| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08388152B2 |
Light-emitting device and projector
A light-emitting device includes a circuit board, a light-emitting element, a light-condensing element, and a glue. The circuit board has through holes, a first surface, and a second surface. The through hole has a first pathway and a second pathway. The first pathway extends from the first surface into the circuit board. The second pathway extends from the second surface into the circuit board and communicates with the first pathway. An accommodating space of the second pathway is greater than that of the first pathway. The light-emitting element is disposed on and electrically connected to the first surface. The light-condensing element has positioning posts. A portion of the light-condensing element is disposed on the light-emitting element. The positioning post passes through the first pathway and is located inside the second pathway. The glue is disposed in the second pathway for fixing the positioning posts in the through hole. |
| US08388151B2 |
Object aware, transformable projection system
An interactive image projecting device that projects an image onto a display surface and controls the projected image based upon the detection or identification of the device housing or the remote object. The device has a touch-sensitive, flexible housing that may be transformed into different shapes. The image projecting device includes a projector that generates an image from a control unit. The device includes an illuminating emitter, which illuminates the device body and remote objects, and a light sensor that is operable to detect the position of its housing or remote object. Based upon the sensed housing or remote object, the control unit operates to modify the image projected from the device such that the image from the device can interact with its housing or remote object. |
| US08388149B2 |
Projector with super luminescent diode
A projector includes: a light emitting device; a light modulation device adapted to modulate a light beam emitted from the light emitting device; and a projection device adapted to project the image formed by the light modulation device, wherein the light emitting device includes a light emitting element formed of a super luminescent diode, and adapted to emit light, and a base supporting the light emitting element with first and second reflecting surfaces to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting element. The light emitting element emits the light from first and second end surfaces. Directions of first and second outgoing light respectively emitted from the first and second end surfaces are opposite to each other. Directions of the first and second reflected light respectively reflected by the first and second reflecting surfaces are the same as each other. |
| US08388147B2 |
Screen assembly and rear-projection type graphic display device
A screen assembly and a rear-projection type graphic display device are provided to block overscanned light Lo projected outside a fresnel lens screen. The screen assembly 20A includes the fresnel lens screen 21, a screen retainer 22 and a light blocking member 23. The fresnel lens screen 21 forms an image on the side of a front surface 21b by image light Le incoming through a back surface 21a. The screen retainer 22 has a back surface 22a whose area is larger than the back surface 21a and the front surface 21b and which is opposed to the front surface 21b to hold it, and a front surface 22b located on opposite side of the back surface 22a to allow an image formed by the image light incoming through the back surface 21a to be visible through the front surface 22b. The screen retainer 22 has an optical transparency. The light blocking member 23 is arranged so as to surround respective side surfaces of the screen 21 in the form of a frame. At least part of the light blocking member 23 is arranged so as to project to the side of the back surface 21a of the screen. |
| US08388137B2 |
System and method for analyzing wavefront aberrations
A method of creating a statistical model for use in predicting vision correction prescriptions for patients is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of wavefront aberration measurements from a plurality of patient's eyes, obtaining a plurality of visual acuity measurements from the plurality of patients, applying values associated with the plurality of wavefront measurements to an input layer of a statistical model, applying values associated with the plurality of visual acuity measurements to an output layer of the statistical model, and generating a plurality of weight values associated with respective nodes of the statistical model based on the applied values associated with the plurality of wavefront measurements and corresponding values associated with the plurality of visual acuity measurements. |
| US08388136B2 |
Methods and devices for measuring tear film and diagnosing tear disorders
Methods and devices measure eye blinks and tear film lipid and aqueous layer thickness before and following ophthalmic formula application onto the ocular surface, especially wherein the ophthalmic formula is an artificial tear. The methods and devices are suitable for dry eye diagnosis. The methods and devices are suitable for use to evaluate ophthalmic formula effects on the tear film and to use such information to diagnose ophthalmic formula treatment of ocular disease conditions such as dry eye in the absence of contact lens wear or post-surgical eye drop treatment and diagnosis. The methods and devices are also suitable for use in the optimization of ophthalmic drug dosage forms and sustained drug release. |
| US08388130B2 |
Non-deforming contact lens
The present invention is directed to a non-deforming contact lens comprising a central zone and a peripheral zone, wherein the central zone has a radius of curvature approximately equivalent to a central curvature of an underlying cornea, wherein the central zone is progressively aspheric with an initial zone approximately elliptical and then progressing to a parabolic shape and then to a hyperbolic shape. The peripheral zone reverses the progressive asphericity of the central zone, and includes a terminating local radius that is shorter than a radius at a junction of the central zone and the peripheral zone. |
| US08388127B2 |
Vision assistance device having conductive transparent thin film
A vision assistance device includes a lens based on a transparent material, a conductive transparent thin film contacting the lens and containing carbon nanotubes, electrodes electrically connected to the conductive transparent thin film, and a portable power supply electrically connected to the electrodes. The vision assistance device prevents fogging and retains heat. |
| US08388124B2 |
Printing ink
The present invention relates to a radiation-curable ink-jet ink comprising at least two monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers; a monofunctional monomer selected from an N-vinyl amide, an N-acryloyl amine, or a mixture thereof; a polymerisable (meth)acrylate oligomer; a radical photoinitiator; and a colouring agent; wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C. The ink is substantially free of multifunctional monomers; and the at least two monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers include a combination of a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and an acyclic-hydrocarbon monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer. The ink displays an excellent balance of cure speed and viscosity for the ink together with hardness and flexibility for the cured film. |
| US08388123B2 |
Fluid cartridge having feature to clear bracket riser surfaces
A fluid cartridge for a fluid-jet precision-dispensing device includes a supply of fluid, a fluid interconnect element, and a feature. The fluid interconnect element establishes a fluid interconnection with a corresponding fluid interconnect element of a bracket upon mating of the fluid cartridge with the bracket. The fluid interconnection permits the fluid from the fluid cartridge to be supplied to the bracket. The feature is adapted to physically clear riser surfaces of the bracket upon mating of the fluid cartridge with the bracket so that the fluid cartridge properly mates with the bracket. The riser surfaces of the bracket at least substantially reduce a likelihood of damage to the corresponding fluid interconnect element by the fluid cartridge during mating of the fluid cartridge with the bracket. |
| US08388121B2 |
Liquid-jetting apparatus
A liquid-jetting apparatus includes: a liquid-jetting head which jets the liquid; a liquid tank which stores the liquid; a first flow passage which connects the liquid-jetting head and the liquid tank; a gas-liquid separating section which is arranged on the first flow passage and which separates the liquid and a gas in the liquid; a gas communication passage which connects the gas-liquid separating section and the liquid tank and through which the gas in the gas-liquid separating section is transported to the liquid tank; a second flow passage which communicates an upstream side and a down stream side of the gas-liquid separating section; and a switching mechanism which selectively switches between a first passage route for supplying the liquid through only the first flow passage and a second passage route for supplying the liquid through the second flow passage. |
| US08388119B2 |
Liquid container and image forming apparatus including the liquid container
A liquid container stores liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head. The liquid container includes a liquid storage chamber that stores externally supplied liquid, a first delivery channel through which the liquid is delivered from the liquid storage chamber to the liquid ejection head, and a second delivery channel through which the liquid is delivered from the liquid storage chamber to the liquid ejection head. The second delivery channel has an inlet positioned lower than an inlet of the first delivery channel in a height direction of the liquid storage chamber. |
| US08388118B2 |
Ink jet printing
A continuous ink jet printer comprising an ink gun for forming an ink jet; an arrangement of electrodes for trapping electric charges on ink drops of the ink jet and for creating an electrostatic field for deflecting drops carrying trapped electric charges; and a gutter having an ink-receiving orifice for receiving ink drops of the ink jet which are not used for printing; a gutter flow path for flow of ink from the ink-receiving orifice of the gutter, through and away from the gutter; an air recirculation line for conveying at least some of any air that has passed with the ink along at least a part of the gutter flow path so as to re-enter the gutter flow path either through the ink-receiving orifice or through a connection into the gutter flow path downstream of the ink-receiving orifice; and a vent for venting at least some of the air that has passed with the ink along at least a part of the gutter flow path so as not to re-enter the gutter flow path. |
| US08388117B2 |
Method of making an inkjet printhead
A method of making an inkjet printhead comprises forming a first patterned layer 20 on a surface of a first substrate 10, forming a second patterned layer 28 on a surface of a second substrate 100, bonding the first and second layers in intimate face-to-face contact, and removing the second substrate 100 from the second patterned layer 28. The first and second patterned layers 20, 28 together define at least one ink ejection chamber having at least one ink ejection nozzle. |
| US08388116B2 |
Printhead unit
Piezoelectric unit, comprising a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet, an actuator, comprising a thin film piezoceramic element and a membrane, acting as a wall of the fluid chamber, and a support element arranged for preventing a supported portion of the actuator from movement in a main direction of actuation movement of the actuator, while allowing such actuation movement on at least two sides of the supported portion, wherein the support element is connected to a unit portion that extends approximately opposite to the actuator. |
| US08388108B2 |
Liquid droplet spraying apparatus and method
The liquid droplet spraying apparatus includes a chamber containing a fluid; a nozzle body having a nozzle for spraying the fluid in the chamber to one side of a material to be printed; an electrostatic spray module which is arranged in the vicinity of the chamber or the nozzle, and which forms an electrostatic field for the fluid contained in the chamber to provide a first spray force for spraying the fluid via the nozzle to form a liquid droplet; a physical spray module which is arranged in the chamber and opposite the nozzle, and which provides a second spray force for assisting the first spray force when the first spray force is generated; and a control unit for controlling the electrostatic spray module and the physical spray module such that the first spray force and the second spray force can be provided in a specific pattern.The liquid droplet spraying apparatus includes a chamber containing a fluid; a nozzle body having a nozzle for spraying the fluid in the chamber to one side of a material to be printed; an electrostatic spray module which is arranged in the vicinity of the chamber or the nozzle, and which forms an electrostatic field for the fluid contained in the chamber to provide a first spray force for spraying the fluid via the nozzle to form a liquid droplet; a physical spray module which is arranged in the chamber and opposite the nozzle, and which provides a second spray force for assisting the first spray force when the first spray force is generated; and a control unit for controlling the electrostatic spray module and the physical spray module such that the first spray force and the second spray force can be provided in a specific pattern. |
| US08388107B2 |
Latch for a liquid dispenser
In one embodiment, a latch for a liquid dispensing component includes: a first part for holding a liquid dispensing component in a seated position in a holder, the first part movable between an open position in which the component may be installed in or removed from the holder and a closed position in which the component is held in the seated position in the holder; and a second part for connecting the component to a liquid supply port, the second part movable, while the first part is in the closed position, between a disconnected position in which the component is not connected to the liquid supply port and a connected position in which the component is connected to the liquid supply port. |
| US08388106B2 |
Ink discharge head and manufacturing method thereof
An ink discharge head includes a coating resin layer having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, and ink flow passages which communicate with the plurality of discharge ports, respectively; and a substrate having energy generation elements which generate the energy for discharging ink and provided with the coating resin layer. A crack inducing portion for relieving the stress produced at the interface between the coating resin layer and the substrate is formed at lateral faces of the outer peripheral edge of the coating resin layer. |
| US08388102B2 |
Image forming apparatus, maintenance assembly usable with image forming apparatus, and method thereof
A method of maintaining a fluid applicator unit of an image forming apparatus in which the fluid applicator unit includes a nozzle surface having nozzles is disclosed. The method includes ejecting fluid through nozzles of a fluid applicator unit of an image forming apparatus during a maintenance mode to maintain flow paths therethrough such that the fluid is emitted from the nozzles in a form of fluid drops. The method also includes receiving the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles during the maintenance mode on a receiving member to form waste liquid therefrom and directing the waste liquid from the receiving member to a waste receiving unit through a liquid passage. The method also includes directing aerosol formed from the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles to the aerosol receiving unit through an aerosol passage such that the aerosol passage is separate from the liquid passage and receiving the aerosol directed to the aerosol receiving unit. |
| US08388101B2 |
Liquid ejection device
A liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection head and a capping mechanism. The liquid ejection head includes nozzles for ejecting a dispersion liquid having charged solid particles dispersed in a dispersion medium. The capping mechanism covers the nozzles and receiving the liquid. The capping mechanism includes a cap member, a solid/liquid separation chamber, and a waste liquid tank. The cap member is configured to receive the liquid discharged through the nozzles. The solid/liquid separation chamber is configured to store the liquid and to separate the liquid into the solid particles and the dispersion medium. The dispersion medium separated from the solid particles flows into the waste liquid tank. The solid/liquid separation chamber has a pair of electrodes in contact with the liquid stored therein so that voltage is applied to the electrodes to allow the solid particles to precipitate on a surface of one of the electrodes. |
| US08388095B2 |
Customization of curable ink prints by molding
A system has a print head to dispense ink onto a print surface to form a printed image, a molding surface to contact the ink to form an informational image in at least the surface of the ink, and a radiation source to solidify the ink into the printed and informational images. A method includes dispensing ink onto a print medium to form a printed image, pressing a molding surface onto the printed image to transfer an informational image onto the printed image, and solidify the ink into the printed and informational images. |
| US08388094B2 |
Wide format printer with input roller and movable media engagement output
A wide format printer that has a print zone where droplets of ink print onto media, a drive roller configured to translate the media into the print zone and a movable media engagement assembly for vacuum engagement of one side of the media to draw the media away from the print zone wherein, the print zone is more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide. |
| US08388090B2 |
Printing apparatus and print controlling method
In conveying a print medium before and after a stop-unstable region in a printing apparatus, an image quality is improved while restricting a reduction of a throughput. Specifically a conveying amount is made smaller than a first conveying amount in a usual region. Thereby, the first conveying amount is maximized and the printing in the image region can be complemented by four times of scans after the conveyance of the conveying amount is completed. |
| US08388088B2 |
Dot position measurement method and apparatus, and computer readable medium
