| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08302969B2 |
Inverse chess
This invention describes a game of inverse chess, with a pre-identified start position, and end position and arbitered moves chosen amongst a set of possible moves, played between two opponents on a chess board. This differs from normal chess in that it is played backwards in time where the objective is to reconstruct the pre-identified start position, from the pre-identified end position. While the pieces used in the game are essentially the same as that of regular chess, the moves they make are reversed. Since the state-space of this game is much larger in the potential moves, an arbiter is used to validate possible moves that one player might choose to make. Using either a regular or modified chess board, the pieces on the board move backwards. Three such moves are described in the I-castle, spawn and I-check moves. A variant of the game is the two-knight game wherein two knights play each other and the piece reaching the pre-identified start position, win. |
| US08302968B2 |
Method and apparatus for playing a game
A method of playing a multiplayer game comprises steps of providing a plurality of blocks and providing a plurality of viewable images. Each of the images represents a configuration of at least two of the plurality of blocks oriented in a particular manner with respect to each other. The method also comprises designating at least one game player of a first team to serve as an instructor of the first team. The instructor of the first team views the configuration of a first one of the images and then provides instructions regarding how to assemble the configuration shown in the first one of the images while at least one other of the game players of the first team attempts to construct at least part of the configuration out of the blocks using the instructions. |
| US08302967B2 |
Puzzle assembly with adjustable the degree of difficulty
A puzzle assembly which can be adjust the degree of difficulty is disclosed. The disclosed puzzle assembly comprises a rotation shaft, a plurality of rotation plate members having slide grooves on the outer circumference and inserted into the rotation shaft, a plurality of puzzle pieces engaged with the slide grooves movably, wherein at least two of the rotation plate members are coupled together and rotate simultaneously. |
| US08302966B1 |
Prize dispensing amusement game
A game is disclosed that is played with coins to deliver a prize to a player. A coin delivery mechanism is adapted to deliver the coins proximate at least one coin platform via a sloped playing field having a plurality of apertures vertically aligned with each coin platform. A plurality of prize platforms each support a prize and are each mechanically coupled with one of the coin platforms to dispense the prize thereon when the weight of the plurality of coins retained by the coin platform reaches a critical weight. A prize chute is situated below each prize platform and delivers the prize to the player when the prize falls from the prize platform. A profit chute is situated below each coin platform and the playing field and is adapted to deliver the coins not retained by the coin platform into a coin storage receptacle. |
| US08302963B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of printing on both sides of sheet
An image forming apparatus with a double-face printing function is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet feeding path including a regular feeding path and a return-feeding path and capable of accommodating a plurality of recording sheets, a sheet-ejection controller to eject the recording sheet out of the sheet feeding path through a sheet outlet. The sheet-ejection controller controls a recording sheet closer to the sheet outlet in the direction of sheet-conveyance along the sheet feeding path to be ejected prior to a recording sheet further from the sheet outlet when cancellation of the print job is entered during a double-face printing operation, in which the images are formed on one side of N pieces of recording sheets continuously and the other side of M pieces of recording sheets thereafter, whilst M is smaller than or equal to N. |
| US08302959B2 |
Remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus and image forming apparatus
A remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus includes a loading unit that loads a sheet; a moving unit that moves the loading unit to a feed position of the loaded sheet; a feeding unit that feeds the sheet from the loading unit; a sheet thickness detecting unit that detects a thickness of the sheet; a load thickness detecting unit that detects that thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit, gradually decreasing; and a remaining sheet volume calculating unit that calculates a remaining volume within the loading unit based on the certain load thickness detected by the load thickness detecting unit and the sheet thickness detected by the sheet thickness detecting unit, each time a sheet is fed by the feeding unit after the load thickness detecting unit detects that the thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit has reached the certain load thickness. |
| US08302958B2 |
Sheet feeding device with grooved elastic pad and image processing apparatus using the same
A sheet feeding device, for transporting a sheet into a transporting path in an image processing apparatus, includes an elastic pad and a feeding roller for feeding the sheet. The elastic pad is bent and disposed opposite the feeding roller and applies an acting force to the feeding roller to separate the sheet from a stack of sheets by cooperating with the feeding roller. The elastic pad has a first side and an opposite second side. The second side is formed with a groove. The elastic pad is bent at an angle at the groove. |
| US08302957B2 |
Motor inside pick-up roller
A pick-up assembly moves a sheet of recording medium from a stack of recording media. The pick-up assembly includes a pick arm having a first end and a second end. Notably, a pivotal mounting is located proximate the first end of the pick arm; and a pick-up roller is mounted proximate the second end of the pick arm. Lastly, a motor and a transmission are located inside the pick-up roller. |
| US08302956B2 |
Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus with separation claw and intermittent drive
A sheet feeding apparatus, in which a drive motor rotates a pickup roller, and a drive transmission portion provided between the drive motor and the pickup roller transmits a drive from the drive motor to the pickup roller. During sheet feeding, one of the drive motor and the drive transmission portion causes the pickup roller to perform an intermittent drive of iterating the drive and a stop, so that a sheet is gradually deflected between the pickup roller and separation claws. |
| US08302955B2 |
Rotating vacuum fingers for removal of printing media from an impression drum
A printing and peeling arrangement comprises an impression drum for supporting a print medium during application of a printing image thereto, and one or more rotating vacuum fingers for applying vacuum via suction caps to the print medium to peel the print medium from the impression drum after printing. The vacuum finger is mounted for radial motion towards the impression drum and thereby avoids impact damage onto the print medium from the edges of the suction caps that results from a purely rotational approach to the drum. |
| US08302950B2 |
Printing system and folding module
A printing system includes a media storage module, a printing station for processing a portion of the receiving media, a receiving station for receiving the processed media, and a base member for supporting the printing system on a support surface. A receiving device is configured to receive a folding module for folding the processed receiving media. The receiving device is positioned substantially in a volume extending from the area defined by the cumulative normal projection of the media storage module and the printing station on the support surface, the volume extending perpendicular to the support surface in the direction of the printing station. A guiding device is configured to guide the processed media to one of the receiving station and the folding module. A method of modifying the printing system includes removing a media storage module to create a vacancy and inserting a folding module into the vacancy. |
| US08302949B2 |
Apparatus and method for producing book blocks
An apparatus for producing book blocks includes a station to dispense a sheet web that moves in longitudinal direction and can be imprinted. A printing station has two cylinders that rotate with a circumferential speed corresponding to the movement speed of the web and function to support in a contacting manner the web with their circumferential surfaces over a specified angle. Contactless printing heads are assigned to each cylinder, arranged at a distance to the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder, and positioned side by side and at least essentially transverse to the circumferential and rotational direction of the associated cylinder. The printing head faces are oriented substantially tangential to the associated cylinder and the center lines of the printing heads are oriented to project substantially radially to the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder. The web is guided so that when it rests on one cylinder, one side of the web is imprinted and when it rests on the other cylinder, the other side of the web is imprinted. A desired web tension is created in the printing station. A cutting station is arranged downstream of the printing station to cut the printed web in longitudinal and transverse directions to form sheets having a predetermined height and width. An overlapping station arranges the cut sheets into an overlapping formation. A station collects the sheets to produce stacks that form book blocks. |
| US08302947B2 |
Clamping apparatus
A clamp rod (6) inserted into a guide hole (5) of a housing (4) has: a clamping member (10); an inner piston (12); and a tapered pressure receiving surface (13), which are provided in this order in an axial direction from a left end to a right end. An output portion (26) for locking and releasing is provided on an inner periphery of a right end portion of one outer piston (23) inserted between the inner piston (12) and the guide hole (5). A collet (33) inserted between the pressure receiving surface (13) and the guide hole (5) is formed of four divided members (34) arranged circumferentially at substantially regular intervals. An input portion (36) driven by the output portion (26) and a pressing surface (40) which makes a wedge-engagement with the pressure receiving surface (13) from a right side are respectively provided in an outer periphery portion and on an inner periphery portion of each divided member (34). A lock chamber (42) and a release chamber (47), where pressurized fluid is supplied and discharged, are provided on respective outer sides of both ends of the outer piston (23). |
| US08302946B2 |
Vibration proofing apparatus
In a vibration proofing apparatus, two second pressure receiving liquid chambers are arranged between an outer tube and a mounting attachment, and are configured to communicate with an auxiliary liquid chamber through two second orifices when an auxiliary vibration along an auxiliary amplitude direction orthogonal to an axial direction is input to the mounting attachment, a rubber elastic body is elastically deformed along an auxiliary amplitude direction, and expands and contracts an internal volume of the second pressure receiving liquid chambers. At this time, since a resonance phenomenon is generated in the liquid circulating between the second pressure receiving liquid chambers and the auxiliary liquid chamber through the second orifices in synchronization with the input auxiliary vibration, a low-frequency vibration input along the auxiliary amplitude direction due to a pressure change, and a viscous resistance generated together with the resonance phenomenon of the liquid is effectively absorbed. |
| US08302945B2 |
Cover assembly for a vehicle air spring
A cover assembly for an air spring for vehicles includes a cover (1) and a buffer (2) in the cover (1). The cover (1) is made from plastic and has reinforcing ribs (3) on the inside. The stop buffer (2) has slots on the side thereof facing the cover (1) in a manner corresponding to the reinforcing ribs (3) of the cover (1). The ribs (3) of the cover (1) are inserted into the slots (8). Damage to the buffer (2) by impact of the ribs (3) on the buffer (2) is thus avoided. |
| US08302936B2 |
Anti-fouling device having a capstan with a non-driven sloped body
A cable puller assembly includes a housing assembly, a motor assembly and an anti-fouling device. The motor assembly is secured to the housing assembly and has an output shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The output shaft is rotated about an axis of rotation by the motor assembly. The anti-fouling device has a capstan and a body. The output shaft is operatively associated with the capstan in order to rotate the capstan about the axis of rotation. The body is positioned around an end portion of the capstan proximate to the housing assembly. The body defines a sloped surface that biases incoming rope that wraps around the sloped surface down onto the capstan. |
| US08302934B1 |
Vehicle stop device
A vehicle stop device includes a plurality of wheels, a generally flat base carried by the plurality of wheels, a lift system carried by the base and a generally flat deck carried by the lift system. |
| US08302930B2 |
Device for the controlled operation of a switching element, in particular of a valve and actuator for use in automotive engineering
An actuator having a linearly movable push rod for use in automotive engineering, which may be for operating a switching element of a valve, in particular a container control valve of a commercial vehicle, having a housing having an expandable material working element and an electrical heater for heating the expandable material working element. Furthermore, a device is provided for the controlled operation of a switching element of a valve, in particular a container control valve of a commercial vehicle, which includes an actuator of the aforementioned kind. |
| US08302921B2 |
Surgical appliance post clamp for surgical tables
A clamp for securing a surgical appliance post to a rail mounted on the side of a surgical table which clamp may be placed over and on the rail at any desired location by providing the clamp body with a passageway transverse the body of the clamp and parallel to the rail, the passageway having a lip on one edge of a width about the dimension of the rail for engaging the backside of the rail, and the passageway having a width greater than the rail on the opposite edge. A clamping device such as a screw or cam is mounted on the outermost portion of the clamp and is arranged to engage and secure the post as well as bind the clamp body to the rail. Additionally, the clamping arrangement of one of the preferred embodiments provides a means by which an appliance post may be gripped at any chosen angle rather than limited to a fixed orientation. |
| US08302919B1 |
Adjustable bracket assembly
A bracket assembly for adjustably and releasably affixing bracket elements to an elongated support member includes a cylindrical base, a cylindrical core, and a cylindrical cap having an orthogonal arm. The bracket assembly provides adjustable bracket positioning along the elongated support member and 360 degrees about the elongated support member diameter. The orthogonal arm provides additional 360 degree adjustable positioning for any element attached to the arm outward end. Abutting bracket assemblies on an elongated support member provide a range of orthogonal arm positions 180 degrees or less, one to the other. |
| US08302918B2 |
Fastening bracket of deck cross member
The present invention provides a fastening bracket for fastening right and left ends of a deck cross member to respective fitting parts of a vehicle body frame. The fastening bracket includes a body plate to which one of the ends of the deck cross member is connected, a surface contact plate to which a fastening nut corresponding to a bolt to be inserted into corresponding one of the fitting parts of the vehicle body frame is fixed, the surface contact plate being provided in the body plate, a connection plate that is a part for connecting the body plate and the surface contact plate, the connection plate having a width in a direction perpendicular to a connecting direction of the body plate and the surface contact plate equal to or smaller than the surface contact plate, and a demarcating slit for demarcating the body plate and the surface contact plate. |
| US08302917B2 |
Bracket
The present disclosure relates to a bracket, particularly to a universal style bracket for mounting a speaker to a television or monitor panel. |
| US08302916B2 |
Bag support with cinching mechanism
A bag support is provided for supporting the upper portion of a bag. The bag support includes first and second side rails generally parallel to each other. A first bag retainer is positioned between the first and second rails for receiving a first portion of an upper end of a first bag thereon. The first bag retainer pivotable between a first position and a second retaining position for supporting the first bag in an open configuration. |
| US08302911B2 |
Aircraft structure
A heated leading edge component for an aircraft and a method of manufacture thereof. The leading edge component includes an outer skin, a supporting rib for the outer skin, and a cavity located substantially in-between the outer skin and the rib for receiving a heater. The rib is attached to the outer skin on either side of the cavity. |
| US08302905B2 |
Aircraft landing gear comprising an operation strut device and aircraft provided therewith
An aircraft landing gear including a leg, a bracket which defines the axis of rotation of the leg on the operating plane defined by the leg extension and retraction positions and a leg operating device consisting of at least one strut whose first end is provided with a first means for connecting to the landing gear element and second end is provided with a second means for connecting to the element of the gear-receiving landing gear casing for which the at least one strut expands outside of the operating plane of the gear leg. |
| US08302903B2 |
Aircraft attitude control configuration
Control surfaces in an aircraft attitude control configuration provide attitude control for an aircraft at hover or low air speed conditions. The aircraft attitude control configuration includes thrusters mounted to an aircraft, a first control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft downstream of a first thruster to enable a first vector force to be generated by a portion of thrusted air from the first thruster on the first control surface, and a second control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft of a second thruster. The control surfaces are displaced symmetrically a longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The control surfaces are independently and differentially movable with respect to each other to enable generation of a second vector force by a portion of thrusted air from the second thruster on the second control surface. |
| US08302895B2 |
Cord reel
A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor. |
| US08302894B2 |
External cover for a spool of thread to prevent thread from freely coming off as the spool is being used
The invention is a restrainer for a spool (10) of thread to prevent the thread (13) from being freely drawn off of the spool (10). It comprises a resilient element (12) that extends around the circumference of the outer surface (14) of the spool (10) so that the thread (13) being drawn from the spool (10) must pass between the outer surface of the spool (10) at the inner surface of the resilient element (12) there by impeding the free removal of the thread (13). The invention prevents excessive thread being jerked from the spool. |
| US08302893B2 |
Conical-shaped impact mill
An impact mill including a base portion on which is disposed a rotor rotatably mounted in a bearing housing, the rotor having an upwardly aligned cylindrical surface portion coaxial with the rotational axis. The impact mill is provided with a mill casing within which is located a conical track assembly which surrounds the rotor to form a conical grinding path. The mill casing is provided with a downwardly aligned cylindrical collar which may be axially adjusted to set a grinding gap between the rotor and the mill casing. The rotor is provided with a plurality of impact knives complementary with a plurality of impact knives disposed on the inside top surface of the mill casing. The conical track assembly can be a series of assembled conical sections or one unit with varied number of serrations in either a vertical or sloped configuration. This flexibility allows for greater compatibility with the feedstock being milled. |
| US08302888B2 |
Fuel injector
The invention relates to a fuel injector, in particular a common rail injector, for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a multi-part injection valve element, which is adjustable between a closing position and an opening position and includes a first part and at least one second part that is adjustable relative to the first part. The first and second parts are coupled to one another via a hydraulic coupler volume. According to the invention, it is provided that the first part is guided in the second part, or the second part is guided in the first part, and that the coupler volume communicates with an injector volume via at least one throttle arrangement. The throttle arrangement is embodied such that the volumetric through flow increases only disproportionately little with an increasing pressure difference between the coupler volume and the injector volume. |
| US08302885B2 |
Sprayer with an improved spraying structure
A sprayer with an improved spraying structure comprises a body, a nozzle, a knob, and a nozzle sleeve. The body has a passage and a valve. At the end of the passage is an air outlet. A mounting part with an insertion hole is provided around the body. The assembly of the nozzle, the knob, and the nozzle sleeve is inserted in the mounting part. The paint bottle with paint is connected to the knob. |
| US08302884B1 |
Apparatus and method of effective fluid injection and vaporization for chemical vapor deposition application
A cross-flow injector is used to introduce fluids into a chemical vapor deposition process chamber separately and simultaneously for efficiently atomizing and vaporizing the fluids. The cross-flow injector consists of a three port cavity having an inlet nozzle, a throat region, and an exit nozzle. The injector cavity is defined by the tapering of the inlet and exit nozzles to the smaller diameter of the throat region. The tapering allows for pressure differentials at the inlet, throat, and exit regions, and assures the inlet pressure being much greater than the exit region. The throat region consists of additional apertures for injecting dopants and precursors within the fluid flow. The pressure differential at the throat region atomizes and vaporizes the injected dopant and precursor fluids. In a second embodiment, the injector cavity consists of two ports, having an inlet nozzle and a throat region. The inlet nozzle is tapered to meet the smaller diameter of the throat region, and the throat region extends to and becomes the exit nozzle portion so that the exit nozzle portion maintains the same diameter as the throat region. |
| US08302883B2 |
Thermal protection for a heated fuel injector
A thermal fuse integrated into an electrical circuit powering a heater element having a positive temperature coefficient includes at least one terminal in electrical connection with the heater element thereby connecting the heater element to a power source, and a solder jacket that mechanically retains the electrical connection between the terminal and heater element, wherein a biasing load is applied to the terminal when retained by the solder jacket, and wherein the terminal breaks connection with the heater element under the force of the bias when the solder jacket melts should the heater element overheat. By selecting the solder material forming the solder jacket according to its melt temperature, a temperature specific overheat protection for a heated fuel injector can be provided. Since the injector's metering circuit is separate from the thermal fuse circuit, the fuel injector remains operational even after the heater circuit is opened. |
| US08302879B2 |
Rail expansion device
Rail expansion device having stock and tongue rails which can be displaced longitudinally with respect to one another and bear against one another transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rails under the application of force, wherein a holder releasably holds the tongue rail at a distance from the region thereof which bears against the stock rail, and wherein the tongue rail in the holder is non-positively and positively connected to a standard rail passing into it or to a section thereof or to a section of the holder having a profile which merges with that of the standard rail. |
| US08302872B2 |
Advanced dynamic credit cards
A credit card is provided that may include a credit card number, where at least a portion of the credit card number changes periodically. A magnetic emulator and/or magnetic stripe encoder may be provided to communicate at least a portion of the information needed to complete a credit card transaction to a credit card reader. For example, a magnetic emulator may be provided about a magnetic stripe so that the magnetic emulator communicates the information that changes and the magnetic stripe communicates the information that does not change. In doing so, the amount of power used by a credit card may be reduced with respect to a credit card that communicates, for example, all of the information with a magnetic emulator. |
| US08302871B2 |
Method for conducting a transaction between a magnetic stripe reader and an electronic card
A method for communicating with a magnetic stripe reader in which an electronic apparatus is activated from an off state to a reduced power mode, a magnetic stripe reader is detected, then the apparatus is activated from the reduced power mode to a full power mode and it broadcasts a signal that contains a transaction specific data packet that is read by the magnetic read head. The signal is a time varying and spatial varying magnetic field that is interpreted by the magnetic read head as originating from a standard magnetic stripe and it is generated by a magnetic stripe broadcaster comprised of a track 1 flex encoder that transmits data that is read by a track 1 read head of the magnetic read head and a track 2 magnetic flex encoder that transmits data that is read by a track 2 read head of the magnetic read head. |
| US08302869B2 |
RFID tag and RFID tag manufacturing method
A first pad has first and second sub-pads that are connected to each other by a connection section extending in a manner overlapping with a mounted circuit chip and that are connected to two terminals formed at two positions on a diagonal of a lower surface of the circuit chip, respectively. The second pad has third and fourth sub-pads that are connected to each other via a route bypassing the mounted circuit chip and that are connected to two terminals formed at two positions on the other diagonal of the lower surface of the circuit chip, respectively. |
| US08302867B2 |
Symbol reading device, symbol reading method and program recording medium to control focus based on size of captured symbol
Disclosed is a symbol reading device including: an imaging section to capture a symbol and generate an image; a detecting section to detect a size of the symbol; a judging section to judge large or small by comparing the size of the symbol to a pre-set value; a focus movement controlling section to move a focus position of the imaging section to a predetermined position of a farther side when the size of the symbol is smaller than the pre-set value as a result of the judgment, and to move a focus position of the imaging section to a predetermined position of a closer side when the size of the symbol is larger than the pre-set value as a result of the judgment; and an analyzing section to analyze symbol data corresponding to the symbol at a focus position moved by the focus movement controlling section. |
| US08302866B2 |
Optical reader using distance map decoding
A method for decoding an encoded candidate character of a symbology is provided that includes the steps of providing a plurality of valid barcode characters of a symbology having n elements, generating a seed codeword comprising n elements, computing a seed distance value from the seed codeword to each character in the symbology, generating a distance map comprising each character in the symbology and the associated computed seed distance value, and arranging the plurality of seed distance values into a plurality of bins. Each bin contains a subset of the characters in the symbology. The method includes the steps of selecting a candidate barcode character for decoding, computing a candidate distance value from the candidate barcode character to the seed codeword, identifying the bin containing the candidate distance value, and comparing the candidate barcode character with the valid barcode characters in the bin having the candidate distance value. |
| US08302860B2 |
Read head device with narrow card reading slot
A read head is positioned in a housing and configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card. The slot is utilized to complete a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head device includes an output jack adapted to be inserted at least one of the audio jack or microphone input port of a mobile appliance for providing a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to the mobile device. The slot is configured to maintain contact between the read head and the magnetic stripe of the financial transaction card during a swipe and decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters. |
| US08302855B2 |
Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine also includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The card reader is operative to read and return card information read from the user card responsive. The automated banking machine may also include a check acceptor that is usable to determine a probability associated with the check being fraudulent. |
| US08302854B1 |
Automated banking machine system and monitoring method
An automated banking machine is part of a banking system that can operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, including user cards. The machine is in operative connection with a system operable to capture images related to activity that is conducted at or adjacent to the machine. The machine is positioned at a banking facility having a vault and an entrance. A plurality of cameras are positioned at the facility. Captured images can be analyzed at a remote monitoring center. The monitoring center can operate to assure that employees or customers of the banking facility can safely enter and/or exit the banking facility. |
| US08302850B2 |
Method with which a terminal can retrieve information associated to an EPC-code from an EPC network
A method is disclosed with which a terminal (3) can retrieve information associated to an EPC code from an EPC network (4, 5, 6, 7). The EPC code is virtual, is generated independently of RFID tags and is stored permanently and is not—or not permanently—associated to an RFID tag. A terminal (3) sends a message with the EPC code over a telecommunication network (4) to an object name server (6), the server (6) replies with the address of the desired PML page and the terminal (3) access the content of said PML page. The invention also relates to a corresponding device. |
| US08302849B2 |
Display device, display method, and program
A display device includes a display unit, a contactless communication unit provided such that at least a part thereof overlaps with the display unit or is provided near the display unit and carries out contactless communication with plural kinds of IC cards, a storage that stores announcement data relating to the kinds of the respective IC cards, a controller that selects the kinds of IC cards, and an operation component for further selection of the kind of one IC card from the kinds of IC cards selected by the controller. The announcement data stored in the storage are displayed on the display unit before readout of the kinds of IC cards by the contactless communication unit. The kinds of IC cards with which contactless communication is possible are selected by the controller, and the kind of one IC card is further selected by the operation component. |
| US08302847B2 |
RFID parking tag and method of monitoring vehicle parking
A system for monitoring the parking status of vehicles incorporating a plurality of wireless identification tags, each tag having a unique tag identifier and having association with a selected vehicle. The system also includes a portable scanner to be used by a parking monitor, the portable scanner having a processor executing instructions thereon, a tag scanner capable of reading a wireless identification tag of a selected vehicle located in relatively close proximity over a wireless link, and a communication device capable of communicating over a wireless wide area network to transmit information about vehicle parking status. A server, having a database with fields for each of the selected vehicles, communicates with the portable scanner over the wireless wide area network to log data related to vehicle parking status. A software program may also be used to facilitate communication between the scanner and the vehicle owner and/or between the scanner and a tow service. |
| US08302842B2 |
Method of creating a honeycomb core using a serpentine welding path
A honeycomb core is created from a stack of metal sheets that are welded together using a serpentine weld path. Each sheet in the stack is welded to the sheet underneath. All the odd-numbered sheets, excluding the bottom sheet, are welded using a first serpentine welding pattern that includes a plurality of long welds and a plurality of short welds. All the even-numbered sheets are welded using a second serpentine welding pattern that includes a plurality of long welds and a plurality of short welds, such that the long welds of the second serpentine welding pattern are shifted from the long welds of the first serpentine welding pattern. When a sufficient number of sheets have been welded, the stack is trimmed to remove the short welds. The stack is expanded by pulling the sheets one from another to form the honeycomb core. |
| US08302841B2 |
Wire payout measurement and calibration techniques for a wire bonding machine
A method of calibrating a wire payout related to predetermined looping motions used during formation of a wire loop is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a first wire payout length related to predetermined wire looping motions used in the formation of a first of the wire loop, the predetermined looping motions being performed on a first wire bonding system; (b) determining a second wire payout length related to the predetermined wire looping motions used in the formation of a second of the wire loop; and (c) adjusting at least one wire bonding process variable, and repeating step (b) with the at least one adjusted wire bonding process variable such that the second wire payout length determined in the repeated step (b) is closer to the first wire payout length than the second wire payout length determined in the initial step (b). |
| US08302840B2 |
Closed loop wire bonding methods and bonding force calibration
A method of applying bonding energy to form a bond between a portion of a wire and a contact of a bonding location using a wire bonding machine is provided. The method includes: (1) moving a bonding tool towards the contact; (2) detecting when a portion of the contact (100a) is pressed against a device supporting surface (112) of the wire bonding machine; and (3) applying bonding energy to the portion of the contact such that a bond is formed between the contact and the portion of wire. |
| US08302839B2 |
Device for assembling components having metal bonding pads
A device for assembling components having metal bonding pads includes plates that can move relative to each other, bearing metal components respectively and leaving between them a flat chamber surrounding the components when the latter are in contact with each other. The flat chambers can be saturated with deoxidizing gaseous fluid. |
| US08302835B2 |
Point flow soldering apparatus
To prevent clogging in a jet nozzle without using any inert gas and to allow reliability to be improved by filling a through hole of a printed circuit board with the molten solder.By flowing the molten solder 4 in the solder bath 2 from inside of the inner cylinder 15 to a nozzle cap 19, the inside of the nozzle cap 19 is filled with the molten solder 4, and the molten solder 4 filling the inside of the nozzle cap 19 is flown downward from between an inner cylinder 15 and an outer cylinder 16 without substantially flowing it to outside from an insert hole 19a. This enables the molten solder 4 to be prevented from oxidizing because the molten solder 4 is not exposed to the outside air. For this reason, it is possible to prevent clogging in the jet nozzle 3 without filling a part of nozzle outlet with any inert gas as in the conventional soldering apparatus. Further, since the soldering is performed with a lead 31 of electronic component 30 being inserted into the insert hole 19a, it is possible to fill the through hole of the printed circuit board P with the molten solder 4, so that the reliability can be improved. |
| US08302834B2 |
Friction stir welding using a superabrasive tool
A probe for friction stir welding MMCs, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, as well as non-ferrous alloys, the probe including a shank, a shoulder, and a pin disposed through the shoulder and into the shank, wherein the pin and the shoulder at least include a coating comprised of a superabrasive material, the pin and shoulder being designed to reduce stress risers, disposing a collar around a portion of the shoulder and the shank to thereby prevent movement of the shoulder relative to the shank, and incorporating thermal management by providing a thermal flow barrier between the shoulder and the shank, and between the collar and the tool. |
| US08302831B2 |
Flanged fuel cell and locating structure for combustion tool
A fuel cell is provided and is constructed and arranged for use with a combustion tool including a cylinder head frame. The fuel cell includes an outer shell having a closed lower end and an open upper end, and a closure crimped over the upper end and defining an opening for accommodating a reciprocating valve stem. An adapter frictionally engages the closure and includes a flange configured for suspending the fuel cell in the fuel cell chamber. |
| US08302829B2 |
Bicycle carrier for vehicle
Disclosed herein is a bicycle carrier for a vehicle, which is housed in the rear bumper of the vehicle to be concealed and when necessary is drawn out from the rear bumper to carry a bicycle. The bicycle carrier includes a front frame positioned in a rear bumper of the vehicle and secured to a rear end of a vehicle body. A central frame perpendicularly passes through the front frame. A rear frame is secured to a rear end of the central frame. A folding unit couples each of opposite ends of the front frame with each of opposite ends of the rear frame and is folded to vary a distance between the front frame and the rear frame. A bicycle wheel support is provided on the folding unit. A bicycle body support is provided on the central frame. |
| US08302822B2 |
Pressure regulators for beverage dispensers
Pressure regulators for beverage dispensers of the type using a high pressure gas cartridge such a CO2 cartridge. The regulators provide a simple, low cost, easily assembled and reliable regulator of particularly small size, facilitated in part by the fact that the invention allows the use of a diaphragm of a particularly small size without necessitating the use of expensive and bulky diaphragm clamps, such as threaded clamps, yet is able to provide a more than adequate seal at both the inner and outer portions of the diaphragm. |
| US08302815B2 |
Device for complete emptying of a tube
A device for the complete emptying of a tube including a tube body with a tube head and a tube opening located in the head, with the device including a base body with a slot-shaped tube receptacle as well as a shaft rotatable in the base body with a holder for the crimped end of a tube, the shaft being rotatable in the base body to roll up the tube body on the shaft and the tube contents being expressible by pulling the tube body through the slot-shaped tube receptacle. In order to be able to empty any residue contained in the tube head, the design provides for a lever to be articulated on the base body, with which the tube head can be pressed against the base body for a complete emptying of the tube. |
| US08302814B2 |
Retractable sealant dispensing apparatus for squeeze tube
A dispensing apparatus provides for the dispensing of product from a collapsible tube. The apparatus includes a body for supporting the tube. The body has a forward end for accommodating a dispensing end of the tube and rearward end for accommodating a closed end of the tube. An elongate actuatable plunger is supported by the body. The plunger includes an elongate rod and a base attached to the rod. Actuating means is provided for effecting movement of the plunger in a first direction along the body for engagement with the collapsible tube wall thereby deforming the tube wall and dispensing the contents of the tube from the dispensing end. The actuating means also provides for retractable movement of the plunger in the second direction opposite the first direction. The base is positioned on the rod for dispensing engagement with the tube upon movement of the plunger in the first direction and movable out of dispensing engagement with the tube upon in a second direction. |
| US08302812B2 |
Dispenser with discrete dispense cycles
A dispenser includes a pump that, upon actuation, progresses through a discrete dispense cycle to dispense a discrete dose of product. The dispenser further includes an actuating mechanism serving to actuate the pump, and a dispenser controller that controls operation of the actuation mechanism. The discrete dose is less than a desired dose. When the dispenser controller receives a single dispense request, the dispenser controller causes the actuating mechanism to actuate the pump through multiple discrete dispense cycles so as to dispense multiple discrete doses to achieve a dispensing of the desired dose. |
| US08302810B2 |
Vehicle tissue dispenser supported within a cup holder
A tissue dispenser for use with a cup holder having a body including a lower portion dimensioned for being received within an inner wall associated with the cup holder. An opening is provided in the body for withdrawing successive tissues. A waste storage compartment is configured within the body separate from the opening for storing used tissues. |
| US08302804B2 |
Inventions relating to drinking vessels
A lid (18) for a drinking container (14) includes an engagement means (26) for removably securing the lid (18) to the drinking container (14). The lid (18) is formed as a one piece unit and has a deformable spout (20) with a liquid outlet (46). The one piece lid is further provided with an air inlet (22) for the ingress of air into the container (14). Defamation of the spout (20) effects opening of the liquid outlet (46) and the air inlet (22). The spout (20) may be disposed in a forward position on the lid (18). The container wall may lean in the forwards direction when the container is seated on its base (16) on a level surface. |
| US08302801B2 |
Telescoping egg container
A telescoping egg container is disclosed comprising a plurality of slidable egg holder units that can nest one within another, such that the telescoping egg container can be extended or collapsed to accommodate various numbers of eggs to be stored. |
| US08302800B2 |
Protective device for a pressure cooker and pressure cooker with a protective device
A protective device attached to a pressure release valve of a lid of a pressure cooker, including a dome-shaped mesh casing body, a ring-shaped reinforcing frame fixed to the upper edge of the mesh casing body, a bridge plate provided on the reinforcing frame with both ends thereof fixed to the reinforcing frame so that the bridge plate diametrically crosses the ring-shaped reinforcing frame keeping distance from the bottom of the mesh casing body, and an attachment member of substantially a hollow cylinder provided at the center of the bridge plate. |
| US08302797B2 |
Storage tank floating roof sump with emergency overflow
A floating roof and emergency overflow drainage system for water accumulated on the floating roof covering liquid in a storage tank, including: a. a water collection sump formed as a downward extending recess in the top surface of the roof, b. a first drainage duct having an inlet within the water collection sump, an outlet for draining water below the sump, and an intermediate portion, c. a second drainage duct having an inlet above the top surface of the roof, an intermediate portion, and an outlet in fluid communication with the intermediate portion of the first duct in the sump, and d. an emergency overflow duct including: (1) an inlet in fluid communication with the second duct, and (2) a distal portion extending downwardly and terminating in an outlet below the sump and in the stored liquid. |
| US08302793B2 |
Closure with support arrangement
A closure for a container having a support device for fillers, in particular a tablet tube, the support device providing an elastically deformable support element that is capable of being brought from a first position, in which the support element is undeformed, into a second position in which the support element is deformed. The support element has a contact area that, in the second position, transmits a supporting force to the fillers; in the second position the support element is situated closer to the container mid-axis than is the case in the first position. |
| US08302790B2 |
Railway coupler knuckle
Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion. |
| US08302783B1 |
Product dispensing display
A dispensing display assembly is provided which can deter the theft of goods without prohibitively restricting the access to goods. The display is made from corrugated paper or a thin walled plastic. |
| US08302776B2 |
Pack of oral care items
A pack of oral care items that allows for simultaneous opening and easy access to the items contained in the pack. The pack of oral care items includes two or more flexible packages. The flexible packages may be arranged in parallel. One flexible package may be an inner package that is located substantially within another flexible package that forms an outer package. The inner package may include an integral burst pouch configured to release a liquid into an interior space of the outer package while keeping the interior space of the inner package dry. Each flexible package includes a frangible region located at or adjacent a top portion and at least one oral care item is disposed within an interior space of each flexible package. At least one fastening means joins the flexible packages together into a substantially unitary pack so the frangible regions are juxtaposed and the top portions of the packages are aligned to allow for opening simultaneously by applying a force to the frangible regions to open the flexible packages. Upon opening of the top portions of the flexible packages, the central portions of the flexible packages are configured for axial movement simultaneously toward the bottom portions to expose at least the tops of the oral care items so they can be readily grasped by a user. |
| US08302775B2 |
