |
| US08285738B1 |
Identifying common co-occurring elements in lists
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting correlations between terms. During operation, the system identifies one or more lists contained in one or more documents and identifies two terms co-occurring in the lists. The system further determines a correlation between the co-occurring terms, and places the co-occurring terms in a correlated-pair list based on the correlation. |
| US08285730B2 |
Reviewing user-created content before website presentation
Methods and systems for reviewing content items created by users for presentation in association with a website are provided. Automatic scrubbing (followed by manual review, if necessary) of user-created content items that have yet to be presented in association with a website is provided as is manual review of user-created content items that have already been presented in association with a website at the request of a user. |
| US08285727B2 |
Simplified searching for media services using a control device
A method and apparatus are disclosed for searching for a media content related to a selected media service. A selected media service, as selected by a user operable indicator, has related metadata that is used as the basis of a search query. Once the search query is formulated, the query is submitted to a search engine that returns search results of media content related to the selected media service. Media content then may be selected from the returned search results for rendering in a rendering environment. |
| US08285722B2 |
Content discovery using gateway browsing data
An internet browsing gateway is utilized to locate mobile web content and improve search capabilities for wireless devices. Mobile browsing data is logged as web pages are requested from and returned to wireless devices associated with the same wireless network. An index server continually updates search indexes in real time as users request searches and search results are returned. As a result, the mobile content that is discovered becomes more relevant for users of the same wireless network or mobile carrier. In other words, the search results are more localized in accordance with the location of the wireless network that services the mobile users within a specific geographic region. When a web search is requested from a wireless device, the index server queries the search indexes. The search results are ranked using a search algorithm that incorporates the browsing data to improve the accuracy and relevance of searches. |
| US08285720B2 |
Grouping of computers in a computer information database system
A computer information database system manages computer profile data for a set of computers. A profile group managing server coupled to the database manages the database such that there is a multiple node tree structure of groups for the set of computers in which each node is a group level and a top level is a root, based upon primary grouping criteria that correspond to selected computer profile data. Included in a database mapping table are fields that correspond to ranges of values for computer profile data of interest corresponding to primary grouping criteria including ranges that extend between a selected high and a selected low value. The ranges for any or all of the grouping criteria may be altered. The data in the database can be manipulated to produce summaries and reports of attributes of the computers in a given group. |
| US08285715B2 |
System and method for the structured display of items
A system and method for displaying items by receiving a query, identifying query feature values for similarity features associated with the query, identifying items each having item feature values for similarity features thereof, for each of the identified items and for each of the similarity features, determining a feature distance between the query feature value and the item feature value, and presenting the identified items in a two dimensional array of cells. The array defines reference vectors corresponding to the similarity features. The identified items are positioned within the array relative to the origin cell, for any of the cells, by determining difference function values. for the identified items each based on the feature distances of the item, the reference vectors and the coordinates of the cell, and placing one of the items in the cell based upon the determined difference function values. |
| US08285714B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing related words for queries using word co-occurrence frequency
A system and a method is provided for extracting, classifying, and displaying related words for a query, if an internet or local computer or a mobile appliance user inputs the query. In a system for providing related words composed of a client and a server connected to the client through a network, the method of providing related words for a query includes the steps of the server searching for the co-occurrence frequency by words from source data, the server storing the result of the search in a database, the server receiving an input of a query from the client, and the server extracting related words related to the input query from the database. |
| US08285713B2 |
Image search using face detection
An image search method and system using face detection, begins with receiving a query submitted by a user. Next a query word is searched in the query from an image resource using an image search engine to obtain an initial image collection. Any faces are detected in each image in the initial image collection which has been searched. A search for the query word in a text surrounding each image having the face in the initial image collection is performed. A determination is made whether the query word indicates at least one person's name in the surrounding text matching the query word. An image an image in the initial image collection is returned to a user in which the face is included and the query word in the surrounding text indicates the person's name. |
| US08285711B2 |
Optimizing queries to hierarchically structured data
Techniques are disclosed for optimizing queries to hierarchically structured data. For example, a method for processing a query directed to data having a hierarchical structure with a plurality of data nodes comprises the following steps. One or more structural attributes describing the hierarchical structure of the data are identified. The query is partitioned into two or more query partitions using at least one of the one or more identified structural attributes. A parallel execution plan is determined for the query by splitting into components one or more of: the query into at least two of the query partitions; and the hierarchical structure of the data. The split components are executed in parallel on different computer processes according to the parallel execution plan. |
| US08285709B2 |
High-concurrency query operator and method
In one embodiment, a method includes concurrently executing a set of multiple queries, through a processor, to improve a resource usage within a data warehouse system. The method also includes permitting a group of users of the data warehouse system to simultaneously run a set of queries. In addition, the method includes applying a high-concurrency query operator to continuously optimize a large number of concurrent queries for a set of highly concurrent dynamic workloads. |
| US08285708B2 |
Query submission pipeline using LINQ
Described is a technology comprising a query processing pipeline in which a SPARQL query is processed into an intermediate LINQ query, which is then processed by a LINQ provider. The LINQ provider decides which instructions correspond to flat database queries, and routes those instructions a database engine (e.g., SQL server) for querying a database. Other instructions are provided to a reasoning engine for processing, e.g., by performing a graph traversal and/or database queries. The pipeline may include a parser that parses the query into an abstract syntax tree, and an optimizer that processes the abstract syntax tree into a LINQ query, including by reordering LINQ instructions and/or associating a flag with each of the instructions that indicates whether to query the database or provide the instruction to a reasoning engine. |
| US08285707B2 |
Method of querying relational database management systems
Database management systems and methods for searching a database are disclosed. In one embodiment, an inspector examines a plan cache or a program containing embedded queries. A plurality of similar queries is identified, and an alias is generated that satisfies the plurality of queries. The alias may be executed on a database to output a result set. Queries belonging to the alias may be executed on the result set of the alias, rather than on the database. Accordingly, efficiency is improved and runtime costs are reduced as compared to conventional database management systems. |
| US08285706B2 |
Using a human computation game to improve search engine performance
Human computation games are provided wherein a player is shown a page, such as a web page. The player is then asked to provide one or more terms that are intended to cause a search engine to return the page in response to performing a query using the terms. The terms provided by the player during game play are then collected, stored, and utilized to improve the performance of the search engine. |
| US08285705B2 |
Hosted searching of private local area network information
Hosted searching of different local area network (LAN) information is described. The apparatus for hosted searching of different private LAN information includes a LAN crawler to automatically and repeatedly crawl a LAN having multiple devices, and a hosted on-demand search system including a set of one or more centralized-search servers to create and synchronize a separate private search database for each of the private LANs based on received reports from of different instances of the LAN crawler deployed on the multiple private LANs, at least some of which are operated by different entities. |
| US08285704B2 |
Hosted searching of private local area network information with support for add-on application
Hosted searching of private LAN information is described. The apparatus includes a LAN crawler to automatically and repeatedly crawl a LAN having multiple devices, using a discovery module to discover the devices, a generic-probing module to attempt to collect the descriptive information according to a first set of probing requirements, and multiple specific-probing plug-ins each of which attempt to collect the descriptive information according to a second set of specific probing requirements. In another embodiment, the apparatus also includes a hosted on-demand search system including a centralized-search server to create and synchronize a private search database. The centralized-search server includes an application interface to receive a request to access the private search database from a third-party add-on application, to provide the accessed information to the third-party add-on application, and to receive from the third-party add-on application an application rendered component to be displayed on the user interface. |
| US08285693B2 |
System and method for remote updates
Software on a server accesses a batch file including a plurality of events generated by a remote game client application executing an instance of the computer-implemented game. The software accesses a game state data object associated with the instance of the computer-implemented game. The game state data object includes one or more game state parameters formatted as a serialized unstructured string of text data. The software parses the game state data object to identify the one or more game state parameters. The software processes the plurality of events in the batch file against game logic to update one or more of the game state parameters in the game state data object. The game logic incorporates information extracted from a social graph. And the software stores the game state data object in a memory cache. |
| US08285692B2 |
Method and system for attribute encapsulated data resolution and transcoding
A computer readable medium having software instructions that, when executed, perform a method for preserving data stored in a file system with a plurality of files. The method involves determining whether storage capacity of the file system has reached a threshold level, wherein the threshold level is stored in at least one of a plurality of size-reducing policies, obtaining a criterion from the at least one size-reducing policy, identifying a subset of the plurality of files that match the criterion, accessing metadata of each of the identified subset of files, wherein the metadata of each of the identified subset of files comprises at least one option for reducing a size of the file, and performing a size-reducing action to reduce a size of each of the identified subset of files based on the option for reducing the size of each of the identified subset of files and the criterion. |
| US08285687B2 |
System and method for file system level compression using compression group descriptors
A system and method for transparently compressing file system data using compression group descriptors is provided. When data contained within a compression group be compressed beyond a predefined threshold value, a compression group descriptor is included in the compression group that signifies that the data for the group of level 0 blocks is compressed into a lesser number of physical data blocks. When performing a read operation, the file system first determines the appropriate compression group that contains the desired data and determines whether the compression group has been compressed. If so, the file system decompresses the data in the compression group before returning the decompressed data. If the magic value is not the first pointer position, then the data within the compression group was previously stored in an uncompressed format, and the data may be returned without performing a decompression operation. |