The dot position measurement method includes: a line pattern forming step of forming a measurement line pattern including a plurality of lines formed by dot sequences corresponding to respective recording elements on a recording medium, by continuously recording dots by the recording elements while causing a recording head having the recording elements and the recording medium to move relatively to each other in a relative movement direction, the measurement line pattern including: a plurality of line blocks each constituted of a group of lines to be recorded using the recording elements spaced a prescribed interval apart in an effective direction of alignment of the recording elements which is perpendicular to the relative movement direction, the line blocks being formed at mutually different positions in a lengthwise direction of the lines on the recording medium; and a reference line block containing lines to be recorded by the recording elements which are common respectively with the recording elements forming the line blocks; a reading step of reading the measurement line pattern formed on the recording medium in the line pattern forming step by an image reading device, and acquiring electronic image data representing a read image of the measurement line pattern; a position-in-line-block identifying step of identifying line positions in each of the line blocks and the reference line block, from the read image acquired in the reading step; and a position correcting step of correcting the line positions of the line blocks determined in the position-in-line-block identifying step in accordance with the reference line block, by employing a correction function using a piecewise polynomial expression. |
| US08388087B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and method of controlling same
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a recording head that has a first column of nozzles, in which nozzles that eject dye ink are provided in line in a sub-scanning direction intersecting a main scanning direction of the recording head and recording paper, and a second column of nozzles, in which nozzles that eject pigment ink are provided in line in parallel to the first column of nozzles, which are disposed side by side in the main scanning direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus also includes a control section that adjusts an ejection amount of at least one of the dye ink and the pigment ink by changing a driving signal in accordance with the landing sequence of the dye ink and the pigment ink on the recording paper. |
| US08388080B2 |
Recording control system
In a recording control system, the selecting unit selects at least one pixel from among the pixels in the detection region such that a number of the selected at least one pixel is smaller than a total number of the pixels in the detection region. The determining unit determines whether a pixel value of the selected pixel satisfies a criterion. The recording head ejects ink based on pixel data of the first region while scanning in the first direction. The recording head ejects ink based on pixel data of the second region adjacent to the first region while scanning in the first direction when the pixel value of the selected at least one pixel satisfies the criterion. The recording head ejects ink based on pixel data of the second region while scanning in the second direction when the pixel value of the selected pixel does not satisfy the criterion. |
| US08388075B2 |
Cabinet for electronic equipment
A cabinet includes a housing, two first rails, two pairs of pivoting elements, and two second rails. The housing includes two doors pivotably mounted to opposite sides of a front end of the housing. The first rails are respectively fixed to opposite internal sides of the housing. First ends of a pair of pivoting elements are pivotably connected to an inner side of each of the doors, and second ends of the pair of pivoting elements of each of the doors are pivotably connected a corresponding one of the second rails. When the doors are opened parallel to the first rails, the second rails are operable to move relative to the corresponding doors and aligned with the corresponding first rails to form two extended sliding rails. |
| US08388072B2 |
Crawler vehicle track grouser
A grouser for crawler vehicle tracks defined by a fastening member which extends in a first direction substantially crosswise to a second traveling direction of a track, is fixed to at least one supporting belt of the track, and has an inner cavity open laterally in the first direction. The grouser includes a toothed gripping member projecting from the fastening member to grip the terrain. The grouser also includes two plugs for closing the inner cavity laterally in the first direction. |
| US08388070B2 |
Mining machine, in particular surface miner, as well as method for the removal and installation of a transport device in a mining machine
In a mining machine (1) for the processing of a ground (3), in particular surface miner, with a machine frame (2), a cutting drum (4) mounted in the machine frame (2), a first transport device (6), which accepts mining material from the cutting drum (4), a second transport device (12), which accepts the mining material from the first transport device (6) at a point of acceptance (18) that is arranged at the lower end (14) of the second transport device (12) and is located below the upper end (22) of the first transport device (6), a conveyor suspension device (10) for the second transport device (12), which is mounted at the machine frame (2) to slew about a vertical slewing axis (8), where the second transport device (12) is pivotable about a first horizontal pivoting axis (24) that runs transverse to the longitudinal direction of the second transport device (12) and is mounted in the conveyor suspension device (10), and where the vertical slewing axis (8) of the conveyor suspension device (10) runs essentially centrally through the point of acceptance (18), it is provided that the conveyor suspension device (10), together with the second transport device (12), is pivotable, relative to the machine frame (2), about a second horizontal pivoting axis (28). |
| US08388068B2 |
Locking and releasing mechanism for vehicle seat
A locking and releasing mechanism for a seat having a first fitting part associated with one of a seat part and a backrest and a second fitting part associated with the other one of the seat part and the backrest that may be locked and released relative to one another by the mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a detent pawl configured to selectively latch the first fitting part to lock a displacement of the first and second fitting parts relative to one another and a detent plate configured to be reversibly displaced between a detent position, wherein the detent plate locks the detent pawl so that the detent pawl remains latched with the first fitting part, and a release position, wherein the detent plate allows the detent pawl to be released from the first fitting part. |
| US08388066B2 |
Height adjustment mechanism for a chair
A height adjustment mechanism is disclosed that includes a pedestal height variability mechanism. The pedestal height variability mechanism includes a first member and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism is configured to hold the first member in a first position. The first member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The biasing mechanism has a first portion attached to the first member adjacent the first end of the first member. The biasing mechanism also has a second portion attached to the first member adjacent to the second end of the first member. Preferably, a second member is also provided that is moveably attached to the first member. The second member may be configured such that movement of the second member actuates height adjustment of a chair. |
| US08388062B2 |
Profile for fastening a cover on a vehicular seat headrest
A profile (9) which can be connected to a cover (4) serves to fasten the cover (4) on a supporting body (2). According to the invention, it is provided that the profile has a recess (17) for receiving a connecting region, in particular a seam (6), of cover segments (5.1, 5.2) of an at least two-piece cover. |
| US08388060B2 |
Headrest-mounted entertainment systems
In certain embodiments, a mobile entertainment system includes a housing configured to be attached to the mounting plate of a headrest. The housing can include a base wall and a plurality of sidewalls configured to define a cavity within the headrest when the housing is coupled to the headrest. The housing can further include a first hinge element. In some embodiments, the system includes a screen structure that includes a metal frame. The screen structure can further include a second hinge element secured to the metal frame and coupled with the first hinge element so as to be able to pivotally attach the screen structure to the headrest. The screen structure can be configured to rotate relative to the housing independent of movement of the headrest. In some embodiments, the system further includes a headrest, which can include a mounting plate. The mounting plate can be coupled with at least one post. In some embodiments, the at least one post is configured to be slidably received within a seatback of a vehicle. |
| US08388055B1 |
Portable table and seating combination
A portable table and seating combination is disclosed. The combination includes at least a first portion of a hinge attached to a tabletop portion. The tabletop portion includes at least a top surface, and a plurality of edge portions extending from the top surface. The top surface in combination with the plurality of edge portions forms a seating confinement compartment. The combination further includes at least a retractable leg support attached to the tabletop portion. The retractable leg support resides adjacent the seating confinement compartment, and in an extended position the retractable leg support, supports the tabletop portion at a predetermined distance above a surface. The combination also includes at least a seating portion configured for confinement within the seating confinement compartment. In a first embodiment, the seating portion is an integrated seating portion. In an alternate embodiment, the seating portion is a freestanding seating portion. |
| US08388053B2 |
Roof apparatus
A roof apparatus includes a guide rail extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, a drive shoe slidable along the guide rail, a functional bracket supporting a movable panel, a front link member relatively rotatably connected at a front portion of the functional bracket and including a supporting portion supported by a supporting wall portion of the guide rail, a lifting mechanism connected to a rear portion of the functional bracket, a weather strip attached at an opening edge portion of a roof panel, the supporting wall portion of the guide rail and the supporting portion of the front link member are located inwardly of an outer end surface of the movable panel in a vehicle width direction, the drive shoe is located below the weather strip, and the front link member is located between the supporting wall portion and the drive shoe in the vehicle width direction. |
| US08388052B2 |
Deflector apparatus for vehicle
A deflector apparatus for a vehicle includes the deflector body configured to be provided along a front edge portion of an opening portion formed on a roof portion of a vehicle and to be deployed by projecting above a surface of the roof portion. The deflector body includes a mesh member extending along the front edge portion of the opening portion. The deflector apparatus for the vehicle also includes a pair of resin frames provided at end portions of the mesh member in a widthwise direction of the mesh member respectively to extend in a lengthwise direction of the mesh member over an entire length of the mesh member. The pair of resin frames is resin-molded integrally with the mesh member and covers the end portions of the mesh member including edges of the mesh member in the widthwise direction of the mesh member. |
| US08388050B2 |
Roof apparatus for vehicle
A roof apparatus includes an engaging groove being in communication with an inside of a guide rail at a rear portion, an engaging projection provided at a check member for stopping movement of the check member in a rearward direction of the vehicle by fitting into the groove and for canceling the stopping of the movement by being disengaged from the groove and entering into the guide rail, a cam recessed portion provided at the check member for maintaining the fitting state of the projection relative to the groove until a movable panel starts sliding by inserting a guide pin provided at a driving shoe thereto and for rotating the check member to disengage the projection from the groove when the panel starts sliding, and a restriction portion supporting the check member for restricting the disengagement of the projection from the groove during a tilting operation of the panel. |
| US08388049B2 |
Undercarriage assembly and method
An undercarriage assembly and related method for motor vehicles includes a base and a support positioned adjacent to the base at a connection area. At least one nail is inserted into the support and the base of the connection area, which rigidly connects the support with the base without any pre-formed fastener holes. |
| US08388045B2 |
Refrigerator van
A refrigerator van is provided, wherein a body of the refrigerator van includes a base frame, a pair of side panels disposed on the base frame, a front wall and a door end and a roof sheet. The front wall and a door end are disposed at two ends of each of the side panels oppositely. The side panels or the roof sheet or the front wall of the body includes a plurality of metal plates with a preset length, a plurality of connecting ribs and a pair of wing plates. Each metal plate is formed with a bending edge, and each connecting rib includes a locking slot for accommodating the bending edges of two adjacent metal plates. The wing plates extend from an opening of the locking slot, respectively, for connecting the metal plates. |
| US08388043B2 |
Sliding window assembly
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle comprises a first fixed panel and a second fixed panel spaced from the first fixed panel. A sliding panel is movable relative to the fixed panels. A rail is coupled to the fixed panels. The rail has a channel portion for receiving the sliding panel and an attachment portion extending from the channel portion. The attachment portion has an interior surface. The sliding window assembly further comprises an elongated member that couples the rail to the fixed panels. The elongated member partially encapsulates the rail with a portion of the interior surface of the attachment portion free of the elongated member to present an exposed bonding surface. The exposed bonding surface allows the rail to be bonded to the flange of the vehicle for mounting the sliding window assembly to the vehicle. |
| US08388041B2 |
Spare tire installation structure
A spare tire installation structure for a vehicle has a first rigid member disposed within a trunk compartment of the vehicle, and a second rigid member configured vehicle rearward of the first rigid member and disposed within the trunk compartment of the vehicle. The first rigid member and the second rigid member define a space to house a spare tire. The second rigid member is configured to displace the spare tire vehicle forward and into the first rigid member in response to a rear collision to the vehicle. The first rigid member is configured to split a wheel of the spare tire. |
| US08388036B2 |
Retro-fit lift device for refuse collection vehicle
A retro-fit lift device for a front load refuse collection vehicle including a base having a rear surface, a trunnion receiving portion defining a channel, and a pin member movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The rear surface of the base is configured to receive a cross-beam of the front load refuse collection vehicle. The trunnion receiving portion is connected to the base member. At least a portion of the pin member extends into the channel in the extended position. A method of picking up a rear load collection container having a trunnion with a front load refuse collection vehicle is also disclosed. |
| US08388034B2 |
Lift stub
A lift stub with an elongated shaft member that has a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A lift eye element is spaced laterally by a lateral distance from the longitudinal axis, a first distance from the proximal end, and a second distance from the distal end. The lift eye element pivotally mounts a clevis member to the elongated shaft member for rotation about a clevis axis that extends generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft member. The clevis has a throat that is adapted to receiving a lifting hook therein. A foot portion extends from the distal end towards the proximal end for a third distance, which is approximately less than the second distance. A spur element projects generally laterally of the elongated shaft member adjacent the distal end and generally laterally opposed to the lift eye element. |
| US08388033B2 |
Method and apparatus for hoisting objects using a modular lifting beam
A modular lifting beam comprises two, substantially vertical plates held in parallel, spaced-apart relation by one or more spacers. The modular lifting beam is equipped with a set of staggered mounting lugs at each end of the beam. The mounting lugs have holes passing from the upper surface to the lower surface and are configured such that two or more modular beams may be joined together in end-to-end fashion by inserting pins through their vertically-aligned lugs. |
| US08388032B2 |
Textile protective sheath for a lifting accessory, and accessory for lifting loads
A textile protective sheath for a lifting accessory such as a roundsling, lifting strap or the like, having a woven base fabric and at least one rib which is carried by the woven base fabric, which rib projects outwards from the woven base fabric and is formed by a rib fiber which is interwoven with the woven base fabric, wherein the rib fiber is a high-performance fiber and, looking in the direction in which the rib fiber runs, the rib fiber skips at least three weft filaments at a time of the woven base fabric before it is drawn down below a weft filament of the woven base fabric. |
| US08388024B2 |
Double mailer intermediate
A mailer intermediate, foldable into postcard size, includes a generally rectangular sheet of card stock having first and second side edges, first and second end edges, and first and second faces. A fold line extends substantially transverse to the side edges and substantially bisecting them, and dividing the sheet into first and second portions. An adhesive pattern on the first face of the sheet, adjacent at least one of the first and second end edges, secures the first and second portions together adjacent the first and second end edges. An obscuring coating and a camouflage image are provided on the first face of the sheet. Variable indicia are printed on the obscuring coating, and are not legible when viewed by an observer who separates the first and second portions while the first and second portions remain secured together adjacent the first and second end edges. The obscuring coating may comprise a multi-layer, thermochromic coating. Alternatively, the obscuring coating may comprise a reflective coating. |
| US08388023B2 |
Lifting device
The invention relates to a lifting device (10), in particular a semitrailer support or the like, comprising a shank tube (11) and a support tube (12) which is movable with respect to the shank tube, wherein on the shank tube, a lifting gear mechanism (26) is arranged which comprises an input shaft arrangement (27) for connecting a drive device and an output shaft arrangement (28) for driving a lifting spindle (20) which is arranged within the support tube and which rests with one end on a pressure plate (18) arranged within the shank tube and interacts with the moving end with a spindle nut (25) arranged in the support tube, wherein the spindle nut comprises a locking collar (90) with at least two locking devices (107, 108, 109, 110) which interact with locking latches (103, 104, 105, 106) formed on the tube wall of the support tube in such a manner that, with a coaxial alignment of the spindle nut with the support tube, the spindle nut can be inserted, in an assembly rotational angle position, into the support tube, and can be moved by rotating about a longitudinal axis (21) of the support tube into a locking position, in which the locking devices get into engagement with the locking latches. |