Rapid deployment first aid kit and system for refilling
A first aid system organized with pockets containing first aid and emergency preparedness supplies and equipment and a system for refilling. Each pocket in the kit contains supplies and equipment useful in providing initial care for a particular illness or injury and is quickly identified through textual labels and transparent elements. The pockets are connected into a strip of pockets which is folded to fit within a case. The strip of pockets is easily deployed from the case facilitating rapid and accurate identification, selection, and acquisition of items appropriate for initial care of a particular illness or injury by comprehensive visual presentation of the organizational scheme and the supplies and pieces of equipment themselves. |
| US08302772B2 |
Secure hanging structure of tool case
A secure hanging structure is provided for a tool case and includes a cap like cover board member, of which a cover inside surface forms projecting retention pawls at locations corresponding to recesses defined in an open rim of a package case and positioning tabs that protects the case against deformation and thus disengagement caused by depression, whereby the cover board member is positionable to close the enclosure opening rim of the case and realize the function of secure retaining engagement for suspension and hanging. At the connection of the positioning plate of one side to the cover board member, an open slot is defined and a fixing framing bar is provided above the slot opening, whereby after cutting of the framing bar, the positioning plate is allowed to move for opening the cover board member. |
| US08302769B2 |
Multi-function case for portable digital media device
A protective case or mounting device for a portable digital media device includes a first and a second snap fit cavity adapted to receive and selectively retain a first and a second protrusion element, respectively, associated with any of various accessory mounting or position retention elements. Connection between respective protrusions and snap fit cavities is made by depressible insertion. A portable digital media device may thus be removably engaged to various positioning elements without requiring the device to be removed from a protective case. |
| US08302768B2 |
Ammunition preservation packaging and storage system
The present invention provides a unique method of manufacturing an inexpensive, hermetically sealed ammunition container by the use of a conventional canning operation where the ammunition is inserted into cans that have been enamel coated inside and out and placed between resilient cushioning plugs and put into a vacuum chamber. Optionally, all of the air, atmosphere/oxygen and atmospheric moisture that may be present in the can is removed and replaced with an inert gas before the can is sealed. This packaging system fulfills the need for a method of storing ammunition over an extended period of time, and provides a convenient, air tight and compact package for ammunition and related components. |
| US08302764B2 |
Spiral conveyor system and methods
A double-helix spiral conveyor, a method for conveying articles up and down a spiral conveyor, and a method for constructing a drive drum for a spiral conveyor. The double-helix spiral conveyor conveys articles on the conveyor up the inner side of a spiral drum by engaging the outer edge of the belt and down the outer side of the drum by engaging the inner edge of the belt. A slew drive at the bottom of the drum drives the conveyor. |
| US08302763B2 |
Apparatus and method for buffering products
An apparatus for buffering products comprises at least three buffer conveyors arranged in series, which can be driven independently of each other, a first buffer conveyor which can be connected to supply device for supplying products and a last buffer conveyor which can be connected to discharge device for discharging the products, wherein the buffer conveyors are so arranged that each of the products follows the same conveying path and that at least one of the buffer conveyors comprises a spiral path. |
| US08302762B2 |
Deflecting device for flat products
The invention relates to a device for transporting flat products having at least one feeder feeding the flat products in a first transport direction, and having at least two conveying units for forwarding the flat products in a second transport direction. The conveying units are configured symmetrically and in each case have a plurality of guiding elements which can be set against the flat sides of the products. It is possible for the flat products to be received between in each case two adjacent guiding-element pairs and to be gripped by them and, as a result, to be transported upright in the second transport direction. During the movement in the second transport direction, the guiding elements are moved gradually out of holding engagement with the flat products. |
| US08302756B2 |
Clutch actuation device for a manual transmission of a vehicle and corresponding control method
A clutch actuation device, particularly for a manual transmission of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, includes a clutch actuation setting device that can be placed in various settings, based on which a corresponding actuation of the clutch takes place. The clutch actuation setting device is suitable for generating electrical signals as a function of the setting, based on which the clutch is correspondingly actuated. A method controls/regulates such a clutch actuation device, particularly for a manual transmission of a vehicle. |
| US08302754B2 |
Tapered coupling structure and rotating machine
A tapered coupling structure allows a tapered shaft to be coupled to and decoupled from a hub without the use of an 0-ring. The tapered shaft is provided with a taper part on the side that is coupled to the hub, and the hub is provided with a high-rigidity part having a thickness in the radial direction larger than that of other regions and having a high rigidity in the radial direction. An oil groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the taper part to feed oil to the coupling surfaces of the taper part and the hub is provided in a region corresponding to the high-rigidity part in the axial direction. |
| US08302750B2 |
Multi-pole conductor line
The invention relates to a multi-pole conductor line comprising a plurality of insulating profiles disposed one after another in the longitudinal direction, each having a regular arrangement of a plurality of chambers extending in the longitudinal direction. At least one group of chambers is present that are closed in cross section, and at least one group of chambers that are open to one side and are suitable for mounting one busbar each. Connecting links made of insulating material are provided for connecting the front sides of the insulating profiles. Said links each have as components at least one plug element that can be plugged into a closed chamber of the insulating profile at the front side of an insulating profile, and at least one stop element limiting the plug depth of a plug element into an insulation profile, and preferably at least one catch element by which a form-fit engagement between the connecting link and an insulating profile can be produced. |
| US08302745B2 |
Backing plate and method of making
A backing plate comprises a front side configured to engage a friction material, a rear side opposite the front side, a first edge, a second edge generally opposing the first edge, and at least one channel disposed between the front side and the rear side and extending from the first edge toward the second edge. The rear side is configured to engage a caliper assembly. The backing plate is configured to achieve a resonant frequency that attenuates vibration. |
| US08302742B2 |
Self-setting automatic slack adjuster with increased durability
An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle, in which a one-way clutch assembly is arranged in the housing of the automatic slack adjuster housing such that a thin-wall region of the housing associated with the gear drive of the one-way clutch assembly is located outside of a load path through which brake applications forces are conveyed from a brake actuator to a brake cam shaft upon which the automatic slack adjuster is located. The new positioning of the one-way clutch assembly drive results in unexpectedly lower stress levels in the automatic slack adjuster, resulting a more durable slack adjuster and permitting surprisingly large increases in slack adjuster capacity rating. |
| US08302741B2 |
Disk brake caliper with parking brake
A disk brake caliper with an integrated parking brake comprising a housing, a piston, an adjust screw, a ramp nut, a ramp nut return, a ramp shaft and a fix cage. The ramp nut has a body and a head at one end of the body. The fix cage is secured to the inner wall of the housing, which has a hollow structure and through which the body of the ramp nut passes. One of the fix cage and the head of the ramp nut is provided with a locking lug and the other of the fix cage and the head of the ramp nut is provided with a locking notch for mating with the locking lug to prevent the ramp nut from rotating relative to the housing. |
| US08302740B2 |
Integrated support for elevator machine, sheaves and terminations
A single support device (30) is adapted to support and secure a machine (34) at least one sheave (38) and a plurality of termination members (44, 46). The single support device (30) is conveniently installed within a hoistway (26) or within a machine room (90). The machine (34) and sheave (38) may be premounted to the support device (30) and the entire assembly can be lowered into position by crane (300). |
| US08302738B2 |
Power train handler
A power train handler having a first inverted T-shaped stand and a second inverted T-shaped stand the height of each of which is preferably independently adjustable. A T-shaped support is slidably attached to the upper end of each inverted T-shaped stand. Either an inverted U-shaped tip plate is rotationally balanced on a T-shaped support or a slotted bar having rotationally mounted arms is attached to the T-shaped support. Preferably, wheels are attached to the bottom of the inverted T-shaped stands; and, preferably, the inverted T-shaped stands are releasably, slidably, and lockably connected to each other. |
| US08302735B2 |
Self-erecting suspension platform system
A self-erecting suspension platform system having a work platform suspended between a sinistral modular mast and a dextral modular mast by a hoisting system. The modular masts are composed of at least two mast units stacked vertically and attached to one another. Each mast unit has a multifunction rail including a plurality of safety engagement devices and a stabilizer guide device, and a unit interconnection device. The work platform has at least two mast stabilizers that cooperate with the stabilizer guide devices to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform. The work platform has a plurality of platform mast engagers cooperating with at least one of the mast safety engagement devices to releasably lock the platform to the modular masts. The hoisting system includes multiple carriages, hoists, and mast cables. Each carriage engages the associated mast so that the carriage may be conveniently slid up and down the mast. |
| US08302730B2 |
System and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration
An improved system and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration are provided. A plurality of overpressure waves are generated by at least one overpressure wave generator comprising at least one detonation tube having an open end that may be directed away from, parallel to, or towards a target media. Recoil forces of the at least one overpressure wave generator, produced shear forces, or the forces of the plurality of overpressure waves are coupled to the target media to generate conducted acoustic waves. The timing of the generation of the plurality of overpressure waves can be in accordance with a timing code and can be used to steer the conducted acoustic waves to a location of interest in the target media. |
| US08302725B2 |
Antitheft apparatus for equipment with prime mover
In an apparatus for preventing theft of equipment (electric wheelchair) having a prime mover (electric motor), a prime mover controller, and an authenticator that acquires ID information from an electronic key when the key is brought close thereto by an operator, determines whether the acquired ID information corresponds with authentication ID information, and permits the controller to start the prime mover when the acquired ID information is determined to correspond with authentication ID information, the controller stores operating history of the equipment, and the authenticator acquires the history from the controller when the key is brought close thereto and transmits the acquired history to the key when the key is brought close thereto, thereby making it easy to acquire the operating history of the equipment. |
| US08302720B2 |
Energy storage system for a hybrid vehicle
An energy storage system for a hybrid vehicle, including an internal combustion engine having an output shaft and a transmission operably coupled to the output shaft, includes a reservoir containing working fluid, a first reversible pump/motor in fluid communication with the reservoir and selectively drivably coupled to the output shaft of the engine, a second reversible pump/motor in fluid communication with the reservoir and selectively drivably coupled to an output shaft of the transmission, and an accumulator containing working fluid and gas. The accumulator is in selective fluid communication with at least one of the first and second reversible pump/motors to deliver pressurized working fluid to the one of the first and second reversible pump/motors when operating as a motor, and to receive pressurized working fluid discharged by the one of the first and second reversible pump/motors when operating as a pump. |
| US08302719B2 |
Vehicle having power stocking mechanism and vehicle system containing the same
A vehicle including an energy stocking mechanism having an elastic member connected to the driving wheel of the vehicle so that power of the driving wheel is stocked as elastic force in the elastic member and the stocked elastic force is output as power to the driving wheel, and an output limiter that holds the energy stocking mechanism when the elastic force is stocked in the elastic member and releases the holding of the energy stocking mechanism to output the elastic force when the vehicle starts running. A power stocking source for stocking elastic force into the energy stocking mechanism is installed in the vehicle or a station at which the vehicle stops, and connected to the energy stocking mechanism so that power from the power stocking source is applied to the energy stocking mechanism and stocked as the elastic force in the energy stocking mechanism. |
| US08302718B2 |
Engine room cover and method for mounting thereof
An engine room cover and a method for mounting thereof in which the engine room cover can be mounted and removed easily. The engine room cover includes a first cover body and a second cover body. The first cover body is installed in an engine room formed in a vehicle body and fixed to the vehicle body with a fastening member. The second cover body is removably attached to the first cover body and covers a maintained member installed in the engine room. The first cover body has a mounting hole bored in a direction of board thickness and an elastic bush fitted along an opening lip of the mounting hole. The second cover body has a boss portion inserted into the elastic bush. |
| US08302713B2 |
Method for operating a hybrid vehicle
A method is for operating a vehicle having a hybrid drive, in which the hybrid drive has an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor as drive units, and the units cooperate with one another. To achieve a negative drivetrain setpoint torque, the negative drivetrain setpoint torque is applied by the electric motor, and the internal combustion engine is operated to the greatest extent possible outside its overrun mode. |
| US08302712B2 |
Vehicle with fuel cell module
A fuel cell module for a vehicle, which accommodates a stacked-cell body which is provided with electric output terminals for taking electric power from stacked power generating cells in a metallic casing which has an insulation layer on its inner surface, is disposed in a vehicle front room such that the stacked direction of the power generating cells is a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the electric output terminals face the front of the vehicle. An insulating cover made of insulating rubber which is thicker than an insulation layer of a cover is disposed on the exterior surface of the electric output terminals to prevent short circuiting of the electric output terminals. |
| US08302711B2 |
Suspension systems for a vehicle
A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering. |
| US08302706B1 |
Apparatus and method for installing ground anchoring systems
An apparatus and method for forming a borehole in an earthen formation includes a side cutting device comprised of a laterally extendable side cutting element that can be actuated from a retracted position to an extended position in which the side cutting element is selectively employed to create a larger borehole diameter in a down hole location than the remaining portion of the borehole that is closer to the borehole opening. |
| US08302696B2 |
Actuator and tubular actuator
An actuator includes a tubular configured to longitudinally expand in response to radial expansion of at least a portion of the tubular. |
| US08302694B2 |
Flow control system having an isolation device for preventing gas interference during downhole liquid removal operations
A flow control system includes a pump positioned in a wellbore to remove liquid from the wellbore. An isolation device is positioned downhole of the pump and is expandable within the wellbore between a sealed position and an unsealed position. The isolation device in the sealed position substantially reduces gas flow at the pump during removal of the liquid. |
| US08302688B2 |
Method of optimizing wellbore perforations using underbalance pulsations
A perforating system and method for use in a wellbore. In operation, the perforating system is disposed in the wellbore and used to form perforations in the wellbore. Thereafter, the perforating system is used to perform a sequence of underbalance pulsations in the wellbore, wherein a first underbalance pulsation has a first underbalance signature and a second underbalance pulsation has a second underbalance signature that is different from the first underbalance signature such that perforating tunnel clean up can be optimized based upon wellbore conditions and without causing damage to the perforating tunnels. |
| US08302687B2 |
Apparatus for measuring streaming potentials and determining earth formation characteristics
Earth formations are characterized by using an array of electrodes which can measure streaming potentials in the formation, and by interpreting the data obtained by the electrodes. The electrodes are placed on a wireline tool, a LWD tool, or in a fixed manner about a completed wellbore. The measured streaming potentials are generated by drilling with an overbearing pressure, slitting the mudcake in a borehole, acid injection, or any of various other manners which causes fluid movement. The data obtained is interpreted to locate fractures, measure formation permeability, estimate formation pressure, monitor drilling fluid loss, detect abnormal pressure, etc. Particularly, a streaming potential voltage transient having a double peak profile signifies the presence of a formation fracture. |
| US08302683B2 |
Biogenic fuel gas generation in geologic hydrocarbon deposits
A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation is described. The method may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation. |
| US08302679B2 |
Expandable ramp gripper
A gripper for use in a downhole tool is provided. The gripper can include an actuator, an engagement assembly, and an expandable assembly. The engagement assembly can comprise a leaf-spring like elongate continuous beam. The expandable assembly can comprise a linkage including a plurality of links. The linkage can be coupled to the actuator such that the actuator expands the expandable assembly which in turn expands the engagement assembly. In operation, during one stage of expansion radial forces are transmitted to the engagement assembly through both interaction of a rolling mechanism on the engagement assembly with the expandable assembly and pressure of the linkage assembly directly on an inner surface of the engagement assembly. |
| US08302677B2 |
Coiled tubing injector with a weight on bit circuit
A control circuit for a coiled tubing injector includes a circuit controller (14). One or more counterbalance valves (3) may be responsive to the circuit controller to prevent the tubing string from descending into the wellbore during rate of penetration movement. In one embodiment, a control valve (4) allows fluid to flow through a bypass line around the counterbalance valves when drilling in a weight-on-bit mode. Other hydraulic control circuits allow for the release of fluid pressure to control the injector hydraulic motor. In yet another embodiment, the control circuit regulates power to an electric motor of the injector. |
| US08302676B2 |
Drilling, completing and stimulating a hydrocarbon production well
In general, an apparatus is provided comprising either a single wall drill string or a concentric drill string for use in drilling, completing and/or stimulating a well in a heavy oil or bitumen reservoir for in situ recovery of heavy oil and bitumen. More particularly, the single wall drill string or the concentric drill string further comprises an electrical cable and heating device for heating the drill string to stimulate the flow of the heavy oil and bitumen in the well after chilling is completed. |
| US08302674B2 |
Air conditioning system for car
An air conditioning system, which can automatically remove a malodor generated due to condensate water remaining in an evaporator during a predetermined period of time after operation of an air conditioner or turning-off of the air conditioner and control a filtering mode time of a filter to filter an air. The air conditioning system characteristically comprises a shiftable deodorization filter (30 or 40) located on a flow channel of the cool air passageway and operationally moved to a filtering mode position so as to screen the flow channel of the cool air passageway during a predetermined period of time after an air conditioner is turned on or off, whereby the air passing through the cool air passageway C and a malodor contained in the air are filtered. |
| US08302669B2 |
Louvre for an air-conduction housing of a vehicle air-conditioning system
A louver for an air-conduction housing of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions are arranged directly adjacent to one another to facilitate air stratification and are subdivided by partitions which are part of the louver. At least one of the regions is configured as a drum-type louver. |
| US08302668B1 |
Hybrid core assembly for a casting process
A hybrid core assembly for a casting process includes a ceramic core portion, a first refractory metal core portion and a first plate positioned between the ceramic core portion and the first refractory metal core portion. The ceramic core portion includes a first trough. A portion of the refractory metal core portion is received in the first trough. |
| US08302667B2 |
Cast iron semi-finished product excellent in workability and method of production of the same
The present invention provides tough cast iron and cast iron semi-finished products excellent in workability without heat treatment requiring massive heat energy and long time and a method of production enabling these to be efficiently produced, that is, cast iron of ingredients of white cast iron where particles of spheroidal graphite or flattened graphite are dispersed, cast iron where the ingredients of the white cast iron satisfy, by wt %, (% C)≦4.3−(% Si)÷3 and C≧1.7% and where the particles of spheroidal graphite are dispersed at a density of 50 particles/mm2 or more, or cast iron where the particles of flattened graphite have a width of 0.4 mm or less and a length of 50 mm or less. |
| US08302657B2 |
Casting process for aluminum alloys
A casting process for an aluminum alloy containing at least about 0.1% of Mg and/or at least about 0.1% of Li in which a liquid surface of the alloy is put into contact with a dried gas including at least about 2% of oxygen by volume and with a water partial pressure lower than about 150 Pa throughout most of the solidification process is described. The process makes it possible to cast most oxidable aluminum alloys, in particular aluminum alloys containing magnesium and/or lithium, without using additives such as beryllium and/or calcium and without using expensive devices and/or gases, to obtain cast ingots generally free from surface defects and pollution, in complete safety. |
| US08302654B2 |
Vertically collapsible weather resistant barrier for opening in a building envelope
A vertically collapsible weather resistant barrier for an opening, having a plurality of side frames secured along the height of side walls and/or an intermediate post defining the opening. Each side frame has a longitudinal channel along its length facing inward toward the opening. The channel accommodates sheaves extending from the barrier and by which a ceiling mounted pulley system may house and lower the barrier with the side frame. The barrier comprises a plurality of pantograph structures at opposite ends of a plurality of panels. The arms of the pantograph structure closest to the side walls house a locking mechanism thereon facing the side frame at either end of the arm that engages a latch in and a proximate arm to pull them into tight vertical alignment when substantially fully extended. The locking mechanisms are covered by an expandable bulb seal that bulges outwardly when the locking mechanism is engaged to create a seal between the pantograph and the channel in the side wall. |
| US08302653B2 |
Venetian blind system
A blind system has a horizontally positioned tilt rail having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slats suspended from the tilt rail via at least one connecting member. The tilt rail includes a reinforcing member and a tensioning member. The blind system also has a divided slat that is divided lengthwise into a first sub-slat and a second sub-slat and has a longitudinal axis with each of the first and second sub-slats configured to be movable with respect to each other so that when each of the plurality of slats are in an angular position with respect to the corresponding slat longitudinal axis that restricts at least a portion of light passing between the slats, either the first sub-slat or the second sub-slat has an angular position with respect to the divided slat longitudinal axis that is substantially the same as the angular position of each slat depending on a direction of rotation of the plurality of slats. |
| US08302651B2 |
Stripping device and stripping method
A stripping method for stripping a support plate from a laminate including a substrate and the support plate adhered to the wafer via an adhesive layer, in which the adhesive layer is formed from an adhesive compound soluble in a non-polar solvent or a highly polar solvent; and the stripping method includes the step of supplying the non-polar solvent or the highly polar solvent, so that the non-polar solvent or the highly polar solvent is retained at least on an edge portion of that surface of the laminate which faces the support plate, and on a lateral surface of the laminate. |
| US08302650B2 |
Device for gluing the final edge of a log of a band-shaped material
The present invention refers to a device (1) for gluing the final edge (4a) of a log of band-shaped material (4), comprising a rolling plane (2) for feeding a log (3) that has at least a through opening (7) for the application of a glue (8) on the log (3) itself. The device comprises a blade (9) provided for the application of the glue (8) on the log (3). The application blade (9) is mobile between a first position, in which it is spaced from the opening (7), and a second position, in which it is disposed close to the through opening (7). The device (1) comprises a pressure container (10) for housing the glue (8) to be fed to the blade (9). The container (10) has a slot (12) facing towards, and close to an application edge (9a) of the blade (9) when the latter is in the first position. The slot (12) defines an expulsion direction of the glue (8), transversal to the handling direction (DM) of the blade (9) so that the glue (8) being expelled deposits on the application edge (9a) according to a predefined quantity. |
| US08302648B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire comprising an air permeation preventive layer comprising a film of a thermoplastic resin composition containing a polyvinyl alcohol or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, to which a protective film of a rubber composition containing an ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is, directly or via an adhesive, placed adjacent thereto, as one layer in at least one side thereof, whereby both a further reduction in the air leakage rate of the pneumatic tire and a good durability can be achieved and furthermore a reduction in the weight of the tire can be achieved. |
| US08302643B2 |
Pneumatic tire having tread with zoned cap layer
A pneumatic tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprised of an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones of graduated physical properties, wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer; wherein said tread cap zones are comprised of two primary tread cap zones and one central tread cap zone; wherein said central tread cap zone is positioned between said primary tread cap zones and spans at least 14 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer, wherein said primary tread cap zones are of substantially equal widths and collectively span at least 50 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer. |
| US08302642B1 |
Invertable handbag and method of use
An invertible handbag. The invertible handbag has a handbag compartment defined by four sides, a handbag roof, and a handbag floor; a handbag roof mouth bordered by a handbag roof mouth closure in the handbag root and a handbag floor mouth bordered by a handbag floor mouth closure in the handbag floor. A strap is swivelably attached to strap bridges at opposite ends of the invertible handbag. Method steps are taught wherein the handbag closures may be closed, the invertible handbag inverted, and then the uppermost closure and mouth opened, to permit seeing and removing items which were formerly lost at the bottom of the handbag compartment. Means is disclosed to hold the closures closed. Optional sidebags may be mounted to the handbag sides, each including a sidebag roof mouth closure and a sidebag floor mouth closure. |
| US08302641B2 |
Handbag articles
A reversible handbag capable of taking a variety of different shapes and configurations having a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, two side seams formed by joining the boundaries of the front side with the boundaries of the back side. The bottoms of the front side and back side are joined to the outer perimeter of the bottom side leaving an open periphery at the top of the handbag. The side seams each have an aperture located near their top edges and the front back sides each have two columns of two or more apertures. The open periphery can be folded inward or outward to create several different configurations of the handbag and the apertures on the side seams and front and back sides are capable of receiving clasps or other fasteners from straps in order to provide handles, carrying straps, and the like for the various configurations. |
| US08302638B2 |
Electromechanically operated fuel nozzle
An electronically operated fuel nozzle includes a solenoid valve for dispensing fuel, an electronic board for operating the solenoid valve, electric accumulator means for electrically powering the solenoid valve and the electronic board. The solenoid valve includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connected to the fuel-dispensing pipe to dispense a full flow of fuel for refueling, and a secondary channel integrated in the solenoid valve for dispensing a lower quantity of fuel for topping up, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are opened by an electromagnetic operating device. The secondary channel is opened by another electromagnetic operating device. |
| US08302634B2 |
Method of producing a flexible pipe and a flexible pipe
The invention relates to a method of producing a flexible pipe comprising a metal carcass and an internal sealing sheath extruded onto the carcass, said 5 method comprising providing a metal carcass; heating an application section of said carcass, preferably using induction heating, to an application section temperature of at least 150° C.; extruding a non-cross-linked polyethylene material comprising a peroxide having an activation temperature above 150° C. onto said application section of said carcass; cross-linking the extruded 10 polyethylene in a cross-linking zone by raising its temperature to at least the activation temperature of said peroxide by exposing the extruded polymer material to electromagnetic waves, with a wavelength of between 0.5 μm to 0.5 m, preferably infrared radiation; and cooling said cross-linked polyethylene material to obtain the internal sealing sheath. 15 In a preferred embodiment the method comprises heating the application section to an application section temperature of between 30 and 5° C. below the activation temperature of the peroxide. 20 Preferred peroxides include butylcumyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, 2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexyne-3,3,3,5,7,7-Pentamethyl-1,2,4-trioxepane, hydroperoxide, 2,5-dimethyl hexane 2,5-di-t-butyl peroxide, bis(t-butylperoxy isopropyl)benzene, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl hexine-3 2,5-di-t-butyl peroxide and butylhydroperoxide. 25 A foil may be applied onto the metal carcass prior to the step of heating the metal carcass, the polyethylene material being extruded onto said foil. 30 |
| US08302625B1 |
Validation of working fluid parameter indicator sensitivity in system with centrifugal machines
Disclosed herein is an approach that validates the sensitivity of a working fluid parameter indicator in a system using centrifugal machines. In one aspect, a lead centrifugal machine and a lag centrifugal machine supply a working fluid to a distribution conduit. A working fluid parameter indicator measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid supplied to the distribution conduit by the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine. A controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator to measure the process parameter associated with the working fluid as a function of operation of the lag centrifugal machine relative to the lead centrifugal machine during an operational test performed on the centrifugal machines. |
| US08302622B2 |
Unbalanced inlet fuel tube for a fuel pressure regulator
A pressure regulator (10) includes a fuel tube (30) having an inlet end (35), an outlet end (180), and a fuel chamber (40). The outlet end defines a valve seat (70). A valve element (80) engages the valve seat in a closed position to prohibit flow of fuel from the inlet end to the outlet end. The valve element moves to an open position when pressurized fuel builds in the fuel chamber. A valve biasing member (90) biases the valve element towards the valve seat in opposition to the pressurized fuel in the fuel chamber. The fuel tube includes pressure differential creating structure (170) at the outlet end thereof to create a pressure differential around the valve element and cause unbalanced fuel flow at the outlet end to promote the valve element to move towards a certain location at the outlet end when the valve element moves to the open position. |
| US08302621B2 |
Pressure limiting valve with reduced differential area
A pressure limiting valve comprises a valve closing body (7) which comprises a valve closing surface (8) which together with a first valve seat (9) opposing the valve closing surface (8) forms a first seal seat and a valve closing body orifice (11), which is surrounded by a second valve seat (12) which together with a closing head (14) configured on an axially displaceable valve bolt (13) forms a second seal seat and with a spring plate (15) which is connected to the valve bolt (13) and axially displaceable therewith, and a first return spring (10) clamped between the spring plate (15) and the valve closing body (7), which pretensions the valve bolt (13) against the second valve seat (12) configured on the valve closing body (7) and a second return spring (35) which pretensions a valve unit (7, 13, 15, 10) against the first valve seat (9). In the valve bolt (13) a longitudinal bore (53) is provided extending over the entire axial length of the valve bolt (13). |
| US08302620B2 |
Water inlet/outlet assembly for faucet
A water inlet/outlet assembly for a faucet includes a fore-injection molding dividing unit, a post-injection molding connecting unit and at least one supply pipe. The fore-injection molding dividing unit includes at least one water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe. The water inlet pipe has at least one catch portion, at least one limit opening and at least one retaining slot. The post-injection molding connecting unit coats the water inlet pipe and is combined with the catch portion, the limit opening and the retaining slot to enhance combination strength between the post-injection molding connecting unit and the fore-injection molding dividing unit. The supply pipe has at least one axial breach, at least one mortise and two journals. The post-injection molding connecting unit coats the supply pipe and is combined with the axial breach, the mortise and the journals. |
| US08302619B2 |
Float valve apparatus and its cleaning method
A foreign object in a discharge path defined and formed in a valve case is effectively removed. In a float valve apparatus T including a valve chamber 2 for receiving gas A and liquid W through an inlet pipe 1, a discharge path 4 communicating with a discharge pipe 3, a valve case 5 defining and forming therein the valve chamber 2 and the discharge path 4, a valve opening 6a for opening the discharge path 4 to the valve chamber 2, opening/closing means for opening/closing the valve opening 6a in association with a movement of a float member 7 floating in an amount of liquid W received in the valve chamber 2 and a foreign object removing member 8 for removing a foreign object in the discharge path 4 in association with an advancing movement of the foreign object removing member toward the valve opening 6a in the discharge path 4, the foreign object removing member 8 being movable to advance/retract in the discharge path 4 in response to an operation from outside the valve case 5, the foreign object removing member 8 is caused to advance in the discharge path 4 to penetrate the valve opening 6a, in response to a threading-in operation of the foreign object removing member 8 to a threaded portion 10a formed in the valve case 5. |
| US08302618B2 |
Liquid tank connector
A liquid tank connector for preventing leakage of contents in a liquid tank when removing a socket from a plug fixed to the liquid tank is provided. The liquid tank connector which includes a plug to be fixed to a liquid tank where liquid is stored, a socket which is able to be connected and disconnected with respect to the plug, and a sleeve for releasing a connected state between the plug and the socket by a relative movement with respect to the socket, and in which a liquid flow channels and gas flow channels are formed in a liquid deliverable state in which the plug and the socket are connected, and which includes: a cock which forms a gas flow channel in the liquid deliverable state, and the relative movement of the sleeve is controlled by the position of the cock in the liquid deliverable state. |
| US08302616B2 |
Umbrella for outdoor furniture and frame therefor
The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, the upper yoke is movable relative to a fixed lower yoke and the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella. |
| US08302606B2 |
Methods of treating a sleeping subject
Described here are devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the mouth and nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical diseases, particularly those that may benefit from “pursed-lip” breathing and non-invasive ventilation, such as COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and other medical disorders. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed over or in a respiratory cavity to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. Removable oral and removable nasal devices are described. Oral and nasal devices that filter inhaled airflow of debris and allergens are also provided. A nasal device that increases patency of the nares is also provided. |
| US08302601B2 |
Inhaler for preparations in powder form
An inhaler for preparations in powder form, includes a first body (2), which is provided with an inhaling channel (3), and a second body (4), which is provided with at least one reservoir (6), which is open toward the outside and is preset to contain at least one dose of preparation in powder form. The first body (2) is associated with the second body (4) and can move with respect to the second body (4) between a first position, at which it closes the reservoir (6), and a second position, at which at least one connection is open between the reservoir (6) and the inhaling channel (3), making the dose of preparation in powder form available for inhaling. |
| US08302598B2 |
Breathing gas supply device
A breathing gas supply device is provided which can be taken apart for cleaning purposes. The breathing gas supply device has a modular design in the form of a breathing gas module (2) and a blower module (3), which are inserted together into a housing module (4). |
| US08302595B2 |
Solar absorber module and solar absorber arrangement
A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. |
| US08302593B2 |
Gas burner assembly including inner and outer burners and methods for implementing same
A gas burner assembly for a cooking appliance that includes a cooktop surface includes a gas burner assembly having a first gas burner including a first burner body. The first burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface, and provide a cooking flame. The gas burner assembly also includes a second gas burner including a second burner body. The second burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface. The second burner also configured to be concentric with the first burner and separated from the first burner by a distance at all points along the burners. The second burner body including at least one air passage defined therethrough that is configured to allow air to flow through the second burner and to the cooking flame. |
| US08302592B2 |
Dual ignition safe charcoal starter
The improved charcoal starter design has several improvements, one being that it utilizes either; readily combustible materials like wadded up paper or a removable or replaceable common electric heating element to heat charcoal to incandescent and safely deposit hot embers into the grill. The common electric heating element is held in place through a clip fixedly attached to the inside of the charcoal starter housing walls and opposite of the opening for the electric heating element. Yet another improvement to this unique charcoal starter designed is the perforated grate having at least one hinge on one side and at least one notch on the opposite side, a release mechanism consisting of a thermally insulated release handle and a release bar with at least one protrusion such that when the release mechanism is activated by pulling the release handle, the protrusion of the release bar aligns with the notch of the perforated hinged grate and the perforated hinged grate will then rotate about the hinge in a downward direction creating an opening and thus allowing the incandescent embers to be deposited safely into the grill where needed and without danger of hot embers and ash being splashed about and possibly injuring the user. |
| US08302591B2 |
Block splitter assembly and method of producing wall blocks
The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade. |
| US08302590B2 |
Controllable launcher
A controllable launcher for propelling a payload through a predictable and repeatable trajectory to a desired height. The launcher has an energy source for propelling a carriage and a piston in substantially opposing directions and a controller for controlling the trajectory of the propelled payload to enable the payload to land gently at a safe impact distance from the edge of a destination structure. |
| US08302588B2 |
Toy gun piston with a detachable toothed structure
A piston structure for a toy gun includes a piston body and a detachable toothed member. The piston body has a chute which is axially disposed on an outer surface of the piston body. The detachable toothed member is made of a metallic material and moveably disposed in the chute. The detachable toothed includes a plurality of teeth which are equally spaced in a lengthwise direction. The piston structure of the present invention provides a longer service life. In case the teeth of the detachable toothed member suffer a lot of wear and tear, the detachable toothed member can be detached from the chute and replaced with a new one to save the cost and to provide an environmental protection effect. |
| US08302582B2 |
Fuel supply device
A fuel supply device includes a relief valve, a pressure regulator, and a controller. The controller controls a first pump to send fuel into an engine through a first passage, and controls a second pump to send fuel into a second passage to communicate with the first passage. The relief valve discharges fuel from the second passage when a fuel pressure of the second passage is higher than a relief pressure. The pressure regulator discharges fuel when a fuel pressure of fuel chamber is higher than a regulation pressure higher than the relief pressure in a state that a fuel pressure of backpressure chamber is equal to the relief pressure. |
| US08302577B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine with a crankcase upper part and a crankcase lower part, wherein an oil windage tray is provided, which is flanged onto the crankcase upper part from below, projects into the crankcase lower part, forms a wall for an oil mist roller initiated by the rotation of a crankshaft, and includes at least one carpenter's plane-like slot for separating oil droplets. At least two slots are provided in the rotational direction of the crankshaft and thus in the rotational direction of the oil mist roller, wherein a return opening, through which oil mist-free gases or gases with at least a reduced oil mist content flow back, is provided in the wall of the oil windage tray after each slot, as a result of which friction is reduced. |
| US08302564B2 |
Aquaculture net with polygonal bottom
An aquaculture net for a circular raft and a polygonal bottom, preferably octagonal bottom is provided. The advantages are an increase in volume and an even load distribution. |
| US08302556B2 |
Coating and developing apparatus