| US08285685B2 |
Metabase for facilitating data classification
Systems and methods for managing electronic data are disclosed. Various data management operations can be performed based on a metabase formed from metadata. Such metadata can be identified from an index of data interactions generated by a journaling module, and obtained from their associated data objects stored in one or more storage devices. In various embodiments, such processing of the index and storing of the metadata can facilitate, for example, enhanced data management operations, enhanced data identification operations, enhanced storage operations, data classification for organizing and storing the metadata, cataloging of metadata for the stored metadata, and/or user interfaces for managing data. In various embodiments, the metabase can be configured in different ways. For example, the metabase can be stored separately from the data objects so as to allow obtaining of information about the data objects without accessing the data objects or a data structure used by a file system. |
| US08285677B2 |
Method and apparatus for propagating tables while preserving cyclic foreign key relationships
The invention meeting the need identified above is the “Enhanced Database Propagation Program” or (EDPP). EDPP uses a cyclic member table that identifies a first source table in a cyclic relationship with a second source table. The first source table, identified in the cyclic member table, propagates first. EDPP replaces all foreign keys with “NULL” in the first target table. After the second source table in the subscription set has propagated to a second target table, EDPP updates first target table with the foreign keys from the first source table. |
| US08285674B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing synchronization configuration files
A method and apparatus for managing synchronization configuration files at a computing device is provided. It is determined that at least one configuration file has expired, the at least one configuration file associated with a second computing device and comprising data for synchronizing the second computing device with the computing device. A location of the at least one configuration file is then determined. The at least one configuration file is then deleted at the location. |
| US08285667B2 |
Sequence learning in a hierarchical temporal memory based system
A hierarchy of computing modules is configured to learn a cause of input data sensed over space and time, and is further configured to determine a cause of novel sensed input data dependent on the learned cause. At least one of the computing modules has a sequence learner module configured to associate sequences of input data received by the computing module to a set of causes previously learned in the hierarchy. |
| US08285663B2 |
Device and method of processing rules based on web services
Provided is a device for storing a rule describing an event, a condition to be satisfied by the event, and an action to be executed when the condition is satisfied and executing the action of the rule in an expended structure for using web services so as to effectively process the web services in various devices as well as a computer. In addition, a global rule manager for inspecting the validity of the rule when the rule is stored and executed is provided. Accordingly, the web services can be effectively used in a ubiquitous environment. |
| US08285662B2 |
Framework for delta analysis during automated builds
A Delta Framework program (DF) automatically detects and prevents breaking scenarios during an automated software build by identifying a build artifact from a list of build artifacts in a repository; comparing the build artifact to a current software build; identifying a delta between the build artifact and the current software build; determining whether the delta has a link to a rule in the rules database; responsive to the artifact having a link to a rule, determining whether the rule identifies a breaking scenario; responsive to the rule identifying the breaking scenario, taking an action specified by the rule. |
| US08285659B1 |
Aircraft system modeling error and control error
A method for modeling error-driven adaptive control of an aircraft. Normal aircraft plant dynamics is modeled, using an original plant description in which a controller responds to a tracking error e(k) to drive the component to a normal reference value according to an asymptote curve. Where the system senses that (1) at least one aircraft plant component is experiencing an excursion and (2) the return of this component value toward its reference value is not proceeding according to the expected controller characteristics, neural network (NN) modeling of aircraft plant operation may be changed. However, if (1) is satisfied but the error component is returning toward its reference value according to expected controller characteristics, the NN will continue to model operation of the aircraft plant according to an original description. |
| US08285650B2 |
Method and apparatus for billing data services
A method and apparatus for billing data services. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller that manages a communications interface coupled to a communication system. The controller can be programmed to calculate a charge for service according to a degree of asymmetric bandwidth usage of upstream and downstream data traffic consumed by customer premise equipment (CPE). Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08285645B2 |
Remote product ordering using mobile phones
Systems and methods for placing and fulfilling orders for products that include visual content using a mobile telephone. An image processing operator provides a unique authenticator in return for a monetary payment. A user of the system provides a message that includes a digital image with an order indicator, a delivery address and the unique authenticator. The image processing operator extracts the message components and checks the validity of the authenticator. If the authenticator is valid, the image processor generates the desired image that includes at least a portion of the digital image and a portion of another digital image to produce a completed product. The completed combined image can be provided as any of a digital image, a printed image, and an image rendered on a physical object. The completed product is sent to the user or to a third party as the user directs. |
| US08285642B2 |
Technology agnostic universally applicable data model for a telecommunication service provider architecture
An implementation foundation for a telecommunication service provider provides an efficient, robust, and reliable cornerstone for any new telecommunication service provider architecture. The implementation foundation includes a universally applicable data model that encodes the fundamental entities of interest to telecommunications service providers. The data model is free of constraints on any particular technology, and provides a reusable foundation for implementing new telecommunication service providers. The data model is composed of business entities that technically support business processes for a telecommunication service provider. As a result, new telecommunication service providers may be implemented in a rapid manner on a proven foundation, without complex and unwieldy customized technologies that rely on immensely complicated point-to-point message connections. |
| US08285641B2 |
System and method for selectable funding of electronic transactions
A system for transferring funds to pay bills and to and from selected accounts on an optimized is provided. A mediation engine may manage the payments made to selected payees, including by scheduling the payments and selecting sources for funds. A rules-based optimizer may automatically select the least-cost or other most efficient or desirable transaction, given the customer's available funds, types of funds and payment date. All payment providers and payees may manipulated using one seamless view. A customer service representative may also view the transfers. |
| US08285640B2 |
System and methods for facilitating fund transfers over a network
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for facilitating financial transactions over a network include communicating with a financial institution over the network, wherein the financial institution includes a first user account related to a user. The systems and methods include receiving a fund transfer request from the financial institution on behalf of the user and establishing a second user account related to the user based on user information passed with the fund transfer request. The systems and methods include processing the fund transfer request by linking the first user account to the second user account based on the user information passed with the fund transfer request, receiving funds from the financial institution associated with the first user account, and depositing the received funds in the second user account on behalf of the user. |
| US08285639B2 |
Location based authentication system
An improved location based authentication (LBA) system for detecting fraudulent transactions committed by means of misuse of payment cards is disclosed. The improved LBA system performs a series of transaction analysis and generates a fraud-score which provides an indication as whether to authorize an attempted transaction. The system is designed to increase profitability of credit card companies by reducing the accumulated losses due to fraud. In one embodiment, the system detects fraud by analyzing the behavior patterns of card holders and merchants. |
| US08285635B2 |
Whole crop biofuel production (WCBP)
A computerized method of using a data processor having a memory to account for carbon flows and determine a regulatory value for a biofuel can include (i) storing, in memory, a first set of one or more carbon flow values characterizing the production and use of a biofuel derived from a first fraction of an agricultural biomass, (ii) storing, in memory, a second set of one or more carbon flow values characterizing the production and use of a co-product from a second fraction of the agricultural biomass, wherein the second fraction comprises an agricultural residue and wherein the co-product mitigates anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission, and (iii) calculating, using the data processor, a regulatory value for the biofuel from the first and second sets of carbon flow values. |
| US08285626B2 |
Securitization of sales participation certificates
The invention relates to financial products that provide a return that is a function of future sales/revenues, preferably gross sales/revenue, over a specified period of time. One embodiment of a method for creating such a financial product includes providing standard forms to an issuer and underwriter and standard terms to an issuer and investors. The terms to the issuer include providing capital to the issuer in exchange for a return that is a function of future sales over a specified period of time. The process further includes creating instruments representing investment in the financial product. The process creates the instruments in sufficient numbers and in appropriate denominations to facilitate trading in the financial product. |
| US08285623B2 |
Apparatus and process to generate output
An apparatus and process, including an electronic system, the system for generating output in selling fixed income instruments, the system including a first computer system having an output device and at least one other computer system having an input device, the first computer system and the other computer system being respectively located, the computer systems being used in cooperation in a multiple computer system in electronically communicating data between the computer systems. |
| US08285622B1 |
Method and system for providing budgeting recommendations based on financial data from similarly situated individuals
A method and system for providing budget recommendations based on financial data from similarly situated individuals whereby financial transaction data associated with a given individual is analyzed to identify financial profile information associated with the given individual. The financial profile information associated with the given individual is then used to determine/define one or more “financial peer” identification criteria/parameters to be used for identifying individuals who are financially similarly situated with respect to the given individual. Financial data associated with various other individuals is obtained from one or more sources and the financial data associated with the other individuals is analyzed using the one or more financial peer identification criteria/parameters to identify one or more financial peers of the given individual. The financial data associated with the identified one or more financial peers of the given individual is then analyzed, aggregated, averaged, and/or otherwise processed, to provide the given individual one or more budget recommendations. |
| US08285621B1 |
Exchange traded product system and method
A system for managing assets of a trust owning a controlled foreign corporation (CFC). The system includes means for associating the CFC with the trust owning the CFC and means for tracking assets associated with the CFC and the trust owning the CFC. A method for managing assets of a trust owning a CFC includes (1) associating the CFC with the trust owning the CFC using a linking database, (2) tracking assets associated with the CFC and the trust owning the CFC using an asset database, (3) tracking transactions associated with the assets using a transaction database, and (4) determining profit/loss data associated with the transactions using a processor communicatively coupled with the transaction database. |