| US08388022B2 |
Suspension restraint system
A suspension restraint system for an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) includes a clamp fixed to at least one control arm of a suspension system, the clamp including a post, a rod mount fixed to a frame member, a rod configured to be secured to the rod mount, the rod including a hook, the hook being configured to engage the post of the clamp. The rod is configured to engage said clamp and restrain a movement of the suspension system when the suspension system is in a lowered position relative to the frame member. |
| US08388019B2 |
Airbag module
An airbag module comprising an inflatable airbag; and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the airbag; wherein the airbag comprises first and second panels positioned on opposite sides of an inflatable chamber; wherein each of the panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion; wherein a portion of the interior portion is a covered portion; wherein a portion outside of the covered portion of the interior portions of the first and second panels are connected together to thereby limit the inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber; and wherein the airbag is configured so that the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels is released during inflation of the airbag in order to permit an increase in the volume of the inflatable chamber. |
| US08388007B2 |
Robust bicycle having hollow unitary frame
A bicycle construction includes a unitary frame having a “Y” shape formed by a central longitudinal bar, a lower bar and an arcuate medial bar. The central longitudinal bar is bifurcated at its trailing end, forming first and second rear wheel mounting members that are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the unitary frame. A first bore formed in the common leading end of the central longitudinal bar and the lower bar accommodates a handlebar tube. A second bore formed in a trailing end of the central longitudinal bar accommodates a seat support tube. A third bore formed in a trailing end of the lower bar accommodates a primary socket wheel axle. Fourth and fifth bores formed in respective trailing ends of the first and second wheel mounting members in cooperatively aligned relation to one another accommodate a secondary sprocket wheel axle. |
| US08388006B2 |
Motorized vehicle with foldable frame and locking mechanism
A locking mechanism for a foldable motorized vehicle for locking a main frame body thereof comprises a pulling arm, locking shafts, shaft sleeves, elastic elements, and locking pins. The shaft sleeves are fixedly positioned in parallel below the main frame body and respectively sleeved on the locking shafts. Each of the locking pins is fixed on one end of a corresponding locking shaft and penetrates corresponding locking holes on the main frame body. Each elastic elements is sleeved on the corresponding locking shaft and pressing against the locking shaft and the corresponding shaft sleeve, respectively. The pulling arm comprises a pulling rod pivoted on one end of one locking shaft, and a connecting member with one end pivoted on one end of the other locking shaft, and the other end pivoted on the pulling rod. |
| US08388005B2 |
Foldable scooter
Embodiments of the invention describe a quadrilateral frame to be utilized by a two-wheeled vehicle. The quadrilateral frame may include front and rear vertical assemblies, top and bottom collapsible horizontal assemblies, the horizontal assemblies to collapse vertically. By collapsing the horizontal assemblies of the quadrilateral frame, it is to be understood that the space occupied by the vehicle when it is not in use is significantly reduced. |
| US08388002B1 |
Self-leveling air spring suspension system
A suspension system includes a plurality of suspension members, each suspension member including a housing having an interior surface that bounds a chamber and a piston slidably disposed within the chamber. The piston seals against the interior surface of the housing so as to separate the chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment and second compartment being filled with a gas. A first gas lines extends in fluid communication between the first compartment of a first suspension member and the second compartment of a second suspension member. A second gas lines extends in fluid communication between the second compartment of a first suspension member and the first compartment of a second suspension member. |
| US08388001B2 |
Transverse control arm
A transverse control arm for a motor vehicle is produced in one piece from a sheet metal blank. The transverse control arm includes a base body region with bearing regions formed thereon. A bearing journal is arranged in a bearing region with a material joint. The material joint is oriented in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the bearing journal, thereby providing a transverse control arm with high durability. |
| US08387993B2 |
Sealing device and method of producing the same
A sealing device for sealing a first side against a second side of a machine part, wherein the sealing device has a sealing element which contacts a counter element. At least a part of the sealing element and/or at least a part of the counter element is coated with a layer consisting of or containing fullerene-like carbon nitride (FL-CNx), wherein an inter-layer of chromium (Cr) or aluminum (Al) or molybdenum (Mo) or titanium (Ti) or tungsten (W) or a diamond-like coating (DLC) or a metal-mix diamond-like coating (Me-DLC) is arranged between the surface of the sealing element and the layer consisting of or containing fullerene-like carbon nitride and/or between the surface of the counter element and the layer consisting of or containing fullerene-like carbon nitride. |
| US08387992B2 |
Sealing device with encoder
To reduce an axial installation width of a sealing device 1 comprising an oil seal 5 mounted in an inner periphery of a shaft hole 3 of a housing 2 and slidably contacted with an outer periphery of a rotating shaft 4 and a magnetic encoder 6 mounted on the rotating shaft 4 so as to be rotated therewith, as well as to improve sealing performance, the oil seal 5 is provided with a metal ring 7 having at least a part thereof disposed at an inner periphery side of the cylindrical portion 10b in the magnetic encoder 6 so that the oil seal 5 and magnetic encoder 6 are overlapped with each other in an axial direction, and the oil seal 5 is provided with a seal lip 8e formed with a rubber-like elastic body and disposed towards an interior side A of a housing. |
| US08387991B2 |
Sealing assembly
A sealing assembly provides a seal between a first element and a second element, the first element being movable with respect to the second element, wherein the sealing assembly comprises: a sealing member adjacent to the first and second elements; a first seal portion for providing a first seal between the sealing member and the first element, the first seal portion being arranged in a first direction; and a second seal portion for providing a second seal between the sealing member and the second element, the second seal portion being arranged in a second direction, wherein the first direction is arranged at an angle with respect to the second direction and the sealing member is disposed such that the sealing member is movable relative to the second element in the second direction. |
| US08387988B2 |
Pattern building game assembly with launching apparatus and methods
A game apparatus and a method using trays as the game board with vertical support columns, two sets of playing pieces and two launching devices. The one or more vertical support columns attach to the one or more trays to support the trays horizontally above a support surface. On the surface of each of the trays is a matrix and each element of the matrix has a recessed compartment orthogonal to the surface of the tray. Each recessed compartment is sized to hold a multiplicity of both types of playing pieces in a stacked manner. The launching devices are used to launch the playing pieces from the launching devices into the recessed compartments on the trays. Games are played with two or more players and the object of the game is for one player to be the first to build a predetermined pattern. |
| US08387984B2 |
Manipulative three-dimensional puzzle
A manipulative three-dimensional puzzle including a shell member formed with a plurality of tracks including a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks, the first and second sets of tracks intersecting each other at a plurality of crossroads, the first and second sets of tracks together extending at least partially over a height, length and width of the shell member, and a plurality of puzzle pieces and a plurality of spacers movably positioned in the first and second sets of tracks, wherein for each track at least one spacer is between two puzzle pieces, and wherein moving one of the puzzle pieces in one of the tracks causes all the puzzle pieces and spacers in that track to move together along that track. |
| US08387981B2 |
Billiard ball mixing device and wagering game
A billiard ball mixing device and wagering game provide an entertaining and enticing wagering game that utilizes billiard balls during play. The wagering game may utilize billiard balls to determine winning and losing outcomes. The mixing device may accept the billiard balls via an access point and have one or more stationary or movable agitators to mix the billiard balls, placing the balls into a random order. In one or more embodiments, the billiard balls may be removed from the mixing device preserving the random order. In this manner, winning and losing outcomes may be determined based on the randomized billiard balls. |
| US08387980B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of medium trays to stack a print medium having an image formed thereon by an image forming unit; a driving source to momentarily apply a direction switching signal; a selector to select a carrying path of the print medium having the image formed thereon, the carrying path directing the print medium to one of the plurality of medium trays; and a switch unit connected to the driving source to set a position of the selector in order to direct the print medium along the carrying path according to the direction switching signal. Accordingly, power is only used momentarily to direct the print medium to a medium tray from among a plurality of medium trays. |
| US08387979B2 |
Sheet feeding apparatus, document reading apparatus and method for feeding sheet
The sheet feeding apparatus of the invention includes a driving roller that is rotated by a predetermined driving source, a driven roller that rotates in response to movement of said driving roller, said driven roller being placed opposite said driving roller and having contact with a roller surface of said driving roller, a pressing member that presses a roller surface of said driven roller toward said roller surface of driving roller at a predetermined pressure, and driven roller holding member that includes an opening being elongated in a tangential direction at a contact point between said driven roller and said driving roller or between said driven roller and a sheet, on a circle forming said roller surface of said driven roller. |
| US08387977B2 |
Paper sheet processing device
A paper sheet processing apparatus capable of preventing paper sheet clogging in a traveling route in which a paper sheet is conveyed is provided. The paper sheet processing apparatus comprises an open/close member 2B which is opened or closed with respect to a frame 2A and a traveling route through which the paper sheet (a bill, a card, a coupon ticket, and the like are collectively referred to as “paper sheet”) is conveyed is formed between the open/close member 2B and the frame 2A when the open/close member 2B is closed with respect to the frame 2A. The open/close member 2B is provided with a sensor 31 for detecting that the open/close member 2B is opened from the frame 2A. |
| US08387975B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying apparatus including, a conveying portion conveying a sheet; a rotation detection portion rotatably provided; a sensor portion detecting the conveyed sheet based on a rotational position of the rotation detection portion; a rotation transmission portion transmitting a rotational driving force to the rotation detection portion to rotate the rotation detection portion in a predetermined rotational direction after the rotation detection portion is rotated by being pushed by the leading end of the sheet; and an urging unit configured to apply an urging force to the rotation detection portion so that the rotation detection portion comes into contact with a surface of the sheet, thereafter the rotation detection portion is returned to a waiting position along with the passage of the rear end of the sheet through the rotation detection portion after the rotation detection portion is rotated by the rotational driving force of the rotation transmitting unit. |
| US08387971B2 |
Media-loaded device and image forming apparatus
A media-loaded device includes a main body and a guide unit. The main body, in which media are stackable, has a first engaging member. The guide unit is movable relative to the main body and has a disengaging member. The disengaging member has a second engaging member that engages with the first engaging member. The second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging member by an external force applied to the disengaging member in a stacking direction of the media. |
| US08387968B2 |
Recording-material-feeding device and image forming apparatus
A recording-material-feeding device includes a stacking portion that holds a stack of recording materials, a lifting member that moves the stacking portion up and down between a feeding position at which a recording material is fed and a refilling position at which refill recording materials are supplied, a suction member that draws one or more recording materials by suction with a negative pressure, a negative-pressure-generating member that generates the negative pressure, and a stopping member that stops an edge of the stack of recording materials on the stacking portion and includes a sealing member that maintains the level of the negative pressure. The sealing member moves up and down between a retracted position at which refill recording materials are supplied and a sealing position at which the level of the negative pressure is maintained, the sealing member moving with the up-and-down movement of the stacking portion. |
| US08387967B2 |
Apparatus and method for handling stacks of printing media
An apparatus for handling stacks (18) of printing media (11) which are arranged above one another and are made from packaging material, in particular a magazine (16) for excise stamps, coupons or the like, preferably within an apparatus for producing packs (10) for cigarettes, having a shaft (19) for receiving the stack (18), which shaft (19) is delimited at least partially by preferably stationary walls (20) and is, in particular, upright. The shaft (19) can have at least one suction device (25) which acts in regions on the stack (18) in order to hold and/or align the printing media (11) on the wall (20) by means of vacuum. |
| US08387964B2 |
Creasing device and image forming system
A creasing device includes a creasing unit that creases sheets on a one-by-one basis, which is conveyed to a folding device of a subsequent stage, a sheet detection unit that detects a position of a sheet delivered to the creasing device and a control unit that obtains reference information of a fold-position for the folding device and performs control of a stop position of the sheet according to reference information of the fold position, thereby adjusting a crease position. |
| US08387959B2 |
Structure of orifice plate for engine mount filled with magnetorheological fluid
A structure of an orifice plate for an engine mount filled with a magnetorheological (“MR”) fluid may include a core of which a center part may be formed at the center thereof and a blade part may be formed with a plurality of blades protruding in a radial direction from an outer periphery of the center part, and a coil assembly enclosing the outer periphery of the center part and wired up, wherein a gap may be formed between the blades so as to allow the MR fluid to flow between the blades and the coil assembly applied with current magnetizes adjacent blades to have different polarities. |
| US08387958B2 |
Vibration isolator for use in a vacuum
The invention relates to a vibration isolator for use in a vacuum in which mechanical and electrical modules are arranged within a fluid-tight chamber. |
| US08387955B2 |
Interlocking fencing system
A fencing system operable to define a barrier relative to a foundation. The fencing system includes a mount that is operable to be supported by the foundation. The mount includes an upright portion configured to extend from the foundation. The fencing system also includes a first barrier member having a lower bracket that receives the upright portion such that the mount supports the first barrier member generally upright. The fencing system also includes a second barrier member having an upper bracket that receives the upright portion such that the mount supports the second barrier member generally upright and such that the upper bracket substantially overlaps the lower bracket to limit movement of the first barrier member. |
| US08387953B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for an improved vehicle jack having a screw jack assembly
Various embodiments of a vehicle jack an include an elevation assembly and a guide bracket. The elevation assembly includes a threaded member and an elongated support member, with the elongated support member configured to threadedly engage and rotate relative to the threaded member. The guide assembly includes a guide bracket configured to engage the threaded member such that the threaded member moves with the guide assembly as the guide assembly moves along a path defined by a longitudinal axis of the elongated support member. This movement raises or lowers a vehicle positioned on the jack. Various embodiments address the assembly of a vehicle jack by engaging a threaded member with an elongated support member and a guide bracket. Rotation of the elongated support member about its longitudinal axis causes the threaded member to move the guide bracket along a path defined by the longitudinal axis. |
| US08387951B2 |
Apparatus and method of lifting and moving objects
An apparatus and method of lifting and moving an object is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main frame. The main frame includes a mounting surface, a first angle plate, and a second angle plate. The mounting surface has a horizontal section and a vertical section. The first angle plate is coupled to a first wheel plate and the second angle plate is coupled to a second wheel plate. The apparatus also includes a lift and lock bar for raising and lowering the object. The mounting surface includes slots for receiving the object and retainers for preventing the object from sliding off the mounting surface. |
| US08387935B2 |
Two-in-one blower and electrical controls bracket
A furnace system is provided having a blower bracket arrangement. The blower bracket arrangement is configured to mount both a blower and electrical controls for the furnace. The bracket supports the blower for the HVAC system and provides an easy mode for moving the blower in and out of the HVAC system for maintenance and repairs. The electrical controls are easily accessible when mounted to the blower bracket arrangement. |