Provided is a coating and developing apparatus composed of an assembly of plural unit blocks. A first unit-block stack and a second unit-block stack are arranged at different positions with respect to front-and-rear direction. Unit blocks for development, each of which comprises plural processing units including a developing unit that performs developing process after exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged at the lowermost level. Unit blocks for application, or coating, each of which comprises plural processing units including a coating unit that performs application process before exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged above the unit blocks for development. Unit blocks for application are arranged in both the first and second unit-block stacks. Unit blocks for application which a wafer goes through are determined depending on the layering positional relationship between an antireflective film and a resist film. An exposed wafer goes only through the unit block for development without going through any one of the unit blocks for application. |
| US08302555B2 |
Liquid coating apparatus and method, and image forming apparatus
A liquid coating apparatus has: a coating roller which has a coating surface; a liquid holding unit which abuts against the coating surface of the coating roller so as to form a liquid holding space; a medium support member which faces the coating surface in such a manner that the medium support member and the coating roller nip and support the medium; an abutment pressure-varying device which adjusts at least one of a first abutment pressure between the coating surface of the coating roller and the liquid holding unit and a second abutment pressure between the coating surface of the coating roller and the medium; and a control device which controls the abutment pressure-varying device according to a relative position of the medium with respect to the coating roller, wherein the coating roller rotates while the medium is sandwiched by the medium support member and the coating roller in such a manner that the liquid is fed to the coating surface from the liquid holding unit and the liquid is transferred to the medium from the coating surface. |
| US08302553B2 |
3D instrument cluster
An instrument panel having at least one needle indicator comprising a dial of indicating characters supported by a first faceplate, an indicating needle and a motor for rotating the needle along the dial. The instrument panel includes a second faceplate for supporting other indicating characters, such that the indicating needle is configured to lie between the two faceplates. The faceplates are screen-printed flat before being shaped in relief. |
| US08302551B2 |
Foldable cone
The foldable cone includes first and second side panels that are tapered in the upward direction, each side panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, a lower edge, an upper edge, and opposing side edges. The cone further includes base panel having a folding seam extending along the central portion thereof in a direction generally parallel to the lower edges of the side panels, wherein the base panel folds along the folding seam. The first and second side panels are secured together at a predetermined location to define concave first and second side panels when the base panel is unfolded. |
| US08302550B1 |
Antenna cover and topper device
An antenna cover and topper device including a sleeve having a top end and a bottom end having a pair of V-shaped notches therein, a threaded housing disposed within the top end, a gap below the housing, a hollow cylindrical upper bushing below the gap, a lower bushing within a sleeve bottom end, a cavity disposed between the upper and lower bushings, a display member having holes aligned in upper and lower edges thereof, and a bolt removably engaging the holes and the threaded opening to secure the display member to the sleeve. A vehicle antenna engages a lower bushing lower opening, the cavity, and an upper bushing aperture with the antenna top ball secured within the gap. A clamp removably secures the antenna base top section into lower bushing. |
| US08302549B2 |
Boat stabilizer, boat motor and related method
A boat stabilizer that is attachable to the anti-cavitation plate or other structure of the lower drive unit of a boat motor without permanently modifying the structure of the anti-cavitation plate or other structure is provided. The shape and size of the boat stabilizer causes the stabilizer to effectively harness and control the thrust energy generated by the propeller resulting in improved thrust and fuel efficiency. Due to various features, the drag associated with the boat stabilizer is kept to a minimum. Finally, decals and other decorative elements are integrally embedded into the top surface of the inventive boat stabilizer using in-mold decoration (“IMD”) technology which makes the elements resistant to ultra-violet light, virtually indestructible and highly appealing. A boat motor, a method of attaching a boat stabilizer to a boat motor and a method of molding a boat stabilizer having at least one decorative element integrally embedded in the top surface thereof are also provided. |
| US08302548B2 |
Sewing machine
The present invention provides a sewing machine that can perform zigzag sewing a cylindrical sewn article.A sewing machine 1 includes an approximately cylindrical guide member 11 that guides a sewn article A, a sewing needle 99 that sews the cylindrical sewn article A, a holding member 71 that holds the sewing needle 99 approximately vertically, a vertical hook 21 provided in the guide member 11 so that the direction of rotation is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction C of the guide member 11 and that catches the upper thread loop of the sewing needle 99, a rotary shaft 22 that rotates the vertical hook 21, and an operating means 50 that moves the holding member 71 and the rotary shaft 22 reciprocatingly at approximately the same time. |
| US08302545B2 |
Systems for staged combustion of air and fuel
A combustion system for combusting air and fuel includes a primary combustion zone configured to produce combustion gases from the air and the fuel and an intermediate air zone downstream from the primary combustion zone. The intermediate air zone is configured to inject an intermediate air stream into the combustion gases. The combustion system further includes a burnout zone downstream from the intermediate air zone, wherein the burnout zone is configured to inject an overfire air stream into the combustion gases, and at least one hybrid-boosted air injector within at least one of the intermediate air zone and the burnout zone. The at least one hybrid-boosted air injector is configured to substantially simultaneously inject a boosted air stream and a windbox air stream into the combustion gases. |
| US08302538B2 |
Method of shipping automobiles, railcar for shipping automobiles, and method of manufacturing railcars
A method of shipping automobiles, a railcar for shipping automobiles, and a method of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles. The method comprises, among other steps, determining a distribution of vehicle heights for passenger cars sold within a predetermined area and a predetermined time period; assessing weight, bottom clearance, length, width and Cg for the passenger cars; and transporting the passenger cars on a plurality of single-unit tri-level auto rack railcars, each comprising a flat car and a fixed-deck rack built on the flat car. Each of the railcars has (a) three decks which are fixed along their entire lengths and which are capable of transporting in commercial rail service over 90% of passenger cars manufactured in the predetermined area and predetermined time period with a load factor of at least 15 with minimum vertical clearances of between 64 and 66 in. to accommodate the vehicle heights of the passenger cars, while also accommodating at least 3 in. of vertical displacement of the vehicles on their suspension systems on all three decks, and (b) substantially horizontal deck configurations to meet ground clearance requirements for the passenger cars on all 3 decks. |
| US08302537B2 |
Self-driven cable transportation system for persons used for the (aerial) observation of the environment
A cable transportation system includes a first cable suspended over a ground surface, a vehicle supported above the ground surface by the first cable, wherein the vehicle has one or more grooved wheels for riding along the first cable, a frame supported from above by the one or more grooved wheels, and at least one vehicle guide that extends below the grooved wheels, and a junction bracket that has a ramped section, a mid portion section connected to the ramp section, and a rail portion provided on both the ramped section and the mid portion section, wherein the junction bracket is connected to the first cable so that at least an end portion of the ramped section is parallel to and directly above the first cable and the grooved wheels transition from the first cable onto the rail portion when the vehicle engages the junction bracket. |
| US08302536B1 |
Rail system for a powered pallet conveyor
A rail system for a powered pallet conveyor, which comprises alternative pathways having an electric cable provided on at least one of n parallel rails defining a travel pathway, wherein n≧2, whereby the rail system includes a switch for switching between m alternative travel pathways, wherein m≧2, and allowing the vehicle to continuously move across the switch after switching. The switch comprises a first actuator for selectively positioning (m*n) rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends at (i) n joining points where the n parallel rails of each of the m alternative travel pathways subject to switching converge, and (ii) (m*n) continuation points where each alternative pathway subject to switching diverges downstream from the joining points A second actuator selectively positions [m(n−1)] rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends, where each alternative pathway is discontinued downstream from the corresponding continuation points. |
| US08302535B2 |
Train yard classification system
A system for transferring railroad cars from incoming receiving tracks to classification tracks for building outgoing trains includes a plurality of incoming receiving tracks, a plurality of outgoing classification tracks and one or more transfer tables for moving railroad cars from the incoming receiving tracks to designated outgoing classification tracks. Each transfer table has a plurality of track segments. Incoming railroad cars are received on a plurality of incoming receiving tracks. A first car is uncoupled from a following second car on each of the receiving tracks having cars. The uncoupled first car is moved from the incoming receiving track onto a corresponding track segment on the transfer table. The transfer table is moved to align a selected track segment with an appropriate classification track for the corresponding railroad car. The transfer table is moved and aligned with appropriate classification tracks until each railroad car has been transferred to the appropriate classification track. The steps are repeated until all of the cars have been classified and transferred to classification tracks or held back for later transfer. |
| US08302529B2 |
Stamp-type printer
The stamp-type printer includes: a stamp-type printer comprising: a receiving section for receiving image data including character information; a transfer member; a print head for printing an image on a portion of the transfer member with ink based on the received image data; and a transport member for transporting the printed portion of the transfer member to a contact transfer position, wherein a stamping operation is performed by causing the printed portion to come in contact with a desired recording medium at the contact transfer position. |
| US08302525B2 |
Hydraulic stepless transmission
A hydraulic stepless transmission having increased layout freedom and a compact structure with the functions of conventional hydraulic stepless transmission retained and having increased easiness of production. In the hydraulic stepless transmission, the movable swash plate (input side swash plate) of a variable displacement plunger hydraulic pump or motor is tilted by a hydraulic servo mechanism. The hydraulic servo mechanism has a power piston connected to one end of the input side swash plate for tilting the swash plate, a servo spool (13) placed normal to the direction of sliding of the power piston and substantially parallel to the input side swash plate, and a feedback link for connecting the servo spool and the input side swash plate. |
| US08302523B2 |
Explosive well tool firing head
A firing head embodiment of the invention confines a connected capacitance cartridge, explosive detonator, and wireline connection switch within an independent, cylindrical housing tube that is environmentally capped at both ends by threaded closures for secure transport to a well site. |
| US08302516B1 |
Hole punching and reinforcing apparatus and method of use
An apparatus for punching at least one hole in a sheet of paper and attaching a reinforcing ring onto the sheet around the hole includes a platform; a hole punch rod mounted to and extending outwardly from the platform positioned to match a desired location for a hole on a sheet, the hole punch rod having a rod cutting end extending away from the platform; a sheet panel having a ring passing hole positioned to register with the longitudinal axis of the punch rod and sized to pass a reinforcing ring; a hole punch plate generally parallel to and spaced forwardly from the sheet panel and having a hole punching port positioned to register with the longitudinal axis of the hole punch rod, the hole punching port being sized to pass the rod cutting end closely enough to cut a hole into a sheet placed between the rod cutting end and the punching port; a sheet panel return spring mechanism. |
| US08302514B2 |
Pipe processing device having floating drive roller
A device for processing a pipe has a bearing plate slidably mounted on a support plate. A drive roller, engageable with an inner surface of a pipe, is mounted on the bearing plate and rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Support rollers, mounted on the support plate, engage and support the pipe against the drive roller. Springs are positioned in contact with the support plate and the bearing plate and bias the drive roller into engagement with the pipe. Variations in pipe wall thickness are compensated for by sliding motion of the bearing plate relatively to the support plate as the drive roller rotates and the pipe and the device move relatively to one another. |
| US08302513B2 |
Screw guide
A fastener guide includes a shaft having a first end for transferring torque to a fastener and a second end for receiving a torque from an external source, the shaft including a threaded portion and an axial groove extending axially along the threaded portion. The fastener guide also includes a sleeve slidable axially with respect to the shaft, the sleeve having a first end proximate the first end of the shaft and a second end proximate the second end of the shaft, and a depth-adjustment ring having a threaded inner surface for engaging the threaded portion of the sleeve and a detent ring for selectively engaging the axial groove. |
| US08302512B2 |
Locking pliers with retractable pivotal movable jaw
A locking pliers includes a slide bar mounted in both second handle unit and locking unit and comprising a wavy edge facing bottom of the second handle unit, the wavy edge including a rear slot member and a forward hook; and a movable jaw at a forward end of the second handle unit and comprising two intermediate opposite stop members each having an inclined edge, a channel between the stop members with a forward end of the slide bar movably received therein, and a rear stop bar interconnected two sidewalls of a rear portion of the movable jaw, the inclined edges being stopped by bending members on sidewalls of the second handle unit for retaining the stop members in an inoperative position. |
| US08302511B1 |
Leverage tool
A tool for use with other tools to increase their leverage. The tool has a handle with a curved extension connected at an end and the handle has a projection pin. The extension has a slot which receives a projection that can slide along the extent of the slot. |
| US08302509B2 |
Hydraulic bolt tensioning device and method for tightening large bolts by means of a hydraulic bolt tensioning device
A hydraulic bolt tensioning device has a cylinder supported on a machine part that is to be clamped by threaded bolt and nut. An exchangeable bushing has a first end screwed onto a free threaded end of the threaded bolt that projects past the nut. A tensioning piston is seal-tightly guided in the cylinder and supported on a second end of the exchangeable bushing. A pressure medium is supplied into an annular space between cylinder and piston. A control device is provided for setting a nominal pressure of the pressure medium corresponding to a nominal pretension of the threaded bolt. A yield limit detection device detects whether a yield limit of the threaded bolt is reached during tensioning. A controller acts on a pressure relief device for pressure relief of the bolt tensioning device when reaching, or shortly after reaching, the yield limit of the threaded bolt. |
| US08302505B2 |
Sensing mechanism of pedaling assistant system
A sensing mechanism of pedaling assistant system, including a crank and a sensing element. The crank includes an elongated first crank member and an elongated second crank member connected therewith. A first axial end of the first crank member is connected with a pedal component of a bicycle. A first axial end of the second crank member is connected with an axle of the bicycle. An end face of a second axial end of the second crank member abuts against an end face of a second axial end of the first crank member. The sensing element is disposed between the second axial end of the first crank member and the second axial end of the second crank member for detecting a force transmitted from the pedal component through the first crank member to the second crank member. |
| US08302503B2 |
Steering column for a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle with a steering spindle pivotably supported by a jacket unit and a securement unit rigidly securable on the motor vehicle and bearing the jacket unit. The securement unit includes a base section, at least one side jaw extending next to the jacket unit, and at least first and second securement plates with bolt openings for the securement of the securement unit on the motor vehicle by means of securement bolts. The first and second securement plates are each inclined with respect to the at least one side jaw by an angle in the range between 15° and 75°, and preferably between 30° and 60°. |
| US08302497B2 |
Starter having noise reduction structure
The present invention provides a starter, including a motor generating torque; a shaft rotating by the torque; a clutch fitting an outer periphery of the shaft; a pinion gear receiving the torque; a pinion control means configured to allow the pinion gear integrally with the clutch to be pushed out; a motor control means for controlling current supplied to the motor; and an inner tube that is arranged to be extended from the inner and in the direction opposite to the motor, supports the pinion gear so as to inhibit rotation thereof with respect to the periphery of the inner tube, and supports the pinion gear to be slidable; wherein a gear-side face and a tube-side face are formed in the pinion gear and the inner tube, respectively, in which the faces are facing each other, and a cushioning member is disposed between the gear-side face and the tube-side face. |
| US08302493B2 |
Testing system for flip type electronic device
A testing system is used to testing a flip type electronic device having a main body, and a cover. The testing system includes a fixing structure, a flipping structure, a sensing device, a rotating mechanism, and a control device. The fixing structure positions the main body. The fixing structure flips the cover until a rotation degree of the cover and the main body reaches a threshold degree. The sensing device senses is pressed by the cover when the cover automatically rotates relative to the main body and generates electrical pressure signals according to the mount of pressure. The control device controls the rotating mechanism to drive the flipping structure to rotate and judges whether the flipping performance of the electronic device is normal according to the electrical pressure signals. |
| US08302483B2 |
Robust design of high pressure sensor device
In a pressure sensing element made of piezoresistors formed into a silicon substrate, thermally-induced stresses on the piezoresistors and thermally-induced voltage offsets can be reduced by thinning the substrate prior to forming the resistors and then forming the resistors into the thinned-out recess. Forming a circular or disk-shaped recess in the substrate and then forming the resistors therein is believed to cause thermally-induced stresses to be evenly distributed and/or cancelled out on all four piezoresistors of a Wheatstone bridge circuit. |
| US08302480B2 |
Enhanced ultra-high resolution acoustic microscope
An optical-acoustic transducer structure includes at least one metal or semiconducting film in which a part of a pump light pulse is absorbed to generate a sound pulse; and at least one dielectric film. The thicknesses and optical properties of the at least one metal or semiconducting film and the at least one dielectric film are selected so that a returning sound pulse results in a measurable change in the optical reflectivity and/or some other optical characteristic of the transducer structure. The transducer structure includes a resonant cavity, and an output surface that is shaped so as to provide no significant focusing of generated sound waves when the sound waves are launched towards a surface of the sample. |
| US08302477B2 |
Balanced mechanical resonator for powder handling device
A system incorporating a balanced mechanical resonator and a method for vibration of a sample composed of granular material to generate motion of a powder sample inside the sample holder for obtaining improved analysis statistics, without imparting vibration to the sample holder support. |
| US08302476B2 |
Angular velocity measuring device
Disclosed herein is an angular velocity measuring device including: first and second oscillators elastically supported on a substrate; an elastic connecting beam elastically connecting the first and the second oscillator; and an oscillating means for oscillating the first and the second oscillator for differential oscillation, wherein a viscous force generating means for suppressing in-phase oscillation of the first and the second oscillator is incorporated into the elastic connecting beam. |
| US08302473B2 |
Electro-optic liquid level sensing system for aircraft beverage brewing
The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor. |
| US08302460B2 |
Mass loading monitor
The present invention provides a mass loading monitor for measuring in real time the particulate, i.e., powder, dust and the like, content of air inside an industrial or commercial processing facility and providing a warning signal indicating the existence of a potentially explosive atmosphere in the facility. In a first embodiment, the mass loading monitor comprises two parallel cylinders, one of which is charged with clean, ambient air and the other of which is charged with air from within the facility containing dust, powder or other particulate matter. A piston resides within each cylinder and the pistons are commonly accelerated for a short distance during which time the pressure at each piston face is measured. The time integrals of the pressures from each of the piston faces are evaluated over the period: from rest to the time of discharge from the open end of the cylinders. The ratio of these integrals defines the difference in the densities within the cylinders. In a second embodiment, a single piston and cylinder assembly is first calibrated with clean air and subsequently filled with particulate laden air and the time integrals of the pressures on the piston face are similarly evaluated. |
| US08302459B2 |
Thermal conductivity sensor
The measurement sensitivity is improved by suppressing the surrounding temperature influence as much as possible, while realizing scale reduction, and by enlarging the detection signal, while reducing the production errors in enclosing a reference gas. Provided is a thermal conductivity sensor that detects thermal conductivity of a sample gas by using a Wheatstone Bridge circuit constructed in such a manner that measurement resistors that are brought into contact with the sample gas are disposed on a first side, and reference resistors that are brought into contact with a reference gas are disposed on a second side, and comparing the potential difference between connection points of the reference resistors and the measurement resistors. The measurement resistors disposed on the first side are assembled in one measurement space, and the reference resistors disposed on the second side are assembled in one reference space. |
| US08302458B2 |
Portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water
A portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water comprising a miniature preconcentrator and a SAW detector, the latter being characterized by a nanoporous carbon coating that provides improved response compared to prior art polymer coatings, particularly when detecting low concentrations of trihalomethane chemicals, such as chloroform and bromoform. |
| US08302456B2 |
Active damping of high speed scanning probe microscope components
A technique for actively damping internal vibrations in a scanning probe microscope is disclosed. The excitation of various mechanical movements, including resonances, in the mechanical assembly of an SPM can adversely effect its performance, especially for high speed applications. An actuator is used to compensate for the movements. The actuator may operate in only the z direction, or may operate in other directions. The actuator(s) may be located at positions of antinodes. |
| US08302453B2 |
Apparatus and method for attaching edging to a sheet
An apparatus for attaching edging to a sheet has two stationary guides at each end, an upper hollow guide (8), a pair of lower guides (5), with a fixed base (4) between the lower guides. A hollow profile (1) is vertically movable, having a binding rail (2) on the underside thereof. The upper guide (8) is placed inside the profile, forming upper and lower spaces (7, 9) between the profile and the upper guide. Upper and lower flexible elements (10, 11) are provided in each space. In use, one element is filled while the other element is emptied, such that when an edging and a sheet is placed between the fixed base (4) and the binding rail, the lower element is filled to force the profile and thus the binding rail down to attach the edging. Then the upper element is filled to release the sheet with the attached edging. |
| US08302451B2 |
Can manufacturing device and can manufacturing method
A can manufacturing device in which a tool supporting base has: a plurality of working tool units that support a plurality of working tools; a supporting member that supports a plurality of working tool units; and a linear driving mechanism that reciprocates the working tool units with respect to the supporting member in the axial direction of a workpiece. The linear driving mechanism has: a guide section that is fixed on the supporting member with a base plate therebetween; a slide rail that is fixed on the working tool unit and slides along the guide section; an electromagnetic coil provided on the base plate; a magnet plate that is provided on the working tool unit and generates, between the electromagnetic coil and itself, a thrust force for the guide section; and a supply pipe that is provided at the electromagnetic coil and supplies coolant to the inside of the electromagnetic coil. |
| US08302442B2 |
Method of incrementally forming a workpiece
A method of incrementally forming a workpiece. The method includes determining a desired workpiece geometry, generating a tool path in which a feature is formed outwardly from a point that is disposed a maximum distance from a reference position, and incrementally forming the workpiece. |
| US08302440B2 |
Thickness control apparatus of reversing rolling mill
A thickness control apparatus of a reversing rolling mill has an entry thickness gauge that measures the thickness of the material to be rolled, and entry material speed detector that detects the speed of the material to be rolled. Measured thickness measured by the entry thickness gauge is tracked on the basis of the speed of the material to be rolled detected by the entry material speed detector. A mill delivery thickness calculator calculates thickness on the delivery side of the reversing rolling mill on the basis of the thickness on the entry side and the roll gap detected. |
| US08302439B1 |
Lock pin rotational position setting key and method of use
A pin setting key for setting rotational orientations of pins of a lock. The key includes a bow portion and a blade portion for inserting into a keyway. The blade portion has a longitudinal axis and a bow end and a tip end, with a plurality of bitting positions located between the bow and tip ends. Each of the bitting positions corresponds to one of the pins of the plug such that insertion of the blade portion into the keyway aligns the bitting position with one of the pins. Each bitting position includes at least one bitting surface configured to rotate a pin when the contact surface of the pin contacts the bitting surface. Each bitting surface is offset from a central location of the respective bitting position. Each bitting surface has an axis extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade. |
| US08302438B2 |
Driving device for an electric lock latch
A driving device for an electric lock latch, comprises a housing, a motor having a power output shaft connected to a drive shaft with an external thread on a part thereof, an unequal diameter coil spring having a cylindrical spiral in the middle thereof screwing with the drive shaft, and a first and second conical spiral on both end thereof not screwing with the drive shaft, and a lock latch secured to the second conical spiral. The drive shaft is driven and rotated by a motor to pass the rotation power to the cylindrical spiral, and a rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted into a linear motion of the unequal diameter coil spring for moving the lock latch to change the locked and unlocked state of the lock device. Accordingly, the lock structure and the installation thereof may be simplified and the power-saving effect is achieved. |
| US08302432B2 |
Circulation and drain system in a washing machine and a method thereof
A washing machine having an improved structure in circulation and drain of washing water are disclosed. The washing machine includes a main body, a water tub which is disposed in the main body, a drain line in which washing water drained from the water tub flows, a circulation line in which washing water returning to the water tub flows, a discharge line in which washing water discharged out of the main body flows, a pump which flows the washing water such that the washing water drained from the water tub returns to the water tub or is discharged out of the main body, a flow path switching device having a single reciprocating member which opens and closes the circulation line or the discharge line, and an operating unit which operates the flow path switching device. |
| US08302430B2 |
Process and installation for granulating slag
In a process for granulating slag, from a blast furnace or a smelting reduction plant, in which a granule/water mixture formed during the granulation is fed to a granulation tank and then to a dewatering installation, in which the slag granules are dewatered. H2S-containing vapors and gases formed during the granulation are at least partially condensed by injection of water in a condensation space which is flow-connected to the granulation tank. H2S-containing residual gases are discharged from the compensation space below the water injection point, H2S is burnt. |
| US08302429B2 |
Method and apparatus for bending a glass sheet
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bending a glass sheet, and has an object of achieving high forming accuracy of a glass sheet along a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the glass sheet, in particular, to obtain high forming accuracy both along the conveying direction and the perpendicular direction.An apparatus 10 for bending a glass sheet for bending a heated glass sheet G while the glass sheet G is conveyed in a conveying direction X by a roller conveyer 18, 20 comprising a plurality of conveying rollers; the apparatus 10 comprising a plurality of straight rollers that are arranged upper and lower positions across a conveying surface for the glass sheet G and not curved on the conveying surface, and a plurality of curving rollers 36 arranged upper and lower positions across the conveying surface for the glass sheet G on adjacently downstream side of the straight rollers 34 and curvable along a perpendicular direction Y in the conveying surface so as to bend the glass sheet G along the perpendicular direction Y. |
| US08302428B2 |
Extruded glass structures and methods for manufacturing the same
Methods for preparing glass structures include extruding a glass precursor, the glass precursor having a composition in the range of 55%-75% SiO2, 5%-10% Na2O, 20%-35% B2O3 and 0%-5% Al2O3, and heat treating and leaching the glass precursor to yield a glass article comprising at least about 90% SiO2 by weight. Glass articles can be used to manufacture a variety of geometrically complex structures. |
| US08302425B2 |
Regenerative adsorption system with a spray nozzle for producing adsorbate vapor and condensing desorbed vapor
The invention discloses a regenerative adsorption system (50). The system includes at least two reactors (60, 70) capable of operating in an adsorption mode and a desorption mode and two liquid atomization units (62, 72) respectively in fluid communication with the reactors (60, 70). The liquid atomization units (62, 72) being capable of atomizing liquid to form adsorbate vapor or to condense desorbed vapor. In operation, the reactor in the adsorption mode adsorbs the adsorbate vapor and the reactor in the desorption mode produces desorbed vapor that is condensed by the atomised liquid. |
| US08302422B2 |
Refrigerator with treated water system
The present disclosure provides a refrigerator having a cabinet including at least one access area having an open face and a grill door for selectively closing the open face of the access area. The refrigerator can also include a water using accessory provided on the cabinet. The grill door can be selectively retained to the cabinet wherein a manifold is fixed relative to the grill door and fluidly couples the water using accessory to a water supply. A water treatment cartridge can be removably coupled to a casing such that when the cartridge is coupled to the manifold, the cartridge treats the water from the water supply for use by the water using accessory. The manifold can be located on the grill door such that the mounting of the cartridge to the manifold moves the cartridge from within the access area to outside of the access area as the grill door moves from a closed position to an opened position, respectively. |
| US08302411B2 |
Positive shutoff device for a connection point of a refrigeration system
A positive shutoff device is provided for a connection point of a refrigeration system. The connection point includes a manually-actuatable valve that permits charging and testing of the system. The device includes a first fitting engagable with the connection point and having a raised actuator that actuates the manually-actuatable valve when the first fitting engages the connection point, and a shutoff valve having a first end coupled to the first fitting and a second end coupled to a second fitting, the shutoff valve is operable in a closed position to prevent flow therethrough and an open position to permit flow therethrough, so that the refrigeration system may be charged or tested by connecting equipment to the second fitting and opening the shutoff valve, and the connection point may be positively shut off to prevent leakage of refrigerant through the connection point by closing the shutoff valve. |
| US08302410B2 |
Inertance tube and surge volume for pulse tube refrigerator
An inertance tube and a surge volume for a pulse tube refrigerator system may be integrally coupled together, such as by the inertance tube being at least in part a channel in a wall of the surge volume. The surge volume may have a helical channel in an outer wall that forms part of the inertance tube. The surge volume tank may be surrounded by a cover that closes off the channel to form the inertance tube as an integral part of the surge volume. The inertance tube may have a non-circular cross section shape, such as a square shape or non-square rectangular shape. The channel may be tapered, perhaps changing aspect ratio. Alternatively, the inertance tube may be a separate tube having a non-circular shape, which may be wrapped around at least part of the surge volume. |
| US08302406B2 |
Fuel delivery and control system including a positive displacement actuation pump with a variable pressure regulator supplementing a fixed displacement main fuel pump
A fuel delivery and control system is provided including a dual pump fluid circuit configuration comprising a fixed positive displacement pump sized to supply the main engine burn flow ranging from above windmill through cruise, a positive displacement actuation pump including a variable pressure regulator, wherein the actuation pump is sized to supply fluid to engine actuators, valves and other hydraulically operated engine components and a pump flow sharing system interconnecting the two pumps. The combined flow from the two pumps is sufficient to meet the engine flow demand for windmill relight and maximum flow conditions. During cruise or normal operating conditions, the pumps operate in completely isolated flow circuits, minimizing recirculation and therefore heat input into the fuel supply system. |
| US08302402B2 |
Air induction system with recirculation loop
An air induction system for a power system is provided having a compressor operable to compress air directed into an engine. In addition, the air induction system has a throttle valve disposed between the compressor and the engine, the throttle valve being configured to selectively restrict the flow of compressed air into the engine. The air induction system also has a recirculation valve disposed between the compressor and the throttle valve, the recirculation valve being configured to selectively divert a portion of the flow of compressed air. Furthermore, the air induction system has a controller configured to actuate the recirculation valve in response to a pressure differential between air upstream of the throttle valve and air downstream of the throttle valve. |
| US08302397B2 |
Mode transition systems and methods for a sequential turbocharger
A system for a sequential turbocharger includes a mode selection module, a feed-forward selection module, and a control loop module. The mode selection module generates a control mode signal based on an engine speed signal, an engine torque signal, and an engine mode signal. The control mode signal indicates one of an open-loop control mode and a closed-loop control mode. The feed-forward selection module determines a feed-forward value based on the control mode signal, the engine speed signal, and the engine torque signal. The control loop module determines a loop control value at least one of based on the feed-forward value, a variable geometry turbine (VGT) control signal, and an error signal; and based on a bypass valve (BPV) control signal and the error signal when the control mode signal transitions from the open-loop control mode to the closed-loop control mode. |
| US08302395B2 |
Hydraulic system
A hydraulic system for actuating a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission having a variably adjustable transmission ratio, of a vehicle, including at least one hydraulic energy source and having a torque sensor that is supplied with working medium by a pump flow of the hydraulic energy source. A disconnection valve is connected between the hydraulic energy source and the torque sensor, which makes it possible to connect or disconnect an additional pump flow of the hydraulic energy source, depending on need. |
| US08302393B2 |
Exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
An exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and provided with: at least one first high acoustic attenuation path having a first inlet opening; at least one second low acoustic attenuation path having a second inlet opening; and at least one control valve, which is arranged at the second inlet opening of the second path to control the flow of the exhaust gases along the second path. |
| US08302390B2 |
Turbo control valve utilizing a permanent magnet
A valve for controlling a wastegate actuator of a turbocharger. The valve includes a bobbin having a coil for generating a magnetic field and a stator having a top portion and an internal channel. The valve also includes a housing having a compressor port, a wastegate actuator port and an atmospheric port. The housing also includes a pair of walls for enabling movement of a permanent magnet between a first position wherein a magnetic attraction is formed between the top portion and the magnet to seal the internal channel to enable substantially equal boost pressure levels in the compressor and the wastegate actuator ports. The magnet is also movable to a second position wherein a magnetic field is generated by the coil for repelling the magnet to unseal the internal channel to enable a portion of the boost pressure level to be vented to atmosphere. |
| US08302389B2 |
Urea SCR diesel aftertreatment system
A device and method for catalytic reduction of NOx in gaseous products of a combustion process before entry into the atmosphere. The gaseous and particulate products of a combustion process flow radially through a radial flow particulate filter element (24) that is effective to trap particulate matter, and are then directed axially through a collector (26). An injector (30) introduces a reductant into an axial end of the collector for entrainment with axial flow through the collector in a direction away from the injector. Flow leaving the collector is directed through an SCR catalyst (40) where catalytic reduction of NOx occurs. |
| US08302388B2 |
Exhaust gas treating method and apparatus
After adjusting an exhaust gas temperature at an exit of a heat recovery unit (11) of an exhaust gas treating apparatus to not more than a dew point temperature of sulfur trioxide (SO3), a heavy metal adsorbent is supplied from a heavy metal adsorbent supply unit (16) disposed in an exhaust gas at an entrance of a precipitator (4) or an intermediate position within the precipitator (4), and the exhaust gas containing the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the precipitator (4). Preferably at this stage, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the exhaust gas at the entrance of the precipitator (4) 0.1 seconds after the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit (11) has been adjusted to not more than the dew point temperature of SO3. Further preferably, in order to prevent acid corrosion of equipment, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied after spraying an alkali into the exhaust gas at the entrance or exit of the heat recovery unit (11) and adjusting the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit to not more than the dew point temperature of SO3. Accordingly, even when coal with a high sulfur content is used as fuel, heavy metals in the exhaust gas can be removed effectively. |
| US08302386B2 |
Exhaust gas cleaning system for diesel engine
Each time a starting process for a diesel engine 2 is conducted and before the diesel engine 2 is started, any differences of the pressures P1 and P2 detected by first and second pressure sensors 21 and 22, respectively, with respect to a predetermined reference pressure value Pref, are computed and stored as first and second correction values ΔP1 and ΔP2, and then a differential pressure P12 across a particulate filter in the diesel engine 2 is computed using the pressure detection results of the first and second pressure sensors 21, 22 and the first and second correction values ΔP1, ΔP2. Thus, use of simply constructed and highly durable sensors during the detection of the differential pressure existing across the filter allows accurate measurement of this differential pressure. |
| US08302380B2 |
Desulfation systems and methods for lean NOx trap (LNT)
A desulfation control system includes a desulfation control module and a spark control module. The desulfation control module initiates a desulfation process in an emission reduction device by increasing temperature of the emission reduction device. The spark control module retards a spark timing to increase the temperature of the emission reduction device in response to the desulfation control module initiating the desulfation process. |
| US08302379B2 |
Passive ammonia-selective catalytic reduction for NOx control in internal combustion engines
Engine exhaust gas feedstream NOx emissions aftertreatment includes a catalytic device and first and second ammonia selective catalytic reduction devices. The first and second ammonia-selective catalytic reduction devices each includes a base metal. Engine operation can be modulated to generate an engine-out exhaust gas feedstream that converts to ammonia. The ammonia is stored on the first and second ammonia selective catalytic reduction devices and used to reduce NOx emissions in the exhaust gas feedstream. |
| US08302377B2 |
Ground-based simple cycle pulse detonation combustor based hybrid engine for power generation
An engine contains a compressor stage, a compressor plenum, an inlet valving stage, a PDC stage, a PDC exit nozzle stage, a transition stage, a high pressure turbine stage, a turbine plenum, and a low pressure turbine stage. The PDC stage contains at least one pulse detonation combustor and each of the compressor plenum, PDC exit nozzle stage and turbine plenum contain a volume used to reduce and/or widen pressure peaks generated by the operation of the PDC stage. |
| US08302374B2 |
Cut resistant yarn, a process for producing the yarn and products containing the yarn
Cut resistant yarns are provided which include filaments and/or staple fibers, the filaments and/or staple fibers containing a hard component to improve cut resistance of the yarn. The hard component is preferably a plurality of hard fibers having an average diameter of at most 25 microns. The yarns are made by melting or dissolving a polymer while mixing the polymer and the plurality of hard fibers followed by spinning the yarn from the mixture. |
| US08302373B2 |
Method of assembling filaments and bundle of filaments obtained by the method
Disclosed are a method of folding multiple filaments and a bundle of filament produced by the same. More particularly, the method of folding multiple filaments includes release-winding the filaments under a uniform release-winding tension, folding the released filaments in non-twisted states and winding the folded filaments to produce a bundle of filament, so as to effectively prevent some of the filaments in the bundle of filament from hanging down or becoming loose due to different tensions when the bundle of filament is release-wound for post processing. The bundle of filament includes a plurality of filaments folded together in non-twisted states and has a standard deviation in weight of the filaments per unit length of the bundle of filament ranging from 0.0001 to 0.01. |
| US08302371B2 |
Horse blanket allowing freer movement of a horse in use
A horse blanket allowing freer movement of a horse in use, comprising a generally rectangular piece of material with a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges. The blanket is split, from each side edge to the center line thereof, into a front section and a rear section, the front and rear sections being connected together at the center line of the blanket to define a flexible joint therebetween, about which the blanket articulates. The flexible joint extends to a position to each side of the center line. The flexible joint is positioned, in use, at a location to the rear of the horse's withers where the pommel of a saddle would be properly positioned. The articulation of the blanket about the flexible joint facilitates up and down movements, side to side movements, as well as twisting movements of the front section relative to the rear section in response to movements of the horse. |