| US08285615B2 |
Construction industry risk management clearinghouse
Systems, methods, apparatus, computer program code and means for gathering, organizing and presenting on a real time basis information pertinent to Risks associated with subjects related to the Construction Industry. Risks associated with the Construction Industry can be managed by gathering data relevant to the Construction Industry from multiple sources and aggregating the gathered data according to one or more Risk variables. An inquiry relating to a Risk subject can be received and portions of the aggregated data can be associated with the Risk subject. The associated portions of the aggregated data can be transmitted to an entity placing the inquiry or other designated destination. |
| US08285614B2 |
Systems and methods for trading
The present invention is systems and methods for trading. In accordance with these systems and methods, a plurality of trader work stations that are connected to a central server may be provided. Through the work stations and central server, the systems and methods may perform participant qualification, instrument creation, bid/offer entry and response, when hit and take, workup, price retention, price improvement, request for market, bid/off restoration, price generation, position conversion, marking to market, and delivery functions. |
| US08285611B2 |
Method for in-cab driver operation
A method for transporting cargo using a truck is provided. Preferably, the method is used in connection with full truckload operations. The method generally includes powering up a communications module residing within a cab of the truck. The communications module comprises a vehicle navigation system, a modem for receiving telecommunications signals, a processing unit for associating instructions for cargo delivery locations with geo-positioning coordinates, and a user interface. The method further includes receiving a cargo delivery data set at the communications module. The data set is sent from a host trucking management system. The data set provides at least a first cargo delivery location for the driver. The method then includes the driver acknowledging receipt of the first cargo delivery location through the user interface. Acknowledgment of receipt of the first cargo delivery location causes a signal to be sent from the communications module to the host trucking management system. The method also includes driving the truck and cargo to the first cargo delivery location. Upon arrival, the host trucking management system is informed. This is done by sending a first arrival signal from the communications module. |
| US08285610B2 |
System and method of determining the quality of enhanced transaction data
A system is provided for determining the quality of merchant supplied enhanced data related to financial transactions performed by holders of financial presentation devices such as credit cards. The system includes a memory storing a plurality of enhanced transaction data (ETD) records and quality check criteria for determining the quality of enhanced data contained in the ETD records. A quality determination module determines a quality of the stored ETD records based on the stored quality check criteria. |
| US08285606B2 |
Enabling country of origin labeling and verification for livestock products
Techniques are disclosed that enable country of origin labeling and verification. A source verification or “animal passport” procedure and system are disclosed, whereby each transfer of one or more animals is documented and recorded in a repository. An animal passport (i.e., certificate) is used for tracking transfers. A new passport is issued for every transfer, and a unique number (or other unique identifier) is assigned to each such passport. At the same time, each passport carries the passport number of the preceding transfer (or transfers), such that a sequence of passport numbers identifies all transfers occurring throughout the lifetime of the associated animal or animals. Animal passports may also be used to track transfers of animal products. |
| US08285605B2 |
System and method for providing access to product related electronic catalog functionality
An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected. |
| US08285602B1 |
System for recommending item bundles
This disclosure describes systems and methods for recommending bundles of items to users. A bundle can include an item that is substitutable for an item selected by a user and one or more related items that complement the substitutable item. For example, if a user has selected a wireless device on a page of a network application, a bundle recommendation can be provided that includes a similar wireless device and related accessories, a compatible service plan, and the like. Recommending bundles of items can be beneficial for providing users with access to items that they might like to purchase together, without requiring users to separately find each item. |
| US08285601B1 |
Method and system for computer-based auctioning of basic generation services
A system for conducting a computer-based, simultaneous, multiple round, descending clock auction for basic generation services includes a web server for receiving bid data for one or more users for basic generation service products, an application server host application software, which processes the one or more bids according to at least one auction rule, tracks the auction, monitors the auction, and/or determines when to end the auction, and a database server, which stores auction data. A method of conducting a computer-based, simultaneous, multiple round, descending clock auction for basic generation services includes the repeating steps of receiving bids indicating desired tranche units of basic generation service products, calculating next round prices for each product, and sending round results to bidders. The subsequent round price for each of the products and a notice of the number of tranches bid during the immediately previous round of bidding for each of the products and/or the amount of excess supply offered. When the number of tranches bid for the round of bidding are equal to or less than the certain threshold for each of the products such that no further bidding can take place under the auction rules, the auction ends after the round of bidding and awarding winning bidders an ending price for each of the at least one of the plurality of products won by the winning bidders. |
| US08285600B2 |
Multiple criteria buying and selling model
A system and method for aggregating demand is provided. At least one seller may sponsor a deal room to aggregate selling goods/services from a plurality of buyers. The demand aggregation system can include a dashboard for allowing the at least one seller to set up DealRooms, price curves, offers, products, customers, and/or customer groups, for example. The dashboard can include a plurality of wizards for configuring such information. The demand aggregation system can also include seller displays for notifying buyers of changes in prices relative to ship dates and times of order. The demand aggregation system can also include a predictive modeling and reporting function. An algorithm is employed to utilize product information to post a probability chart on a product price point. |
| US08285598B2 |
Promoting offers through social network influencers
Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities. |
| US08285595B2 |
System and method for refining media recommendations
An archiving system is provided for archiving a user's media collection and refining recommendations made to the user by an e-commerce service, such as an e-commerce website, based on the archive of the user's media collection. In general, a central archiving system interacts with a user system to archive a user's media collection. Thereafter, while the user is interacting with the e-commerce service, a list of recommended media for the user is generated and provided to the archiving system. The archiving system refines the list based on the archive of the user's media collection. Optionally, the list of recommended media may be further refined based on a user profile and play history of the user. The refined list of recommended media is returned to the e-commerce service and presented to the user. |
| US08285592B2 |
Methods and systems for providing enhanced data for co-brand payment card transactions
A method and system for processing a financial transaction using an enhanced payment card through a multi-party payment card interchange network are provided. An authorization request message generated at a point of sale (POS) device associated with a merchant is received at a computer associated with the interchange network. The authorization request message includes a card identifier and relates to a transaction initiated by the cardholder with the merchant using the enhanced payment card. The transaction is electronically identified as involving the enhanced payment card by matching the received card identifier to a list of card identifiers stored within a database. A product code identifying the transaction as an enhanced payment card transaction is electronically added to the authorization request message. The merchant is instructed to transmit to the interchange computer an addendum file including enhanced transaction data for the enhanced payment card transaction. |
| US08285590B2 |
Systems and methods for computer-created advertisements
The invention relates to a computerized method for a user to create an advertisement by displaying a plurality of advertising formats for selection by a user; displaying a template corresponding to a selected advertising format; displaying a plurality of product references for selection by the user; displaying on the template a selected product reference to create a proposed advertisement; and creating a preview of the proposed advertisement, all of which may be implemented using the Internet. The invention further relates to a computerized system for creating an advertisement that comprises a template database for storing advertising formats; a product database for storing product references; and a computer to access the databases. Preferably, the user has a network interface such as Internet access that permits access via a remote location, software to permit a user to specify specifications such as quantity, printing information, ship date, paper type, pricing information, and payment information, and may be configured to receive images and text for new products. |
| US08285586B2 |
System and method for managing sponsorships
A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requester and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content. |
| US08285582B2 |
Automatic calculation of forecast response factor
A forecast response factor (RF) determines how quickly product demand forecasts should react to recent changes in demand. When a product sales pattern changes (e.g., a sudden increase in product demand), RF is adjusted accordingly to adjust the forecast responsiveness. The present subject matter provides automatic calculation of the RF, based at least in part on the nature of the product sales (autocorrelation) and the status of recent forecasts (bias). |
| US08285581B2 |
System and method for sequential decision making for customer relationship management
A system and method for sequential decision-making for customer relationship management includes providing customer data including stimulus-response history data, and automatically generating actionable rules based on the customer data. Further, automatically generating actionable rules may include estimating a value function using reinforcement learning. |
| US08285580B2 |
System and method for filtering exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment engine
A system and method for storing, filtering, selecting and manipulating business exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment processes and systems. When an exception is generated, it will be associated with attributes corresponding to those business objects and business areas to which the exception relates. Exceptions may also be associated with administrative attributes such as status, priority and generation date, as well as information identifying the specific business process that generated the exception. Generated forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be directed to a transitory dialog message. Alternatively, forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be logged or stored in a database for future review and treatment. Within an exceptions monitor or workbench tool, a business replenishment specialist may browse, search, select, review, filter, rearrange, edit, forward and/or respond to generated exceptions. Exceptions may be filtered tacitly according to a user profile associated with the business replenishment specialist. Alternatively, exceptions may be filtered according to explicitly supplied selection criteria. |
| US08285578B2 |
Managing information technology (IT) infrastructure of an enterprise using a centralized logistics and management (CLAM) tool
In one embodiment, a process for managing information technology (IT) infrastructure of an enterprise includes: (1) capturing and storing IT infrastructure information regarding the IT infrastructure of the enterprise; (2) defining a plurality of roles within the enterprise, each role specifying a particular job function within the enterprise; (3) associating items of IT infrastructure with roles within the enterprise such that each role is associated with one or more predetermined items of IT infrastructure; (4) assigning roles to one or more employees of the enterprise such that each of the one or more employees is associated with one or more roles and is assigned the one or more predetermined items of IT infrastructure associated with each of these one or more roles; (5) automatically modeling a change in the IT infrastructure for one or more impacted employees; and (6) automatically initiating deployment of one or more IT infrastructure assets for the one or more impacted employees by organizing delivery of the one or more IT infrastructure assets to the one or more impacted employees to implement the change modeled. |