| US08387931B2 |
Grab bar anchor assembly
A grab bar is attached to a wall of a shower enclosure with at least one anchor assembly. When installed, a grab bar mount flange covers the anchor assembly from view. The anchor assembly includes a flange collar with a collar bore and a jackscrew that is received within the collar bore. The flange collar is installed within an opening formed within the wall of the shower enclosure. A position of the jackscrew can be adjusted without having to remove the flange collar from the wall. Once properly adjusted, a fastener is inserted through the grab bar mount flange, flange collar, and jackscrew for securement to a wall structure behind the shower enclosure. |
| US08387929B2 |
Adjustable stand having rotatable structure
An adjustable stand, for supporting a device having a lateral surface defining a number of recessed portions, includes a base, a rotating frame, and two connecting axles. The rotating frame includes a chassis and two opposing arms extending arcuately and upward from the chassis, wherein the chassis is rotatably connected to the base. The two connecting axles are rotatably connected to the two opposing arms, respectively. Each of the two connecting axles includes at least one elastic protrusion fitting into one of the plurality of recessed portions, and connecting the device to the two connecting axles, wherein the at least one elastic protrusion is able to deform to allow the device to rotatably connect with the two connecting axles. |
| US08387927B1 |
Cable positioning bracket
A cable positioning bracket is provided for mounting to a building component, e.g. a wall stud. The bracket has an anchor plate for being connected to the broad surface of the building component and a pair of side plates for being connected to the narrow surface of the building component. A pair of platforms are positioned adjacent to a slot for supporting one or more cables. A series of opposed tabs are provided in several embodiments, the tabs oriented to engage and support one or more cables. One side plate pivots away from the building component by means of a hinge plate to insert the cable or cables. The tabs in one embodiment are formed with side strips surrounding a window, the strips allowing arcuate bending of the tabs to minimize fatigue failure. |
| US08387924B2 |
Actuation system for a lift assisting device and roller bearings used therein
An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a wing of an aircraft, is presented. The actuation system includes a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device, a shaft rotating in response to flight control signals to deploy or retract the lift assisting device, means for actuating the lift assisting device between a retracted position and a deployed position along an arcuate path, a plurality of track roller bearings and a plurality of side roller bearings. The roller bearings rotatably contact the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. The track roller bearings are comprised of an outer ring, a split inner ring and liners disposed between bearing surfaces of the outer and the inner rings. The split inner ring is configured for accommodating deflection and bending of a mounting pin coupling the track roller bearing in proximity to the track. |
| US08387922B2 |
Aerodynamic element and wing with aerodynamic element, actuator-activation module, computer, computer program and method of influencing wake eddies
An aerodynamic element attachable to a primary wing to extend in a longitudinal direction at an angle to a spanwise direction of the primary wing. The aerodynamic element includes a downstream end having at least two flow flaps arranged next to each other and oriented in the longitudinal direction of the aerodynamic element. |
| US08387921B2 |
Self deploying solar array
A deployable structure that may include a slit-tube longeron and a flat panel coupled with the slit-tube longeron. The slit-tube longeron may include a tubular member having a slit that runs along the longitudinal length of the slit-tube longeron. The deployable structure may be configured to couple with a satellite. And the deployable structure may be configured to transform between a stowed state and a deployed state where the tubular member is substantially straight when the deployable structure is in the deployed state, and the tubular member is wrapped around the satellite when the deployable structure is in the stowed state. |
| US08387920B2 |
Device for launching unmanned missiles from an aircraft
A device for launching unmanned missiles from an aircraft with a pallet, on which at least one container is provided to receive a missile. The container has an upper container section that has a pylon for the suspended, detachable support of the missile. The container has a lower container section that is embodied as a support area for the missile. |
| US08387917B1 |
Support structure for a cargo aircraft
A method and apparatus for transporting containers in an aircraft. A number of containers is loaded into the aircraft. The aircraft is comprised of first and second outer planar structures, a number of planar structures located between the first outer planar structure and the second outer planar structure, a wing, and a support structure. The first outer planar structure, the second outer planar structure, and the number of planar structures are substantially parallel to each other, are coupled to each other to form a fuselage structure, and are configured to receive the number of containers. The support structure connects the wing to a first bottom end of the first outer planar structure, a second bottom end of the second outer planar structure, and a number of bottom ends of the number of planar structures. The aircraft is operated to transport the number of containers to a destination. |
| US08387914B2 |
Solar thermal rotorcraft
A vehicle includes a housing having a wall with a central port and radial port formed at a lower portion of the housing, a blower disposed within the housing to move air through the central port, a distributor coupled to the blower to distribute air inside the housing, a heat-absorbing body disposed within the housing to absorb thermal energy, and at least one arm coupled to the housing. |
| US08387906B2 |
Engaging member supporting structure and webbing take-up device
An engaging member supporting structure having a rotating body being connected to a spool, transmitting rotation to the spool and having rotation from the spool transmitted thereto; a support body provided coaxially with the rotating body; an engaging member provided at the support body and rotating in one direction to engage with the rotating body; a shaft potion formed at one of the support body or the engaging member; and a bearing portion formed at the other of the support body or the engaging member in such a manner that the shaft portion is inserted therein, whereby the engaging member is rotatably provided at the support body, wherein, in a state in which the engaging member engages with the rotating body, a clearance is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion and a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the bearing portion. |
| US08387904B2 |
Screen device and fastening means for screen plates
The present invention relates to fastening means for fastening a screen plate onto a screen carrier of a screen device for a comminuting device, comprising a first tensioning element, which is connected to the screen device, particularly to the screen carrier, and which is designed to exert a force on the screen plate; a second tensioning element, which is connected to the screen device, particularly the screen carrier, and which is designed to exert a force on the screen plate, wherein at least one of the tensioning elements is an elastic element, which is designed to exert an elastic restoring force on the screen plate such that the screen plate is tensioned between the first and the second tensioning elements. The invention further relates to a method for fastening a screen plate onto a screen carrier of a screen device for a comminuting device. |
| US08387900B2 |
Directly-actuated piezoelectric fuel injector with variable flow control
A fuel injector apparatus comprising a piezoelectric driving stack and injector assembly wherein a flow control member of the fuel injector apparatus is driven directly by the piezoelectric stack without additional amplification means or interposing elements while the flow area of the nozzle portion is variably adjustable to deliver controlled flow rates in a desired flow profile to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. The injector configuration is adapted to support required flow rates with minimal linear movement of the flow control member. |
| US08387896B2 |
Self cleaning nozzle header system
A self cleaning header assembly for use within a spray application system includes a plurality of spray guns for spraying a mix of air and liquid, e.g., an adhesive, and comprises a cleaning mechanism including one or more wash nozzles and a shroud. During a cleaning cycle, the shroud is closed and the spray guns rotate to approach the wash nozzles. The wash nozzles apply pressurized liquid, e.g., water, to the spray gun nozzles to remove excess adhesive that may affect the spray pattern and flow. After the washing cycle is complete, the spray guns are rotated to again face the target of interest and the shroud is reopened. |
| US08387895B2 |
Inhalation nebulizer
The aerosol generator of an inhalation therapy device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention continuously produces an aerosol at a generation rate of about 0.2 ml/min to about 1.5 ml/min, preferably 0.4 ml/min to about 1.2 ml/min and the mixing chamber has a volume of about 60 ml to about 150 ml, preferably about 80 ml to about 120 ml, and even more preferably about 90 to about 110 ml. While the patient inhales through the inhalation therapy device, the generated aerosol is inhaled by the patient. While the patient exhales into the inhalation therapy device, the generated aerosol is collected in the mixing chamber. Due to the specific size of the mixing chamber, the continuously generated aerosol can accumulate therein without losses even when the exhalation phase is longer than the inhalation phase like in the case of emphysema. |
| US08387894B2 |
Ultrasonic waterjet apparatus
An ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) has a mobile generator module (20) and a high-pressure water hose (40) for delivering high-pressure water from the mobile generator module (20) to a hand-held gun (50) with a trigger and an ultrasonic nozzle (60). An ultrasonic generator in the mobile generator module (20) transmits high-frequency electrical pulses to a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer (62) which vibrates to modulate a high-pressure waterjet flowing through the nozzle (60). The waterjet exiting the ultrasonic nozzle (60) is pulsed into mini slugs of water, each of which imparts a waterhammer pressure on a target surface. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) may be used to cut and de-burr materials, to clean and de-coat surfaces, and to break rocks. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) performs these tasks with much greater efficiency than conventional continuous-flow waterjet systems because of the repetitive waterhammer effect A nozzle with multiple exit orifices or a rotating nozzle (76) may be provided in lieu of a nozzle with a single exit orifice to render cleaning and de-coating large surfaces more efficient. A water dump valve (27) and controlling solenoid are located in the mobile generator module (20) rather than the gun (50) to make the gun lighter and more ergonomic. |
| US08387889B2 |
Object comprising coded data and randomly dispersed ink taggant
An object has first coded data and a random pattern disposed on a surface thereof. The first coded data identifies a plurality of fiducials on the surface and the random pattern defines a fingerprint for the object. The random pattern is defined by a taggant randomly dispersed in ink printed on the surface. A data reader for reading the first coded data and random pattern includes first and second optical sensors. |
| US08387887B2 |
Inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder
An RFID transponder comprising a housing for mounting on or in a workpiece having a metallic surface, where the RFID transponder is provided for inductive coupling to an RFID reader, where that side of the RFID transponder which is to face the metallic surface is provided with a ferrite component for guiding the magnetic flux from and to a side of the RFID transponder which is to face away from the metallic surface, and where the ferrite component comprises a composite material composed of a first plastic and ferrite powder and forms a first part of the housing, which is to face the metallic surface. Such an RFID transponder is small and robust and additionally simple to produce. |
| US08387883B1 |
Bar code imagers
Bar code imagers and methods of operating bar code imagers are described herein. One method includes selectively illuminating a portion of an axicon optical element of a bar code imager device, forming, by the axicon optical element in response to the selective illumination of the portion of the axicon optical element, an illumination beam, and illuminating a bar code with the illumination beam formed by the axicon optical element. |
| US08387877B2 |
Systems and methods for the secure control of data within heterogeneous systems and networks
Systems and methods for managing data rights are provided. A first label associated with a first data object may be received, and the first label may be converted into a first universal label based at least in part upon one or more predefined rules for the conversion of the first label into the first universal label. Additionally, a second label associated with a second data object may be received, and the second label may be converted into a second universal label based at least in part upon one or more predefined rules for the conversion of the second label into the second universal label. A combined universal label applicable to both the first data object and the second data object may be generated from the first universal label and the second universal label. |
| US08387868B2 |
Method and apparatus for distribution of money transfers
A method of performing money transfer send transactions begins with receiving registration information from a customer, including customer identification and qualification information and payment source identification and performing verification of at least a portion of the identification and qualification information and the payment source identification and upon sufficient verification building a distribution profile. The method proceeds by receiving from the customer and storing in the distribution profile send transaction specifications for staging each of one or more proposed send transactions, and receiving a send initiation instruction with associated customer authentication data and responsive thereto identifying a distribution profile and at least one send transaction specification to be executed. Responsive to the send initiation instruction, the method verifies the authentication data and the current status of the payment source identified in the distribution profile and upon sufficient verification, initiates a send transaction according to the at least one send transaction specification. |
| US08387867B1 |
Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine controlled responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that reads identifying data from a user card. A host banking system authorizes operation of an automated banking machine responsive to computer verification of the identifying data. The automated banking machine can dispense cash to an authorized machine user in a cash dispensing transaction, and have the user's bank account charged for the cash amount dispensed. The automated banking machine can acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for the checks. Cash can be dispensed from the machine to a user in exchange for a deposited check. |
| US08387864B1 |
Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
A system and method for dispensing documents of value from an automated transaction machine that operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader, cash dispenser, and display device. The machine can display data representative of selectable documents of value, such as a ticket that provides access to an entertainment event. After appropriate user selection and payment, the machine produces an electronic document corresponding to user selection. The machine can wirelessly dispense the electronic document to a mobile phone of the machine user. Information in the document corresponds to a description of value associated with the document. Unique information in the document enables the document to be authenticated with a validating device at a location where the document is to be redeemed. |
| US08387859B2 |
Financial transaction system
A system and method for conducting a financial transaction is disclosed. The system includes a first memory location embedded in a personal portable device. The first memory location stores a plurality of personal financial data files associated with a user. The system also includes a second memory location to store biometric information and a first input interface to receive authentication information after initiation of a purchase transaction session. The system also includes a security module including an input coupled to the first interface to authenticate the authentication information based on the biometric information and an output interface comprising an input coupled to the first memory location and an output to provide personal financial data file information to a host device. |
| US08387855B2 |
Carton with insert
A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels and are overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a closed end of the carton. A reinforcing insert comprises a central panel at least partially in contact with the top panel, at least one reinforcing end flap at least partially in contact with at least one of the end flaps, and at least one reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel. The carton comprises a dispenser for allowing access to the articles in the carton. The dispenser comprises at least a portion of the top panel and the central panel. |
| US08387850B2 |
Surgical stapling instrument having transducer effecting vibrations
A surgical stapling instrument includes a tool assembly configured to eject staples. The tool assembly has a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly movable relative to each other. The cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly are configured to move between open and closed positions. The surgical stapling instrument further includes at least one transducer disposed in at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. The transducers are adapted to effect vibrations to enhance stapling. In one embodiment, wires connect the transducers to a power generator. The power generator supplies energy to the transducers. |
| US08387845B2 |
Setting tool
A setting tool for driving in fastening elements includes a setting piston (20) axially displaceable in a piston guide (13) which is adjoined by a bolt guide (12), and a piston stop device (30) for the setting piston (20) and arranged at an end region of the piston guide (13) adjacent to the bolt guide (12) and having a damping element (31) supported against a stop (15), and a stop member (32) for the setting piston (20) and adjoining the damping element (31) in a direction toward the piston guide (13), with the damping element (31), the stop member (32) and the stop (15) having respective surfaces (33, 34; 35, 36) arranged axially opposite each other at least one of which is formed as an inclined surface (S) forming with a respective opposite surface an angle of from 2° to 20°. |