| US08302364B2 |
Weatherproofing backer for window and door installation
A weatherproofing backer for installing windows and doors is described as having a foam layer and an adhesive layer. The adhesive is pressure-activated and is self-sealing about attaching hardware. The foam is self-setting and, in use, molds to the flange of the window unit. When installed, the foam layer is compressed between the inner window frame and rough opening and between the window flange and the wall surface adjacent the rough opening. The weatherproofing backer is designed to extend beyond the flange of the window unit and thereby receive the weatherproofing membrane thereover. The weatherproofing backer, then acts as a sealed bridge between the membrane and the window unit precluding entry of air and water. Both the foam and the adhesive have fire retardants in the formulation thereof. A tape form with a self-skinned foam layer and a sheet form, with polymeric covering web are provided. |
| US08302362B2 |
Modular decking system and an improved tread and bearer locating system therefor
A tread and bearer member locating system for a modular decking system, the modular decking system including decking in the form of a plurality of treads, and the decking being carried by one or more bearer members. The treads are elongate and have a longitudinal axis, a topside, an underside and a lateral width. The tread and bearer member locating system includes treads and bearer members, wherein the underside of at least one tread includes, at or near each end thereof, a bearer member receiving area, at least one of the bearer member receiving areas being bound longitudinally between a pair of spaced apart, downwardly extending locating projections, and laterally between opposed coupling members capable of, in use, coupling with correspondingly shaped coupling members in adjacent treads. |
| US08302361B2 |
Panel, especially floor panel
A panel, in particular floor panel (1, 2), with a core of wood material or a wood material/plastic mixture (17), a top side (18) and a bottom side (19), which panel has on at least two opposite lateral edges (I, II) a profiling corresponding to one another such that two identically embodied panels (1, 2) can be connected and locked to one another by an essentially vertical joining motion in the horizontal (H) and vertical (V) directions, wherein the locking in the vertical direction (V) can be brought about by at least one tongue element (3) movable in the horizontal direction (H), which element snaps into place during the joining motion behind a locking edge (4) extending essentially in the horizontal direction (H), is characterized in that the tongue element (3) is formed in one piece out of the core (17). |
| US08302356B2 |
Support pedestal having an anchoring washer for securing elevated surface tiles
A support pedestal that is adapted to support surface tiles to form an elevated building surface. The support pedestal can include a base member that is adapted to be placed upon a fixed surface and a support plate that is disposed over the base member for supporting a surface tile. An anchoring washer is fastened to the support plate and anchors adjacent surface tiles to the support pedestal. The anchoring washers can be rotated to selectively disengage from at least one of the adjacent surface tiles. By rotating an anchoring washer in each corner of a surface tile to disengage the anchoring washers, the surface tile can be easily and rapidly removed from the building surface without necessitating the removal of adjacent surface tiles. |
| US08302355B2 |
Simulated log siding
Simulated log siding is formed of an engineered cementitious composite. Single or dual flanges on each log piece is used to apply siding units to a surface. Some siding members are molded into a three dimensional configuration to appear as a structural wood log. Individual end pieces and molded tail clusters when used with the siding provide the appearance of the characteristic stacked or staggered corners of a log structure. |
| US08302349B2 |
Rescue passage window for passenger train
The present invention provides a rescue passage window for a passenger train, comprising an aluminum alloy outer frame, a hollow tempered glass, a movable sash, a fixed sash, a locking device, a rotating device and a sealing device, the aluminum alloy outer frame is a carrier to connect the structures of any other parts, the hollow tempered glass is inlaid on the aluminum alloy outer frame by the sealing device to form the fixed sash and the movable sash, the movable sash is suspended on the cross beam of the aluminum alloy outer frame by the rotating device to realize its connection with the aluminum alloy outer frame, reliable locking between the movable sash and the aluminum alloy outer frame is realized by the locking device, connection and sealing between the movable sash and the aluminum alloy outer frame is realized by the sealing device. The movable sash of the window of the present invention adopts the turnover structure, and the passing size after the movable sash is turned over can reach 970×600 mm, so that the rescue passage window can fully realize the function of smooth passing of stretchers for the wounded. |
| US08302347B2 |
Preformed decorative wrapper and methods of use thereof
A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper. |
| US08302345B2 |
Method of using a versatile pest station with interchangeable inserts
One aspect of the present invention provides a method of interchanging inserts in a pest station. A lock mechanism interlocking a lid to a base of a pest station is unlocked and the lid is opened. A first insert including an entrance mechanism is removed from a cavity of the pest station and a second insert including at least one of a bait, an attractant, and a snap trap is placed within the cavity of the pest station. The lid is closed and the locking mechanism is secured to interlock the lid to the base. |
| US08302343B2 |
Fish strike indicator
A fish strike signal that can selectively be placed in a storage position, a ready position or a deployed position. The signal has a main body with a storage ledge, a retainer and a pocket. A trigger is provided having a notch for engaging a segment of fishing line and having a kick-out post for deploying a signal. The kick-out post can be held with a pocket in the ready position. Rotation of the trigger caused by a strike forces the post from the pocket and causes the wire of the signal to clear a retainer on the side of the main body. A tension assembly is provided for adjusting the amount of force that is required to rotate the trigger. The post and a ledge holds the signal in place and the tensioner can be used to lock the signal in the storage position. |
| US08302338B2 |
In-store marketing sign
A marketing sign is constructed of a sheet material. The sheet material includes a free portion, a base portion and a connecting portion that couples the base portion to the free portion. The base portion includes an engaging piece and a support piece. The engaging piece is coupled to the support piece at a base bend line and configured to engage with a portion of a product display structure having a price holder. The connecting portion is defined between a first connecting bend line spaced apart from a second connecting bend line by a first distance. The first connecting bend line is adjacent the support piece of the base portion and the second connecting bend line is adjacent the free portion. The first distance substantially corresponds with a top edge thickness of the price holder. |
| US08302334B2 |
Ironing appliance comprising a boiling compartment in which the steam produced can freely escape to an ironing instrument
Steam wrinkle-removing appliance comprising a steam-producing boiling chamber (60) incorporated into a water tank (110), said boiling chamber (60) being in direct communication with the water tank (110) while being supplied with water by gravity via at least one supply line (70) extending from the tank (110), said boiling chamber (60) comprising a heating unit (4) and a steam outlet (62) through which the steam can freely flow toward a wrinkle-removing element (3) such as a steam brush, the tank (110) comprising a filling inlet (121A) in the upper part of the tank (110), characterized in that said steam outlet (62) is in direct communication with a hose (2) connected to the steaming element (3) so that the steam produced by the boiling chamber (60) is not diffused into the tank (110). |
| US08302329B2 |
Footwear with counter-supplementing strap
A heel cup formed from a flexible material is located under the heel region of an upper portion of an article of footwear. Lateral and medial counters extend upward from the heel cup on the lateral and medial sides, with the medial counter having a height less than that of the lateral counter, and with a rear edge of the heel cup being lower than the lateral and medial counters. A rear strap extends upward around the lateral counter and around the Achilles tendon of the wearer, and is secured to a location on the upper that is forward of the wearer's ankle. During cutting movements in which the article is worn on the outside foot, tilting of the wearer foot and ankle toward the medial side pulls the strap and causes the lateral counter to conform to and support the wearer heel. |
| US08302324B1 |
Oscillating hair dryer
A hair dryer includes a housing, a fan unit, a heating element, a motor and a handle. The housing is the body of the hair dryer and has an inlet end and an outlet end. The motor rotates the housing relative to the handle in an oscillating manner. The fan unit is mounted in the housing so that air from vents at the inlet end pass through the fan unit to be blown out through the outlet end of the housing. As such, the housing moves without requiring any movement of the user's hand, wrist, or arm. The handle also has a controller for activating operation, adjusting speed, and setting temperature. |
| US08302321B2 |
Apparatus and method of measuring workpieces
A method and apparatus for measuring a surface using a surface sensing device mounted on a scanning head on a member of a coordinate positioning apparatus. The coordinate positioning apparatus may be operated to produce relative movement between the scanning head and the surface profile and the scanning head includes a drive for producing rotational movement of the surface sensing probe about one or more axis. The coordinate positioning apparatus is driven to provide relative movement between the member and the surface profile in a circular path and the scanning head is driven to move the surface sensing device about said one or more axes, such that the surface sensing device maintains a nominally constant lead angle. The motion of the coordinate positioning apparatus and scanning head is synchronous. |
| US08302317B2 |
Scraper structure
The invention relates to a scraper structure, which is generally comprised of a long handle for handgrip and a scraping section in its front. Basically, the scraping section of the scraper is comprised of a jaw plate, a blade, a fastener and a fastening button. The front end of the scraping section extends downward or forward to form a blade slot and has a jaw base at the bottom to connect to the blade slot. The jaw plate has identical shape to the clamp jaw in the front of the jaw base. The fastener and the fastening button are combined to provide tightening and enable the clamp jaw in the front of the jaw plate to exert great pressure onto the blade and achieve quick blade replacement and assembly. Further, the fastening button can exert more force by the front hand in grasping the handle and achieve powerful scraping. |
| US08302316B2 |
Battery-operated razor
Battery operated appliances are provided. Some appliances include a housing defining a chamber having an interior wall, electronics within the chamber, a battery cover, and a closing system including (a) a first electrically conductive member secured to the battery cover, and (b) a second electrically conductive member secured to the interior wall of the housing and configured to engage the first electrically conductive member and thereby mechanically secure the battery cover to the housing while also establishing electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members. |
| US08302310B2 |
Method of making a sand screen on a base pipe
A rod-based well screen is formed in place on a perforated pipe base by wrapping wire around the pipe base and a plurality of rods located around the outside of the pipe. The wire is welded sequentially to each individual rod as it is wrapped around the pipe. The welding and ground electrodes engage the wire and the rods respectively. The rod engaging ground electrode is positioned a short distance ahead of the wire being wrapped around the rods and the pipe base. The ground electrode includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact is mounted to pivot toward and away from a rod. Springs urge each contact toward a rod to hold the rod against the outside surface of the pipe base and to maintain good electrical contact between the contact and the rod. Each contact has a groove to guide the rod into position for welding to the wire. |
| US08302300B2 |
Method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit board with plated through holes
A method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit board includes steps below. A first copper clad laminate includes a central portion and a peripheral portion is provided. A group of concentric copper annular collars is formed by etching the peripheral portion. A second copper clad laminate and an adhesive layer is laminated on to the first copper clad laminate in a manner that the adhesive is sandwiched between the first copper clad laminate and the second copper clad laminate to form a multilayer substrate. A detection hole is formed run through the multilayer substrate. An offset distance is determined and plated through holes in the central portion of the multilayer substrate is formed based on the offset distance. |
| US08302296B2 |
Friction weld coaxial connector and interconnection method
A coaxial connector for interconnection with a coaxial cable with a solid outer conductor by friction welding is provided with a monolithic connector body with a bore. A sidewall of the bore is provided with an inward annular projection angled toward a cable end of the bore. A sidewall of the inward annular projection and the sidewall of the bore form an annular friction groove open to a cable end of the bore. The annular friction groove is dimensioned with a taper at a connector end of the friction groove less than a thickness of a leading end of the outer conductor. The taper provides an annular material chamber between the leading end of the outer conductor, when seated in the friction groove, and the connector end of the friction groove. |
| US08302292B2 |
System and apparatus for improving truss fabrication automation
A truss assembly system may include a truss assembly station. The truss assembly station may be configured to enable assembly of a truss from truss members via an automatic sequential placement of the truss members based at least in part upon a planned location of pre-plated truss members within an assembled truss. The pre-plated truss members may be truss members including at least one connector plate installed thereon prior to placement at the truss assembly station. |
| US08302289B2 |
Apparatus for preparing an antenna for use with a wireless communication device
An apparatus for manufacturing wireless communication devices for use in tracking or identifying other items uses cutting techniques that allow the size of an antenna for the wireless communication device to vary. Further, the chip for the wireless communication device is nested so as to be flush with the surface of the substrate of the wireless communication device. Rollers cut the tabs that form the antenna elements. In a first embodiment, a plurality of rollers are used, each one effecting a different cut whose position may be phased so as to shorten or lengthen the antenna element. In a second embodiment, the rollers are independently positionable to shorten or lengthen the antenna element. |
| US08302287B2 |
Method of manufacturing a multilayer inductor
A multilayer inductor includes a bottom magnetic layer having an external conductive pattern formed on a bottom surface thereof for connection to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The bottom external conductive pattern includes signal/power contacts and first and second inductor electrodes. A top magnetic layer includes a top external conductive pattern having signal/power contacts and inductor electrode contacts. An inductor conductive pattern formed on the top surfaces of intermediate magnetic layers disposed between the top and bottom magnetic layers are electrically coupled to each other by means of through holes to form a spiral inductor element. |
| US08302285B2 |
Method of making a sensing unit
In a sensing unit according to the present invention, a spring portion having a support portion and a movable portion is conductive. A signal of a sensor portion provided on the movable portion of the spring portion is transmitted via the spring portion. Hence, the sensing unit according to the present invention has a simple constitution with a small number of components, and a wire does not necessarily have to be provided for each sensor portion. As a result, a reduction in manufacturing cost, simplification of the manufacturing process, and so on are achieved. |
| US08302283B2 |
Method and apparatus for connecting a hose to a fitting
An application for a clamp tool that has stop edges and ear edges. In one embodiment, stop edges close against each other while the ear edges, being cut deeper than the stop edges, do not touch each other and provide a space between which an ear of a clamp is position and closed by the clamp tool without cutting or nicking unnecessarily into the ear of the clamp. In some embodiments, the width of the stop edges is made to provide an alignment tool for proper alignment of the clamp on a hose over features of a fitting. |
| US08302282B2 |
System and/or assembly for installing fastening devices and method of installing fastening devices using the system or assembly
Placing device for placing a fastener. The device includes a housing, a mounting surface for a fastener and comprising an opening, a drive mandrel comprising a rotation axis and a portion which passes through the opening and that is structured and arranged to engage the fastener, and a fork-shaped receptacle arranged at least one of in an area of the mounting surface, adjacent the mounting surface, and associated with the mounting surface. |
| US08302279B1 |
Doorframe removing method and apparatus
A doorframe removing apparatus includes an end wall. A pair of legs each has a first end a second end. The first ends are attached to the end wall. The legs are orientated substantially parallel to each other. An end wall coupler is attached to the first side of the end wall. A frame coupler is removably attached to a doorframe attached to a perimeter edge of a door orifice in a wall. An urging member is removably attached to and extends between the end wall coupler and the frame coupler. The urging member is configured to urge the frame coupler toward the end wall coupler. The second ends of the legs are positioned on opposite sides of the doorframe and supported against the perimeter edge. The urging member is actuated to pull the doorframe away from the perimeter edge of the door orifice. |
| US08302277B2 |
Module and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a module is provided that can alleviate a decrease in cutting yield. This method includes: a step of mounting, on a wiring board having a plurality of mounting regions enclosed by cutting lines on its upper surface, an electronic component in each of the mounting regions; a step of cutting the wiring board along the cutting lines; a step of forming a sealing resin layer so as to seal the electronic component to cover at least part of upper and side surfaces of the cut wiring board; and a step of cutting the sealing resin layer along cut portions (cutting lines) of the cut wiring board. |
| US08302274B1 |
Blade removal assistance tool system
A blade pipe has an exterior end and an interior end with a tube for receiving a lawnmower blade. A locking nut, threadedly received in the tube, retains the blade within the tube. A wrench pipe has an exterior end and an interior end with a recess adapted to receive a wrench. A threaded pivot pin extends radially from the wrench pipe adjacent to the recess. A slide has a blade end and a wrench end, an aperture adjacent to the blade end, and a pivot bolt extending through the aperture and threadedly received in the tube. The slide has a slot slidably receiving the pivot pin. |
| US08302270B2 |
Method of manufacturing capacitor-embedded PCB
A method of manufacturing a capacitor-embedded printed circuit board that includes fabricating a capacitor substrate having at least one inner electrode formed on one side of a dielectric layer; aligning a semi-cured insulation layer with one side of a core layer, and aligning the capacitor substrate with the semi-cured insulation layer such that the inner electrode faces the semi-cured insulation layer; and collectively stacking the core layer, the semi-cured insulation layer, and the capacitor substrate. |
| US08302269B2 |
Fastening device
A fastening device includes a first female component and a second male component, each component adapted for attachment to a back panel, wing or strap of a garment or the like, the first component includes a plastic first plate having an inner side and an outer side. The second component includes a second plastic plate having an inner side and an outer side adapted to at least partially overlie the outer side of the first plate in use. The first plate is formed with a plurality of connecting recesses and the inner side of the second plate is formed with at least one connecting protrusion adapted to be releasably received and retained selectively in any one of the connecting recesses. The second plate is formed with a resilient nose inclined downwardly in the direction from its outer side towards its inner side and is deflected upwardly when the components are coupled together to bear resiliently against the outer side of the first plate. |
| US08302268B2 |
Method for producing a hermetic plastic zipper and a hermetic plastic zipper
A method of continuously manufacturing a hermetic plastic zipper wherein the plastic zipper has a readily peelable plastic layer prolonging in a lengthwise direction of the plastic zipper, the readily peelable plastic layer is welded using ultrasonic wave so that the peeling intensity of the welded portion is within a certain range, the method is characterized in that while the engaging portions are brought into a engaged state, the portion of the plastic zipper where the readily peelable plastic layer exists is inserted between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil, and the readily peelable layer is welded by using ultrasonic wave under a condition wherein the distance L between the ultrasonic horn and the anvil is uniformly held at an distance of H≧L≧0.85H wherein H stands for a maximum thickness of the plastic zipper under the engaged state. |
| US08302266B2 |
Resilient rotation buckle
A resilient rotation buckle includes a decoration plate and the belt coupling structure having an end coupled to a belt. The decoration plate and the belt coupling structure form a rotation shaft and a rotation assembly that cooperate each other. The rotation assembly includes a receptacle compartment having a wall forming a through hole for receiving the rotation shaft therethrough, springs, and retention blocks. An accommodation channel is defined in the receptacle compartment in a direction normal to the through hole. When the rotation shaft is inserted, the retention blocks are in contact engagement with an outer circumference of the rotation shaft. The springs have first ends in biasing engagement with the retention blocks and second ends supported by walls of the accommodation channel. The rotation shaft and the rotation assembly allow for relative rotation therebetween for switching between a locked position and a released position. |
| US08302265B1 |
Wire gripper for supporting an electrical box or suspended load
A wire gripper for positively locking a wire in place between an overhead support and a suspended load such that it can support the suspended load and maintain tension on the wire. The wire gripper includes an elongated body with a through bore and a threaded bore intersecting the through bore. Two open channels extend through the body parallel with and on either side of the threaded bore. A threaded fastener extends into the threaded bore. A U-shaped clip member with two legs is carried by the threaded fastener. By passing one or more wires through the through bore and tightening the fastener, six points of contact can be brought to bear against the inserted wires and thereby lock the wires with respect to the wire gripper. |
| US08302260B2 |
Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly has a pintle, a stationary leaf, a rotating leaf, a rotating pressing disk, a stationary pressing disk, a biasing assembly and a fastener. The rotating pressing disk is mounted rotatably around the pintle, is attached non-rotatably to the rotating leaf and has a track face, an inner track and an outer track. The stationary pressing disk is mounted securely around the pintle and has a protrusion face, an inner protrusion and an outer protrusion. The inner and outer protrusions respectively contact slidably with the inner and outer track on the rotating pressing disk. With the arrangement of the inner and outer tracks on the rotating pressing disk and the inner and outer protrusions on the stationary pressing disk, the resistance provided by the hinge assembly is variable. |
| US08302254B2 |
Dirt-collecting device for a floor-cleaning machine, and floor-cleaning machine having such a dirt-collecting device
The invention relates to a dirt-collecting device for a floor-cleaning machine, for picking up a liquid from a floor surface which is to be cleaned, having a carrier and at least one wiping member for wiping the floor surface, the carrier and the at least one wiping member bounding a suction channel which opens out into a suction mouth and of which the free cross-sectional area, through which a suction stream can pass, decreases, at least in one channel portion, in a direction away from the suction mouth. In order to produce such a dirt-collecting device in a more cost-effective manner, it is proposed according to the invention that the suction channel has disposed in it at least one channel-narrowing member, which is produced separately from the carrier. The invention also relates to a floor-cleaning machine having such a dirt-collecting device. |
| US08302252B2 |
Dust separating apparatus of vacuum cleaner
A dust separator for a vacuum cleaner including a body having a pair of spaced apart ends, a first air inlet formed in the body and being configured to receive an air flow containing dust, and a dust outlet formed inwardly of the spaced apart ends and apart from the first air inlet to discharge dust separated in the body, is provided. In addition, a cross-sectional area of the body at the dust outlet is greater than a cross-sectional area of the body at the first air inlet. |
| US08302251B2 |
Handheld vacuum unit retention features
A vacuum cleaner having a base with an inlet facing a surface, a handle connected to the base, an air passage connecting the base inlet to the handle, and a removable handheld unit. The handheld has an inlet nozzle, a dirt separator, a vacuum fan to generate a working airflow into the inlet nozzle and through the dirt separator, and a housing joining the handheld, the dirt separator and the vacuum fan. The vacuum has a docking latch with a first latch position in which the latch holds the handheld in an operating position on the handle, and a second position in which the latch permits removal of the handheld from the operating position. The vacuum also has a safety catch with a catch member on the handle and a second member on the handheld. The catch members resiliently hold the handheld unit on the handle in a partially-removed position. |
| US08302250B2 |
Cleaning appliance
A hand-held cleaning appliance includes a suction conduit having a longitudinal axis, an airflow generator generating an airflow along the suction conduit, a separating apparatus arranged in communication with the suction conduit for separating dirt and dust from the airflow, a power source supplying power to the airflow generator and an elongate handle disposed between the airflow generator and the power source. The elongate handle is dimensioned and arranged to be gripped by a user's hand and the elongate handle lies transverse to the longitudinal axis of the suction conduit. By providing a hand-held vacuum cleaner with such an arrangement, the hand-held vacuum cleaner is easier and more comfortable to manipulate in use. |
| US08302249B1 |
Vacuum cleaning system and method of use
A vacuum cleaning system which has particular application to the oil-field industry. The system includes a vacuum unit for suctioning material from a surface to recycle, reclaim or cleanup said material. The system also includes a collection and discharge unit operable to automatically discharge, into an open atmosphere, an amount of the suctioned material collected while suctioning continues by the vacuum unit. The automatic discharging cycle of the collection and discharge unit allows drilling fluid to be rapidly vacuumed up and discharged to minimize settlement of debris in the collected material. |
| US08302240B2 |
Selectively adjustable steering mechanism for use on a floor cleaning machine
A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel that is interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor cleaning machine, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement. |
| US08302236B2 |
Boarding bridge with air conditioner facility
A mobile boarding bridge (101) is equipped with climate control facilities. The mobile boarding bridge is furnished with multiple collapsible tunnels (110, 120). A heating/cooling device (160) comprising a climate controller (161) generates hot or cold air and is furnished on the outside of the first tunnel (110) of said tunnels. A connection pipe (163) that connects to ducts (164) within the tunnel is attached to said climate controller (161). A duct (164) connected to said connection pipe (163) directs air that has been heated/cooled by the heating-cooling device (160) to the interior of the first tunnel (110). An aspirator comprises an air intake (171) which intakes air from the interior of the tunnel and an intake pipe (172) which leads air taken in at said air intake (171) to the interior of the climate controller (161). |
| US08302234B2 |
Article of footwear with a sole structure having fluid-filled support elements
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert. |
| US08302232B2 |
Washing machine and method of controlling a washing machine
The present invention relates to a washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine. According to a washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine in accordance with the present invention, a drum operates at a first speed so that part of the laundry tumbles within the drum and another part of the laundry adheres within the drum. The drum operates at a second speed lower than the first speed so that an amount of the tumbling laundry is more increased than at the first speed. Accordingly, at the time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and laundry balancing can be ensured. |
| US08302228B2 |
Lower extremity surgical positioning device
The present inventive subject matter is the method of use as well as a device or fixture for positioning and manipulating a patient's lower extremity for surgical and diagnostic procedures where alignment is critical and minute adjustments may be required. Once firmly attached to the operating table, the device prevents the patient's extremity from moving after the physician has selected the precise position for the elected procedure. This is achieved by a combination of a fracture reduction plate, posts, shimming blocks and an articulating and rotating frame or cradle with an adjustable and lockable rack and gear configuration and pivot joints attached to a foot assembly which acts as a leg and foot splint. The cradle is attached to the patient via a series of adjustable straps preventing the extremity from moving independently of the cradle. |
| US08302222B2 |
Patient transfer mattresses
A patient transfer mattress is disclosed which includes a plurality of pods connecting the upper and lower sheets of the mattress. The pods may include a first aperture in a side wall thereof and a second aperture in an end thereof, said first and second apertures allowing air to flow from within a main cavity of the mattress and out to form a cushion of air beneath the mattress. One or more of the pods may also include a perforated disc positioned between the opposite ends thereby dividing the pod into upper and lower portions. The perforated disc controls air flow between the upper and lower portions to buffer local changes in air pressure caused by pump pressure, patient body weight or saturation. |
| US08302218B2 |
Reconfigurable tub assembly
The present invention relates to a tub for bathing infants or children. The tub includes a receptacle for containing water and for receiving an infant. The tub also includes a selectively removable insert or positioning member that can be used to change the bathing area inside of the tub. When the positioning member is locked to the tub, the positioning member defines two separate infant seating positions within the tub. The positioning member is removable from the tub to allow the entire receptacle to be used. |
| US08302216B2 |
Ambidextrous glove
An ambidextrous glove that includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region and little finger region all aligned along a common axis. The index finger region is rotated through ninety degrees relative to the orientations of all of the middle, ring and little finger regions to provide for easier insertion of a hand into the glove. A textured pattern is provided on the surfaces of the glove used to grip objects. The pattern is one of a raised fan shape and raised diamond shape. |
| US08302213B2 |
Helmets and vests
Disclosed is an assembly which can include a hardened outer shell and an inner surface comprising a polymeric gel. The polymeric gel is enclosed within an envelope having opposed layers and is attached to the outer hardened surface cover. The hardened outer surface cover may be comprised of most any material known within the art. The sporting or shooting vest comprises a garment including gel-filled pockets or envelopes whereby impact can be absorbed and dissipated. Additionally, the outer layer of the shooting vest may be comprised of a Kevlar material wherein the vest would become a ballistic vest. |
| US08307461B2 |
Fabrication of a microcantilever microwave probe
A microwave probe having a metal tip on the free end of a microcantilever. In one embodiment, a pyramidal pit is isotropically etched in a device wafer of monocrystalline silicon. Oxidation may sharpen the pit. Deposited metal forms the metal tip in the pit and a bottom shield. Other metal sandwiched between equally thick dielectric layers contact the tip and form a conduction path along the cantilever for the probe and detected signals. Further metal forms a top shield overlying the conduction path and the dielectrically isolated tip and having equal thickness to the bottom shield, thus producing together with the symmetric dielectric layers a balanced structure with reduced thermal bending. The device wafer is bonded to a handle wafer. The handle is formed and remaining silicon of the device wafer is removed to release the cantilever. |
| US08307460B2 |
Method and apparatus for getting content information when DRM agent and rendering application are implemented on separate devices
A method and apparatus which can reduce the communication time that occurs due to transmission of an encrypted content, when a Digital Rights Management (DRM) agent and a rendering application are implemented in different devices respectively, is provided. A method of obtaining content information in an environment where a DRM agent and a rendering application are separated from each other, includes transmitting, by a consumer electronics (CE) device comprising the rendering application, first N bytes of the content to a portable Digital Rights Management (PDRM) device comprising the DRM agent, and obtaining, by the PDRM device, information about the content by using a cryptographic hash with respect to the first N bytes, and transmitting the obtained information to the CE device. |
| US08307458B2 |
Content data delivery system, and method for delivering an encrypted content data
A handheld device is configured to be connectable to a storage media that holds a unique media identifier and holds a content key data used to decrypt an encrypted content data. A content data delivery system is provided that is configured to be able to deliver various data to the handheld device and to make a content data available to the handheld device. The system includes a member-registration information database that holds member-registration information including a data pair of a handheld-device identifier related to the relevant handheld device and the relevant media identifier. The media identifier held by the storage media is verified with the member-registration information database. When it is determined that the media identifier corresponds to the member-registration information, the content key data held in the storage media is read, and it is determined whether an encrypted content data corresponding to the read content key data is stored in the storage media or other storage media coupled to the storage media. The encrypted content data is transferred to the storage media or the like depending on the user's specification. |
| US08307449B2 |
Image processing apparatus, document connecting method, and storage medium storing control program for executing the method
An image processing apparatus which is capable of managing security information on electronic documents before and after merging at a low cost. A CPU circuit causes input electronic documents with attribute information added thereto to be stored in a HDD. The CPU circuit causes selected ones of the electronic documents to be merged while updating attribute information on the merged electronic document. |
| US08307445B2 |
Anti-worm program, anti-worm apparatus, and anti-worm method
An anti-worm program allows a computer to execute control of communication suspected as worm communication, the program allowing the computer to execute: a communication information acquisition step that acquires communication information which is information concerning communication from a target source; and a communication control step that has a control amount calculation formula for calculating the control amount of the communication from the target source using the communication information and performs control of the communication from the target source based on the communication control amount obtained using the control amount calculation formula. |
| US08307441B2 |
Log-based traceback system and method using centroid decomposition technique
There are provided a system and method for tracing back an attacker by using centroid decomposition technique, the system including: a log data input module collecting log data of an intrusion alarm from an intrusion detection system; a centroid node detection module generating a shortest path tree by applying a shortest path algorithm to network router connection information collected by a network administration server, detecting a centroid node by applying centroid decomposition technique removing a leaf-node to the shortest path tree, and generating a centroid tree whose node of each level is the detected centroid node; and a traceback processing module requesting log data of a router matched with the node of each level of the centroid tree, and tracing back a router identical to the log data of the collected intrusion alarm as a router connected to a source of an attacker by comparing the log data of the router with the log data of the collected intrusion alarm. According to the system and method, an attacker causing a security intrusion event may be quickly detected, a load on the system is reduced, and a passage host exposed to a danger or having weaknesses may be easily recognized, thereby easily coping with an attack. |
| US08307435B1 |
Software object corruption detection
The execution of a software application is diverted to detect software object corruption in the software application. Software objects used by the software application are identified and their pointers are inspected. One or more tests are applied to pointers pointing to the virtual method tables of the software objects, addresses (or pointers) in the virtual method tables, and memory attributes or content of the memory buffer identified by the addresses for inconsistencies that indicate corruption. A determination of whether the software objects are corrupted is made based on the outcome of the tests. If software object corruption is detected, proper corrective actions are applied to prevent malicious exploitation of the corruption. |
| US08307422B2 |
Routing device having integrated MPLS-aware firewall
An MPLS-aware firewall allows firewall security policies to be applied to MPLS traffic. The firewall, which may be integrated within a routing device, can be configured into multiple virtual security systems. The routing device provides a user interface by which a user specifies one or more zones to be recognized by the integrated firewall when applying stateful firewall services to the packets. The user interface allows the user to define different zones and policies for different ones of the virtual security systems. In addition, the user interface supports a syntax that allows the user to define the zones for the firewall by specifying the customer VPNs as interfaces associated with the zones. The routing device generates mapping information for the integrated firewall to map the customer VPNs to specific MPLS labels for the MPLS tunnels carrying the customer's traffic. |
| US08307418B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing application layer firewall and integrated deep packet inspection functions for providing early intrusion detection and intrusion prevention at an edge networking device
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for an application layer firewall function including an integrated deep packet inspection function for providing early intrusion detection and intrusion prevention at an edge networking device are disclosed. According to one method, steps are performed at a session controller configured to operate at the border of a first network and a second network. The steps include receiving, at an intrusion protection system (IPS) module of the session controller interfacing with modules associated with layers 2 and above of a protocol stack of the session controller, information gathered by modules located at lower layers and associated with an intrusion attempt, vulnerability, or other security policy violation. In response to receiving the information, the IPS module provides at least one of a security policy and a rule to a module located at the most appropriate layer for securing the intrusion attempt, vulnerability, or other security policy violation. |
| US08307417B2 |
Port enablement
Included are embodiments for port enablement. One embodiment of a method includes inserting a streams module in a kernel space of a host device, the streams module being coupled to a stream head, the streams module coupled to a transmission control protocol (TCP) module and receiving a bind request on a socket, the bind request associated with an application. Embodiments also include determining a process name associated with the received bind request, determining, based on the determined process name, a meta-configuration rule for a firewall configuration of the application and utilizing the determined meta-configuration rule for the firewall configuration of the application. |
| US08307414B2 |
Method and system for distributed, localized authentication in the framework of 802.11
A method for controlling Internet access of a mobile device by using a communication system having a number of access points includes the steps of performing a certificate-based authentication between an authentication access point and a mobile device seeking access to the Internet; transmitting a certificate from the mobile device to the authentication access point; verifying the certificate by the authentication access point; determining whether the authenticating mobile device's certificate has been revoked prior to the expiration of its lifetime; and granting the authenticating mobile device access to the Internet, if the certificate has been verified successfully and not revoked prior to the expiration of its lifetime. |
| US08307412B2 |
User authentication management
End users of a multi-factor authentication service can utilize an account management service, and third-party website can register to utilize the multi-factor authentication service. Registering a third-party website can comprise the multi-factor authentication service receiving a valid digital identity certificate for the third-party website, and receiving an agreement to terms of use of the multi-factor authentication service for the third-party website. Once received, the multi-factor authentication service can enable the third-party website to utilize the service (e.g., switch the service on, or send an authorization key to the third-party website). Further, registering a user to the multi-factor authentication service can comprise determining availability of service, and providing a location-specific access code. Additionally, registering the user can comprise registering the user's mobile device, for example, to provide multi-factor authentication. Also, an Internet-based user account management user interface can be provided that allows a user to view transactions on their account, and an ability to shut off a designated mobile device's ability to authenticate. |
| US08307411B2 |
Generic framework for EAP
An EAP-based authentication framework is provided that decouples credential acquisition from EAP methods that use credentials for authentication. An application may request from an EAP method parameters of credentials required by the EAP method. In response, the EAP method provides credential parameters, which may then be used by the application to acquire credentials consistent with the parameters from the user or other entity. The framework enables an application to request credentials in a context specific way. In addition, the application may simultaneously obtain credentials used in multiple authentication operations through a single user interface, or retain credentials for later use without further prompting a user such that a Single Sign-on user experience may be implemented. Additionally, the application can obtain credentials from a device so that the device may gain network access without requiring a user logon. |
| US08307410B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing for secure offline data transfer between wireless smart devices