| US08285575B2 |
Method and system for providing an inference engine including a parameter-based cost function to evaluate semiconductor clients
An inference engine is configured to rank a plurality of clients using at least one parameter associated with each of the plurality of clients. The engine includes a user interface configured to enable a user to select the at least one parameter, a knowledge collection module configured to collect client information based on the at least one parameter, and a calculation module configured to receive the collected information and calculate a client listing using a parameter-based cost function. |
| US08285567B2 |
Apparatus and method of workers' compensation cost management and quality control
Improved apparatus and methods, via an internet website, developed for the efficient implementation of workers' compensation cost containment practices for multi-unit employers, more particularly relating to indemnity (lost wages) and medical costs of workers' compensation claims in each unit. The methods analyze information about the user's current workers' compensation injury handling best practices and provide quantified results, customized recommendations and tools to reduce costs and improve best practices quality control. |
| US08285566B2 |
Methods and systems for administering indexed life insurance
Disclosed is a system and method for administering a life insurance policy to provide increased interest based on specifically weighted linkage to multiple equity indices that typically may include Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Price Index, Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50, the Hang Seng Index, and/or derivatives thereof wherein the leading-performing index during a look back period is weighted more heavily than any other index. Also disclosed is a computer system using at least one administration component to implement a series of steps associated with administering an equity indexed-interest universal life insurance policy. |
| US08285564B2 |
Wireless tracking system and method for analyzing an interaction between objects
The present invention provides a solution to determining an interaction between objects through wireless tracking. The present invention utilizes communication devices attached to objects that transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which forward the signals to an information engine for analysis. |
| US08285563B2 |
Method and system for adjudicating claims in a health services environment
Methods and systems for adjudicating claims in health services environments are presented. An exemplary method for processing service provider claims for payment includes scheduling appointments with service providers, receiving claims from the service providers, determining whether at least one scheduled appointment corresponds with at least one received claim and determining that at least one scheduled appointment has not been identified as corresponding to at least one received claim within a predetermined period of time. Optionally, the method includes presenting the particular received claim for payment when at least one of the scheduled appointments corresponds to the particular received claim. |
| US08285561B2 |
Method of dispensing a product
A method of dispensing a product is disclosed. The product has associated packaging. The packaging has disposed thereon coded data. The coded data is indicative of an identity of the product. The coded data is sensed by a sensing device and indicating data indicative of the identity of the product is generated based on the sensed coded data. The coded data is arranged in accordance with a layout having n-fold rotational symmetry. The layout including n sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about a center of rotation. A processor receives the indicating data from the sensing device and determines at least one criterion for dispensing the product. The processor causes the product to be dispensed when the at least one criterion is satisfied. |
| US08285560B2 |
Method for remote medical consultation and care
A method for remote medical consulting includes collecting diagnostic data using at least one wearable device contoured to at least a portion of a person's hand, transmitting the diagnostic data to a remote location, transmitting audio data and video images of the patient to the remote location, and communicating diagnosis and/or treatment information to the patient based at least in part on the diagnostic data. The treatment information may include a prescription electronically transmitted to the patient or a pharmacy. The method includes billing of the patient via credit or debit card, bank account, or a third party, such as an insurance company. The diagnostic data as well as the audio and video data may be transmitted wirelessly via cellular or satellite communication networks and/or using a wide area computer network such as the internet. |
| US08285555B2 |
Method, medium, and system scalably encoding/decoding audio/speech
A method, medium, and system scalably encoding/decoding audio/speech. The method includes splitting an input signal into a low frequency band signal that is lower than a predetermined frequency and a high frequency band signal that is higher than the predetermined frequency, scalably encoding the split low frequency band signal into a core layer and one or more extension layers and then decoding the encoded core layer and the encoded extension layers, generating an error signal by using the split low frequency band signal and a decoded signal of the encoded core layer and the encoded extension layers, and encoding the error signal and the high frequency band signal into a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer and a bandwidth extension layer. |
| US08285548B2 |
Communication device processing text message to transform it into speech
The application discloses a communication device and method of processing a text message in the communication device. An aspect of the present application is a method of processing text message in a communication device, the method including receiving a text message from an external sender, determining whether and how a user desires to transform the text message into voice data according to user control information set by the user, selectively, transforming the received text message into voice data according to the result of the determining step, and transmitting the voice data to an external sound reproduction device through a wireless communication module. |
| US08285547B2 |
Audio font output device, font database, and language input front end processor
An audio font output device is disclosed that is able to effectively convert characters or text into an audio signal recognizable by the acoustic sense of human beings. The audio font output device includes a font data base that stores a character corresponding to a symbol code or picture data of a symbol, first audio data corresponding to the symbol code, a symbol display unit that displays the character corresponding to the symbol code or the symbol based on the picture data, and an audio output unit that outputs an audio signal based on the first audio data corresponding to the symbol code. |
| US08285545B2 |
Voice command acquisition system and method
A voice command acquisition method and system for motor vehicles is improved in that noise source information is obtained directly from the vehicle system bus. Upon receiving an input signal with a voice command, the system bus is queried for one or more possible sources of a noise component in the input signal. In addition to vehicle-internal information (e.g., window status, fan blower speed, vehicle speed), the system may acquire external information (e.g., weather status) in order to better classify the noise component in the input signal. If the noise source is found to be a window, for example, the driver may be prompted to close the window. In addition, if the fan blower is at a high speed level, it may be slowed down automatically. |
| US08285544B2 |
Restrained vector quantisation
The invention relates to a method for generating a vector quantization dictionary for a signal, of the type comprising a statistical analysis of driving vectors representing the signal determining a finite set of code vectors which are proxies for the said driving vectors, wherein the method also comprises modifying the said finite set of code vectors to impose a minimum distance between the modified code vectors two by two, these modified code vectors forming the said dictionary. |
| US08285543B2 |
Circular frequency translation with noise blending
An audio signal is conveyed more efficiently by transmitting or recording a baseband of the signal with an estimated spectral envelope and a noise-blending parameter derived from a measure of the signal's noise-like quality. The signal is reconstructed by translating spectral components of the baseband signal to frequencies outside the baseband, adjusting phase of the regenerated components to maintain phase coherency, adjusting spectral shape according to the estimated spectral envelope, and adding noise according to the noise-blending parameter. Preferably, the transmitted or recorded signal also includes an estimated temporal envelope that is used to adjust the temporal shape of the reconstructed signal. |
| US08285541B2 |
System and method for handling multiple languages in text
A system and method for processing text are disclosed. The method includes receiving text to be processed. A main language of the text is identified. At least one unknown sequence in the text is identified, each unknown sequence comprising at least one word that is unknown in the main language. For a secondary language, for each of the at least one unknown sequence, the method includes determining whether the unknown sequence includes a first word recognized in the secondary language and, if so, identifying a sequence of words in the secondary language which includes at least the first word. The identifying of the sequence of words in the secondary language includes applying an algorithm for determining whether the sequence of words in the secondary language is expandable beyond the first word to include adjacent words. The text is labeled based on the identified sequences of words in the secondary language. |
| US08285540B2 |
Character string anonymizing apparatus, character string anonymizing method, and character string anonymizing program
A character string anonymizing apparatus classifies each of a plurality of pieces of text data, each including a character string, into a plurality of kinds of data in accordance with a classification condition, extracts a plurality of words included in each of the plurality of pieces of text data (hereinafter, referred to as linked data) classified into the same kind by the classification, extracts, among word sets including one or more of the extracted words, a word set in which the number of pieces of linked data including all words forming each of the word sets is greater than or equal to a threshold, and anonymizes, among words included in a character string included in each of the plurality of pieces of text data, a word matching at least some of the extracted words and not matching words forming the extracted word set. |
| US08285538B2 |
Translation assistance device and method
A device includes a parsing unit that parses an input sentence into a plurality of clauses, an identification unit that identifies, as a target area, based on the clauses resulting from the parsing, any of the clauses corresponding to an area specified, a setting unit that sets, as a target clause, any of the clauses located at a boundary of the target area identified, and sets, as a candidate for modification of the target clause, any of the clauses adjacent to the target clause in the target area. A judgment unit judges whether there exists a relationship of modification between the target clause and the candidate for modification and a determination unit determines, when the judgment unit judges that there is the relationship of modification, a translation area based on the target area, the target clause, and the candidate for modification. |
| US08285537B2 |
Recognition of proper nouns using native-language pronunciation
Recognition of proper nouns by an automated speech recognition system is improved by augmenting the pronunciation of each proper noun or name in the natural language of the speech recognition system with at least one “native” pronunciation in another natural language. To maximize recognition, preferably the pronunciations are predicted based on information not available to the speech recognition system. Prediction of pronunciation may be based on a location derived from a telephone number or postal address associated with the name and the language or dialect spoken in the country or region of that location. The “native” pronunciation(s) may be added to a dictionary of the speech recognition system or directly to the grammar used for recognizing speech. |
| US08285536B1 |
Optimizing parameters for machine translation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for language translation are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a translation hypergraph that represents a plurality of candidate translations, the translation hypergraph including a plurality of paths including nodes connected by edges; calculating first posterior probabilities for each edge in the translation hypergraph; calculating second posterior probabilities for each n-gram represented in the translation hypergraph based on the first posterior probabilities; and performing decoding on the translation hypergraph using the second posterior probabilities to convert a sample text from a first language to a second language. |