| US08387844B2 |
Harness for breathing apparatus
A harness 100 for breathing apparatus, comprising: a structural support member 102 having a fixing portion 10, and at least one strap 40 having a loop 42. The strap is arranged to be releasably attached to the structural support member. The fixing portion comprises a first slot 12 through which a portion of the strap is arranged to pass in use; and a first anchor member 16, 18 laterally spaced from the first slot extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first slot and arranged in use to releasably locate at least partly within the loop of the strap through a first side of the loop. |
| US08387838B2 |
Device for use in folding fitted sheets
A fitted bedsheet folding aid includes a telescoping left rod assembly having a pair of door hangers attached thereto for supporting the fitted bedsheet folding aid over the top of a door. A telescoping right rod assembly longitudinally abuts the left rod assembly and is attached thereto by means of a hinge to permit the right rod assembly to be rotated clockwise 180 degrees away from the door from an open position in which it is longitudinally aligned with the left rod assembly to a closed position in front of the left rod assembly. The length of each of the telescoping rod assemblies is adjustable to accommodate king, queen, double or twin fitted sheets. A spring-loaded tip member at each end of the telescoping rod assemblies is urged outwardly to maintain taut a sheet spanning the telescoping rod assemblies. |
| US08387836B2 |
Rod activated valve for saving water with tamper-resistant security feature
A rod activated water valve includes a valve base that mates with a standard water faucet. One end of the valve base attaches to a cylindrical valve housing which has an inward protruding lip, at least two key holes at a bottom end and an outer groove. A rod activated valve mechanism is housed within the cylindrical valve housing. A cylindrical outer sleeve is rotatably held onto the cylindrical valve housing by a C-shaped spring member and substantially covers the cylindrical valve housing thereby preventing removal of the cylindrical outer sleeve from the cylindrical valve housing and allowing free rotation of the cylindrical outer sleeve with respect to the cylindrical valve housing. A tool is required to be inserted into the key holes for installation and removal of the rod activated water valve with tamper-resistant security feature to/from a faucet. |
| US08387830B2 |
Dispenser with lockout device
A dispenser housing that receives a refill unit including a container and pump associated with the container to pump contents from the container. The dispenser housing includes an actuator carriage moveable between a rest position and an actuated position. The dispenser housing also includes a lockout device moveable between an open position and a closed position. When the lockout device is in the open position, the actuator carriage is movable, and, when the lockout device is in the closed position, movement of the actuator carriage is blocked by the lockout device such that the actuator carriage cannot be moved from the rest position to the actuated position. |
| US08387826B2 |
Beverage dispensing apparatus
A beverage dispenser has gauges to measure the temperature of the beverage, in at least one embodiment beer, stored in a closed beverage container. The beverage is pressurized and a pressure gauge in the gas supply conduit line measures the pressure of the gas in the beverage container. A pressure regulator in the gas supply conduit line assists in ensuring that the pressure is consistent. The valve is closed during dispensation and the temperature and the gas pressure are measured immediately afterwards. By calculating the temperature change of the beverage and the pressure drop in the container, the amount of beverage can be calculated accurately. This in turn can be utilized to reliably calculate how beverage is left in the container and this information is then presented on a display, in at least one embodiment, as a series of indicator bars. |
| US08387825B2 |
Powered dispensing tool and method for controlling same
An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool (10) is provided, including a method for measuring the motor current of the dispensing tool during operation through a motor controller (U2). The method further includes sending a feedback signal from the motor controller (U2) relating to the measured motor current to an input of a microcontroller (U1) that is adapted to a dispensing tool (10). The feedback signal is compared to a prescribed threshold and the motor current is conditioned based on the comparing of the feedback signal to the prescribed threshold. |
| US08387824B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for bulk dispensing
Apparatuses and methods relating to hoppers and the dispensing of bulk therefrom are provided. The hopper can include hopper walls that form a product storage receptacle. The hopper can also include a hopper door that includes a frame and a slide gate disposed within the frame. The slide gate is retractable between an open position and a closed position. A set of fingers projects from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door. Further, a port can be provided through at least one of the fingers of the set of fingers with the port configured to inject a fluid into the hopper. |
| US08387823B2 |
Dispensing apparatus system and method
An automatic dispensing apparatus system and method for dispensing predetermined objects is disclosed. More particularly, the invention is an automatic bottled water dispensing apparatus system and method having a housing which houses various sizes of bottled water and a conveyor system for transporting the bottled water to a dispensing member for a customer. The dispensing apparatus system also includes a return machine for returning empty bottles, a plurality of selection members, a payment member and an inventory monitoring member. |
| US08387820B2 |
Travel mug for microwave oven
The present invention relates to a travel mug that is made of metal materials and can be used for microwave oven, comprising: a container having a double-layered structure with an inner shell and an outer shell, wherein said inner shell and said outer shell are joined by a joint in such a way that a cavity is provided therebetween, and a heat transfer medium is filled to at least part of said cavity; a first neat transfer member and a second transfer member formed from the bottom of said outer shell; a handle formed on one side of said outer shell; a pressure release device formed at one side of said outer shell; and a lid having a receiver part forming a concave portion to receive said joint. |
| US08387818B2 |
Container for suspending an insulating bulb
The invention relates to a container for transporting and/or storing products, and particularly a cryostat type container, having an external packaging structure having a plurality of walls defining an internal volume within which an insulating bulb is suspended, the insulating bulb having a body formed by an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining an internal volume and the body having an opening leading into the internal volume of the insulating bulb and a cover formed from one of the plurality of walls of the external packaging structure, the cover having a tubular element capable of contacting the insulating bulb to suspend the insulating bulb within the internal volume that receives the insulating bulb, the cover also allowing passage of materials through the opening when the insulating bulb is suspended. |
| US08387815B2 |
Apparatus and method for sequential bagging of materials
A system comprising a multiple-bag pack supported for dispensing, loading, and removal of bags on a structure. The pack includes a bag-attachment portion wherein the multiple bags are sequentially attached. Each bag is removable in sequence by separation from the pack along a parting feature. The bags are contained within the structure and the bag-attachment portion is folded outwards over a lip to secure the bag pack. The front edge of the outermost bag of the pack is drawn over another lip to open the bag for loading. The rear edge remains attached to the bag pack, thus fully distending the mouth of the bag. To change bags, the rear edge of the bag is separated from the pack and the first lip along the parting structure. The front edge of the loaded bag is removed from the second lip, and the bag is closed and removed from the structure. |
| US08387814B2 |
Collapsible storage devices
A collapsible structure has first and second flexible loop members, each loop member defining a closed loop and having a first side and an opposing second side, each loop member adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position, with the two loop members overlapping each other at a first overlapping point along the first sides of the loop members, and at a second overlapping point along the second sides of the loop members. The loop members are adapted to assume a deployed position in which one loop member is disposed at an angle with respect to the other loop member at the overlapping points, so that the structure defines a top side, four vertical sides, and a bottom side when in the loop members are in the deployed position. The structure also includes a flexible wall extending across the four vertical sides and the bottom side to define an interior space. |
| US08387811B2 |
Pierceable cap having piercing extensions
A pierceable cap maybe used for containing sample specimens during storage and transport. The pierceable cap may prevent unwanted escape of sample specimen before transfer with a transfer device. The pierceable cap may fit over a vessel. An access port in the pierceable cap may allow passage of a tip of a transfer device though the pierceable cap. Multiple frangible layers maybe disposed across the access port. One or more extensions proximate to a lower frangible layer may rotate around one or more coupling regions during insertion of the transfer device. The movement of the one or more extensions may pierce the lower frangible layer to create airways and allow air to escape from a vessel at a reduced velocity. Upper frangible layers may prevent escape of materials from spaces intermediate between the lower frangible layer and the upper frangible layers. |
| US08387807B2 |
Modular organizer for crib or playpen
A modular organizer is capable of attachment to a rod of a playpen or crib, and includes first and second storage members that are connected removably to each other. Each of the first and second storage members is attached to the rod by a positioning element. Preferably, one or more third storage members are disposed between and connected removably to the first and second storage members. The third storage members can be interconnected removably to one another and to the first and second storage members. |
| US08387804B2 |
Diffusion and/or filtration device
The present disclosure relates to a diffusion and/or filtration device, such as a dialyzer, hemofilter, or ultra-filter, having improved flow characteristics. The invention also relates to an end cap for the device. |
| US08387801B2 |
Collector for flotation of clay minerals from potash ores
The invention relates to a flotation process for removal of slimes from potash ores wherein a collector is used selected from the group of ethoxylated fatty amines having the formulae (formula I) wherein R1 and R2 are, independently, a hydrocarbyl group having 1-22 C-atoms, and n is on average above 15 and less than 100, and (formula II) wherein R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having 8-22 carbon atoms; z is a number 1-3; X, Y and Y′ are, independently, an alkyl group with 1-4 carbon atoms or the group -(EO)sH, wherein EO is an ethyleneoxy unit and s is on average 5-50, and the sum of all s is on average 15 or more, and less than 100; provided that at least one of X, Y and Y′ is a group -(EO)sH. The invention further relates to a process wherein the step of flotation of slime is followed by a step of flotation of KCl using a different type of collector. |
| US08387800B2 |
System and method to identify and extract metallic items from impacted soil to isolate ordnance-related items
A system and method to identify and extract metallic items from impacted soil to isolate ordnance-related items is disclosed. A feeder feeds impacted soil onto a first conveyor belt that conveys the impacted soil towards a screener. The screener screens particles from the impacted soil received from the first conveyor belt, and if the particles are smaller than an ordnance-related size of concern, the particles pass through the screener. If the particles are larger than the ordnance-related size of concern, the larger particles are passed onto a second conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt conveys the impacted soil towards a magnet positioned above the second conveyor belt. The magnet is utilized to pull metallic items away from the impacted soil for inspection by an ordnance inspector to determine if a metallic item is ordnance-related. Impacted soil is cycled back to the screener and the magnet in a closed-loop system. |
| US08387799B2 |
Wafer container with purgeable supporting module
A wafer container includes a container body, formed by a pair of side walls, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a supporting module being disposed on each of said sidewall for supporting a plurality of wafers; and a door joining with opening of the container body with its inner surface for protecting the plurality of wafers within the container body, the characteristic in that: a purgeable supporting module is respectively disposed between each sidewall to of the container body and the back wall, a long slit is further disposed on the side of purgeable supporting module facing the opening and a porous material is disposed within the long slit, and an air inlet is further disposed on one end of the purgeable supporting module for being connected to a gas valve, wherein the purgeable supporting module is composed of a plurality of supporting ribs vertically arranged at intervals. |
| US08387798B1 |
Mutiple oral and nasal surgical procedures method and kit
The method of performing multiple oral and nasal surgical procedures in the head and neck region provides a systematic procedure for the performance of multiple operations for correcting various ear, nose, and throat conditions that cause snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the patient. The method allows the surgeon to perform multiple operating procedures in the nose, mouth, and/or throat in a single operating session, due to the use of hemostatic sheet and gel treatments in lieu of suturing and post-operative nasal hemostatic packs that preclude nasal breathing. The various surgical implement kits allow the surgeon to select the appropriate kit according to the procedure(s) to be performed. The procedure(s) is/are selected in accordance with a specific customized treatment plan that is developed by the surgeon for the individual patient, which other surgeons involved in snoring or OSA surgery can comprehend. |
| US08387796B2 |
Box with improved resealable cover
A box having a top surface and a resealable cover, the resealable cover comprising a top layer and a base layer. The top layer comprises a first clear film layer, an adhesive layer, and a second clear film layer disposed on a resealable adhesive layer. The base layer comprises a third clear film layer an adhesive layer, and a fourth clear film layer. In one embodiment, ink printing may be disposed between the first adhesive layer and the second clear film layer and/or between the second adhesive layer and the fourth clear film layer. |
| US08387793B2 |
Vertically stacking litter bags
Bags for granular material with a closure on top of the bag and a vertical handle on the lower end of the bag and having suitable dimensions, static coefficient of friction, creep resistance and containing granular materials of limited flow properties can be vertically stacked without support, for example on a pallet. One such suitable granular material is cat litter. |
| US08387792B2 |
Sleeve kit with sleeve brackets
A sleeve kit has a case, multiple sleeves and a cover. The case has multiple sleeve brackets and multiple fasteners. Each fastener is mounted on a position between two adjacent ones of the sleeve brackets, protrudes from a plane where openings of the sleeve brackets are located and has two barbs and a gap. The cover covers the sleeve brackets and has multiple secure holes respectively mounted around the fasteners. With the secure holes mounted around the fasteners, the cover is difficult to be removed from the case, and the sleeves are protected against burglars. |
| US08387790B2 |
Holder for a telecommunications device
A holder for a telecommunications device includes a container including a side wall connected to a base. Together the side wall and base define a cavity. Side wall defines an opening of the container at an end of the side wall distal to the base. A resilient insert is disposed inside the cavity. The insert includes a bottom portion that abuts the base and a feature for releasably retaining the device inside the container. A lid is in selective locking engagement with the side wall's distal end. When in locking engagement, the lid encloses the opening of the container to retain the device inside the holder, and to muffle a sound and/or a vibration produced by the device. A locking mechanism is operatively attached to the container and/or the lid, and holds the lid and the container together when the lid is in locking engagement with the distal end. |
| US08387788B2 |
Cigarette package
A cigarette package of the invention has a casing (10), which includes an open end (12) that is opened/closed with a tongue lid (16). The tongue lid (16) has a lid portion (18), a tongue portion (22), and a magnet (28) fixed onto the tongue portion (22). A sheet (34) capable of being attracted to the magnet (28) is fixed onto a front wall (10f) of the casing (10). When the tongue lid (16) is in the closed position, the magnet (28) and the sheet (34) keep the tongue portion (22) attracted to the front wall (10f) in cooperation with each other by using the attracting force of the magnet (28). At the time of closing the tongue lid (16), the tongue portion (22) hits the front wall (10f) and thus makes a clap sound. |
| US08387782B2 |
Container for the accommodation of a contact lens
There is described a container (1) for the accommodation of a contact lens during treatment process such as extraction and/or rinsing and/or coating processes, which comprises an elongated tubular body (2) having a sidewall (3) and at one longitudinal end thereof a bottom (4) which protrudes convexly towards the outside of the tubular body (2). At the opposite longitudinal end the tubular body (2) has an access opening (5). The bottom (4) is provided with a number of apertures (41, 42) which enable a free flow of a liquid into and out of the tubular body (2). A retaining element (6) is located inside the tubular body (2), which allows access of a transfer means into the tubular body (2) towards the bottom (4) thereof for insertion and removal of a contact lens, and enables a free rising of the liquid inside the tubular body (2), but prohibits the contact lens from being washed out of the tubular body (2). |