According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a method for registering wireless smart devices for secure offline data transfer is provided. The method includes, for an application configured to execute on a wireless smart device and that requires access to information regarding an account that does not reside on the wireless smart device, register, at a server having access to the information regarding the account, a first wireless smart device has an account owner device (AOD) for operating in an online mode for obtaining the information regarding the account from the server and for operating in an offline mode for transferring the information regarding the account to at least one additional device via a secure offline data transfer using near field communications (NFC). The method further includes registering, at the server, at least one second wireless smart device as an account sharer device (ASD) for operating in an offline mode for receiving the information regarding the account from the first wireless smart device via the secure offline data transfer using NFC. |
| US08307409B2 |
Electronic information management device, computer readable recording medium, method for controlling access, and method for transferring data
An electronic information management device includes: an associating unit that associates electronic information with first access right information with respect to each user, the electronic information being associated with an associated site so that the electronic information is stored at the associated site, the associating unit further associating the associated site with second access right information with respect to each user; a receiving unit that receives a request for access to the electronic information from a user; a determining unit that, when the receiving unit receives a request for access to the electronic information, determines the sum of the first access right information and the second access right information, and, based on the sum of the access right information, determines whether to allow the user to access the electronic information; and an access controlling unit that controls access to the electronic information in accordance with the determination result of the determining unit. |
| US08307408B2 |
System and method for file processing and file processing program
A cipher processing system for allowing file access while maintaining the integrity without a user being aware of the difference between files when the user accesses a file in a folder containing both a ciphertext file and a plaintext file. If a folder stores both a ciphertext file and a plaintext file, the ciphertext file is attached with identification information (preferably, footer information) indicating that the file is a ciphertext file, so that a plaintext file and a ciphertext file can be differentiated from each other when the files are read. A deciphered file gained by removing identification information from a ciphertext file and deciphering the file is delivered to an upper-level application. If the read file is a plaintext file, decipher processing is not executed on the plaintext file but the plaintext file is passed to the upper-level application program. |
| US08307399B2 |
Method of providing key frames of video in mobile terminal
A display configured to display a list of videos that can be reproduced on the terminal on a screen of the terminal, an input unit configured to select a specific video from the list of videos, and a controller configured to select a plurality of key frames from image frames of the specific video based on a predetermined selection criterion. Further, the display displays the plurality of key frames of the specific video. |
| US08307394B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method in digital broadcasting receiver for adjusting digital broadcast image in response to caption information
In an image processing apparatus and method, a digital broadcasting receiver enables electronic program guide (EPG) information data and digital broadcasting image data not to visually overlap each other when digital broadcasting image data of a channel, including caption information, is processed. The image processor of the digital broadcasting receiver determines whether a changed channel includes caption information, and when the changed channel includes the caption information, the image processor scales down the digital broadcasting image data received from a digital broadcasting server, displays the scaled down digital broadcasting image data on one side of a screen, and displays EPG information data on another side of the screen. |
| US08307392B2 |
Systems and methods for inserting ads during playback of video media
The solution of the ad delivery platform described herein provides for the marketing and monetizing of media assets via the delivery of advertisement with on-demand video. The ad platform optimizes the delivery of ads by controlling the insertion frequency and format of the ad delivered with video streams. The ad platform provides flexible and configurable ad insertion rules to specify the insertion frequency and format for the composition of ads during playback of on-demand video media. The ad insertion rules may be based on a user profile, user behavior history, topic of the stream to be delivered, duration of the video or ad, and/or the popularity rating of the video or ad. The ad platform includes a reporting tool and usage reports to measure the effectiveness of the ad insertion rules in delivering ads to market and monetize the video media. The ad platform also includes an ad inventory management and forecasting tool for determining the available inventory of ad placement based on data collected over a period of time regarding the delivery of ads and the ad insertion rules to be used for the delivery of a desired ad. With these tools, a more effective ad campaign can be created based on the target information and optimization via the ad insertion rules. |
| US08307391B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
An information processing apparatus and an information processing method for providing the results of searches of broadcast content. A search space processing section acquires a search keyword based on search information coming from a user terminal, and searches a search keyword dictionary database for search-related keyword data related to the search keyword. On the basis of the search keyword and search-related keyword data, the search space processing section generates a search keyword space and submits the generated space to a correction process. A search processing section compares the corrected search keyword space, EPG data, and an EPG keyword space for a match. A search display processing section prepares a list of display-ready information from the result of the matching and sends the list to the user terminal. |
| US08307390B2 |
Re-addressable alternate content
Providing re-addressable alternate video content to consumers during trickplay modes of operation. For example, providing first video content for standard playback to a consumer; receiving a first consumer request for a first trick mode operation during the standard playback of the first video content; responsive to the first consumer request, providing addressable second video content, different from the first video content, to the consumer; receiving, during providing of the addressable second video content, a second consumer request for a second trick mode operation on the addressable second video content; and responsive to the second consumer request, providing addressable third video content, different from the first and second video contents, to the consumer. |
| US08307381B2 |
Optical pickup device and optical disk drive apparatus
An optical pickup device includes an optical part module having a light emitting device and an optical pickup case to which the optical part module is fixed by way of an adhesive, in which the optical part module is adhesively fixed by disposing a bonding surface of the optical part module to the optical pickup case at least at two positions on lateral surfaces of the optical part module putting an optical axis therebetween, and a bonding distance L in the lateral surface between the optical part module and the optical pickup is defined as: 40 μm |
| US08307378B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for a lightweight directory access protocol client application program interface
A device, including a computer readable medium storing executable computer instructions for implementing an application program interface (API). The API including a function call for enabling communications between a calling application and a client on the device, the client communicating with a directory server. In another aspect, there is provided a computer-readable medium, including executable computer instructions for implementing an application program interface (API) on a device. The API, including a function call for enabling communications between a calling application and a client on the device, the client communicating with a directory server. |
| US08307372B2 |
Method for declarative semantic expression of user intent to enable goal-driven information processing
A method for constructing a processing request so that an information processing application satisfying the processing request can be assembled, includes: inputting a processing request, wherein the processing request includes a goal that is represented by a graph pattern that semantically describes a desired processing outcome; and assembling a processing graph that includes at least one component that satisfies the desired processing outcome, wherein the processing graph is assembled by associating the graph pattern that semantically describes the desired processing outcome with a graph pattern that semantically describes an applicability condition of the at least one component or a graph pattern that semantically describes an inclusion effect of the at least one component. |
| US08307370B2 |
Apparatus and method for balancing load in multi-core processor system
An apparatus and method to balance a load in a multi-core processor system. The apparatus includes a data channel module which includes a queue, and which transmits data between a plurality of threads and transmits queue state information regarding the queue, and a data channel management module which periodically analyzes data traffic between the plurality of threads by determining a state of the queue based on the queue state information, and which generates information used to adjust a load of each of the plurality of threads based on a result of the analysis. |
| US08307369B2 |
Power control method for virtual machine and virtual computer system
Provided is a method of controlling a virtual computer system in which a physical computer includes a plurality of physical CPUs that is switchable between a sleep state and a normal state, and a virtualization control unit divides the physical computer into a plurality of logical partitions to run a guest OS in each of the logical partitions and controls allocation of resources of the physical computer to the logical partitions, causes the virtualization control unit to: receive an operation instruction for operating the logical partitions; and if the operation instruction is for deleting a virtual CPU from one of the logical partitions, delete this virtual CPU from a table for managing virtual CPU-physical CPU allocation and put, if the deleting leaves no virtual CPUs allocated to one of the physical CPUs that has been allocated the deleted virtual CPU, this one of the physical CPUs into the sleep state. |
| US08307365B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing execution of activeX control
An apparatus and method for managing the execution of ActiveX control are provided. The apparatus includes a server list managing module for managing an approved server list for allowing the execution of predetermined ActiveX control and a disapproved server list for disallowing the execution of predetermined ActiveX control, an API hooking module for detecting installation or execution of ActiveX control in a HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document while visiting a web site, and a process module for reading the approved and disapproved server lists if the API hooking module detects the execution of the ActiveX control, allowing the execution of each ActiveX control only within approved web sites, and interrupting the execution of ActiveX control in disapproved web sites. |
| US08307363B2 |
Virtual machine system, restarting method of virtual machine and system
A virtual machine system includes a first operating system for operating a virtual machine, a first manager for controlling to divide a physical resource into a plurality of virtual resources and assign at least one of the plurality of virtual resources as a unit to the virtual machine, the physical resource including at least a central processing unit and a memory, and a second operating system for controlling the first operating system, the second operating system being connected to a storage unit. |
| US08307357B2 |
Methods and apparatus for customizing user-interface control in existing application
Techniques for altering application user-interface controls are provided. More particularly the customization of a new or existing user-interface control in an application user-interface is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a method for customizing user-interface controls of an existing application comprises the recording of a procedure description performed by a user in the application user-interface. A new or modified application user-interface control relating to the procedure description is then installed in the existing application. |
| US08307354B2 |
Program creation device, program test device, program execution device, information processing system
A program generation apparatus generates an obfuscated program difficult to analyze from outside and a program execution apparatus executes the program. The program generation apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a 1st program including one or more instructions, the 1st program causing a process by executing the instructions in a predetermined order to obtain a result; a generation unit that generates a 2nd program based on the 1st program; and an output unit that outputs the 2nd program. The 2nd program causes a process that is different from the process caused by the 1st program and varies according to current information determined at execution of the 2nd program in order to obtain a result identical to the result of the 1st program. |
| US08307353B2 |
Cross-domain inlining in a system virtual machine
A system and method are provided for inlining across protection domain boundaries with a system virtual machine. A protection domain comprises a unique combination of a privilege level and a memory address space. The system virtual machine interprets or dynamically compiles not only application code executing under guest operating systems, but also the guest operating systems. For a program call that crosses a protection domain boundary, the virtual machine assembles an intermediate representation (IR) graph that spans the boundary. Region nodes corresponding to code on both sides of the call are enhanced with information identifying the applicable protection domains. The IR is optimized and used to generate instructions in a native ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) of the virtual machine. Individual instructions reveal the protection domain in which they are to operate, and instructions corresponding to different domains may be interleaved. |
| US08307348B2 |
Simplified representation of XML schema structures
A software development system and method are provided. The system includes a transform component to convert a schema file into a simplified graphical data representation that coincides with a data representation associated with an underlying instance document. A viewing component displays the simplified graphical data representation. |
| US08307347B2 |
Collecting and analyzing graphical data flow web application results from multiple users
System and method for performing program-related operations over a network via a web browser. A network connection is established between a server computer and a client computer over a network. A universal resource identifier (URI) is sent from the client computer to the server computer over the network, where the URI indicates a program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), or at least a portion of a graphical program interactive development environment (GPIDE), e.g., a graphical program editor, an execution engine, a static or dynamic analyzer, and/or compiler. The at least a portion of the GPIDE is received from the server computer over the network in response to the URI, and executed in a web browser of the client computer to perform some specified functionality with respect to the GP. |
| US08307343B2 |
Application and database context correlation for database application developers
Infrastructure for capturing and correlating application context and database context for tuning, profiling and debugging tasks. The application context can include events such as data access events, and the database context can include events such as database server events. The events can be obtained from server tracing, data access layer tracing, and/or application tracing and written into respective log files. A data access event can indicate that an application consumed a row from a result set returned from a DBMS query. A post-processing step can correlate the application and database contexts by tokenizing strings and computing intersections between the tokenized strings. A tool inside a development environment may also suggest a query hint for the database or a data access API for the application based on the correlated context. |
| US08307341B2 |
Generating customized documentation for a software product
A system and method for creating customized documentation is disclosed. The method comprises storing one or more documents such that each of the one or more documents corresponds to one of a plurality of versions of a software product. The version of the software product which is installed in an installation environment is detected. The configuration of the installation environment is also detected. At least one document from the one or more documents that corresponds to the version of the software product installed in the installation environment is selected. A subset of the selected document that includes the version of the software product installed in the installation environment and the configuration of the installation environment is then determined. A customized document is composed, based on one or more subsets of the selected document. |
| US08307336B1 |
Mechanism for enabling a set of output from a functional component to be presented on different types of clients
An output processor for transforming the output produced by a functional component into different forms that can be consumed and presented by different types of clients is disclosed. With this output processor, a functional component is allowed to produce a single set of output that is not targeted at any particular type of client. The output processor then determines which type of client is requesting the output, and transforms the output into a form that can be consumed and presented by that type of client. By performing this transformation, the output processor allows the implementation of the functional component to be decoupled from the client that is requesting output from the functional component. This decoupling in turn enables the amount of effort needed to develop and maintain functional components in a large scale program to be significantly reduced. |
| US08307332B2 |
Code editing for data traffic modification
Apparatus and associated systems and methods may relate to a data traffic modification system that may receive operating code developed using a graphical user interface (GUI) that permits substantially real-time editing of instructions that have been determined to include errors. In various implementations, a data traffic modification device may selectively modify data traffic upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition. In one illustrative example, operating code may be developed by sequentially editing individual instructions. Upon modifying each instruction, the validity of the operating code with the edited instruction may be checked, and the GUI may display the updated code substantially in real time during an editing session. The GUI may display an indication of the validity status of the set of instructions. In some embodiments, the user may be permitted to continue editing the code within the GUI while the set of instructions contains errors. |
| US08307329B2 |
Implicit composition of component bindings
Component domains used to define a binding between various components associated with the component domain. The component domain tracks the various services to be imported by each component, and tracks the various services exported by each component. At runtime, rather than at compile time, the various interrelations between the components are bound using the service import and export data. Accordingly, depending on the components available and their characteristics, the bindings may differ. This permits applications to be much more flexible. |
| US08307328B1 |
Accessing external functionality from within a test executive toolkit
A system and method encapsulates selected functionality of a programming environment, defines an interface to the encapsulated functionality, and utilizes the encapsulated functionality from within an add-on toolbox to the programming environment through the interface. Objects may be constructed from the selected functionality of the programming environment. The functionality may be built-in or custom designed functionality. The objects are registered with the add-on test toolbox, and made available to a user of the add-on toolbox. The user may enter information into a user interface specifying selected functionality and its properties. An object manipulation engine receives the to information entered into the user interface, and uses it to issue calls through the interface to construct the objects and invoke one or more of the methods. |
| US08307324B2 |
Systematic benchmarking system and method for standardized data creation, analysis and comparison of semiconductor technology node characteristics
One aspect provides a method of standardized data creation and analysis of semiconductor technology node characteristics. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) designing representative benchmark circuits for a clock path, a data path and a flip-flop path, (2) establishing at least one standard sensitization and measurement rule for delay and power for the representative benchmark circuits and across corners in the technology nodes, (3) performing a simulation by sweeping through a range of values and at predetermined intervals across the corners, (4) extracting data from the simulation, (5) writing the data to a databank and (6) parsing and interpreting the data to produce at least one report. |
| US08307318B2 |
Method of configuring a semiconductor integrated circuit involving capacitors having a width equal to the length of active resistors
A method of configuring a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) includes arranging a circuit region in the center of a unit cell. Capacitor/resistor regions are arranged along the left and right edge portions of the unit cell. The capacitor/resistor regions include a plurality of active resistors having the same length and a capacitor having a width equal to the length of the plurality of active resistors. In addition, a first conductive layer is arranged longitudinally in each of the capacitor/resistor regions so as to contact the left and right edge portions of the unit cell. |
| US08307317B2 |
Statistical on-chip variation timing analysis
A statistical on-chip variation approach to timing analysis permits the automated or semi-automated selection of design-specific margins without requiring complex statistical libraries. By separately addressing the impact of random and systematic variations on timing, a design-specific margin can be obtained and used in downstream OCV analysis. In addition, where statistical libraries are available for some portions of a design, these can be incrementally included in the timing analysis to obtain more accurate results. |
| US08307315B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for circuit design and optimization
In one aspect of an embodiment, a method implemented on a data processing system for circuit design, includes: identifying one or more first portions (e.g., islands) of a design of a circuit, where each of the one or more first portions contains a set of elements interconnected via timing critical nets; and reporting inter-dependency between portions of the circuit in view of the one or more first portions. In one aspect of an embodiment, a method implemented on a data processing system for circuit design, includes: identifying a first portion (e.g., island) of a design of a circuit, the first portion containing a set of elements interconnected via timing critical nets; and performing a synthesis transformation of the first portion to isolate timing dependency of the first portion on a non-critical net connected to an element of the first portion. |
| US08307309B1 |
Automated circuit design using active set solving process
A method is described that involves identifying a subset of operational scenarios for a circuit being designed. The family of equations are solved for the circuit over the subset and the solving produces numeric values for design parameters of the circuit. The family of equations enhanced with said numeric values are solved over a remainder of the scenarios and none of the remaining scenarios are identified as being infeasible scenarios. A design for the circuit that includes the numeric values is produced. |
| US08307306B2 |
Selection candidate display method, selection candidate display device, and input/output device
A selection candidate display method, a selection candidate display device, and an input/output device are provided. When a number of receivable broadcasting stations is not “4” or less, a controller allocates the receivable broadcasting stations to three segmented logical areas among four segmented logical areas, allocates a scroll area to the remaining one logical area, and displays the channel numbers of the allocated receivable broadcasting stations and information indicating the scroll area, for example, “S” in the respective logical areas of a circle pad. When the logical area to which the scroll area is allocated is operated, the controller moves the scroll area to the adjacent logical area and allocates the next receivable broadcasting station after the broadcasting station allocated to the remaining logical area among the logical areas adjacent to the scroll area, to the logical area which was the scroll area. |
| US08307303B2 |
Order terminal, computer-readable storage medium, and order method
A control unit that controls an LCD with touch panel allows a user to designate a desired raw material with a touch panel, causes the LCD to display menu items not containing the designated raw material, allows the user to designate a desired menu item with the touch panel from the menu items displayed on the LCD, and generates order data including the designated menu item. |
| US08307302B2 |
Remote control handset
A remote control handset 10 is provided for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure. The remote control handset 10 has a button 40 on its upper surface 20, and a button 120 on its lower surface 80. The button 40 on its upper surface 20 is used to navigate deeper into the hierarchical menu structure, and the button 120 on its lower surface 80 is used to navigate in the other direction (i.e. higher) in the menu structure. The remote control handset 10 is thus configured to make navigation of a graphical interface having hierarchical menu structure more intuitive, logical, and efficient. |
| US08307301B2 |
Method of selecting an element from a list by moving a graphics distinction and apparatus implementing the method
The invention makes it possible to select an element from a list of elements represented by icons. A first element is selected by affixing a graphics distinction on its icon. When the user activates and holds a command, said graphics distinction moves from the first icon to a second icon. A second element is selected when the graphics distinction occupies at least one determined area of the second icon representing this second element. According to an improvement, the graphics distinction moves from icon to icon, totally overlapping only a single icon at a time.The invention also relates to a device able to execute the method of selecting an element by moving a graphics distinction. |
| US08307297B2 |
Modeling configurations of systems
One embodiment may be practiced in a computing environment and includes method acts for creating a new component model from an existing component model. The method includes accessing an existing component definition. The existing component definition is included in an existing component schema, which includes definitions of configuration parameters defined for the existing component including defining that one or more parameters are further configurable. Definitions of the one or more parameters that are defined as being further configurable are refined. The refined definitions for the one or more parameter values are stored in a refined schema defining refinements of the component definition, without including the existing component schema. The refined schema is stored separately from the existing component schema. |
| US08307296B2 |
Systems and methods for effective attention shifting
Techniques are provided to improve communication through selective display of attention shifting display elements. A focus of attention is determined, display events located and attention shifting display elements displayed. The attention shifting display elements suggest display events as candidate foci of attention based on the display event, the display event location and the distance from the focus of attention. Attention shifting display elements are composed of attention directing portions, and optional attention attracting and informing portions. The attention directing portions help direct attention across distances and help attract attention to a point. The informing portions indicate availability of information associated with the display event occurring outside the focus of attention. The attention directing, attention attracting and informing portions of an attention shifting display element are associated with dynamic or periphery of attention based display attributes, static or focus of attention based display attributes or a combination of the two. |
| US08307293B2 |
Discussion support apparatus, discussion support method, and computer-readable medium
A discussion support apparatus includes a holding unit, a first accepting unit and a generating unit. The holding unit holds pieces of discussion state information each indicating a state of a discussion at a corresponding one of points in time included in a period of time during which discussions are performed. The first accepting unit accepts a discussion end operation indicating an end of discussion on a topic for which discussion has been completed. The generating unit generates, based on one or more of the discussion state information indicating states of discussions at points in time before a point in time when the first accepting unit accepts a discussion end operation for a certain topic, topic-related information indicating at least one piece of discussion state information which is related to the certain topic and which is specified from among the one or more of the discussion state information. |
| US08307291B2 |
Web page security system and method
A security application for granting different access rights to web pages and objects on each web page is disclosed. A data table assigns one or more function identifiers (FIDs) to users. A second data table assigns a different object identifier (OID) to each web page, and to assign a different OID for each object on each web page. A third data table assigns an FID to each OID. When a user attempts to access a web page or an object on the web page, a web server compares each of the user's FIDs to the FID assigned to the web page or object. The web server grants access to the web page or object if one of the user's FIDs matches the FID assigned to the web page or object, the user is granted access to the web page or object according to the function of the matched FID. |
| US08307289B2 |
Network based system which provides a database of simulation solutions
System and method for configuring a client system, e.g., a measurement system. First input is received from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams comprising respective solutions to respective tasks. At least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams is displayed on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user. Second input is received from the client system selecting one of the displayed configuration diagrams indicating a solution for a task to be performed by the client system. The solution is provided to the client system over the network, and may include the selected configuration diagram and/or pricing information for proposed products. The configuration diagrams are stored in a configuration diagram database. The stored configuration diagrams may be pre-defined solutions for pre-defined tasks, generated in response to received user requirements, and/or received from client systems and/or vendors. |
| US08307288B1 |
Active forms content delivery service for entites and mobile networked device users (active forms)
Capability to present forms, items and menu commands behavior, which translates to other languages, in combination with network communication and a user interface event listener, is compiled into binary code (Step 1), loaded (Step 2) and run (Step 3) on a mobile networked device. Such capability includes at least one of placement, appearance, behavior, logic, format, user interaction behavior, input validation and video. Instructions, not characterized as compiled code, browser pages or scripting language, are assembled and stored on a server. The running binary code on the mobile networked device requests and receives the instructions (Step 4) which trigger the capability code to present variable format and information (Step 5). New retrieved instructions trigger different capability code to present different variable format and information without recompiling and downloading code to the mobile networked device (Step 6), thus providing an efficient portable service for entities and users of mobile networked devices. |
| US08307280B2 |
Label data creating apparatus, label data creating method, and computer program product
If a plurality of objects arranged on a layout and including text, word art or bar code are selected and a command is entered from the menu window to create link objects, a CPU sets an object ranked as first as a parent object constituting the link object and stores the parent object in the RAM, with a group ID for identifying the link object allocated thereto. The CPU sets the remaining objects as child objects and stores the objects in the RAM, with a group ID for identifying the link object allocated thereto. |
| US08307278B1 |
Tiling mechanism to combine web services
In many websites, there are multiple pages that a user may wish to view simultaneously. A system and method are provided that allow a user to divide a web browser screen to manage multiple documents, views of documents, and web services which are provided for and managed using inline frames. |
| US08307277B2 |
Efficient event delegation in browser scripts
Event handlers associated with markup language documents represented in a web browser are identified efficiently in response to an event. The markup language document is represented as a hierarchical structure comprising nodes and edges. Nodes are associated with node types, each node type defining how descendants of the node respond to events. The markup language document provides mappings of sets of node types to sets of handlers. In response to an event associated with a node, the types of nodes encountered in a path connecting the node with the root node are identified. Handler sets of the node types encountered in the path connecting a node with the root node are used to determine the handlers to be executed in response to the event. Data is associated with nodes to allow handler code to distinguish between nodes of the same node type. |
| US08307276B2 |
Distributed content verification and indexing
A method of verifying content, for example webpage content, including receiving, at an indexing system (100), a first copy (240) of a document (220) from a hosting server (210), then processing the first copy (240) to obtain first indicating data including one or more properties of the first copy (240). Also obtaining second indicating data, the second indicating data obtained by processing a second copy (255) of the document (220) from the hosting server (210), the second copy (255) received by a client terminal (250), the second indicating data including one or more properties of the second copy (255). Then the first indicating data and the second indicating data can be compared, and the first copy (240) of the document (220) received by the indexing system (100) can be determined to be verified or not verified based on a comparison between the first indicating data and the second indicating data. |
| US08307274B2 |
Method for converting a computerized briefing file to a PC-less briefing file and briefing system for presenting the PC-less briefing file
A method for converting a computerized briefing file to a PC-less briefing file is disclosed and comprises the steps of: presenting the computerized briefing file via a briefing software, wherein the computerized briefing file has a plurality of pages of briefing data; capturing the plurality of frames of the presented page of briefing data while presenting each page of briefing data, wherein if a difference block is existed between the last frame and the next frame, the difference block being stored in the PC-less file, otherwise, to presenting the next frame; judging whether the pagination of the presented frame is changed or not, if not, continuously capturing, comparing and storing the present page of briefing data, otherwise, capturing, comparing and storing the next page of briefing data; and such steps are not stopped until the last page of briefing data has being done. |
| US08307272B2 |
Network device and method of controlling the same
A network device and a method for controlling the same. The device and method each performed the operations of transforming an input signal so as to allow the input signal to be divided according to frequency bands and resolutions, comparing the transformed input signal with abnormal signal information stored in an abnormal signal database (DB), and determining whether the input signal is a normal signal. When the input signal is a normal signal, the network and method each perform the operation of delivering the transformed input signal to a codec. |
| US08307271B1 |
Fast verification of data block cycle redundancy checks
Detecting data errors in connection with a data transfer process includes performing an XOR operation on a plurality of data blocks to obtain a data block XOR result. An XOR operation may be performed on a plurality of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes associated with the plurality of data blocks to obtain a CRC XOR result. The data block XOR result and the CRC XOR result may be used to determine whether an error exists in the plurality of data blocks. The system may be used in connection with local IO transfers and in connection with local CPU XOR operations for a RAID system in which data may be mirrored, striped or otherwise distributed across multiple storage devices. |
| US08307265B2 |
Interconnection techniques
Techniques are described that can be used to extend the data transmission rate specified by 10GBASE-KR of IEEE 802.3ap (2007) to more than 10 Gb/s using a multiple lane backplane. A signal for transmission over 10 Gb/s can be divided into multiple streams for transmission over multiple lanes. Multiple transceiver pairs can be used for transmission and receipt of the multiple streams. Each transceiver pair may comply with 10GBASE-KR of IEEE 802.3ap (2007). |
| US08307264B2 |
Detection apparatus
A detection apparatus detecting an error component contained in two signals (A, B) approximated by a cosine and sine functions representing an object position, the detection apparatus including an arithmetic portion (3, 4) which reduces an error contained in the signals (A, B) based on an error prediction value to output two error correction signals (A*, B*), a phase arithmetic portion (5) which calculates a phase (θ) based on the error correction signals (A*, B*), an arithmetic storage unit (9, 10) which stores the error correction signals (A*, B*) and a plurality of sampling values of the phase (θ), and a Fourier transform portion (11, 12) which obtains coefficients αk, βk, γk, and δk in the following two expressions: A*=α0+α1 cos θ+β1 sin θ+ . . . +αk cos kθ+βk sin kθ B*=γ0+γ1 cos θ+δ1 sin θ+ . . . +γk cos kθ+δk sin kθ (k≧2) wherein the arithmetic portion (3, 4) updates the error prediction value using the coefficients. |
| US08307262B2 |
Data read-out circuit in semiconductor memory device and method of data reading in semiconductor memory device
A data read-out circuit is provided with a sense amplifier circuit and a selector. The sense amplifier circuit senses a stored data stored in a memory cell array by using a plurality of reference levels to generate a plurality of read data, respectively. Thus, the sense amplifier circuit outputs the plurality of read data with regard to the stored data. The selector selects a data corresponding to any one of the plurality of read data based on a control signal and outputs the selected data as an output data. |
| US08307258B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for reconfiguring an array to operate with less storage elements
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reconfiguring an array of solid-state storage elements protected using parity data. The storage element error module determines that one or more storage elements are unavailable to store data (“unavailable storage elements”). The storage element resides in an array with N number of storage elements storing a first ECC chunk and P number of storage elements storing first parity data. The reconfigure data read module reads data from storage elements other than the unavailable storage elements. The data regeneration module uses the first parity data to regenerate missing data from the first ECC chunk. The data reconfiguration module creates a second ECC chunk. The new configuration storage module stores a portion of the second ECC chunk and associated second parity data on (N+P)−Z number of storage elements, wherein 1≦Z≦P. |
| US08307256B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. Herein, additional encoding is performed on mobile service data, which are then transmitted, thereby providing robustness in the processed mobile service data, so that the mobile service data can respond more strongly against fast and frequent channel changes. The data processing method of a digital broadcast transmitting system includes the steps of forming a RS frame by grouping a plurality of mobile service data bytes that is being inputted, and performing error correction encoding in RS frame units, forming a super frame by grouping a plurality of the error correction encoded RS frame, performing row permutation in super frame units, and dividing the super frame back to RS frames, and dividing the RS frame into a plurality of data groups. |
| US08307255B2 |
Scalable decoder architecture for low density parity check codes
A layered message updating method and system for the decoding of LDPC codes with high sub-matrix degree has a scalable and flexible decoder architecture to support LDPC codes with arbitrary high sub-matrix degree with very small hardware overhead and high throughput. Embodiments of the invention support LDPC codes with sub-matrix degree W>=1. The architecture does not require duplication of extrinsic memory which greatly reduces decoder complexity. The size of the memory is also independent of sub-matrix degree which makes the decoder scalable for large W values. |
| US08307247B2 |
System and method for remotely debugging application programs
A method, system, and apparatus for debugging an application program from a workstation that is remote from a server on which the application program resides includes invoking the application program from the workstation via a network interface; displaying a user frame at the workstation that includes information generated by the application program; providing a debug view option at the workstation for generating a debug frame of the application program; and displaying the debug frame at the workstation when the debug view option is selected. A user can select options to switch between the user frame and the debug frame. The debug frame includes information about one or more components of the application program such as a list of the variables or objects, and the fields, methods, and/or the constructors associated with them. When the debug view option is selected, the information for the user frame is saved, and can be restored to regenerate the information on the user frame when the user view option is selected. The developer can view internal, public, and private code associated with the application program without compromising the security of other application programs on the server. This ability to remotely debug application programs in accordance with the present invention is thus more time and cost efficient than previous methods, and also alleviates concerns about security and unauthorized access to the server. |
| US08307244B2 |
Storage system and storage control apparatus
A storage system includes first and second expanders for connecting storage units, each of the first and second expanders being connected cascade each other, a first controller connected one of the first and one of the second expanders and a host, a second controller connected the one of the second expanders, the one of the first expanders and the host, the second controller detecting a failure of at least one of the first controller, the first expanders and the second expanders, the second controller selectively controlling a first boot sequence which boots the first controller after the first expanders have been booted and a second boot sequence which boots the first controller before the first expanders have been booted, determining one of the first boot sequence and the second boot sequence on the basis of a place where a failure has occurred in a recovery process. |
| US08307242B2 |
Failure recovery method, failure recovery program and management server
In a computer system including server apparatuses such as an active server and a standby server connected to a storage apparatus, when the active server fails, a management server changes over connection to the storage apparatus from the active server to standby server to thereby hand over operation to the standby server. The management server refers to a fail-over strategy table in which apparatus information of the server apparatuses is associated with fail-over methods to select fail-over strategy in consideration of apparatus information of the active and standby servers. |
| US08307241B2 |
Data recovery in multi-level cell nonvolatile memory
In a nonvolatile memory array, data is stored in multi-level cells (MLC) as upper-page data and lower-page data. Safe copies of both upper-page and lower-page data are stored in on-chip cache during programming. If a write fail occurs, data is recovered from on-chip cache. The controller does not have to maintain safe copies of data. |
| US08307235B2 |
Cross controller clock synchronization