| US08285534B1 |
Programmable analog and mixed mode circuit emulation system
A programmable circuit and emulation system is used to emulate the behavior of analog and mixed mode circuit. The emulation preserves circuit electrical behavior while operating at a lower frequency than an intended frequency of the original circuit. The emulation system comprises an emulation hardware that includes control circuit, function groups, on chip function generation circuit, on chip measurement circuit and on chip characterization circuit and all are connected through programmable interconnect. Each function group comprises of transistor arrays or programmable passive devices, each transistor array or programmable passive device is connected to others through local programmable interconnect. Each transistor array or programmable passive device can be programmed to match the behavior of a transistor or passive device in the circuit to be emulated. |
| US08285531B2 |
Neural net for use in drilling simulation
A method of optimizing a drilling tool assembly including inputting well data into an optimization system, the optimization system having an experience data set and an artificial neural network. The method further including comparing the well data to the experience data set and developing an initial drilling tool assembly based on the comparing the well data to the experience data, wherein the drilling tool assembly is developed using the artificial neural network. Additionally, the method including simulating the initial drilling tool assembly in the optimization system and creating result data in the optimization system based on the simulating. |
| US08285528B1 |
Method and article of manufacture for determining warhead fragmentation performance
A method and a computer program product for estimating and predicting the performance of fragmentation devices such as, for example, warheads that are often incorporated as part of a weapon system. |
| US08285527B2 |
Method and system for equivalence checking
As part of the design process it is required to design circuits in order to reduce their power consumption. This is typically done by enabling or disabling flip-flops (FFs), however, such change in the circuit requires certain verification. As sequential clock gating changes the state function it is necessary to perform a sequential equivalence checking (SEC) verification. Applying a full SEC may be runtime consuming and is not scalable for large designs. Methods to reduce the problem of verifying sequential clock gating by reducing the sequential problem into much smaller problem that can be easily solved is therefore shown. |
| US08285526B2 |
Finite difference algorithm for solving slender droplet evaporation with moving contact lines
A system and method for simulating a droplet on a substrate with a moving contact line. The height of the droplet above the substrate is represented as a height function. A height evolution equation represents how the height of a droplet with moving contact line varies over time. The height function at a first point in space and a first point in time is calculated. An extrapolated height value at the first point in time is based on the height function at the first point in space and the first point in time, and the contact line at the first point in time. The extrapolated height value is at a second point in space below the substrate. The height evolution equation is used to calculate the height function at a second point in time based upon the extrapolated height value at the first point in time. |
| US08285524B2 |
Simulation method for transistor unsuitable for existing model
A simulation method includes determining a relationship between stress time and a degradation rate of drain current on a basis of a table in which data of a lifetime of a transistor, or the degradation rate of the transistor, is written, and calculating an amount of change in drain current accordance with the degradation rate, using a table in which information indicating a change in the drain current, being dependent on voltage, is written, based on actually measured data of drain current of the transistor after degradation, drain current in an initial state of a particular transistor model, and the relationship between stress time and the degradation rate of drain current. |
| US08285520B2 |
Hand held data collector and analyzer device
Data collector and analyzer hand held device capable of collecting and analyzing AC analog signals obtained by both converting pressure waves in the ultrasonic or in the vibration bandwidths into such signals comprising a conditioning circuit comprising a transducer identification circuit arranged for downloading a characteristic of an external transducer and at least a first amplifier, arranged for conditioning an AC analog signal at a desired amplitude, a first analog to digital converter, a digital signal processing unit, a central processing unit and a user interface. The first amplifier of the conditioning circuit is a multi-stage programmable amplifier arranged for enabling the adjustment of its gain between 0 and a predetermined value by the central processing unit as a function of a characteristic of an AC external transducer, downloaded by the identification circuit, transmitted by this circuit to the central processing unit and identified by this unit or of a known characteristic of an AC internal transducer. |
| US08285519B2 |
System and method for operating a network of sensors
In a network of sensor nodes, operational efficiency may be increased by configuring the sensor nodes so that sensor agents may be transferred to alternative sensor nodes to process sensor node data, such as when the host sensor node is in a low-power mode. A processing node of the network may be configured to retrieve real-time data from a sensor node, but if real-time data is not available, the processing node may perform calculations on cached data retrieved from a processor node cache or data of a nearby sensor node. |
| US08285518B2 |
Sensor for a measuring point and method for testing a sensor for a measuring point
A two-part sensor composed of a sensor head and a sensor-head counterpart, testing is performed as to whether a correct sensor head is connected with the sensor-head counterpart. |
| US08285517B2 |
Method for tracking and reporting usage events to determine when preventive maintenance is due for a medical robotic system
A medical robotic system comprises a number of components that may be monitored to determine their preventive maintenance needs by recording usage-related information for the monitored components into associated non-volatile memories. When usage of the component exceeds a specified usage threshold, the system displays a warning message on its display screen to have preventive maintenance performed for the component. If the usage continues without such maintenance and exceeds a higher usage threshold, the system displays an error message on its display screen and the system transitions into an error state during which medical procedures are not allowed to be performed. The usage-related information may also be communicated to a remote computer which gathers and processes usage-related information from a number of medical robotic systems to estimate resource requirements for timely performing preventive maintenance on the medical robotic systems, and anticipated service revenues from such maintenance. |
| US08285516B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining steady state conditions in a gas turbine
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for determining steady state conditions in a gas turbine. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for determining stability in a gas turbine is provided. The method can include receiving a guide vane (VGV) command and a fuel stroke reference (FSR) command associated with a gas turbine control system, determining a filtered VGV change based at least in part on the received VGV command, determining a filtered FSR change based at least in part on the received FSR command, and outputting a unit stability signal after a pickup delay time when the filtered VGV change is less than a predetermined VGV stability threshold and the filtered FSR change is less than a predetermined FSR stability threshold. |
| US08285515B2 |
Characterization of single-photon detectors using a source of photon pairs
Operational parameters of a single-photon detector are determined with a source of photon pairs. At a fixed trigger, a dark count probability and a series of count probabilities at different optical powers are determined. A particular optical power is selected by adjusting the optical power of the source of photon pairs. The dark count probability and the count probabilities are determined for different trigger rates. The operational parameters include efficiency, afterpulsing constant, and detrap time. The operational parameters are computed by fitting the computed dark count probabilities and count probabilities to a user-defined relationship. |
| US08285513B2 |
Method and system of using inferential measurements for abnormal event detection in continuous industrial processes
The present invention is a method and system for detecting an abnormal on-line analysis or laboratory measurement and for predicting an abnormal quality excursion due to an abnormal process condition. |
| US08285512B2 |
Method and system for measuring angles based on 360 degree images
A surveying apparatus includes a support structure and a reflective surface mechanically coupled to the support structure. The reflective surface is configured to receive panoramic data over a 360° field of view. The surveying apparatus also includes an optical system mechanically coupled to the support structure and optically coupled to the reflective surface. The surveying apparatus further includes an imaging system mechanically coupled to the support structure and optically coupled to the optical system and a processor. The processor is configured to receive data from the imaging system and compute an angular measurement based on the received data. |
| US08285509B2 |
Method and system of testing electronic device
A method of testing an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes an embedded controller. The method includes storing a type information of the embedded controller and transmitting the type information to an application module through a data module. The application module analyzes the type information to obtain a command. The application module sends the command to the embedded controller. The embedded controller returns a testing result to the application module. The application module generates a testing report after the application module compares the testing result with a predetermined result. |
| US08285506B2 |
Fuel dispenser pulser arrangement
An apparatus for generating a measure of fluid. The apparatus comprises a flow meter and a pulser having an identifier and a memory. The pulser is associated with the flow meter for generating pulser data indicative of a volume of fluid delivered through the flow meter. The pulser may alter the pulser data using correction data stored in its memory to generate altered pulser data. The pulser may store at least one of the pulser data and the altered pulser data in the memory. The apparatus further comprises a switch operatively connected to the pulser's memory. The switch is operative to vary the memory of the pulser between a write-protected and a write-enabled mode. Also, the apparatus comprises a controller in communication with the pulser and a serial communication circuit which enables communication between the pulser and the controller. Communication between the controller and the pulser includes the identifier. |
| US08285505B2 |
Lens evaluation method, lens evaluation device, lens manufacturing method, and lens characteristic display method
The present invention is to provide a lens evaluation method capable of easily evaluating whether there is a difference which greatly changes locally in a lens, and evaluating the degree of the difference. According to the lens evaluation method of the present invention, first, power a distribution of a plurality of measurement point in an arbitrary direction. Next, a calculation power distribution (a design power distribution) is created. Further, a difference distribution between an actually measured power distribution, which indicates an actual power distribution, and a calculation power distribution is obtained. Further, the difference distribution is differentiated to obtain a difference index, and an evaluation is performed based on the difference index to evaluate whether there is a difference which greatly changes locally in a lens, and evaluate the degree of the difference. |
| US08285503B1 |
Balanced two-conductor time domain reflectometer
The described apparatus and methods use Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to determine the absolute volumetric moisture content of various media. The effects of dispersion caused by conductive and dielectric properties of the medium on the waveform are extrapolated by detecting the bulk propagation time and the slope of the distorted transition of the characteristic reflected waveform. Fast transitions are injected by a differential step function generator into a two-conductor waveguide, which is immersed in soil or other medium of interest. Unlike previous single-ended TDR systems, a differential digitizer senses the probes. Timing control between the two digitizers is critical. Use of an integrated fully differential system eliminates the need for a coaxial cable and an associated balancing transformer, or balun. This enables a two-conductor probe that is more easily inserted into soil, rather than requiring three conductors. Non-conductive probe tips may be pointed to facilitate insertion without causing measurement ambiguity. |