| US08387781B2 |
Conveyor roller servicing apparatus
A conveyor belt support for a conveyor may comprise: a mandrel mountable to the far side of the conveyor and extending transversely toward the near side thereof; a member mountable to the mandrel from the near side of the conveyor that is slideable on and rotatable about the mandrel; and a roller supported by the member, wherein the roller is transverse to the conveyor belt when the member is mounted to the mandrel, wherein rotating the member in a first direction moves the roller to an operating position for supporting the conveyor belt and rotating the member in a second direction moves the roller to a position wherein the member and roller are removable from the support mandrel. |
| US08387779B2 |
Method for filling bulk material
A method for filling a terrain using bulk material, preferably excavating material from an ore mine. The method includes a) the terrain has at least three levels disposed parallel to each other; b) a conveyor system (1) by which the bulk material is conveyed is positioned on at least the level second from the bottom; c) a traveling tripper (2) can be displaced along the entire conveyor system (1), by which the bulk material on one or the other side of the conveyor system (1) can be transferred to a connecting conveyor bridge (3) that can also be displaced along the conveyor system (1); d) the connecting conveyor bridge (3) transfers the bulk material to a depositor (4) that can also be displaced along the conveyor system (1); e) the depositor (4) successively deposits the bulk material in elongated filling strips (A-G) on the various levels below and above the level (0) of the conveyor system (1); f) initially one or several levels below or above the level (0) are each filled with at least one strip (A-D or E-G) on one side of the conveyor system (1); and g) the traveling tripper (2), connecting conveyor bridge (3), and the depositor (4) are subsequently displaced to the other side of the conveyor system (1) in order to fill the corresponding filling strip at that location as well. |
| US08387777B2 |
Conveyor chain tension monitor
At least one single link of a conveyor chain is configured to support a tension load cell. A main body portion of the link includes a central cavity sized to contain the load cell, which has been inserted therein through an opening of the main body portion, and at least one auxiliary cavity to contain at least one battery cell and circuitry. A cap portion of the link closes off the opening into the cavity to enclose the load cell therein. One or both of the main body and cap portions may include a bore to receive a fastener for attaching to an end of the inserted load cell, and both portions include a bore oriented to receive a pin of a mating dual link of the conveyor chain. The cap portion may also include anti-rotation surfaces to mate with one or both of: the load cell and the opening. |
| US08387776B2 |
Transport system
A conveying system for conveying containers includes a conveyor for conveying packaging. The conveyor includes a conveying element moveable in a conveying direction along a movement path, the conveying element forming a conveying surface for the packaging, an electric measuring module on the conveying element, the module having a sensor for detecting a physical variable, and an RFID transponder having an RFID transponder circuit that interacts with the sensor, an RFID read/ write head on the path of movement of the conveying element for wireless data transmission with the a measuring module and for transmission of electric power to the measuring module, a lubricant supply system for applying a belt lubricant, the lubricant supply system being controlled and/or regulated at least in part on the basis of data read by the read/write head. |
| US08387773B2 |
Clip for capturing bottle necks, particularly of pet bottles
An apparatus for capturing bottle necks in bottle filling installations includes a clip having clip arms. The clip arms are pivotable in a horizontal plane and mounted so as to be jointly pivotable in a horizontal plane about a pivot axis. The apparatus also includes an attachment for a magnet, and another magnet provided with the attachment and disposed on a side of the attachment such that the pivot axis is between the magnet and the clip arms, and a clip holding block configured to be secured onto a star and facing the clip and having a magnet. The magnet on the attachment and the magnet on the clip holding block are essentially opposite and spaced apart from each other by a distance that ensures horizontal pivoting movements of the clip. |
| US08387771B2 |
Bottled water distribution method and bottle return apparatus
Method and apparatus for bottled beverage distribution. Apparatus includes bin, means for receiving bottles, sensor and receipt dispenser. Method of selling includes providing an inventory, assigning identification indicia, assigning first and second purchase prices and positioning apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing receipt. Method of distributing includes delivering to a first location water bottles, positioning at a second location a receiving, storing and receipt dispensing apparatus, and retrieving empty bottles from the apparatus. Method of distributing includes creating an account, assigning a first amount charged for each bottle sold, assigning a second amount deducted from the first amount for each bottle received, delivering bottles and positioning a receiving, storing and receipt dispensing apparatus. Method of distributing includes delivering inventory of drinking water, transferring ownership of the inventory, invoicing for each bottle delivered and retrieving empty drinking water bottles from bottle return apparatus. |
| US08387767B2 |
Driven accessory with low-power clutch for activating or de-activating same
A driven accessory having a clutch that permits selective operation of an accessory portion. The clutch employs rotational inertia to control driving engagement of a wrap spring to an interior clutch surface on a drive member and/or driving disengagement of the wrap spring from the interior clutch surface. |
| US08387765B2 |
Radial ratchet one-way clutch
A radial ratchet one-way clutch, including: at least one inner race having a plurality of indentations on an outer circumferential surface; at least one outer race having a plurality of indentations on an inner circumferential surface; and a plurality of engagement elements having respective first segments. The engagement elements are assembled with a bias so that the first segments are urged against the inner race. For rotation of the outer race in a locking direction, respective first segments for at least a portion of the engagement elements are engageable with respective indentations from the pluralities of indentations to rotationally lock the inner and outer races. For rotation of the outer race in a free-wheel direction, opposite the locking direction, the respective first segments are slidable across the outer circumferential surface to enable independent rotation of the outer race with respect to the at least one inner race. |
| US08387764B2 |
Torque converter with piston centered in clutch plate
A torque converter including a cover and a bridging clutch for selective connection to the cover, the bridging clutch including a clutch plate fixed to the cover and having an inner radial surface and having a piston having an outer radial surface opposite the inner radial surface. A method for assembling a torque converter is also provided. |
| US08387763B2 |
Retractable cord reel
A retractable cord reel is disclosed. The retractable cord reel may have a rotatable ferrule configured to adapt to an expandable coil having various trajectories within the cord reel. The retractable cord reel may have a splicing chamber filled with an epoxy or similar substance. Improved heat dissipation vents and fins and a thermal overload device may also be provided. |
| US08387762B2 |
Suspension device
A suspension device (S) of the present invention comprises: an actuator (A) including a motion conversion mechanism (T) for converting a linear motion to a rotational motion, and a motor (M) connected to a rotational member (1) which performs the rotational motion in the motion conversion mechanism (T); a fluid pressure damper (D) connected to a linear motion member (2) which performs the linear motion in the motion conversion mechanism (T); a mount (22) connected to a sprung member of a vehicle; and suspension springs (38) and (38) interposed between the mount (22) and an unsprung member, the actuator (A) being elastically supported by the mount (22) through a rubber vibration isolator (21). |
| US08387761B2 |
Thermal protection for disc brake components
A disc brake for a motor vehicle is provided. The disc brake includes a brake disc, a brake caliper configured to straddle the brake disc, a tappet carried by the brake caliper and arranged to push a brake pad against the brake disc, and a bellows provided between the brake caliper and the tappet to seal a gap between the brake caliper and the tappet. A layer of flexible thermal insulation material may be provided between the bellows and the tappet. The layer of flexible thermal insulation material is configured to protect an outer surface of the bellows facing the brake pad from exposure to heat. Alternatively, the bellows may include a layer of flexible thermal insulation material on which an elastomer layer is formed. The layer of flexible thermal insulation material is configured to face the brake pad. |
| US08387758B1 |
Brake adjustment indicator
A brake adjustment indicator for indicating when an air brake is out of adjustment during a visual inspection of the air brake includes a collar including a perimeter wall defining a bore. The bore of the collar receives a push rod of an air brake to position the collar around the push rod. The collar is inserted into an air piston housing when the air brake is released. At least a portion of the collar extends from the air piston housing to indicate an amount of adjustment needed for the air brake when the air brake is engaged. A flange is coupled to and extends radially outwardly from the collar to abut the air piston housing and inhibit debris entering the air piston housing adjacent to the collar. The flange has an aperture aligned with the bore of the collar to receive the push rod. |
| US08387751B2 |
Follow-up fall prevention device
Disclosed is a follow-up fall prevention device used with a cord designed to secure a person. The device includes a blocking system having a pressure mechanism configured, during running of the cord, to be between the free weight and the bearing surface and to bias a free weight toward the cord and away from a bearing surface, thereby enabling the free weight to be always in contact with the cord and remain in the lower part of a cavity without touching the bearing surface, whatever the inclination of the cord and whatever the position of the device. The pressure mechanism includes a spring. |
| US08387750B2 |
Shock absorbing fabric structures
Fabric structures having two connection segments and an expansion segment between the two connection segments are provided. The fabric structure includes ground yarns that form a sheath, binder yarns, elongation yarns surrounded by the sheath, and lateral yarns. In the expansion segment, at least some of the lateral yarns are interwoven with the elongation yarns to connect the elongation yarns laterally with the sheath. Heat treatment of the expansion segment shrinks the length of the elongation yarns during manufacture. The sheath does not substantially shrink from the heat treatment relative to the elongation yarns and gathers together in an accordion-like arrangement. A tensile load applied to the fabric structure stretches the elongation yarns and unfolds the gathered sheath. The high strength sheath supports the tensile load when completely unfolded, while the elongation yarns absorbs energy as the fabric structure stretches or elongates. |
| US08387748B2 |
Composite laminate for a thermal and acoustic insulation blanket
This invention is directed to a composite laminate comprising in order (a) a flame retardant polymeric moisture barrier (b) an inorganic platelet layer and (c) a flame retardant thermoplastic film layer The invention is also directed to a thermal insulation and acoustic blanket comprising a core of fibrous material or foam surrounded by the above composite laminate wherein the thermoplastic film layer of the composite laminate contacts and encapsulates the core. |
| US08387741B2 |
Drive train arrangement for a vehicle
A drive train arrangement for a vehicle comprising a main transmission and a transfer box which are both housed within a transmission housing. The transfer box comprises a drive output which is connected to a rear axle differential transmission and connectable, by a torque transmission element and a connecting shaft, to a front axle differential transmission. The connecting shaft is arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the drive output shaft of the main transmission. The end of the connecting shaft, facing toward the front axle differential transmission, is actively connected to the front axle differential transmission. The front axle differential transmission is fixed to the vehicle by at least one adaptor device allowing the front axle differential transmission to be adapted to a variety of arrangement positions along the rotation axis of the connection shaft. |
| US08387740B2 |
Motor vehicle with differential gear box providing angular movement and method therefor
A motor vehicle has a frame and drive mechanism mounted to the frame. A differential gear box is mounted to the frame and coupled to the drive mechanism. The differential gear box includes a housing cover, differential planetary gear assembly mounted within the housing cover, CV joint housing mounted within the housing cover and rotationally coupled to the planetary gear assembly, and CV joint bearing having a plurality of rounded bearing surfaces contacting the slotted bearing drive surfaces. The CV joint housing includes a cavity with a plurality of slotted bearing drive surfaces formed in a sidewall of the cavity. An axle has a spring-loaded plunger disposed through a center portion of the CV joint bearing and contacting a bearing surface formed in the cavity of the CV joint housing. The slotted bearing drive surfaces permit angular movement of the CV joint bearing within the CV joint housing. |
| US08387739B2 |
Shift device
There is provided a shift device of which visibility and operability is excellent. The shift device 1 includes a shift lever 5 which operates a gear position of a transmission. The shift lever is arranged in an area R1 of an instrumental panel 11 which is outside of a steering wheel 20 and upper than the center axis O of the steering wheel 20 from the viewpoint of the driver and protruding toward the driver. A center part of the steering wheel 20 is provided with an air bag system, and the shift lever 5 is arranged in an expansion area of an air bag of the air bag system from the viewpoint of the driver. |
| US08387737B2 |
Motorcycle suspension method and sway dampening apparatus
A Motorcycle Suspension Method and Sway Dampening Apparatus. Rather than selectively replacing portions of the prior motorcycle dampening apparatus, the apparatus and method of the present invention replaces the conventional dampening bushing within the OEM pivot shaft assembly. The replacement combination motor mount and bushing provides at least the same durability and dampening capability the OEM device, while eliminating the “wobble” experienced by virtually all OEM motorcycles having the prior rear pivot mount design. The replacement mount and bushing element comprises at least two different plasticized materials combined into a single element. The combination mount and bushing is made partially from a softer, pliable dampening material, as well as a more durable and hard material. Installation of the combination mount and bushing element eliminates the need for an asymmetric pivot shaft orientation, since the central bore of this element is centered on the geometric axis of the element. |
| US08387734B2 |
Low speed vehicle
A utility vehicle is disclosed that may be used in multiple modes of use, such as a low speed transport vehicle or a golf cart. The vehicle has a rear passenger seat area which can be converted into a golf bag carrying mechanism. The vehicle also has a foot pedestal for use when operating with rear passengers, and which may fold up when not in use. |
| US08387730B2 |
Method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle
A method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The motor is operably configured to deliver mechanical power through an automatic transmission to at least one vehicle drive wheel to cause an acceleration of the vehicle. The method involves coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque to the engine for starting the engine, and causing the automatic transmission to change gear ratio to a target gear ratio associated with the reduced rotational speed while causing the motor to decelerate, the motor being operable to deliver increased torque at the reduced rotational speed, thereby generally maintaining the acceleration of the vehicle. |
| US08387729B2 |
Machine having electrical power system and centered drive coupling for same
A machine, such as an electrically powered track type tractor, includes an engine configured to rotate a generator. A drive coupling has a first element fixed to rotate with the engine and a second element fixed to rotate with the generator. The first and second elements are configured to rotationally couple together for transmitting torque from the engine to the generator, but configured to allow relative slip between the first and second elements. The relative slip may occur during engine start up as rotational rates pass through a range associated with the excitation of resonance torsional vibrations. A centering ring has a radial outer surface in contact with the first element and a radial inner surface in contact with the second element. The centering ring assists in avoiding an off center drive coupling arrangement while electrically isolating the first element from the second element. |
| US08387722B2 |
Strength (UCS) of carbonates using compressional and shear acoustic velocities
Acoustic velocities measured downhole are used to predict a rock strength using results of a regression analysis that include grain size. The grain size can be obtained from drill cuttings or from NMR measurements. The determined rock strength is used in drilling operations. |
| US08387717B2 |
Multi directional oscillation from a rotational source
The present invention provides multi-directional oscillation from a rotational source, by receiving a rotational motion, converting the rotational motion to a first oscillating motion, converting the first oscillating motion to a second oscillating motion that is normal to the first oscillating motion and transferring the first oscillating motion and the second oscillating motion to a working element. |
| US08387714B2 |
Rear implement mounting frame construction for tractor
A rear implement mounting frame construction for a tractor is disclosed. The construction comprises a pair of mounting frames attached respectively to right and left sides of a tractor body. Each of these mounting frames comprises a plate member having a plate thickness oriented along the right/left direction. Each mounting frame also includes a case mounting portion that is connected to a rear axle case of the tractor body and a vertical connecting portion formed rearwardly of the case mounting portion which connects a rear implement. A bent portion formed between the case mounting portion and the vertical connecting portion causes the vertical connecting portion to be disposed closer to the tractor body than the case mounting portion. A right/left distance between the vertical connecting portions is set smaller than a right/left distance between the case mounting portions. |