A system may include a plurality of subsystems, e.g. instrumentation units housed in separate chassis, each chassis including multiple instrumentation devices, e.g. data acquisition cards. Each subsystem may generate a local reference clock, which may be phase aligned and locked with respect to one or more similar reference clocks of other subsystems, via a high-level precision time protocol (PTP). Each instrumentation device within a given subsystem may generate its own sample clock based on the local reference clock, and may generate its own trigger clock based on its own sample clock. All trigger clocks may be synchronized with respect to each other through a future time event issued using the PTP, and each instrumentation device may then use its trigger clock to synchronize any received trigger pulses, which may also be issued through future time events using the PTP. This results in synchronizing the received triggers across all participating instrumentation devices across all participating subsystems, ensuring that data acquisition is properly synchronized across the multiple subsystems. |
| US08307233B2 |
Bus-handling
A processor, comprising a processing unit having an active state and a sleep state in which at least one of its sub-sections is inactive and a communication port adapted to receive signals from external units over a bus, which is configured to be not fully operative when the processor is in the sleep state. The processor additionally includes a bus monitoring unit configured to stall the bus responsive to identifying transmissions on the bus directed to the communication port, while the processing unit is in the sleep state and to indicate to the communication port that a transmission started while it was in the sleep state. |
| US08307232B1 |
Power supply delivery for leakage suppression modes
A system including an integrated circuit (IC) and a power supply regulator external to the IC. The IC operates in accordance with an active mode and a lower power mode, and is configured to retain a logical state during the low power mode. The power supply regulator is configured to i) supply a first voltage potential to a first pin of the IC during the active mode, and ii) disable the first voltage potential during the low power mode. The IC is configured to provide a first feedback signal from an internal supply of the IC to the power supply regulator via the first pin. |
| US08307228B2 |
Integrated network chip and electronic device
An integrated network chip and an electronic device using the chip are illustrated. The integrated network chip includes at least a first access interface, at least a second access interface, a power management unit (PMU) and an interface bridge. The first access interface and second access interface respectively provides the electronic device with a local area network connection function and a memory card access function. The interface bridge integrates the first access interface and second access interface by providing a hub-like functionality. The PMU provides the power and the ground to the first access interface, second access interface and the interface bridge. When the PMU detects the second access interface enters a power saving mode, the PMU provides a lower operation voltage to the second access interface. |
| US08307223B2 |
Battery management system and driving method thereof
A battery management system includes at least one slave battery management system and a master battery management system. The slave battery management system outputs a ready signal when power is applied thereto, and the master battery management system provides a synchronization start signal to the slave battery management system in response to the ready signal. The master battery management system periodically provides a synchronization reset signal to the slave battery management system. |
| US08307222B2 |
Flexible cell battery systems and methods for powering information handling systems
The number of battery cells connected together in a main battery conductor path of a multiple cell battery system of an information handling system may be varied in real time based on one or more operating conditions (e.g., system load power consumption, battery cell failure, etc.) of the information handling system. Defective battery cells may be bypassed such that the defective battery system may continue to operate and power an information handling system at a lower voltage, e.g., either temporarily, permanently or temporarily until the user procures a suitable replacement battery system. Interconnection of cells of a non-defective multiple cell battery system may also be selectively re-arranged to vary battery system voltage at particular times or during particular information handling system operation modes. |
| US08307215B2 |
System and method for an autonomous software protection device
A system and method is introduced for protecting software from being altered, duplicated, inspected or used in an unauthorized manner. An autonomous software protection device is presented, containing encryption and decryption unit along with an independent execution environment such as a Java Virtual Machine to carry out computations in a protected environment. The software protection device carries out protected code and may make use of protected data to carry out protected computations. Unsecured memory may be used securely by software protection device through an internal virtual memory mechanism managed by the independent execution environment. The software protection device may serve an external computing device for making computations that are protected from software and data alteration and inspection while preventing duplication and usage not as intended by the software and data owner. |
| US08307214B2 |
Method for restricting access to media data generated by a camera
A method for restricting access to media data generated by a camera comprising: setting a non-public initial user key, KICU, in the camera, providing a user client with the initial user key, KICU, establishing an authenticated relation between the user client and the camera by sending an authentication message including information based on the initial user key, KICU, from the user client to the camera, checking if an operational user key (KOCU) is set in the camera, and performing, in response to the act of checking if the operational user key (KOCU) is set in the camera, the acts a)-d) only if the operational user key (KOCU) is not set: a) acquiring an operational user key (KOCU), b) setting the operational user key (KOCU) in the camera, c) sending the operational user key (KOCU) to the user client, and d) indicating in the camera that the operational user key (KOCU) is set. |
| US08307213B2 |
Method and system for digital watermarking
A method for applying a digital watermark to a content signal is disclosed. In accordance with such a method, a watermarking key is identified. The watermarking key includes a binary sequence and information describing application of that binary sequence to the content signal. The digital watermark is then encoded within the content signal at one or more locations determined by the watermarking key. |
| US08307211B2 |
Data card verification system
A method of verifying a pair of correspondents in electronic transaction, the correspondents each including first and second signature schemes and wherein the first signature scheme is computationally more difficult in signing than verifying and the second signature scheme is computationally more difficult in verifying than signing. The method comprises the step of the first correspondent signing information according to the first signature scheme and transmitting the first signature to the second correspondent, the second correspondent verifying the first signature received from the first correspondent, wherein the verification is performed according to the first signature scheme. The second correspondent then signs information according to the second signature scheme and transmits the second signature to the first correspondent, the first correspondent verifies the second signature received from the second correspondent, wherein the verification is performed according to the second signature algorithm; the transaction is rejected if either verification fails. The method thereby allows one of the correspondents to participate with relatively little computing power while maintaining security of the transaction. |
| US08307203B2 |
Methods and systems for secure communications using a local certification authority
A local network traffic processor and an application are resident on a common computer system. The application is configured to trust a server certificate issued by a local network traffic processor, the local network traffic processor operatively being paired with a remote network traffic processor. A proxy server certificate, generated using identification information of a server associated with the remote network traffic processor and signed by the local certification authority, is used to establish a secure session between a local network traffic processor and the application. |
| US08307200B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product for authenticating communication terminal
An authentication apparatus includes a first storage unit that stores proxy information containing a proxy ID and capability data, an acquiring unit that acquires the proxy information from the first storage unit, a first transmitting unit that transmits a second message containing the acquired proxy information to a terminal, a receiving unit that receives a third message and authentication data, the third message containing a first proxy ID and setting data from the terminal, and an authentication unit that performs an authentication process based on the authentication data, and a second transmitting unit that transmits the setting data to a server to which a proxy of the first proxy ID relays data communication. |
| US08307199B2 |
Configurable access kernel
A highly configurable kernel supports a wide variety of content protection systems. The kernel may reside in a host that interacts with a secure processor maintaining content protection clients. After establishing communication with the secure processor, the host receives messages from content protection clients requesting rules for message handling operations to support client operations. This flexible configuration allows for dynamic reconfiguration of host and secure processor operation. |
| US08307197B2 |
Short-circuit evaluation of Boolean expression by rolling up sub-expression result in registers storing default value
A processor including a Boolean logic unit, wherein the Boolean logic unit is operated for performing the short-circuit evaluation of a Normal Form Boolean expression/operation, a plurality of input/output interfaces in communication with the Boolean logic unit, wherein the plurality of input/output interfaces are operated for receiving a plurality of compiled Boolean expressions/operations and transmitting a plurality of compiled results, and a plurality of registers coupled to the plurality of input/output interface circuits, wherein the plurality of multi-bit registers include an instruction register, a first address register and a second address register. |
| US08307196B2 |
Data processing system having bit exact instructions and methods therefor
A method for operating a data processing system is provided. The method includes providing a first operand stored in a first register, providing a second operand stored in the register, providing a third operand stored in the register. The method further includes executing a first instruction, where executing the first instruction comprises: (1) retrieving the first operand, the second operand, and the third operand from the first register; (2) performing an operation using the first operand, the second operand, and the third operand to generate a bit exact result. |
| US08307188B2 |
Information handling system memory management
An information handling system (IHS) loads an application that may include startup code and steady state operation code. The IHS allocates one region of system memory to the startup code and another region of system memory to the steady state operation code. A programmer inserts a memory release call command at a location that marks the end of execution of the startup code. After executing the startup code, the operation system receives the memory release call command. In response to the memory release call command, the operating system releases or de-allocates the region of memory to which the IHS previously assigned to the startup code. This enables the released memory for use by code other than the startup code, such as other code pages, library pages and other code. |
| US08307186B2 |
Computer system performing capacity virtualization based on thin provisioning technology in both storage system and server computer
The management system identifies a server level virtual volume corresponding to a storage level pool on the basis of storage management information and server management information, and displays information relating to the correspondence between the storage level pool and the server level virtual volume. The storage management information represents correspondence between a storage level virtual volume to which a portion of an area is allocated from the storage level pool by thin provisioning technology at the storage level, and the storage level pool. The server management information represents correspondence between a server level virtual volume to which a portion of an area is allocated from the storage level virtual volume belonging to a server level pool by thin provisioning technology at the server level, and the storage level virtual volume. |
| US08307185B2 |
Computer system and management method for the transfer and replication of data among several storage devices
Arrangements for transfer and replication of data. A host computer retains a transfer volume management information including HDD identifiers corresponding to a plurality of primary volumes and identifiers of at least one of transfer volumes, wherein, from a plurality of volumes in a first storage device, the host computer extracts a reserve volume as an additional transfer volume, if a capacity usage of the at least one of the transfer volumes reaches or goes above a predetermined level, wherein the host computer transmits an allocation request about the additional transfer volume, wherein, after receiving the allocation request, the first storage device implements the reserve volume as the additional transfer volume corresponding to the at least one of transfer volumes for transfer of write data to the second storage device. |
| US08307181B2 |
Apparatus and method for password protection of secure hidden memory
Systems and methods for managing storage devices are provided. The system includes a storage device having at least one hidden area. The hidden area is created using initialization firmware, and the hidden area is allowed to be accessed by using a library. A password authentication mechanism is applied to the hidden area of the storage device. When an input password received via a specific application conforms to a predefined password of the hidden area, the hidden area is allowed to be accessed by using the library. Since the storage device may have a plurality of hidden areas, and each hidden area may have a respective password, the respective hidden areas can be independently and securely managed. Additionally, since the predefined password can be changed by a purchasing company, the manufacturer of the storage device or the microcontroller company which designed the microcontroller of the storage device is prohibited from accessing the hidden area by any means after the predefined password of the hidden area is changed by the purchasing company. |
| US08307171B2 |
Storage controller and storage control method for dynamically assigning partial areas of pool area as data storage areas
A plurality of CPU cores each have control rights for logical storage areas of one or more types among logical storage areas of a plurality of types. As a source for an area to be assigned to the logical storage areas, a physical storage area which is common to the logical storage areas of the plurality of types is managed. In the case of a data access to a logical storage area corresponding to the control rights of the CPU core, the respective CPU core assigns an area required to store the data from the common physical storage area. |
| US08307167B2 |
Integrated memory control apparatus
An integrated memory control apparatus including a first interface decoder, a second interface decoder and an interface controller is provided. Wherein, the first interface decoder is coupled to a control chip through a first serial peripheral interface (SPI), the second interface decoder is coupled to a micro-processor unit through a general transmission interface, and the interface controller is coupled to a memory through a second SPI. When the interface controller receives the request signals from the control chip and the micro-processor unit, the control chip may correctly read data from the memory through the first and second SPI. On the other hand, the micro-processor unit may stop reading data from the memory through the general transmission interface. Therefore, the control chip and the micro-processor unit may share the same memory. |
| US08307165B1 |
Sorting requests to the DRAM for high page locality
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for increasing the number of read commands or write commands transmitted to an activated bank page in the DRAM. Read requests and dirty notifications are organized in a read request sorter or a dirty notification sorter, respectively, and each sorter includes multiple sets with entries that may be associated with different bank pages in the DRAM. Read requests and dirty notifications are stored in read request lists and dirty notification lists, where each list is associated with a specific bank page. When a bank page is activated to process read requests, read commands associated with read requests stored in a particular read request list are transmitted to the bank page. When a bank page is activated to process dirty notifications, write commands associated with dirty notifications stored in a particular dirty notification list are transmitted to the bank page. |
| US08307155B1 |
Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for integrating a caching module into a storage system architecture
Technologies are provided for integrating a caching module into a data storage system architecture. A request to perform an I/O operation is received at the caching module from an initiator. The caching module provides a notification to a storage driver that the request will be delivered to the storage driver in the future. The storage driver then determines whether the request can be satisfied. If the storage driver determines that it will be able to satisfy the I/O request, the storage driver can optimize the allocation and placement of the I/O request before receiving the actual I/O request. When the caching module subsequently sends the actual I/O request to the storage driver, the storage driver utilizes the previously allocated space and optimized placement to perform the requested I/O operation. |
| US08307153B2 |
Power efficient and rule movement optimized TCAM management
A network device allocates a number of blocks of memory in a ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM) of the network device to each database of multiple databases, and assigns unused blocks of memory of the TCAM to a free pool. The network device also detects execution of a run mechanism by the TCAM, and allocates, based on the execution of the run mechanism, one of the unused blocks of memory to a filter or rule of one of the multiple databases. |
| US08307152B2 |
Memory device program window adjustment
In one or more embodiments, a memory device is disclosed as having an adjustable programming window having a plurality of programmable levels. The programming window is moved to compensate for changes in reliable program and erase thresholds achievable as the memory device experiences factors such as erase/program cycles that change the program window. The initial programming window is determined prior to an initial erase/program cycle. The programming levels are then moved as the programming window changes, such that the plurality of programmable levels still remain within the program window and are tracked with the program window changes. |
| US08307150B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing memory
A memory management method and apparatus are disclosed. The memory management apparatus may compute a remaining storage capacity of a flash memory based on a number of bad blocks in a flash memory or a number of block-erases of each of a plurality of blocks, and may display the computed remaining storage capacity of the flash memory. |
| US08307147B2 |
Interconnect and a method for designing an interconnect
A method for designing an interconnect, the method includes determining an amount of input ports, an amount of output ports; characterized by selecting multiple modular components such as to form an interconnect, whereas each modular component is selected from a group of modular components that are verified by parametric verification environment. An interconnect that includes multiple input ports and multiple output ports, characterized by including multiple modular components; whereas each modular component is adapted to support a certain point-to-point protocol; whereas at least one modular component includes a sampling circuit and a bypass circuit, whereas the sampling circuit is selectively bypassed by the bypass circuit. |
| US08307144B2 |
Use of completer knowledge of memory region ordering requirements to modify transaction attributes
A method and system of relaxing the ordering of a read completion by setting an ordering attribute in the read completion. The relaxed ordering allows the read completion to bypass pending writes. |
| US08307142B2 |
Card reader with USB interface
A card reader includes a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface to be connected to an electronic device, a card interface to be connected to a card, a control chip, and a normally-closed switch coupled in a wire connecting a positive differential pin of the USB interface to the control chip. A length of the wire connecting the positive differential pin of the USB interface to the control chip equals to a length of a wire connecting a negative differential pin of the USB interface to the control chip. The normally-closed switch is operable to be switched on or switched off, so as to control the connection between the card and the electronic device. |
| US08307137B2 |
Remote communication method of a network
A remote communication method of a network includes a main controller and a plurality of control units, wherein each control unit is serially connected to the main controller and the control unit at next stage through a transmission terminal and a transmitter. Each control unit receives the data sent from the main controller and identifies the received data as one of a first, a second and a third packet. If it is the first packet and the main controller attempts to read data from each control unit, a switch in the control unit is turned on and a response data is transmitted to the main controller. If it is the second packet and a connection index is equal to a target unit address, then data is written to a corresponding single control unit. If it is the third packet and a target unit address is zero, data is written to all control units. |
| US08307134B2 |
Multiple communication interfaces on a portable storage device
A method and apparatus of a portable storage device that provides a tethering and portable storage service to a host is described. In an exemplary method, the portable storage device configures a tethering and a portable storage service interface for the host. The portable storage device provides the tethering service to a network for the host through the tethering interface. In addition, the portable storage device shares files stored on the portable storage device through the portable storage interface. |
| US08307133B2 |
Method of providing interoperability of heterogeneous network devices and network device using the same
A method and device of enabling interoperation between different devices over a network are provided. A test code corresponding to a service to be performed using device information received from a service providing device in a network is generated, the test code is transmitted to the service providing device, a result of the test code execution is received from the service providing device, and interoperability with the service providing device is determined with respect to the service by using the result of the execution of the test code. An environment suitable for interoperation with the service providing device is established when interoperation with the service providing device is possible. |
| US08307131B2 |
System and method for drive resizing and partition size exchange between a flash memory controller and a smart card
A system and method to control a device having at least one configurable parameter. Enumerating the device as a first peripheral device and as a second peripheral device wherein the first peripheral device corresponds to a first microcontroller connected to a storage medium and the second peripheral device corresponds to a second microcontroller. Controlling the at least one configurable parameter of the first microcontroller with respect to the storage medium by the second microcontroller. On initialization of the device, transmitting the at least one configurable parameter from the second microcontroller to the first microcontroller. Other systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US08307129B2 |
Methods and computer program products for swapping synchronous replication secondaries from a subchannel set other than zero to subchannel set zero using dynamic I/O
Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for swapping PPRC secondary device definitions from a subchannel set other than zero to subchannel set zero. The method comprises identifying a PPRC primary and secondary device, wherein the PPRC primary device definitions reside at subchannel set zero and the PPRC secondary device definitions reside at a subchannel set other than subchannel set zero, initiating a PPRC device definition substitution operation to substitute the PPRC primary device definitions within the subchannel set where the PPRC secondary device definition resides and substitute the PPRC secondary device definitions within the subchannel set where the PPRC primary device definitions resides, storing the control block information for each PPRC device whose device definitions are to be substituted, and storing the PPRC primary device definitions within the subchannel set where the PPRC secondary device definition resides and storing the PPRC secondary device definitions within subchannel set zero. |
| US08307120B2 |
Resource information managing device, system, method, and program
Resource information is managed chronologically even in a large-scale distributed system or an information terminal network where time synchronization is not established. A resource information collection device confirms if time synchronization is established with a resource information generation device when resource information is collected from the resource information generation device and, if time synchronization is not established, records a generation time, corrected based on the time of the resource information collection device, in the resource information. A resource information reference device confirms time synchronization with the resource information collection device when resource information in the resource information collection device is referenced and, if synchronization is not established, records a generation time, corrected based on the time of the resource information reference device, in the resource information. |
| US08307116B2 |
Scalable bus-based on-chip interconnection networks
The present disclosure generally relates to systems for routing data across a multinodal network. Example systems include a multinodal array having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of physical communication channels connecting the nodes. At least one of the physical communication channels may be configured to route data from a first node to two or more other destination nodes of the plurality of nodes. The present disclosure also generally relates to methods for routing data across a multinodal network and computer accessible mediums having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing techniques for routing data across a multinodal network. |
| US08307115B1 |
Network memory mirroring
A method, system, and computer program for network memory mirroring. Data sent via a local-area network is intercepted at a first hardware appliance of a plurality of hardware appliances in response to a first request for the data. A determination is performed of whether the data has been stored previously in a long-term storage in the first hardware appliance. The data is stored in the long-term storage in the first hardware appliance based on the determination. The data is sent to a second hardware appliance of the plurality of hardware appliances, the first hardware appliance and the second hardware appliance in communication via the local-area network. The data is stored in the long-term storage in the second hardware appliance. |
| US08307113B2 |
Wireless internet access with enhanced bandwidth capabilities
Techniques for efficiently and economically providing data transfer through wireless data networks. These techniques are particularly suitable for Internet data transfers. In one aspect, mobile devices are able to be allocated additional wireless channels to obtain increased data transfer capabilities. The additional wireless channels can be used for unicast, multicast or broadcast of data. These techniques provide additional wireless bandwidth to mobile devices and allows control over allocation of the additional wireless bandwidth. |
| US08307111B1 |
Systems and methods for bandwidth scavenging among a plurality of applications in a network
Applications executed out of router memory may acquire additional bandwidth that is not being used by other applications, in order to speed up network traffic. Scavenging may occur up to a point where current congestion is detected, at which point any scavenged bandwidth is relinquished and the application returns to its prescribed limit. After current congestion is mitigated, scavenging may occur up to a limit below the point where congestion was detected. After a predetermined interval, additional scavenging may occur beyond this limit until a preset bandwidth limit is reached. |
| US08307108B2 |
Multimedia data streaming system and method thereof
A multimedia data streaming system and a method thereof transmit multimedia data to a receiver by a streaming server through a dynamic streaming process. The multimedia data streaming system includes a converting module and a scheduler module. The scheduler module is used to obtain the bandwidth condition between the streaming server and the receiver dynamically. The scheduler module can request the converting module to convert the original data into streaming pieces with the optimal bit rates in accordance with the bandwidth condition detected. The streaming pieces can be transmitted to the receiver by the streaming server. |
| US08307107B2 |
Methods and apparatuses to extend header for transferring data
The present invention provides several methods and apparatuses for transmitting multimedia data using streaming media protocols such as real-time transfer protocols (RTP) and real-time streaming protocols (RTSP) in a computer network environment. In one exemplary embodiment, a request for RTP data and its associated extension is sent from the caching proxy server to the server. The request may be for one specific type of data or multiple unrelated types of data. The server responds to the request indicating its support for the requested RTP extension data. The caching proxy server determines whether to proceed or terminate the data transmission process based on the response provided by the server. If it is determined to proceed with the data transmission process, the caching proxy informs the server to send the requested and supported RTP data. The server sends the requested data in a variable and extendible header format. |
| US08307095B2 |
Firmware upgrade system and method in a device management architecture
In one embodiment, a device firmware upgrade scheme is disclosed for upgrading a device image of a mobile communications device. A device management session is established between the mobile communications device and a first server using a first protocol. Upon obtaining identity information of a second server operable to compute or otherwise determine a customized upgrade process, a device inventory is transmitted to the second server using a second protocol. Upon receiving the customized upgrade process, the mobile communications device downloads one or more upgrade files from one or more resources. Thereafter, the mobile communications device is operable to provide a status indication to the first server using the first protocol. |
| US08307092B2 |
Method and system for collecting information about a user's media collections from multiple login points
A system and method for collecting information about a user's media collections at a central location from multiple login points and/or multiple devices owned by the user. The user establishes a user account at a central server. A client application may be downloaded to the user's device for establishing a connection to the central server. Subsequently, each time the user logs in to the central server, the central server receives a unique machine identifier (MID) for the connected and currently in-use user device. The central server receives information about the user's media collection from the user device and stores that media collection by its MID under the user's individual account. In this manner, the central server obtains and stores information about all the user's media collections owned by user devices connected and in-use and previously connected to the central server rather than only having knowledge of the media collection stored on the currently in-use user device. |
| US08307091B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing access of network based radio frequency identification information
A method and apparatus for enabling consumers to scan RFID tags using home based endpoint devices that can transmit the scanned information to network based services are disclosed. Using the RFID scanned information, consumers can then access, retrieve and view additional information regarding products, in which RFIDs are embedded, on video display devices, such as televisions or video display monitors. This product related information can include interactive technical support, companion product information, or instructional guidelines. |
| US08307088B2 |
HTML delivery from edge-of-network servers in a content delivery network (CDN)
A content delivery network is enhanced to provide for delivery of cacheable markup language content files such as HTML. To support HTML delivery, the content provider provides the CDNSP with an association of the content provider's domain name (e.g., www.customer.com) to an origin server domain name (e.g., html.customer.com) at which one or more default HTML files are published and hosted. The CDNSP provides its customer with a CDNSP-specific domain name. The content provider, or an entity on its behalf, then implements DNS entry aliasing (e.g., a CNAME of the host to the CDNSP-specific domain) so that domain name requests for the host cue the CDN DNS request routing mechanism. This mechanism then identifies a best content server to respond to a request directed to the customer's domain. The CDN content server returns a default HTML file if such file is cached; otherwise, the CDN content server directs a request for the file to the origin server to retrieve the file, after which the file is cached on the CDN content server for subsequent use in servicing other requests. The content provider is also provided with log files of CDNSP-delivered HTML. |
| US08307086B2 |
Resource management of social network applications
Applications in social networks support interaction between members through various types of channels such as notifications, newsfeed, and so forth. For each channel, applications are ranked based on their user affinity measures. User affinity is based on measuring positive and negative interactions by users as both senders and recipients of messages generated by applications. Metrics are computed for the different types of messages and interactions provided by applications. For each channel, an application receives user affinity score based on specific weighted combination of the metrics. Applications use channel resources to send messages to increase their user base. Given the large number of applications that are available, the extent to which applications are allowed to use channels is controlled, limiting their resource consumption. User affinity scores of applications calculated for a channel are used to decide the allocation of channel resources for an application. |
| US08307084B1 |
Method and system for providing lock-down communities comprising a plurality of resources
Methods and systems are described for providing a lock-down community. In one aspect, a system comprises an indication handler component in a host node device managing a lock-down community of a computer node device, the lock-down community comprising a plurality of resources where the computer node device is configured to communicate only with a resource in the lock-down community via a network. The host node device hosts an operating system that maintains an approved resource list that identifies the plurality of resources in the lock-down community of the computer node device. The indication handler component is configured to receive an indication to update the approved resource list, wherein the indication identifies a target resource. The system also includes an update handler component configured to update the approved resource list based on the received indication, thereby modifying the lock-down community of the computer node device. |
| US08307083B2 |
Image formation system, image formation device, server device and program
An image formation system includes an image formation device and a server device connected with each other through a network. The image formation device includes an image formation executing unit that receives an image formation request from a terminal device through the network and executes the image formation a request source information transmitting unit that transmits request source information, which is included in the image formation request and identifies the request source of the image formation request, and an image formation restricting unit that restricts the image formation by the image formation executing unit when a restriction instruction is received from the server device. The server device includes a restriction instruction transmitting unit that causes the image formation unit to restrict in the image formation when a registration status of the request source information with respect to a database for storing the request source information satisfies a predetermined status. |
| US08307081B1 |
Stagnant visitor management for engagement progression on web sites
A method and system for customizing web sites for visitor to increase the likelihood a visitor becomes deepens the relationship with the web site or becomes a customer is disclosed. A progression level design defines levels and conditions for moving between those levels. At each level, the web site is customized in predetermined ways commensurate with that level. Information on the visitor is gathered to evaluate their level and possibly upgrade or downgrade that level. Reports detail flow of visitors between levels for various time periods. Where that flow is not desired, the progression level design can be changed by adding, removing or changing levels and conditions. |
| US08307075B2 |
Method, system and game server for recommending game room
A method, system and game server for recommending a game room are disclosed. The method includes: a speed measuring server measuring a network speed from a network user logging on an IDC in which the speed measuring server is located to the IDC, counting an average of network speeds from all network users in a same subnet to the IDC; the speed measuring server sending the average of network speeds to a QoS center, the QoS center allocating, according to the average of network speeds and a predetermined principle, a QoS level to a communication link from each subnet to each IDC, sending the QoS level to a game server in each IDC; and the game server sending information of a recommended game room to a game client according to the QoS level of the communication link from the subnet to which the game client belongs to each IDC. |
| US08307070B2 |
Resource allocation method in wireless network
Provided is a resource allocation method performed in a wireless network formed of a plurality of nodes, the resource allocation method including the operations of forming clusters and electing cluster heads respectively for the clusters; determining whether a node from among the plurality of nodes forming the wireless network is an edge node; if the node is not the edge node according to a result of the determining, collecting link information related to other nodes in a cluster that comprises the node, and delivering the link information to a cluster head of the cluster; and if the node is the edge node according to a result of the determining, otherwise, obtaining link information and scheduling information from an edge node of another cluster within a communication range with the cluster comprising the edge node, and delivering the link information and scheduling information to the cluster head. The resource allocation method decentralizes a load of calculations to several nodes, wherein the load may be centralized to one node in a large ad-hoc network, so that an energy efficiency of the node may be increased, and since the several nodes sequentially perform simple calculation, a total of the resource allocation time may be reduced. |
| US08307068B2 |
Supervised access computer network router
A system for monitoring and regulating computer usage on a local network is disclosed. Computers on a network are configured with a client activity monitoring module that collects activity information including screen captures, keyboard activity, and/or information relating to network communications and sends the collected activity information to a network activity monitor for storage and later retrieval. Each computer on the local network periodically verifies that its client activity monitor module is operable. If a computer fails to send such verification, the system restricts network access by that computer, thus enforcing compliance with the activity monitoring system. The system further provides means for automatically displaying the collected activity information, including through screen savers, automatically changing desktop background images, and pop-up or sidebar windows. The system thus enables review of computer activities for appropriateness by both supervisors or parents as well as by peer users without requiring the reviewer to take affirmative steps to retrieve the activity information. |
| US08307067B2 |
Protecting encrypted files transmitted over a network
An improved system and approaches for protecting secured files when being used by an application (e.g., network browser) that potentially transmits the files over a network to unknown external locations are disclosed. According to one aspect, access to secured files is restricted so that unsecured versions of the secured files are not able to be transmitted over a network (e.g., the Internet) to unauthorized destinations. In one embodiment, processes operating on a computer system are monitored to determine destination locations, if any, of said processes, and then using such destination locations to determine whether to permit the processes to open files in a secure or unsecured manner. |
| US08307066B2 |
Automated digital media content filtration based on relationship monitoring
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automated digital media content filtration based on relationship monitoring. The method determines a plurality of user relationships based at least in part on an online association between a user and a content producer. The method monitors each user relationship with each content producer for a relationship interaction between the user and the content producer. Furthermore, the method also identifies digital media content published by a content producer having a relationship with the user. A determined relevancy may be based on a strength factor derived at least in part on monitored relationship interactions between the user and the content producer that published the digital media content. The digital media content is presented to the user, with that having a greater relevancy weight having a higher priority than other digital media content available to the user from other content producers. |
| US08307065B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling network operators
A system and method for controlling communications networks. Network performance information is gathered from a first communications network using performance information packet data packets. A network operator of the first communications network is controlled from a secondary communications network using the performance information packet data packets. Changes to the network operator are implemented based on instructions included in the performance information packet data packets. |
| US08307064B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated software generic information retrieval
Methods and apparatus for retrieving software information, e.g., generic information such as version numbers, etc., from network elements in an automated fashion are described. A control server communicates with network elements in an automated manner at scheduled intervals. The control server establishes a communication session with a network element, e.g., a Telnet session, and retrieves software information at the scheduled intervals. The communication session may include logging into the network element, retrieving software generic information, and then logging out. Collected generic information is analyzed to detect changes. E-mail notifications of detected changes is supported. Collected information is maintained in a database which is accessible to authorized individuals via the Internet. Alarms are generated when detected changes result in software combinations known to produce errors. A log of network errors is maintained along with information indicating when software was changed to facilitate detection of the cause of errors. |
| US08307060B2 |
Real-time feedback for policies for computing system management
One aspect of the invention is a method for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for management in a computing system. An example of the method includes receiving the policy definition, and accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system. This example also includes applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity. This example further includes outputting information providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity. Another aspect of the invention is a method for defining a policy used for management in a computing system. |
| US08307059B2 |
Network system, control apparatus, terminal apparatus, and connection state determining method
A network system according to an implementation of the present invention involves: determining whether or not a matching address is found by comparing (i) an apparatus address, of an apparatus connected to an HDMI network, which is obtained via the HDMI network with (ii) an apparatus address, of an apparatus connected to another network, which is obtained via the other network (S44). Here, the matching address represents a match between the apparatuses addresses. When determining that the matching address is found, the implementation of the present invention involves determining that the terminal apparatus having the matching address is connected to a control apparatus via both of the HDMI network and the other network (S46). |