| US08285501B2 |
Battery pack and detection method
A battery pack includes: a plurality of batteries; a detection section to measure a voltage of each of the plurality of batteries to obtain a voltage variation of each of the plurality of batteries at different lapse times and compare the obtained voltage variations to thus detect whether at least one of the plurality of batteries has been replaced; and a controller to disable, when a result of the detection by the detection section indicates that at least one of the plurality of batteries has been replaced, a use of the plurality of batteries. |
| US08285500B2 |
System and method for providing power distribution system information
A system, method and computer program product for processing utility data of a power grid is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a datamart comprised of a plurality of physical databases storing utility data, a plurality of applications comprising an automated meter application configured to process power usage data from a plurality of automated meters, a power outage application configured to identify a location of a power outage, and a power restoration application configured to identify a location of a power restoration. The system may include an analysis engine comprising a plurality of analysis objects with each analysis object configured to process data to provide a specific analysis, wherein said analysis engine is accessible via one or more of the plurality of applications, and the system may include a report module configured to receive an output from the analysis engine and to output a report. The plurality of applications may also include a fault analysis application, a transformer analysis application, a theft detection application, a power flow application, a substation automation application, a load shed application and others. |
| US08285491B2 |
Devices and methods for quantification of liquids in gas-condensate wells
Devices and methods for measuring the fraction of a liquid in a wet gas flow are described, the device including one or more light sources emitting at a first wavelength at which the liquid is highly absorbing and emitting at a second wavelength close to the first wavelength and at which the liquid is not highly absorbing; and one or more sensor for detecting the transmittance of the light at the first and second wavelengths through said gas flow, the device further including processing means for determining a liquid fraction of the liquid in the wet gas flow by correcting the transmittance measured at the first wavelength for the effects of scattering using the transmittance measured at the second wavelength. By making use of cross-correlations or know flow rate meters the device can be used as a flow meter. |
| US08285490B2 |
Method and system for obtaining improved data perfusion measurements
A method of deriving blood perfusion indices for a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, comprising the steps of administering a contrast agent to the subject during a dynamic imaging scan, converting signal intensity data from raw images of the scan into contrast agent concentration data, deriving parameters from the contrast agent concentration data using at least one transport function that accounts for delay and dispersion of the contrast agent, and calculating the blood perfusion indices from the derived parameters. |
| US08285489B2 |
Multi-stage, regression-based PCR analysis system
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing data to determine properties of a PCR process or other process exhibiting amplification or growth. Data representing an amplification can be distinguished from data representing a jump or other error. A modified sigmoid function containing a drift term may be used in determining the properties. A multi-stage functional fit of the amplification data can provide increased accuracy and consistency of one or more of the properties. A baseline of the amplification data can be determined by analyzing an integrated area of a first derivative function of the data. A reference quantitation value can also be determined from locations of maxima of different derivative functions of the amplification data, e.g., a weighted average of the maxima locations for the second and third derivatives may be used. |
| US08285488B2 |
Food content detector
A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size. |
| US08285477B2 |
Detection method for preventing automobile from colliding
A detection method for preventing an automobile from colliding is applied to an automobile. The detection method includes the following steps: step (a): providing at least two detection devices, each detection device is used to measure a predetermined information of the automobile. A one-stage linear Kalman filter in each device is used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the predetermined information. In step (b): utilizing the one-stage linear filter to receive the predetermined information and obtain a corrected information from the predetermined information after the signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced. In step (c): calculating the corrected information to obtain a component information having vector components of a first direction and a second direction. In step (d): enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio to enable the component information to be a contrast information. Accordingly, the convergence time of calculating the contrast information can be substantially reduced. The position variation of the surrounding moving objects can be accurately estimated to prevent the sudden collision in a short time. |
| US08285474B2 |
Vehicle
Enabled is to lighten the load on a rider and to make the rider senses a turning state at the turning time of a transverse two-wheeled vehicle. A transverse acceleration (a) at a turn controlling time is detected to make a next inclination control in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration. (a) In the case of an acceleration (a)≦a predetermined threshold (a0), the vehicle is left uninclined to prevent the vehicle body from being unnecessarily inclined and rocked against a small centrifugal force, thereby to improve the riding comfortableness. (b) In the case of the acceleration (a)>the threshold (a0), a riding portion is inclined such that the inclination angle θ1 may become the larger as the acceleration (a) becomes the higher. This can reduce the load on the rider against the centrifugal force. (c) As the acceleration (a) becomes the higher, the riding portion is so inclined the more as to increase the difference between the balanced inclination angle of the vehicle body and the inclination angle of the riding portion, so that the rider can bodily sense the increase/decrease of the centrifugal force. |
| US08285473B1 |
Predictive relevant traffic determination using vehicle states descriptions
A method and apparatus for predicting traffic for analyzing runway incursions. A state for each of a plurality of aircraft is identified to form a plurality of identified states. A set of aircraft is identified from the plurality of aircraft based on the plurality of identified states to form a set of identified aircraft. A number of potential runway incursions is predicted using the set of identified aircraft. |
| US08285472B2 |
Apparatus and program for navigation
A navigation apparatus acquires a traffic event and accordingly determines whether or not to change a guiding route to a destination. Based on an affirmative determination, the navigation apparatus displays icons corresponding to traffic events causing the affirmative determination near a road containing the traffic event in a map image in a representation mode for an image of the traffic event different from a normal representation mode assigned to the traffic event. In this manner, the navigation apparatus changes the guiding route to the destination dynamically depending on information about traffic events on roads and allows a user to recognize a cause of changing the guiding route. |
| US08285463B2 |
Method and system for calibrating a pressure sensor for an automatic transmission
A method and control system for operating a transmission includes a transmission control module determining a transmission sensor signal and a transmission pressure sensor offset prior to starting a vehicle engine and an engine start initiator starting the vehicle engine. The transmission control module controls a transmission function in response the transmission pressure sensor offset and the pressure sensor signal. |
| US08285459B2 |
Route planning system and method for agricultural working machines
In a route planning system and method for agricultural working machines, a defined working width is assigned to the agricultural working machines to generate driving routes in a territory, and dynamic adaptation of the planned driving route is carried out thereby ensuring that the driving route to be covered is flexibly adaptable to changing external conditions such as driving around obstacles, thereby largely relieving the operator of the agricultural working machine of the task of performing laborious steering maneuvers. |
| US08285458B2 |
Machine with automatic operating mode determination
A method is provided for determining a current operating mode of a machine. The method includes receiving data relating to a plurality of machine parameters and performing initial comparisons between the received data and previously stored reference data for each machine parameter. The method also includes determining an operating mode indicated by each initial comparison. The method further includes selecting a current operating mode from the operating modes indicated by the initial comparisons. |
| US08285453B2 |
Occupant based navigation aid lock-out function
A vehicle navigation aid (nav-aid) system and method are provided to un-lock nav-aid functions in a moving vehicle. Sensors within the vehicle provide vehicle speed S and whether a person other the driver is present. For S greater than predetermined threshold speed Sth≧0, the nav-aid system remains in a locked-out state if a passenger is not present. When a passenger is present, then the system may accept some otherwise locked-out nav-aid requests. A warning and disclaimer message requiring positive acknowledgement thereof is desirable. In a preferred embodiment, the passenger should occupy a front seat and have a weight or size or both exceeding a predetermined (e.g., “adult”) threshold. Desirably, navigation aid access is precluded for S>Sth unless the occupied seat belts are latched. In a further embodiment, a user access status display indicates which nav-aid functions can be accessed depending on the vehicle status. |
| US08285450B2 |
Differential limiting control device for vehicle
A differential limiting control device for a vehicle calculates a yaw rate correspondence control amount according to deviation between actual yaw rate and target yaw rate when a vehicle turns, and also judges the vehicle's steering characteristic of the moment and magnitude relation between wheel speeds of right and left front wheels. The differential limiting control device then applies compensation toward an increase or decrease side based on a yaw rate correspondence control amount to a base control amount according to a combination of the steering characteristic and the magnitude relation between the wheel speeds, and controls a differential limiting force between the right and left front wheels based upon a final control amount obtained after the compensation. |
| US08285447B2 |
Look ahead vehicle suspension system
An active suspension system senses roadway defects and adjusts an active and controllable suspension system of the vehicle before tires come in contact with the defect. The active suspension system identifies a type of defect or debris, e.g., pothole, bump, object, etc., along with the size, width, depth, and/or height information of the defect to more accurately control operation of the suspension system to prepare for, or avoid contact with the roadway defects and obstacles. Imaging techniques are employed to identify the defect or debris. Operation of a serviced cruise control system is controlled to enhance passenger safety and comfort. |
| US08285441B2 |
User configurable scan tool
A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input device for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information from the input device and communication with the vehicle from the signal translator, the processor controlling a reception of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, the processor receiving a selected information of a user and configuration of the diagnostic tool through the input device and correlating the configuration information with the user information, the processor processing the received diagnostic data according to the selected configuration information corresponding to the selected user by the input unit, a memory storing a software controlled by the processor, the memory storing the configuration information according to the corresponding user information, and a display unit receiving and displaying diagnostic information according to the selected stored configuration information according to the user. |
| US08285440B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting or modifying programmable parameters in power driven wheelchair