| US08387706B2 |
Negative accumulator for BOP shear rams
The method of providing increased motive force for one or more rams of a subsea blowout preventer comprising providing a one or more pistons connected to the one or more ram, the pistons having a distal side and a proximate side with respect to the ram, providing a tank contain a first pressure less than the ambient pressure of seawater at the location of the subsea blowout preventer, and communicating the first pressure with the proximate side of the one or more pistons to cause or enhance the differential pressure across the one or more pistons to urge the rams toward the center of the bore of the subsea blowout preventer. |
| US08387701B2 |
Intervention system dynamic seal and compliant guide
A technique for subsea intervention operations utilizes a retrievable dynamic seal assembly. The retrievable dynamic seal assembly is deployed toward a seabed and locked into place within a tubular member at a subsea installation. During deployment, the dynamic seal assembly is releasably locked to an intervention tool string coupled to a conveyance. Once the dynamic seal assembly is locked in place within the tubular, the tool string is released and the dynamic seal assembly maintains a seal against the conveyance during an intervention operation. |
| US08387699B2 |
Green coal bed methane fracturing fluid compositions, methods of preparation and methods of use
Coal friendly, non-toxic, green fracturing compositions, methods of preparing fracturing compositions and methods of use in various fracturing applications are described. The compositions are characterized as non-toxic compositions enabling effective use of the fracturing compositions in coal bed methane (CBM) formations and particularly shallow CBM formations. The compositions include a liquid component (water-based component) and a gas component in proportions that can support a proppant under turbulent conditions and that promote the formation of a mist. |
| US08387697B2 |
Gas evolving oil viscosity diminishing compositions for stimulating the productive layer of an oil reservoir
The present invention features a chemical system of gas evolving oil viscosity diminishing compositions (GEOVDC) for stimulating the productive layer of an oil reservoir, that is chemical compositions for a thermochemical treatment of an oil reservoir, more specifically for initiating a chemical reaction in the productive layer zone of the oil reservoir to produce heat and evolve gases so that the extraction of oil (petroleum) is improved. The invention further features a method of thermochemically treating an oil reservoir by means of this chemical system, and an apparatus for performing thermochemical treatment of an oil reservoir. |
| US08387694B2 |
Methods for placement of sealant in subterranean intervals
Methods comprising identifying an interval of a subterranean formation to be treated, the interval comprising multiple portions, each portion having a different effective permeability; introducing a relative-permeability modifier into the interval; and, introducing a sealant into the interval. The relative-permeability modifier modifies the interval to have a more uniform effective permeability to water-based fluids. The relative-permeability modifier comprises a water-soluble polymer. The more uniform effective permeability of the interval allows for a more uniform treatment of the interval by the sealant than would be allowed without treatment of the interval with the relative-permeability modifier. |
| US08387691B2 |
Low pressure recovery process for acceleration of in-situ bitumen recovery
A method for recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir is described. Adjacent injector producer well pairs are operated under conditions of steam assisted gravity drainage with a lateral drainage well between them. The lateral drainage well is operated under conditions of intermittent steam injection and alternating oil, water and gas production. NCG is co-injected with steam at selected intervals and in selected quantities in order to control the steam saturation of the SAGD steam chamber and the rise of the steam chamber, and to encourage lateral fluid communication between the adjacent well pairs and the LD well to control the rise of the steam chamber. |
| US08387690B2 |
Completion method for horizontal wells in in situ combustion
An underground reservoir is provided comprising an injection well and a production well. The production well has a horizontal section oriented generally perpendicularly to a generally linear and laterally extending, upright combustion front propagated from the injection well. The method relates to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The horizontal section of the production well includes blocking agents to prevent well failure. |
| US08387686B2 |
Automotive heat exchanger assemblies having internal fins and methods of making the same
The present disclosure relates to automotive heat exchanger assemblies that may withstand high environmental temperature and pressures conditions. By providing a tube strengthener into the tubes at the areas of highest stress, the heat exchanger assembly may be strengthened so that it is substantially more efficient under typical operating conditions. |
| US08387679B2 |
Vacuum die-casting machine
A reduced size vacuum die-casting machine wherein an amount of powder release agent which is fed to a mold cavity each time is stable and loss of velocity of the air flow for sucking out the powder release agent is difficult, the apparatus provided with a powder control valve which has a powder release agent passage through which a powder release agent passes and which moves back and forth inside of a sleeve to switch between a state communicating a discharge hole with a molten metal holding chamber and a state communicating a discharge hole with a powder release agent passage, the powder release agent passage of the powder control valve formed inside of the powder control valve, the inlet and outlet of the powder release agent passage being formed at the outer surface of the powder control valve. |
| US08387678B1 |
Sensor aided direct gating for metal casting
A mold system and method for producing a casting. The mold system utilizes multiple channels, each channel comprising a sprue and gating system, to feed the mold cavity at different heights. When a lower portion of the mold is filled, a controller is signaled to initiate filling of the mold through a second channel positioned above the lower portion. This mold system desirably provides the hottest molten metal to the last portion of the casting to freeze with or without the use of risers, eliminating casting defects. The system also enables the controlled pouring of dissimilar metal castings. |
| US08387665B2 |
Combination spring and gas filled accumulator
A compact fluid accumulator both stores a relatively large amount of fluid and provides good fluid pressure stability. The accumulator includes a piston slidably disposed in a cylinder having a fluid inlet/outlet at one end which communicates with a first chamber and one face of the piston. Engaging the opposite face of the piston, and disposed in a second chamber, is a compression spring. The second chamber is filled with a gas which is at atmospheric pressure when the accumulator is relaxed. When pressurized hydraulic fluid fills the first chamber, the piston moves against the pressure of the spring and gas in the second chamber. The present invention thus provides an accumulator having the relatively small size of a gas filled accumulator without the leakage problem of a super-atmospheric gas charge—the extra force being provided by the compression spring. |
| US08387659B2 |
Pilot operated spool valve
A spool valve assembly includes a spool that is moveable by differential pressure across the spool. |
| US08387657B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine a position of a valve
Methods and apparatus to indicate a position of a valve are described. An example apparatus includes a first pressure sensor to detect an inlet pressure of a valve, a second pressure sensor to detect an outlet pressure of the valve, and a controller operatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to determine a position of the valve corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operational states of the valve. |
| US08387655B2 |
Slurry flow control device
A system for controlling slurry flow through a flexible-walled transport tube. An example system includes a frame, a pivot pin, a rotatable radial arm having an attached pressure pad, a spring tension adjustment rod extending between the radial arm and the frame, and a coil spring concentric with the spring tension adjustment rod and configured to oppose rotation of the radial arm away from a flexible-walled transport tube contacting the pressure pad. In one operating condition, a decrease in the pressure of the slurry within the transport tube reduces the force applied by the slurry outward on the tube wall, leading the spring to rotate the radial arm toward the tube, causing the contact pad to deflect the wall of the flexible-walled transport tube and impeding the flow of slurry through the tube. |
| US08387654B2 |
Automatic pressure reducing valve
Disclosed is an automatic pressure reducing valve. A body includes a hollow portion, an inlet portion and an outlet portion for flow of a fluid and has an internal space. A cylinder is installed inside the hollow portion and has at least two holes formed in its wall. An piston is movable along the inner side of the cylinder and adjusts opening rate of the holes according to a fluid pressure difference between an inlet portion and an outlet portion. |
| US08387651B2 |
Self-draining frost-free faucet
A valve assembly for a faucet includes a spout, a valve stem, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve is rotatably coupled to the valve stem upstream from the spout and is selectively positionable to control a flow of fluid from a fluid source to the spout. The second valve is rotatably coupled to the valve stem for selectively draining fluid from the valve assembly. Further, the second valve is coupled to the first valve such that when the first and second valves are positioned in a first operational position, fluid flows from the source through the spout, and such that when the first and second valves are positioned in a second operational position, fluid is substantially prevented from flowing from the source through the spout and residual fluid within the faucet is gravity drained from the faucet. |
| US08387647B1 |
Overpressure indicating reverse buckling disk apparatus
An overpressure indicating disk apparatus for indicating an over pressure condition in a pressurized system includes a body having first and second end portions and a bore, the first end portion configured for attachment to the pressurized system and in pressure communication therewith so that the pressure in the bore is the same pressure as the pressure of the pressurized system. A reverse buckling disk having an annular peripheral portion and a concave convex dome portion is provided. The annular peripheral portion surrounds the dome. The disk annular peripheral portion is mounted to the body, closing the bore at the first end portion. An indicating component or ring is affixed to the combination of a body and reverse buckling disk. The indicating ring has an annular peripheral portion that aligns generally with the annular peripheral portion of the reverse buckling rupture disk. A movable central tab portion is mounted inside the indicating component or ring. A hinge connects the central tab portion to the indicating ring. The concave side of the reverse buckling disk faces the central tab. The convex side of the reverse buckling disk faces the pressure inside the bore. When the pressure in the bore exceeds a preselected maximum pressure value, the disk reverses to engage and displace the central tab thereby indicating visually that an overpressure condition exists within the bore. |
| US08387645B2 |
Methods and apparatus for contacting a fluid stream with particulate solids
An apparatus and method for contacting a fluid stream with particulate solids are provided. The apparatus comprises a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion and an inlet for receiving particulate solids and an outlet for discharging the particulate solids. An inner cone is coaxially positioned within an inverted truncated outer cone forming an annulus in the lower portion of the vessel. A truncated conical baffle is disposed within the lower portion of the vessel and at least partially above the inverted truncated outer cone and the inner cone. The truncated conical baffle has a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall with a lower portion thereof overlapping interiorly an upper portion of the inverted truncated outer cone. A plurality of guide tents are spaced apart in the annulus, each guide tent having sloped guide surfaces oriented to guide the flow of particulate solids into the outlet. |
| US08387644B2 |
Solenoid operated fluid control valve
Solenoid operated fluid control valve for a cam phasing mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes first and second control ports, a 2-stage hydraulically pilot-actuated, pressure balanced spool having an integral control feedback passage and a linear force solenoid actuator operably coupled to a pilot valve of a pilot stage. The spool valve includes an exhaust path common to pilot and spool exhaust passages. |
| US08387640B2 |
Umbrella device for automobile
A retractable umbrella includes an umbrella holder, a retractable tube, a pulling rod, a rainshade screen, and a dripping guide. The umbrella holder is for receiving a regular umbrella and holding water dripped from the regular umbrella. The retractable tube comprises retractable reels, and it is attached on a door frame of a car. Each of the retractable reels is disposed in the retractable tube. The pulling rod is attached to a rim portion of the door accepting frame of the car. The rainshade screen comprises an outer edge, an inner edge, a front edge, and a rear edge. The outer edge is attached to the retractable reels of the retractable tube. The inner edge is attached to the pulling rod. The front edge connects front portions of the inner and outer edges. The rear edge connects rear portions of the inner and outer edges. |
| US08387639B2 |
Cantilevered canopy
A portable canopy is attachable to the roof rack of a vehicle and designed to unfold outwardly over the rear of the vehicle supported in a cantilevered fashion from the roof rack. The canopy does not require separate legs or other ground support other than the roof rack of the automobile. |
| US08387629B1 |
Orthodontic flosser
An orthodontic flosser comprising an elongated handle and an articulating head coupled to the handle at a pivot is disclosed. A mechanism holds the articulating head at a selected angle with respect to an axis of the handle. A first and second projection extend from the head for suspending floss, the first projection is sized to insert floss between a wire affixed to a tooth and the tooth. A supply of fresh floss and a take-up reel are configured to feed fresh floss incrementally into suspension between the first and second projections while taking-up used floss and applying a tension to the suspended floss. |
| US08387628B2 |
System and method for toothbrush with paste dispenser
A toothbrush assembly including a toothbrush and a toothpaste cartridge. The toothbrush includes: a handle having a compartment to receive the toothpaste cartridge; a head having bristles; a door covering an opening of the compartment; and a conduit running from the compartment to the head to deliver toothpaste from the toothpaste cartridge in the compartment to the head and the bristles. The toothpaste cartridge includes: a housing having a cavity to store toothpaste; a piston having threads; a paste plate coupled to the piston via the threads; a knob coupled to the piston to turn the piston to move the paste plate along the piston toward the head of the toothbrush to dispense the toothpaste from the cavity to through the conduit into the bristles; and an end plate having at least one hole to discharge the toothpaste from the cavity of the cartridge to the conduit of the toothbrush. |
| US08387625B2 |
Oral tobacco product
An oral tobacco product which includes a tobacco pouch obtained by wrapping tobacco particles made from a tobacco material in a wrapper, the tobacco pouch allowing a user to take in tobacco components of the tobacco particles via saliva, when put in the user's mouth, and an outer wrapper individually wrapping the tobacco pouch therein. The outer wrapper has liquid impermeability and is provided with a lug for the user. |
| US08387623B2 |
Smokeless tobacco articles
Tobacco articles having tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco articles can provide tobacco to an adult consumer in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to furnish tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. The tobacco can be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix. |
| US08387619B2 |
Respiratory mask
A respiratory mask includes a single-piece first cushion ring defining an airflow channel and having a front cover-engaging end portion and a rear abutment end portion adapted to abut against a user's face below the forehead, a cover shell having a cover plate engaged to the front cover-engaging end portion and provided with a connecting hole that is adapted to be connected to an air supply source, a resilient forehead support connected to a top end of the front cover-engaging end portion and bendable toward the rear abutment end portion, a resilient forehead abutment body connected to a top end of and supported by the resilient forehead support and including a second cushion ring adapted to abut against the forehead of the user, and an adjustable head strap unit connected to the first cover shell and the resilient forehead abutment body. |
| US08387615B2 |
Inhaler cap strap
An inhaler (1) for dispensing doses of medicament from a container under user activation said inhaling which comprises a body (7) which includes a mouthpiece (5) through which the medicament is dispensed and a cap (2) which can be place in a position to substantially occlude the mouthpiece (5). The cap (2) is attached to said body (7) by a strap (3) which pivots from said body (7), said cap (2) being arranged to slide on the strap (3) such that the cap (2) must translate away from the mouthpiece (5) prior to the pivoting of the strap (3). |
| US08387614B2 |
Atomizer
An atomizer for a fluid, in particular, a fluid for medical aerosol therapy. In order to allow simplified operation and improved safety in use, the atomizer has a counter device for counting the number of operations of the atomizer and the number of containers inserted. The atomizer is locked against further operation and/or against removal of the current container or insertion of a new container, if a certain number of operations of the atomizer and/or a certain number of containers inserted has/have been reached or exceeded. |
| US08387612B2 |
Self-contained heating unit and drug-supply unit employing same