| US08307053B1 |
Partitioned packet processing in a multiprocessor environment
A packet processing system includes multiple processors and a set of code partitions that implement a feature set for packet processing. Each of the processors is capable of loading and executing one or more of the code partitions. A context manager enables packet processing operations to migrate between code partitions executing on one or more of the processors. |
| US08307052B2 |
Method and system for communication sessions
A method and computer program product includes calculating a score for one or more communication sessions on a communication device, associating the score with the one or more communication sessions, and measuring a performance metric on the communication device. The performance metric may be indicative of a load on the communication device, and may be caused, at least in part, by the one or more communication sessions. If the performance metric on the communication device falls outside an acceptable value, a number of participants in at least one of the one or more communication sessions may be reduced based on the score associated with the at least one of the one or more communication sessions. |
| US08307050B2 |
System and method for intelligent service assurance in network management
Systems and methods for intelligent service assurance testing provided herein include receiving network infrastructure information relating to a network, receiving one or more service assurance testing parameters, determining a test schedule of one or more service assurance tests for service assurance testing of the network, the test schedule being based at least in part on the network infrastructure information and the one or more service assurance testing parameters, and deploying the one or more service assurance tests on one or more devices of the network according to the test schedule. |
| US08307047B2 |
Method of a first host of first content retrieving second content from a second host and presenting both contents to a user
A virtual network resource infrastructure for hosting and managing a plurality of e-malls and each e-mall uses the virtual network resource infrastructure for offering e-commerce solution and the hosting of: e-shops, e-distributors and web sites. Also, on-line foreign language interface translation and interface exchange. Further having satellite e-malls with e-services and e-mall using satellite e-malls' e-services; user surfing tracking means and multiple sales channel where e-shops, e-malls, satellite e-malls and e-distributors sell their products directly or cross-sell each others products. |
| US08307040B2 |
Reducing errors in sending file attachments
The claimed subject matter comprises a technology to scan a document for file attachments, generate alternative file names corresponding to a particular attachment, determine whether or not the particular file attachment is the latest version of a file or has a name and/or file path that could be confused with the name and/or path of another file. In the event one of the above conditions are met, the technology provides the means for a user to verify that the file attachment is the desired file and, if necessary, to select an alternative file for attachment. |
| US08307034B2 |
Method to provide sync notifications to client devices
Providing synchronization notifications to a client device. In response to a server receiving notification that an event of interest has been received, a state of the client device is determined. The state indicates whether or not the client device has any outstanding sync notifications. In an embodiment, the state is determined based on a trackingGUID and a syncGUID. When the state of the client device indicates that the client device has no outstanding sync notifications prior to the receipt the received notification, the trackingGUID is set equal to the syncGUID, which is updated after each successful device synchronization of the client device. A timeout is set equal to a current time plus a predetermined value and the sync notification is sent to the client device. In an alternative embodiment, the sync notification is formatted according to a type of the client device. |
| US08307032B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating groups in a social network
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to receive from a user a request related to an area of interest. A group is generated for the user based on the request. Generating the group includes identifying domain users knowledgeable in the area of interest and combining the user and the domain user to form the group. The group is delivered to the user. In particular, user information posted by the group is displayed to the user. |
| US08307029B2 |
System and method for conditional delivery of messages
The disclosure describes systems and methods delivering communications associated with delivery conditions in which the occurrence of the delivery condition is determined by monitoring information received from a plurality of sources via multiple communication channels. The message delivery systems allow messages to be delivered to any “Who, What, When, Where” from any “Who, What, When, Where” upon the detection of an occurrence of one or more “Who, What, When, Where” delivery conditions. A message (which may be any data object including text-based messages, audio-based message such as voicemail or other audio such as music or video-based prerecorded messages) is delivered in accordance with delivery conditions based on any available data, including topical, spatial, temporal, and/or social data. Furthermore, because the systems coordinate delivery of messages via multiple communication channels and through multiple devices, the communication channel for delivery of a message may be dynamically determined based on the delivery conditions. |
| US08307027B2 |
Creating or interpreting an electronic communication
Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for creating an electronic communication includes identifying, for an electronic communication regarding multiple items that is to be sent, a default value that applies to at least one of the items. The method includes including the default value in a default component configured for holding multiple default values. The method includes identifying a data structure that is common to more than one of the multiple items. The method includes defining the data structure in a list component configured for holding multiple data structures. The method includes forwarding the electronic communication, including the default component and the list component. |
| US08307025B2 |
Method for service oriented data extraction transformation and load
The present invention relates to a method for the configurable real time transformation of dissimilar data sources, the method further consisting of the steps of acquiring real time information pertaining to at least one data source, wherein the information comprises reference information that is associated with the data source, data transformation specification information that is associated with the data source, and scheduled event specification information that is associated with the data source, and maintaining the data source information. The method further comprises the steps of acquiring data from the data source in accordance with a specified scheduled event, converting the acquired data into a predetermined standardized format, performing at least one data transformation function from the real time stream upon the converted data in accordance with the acquired data transformation specification information that was associated with the data source; and transmitting the transformed data to a destination data source. |
| US08307024B2 |
Assisted peer-to-peer media streaming
Assisted peer-to-peer media streaming. A first connection to at least one peer of a peer-to-peer network is initiated for receiving media content from the peer-to-peer network. Responsive to a disruption of delivery of the media content over the first connection from the peer, the media content is received over a second connection with a data source, wherein the data source comprises the media content. |
| US08307023B1 |
DSP block for implementing large multiplier on a programmable integrated circuit device
A programmable integrated circuit device includes a plurality of specialized processing blocks. Each specialized processing block may be small enough to occupy a single row of logic blocks. The specialized processing blocks may be located adjacent one another in different logic block rows, forming a column of adjacent specialized processing blocks. Each specialized processing block includes one or more multipliers based on carry-save adders whose outputs are combined using compressors. Chain-in and chain-out connections to the compressors allow adjacent specialized processing blocks to be cascaded to form arbitrarily large multipliers. Each specialized processing block also includes a carry-propagate adder, and the carry-propagate added in the final specialized processing block of the chain provides the final result. The size of the multiplication that may be performed is limited only by the number of specialized processing blocks in the programmable integrated circuit device. |
| US08307019B2 |
File management method and storage system
Files stored in a storage system are grouped in a metadata server, and storage servers discretely storing these files are instructed to detect file duplication and to remove duplicate data. The storage servers detect duplicate data by comparing file fragments stored by the storage servers themselves with each other. In a case where duplicate data is detected, the storage servers delete the duplicate data. |
| US08307013B2 |
Method for attaching geographical tag to digital data and method for providing geographical name information for geotagging
Provided are a method for attaching a geographical tag to digital data and a method for providing geographical name information for geotagging. When a digital device periodically provides its position information, the server creates a position database. When the digital device requests geographical name information associated with the digital data, the server estimates the position of the digital device at a time when the digital data was created and transmits geographical name information corresponding to the estimated position to the digital device. The digital device attaches the geographical name information to the digital data. |
| US08307007B2 |
Query generation for a capture system
A document accessible over a network can be registered. A registered document, and the content contained therein, is not transmitted undetected over and off of the network. In one embodiment, the invention includes a manager agent to maintain signatures of registered documents and a match agent to detect the unauthorized transmission of the content of registered documents. |
| US08307004B2 |
Manipulating electronic backups
Systems and methods are provided for storing and restoring digital data. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes initiating a backup operation of data including a plurality of items, interrupting the backup operation, where interrupting occurs after a portion of the data has been completed, receiving an input to resume the backup operation, identifying a previously completed portion of the backup data, and performing a backup of a remaining uncompleted portion of the backup data. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, computer program products, and computer readable media. |
| US08307003B1 |
Self-service control environment
Aspects of a target environment, such as the creation, deletion, and management of various resources, are managed using a set of self-service Web services of a separate control environment. A user can submit a Web services call into an externally-facing application programming interface (API) or other such externally-facing interface of the control environment. The API receiving the call, as well as information extracted from the call, can be used to determine appropriate actions to be performed in the target environment. A workflow can be instantiated that includes tasks used to perform the action in the target environment. Such an approach allows aspects of an environment to be managed through Web service calls to the control environment. Native access to resources in the target environment is provided using at least one externally-facing interface of the target environment, without accessing the control plane. |
| US08306999B2 |
Computer-implemented systems, methods, and computer program product for providing row-level security in a database network
Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing row-level security. A system can be configured to receive a request for data that is contained in tables and to use one or more row-level security policies to augment the received request with one or more row-level security query-related clauses. |
| US08306990B2 |
Transferring and displaying hierarchical data between databases and electronic documents
An apparatus comprises data storage coupled to one or more processors and a plurality of data elements contained in a database structure and organized in a hierarchical data tree, and instructions that perform receiving a network location identifier from a client computer, wherein the network location identifier comprises at least a portion that specifies a first view of the data tree; creating, using the portion of the network location identifier, a relational database query and submitting the query to a relational database; receiving from the relational database a set of data elements that is associated with the first view; generating a first electronic document comprising the set of data elements, including generating transformative links to other network location identifiers corresponding to performing actions on nodes in the data tree; and providing the first electronic document to the client computer. |
| US08306989B2 |
Method for modifying notifications in an electronic device
An embodiment relates to a novel apparatus and method for changing modes of notification in an electronic device. An electronic device includes a calendar application and a variety of other applications such as the message reader application or the daily alarm application. The device is configured to use the calendar application to track whether and how the user is notified of the receipt of an electronic message. In one embodiment, the user specifically associates a profile behavior to the calendar entry when the calendar entry is first created. |
| US08306988B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for segmenting a database based, at least in part, on a prevalence associated with known objects included in the database
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for segmenting a database based, at least in part, on a prevalence associated with known objects included in the database. In operation, a database including a plurality of known objects is identified. Additionally, the database is segmented into a plurality of segments. Furthermore, each of the plurality of known objects are assigned to one of the plurality of segments, based at least in part on a prevalence associated with each of the plurality of known objects. |
| US08306983B2 |
Semantic space configuration
Representing in a database, a collection of items characterized by features. In a data processing system, determining a semantic space representations of the features across the collection. Each representation characterized by parameters and settings, and differing from each other by only one of: the value of one parameter, and the configuration of one setting. Determining, for each feature pair of a set of feature pairs, the relatedness of the first feature to the second feature in each semantic space representation. And representing the collection by the semantic space that provides the best aggregate relatedness across the set of feature pairs. |
| US08306981B2 |
Initialising of a system for automatically selecting content based on a user's physiological response
A method of enabling the selection of an item of content data based on an expected physiological response of a user, each item of content data being associated with at least one recording of a perceptible content element, includes storing a first set (18) of data representative of a relation between at least one variable for characterizing an aspect of a perceptible content element and a physiological response of at least one first user when the perceptible content element is rendered. The first set (18) of data representative of the relation is adapted on the basis of a measured physiological response of the at least one first user to a rendition of a perceptible content element and values of the at least one variable for characterizing an aspect of the perceptible content element. An expected physiological response is associated with an item of content data using a further set (20,21) of data representative of a relation between at least one variable for characterizing an aspect of a perceptible content element and a physiological response of a user, which further set (20,21) is based on the physiological response of at least one other user than the first user. |
| US08306975B1 |
Expanded interest recommendation engine and variable personalization
An electronic processing system for generating a partially personalized electronic data display that contains a combination of recommended and expanded interest items. The system retrieves a first set of data describing an area of user interests and retrieves a first set of items corresponding to the area of user interests. The system retrieves a second set of items in an expanded area of interest that is not directly included in the area of user interest. The first and second set of items are combined and the combined set of recommended and expanded interest items is displayed. |
| US08306973B2 |
Method for generating location targeted, keyword-triggered, ads and generating user recallable layer-based ads
Location-specific content is automatically generated for a particular entity having a plurality of physical locations. Database entries that contain identifying data associated with the particular entity are searched for to obtain location information of each of the plurality of physical locations. The location information, in correlation with one or more keywords associated with the particular entity, is stored in a computer-readable electronic database such that a user-generated query that includes at least one of the keywords and a search location causes a processor to execute operations that initiates a search of the computer-readable electronic database for the location information of the physical locations that are in proximity to the search location. At least one result that is displayable to the user is provided. |
| US08306971B2 |
Methods and systems of automatically geocoding a dataset for visual analysis
A computer-implemented method of generating a map view includes accessing a dataset having multiple records and multiple fields. One or more of the multiple fields are identified as geographical fields. Geographical codes are automatically associated with a first one of the identified geographical fields. A geographical map is generated for the dataset. Generating the geographical map includes generating a first plurality of marks on the geographical map. The first plurality of marks is positioned on the geographical map in accordance with the geographical codes associated with the first one of the identified geographical fields. |
| US08306969B2 |
Linking search queries to rich media themes
Methods, systems and computer-readable media for providing a rich media themed search results webpage are provided. A search query entered by a user into an internet search engine is analyzed based on one or both of the search query terms and user data communicated to a theme configuration module to determine an appropriate rich media theme. A rich media theme is then selected and combined with a search results display, returned by the search engine, to compose a search results webpage. The rich media theme content is displayed in an ambient manner such that the search results display remains visible to the user. The rich media theme content provides, among other things, relevant images, videos, audio, advertisements, and interactive features that enhance the value of the search results webpage. |
| US08306967B2 |
Searching for associated events in log data
To retrieve a sequence of associated events in log data, a request expression is parsed to retrieve types of dependencies between events which are searched, and the constraints (e.g., keywords) which characterize each event. Based on the parsing results, query components can be formed, expressing the constraints for individual events and interrelations (e.g., time spans) between events. A resultant span query comprising the query components can then be run against an index of events, which encodes a mutual location of associated events in storage. |
| US08306965B2 |
System and method for generating expertise based search results
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer program products for generating search results comprising web documents with associated expert information. One embodiment of a method for generating such search results includes receiving one or more search queries, selecting one of the one or more search queries, determining one or more categories of web documents responsive to the selected search query and crawling a web graph of linked web documents to identify one or more web documents tagged as within the one or more categories responsive to the selected search query. The method further includes generating a result set of the one or more web documents identified as within the one or more categories responsive to the selected search query, ranking the result set and generating a list of ranked search results responsive to the selected search. |
| US08306961B2 |
System and method for launching a resource in a network
The disclosure provides a system and method for a client connected to a server in a computer network to access a resource, such as an application, database (either local, server, or web-based), service and/or a file, stored in the network. The system comprises: the client in the network; the server in the network; an instance of the resource stored in at least one of the server and the client; a file associated with the application stored in at least one of the server and the client; and an access module operating to provide the client with access to the server. In the system at the client, a first icon associated with a said resource is provided and if the instance of the resource is stored at the server, the application is automatically accessed when the icon at the client is activated. |
| US08306953B2 |
Online management of historical data for efficient reporting and analytics
Embodiments for efficiently computing complex statistics from historical time series data are provided. A hierarchical summarization method includes receiving at least one stream of data and creating data blocks from the at least one stream of data. In another embodiment, a method for computing statistics for historical data includes accessing at least one online stream of historical data, the online stream of historical data including metadata, and creating data blocks from the at least one online stream of historical data. Each data block includes a pair of timestamps indicating a sampling start time and a sampling end time, a number of data samples spanned by the data block, a SUM(X) statistic, a SUM(XX) statistic, and a SUM(XY) statistic computed for the data samples spanned by the data block. Other methods are also presented, such as methods for efficiently and accurately calculating statistical queries regarding historical data for arbitrary time ranges, among others. |
| US08306942B2 |
Discriminant forest classification method and system
A hybrid machine learning methodology and system for classification that combines classical random forest (RF) methodology with discriminant analysis (DA) techniques to provide enhanced classification capability. A DA technique which uses feature measurements of an object to predict its class membership, such as linear discriminant analysis (LDA) or Andersen-Bahadur linear discriminant technique (AB), is used to split the data at each node in each of its classification trees to train and grow the trees and the forest. When training is finished, a set of n DA-based decision trees of a discriminant forest is produced for use in predicting the classification of new samples of unknown class. |
| US08306941B2 |
System and method for identifying trees using LiDAR tree models
A computer system creates and stores a library of LiDAR models for standard trees that have measured characteristics. A point cloud of LiDAR data from an unidentified tree in a forest is compared against a point cloud defined by a LiDAR model of a standard tree in the library to find a match. If a match is found, one or more characteristics of the matching standard tree are associated with the unidentified tree. |
| US08306938B1 |
Hybrid probabilistic/deterministic planning system and method
A hybrid probabilistic/deterministic planning system including a hybrid planning engine responsive to a null hybrid contingency plan including user defined probabilistic problem including goals, possible effect actions, and the initial state of one or more possible worlds configured to extract a deterministic planning problem therefrom. A deterministic planning engine responsive to the hybrid planning engine configured to generate one or more deterministic partial plans. The d hybrid planning engine converts the one or more deterministic partial plans into one or more hybrid partial plans and splices the one or more hybrid partial plans into selected null hybrid contingency plans to generate one or more hybrid contingency plans for each agent in each of the one or more possible worlds. |
| US08306933B2 |
Information providing system, method of providing information and program for providing information
Disclosed is an information providing system comprising a receiving unit that receives an information request from a requester, a data storage unit that stores data, a detection processing unit that analyzes the content of the information request and extracts provision candidate data corresponding to the information request from the data storage unit, a responder output device to which the content of the information request and the provision candidate data are output, a responder input device that receives instruction information on whether or not the provision candidate data is to be provided, a response control unit that determines whether or not there is providable data based on the received instruction information and the provision candidate data, and an answer generating unit that generates answer data using the decision result by the response control unit. |
| US08306932B2 |
System and method for adaptive data masking
A method for adaptive data masking of a database is provided. The method comprises extracting data from a first database and providing one or more predefined rules for masking the extracted data. The method further comprises masking a first portion of extracted data using a trained Artificial Neural Network (ANN), where the ANN is trained for masking at least one database having properties similar to the first database. The masked and unmasked data is aggregated to arrive at an output structurally similar to the extracted data. The method furthermore comprises determining a deviation value between the arrived output and expected output of the extracted data, and adapting the trained ANN automatically according to data masking requirements of the first database, if the deviation value is more than a predefined value. |
| US08306931B1 |
Detecting, classifying, and tracking abnormal data in a data stream
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting, classifying, and tracking abnormal data in a data stream. Embodiments include an integrated set of algorithms that enable an analyst to detect, characterize, and track abnormalities in real-time data streams based upon historical data labeled as predominantly normal or abnormal. Embodiments of the invention can detect, identify relevant historical contextual similarity, and fuse unexpected and unknown abnormal signatures with other possibly related sensor and source information. The number, size, and connections of the neural networks all automatically adapted to the data. Further, adaption appropriately and automatically integrates unknown and known abnormal signature training within one neural network architecture solution automatically. Algorithms and neural networks architecture are data driven, resulting more affordable processing. Expert knowledge can be incorporated to enhance the process, but sufficient performance is achievable without any system domain or neural networks expertise. |
| US08306926B2 |
Systems and methods for storage modeling and costing
The present invention provides systems and methods for data storage. A hierarchical storage management architecture is presented to facilitate data management. The disclosed system provides methods for evaluating the state of stored data relative to enterprise needs by using weighted parameters that may be user defined. Also disclosed are systems and methods evaluating costing and risk management associated with stored data. |
| US08306920B1 |
Method and system to securely store customer data in a network-based commerce system
A system and method for securely storing sensitive customer data in a network-based commerce system such that encryption keys are not exposed to the system is described. Sensitive customer data is received via a network connection through an application interface. A symmetric key is generated, and the sensitive customer data is encoded with the symmetric key. The symmetric key is encoded with an asymmetric key and the encoded sensitive customer data and the encoded symmetric key are placed in a self-describing data-structure. The encoded sensitive customer data and the encoded symmetric key are stored in a database. |
| US08306913B2 |
Internet billing method
The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for establishing a remitting arrangement between a provider and a vendor to create between the provider and the vendor an electronic process for remitting a portion of a transaction amount billed to at least one billing account of at least one customer associated with the provider for products or services purchased by the at least one customer from the vendor. The method can further include enabling, by way of equipment of the provider, equipment of the at least one customer to communicate with equipment of the vendor, and receiving at the equipment of the provider transactional information indicating that the at least one customer initiated an order for a product or service from the vendor for a transactional amount. The method can also include initiating with equipment of the provider the remittance of the portion of the transaction amount by way of the account of the vendor according to the remitting arrangement. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08306910B2 |
Systems and methods for electronically circulating a currency
One or more currency notes deposited at a currency reserve may be electronically circulated by a transaction provider. The transaction provider may maintain a record of the ownership status of the one or more currency notes in a computer-readable storage medium. The transaction provider may provide for an entity to obtain ownership of a currency notes. The entity may submit a request to the transaction provider to transfer a currency note to another entity. The transaction provider may authorize the request, and may perform the transfer if the request is authorized. The transfer of ownership may take place while maintaining the physical currency note in the currency reserve. A record of the transaction may be stored by the transaction provider and/or transmitted to the parties to the transfer. The transaction provider may allow for the exchange or currency notes into other denomination and/or currency types. |
| US08306909B2 |
Intelligent collections models
Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for analyzing credit and tax form data and determining a collections treatment type to collect revenue. A collections model is constructed to determine a collections score that is based on raw credit data and tax form data and is indicative of a debtor's propensity to pay an owed amount. The collections model includes score bands, each score band being associated with a range of credit scores. A collections score is determined from a scoring expression that is associated with a score band and that typically includes a subset of available raw credit data and tax form data. A collections treatment type is determined from a collections score. Each treatment type corresponds to a treatment action that is directed to the debtor. A collections model is constructed from historical tax data, in which score bands and scoring expressions are constructed for the collections model. |
| US08306904B1 |
Systems and methods related to liquidity aggregation
One exemplary aspect comprises a method comprising: (a) receiving data indicating that one or more orders for a specific security in one or more trading systems are available for aggregation into a potential block of at least a specific size; (b) transmitting data sufficient to enable a trading interface in communication with a first trading system to display an indication of the existence of the potential block and that at least some orders in the block originated from a second trading system in the one or more trading systems, the second trading system being separate from the first trading system; and (c) receiving from the trading interface a contra order in the first trading system that crosses the potential block. Other aspects comprise related computer system, components, and software. |
| US08306900B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for executing a buy or sell order
An auto-trading strategy for executing an order to buy or sell a specified quantity of a certain item. The strategy utilizes urgency scores rather than time bins. In one embodiment, an urgency score is determined at a certain point in time. The urgency score is a function of a trading target associated with the point in time and the actual number of items that have been traded as of the certain point in time. |
| US08306899B2 |
Managing a life insurance investment
A method of managing an investment of a policyholder which corresponds to a sum assured is described. The invention has particular application to life insurance. The policyholder selects a basic sum assured, and a periodic basic premium corresponding to the basic sum assured is calculated. The basic sum assured is linked to one or more financial indices so that the value of the total sum assured increases or decreases with changes in the value of the indices. An additional premium is calculated based on the cost of the linking, and a composite periodic premium is calculated. By using derivative instruments, the policyholder's investment corresponds to the actual sum assured from inception of the policy, compared with conventional schemes which involve the periodic investment of the policyholder's contributions. |
| US08306898B2 |
Online purchasing system supporting sellers with affordability screening
A method of comparing financing options to facilitate the purchase and finance of products offered for sale. The method may include receiving information regarding the product being offered for sale, along with personal or credit information relating to the potential buyer, to identify a plurality of financing options that may be used to finance the purchase of the product. These financing options may then be delivered for display to the buyer. |
| US08306894B2 |
Economic intelligence
Aspects of the invention provide for the use of transactional data in the calculation of sub-scores that may be used in an index score. The sub-scores may include an account sub-score, an investment sub-score, and/or a discretionary sub-score. One or more sub-scores that represent an individual, an entity, or an economic sector may be used to create an index. Further aspects relate to calculating novel indices that more accurately represent and/or predict economic conditions. |
| US08306890B2 |
Determining commercial share of wallet
Commercial size of spending wallet (“SoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“SoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. Commercial SoW is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new account evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. Company financial statements are utilized to identify and calculate total business spend of a company that could be transacted using a commercial credit card. A spend-like regression model may then be developed to estimate annual commercial SoSW value for customers and prospects within a credit network. |
| US08306889B2 |
System and method for presenting fraud detection information
Systems and methods for presenting fraud detection information are presented. In one example, a computer system analyzes empirical data to detect potentially fraudulent activity and alerts users of the potentially fraudulent activity via a fraud detection user interface. The fraud detection user interface determines a set of user interface components to suitable to present the potentially fraudulent activity and presents facts associated with the potentially fraudulent activity to a user for further analysis and investigation. |
| US08306886B2 |
System and method for predicting future prices of a cut meat
A system and method for determining a future price of a selected meat cut type (MCT) of an animal for a selected future time period (FTP) including: receiving the selected MCT; storing said selected MCT in a memory; using a price model configured for determining said future price of said selected MCT for the selected FTP, said future price based on one or more defined risk levels, historical market price of said selected MCT for one or more time periods prior to said selected FTP, and live animal futures defining a price of the live animal traded as a commodity; determining via the model the future price of the selected MCT for the selected FTP, a price premium for the selected MCT for the selected FTP, and a hedge relationship defining the relative price of the live animal futures with said future price for the selected FTP; and sending the future price and the price premium for the selected MCT for the selected FTP for presentation on a user interface. |
| US08306883B2 |
Construction payment management systems and methods with specified billing features
Systems and methods for managing payments. One construction of the system includes a software enabled user interface accessible by a first party and a second party, at least one computer readable memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to selectively operate in a specified billing mode in response to an input received from the first party. The processor is configured to receiving invoice details from the first party when operating in the specified billing mode and from the second party when not operating in the specified billing mode. The processor is further configured to generate an invoice based on the invoice details, display the invoice to the first party and the second party, and request an approval or a rejection of the invoice from the first party or the second party. |
| US08306880B1 |
System and method for determining foreign paid taxes
A method for determining foreign paid taxes involves receiving an identification (ID) value linked to an account; requesting a financial record associated with a foreign tax jurisdiction from the account; obtaining a total price of a purchase associated with the financial record; extracting a foreign paid tax from the total price; calculating a tax sum based on the foreign paid tax; and populating a section of a form based on the tax sum. |
| US08306879B2 |
Electronic settlement system, electronic settlement server, mobile communications terminal, and electronic settlement method
An electronic settlement system which is similar to cash settlement and which is usable in a gaming parlor is provided. In the electronic settlement system, a mobile phone communicates with a ball lending machine using a contactless IC card to acquire a device ID from the ball lending machine, and transmits a payment request message including the device ID and a user ID to an electronic settlement server. The electronic settlement server notifies an in-store server of a transfer amount from a user account to a settlement provider account, and the in-store server stores the transfer amount as a deposit. In response to a payment request message from the mobile phone, the in-store server instructs the ball lending machine to provide gaming media corresponding to a gaming medium cost, adds an amount corresponding to the gaming medium cost to a consumed amount, and issues a transfer request to a receiving network so as to transfer the consumed amount from the settlement provider account to a gaming parlor operator account. Upon receiving a provision instruction message from the in-store server, the ball lending machine provides gaming media corresponding to the gaming medium cost. |
| US08306875B2 |
Method and medium for determining whether insurance is required for storage reservation
A user interface being configured to display a plurality of icons representing physical items, display a drag region, provide an option for the user to select items for storage in a storage unit by dragging and dropping the icons onto the drag region, display an estimated amount of storage space to store the selected items, display an estimated cost to store the selected items, provide at least one or an option for the user to self-deliver the selected items, provide an option for the user to select options associated with the storage of the selected items, receive identify information from the user, receive payment information from the user, and provide a confirmation to the user. |
| US08306874B2 |
Method and apparatus for word of mouth selling via a communications network
A selling method and system that allows individuals or groups to interactively select associate products and services with their online presence in exchange for the online service, as part of an online service, or for some reward, monetary or otherwise. Individuals or groups select products and services from a pool of partner e-commerce retailers or import them from their purchasing histories based on personal preference and may use them as a means of expression for their online audience as part of an online service. This provides e-commerce retailers with self-selected targeted marketing and referral selling to affinity groups, the online version of word of mouth selling. E-commerce retailers share revenue and pay for referrals that occur via this word of mouth selling framework. Online services that have any form of user identity within the context of a larger audience may utilize this form of user based referral selling as a revenue generating tool. |
| US08306869B2 |
System and method for managing commodity transactions
Methods and systems for managing the sale of commodities, such as tier-priced commodities, are described. Risk is managed by bundling with the commodity a financial instrument designed to indemnify against the risks associated with purchasing the commodity. The financial instrument may be an insurance instrument, for example. In one embodiment, bundled products are offered for sale to two or more bidders, at respective offer prices. The bidder that exceeds their respective offer price by the greatest amount is sold the bundled product. Different prices may be offered to different purchasers for respective bundled products. The offers, bids, and determination of who wins the bidding may be made by processors or computers coupled to networks, such as the Internet. |
| US08306865B2 |
Pricing remote information technology infrastructure monitoring services
A provider of remote information technology infrastructure monitoring services obtains, from a customer, via a remote managed infrastructure services web site, a choice of at least one remote managed information technology infrastructure monitoring service for an information technology infrastructure of the customer, and corresponding data necessary to provide the at least one service. Based on the choice and the necessary data, the provider determines at least two different options for providing the at least one monitoring service, including at least price and service coverage. The provider obtains from the customer, via the remote managed infrastructure services web site, a selection of one of the at least two options. While providing the at least one monitoring service for the information technology infrastructure of the customer in accordance with the selection and the necessary data, during a predetermined period of time, monitoring data is collected and analyzed to develop a revised price for future provision of the at least one monitoring service by the provider to the customer. |
| US08306862B2 |
Creating purchase orders with mobile devices
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method of remotely generating a purchase order is to be initiated. The method includes receiving a communication in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The ERP system has a purchasing transaction configured for communicating with each of multiple vendor systems for performing the acquisitions. The received communication is sent wirelessly from a mobile device operated by a user. The mobile device is configured for obtaining information from the user in a process compatible with the purchasing transaction for generating a purchase order in the ERP system. The method includes generating the purchase order in the ERP system. The purchase order includes an instruction to a vendor operating a first vendor system to deliver a quantity of a product type. The method includes forwarding the purchase order from the ERP system to the first vendor system. |
| US08306860B2 |
Pay at the table system
Patrons at a restaurant or bar can pay at their table using credit cards, without involving the restaurant or bar cashier and/or wait staff. Patrons are assisted using this system in dividing the bill by displaying the amount due (including tax) and allowing each patron to enter the amount they wish to pay. When the initial bill is presented, a balance due will be displayed and the indication will be provided that the bill has yet to be paid in full. As each transaction is entered, a running total will be displayed indicating the remaining balance due. When the running total reaches zero, the bill is paid in full, and an indication will be provided, such as by illuminating a green indicator light or by displaying a balance due of $0.00. |
| US08306856B2 |
Method, system, and software for geographically focused network advertising
A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network. |
| US08306855B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a reverse frequency cap in advertisement viewing
Systems and methods relate to frequency of advertisement viewing on the Internet, and more specifically to controlling advertisement viewings by a person during an advertising cycle. A probability of return for a customer is evaluated and an advertisement is shown to the customer based on a function of at least the probability of return and a value for the return. Once the customer has seen the advertisement a target number of times, the customer is no longer shown the advertisement. |
| US08306850B2 |
System and method for strategizing interactions with a client base