A collection of diagnostic and troubleshooting information associated with a power driven wheelchair is stored for access by a microcontroller to be displayed to a user to assist in troubleshooting the power driven wheelchair. A log of fault codes transmitted by various fault-detecting mechanisms is compiled. A user may request display of diagnostic information associated with a selected fault code. The operating instructions of a power driven wheelchair may be updated by using portable storage media onto which a latest version of operating instructions is loaded to transfer the updated operating instructions to wheelchair controller memory. The calibration of a power driven wheelchair can be simplified by providing functionality within the wheelchair controller to change calibration parameters or to transfer calibration parameters from portable storage media. |
| US08285439B2 |
System and method for performing vehicle diagnostics
One aspect includes a system for monitoring a vehicle's health status. The system comprises a vehicle monitoring computer system configured to (1) receive information associating a cell phone with a vehicle, (2) receive vehicle diagnostic information including vehicle conditions, (3) automatically determine a severity status for the vehicle conditions based on pre-defined severity status values, and (4) if the severity status for any vehicle condition exceeds a pre-defined severity threshold value, automatically transmit a text message to the cellular telephone. Another aspect includes a system for detecting and monitoring a vehicle's health status. The system comprises (1) a vehicle monitoring computer system and (2) a vehicle computer system configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular telephone located within a vehicle or its vicinity to transmit diagnostic information to a telecommunications network for communication with the vehicle monitoring system. |
| US08285437B2 |
Maintenance time notification device
A maintenance time notification device includes a storing unit storing a threshold value of a usage time or a traveling distance for each of a plurality of vehicle parts; a measuring unit measuring the usage time and the traveling distance of a vehicle since the vehicle began to be used for each of the vehicle parts; a maintenance period determination unit determining a maintenance period of each of the vehicle parts by comparing the usage time and the traveling distance measured by the measuring unit, with the threshold value; and a reporting unit reporting to a passenger based on a determination result of the maintenance period determination unit. |
| US08285434B2 |
Hybrid-type construction machine having an output condition calculating unit to calculate output conditions of an engine and an electric storage device
In the hybrid-type construction machine, the control unit (60) includes a drive distributing unit (60-8) and an output condition calculating unit (60-9). The output condition calculating unit (60-9) calculates output conditions inclusive of an output setting of the electric storage device determined from a state of charge of the electric storage device (58), an output setting of the engine determined from a number of revolutions of the engine (50), a hydraulic load required value indicative of drive power required by the oil pressure generating unit, and an electric load required value indicative of electric power required by the electric drive unit. The drive distributing unit (60-8) determines output values of the electric drive unit and the hydraulic drive unit based on the calculated output conditions. |
| US08285432B2 |
Method and apparatus for developing a control architecture for coordinating shift execution and engine torque control
A method for controlling a powertrain system including a transmission mechanically coupled to an engine and an electric machine includes monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal, determining a preferred operating point of the powertrain based upon the operator inputs, determining a preferred operating range state of the transmission based upon the preferred operating point, determining lead control signals for the engine and the transmission based upon the preferred operating point and the preferred operating range state of the transmission, determining immediate control signals for the electric machine and the transmission, controlling operation of the engine based upon the lead control signals for the engine and the transmission, and controlling operation of the electric machine based upon the immediate control signals for the electric machine and the transmission. |
| US08285431B2 |
Optimal selection of hybrid range state and/or input speed with a blended braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle
A method for operating a vehicle includes determining a transmission input speed, operating the transmission using the transmission input speed, and providing a braking torque request to cause braking of the vehicle according to a scheme selected from the group consisting of a first braking mode and a second braking mode. The transmission input speed and the transmission operating range state are dependent on said braking torque request in the first braking mode, and wherein the transmission operating state, but not the transmission input speed, is dependent on the braking torque request in the second braking mode. |
| US08285428B2 |
Support method and device for assisting in the preparation and management of missions in aircraft
A method and a device for an operating center for aiding in the preparation and management of missions of an aircraft. After a plurality of digital data has been received, the plurality of data comprising at least one datum of avionic type and one datum of open-world type, at least one flight plan is prepared from the plurality of data. The at least one prepared flight plan and the at least one datum of open-world type then are formatted. The formatted data in the form of an electronic document usable directly by a computer system of the aircraft are transmitted to the aircraft. |
| US08285425B2 |
System and method for controlling an unarmed air vehicle
The invention relates to an unmanned air vehicle control system and method, designed such that, in one mission mode, the vehicle follows the mission route. The system comprises means (400, 450) for storing data indicating at least one auxiliary route (4000, 4001, 4002, 4003), such that each of a plurality of the mission route segments (10, 20), is assigned at least part (30, 31, 32, 33) of at least one auxiliary route. Furthermore, the system comprises route change means (53) designed for, as a response to a mission abandonment event (52), determining which part of which auxiliary route is assigned to the mission route segment where the vehicle is located, such that the vehicle can change the mission route to the corresponding auxiliary route. |
| US08285424B2 |
Vehicle-running-state display method
The present invention has an object of providing a vehicle-running-state display method capable of easily displaying a running state of a vehicle. The invention provides a vehicle-running-state display method, including the steps of obtaining position information, time information, speed information, and acceleration information of a vehicle, detecting a special state of the vehicle, based on the position information, the time information, the speed information, or the acceleration information, displaying a track of the vehicle on a map screen, based on the position information and the time information, and displaying the detected special state of the vehicle, on the map screen on which the track is displayed. |
| US08285423B2 |
Aggregate energy management system and method
A method includes collecting energy utilization information for machines in a center, such machines originating from multiple vendors. An energy management object is instantiated for each machine, wherein energy utilization is aggregated using such energy management objects. Energy utilization for the center is aggregated and may be used for controlling overall energy utilization for the center. |
| US08285422B2 |
Power supply controlling apparatus and computer readable medium
A power supply controlling apparatus includes: a control portion that measure a consumption current value of a current supplied to a controlled device, and controls on/off of the current supplied to the controlled device; a communication portion that transmits a given command to the controlled device, and receives a response to the given command; and a monitor portion that monitors a state of the controlled device based on the consumption current value of the controlled device measured by the control portion, and a life or death state of the controlled device by the given command. |
| US08285421B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimization of sprinkler head positions and nozzle sizes in an irrigation system
A method and apparatus provides optimized installation site specifications for sprinkler head position and nozzle size for center pivot and/or linear movement type irrigation systems in which a plurality of sprinkler heads are typically mounted at multiple adjacent lateral positions along a water supply boom/line. A sprinkler head spacing and nozzle size computational apparatus and method is disclosed which employs a sprinkler precipitation depth-profile based modeling technique for determining and optimizing lateral positions and nozzle sizes for sprinkler heads disposed along the length of an irrigation system supply distribution boom/line. A required/desired irrigation application delivery rate/depth is specified by an irrigation system user/designer for one or more discrete segments along the irrigation system distribution boom/line according to specific irrigation needs. An optimized nozzle size and position for each sprinkler head disposed along the boom/line is adaptively determined based on the specified required precipitation delivery depth and summations of individual predicted application depth profiles for an initial sprinkler and successively added sprinklers such that a computed delivery accumulation depth falls within a predefined range of error tolerance for the specified required delivery depth for that segment of the distribution line. An associated computer apparatus executing program instructions for implementing the method generates and displays a graphic indication of required and predicted precipitation depth profiles and computed optimized lateral positions and nozzle sizes for the irrigation system sprinklers. |
| US08285420B2 |
Control device, control method, and control program
Provision of a control device, method and program capable of performing a suitable temperature control in a room having an equipment installed therein. A control device controls air-conditioning of a room having installed therein a plurality of pieces of equipment each being capable of drawing outside air to thereby cool down an interior of the equipment. A storage portion is capable of storing therein operating information that represents as to whether it is abnormal or not if each piece of equipment is put into a non-operating state. A temperature measurement portion is capable of measuring a temperature of the air drawn by each piece of equipment. A detection portion is capable of measuring a flow speed of the air drawn by each piece of equipment. A control portion is configured to control the air-conditioning based on the measurement result of the temperature or the flow speed of the air drawn by each piece of equipment. |
| US08285417B2 |
Robot and task execution system
A robot and the like capable of executing a task in an appropriate condition from the viewpoint of execution economy even when a state of the task is altered. A cost is evaluated that represents a load or labor required for a robot (1) to execute a new task, and the cost information indicating the cost is transmitted to a support server (200) (bid procedure). The support server (200) designates the robot (1) having the lowest cost as a designated robot (1) and transmits an execution instruction for executing the new task to the designated robot (1). The robot (1) executes the task according to the execution instruction (contract procedure). By employing the task bid and contract system, a designated task is executed by an adequate robot (R) among a plurality of robots (R) in consideration of the execution economy of the designated task. |
| US08285414B2 |
Method and system for evaluating a machine tool operating characteristics
A method and system for evaluating a performance of a semiconductor manufacturing tool while manufacturing microelectronic devices are disclosed. At least one report is generated based on executions of at least one statistical test. The report includes at least one heat map having rows that correspond to sensors, columns that correspond to trace data obtained during recipe steps, and cells at the intersection of the rows and the columns. At least one sensor in the tool obtains trace data of a recipe step while manufacturing at least one microelectronic device. A computing device analyzes the obtained trace data to determine a level of operational significance found in the data and assigns a score to the trace data that indicates a level of operational significance. Then, the computing device places the score in a corresponding cell of the heat map. A user uses the cell for evaluating the tool performance. |
| US08285413B1 |
Sheet metal fabrication system
A sheet metal fabrication system for efficiently providing robotics to fabricate different types of sheet metal. The sheet metal fabrication system generally includes uploading a fabrication file to a controller, feeding a section of sheet metal to at least one robotic device, fabricating the section of sheet metal according to the fabrication file and forming a finished sheet metal product with the at least one robotic device. |
| US08285411B2 |
Region-based supports for parts produced by solid freeform fabrication