The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods that can be utilized to evaluate and/or direct an interaction with a consumer database and/or evaluate a consumer database, where the consumer database contains information about consumers and particular products and/or services held or used by the consumers. The interactions may be, for example, determining a strategy for sales, marketing, cross-selling, and/or retaining one or more of the consumers. The evaluations may include, for example, hierarchically ranking the consumers and/or determining a clustering of the consumers. |
| US08306847B2 |
System and method of forecasting print demand
A system and method are provided for performing forecasting with respect to total demand data (including two or more demand components) collected in a print production environment. Each demand component (comprising a set of demand component related points corresponding with a first time scale) may be processed in such a way that a demand component related point can be forecasted with demand component related points corresponded with the second time scale. Both the forecasted demand component related point and demand component related points corresponded with the second time scale can then be corresponded with the first time scale. |
| US08306842B2 |
Project planning and management
A tool integrates various components of project planning and management. The tool enables the creation and tracking of authorization for expense (AFE) information for a project. Also, the tool allows risks to be assigned to corresponding activities of the project. |
| US08306839B2 |
Labor resource decision support system
A labor resource decision support system, in which labor resource data is maintained across multiple units within an organization using a standardized data record format. A demand measurement for a first type of labor resource having a unique combination of values for fields of the standardized data record format is determined based on input describing forecasted demand for the first type of labor resource within the organization and a supply measurement for the first type of labor resource is determined based on input describing forecasted supply for the first type of labor resource within the organization and the labor resource data. A gap measurement is calculated based on the determined demand measurement and the determined supply measurement and an output is provided based on the calculated gap measurement. |
| US08306838B2 |
System and method for affirmative fulfillment of an order based on same day material availability during operating hours
Embodiments of the invention include a system and process that manages scheduling and processing of orders to provide improved delivery schedules. The system attempts to schedule package deliveries in time to meet a requested delivery target time and date. This scheduling attempts to schedule a shipping time for the current day to meet next day or nearer term deadlines. The scheduling system examines schedules and shipping locations that are not optimal for minimizing costs, but provide more timely delivery including examining locations other that a facing location for shipment. |
| US08306836B2 |
Management of materials on a construction site
A computer implemented method and computer system for management of materials on a construction site. In one embodiment, at least one cost scenario is defined for moving at least one material with a vehicle pool. A status of a project which uses the material is then determined. A report is generated which identifies a vehicle of the vehicle pool and defines a load of the material which is to be moved by the vehicle from a first location to a second location. |
| US08306834B1 |
Bounce back method, system and apparatus
A customer whose conditional purchase offer (CPO) has been accepted may receive a bounce back offer from a vendor (supplier-partner) of other services or products. The bounce back process determines whether a supplier-partner can participate in a bounce back transaction. If a bounce back transaction is effectuated between the customer and supplier-partner, the partner notifies the principal of the transaction. In the case of automobile rentals, the bounce back process permits a traveler to recognize reduced automobile rental rates while enabling a rental agency to more effectively manage its excess capacity. The CPO management system employing bounce back capability can be utilized to acquire any underlying product and/or service and bounce back product and/or service. |
| US08306831B2 |
Systems with message integration for data exchange, collection, monitoring and/or alerting
Methods, systems and related products for collaborative exchange of healthcare data using a computer network are configured to: (a) receive a participating Subscriber's request for publication of selected clinical data from participating Publishers that have respective Publisher repositories of clinical data; (b) determine whether respective Publishers approve publication of their clinical data for the selected clinical data and the requesting Subscriber; and (c) electronically forward the selected clinical data from those participating Publishers that approve publication of the requested selected clinical data to the requesting Subscriber. |
| US08306829B2 |
Method for determining eligibility for an assistance program
A system for determining a patient benefits eligibility under a healthcare assistance program. Initial patient information, such as the patient's date of birth, household members, medical condition including pregnancy, and income and financial resources, if available, is used to make an initial determination as to whether the patient is likely to qualify for benefits. If the initial patient information satisfies one of the well-established criteria or the probability models, additional patient information is obtained, typically including additional details about the patient's income and financial resources, as well as the income and financial resources of the patient's household. The patient information is compared to the eligibility requirements for the assistance program. If the comparison indicates that it is likely that the patient will qualify for benefits under the assistance program, then an application for the assistance program is provided and the application is completed and submitted. |
| US08306828B2 |
Method and apparatus for audio signal expansion and compression
An audio signal expansion and compression method for expanding and compressing an audio signal in a time domain, includes the steps of setting an initial value of a signal comparison length of a first comparison interval and a second comparison interval, used for detection of two similar waveforms in the audio signal, equal to or larger than a minimum waveform detection length, determining an interval length of the two similar waveforms while changing a shift amount of the first comparison interval and the second comparison interval so that the shift amount does not exceed the signal comparison length, and expanding or compressing the audio signal in the time domain on the basis of the interval length of the two similar waveforms. |
| US08306825B2 |
Voice guidance system for vehicle
A voice guidance system for a vehicle includes a transmitter, a tuner, a touch sensor, a smart ECU, a D-seat speaker, and a P-seat speaker, which are all mounted in a vehicle. It is used for an in-vehicle system, such as a smart entry system, which performs intercommunication with a portable unit. In this guidance system, a smart ECU stores in a memory information indicating that a user has performed predetermined operation with the smart entry system. When it is determined that a user will use the smart entry system, the following processing is performed: voice guidance about the operation procedures for the system is outputted from a driver seat speaker or a passenger seat speaker when information indicating that the user has performed the predetermined operation in the past is not stored in the memory; and voice guidance is disabled when information indicating that the user has performed the predetermined operation is stored. |
| US08306824B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating face character based on voice
An apparatus and method of creating a face character which corresponds to a voice of a user is provided. To create various facial expressions with fewer key models, a face character is divided in a plurality of areas and a voice sample is parameterized corresponding to pronunciation and emotion. If the user's voice is input, a face character image corresponding to divided face areas is synthesized using key models and data about parameters corresponding to the voice sample to synthesize an overall face character image using the synthesized face character image corresponding to the divided face areas. |
| US08306821B2 |
Sub-band periodic signal enhancement system
A signal enhancement system reinforces signal content and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal. The system detects, tracks, and reinforces non-stationary periodic signal components of a signal. The periodic signal components may represent vowel sounds or other voiced sounds. The system may detect, track, and attenuate quasi-stationary signal components in the signal. |
| US08306817B2 |
Speech recognition with non-linear noise reduction on Mel-frequency cepstra
In an automatic speech recognition system, a feature extractor extracts features from a speech signal, and speech is recognized by the automatic speech recognition system based on the extracted features. Noise reduction as part of the feature extractor is provided by feature enhancement in which feature-domain noise reduction in the form of Mel-frequency cepstra is provided based on the minimum means square error criterion. Specifically, the devised method takes into account the random phase between the clean speech and the mixing noise. The feature-domain noise reduction is performed in a dimension-wise fashion to the individual dimensions of the feature vectors input to the automatic speech recognition system, in order to perform environment-robust speech recognition. |
| US08306816B2 |
Rapid transcription by dispersing segments of source material to a plurality of transcribing stations
A method and system for producing and working with transcripts according to the invention eliminates time inefficiencies. By dispersing a source recording to a transcription team in small segments, so that team members transcribe segments in parallel, a rapid transcription process delivers a fully edited transcript within minutes. Clients can view accurate, grammatically correct, proofread and fact-checked documents that shadow live proceedings by mere minutes. The rapid transcript includes time coding, speaker identification and summary. A viewer application allows a client to view a video recording side-by-side with a transcript. Clicking on a word in the transcript locates the corresponding recorded content; advancing a recording to a particular point locates and displays the corresponding spot in the transcript. The recording is viewed using common video features, and may be downloaded. The client can edit the transcript and insert comments. Any number of colleagues can view and edit simultaneously. |
| US08306815B2 |
Speech dialog control based on signal pre-processing
A speech dialog system interfaces a user to a computer. The system includes a signal pre-processor that processes a speech input to generate an enhanced signal and an analysis signal. A speech recognition unit may generate a recognition result based on the enhanced signal. A control unit may manage an output unit or an external device based on the information within the analysis signal. |
| US08306813B2 |
Encoding device and encoding method
An encoding device reduces the encoding distortion as compared to the conventional technique and obtains a preferable sound quality for auditory sense. In the encoding device, a shape quantization unit quantizes the shape of an input spectrum with a small number of pulse positions and polarities. The shape quantization unit sets a pulse amplitude width to be searched later upon search of the pulse position to a value not greater than the pulse amplitude width which has been searched previously. A gain quantization unit calculates a gain of a pulse searched by the shape quantization unit for each of bands. |
| US08306808B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting a language for text segmentation
Methods and systems for selecting a language for text segmentation are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least a first candidate language and a second candidate language associated with a string of characters are identified, at least a first segmented result associated with the first candidate language and a second segmented result associated with the second candidate language are determined, a first frequency of occurrence for the first segmented result and a second frequency of occurrence for the second segmented result are determined, and an operable language is identified from the first candidate language and the second candidate language based at least in part on the first frequency of occurrence and the second frequency of occurrence. |
| US08306803B2 |
Method and apparatus for assisting integrated circuit designing with a substrate coupling
The invention concerns a method for verifying, prior to fabrication, the proper operation of integrated circuit electronic systems using analog signals. It comprises the following steps: identifying (22) the noise-sensitive circuits, setting an acceptable sensitivity template for these noise-sensitive circuits, identifying (34) the noise-generating circuits, modeling the noise, determining (50) the function for transferring noise to the sensitive circuits, and comparing (58) the level of noise reaching the sensitive circuits to an acceptable sensitivity threshold template for the sensitive circuits. |
| US08306798B2 |
Fluid dynamics simulator
In some embodiments, the Navier-Stokes matrix A may be developed on the fly using arrays of Dirichlet and von Neumann boundary conditions. As a result, the storage requirements are dramatically reduced and hardware accelerators or single instruction multiple data processors may be used to solve the Navier-Stokes equations. |
| US08306796B2 |
Pyrotechnic shock simulation system and method
A system to simulate pyrotechnic shock may include a pulse or signal generator to generate a predetermined signal waveform. A signal conditioning device may be included to condition the predetermined signal waveform to produce a predetermined shock simulation for a shock test. The system may also include a power amplifier to amplify the conditioned predetermined signal waveform to a chosen amplitude to produce a selected level of shock. A shaker system produces the selected level of shock in response to an amplified signal waveform from the power amplifier. A shock measuring device measures a shock imparted to the test specimen, and an output device presents a result of the shock test on the test specimen. |
| US08306786B1 |
Detector array for compressive sensing
A compressive sensor for sensing energy including a plurality of detectors for detecting a plurality of electromagnetic modes, wherein each detector has an output and detects at least one electromagnetic mode of the energy, a summer coupled to the plurality of detectors for forming a composite sum of the outputs of the plurality of detectors, and a plurality of switches, each respective switch coupled to a respective detector, wherein the respective switch may be switched to remove the respective detector from the composite sum. |
| US08306782B2 |
System for monitoring and diagnosing remote devices
According to one embodiment, a monitoring/diagnostic apparatus is provided, which is designed for use in a system for monitoring and diagnosing a plurality of object devices. The monitoring/diagnostic apparatus has an agent management module and a diagnostic module. The agent management module is configured to manage agents for collecting operation data of an object device. The diagnostic module uses the operation data collected, thereby to diagnose a problem in the objective device. |
| US08306781B2 |
Professional diagnosis method of battery performance analysis
The present invention discloses a professional diagnosis method of battery performance analysis, Through the overall evaluation of experiential data library, several parameters about the battery are input into the artificial neural network, outputting capacity prediction and service life prediction of each battery, etc. and giving useful advices for each battery. Therefore the result is much more in conformity with the real condition of the battery. Besides, it designs an adaptive learning function of the abovementioned artificial neural network. This invention effectively avoids the defect of evaluating the VRLA battery performance at single moment, from single perspective and by single method, and it does the real-time monitoring and evaluating for the performance of the battery during VRLA battery working period, which is easy to operate, and avoids checking discharge test to the battery so that it doesn't affect the cycle life of the VRLA battery. |
| US08306780B2 |
Data quality and ancillary data checking for Raman sensor
Systems and methods for operating, particularly in the field, a Raman spectroscopy device that includes a laser, a spectrograph, an intensified charge coupled device (ICCD), and an autofocus subsystem. Before spectral data acquisition commences a series of ancillary data checks is performed to monitor operating conditions of at least the laser, the ICCD, and the autofocus subsystem. Further, after each Raman spectrum acquisition, a series of data quality checks is performed to enhance confidence in the just collected data. Only spectral data that passes the data quality checks are further processed. However, all spectral data are stored in a log file. When the log file reaches a predetermined capacity, the log file is closed, and a new round of ancillary data checks is performed to again monitor the status of the Raman spectroscopy device. |
| US08306777B2 |
System and method for identifying road features
A system and method identifies road features that may not appear on a map database, such as paths not described as roads on the map database, and whether all the roads at a crossing cross at the same grade level. The system and method may thus be used to identify points of departure from, or points of merging onto, a road described by the map database or a path identified as described herein, but not described by the map database. |
| US08306775B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for detecting rotation speed information, and apparatus, method, and, program for detecting tire having decreased pressure
A rotation speed information detection apparatus, including: a wheel sensor for detecting passage of teeth of a gear provided in association with tires of a vehicle; a number-of-teeth calculation means for calculating the number of teeth of the gear passed per a sampling cycle set in advance; and a wheel speed calculation means for regularly calculating rotation speed information of the tire with using the number of teeth calculated. The number-of-teeth calculation means is configured to use a ratio between time information at the point and a remaining time until the time at which the next sampling cycle is started is reached to thereby calculate the number of remaining teeth to calculate the number of teeth passed during the sampling cycle. The wheel speed calculation means is configured to calculate tire rotation speed information based on an interval between neighboring teeth in the gear, the number of teeth passed during the sampling cycle, the number of remaining teeth calculated by the number-of-teeth-calculation means, and the sampling cycle. |
| US08306771B2 |
Cell based temperature monitoring
A system and method for measuring a temperature in at least one energy storage unit. The system includes at least one temperature sensor thermally coupled to the at least one energy storage unit, and a battery management controller in communication with the at least one temperature sensor. The battery management controller is configured to process a temperature of the at least one energy storage unit to obtain an internal temperature in the at least one energy storage unit. |
| US08306759B2 |
Apparatus and method for calculating transient-based fatigue usage factor using characteristic fatigue usage curve
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for calculating a fatigue usage factor with respect to fatigue generated in the material of a mechanical device depending upon changes of an operation environment during operation of the mechanical device. A fatigue usage factor UOP.cyc,transient n, which is based on the operation-transient state n, is calculated by multiplying a fatigue usage factor based on a design-transient state UDSGN.cyc,transient n by the value of a characteristic fatigue usage factor F (k) as shown in the following equation: UOP.cyc,transient n=F(k)×UDSGN.cyc,transient n Since a characteristic fatigue usage factor curve devised in accordance the present invention uses the characteristic fatigue usage factor curve obtained on the basis of the operation-transient state when calculating a transient-based fatigue usage factor, it is possible to much more accurately calculate the fatigue usage factor with respect to any operation-transient state of the mechanical device compared with the prior art. |
| US08306757B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measuring analytes using large scale FET arrays
Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis. |
| US08306755B2 |
Field-based similarity search system and method
A similarity search method includes generating a feature database which stores data pertaining to a candidate molecule, as executed by a processor of a computer, the database including a hash table having entries which are generated based on, a set of descriptors generated from conformations of fragment graphs of the candidate molecule, the fragment graphs including plural fragment nodes connected by rotatable bond edges, a specific conformation of the fragment node including a fragment of the candidate molecule, and two neighboring fragments connected by a rotatable bond at a specific dihedral angle including a fragment pair, and a context-adapted descriptor-to-key mapping which maps the set of descriptors to a set of feature keys including indices that label grid cells in discriminant space. |
| US08306754B2 |
Nucleic acid amplification determining method and nucleic acid amplification determining device
The present invention provides an amplification determining method that can determine whether or not an objective nucleic acid has been amplified with respect to a sample treated so as to amplify the nucleic acid. Signal values showing molten states of the treated sample at respective temperatures are provided, and the maximum signal value (A) is searched for. Further, signal differential values at the respective temperatures are calculated by differentiation of the signal values at two successive points, and second-order differential values of the differential values are calculated by differentiation at four successive points. Among the second differential values, from those in a predetermined temperature range including a Tm value of the objective nucleic acid, the maximum second differential value (Dmax′) and the minimum second differential value (Dmin′) are selected. Then, the maximum difference (B) is calculated based on the formula (B)=(Dmax′)−(Dmin′). The calculation of the formula X=(B)/(A) is performed, and when X satisfies the condition [X>predetermined threshold value], the amplification is determined as normal amplification, and when X satisfies the condition [X≦predetermined threshold value], the amplification is determined as poor amplification. |
| US08306753B2 |
Skin modeling methods and systems
A system and method for generating a numerical skin model. The skin model may be used to predict the interaction of the skin to various devices, such as shaving devices and absorbent articles, for example. The computer-based numerical skin material model of the simulated skin may comprise a mechanical behavior model of a surface epidermis, a mechanical behavior model of a dermis, a mechanical behavior model of a hypodermis, and a van der Waals hyperelastic formulation to represent the behavior of the simulated skin. A strain stiffening viscoelasticty of the simulated human skin may be determined by a Prony time series expansion. |
| US08306752B1 |
Method to determine transcriptional regulation pathways in organisms
The invention relates to computer-implemented methods and systems for identifying regulatory relationships between expressed regulating polypeptides and targets of the regulatory activities of such regulating polypeptides. More specifically, the invention provides a new method for identifying regulatory dependencies between biochemical species in a cell. In particular embodiments, provided are computer-implemented methods for identifying a regulatory interaction between a transcription factor and a gene target of the transcription factor, or between a transcription factor and a set of gene targets of the transcription factor. Further provided are genome-scale methods for predicting regulatory interactions between a set of transcription factors and a corresponding set of transcriptional target substrates thereof. |
| US08306748B2 |
Location enhancement system and method based on topology constraints
A method for enhanced location sensing based on topology constraints. A potential position value and a corresponding probability value with respect to an observed position data of an object within a structure can be calculated utilizing a normal probability distribution function. Thereafter, an optimal route between adjacent observed time periods may be calculated utilizing a heuristic search algorithm. The potential position value and the optimal route can be calculated by accessing a pre-installed topology data associated with the structure. An optimization problem can then be solved to refine the observed position data. The position between a pair of observed time periods can be interpolated and the position of the object before a next observed time can be predicted by interpolation based on the spatial constraints. |
| US08306746B2 |
Method and system for providing travel time information
Location technologies are combined with other information systems to provide augmented information for individuals such as a traveler in an automobile. |
| US08306745B1 |
Methods and systems for displaying airport moving map information
Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting. |
| US08306744B2 |
Vehicle-mounted equipment
Vehicle-mounted equipment includes a storage unit 12 for storing data for a plurality of destinations, a vehicle-mounted network connecting unit 11 for receiving destination data indicating a destination via a vehicle-mounted network, a destination determining unit 21 for determining the destination on the basis of destination data received by the vehicle-mounted network connecting unit, and a data deleting unit 22 for deleting data other than data for the destination determined by the destination determining unit from the storage unit. |
| US08306742B2 |
Navigation server
A navigation server rapidly generating guide support information in view of a traffic state after occurrence of an accidental situation in a road section, and make a navigation device recognize the same. After occurrence of the accidental situation in a target road section, a changing pattern g2(t) of a cumulative traffic volume CQ of a second position x2 during a first period is estimated, on the basis of a value of a traffic volume Q1 of the target road section at the first time t1. Further, a primary guide support information during the first period is generated on the basis of a standard changing pattern g1(t) of the cumulative traffic volume CQ of the first position x1 and a changing pattern g2(t) of the cumulative traffic volume CQ of the second position x2 as the estimation result. |
| US08306736B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable speed route simulation operation for navigation system
A method for route simulation operation on a navigation system is able to complete the route simulation operation within a short period of time. The method includes the steps of: calculating a route from a starting point to a destination; determining a first route simulation speed for a preset number of first turns from the starting point; determining a second route simulation speed for a preset number of last turns before the destination; determining a third route simulation speed for a remaining part of the calculated route; and displaying a progression indicator on the calculated route to the destination on a map image on the screen of the navigation system and moving the progression indicator based on the simulation speeds determined in the above steps. |
| US08306734B2 |
Navigation system with parking space locator mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: selecting a user's destination; determining an actual parking condition of an unmetered street parking space; and determining a travel path based on the actual parking condition from a user's current position to the unmetered street parking space for displaying on a device. |
| US08306730B2 |
Navigation system
A navigation system includes: a map information acquiring unit for acquiring map information; an HOV lane decision unit for deciding whether an HOV lane is included in a road represented by the map information acquired by the map information acquiring unit or not; a road number processing unit for performing, when the HOV lane decision unit decides that the HOV lane is included, processing of adding information representing the HOV lane to a road number of the road including the HOV lane; and a display processing unit or a voice information unit for causing the road number passing through the processing by the road number processing unit to be displayed on the guide map or output in voice. |
| US08306729B2 |
Navigation system with user generated content mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving a change request with a proposed change for an item; verifying a validity of the change request based on a confidence level meeting or exceeding a change threshold; and updating a target element of the item based on the validity of the proposed change for avoiding an incorrect update to the target element for displaying on a device. |
| US08306728B2 |
System and method for controlling object detection based on driver status
Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is operably coupled to the key ignition device. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is adapted to generate a position notification signal indicative of the position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The controller is adapted to notify the primary and secondary drivers of the position of the object. The controller is adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the position notification signals based on whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. |
| US08306725B2 |
Apparatus for informing economical speed of vehicle and method thereof
Provided is directed to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption due to unnecessary rapid acceleration when a vehicle drives between intersections, and it is an object to allow for economical driving by reducing the fuel cost, and minimize environmental pollution by minimizing the exhaust gas of vehicle, by providing an economical speed for drivers such that vehicles that have passed through an intersection in accordance with the present traffic light economically drives to the next intersection. |
| US08306724B2 |
Air traffic control
An air traffic control system, for use by a controller controlling a plurality of aircraft held vertically separated in a stack, the system comprising at least one processor; a display device for the control generating a display controlled by said at least one processor, and at least one device for selectively receiving, from said aircraft, an indication of their intended future altitudes; in which said processor is arranged to receive such intended altitude data; to compare said intended altitude data with current altitude and/or intended altitude data of other aircraft; and to generate said display on said display device so as to list said plurality of aircraft, to highlight a first part of the display relating to a first aircraft whose intended altitude overlaps with the current or intended altitude of at least one said second aircraft, and to highlight also a second part of the display relating to said second aircraft. |
| US08306722B2 |
Power-based engine speed control
A control system includes an engine speed control module, a fuel control module, and an air control module. The engine speed control module controls an actual speed of an engine based a desired power to be generated by combustion in the engine, wherein the desired power is a product of a desired speed of the engine and a desired torque output of the engine. When operating in a fuel lead mode, the fuel control module controls fuel flow in the engine by adjusting a desired fuel mass for each activated cylinder of the engine based on the desired power. The air control module controls air flow in the engine based on an actual air/fuel ratio of the engine resulting from the desired fuel mass. |
| US08306719B2 |
Learning device and fuel injection system
A learning device changes each of multiple parameters to an increased side and to a decreased side with respect to a reference value set for each of the multiple parameters. The learning device calculates an approximation degree for each combination of the changes of the multiple parameters. The learning device performs update by using the combination of the changes providing the highest approximation degree among the approximation degrees as the combination of the updated reference values when an update end condition is not satisfied. The update end condition is a condition that the approximation degree at the reference values is higher than any of the approximation degrees after the change. The learning device decides the reference values as learning values of the multiple parameters when the update end condition is satisfied. |
| US08306718B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus
A vehicle control apparatus includes an accelerator-state detecting section configured to detect an accelerator manipulating state of a driver; a traveling-path-condition detecting section configured to detect a condition of a traveling path of a host vehicle; a brake control section configured to cause the host vehicle to automatically generate a braking force; and a control unit configured to control the brake control section on the basis of an input from the accelerator-state detecting section. The control unit is configured to actuate the brake control section in a case where the accelerator-state detecting section detects a decrease of a manipulated variable of the accelerator or an off-state of the accelerator and also where the traveling-path-condition detecting section detects a target object for speed reduction on the traveling path. |
| US08306716B2 |
Method for controlling the desired speed in an overrun condition for a vehicle comprising a retarder
A method for controlling a desired speed of a vehicle having a retarder operating in an overrun condition is proposed, such that the desired speed of the vehicle is controlled by a continuously adjustable retarder braking system and/or an engine braking control system. |
| US08306714B2 |
Clutch controlling apparatus for vehicle
A start permission decision section issues a start permission when an engine speed and a throttle valve opening become higher than predetermined values. A clutch-torque capacity storage section stores a clutch-torque capacity reference map in which a clutch-torque capacity is set as a function of at least the engine speed or as a function of the engine speed and the throttle valve opening. A clutch-torque capacity correction section corrects the clutch-torque capacity reference map so that the clutch-torque capacity is proportionally reduced in response to the difference between the engine speed and a start permission speed when a start permission is issued. An oil pressure controlling section connects the clutch with the clutch-torque capacity obtained in accordance with the corrected clutch-torque capacity map to start the vehicle. |
| US08306712B2 |
Road surface condition identification based on statistical pattern recognition
A method is provided for determining an adhesive condition of a surface of a vehicle road using a statistical pattern recognition technique. A plurality of probability distribution functions is provided representing respective adhesive effects between the vehicle tire of a driven vehicle and the vehicle road. An index is calculated which represents a vehicle understeer characteristic. Probability analysis is applied for each of the road surface adhesive conditions as a function of the index. Each probability analysis is recursively updated. A likelihood factor is determined for each road surface adhesive condition as a function of each respective recursively updated probability analysis. Each respective road surface adhesive condition has a respective likelihood factor that identifies the likelihood of the road surface having the respective adhesive condition as a function of the index. The identified adhesive condition of the road surface is input into a vehicle control process. |
| US08306710B2 |
Method for diesel particulate filter regeneration in a vehicle equipped with a hybrid engine background of the invention
The method for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of a vehicle equipped with a hybrid engine, wherein the temperature of the exhaust exiting the diesel engine is increased above a predetermined level by increasing load thereon, through optimization of interaction between the diesel particulate filter aftertreatment system and the hybrid engine control through messaging via a communication bus is disclosed. The load on the engine may be increased with or without the assistance of the electric motor/generator of the hybrid engine, and will not affect required acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle. |
| US08306709B2 |
Engagement of selectable one-way clutch or mechanical diode by active engine speed control
A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring a transmission output speed, monitoring an engine output speed, and monitoring an engine braking request. When the engine braking request is present, a target engine output speed is determined based upon the transmission output speed. Speed of the engine is commanded to the target engine output speed. When the engine braking request is present, a selectable one-way clutch slip speed is determined based upon the transmission output speed and the engine output speed. The selectable one-way clutch slip speed is utilized to further command the speed of the engine to create a zero selectable one-way clutch slip speed. And when the selectable one-way clutch slip speed equals zero, the selectable one-way clutch is engaged. |
| US08306708B2 |
Control device for vehicular automatic transmission
A control device for a vehicular automatic transmission which can realize a shifting with quickened response with suppressing a turbine blow-up during the shifting is provided. When a response in hydraulic pressure control by a hydraulic pressure control circuit 42 fails to satisfy a preset predetermined determining criterion, a shifting response is prevented from improving, in comparison to a case where the determining criterion is satisfied. Under a relatively low response of the hydraulic pressure control by the hydraulic pressure control circuit 42 due to air mixture to working oil, a control to inhibit a high-response shifting or the like is performed, so that a turbine blow-up caused by a delayed response of hydraulic pressure can be prevented. Thus, the control device for the vehicular automatic transmission can be provided, which can realize the shifting with quickened response, with suppressing the turbine blow-up during the shifting. |
| US08306705B2 |
Earthmoving machine sensor
System and method for providing an excavation characteristic associated with an earthmoving machine. In one embodiment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an attachment mounted to an earthmoving machine may be identified. An optical benchmark signal may be detected, by an optical receiver. The position of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine may be determined based, at least in part, on identification of the RFID tag. The position of the attachment may be provided to an operator of the earthmoving machine. |
| US08306704B2 |
Engine control device for working vehicle
This engine control device of a self-propelled working vehicle is an engine control device of a self-propelled working vehicle that includes a working machine hydraulic pump for driving a working machine, and includes a vehicle velocity detection section configured and arranged to detect a vehicle velocity and a traction force control section. The traction force control section is configured to reduce the traction force by limiting the maximum throttle amount when the vehicle velocity is less than or equal to predetermined velocity based on the result detected by the vehicle velocity detection section. |
| US08306703B1 |
Side loading attachment for forklift trucks and the like
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a side loading attachment (20) for use with a forklift truck (50) comprises a guide frame (22) secured to the front of the forklift truck (50). A sliding bracket (23) is slidably mounted to the guide frame (22). The sliding bracket (23) is holding a support arm (28) which in turn holds a rotatable carriage (70) pivotally mounted to the support arm (28). The rotatable carriage (70) holds a couple of load forks (40) to deposit and retrieve a load (60) to either side of the forklift truck (50) in a narrow aisle. |
| US08306700B2 |
Vehicle travel support device, vehicle, and vehicle travel support program
A vehicle travel support device capable of continuing operation even when the recognition accuracy of a lane mark has been degraded, and the like, wherein the degree of control on the operation of a steering device or the like is set higher as the reliability of a lane mark becomes higher. In a state in which the reliability of a travel area demarcated by the lane mark is high, a vehicle's travel is relatively strongly or actively supported so that the vehicle will not depart from the travel area. On the other hand, the degree of control on the operation of the steering device or the like is set lower as the reliability of the lane mark is lower. In a state in which the reliability of the travel area demarcated by the lane mark is low, the vehicle's travel is relatively weakly or passively supported so that the vehicle will not depart from the travel area. |
| US08306699B2 |
Manual tracking adjustment
A construction vehicle including methods and apparatus for operator directed electronic tracking adjustment. |
| US08306696B2 |
Method and system for aligning a vehicle with an artificial horizon
A method and system for positioning a vehicle chassis in approximate alignment with a predetermined datum are provided. The vehicle includes a first longitudinal end adapted to be pivotally connected to a substantially fixed point and a second longitudinal end including at least one axle and an operatively associated two-corner fluid suspension system. According to the method, the fluid suspension system controls the alignment of the vehicle chassis to be aligned with an artificial horizon represented as the predetermined datum. |
| US08306693B2 |
Input system for vehicle
An input system for vehicle includes an actuator operable by an operator, a controller outputting a display signal in response to an operation on the actuator, and a display to display an image based on the display signals. The controller outputs a control signal to a target device that performs one or more functions. The image includes a graphic object indicating the actuator, one or more arrows located around the graphic object, and one or more function indicators located in one or more directions indicated by the one or more arrows, respectively. The one or more function indicators indicate the one or more functions, respectively. The controller is operable to, upon the operator operating the actuator in the direction corresponding to an arrow out of the one or more arrows, select a function indicator out of the one or more function indicators located in a direction indicated by the arrow, and to control the target device to perform a function out of the one or more functions indicated by the selected function indicator. The operator can operate the input system reliably. |
| US08306692B2 |
Input/output control device for secondary battery and vehicle
An input/output control device for a secondary battery mounted on a vehicle includes a current estimating unit estimating a battery current input to or output from the secondary battery based on an input/output power of the secondary battery and outputting an estimated value (estimated current (Is)), a current sensor measuring the battery current and outputting a measured value (measured current (It)), and an input/output control unit controlling the input/output power based on the estimated value and the measured value. The input/output control device controls the input/output of the secondary battery, using the measured current (It) as well as the estimated value (Is), and therefore can suppress more reliably significant increase in heating value of the secondary battery and its peripheral parts. |
| US08306686B2 |
GPS based vehicle modification and abnormal usage monitoring
A vehicle monitoring system comprises a calculation module, an abnormal usage module, and memory. The calculation module calculates a vehicle usage value based on global positioning system (GPS) data and at least one data input, and calculates an expected vehicle usage value based on known vehicle characteristics and the GPS data. The abnormal usage module compares the vehicle usage value and the expected vehicle usage value. The memory stores an indicator based on the comparison. |
| US08306681B2 |
Hybrid vehicle, control method of hybrid vehicle, and computer readable recording medium recording program for causing computer to execute control of hybrid vehicle
When curve determine signal from a navigation apparatus is activated, a learning portion learns driver's characteristics based on an accelerator pedal opening degree signal, and outputs the result of learning in association with a user ID from the navigation apparatus to a storage portion. A threshold value changing portion reads a learned value corresponding to the user ID from the storage portion, and based on the learned value, changes a threshold value for switching that is used by a traveling control portion. The traveling control portion switches between traveling modes based on a result of comparison between traveling power and the threshold value for switching. |
| US08306679B2 |
Method of protecting an aircraft by signalling against the risks of collision with the terrain in procedures with reduced protection corridor with specific functions
The present invention relates to a method of protecting an aircraft in approach by signalling against the risks of collision with the terrain in steep-sided environments, in order to avoid unwanted warnings emanating from the clearance sensors of the onboard TAWS system while protecting the aircraft when it fails to observe the published procedure, and this equally in a landing procedure and in a take-off procedure. The method includes conferring an additional function on the conventional TAWS functions, specific to the detection of the potential risks of collision of the aircraft with the terrain when following procedures of reduced protection corridor type, and this without modifying either the logics or the characteristics of the clearance sensor or sensors as currently defined in the TAWSs of the state of the art. |