Methods for generating supports (30) for parts (50) produced by solid freeform fabrication (“SFF”) are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of layers (L) that make up the part, and for each layer, determining those regions (R) that require support. The method also includes merging the regions for the different layers (L) into one or more common regions that require support, and providing at least one support for each of the one or more common regions. The result is that fewer supports are used as compared to conventional SFF fabrication methods. |
| US08285400B2 |
Digital controller for controlling output voltage under large variations in load and supply voltage
There is provided a digital controller which can reduce a variation in output voltage as compared to the conventional digital controller at the time of abrupt changes in load and in input of a power amplifier. The digital controller is built in the power amplifier for supplying an output voltage vo to a load and is equipped with a manipulated variable calculating unit which detects the output voltage vo to calculate a manipulated variable ξ1 and a signal generating unit which converts the manipulated variable ξ1 into a signal for making the power amplifier operate. A feedforward function from an equivalent disturbance qy caused by the variation in the load is replaced by a feedback function from the output voltage vo and the manipulated variable ξ1, thereby allowing a transfer characteristic from the disturbance qy to the output voltage vo to result in a quadratic differential characteristic. Consequently, the variation in output voltage can be reduced as compared to the conventional controller at the time of the abrupt changes in the load and in the input of the power amplifier. |
| US08285396B2 |
MRI compatible electrical lead for an implanted electronic medical device
An electrical lead, for implantation in an animal, is compatible with an MRI scanner. The electrical lead has a first plurality of coiled insulated wires forming an outer layer of conductors that has a first inductance and a first capacitance, which act as a first parallel resonator tuned to a Larmor frequency of tissue in the animal. The lead may have a second plurality of coiled insulated wires forming an inner layer of conductors within the outer layer of conductors. The second plurality of coiled insulated wires has a second inductance and a second capacitance that act as a second parallel resonator tuned to the Larmor frequency. Those parallel resonators mitigate signals at the Larmor frequency from traveling along the respective coil. An electrically conductive layer extends around the inner and/or outer layer of conductors, and a layer of a biologically compatible material forms the electrical lead's exterior surface. |
| US08285395B2 |
Conductive couplings, and components thereof, for medical electrical leads
The present invention is configured to provide an offset weld and crimp in a coupling component that can be located entirely within a lumen of a lead body. This end is accomplished by providing an asymmetric coupling component is provided with a crimp recess, for example a groove or a bore extending along one side of the component and a thickened portion offset laterally from the groove or bore and having a welding surface displaced laterally from the groove or bore. While the embodiments illustrated herein are those employing a crimping groove, for purposes of understanding the invention it should be understood that a bore may be substituted. In preferred embodiments, the crimp recess is used to receive a stranded or cabled conductor within the lead body and the offset portion is used to attach to one or more filars of an electrode coil by welding thereto. |
| US08285394B1 |
Demultiplexer circuit for neural stimulation
A demultiplexer circuit is disclosed which can be used with a conventional neural stimulator to extend the number of electrodes which can be activated. The demultiplexer circuit, which is formed on a semiconductor substrate containing a power supply that provides all the dc electrical power for operation of the circuit, includes digital latches that receive and store addressing information from the neural stimulator one bit at a time. This addressing information is used to program one or more 1:2N demultiplexers in the demultiplexer circuit which then route neural stimulation signals from the neural stimulator to an electrode array which is connected to the outputs of the 1:2N demultiplexer. The demultiplexer circuit allows the number of individual electrodes in the electrode array to be increased by a factor of 2N with N generally being in a range of 2-4. |
| US08285393B2 |
Device for shaping infarcted heart tissue and method of using the device
A device and method for treating an infarct scar on a heart comprising an electric cable with proximal and distal ends; a handle with proximal and distal ends with the proximal end connected to the distal end of the cable; a stem with proximal and distal ends with the proximal end of the stem connected to the distal end of the handle; a heating element with a first surface for contacting infarct scar tissue connected to the distal end of the stem wherein the heating element comprises at least two electrodes and at least one temperature sensor positioned on the first surface for sensing a temperature of infarct scar tissue adjacent to the sensor; an energy source connected to the electrodes via the electric cable; and a regulator connected to the energy source and the temperature sensor of the infarct scar tissue, for controlling the temperature of the infarct scar tissue from about 60 degrees C. to about 99 degrees C. Once the heart has been treated, a restraint is disclosed that allows for the shrinkage to be maintained over time. |
| US08285391B2 |
Hygienic-therapeutic conductive far-infrared devices
This invention relates to novel hygienic-therapeutic or personal care devices that are based upon intense far-infrared sources in which radiation is generated by novel conductive materials. The conductive materials are specially designed and made to radiate ten to thousands times more intense far-infrared radiation than typical conductive materials, and such strong far-infrared radiation is achieved with high, typically greater than 90%, conversion efficiency of energy to radiation. The radiation properties of the proposed conductive materials do not follow the Wien's law (“black body” law). The devices are intended to be used in therapy, medicine, cosmetic technology, hygiene technology, or household use. |
| US08285390B2 |
Monitoring the cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, such as the cooling of adipose tissue
A system and method of monitoring, controlling and/or detecting events during the removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue is described. In some examples, the system detects an increase in temperature at a treatment device in contact with the skin of a subject, determines that the increase in temperature is related to a treatment event, and performs an action based on the determination. In some examples, the system shuts off the treatment device, alerts an operator, or reduces the cooling in response to a determined treatment event. |
| US08285388B2 |
Passive charge of implantable medical device utilizing external power source and method
External power source for an implantable medical device implanted in a patient, the implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry and method therefore. A modulation circuit is operatively coupled to a power source. A plurality of primary coils are operatively coupled to the modulation circuitry and physically associated with an article into which the patient may come into proximity. The modulation circuit drives at least one of the plurality of primary coils. A sensor is coupled to modulation circuit and is adapted to sense proximity of a component related to the implantable medical device. The modulation circuit commences operation to drive at least one of the plurality of primary coils when the sensor senses proximity with the component related to the implantable medical device. |
| US08285386B2 |
Implant revision recognition by exchanging the revision data during transmission
A system and method for establishing communication among a control device and an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device transmits to the control device identification information including a unique identification number associated with the implantable medical device and/or a current version of application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device. Based on the extracted identification information, the control device correlates thereto a version of the application software from among the multiple versions of application software associated with the control device that is compatible with the recognized version of the application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device. |
| US08285385B2 |
High accuracy tonotopic and periodic coding with enhanced harmonic resolution
Generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which represent associated bands of audio frequencies. Macro bands are defined, each of which characterizes multiple band pass signals. The macro bands are processed in a sequence of sampling intervals. For each sampling interval, the processing includes: i. extracting timing and energy information from each band pass signal to form requested stimulation events, ii. decimating the requested stimulation events to select a maximum energy band pass signal within each macro band, and iii. decimating each selected band pass signal based on a pulse selection inhibition function and preserving temporal and spectral structures of the band pass signals so as to generate stimulation event signals. The stimulation event signals are weighted with a weighting matrix reflecting patient-specific pitch perception characteristics to produce output electrode stimulation signals to the implanted electrode array. |
| US08285379B2 |
Electrical interconnection structures and method
An electrical interconnect structure for an implantable medical device includes a feedthrough that has a pin extending therefrom. The pin defines a first end and a middle portion. A bonding surface is formed at the first end of the pin, and the bonding surface has a surface area greater than a cross-sectional area of the pin at its middle portion. |
| US08285375B2 |
Subcutaneous electrode with improved contact shape for transthoracic conduction
One embodiment of the present invention provides a lead electrode assembly for use with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator subcutaneously implanted outside the ribcage between the third and twelfth ribs comprising the electrode. |
| US08285371B2 |
Dynamic selection of algorithms for arrhythmia detection
An apparatus comprises a first implantable sensor produces a first electrical sensor signal representative of cardiac depolarization events of a heart of a subject, a second implantable sensor that produces a second electrical sensor signal representative of hemodynamic function of the heart, a signal analyzer circuit, and an arrhythmia discrimination circuit. The signal analyzer circuit detects an arrhythmic event from the first sensor signal and calculates hemodynamic stability in response to the arrhythmic event detection using the second sensor signal. The arrhythmia discrimination circuit selects, according to a calculated hemodynamic stability produced by the signal analyzer circuit, an arrhythmia discrimination algorithm from among a plurality of candidate arrhythmia discrimination algorithms that are implementable by the arrhythmia discrimination circuit, classifies the detected arrhythmia using the selected arrhythmia discrimination algorithm, and provides the arrhythmia classification to a user or process. |
| US08285362B2 |
Catheter with deflectable imaging device
An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter and when pivoted relative to the catheter. When pivoted relative to the catheter, the ultrasound transducer array may have a field of view distal to the distal end of the catheter. |
| US08285357B2 |
Region of interest methods and systems for ultrasound imaging
A region of interest is identified by user selection. Multiple regions of interest may be identified. An image processing region is identified by adding additional spatial locations to a region of interest. The image processing region of interest is then used for image processing. |
| US08285355B2 |
Biomedical electric wave sensor
A biomedical electric wave sensor includes a base, a central pole, a dry electrode, a case, and a plurality of ribs. When the central pole lowers down, the ribs radiate and expand outward to push aside the hair of a subject, and the dry electrode exposes from the case and contacts the skin of the subject to measure a physiological electric wave signal from the subject. The present invention may overcome the intervention problem caused by hair and achieve the measurement of biomedical electric wave signal. |
| US08285353B2 |
System for analyzing tissue perfusion using concentration of indocyanine green in blood
The present invention relates, in general, to a system for analyzing tissue perfusion using the concentration of indocyanine green and a method of measuring the perfusion rate using the system and, more particularly, to a system for measuring tissue perfusion by injecting indocyanine green into a living body, detecting variation in the concentration of indocyanine green with the passage of time, and analyzing the detected variation, and a method of measuring the perfusion rate using the system. The present invention provides a method of measuring perfusion in a living body, which enables accurate measurement for respective regions in a wide range from a perfusion rate decreased to less than 10% of normal perfusion to a perfusion rate increased to greater than normal perfusion using the above-described mechanism of ICG in a living body, which cannot be conducted using the conventional technology. |