Heating units, drug supply units and drug delivery articles capable of rapid heating are disclosed. Heating units comprising a substrate and a solid fuel capable of undergoing an exothermic metal oxidation reaction disposed within the substrate are disclosed. These heating units can be actuated by electrical resistance, by optical ignition or by percussion. Drug supply units and drug delivery articles wherein a solid fuel is configured to heat a substrate to a temperature sufficient to rapidly thermally vaporize a drug disposed thereon are also disclosed. |
| US08387607B2 |
Mechanical drive assist for paintball loader
An paintball loader for supplying paintballs to a paintball marker is provided. The loader includes a container for storing a plurality of paintballs. An outfeed tube on the container is connected to an inlet tube on the marker. The loader further includes a drive shaft, and a feeder rotatably disposed in the container for feeding paintballs into the outfeed tube. The loader further includes a mechanical drive handle accessible externally of the loader and connected to the drive shaft to manually wind the drive spring. |
| US08387605B2 |
Toy dart launcher apparatus with momentary lock
A launcher apparatus for soft foam toy darts, the apparatus having a lock that operates momentarily during a cock and load cycle of the launcher apparatus to prevent an improper cocking operation. The launcher apparatus includes a barrel, a slide, a firing assembly and the lock. The launcher apparatus also includes three protrusions or surfaces for operative engagement with the lock to partially depress the lock, to fully depress the lock, and to disengage the lock to reset the launcher apparatus for the next cock and load cycle. During operation, one protrusion surface depresses the lock partially and momentarily, a second protrusion or surface fully depresses the lock to enable the lock to be maintained in the depressed state, and a third protrusion or surface causes the lock to be released. |
| US08387603B2 |
Compound archery bow with intermediate cable pulleys
A compound archery bow includes a bow handle having projecting limbs, and first and second pulleys mounted on the respective limbs for rotation around respective axes. A bow cable system includes a bowstring cable extending between the pulleys, and first and second power cables extending from the respective first and second pulleys toward the opposing pulley. Third and fourth pulleys are mounted on the handle. The third and fourth pulleys are engaged by the power cables and are at least partially offset from the bowstring cable so that the third and fourth pulleys hold the first and second power cables away from the bowstring cable, and the bowstring cable and an arrow engaged by the bowstring cable are unobstructed by the first and second power cables. |
| US08387602B1 |
Fishing speargun
A band-powered speargun has a release mechanism incorporating a line-drop feature for releasing a coiled line attached to a spear. An approach to attaching the line to the spear involves a linking ring having a size selected so that the ring passes over a protective cone near the spear tip and is captured by an element protruding outward from the spear shaft. The protective cone also shields hinged barbs from impact damage. The gun may also incorporate a muzzle kill spike and a separate hand-held kill spike that is normally stored in a specially designed cavity in the speargun grip. |
| US08387598B2 |
Ignition system open secondary detection
This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for detecting an open secondary condition in a secondary coil of an ignition coil using a control signal received from a control input of a switch configured to control the flow of current to a primary coil of the ignition coil. In an example, the flow of current in the primary coil of the ignition coil can be controlled using an insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT), and the open secondary condition in the secondary coil of the ignition coil can be detected using a received gate voltage of the IGBT. |
| US08387597B2 |
High-voltage generator device
A high-voltage generator device, including an inductive-capacitive resonator capable of producing a high voltage, a mechanism generating a high-frequency control pulse train, a voltage source, a capacitor, and a voltage generator including a switching transistor, the control electrode of which is connected to the output of the mechanism generating the high-frequency control pulse train, the source of the switching transistor being connect to ground, and the drain of the switching transistor being capable of delivering a voltage pulse train to the inductive-capacitive resonator in response to the control pulse train received on the control electrode of the switching transistor. The drain of the switching transistor is connected to the inductive-capacitive resonator via an isolating transformer, the isolating transformer being connected in parallel with a capacitor, the isolating transformer also being connected to the voltage source. |
| US08387593B2 |
EGR flow rate control apparatus of internal combustion engine
An EGR flow rate control apparatus of an internal combustion engine is provided that can correct with high accuracy an EGR gas flow rate measured by a gas flow rate measurement apparatus in an EGR passage and control with high accuracy a gas flow rate regulating valve to reduce discharge amounts of PM and NOx in exhaust gases. An EGR flow rate control apparatus 10 of an internal combustion engine includes a gas flow rate correction unit 45 that corrects the EGR gas flow rate based on a first operating state parameter relating to pressure fluctuations of the intake pipe or exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine and a second operating state parameter relating to a flow channel resistance of the EGR flow channel. |
| US08387590B2 |
Reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine with engine brake and additional opening of an exhaust valve
A four-stroke internal combustion engine, having a brake controller by which pressure is built up in the exhaust system and/or at least one exhaust valve is additionally opened is provided. A hydraulic valve clearance compensation element is incorporated in at least one transmission element between the camshaft and at least one intake and exhaust valve and has at least one piston (3), a cylinder housing part (2) that interacts with the piston (3), a return spring (16) disposed therebetween, a check valve (4), and an actuatable locking device is provided which limits the movement of the piston (3) relative to the cylinder housing part (2) and/or limits the movement of the cylinder housing part (2) relative to an exterior housing (1) connected to one of the transmission elements or relative to a transmission element at least in one direction of movement, and the piston (3) is supported on a stop element (5) connected to the exterior housing (1) or the transmission element. |
| US08387583B2 |
Engine balancer
An engine balancer includes a pair of balancer shafts and a balancer housing for housing the balancer shafts, and is placed in an oil pan at the bottom of an engine. The balancer housing includes a pair of front and rear bearing walls respectively supporting the balancer shafts with rolling bearings interposed therebetween. The bearing walls of the balancer housing are attached to bearing walls for a crankshaft. The housing body has an aperture at the top thereof. The aperture of the housing body is covered with a plate-shaped cover member thinner than a member forming the housing body. |
| US08387580B2 |
Plasma ignition device for internal combustion engine
A plasma ignition device comprising: an ignition plug; an ignition circuit applying a high voltage to the plug to start discharge; a power supply circuit including a battery section for supplying an electric energy to a discharge space of the plug having impedance reduced by discharge start, and a charging section charging the battery section with a boosted voltage by a booster circuit, wherein the power supply circuit including: a first means 610 for stopping a boosting operation of the booster circuit when the charging section voltage is equal or higher than a first reference for high-voltage abnormality; a second means 630 for detecting the charging section abnormal voltage by comparison with a second reference for low-voltage abnormality for detecting ground to conduct a given control on the power supply circuit; a third means 600 for invalidating the control of the second means until the charging section is sufficiently charged. |
| US08387573B2 |
Variable compression ratio device
A variable compression ratio device that includes a piston, a piston pin, and a connecting rod of which one end is connected to the piston by the piston pin, may include an eccentric ring rotatably coupled in a ring at the one end of the connecting rod, wherein the inner circumference thereof rotatably contacts with the outer circumference of the piston pin, an operating pin that longitudinally reciprocates in the piston pin, variable sliders that selectively contact one of both ends of the operating pin under a cylinder to push the one of both ends to the opposite side, and a guide plate that slidably supports the variable sliders, wherein, one end of a variable shaft selectively rotating is connected to the variable slider and a sliding direction of the variable slider is controlled by the rotation of the variable shaft. |
| US08387570B2 |
Coke burning engine
A coke burning engine is described wherein hot coke fuel chunks are first compressed with air and reacted therewith to form a carbon monoxide rich gas, during a compression cycle time period. Next these primary reacted gases are mixed into and burned with secondary air during a blowdown cycle time period. These fully reacted gases are expanded though an expander engine whose power output drives the air compressor, and yields a net useful engine power output. |
| US08387564B2 |
Controlling a dairy stable
A dairy stable (5) and a method for controlling a stable (1), preferably a dairy stable (5) for milking livestock (4), having at least one milking system including at least one, preferably automatic, milking stations (8, 9, 12, 13, 14), and where the individual animal's access to milking is controlled, preferably via a transponder or similar on the animal. Furthermore, a milking station (8, 9, 12, 13, 14) for use in connection with a method and a dairy stable (5). In this manner, it is ensured that, within a given time interval, all animals (4) are guided to one or more selected milking stations (8, 9) at least once, where the selected milking station or stations (8, 9) are adapted in a special way with test equipment for determining various conditions of or at the milk and differently as compared to other milking stations (12, 13, 14). |
| US08387562B2 |
Plasma processor and plasma processing method
An etching chamber 1 incorporates a focus ring 9 so as to surround a semiconductor wafer W provided on a lower electrode 4. The plasma processor is provided with an electric potential control DC power supply 33 to control the electric potential of this focus ring 9, and so constituted that the lower electrode 4 is supplied with a DC voltage of, e.g., −400 to −600 V to control the electric potential of the focus ring 9. This constitution prevents surface arcing from developing along the surface of a substrate to be processed. |
| US08387561B2 |
Method and apparatus for cathodic arc ion plasma deposition
A method and apparatus for depositing a coating material on a surface of a substrate by an ion plasma deposition process using a hollow cathode is disclosed. The cathode may be a substantially cylindrical hollow cathode. A plasma arc is formed on the outer circumference of the cathode to remove coating material from the cathode, which is then deposited on a surface of a substrate. An internal arc drive magnet is contained within the hollow bore of the cathode and cooling is provided to the magnet during operation. |
| US08387559B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing plant
Fluorine gas generators are connected with semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses through a gas supplying system including a storage tank that can store a predetermined quantity of fluorine gas generated in the on-site fluorine gas generators. When one or more of the on-site fluorine gas generators are stopped, fluorine gas is supplied to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses from the storage tank storing a predetermined quantity of fluorine gas, so as to keep the operations of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses. Thereby obtained is a semiconductor manufacturing plant in which fluorine gas generated in the fluorine gas generators can be safely and stably supplied to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses, and with superior cost performance. |
| US08387557B2 |
Method for forming silicon-containing materials during a photoexcitation deposition process
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for depositing films or layers using a UV source during a photoexcitation process. The films are deposited on a substrate and usually contain a material, such as silicon (e.g., epitaxy, crystalline, microcrystalline, polysilicon, or amorphous), silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or other silicon-containing materials. The photoexcitation process may expose the substrate and/or gases to an energy beam or flux prior to, during, or subsequent a deposition process. Therefore, the photoexcitation process may be used to pre-treat or post-treat the substrate or material, to deposit the silicon-containing material, and to enhance chamber cleaning processes. Attributes of the method that are enhanced by the UV photoexcitation process include removing native oxides prior to deposition, removing volatiles from deposited films, increasing surface energy of the deposited films, increasing the excitation energy of precursors, reducing deposition time, and reducing deposition temperature. |
| US08387553B2 |
Coating abluminal surfaces of stents and other implantable medical devices
A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces. |
| US08387548B2 |
Marine-vessel, anti-puncture, self-sealing, water-leak protection
An anti-puncture, water-leak-inhibiting, self-sealing, coating structure for application selectively to inside and/or outside portions of a boat hull. The coating structure, in operative condition with respect to such a hull portion, includes a body of continuous-phase, non-water-reactive, high-elastomeric-material, and, embedded within that body, in an initially shrouded and non-exposed condition guarded nominally against any contact with external water, a distribution of water-reactive, water-imbiber beads. |
| US08387544B1 |
Method and apparatus for ornamental table top
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for an ornamental table with an ornamental table top design. The ornamental table simplifies the manufacture of ornamental table top designs and affords speedy ornamental design variations. The ornamental table comprises a table top frame, and a set of table legs coupled to the table top frame wherein the table top frame includes a plurality of support bars attached to the table top frame interconnected to produce a grid-like pattern. A plurality of large tiles is set on top of the grid-like pattern to produce a first ornamental design. A channel is coupled to the support bars surrounding a perimeter of the grid-like pattern and a plurality of small tiles is set within the channel to produce a second ornamental design. |
| US08387543B2 |
Extendable table for use with an outdoor umbrella
An extendable table comprises a frame, a table top portion, and a cutout filling mechanism. The table top portion is slidably attached to the frame and defines a cutout. The cutout filling mechanism is attached to the table top portion and comprises a filler portion. In use, the cutout filling mechanism is operative to place at least a portion of the filler portion into the cutout when the cutout is not occupied by another object. The cutout filling mechanism is also operative to place the filler portion outside the cutout when the cutout is occupied by another object. |
| US08387540B2 |
Interceptor projectile and method of use
An interceptor projectile includes a deployable net that deploys during flight and wraps around an incoming projectile, such as a rocket propelled grenade (RPG). The net is initially in a tubular body of the interceptor projectile. Weights are attached to ends of the net with metal cables. A propellant is used to deploy the net from the tubular body and to deploy the weights at acute angles to the longitudinal axis of the interceptor projectile. The weights move radially out from the interceptor projectile, expanding the net outward, and wrapping the net around an incoming projectile. The engagement of the net with the incoming projectile disables the incoming projectile, sending the incoming projectile off course. |
| US08387538B2 |
Projectile having casing that includes multiple flachettes
Some embodiments pertain to a projectile that includes a propellant and a casing that encloses the propellant such that the casing acts as a reaction chamber during flight of the projectile. The casing includes a plurality of flechettes. When the projectile strikes (or is near) a target, a large internal sheer pressure forms within the casing. This sheer pressure causes the flechettes to sheer apart at the thinnest sections of the casing. Once the thin sections of the casing are sheered apart, the flechettes will be unconstrained such that the flechettes take individual flight paths. |
| US08387537B2 |
Consumable cartridge for muzzle loading firearms
A consumable cartridge for a muzzle loading firearm having a consumable cartridge case composed of a consumable solid material is set forth. The cartridge case including a central internal cavity, the cartridge case having a closed first end and a second end open to the central internal cavity for receipt of granular, explosive powder within the central internal cavity of the cartridge case and a bullet is secured to the closed first end of the cartridge case. The cartridge case is shaped and dimensioned for positioning within a bore of a rifle along with the bullet. |
| US08387529B2 |
Stamps with micrometer-and nanometer-scale features and methods of fabrication thereof
Stamps and methods of making stamps for applications in anti-counterfeiting and authentication. The stamps are relatively small in size and feature nanoscale and microscale identification regions and features. High throughput manufacturing and high resolution methods are used to make the stamps including electron beam lithography and optical lithography. Anti-fouling coatings can be applied. |
| US08387526B2 |
Precision press device and press load control method thereof
The present invention provides a precision press device and a press load control method thereof for downsizing a vacuum chamber in press work in the vacuum chamber, shortening a time required to reach a vacuum and further performing high accuracy pressure control. To downsize a chamber 16, a pressure sensor is set up outside the chamber 16 and a cylinder chamber 17 is formed to allow a tubular plunger 7 to slide up and down using the tubular shape of the chamber 16. A negative pressure 22 in the chamber 16 attracts the pressurized section 2 and the pressurizing section 1 to each other, but by injecting an equivalent pressure 19 of a fluid into the cylinder chamber 17, pushing out the tubular plunger 7, the attractive forces are canceled out. It is possible to control the load on the substrate or the like transferred by the press stage with high accuracy. |
| US08387523B2 |
Rocker assembly of a strapping machine
A rocker assembly of a strapping machine has a rocker having a seat, a positioning panel mounted on the seat and being able to swing, and two teeth panels slidably mounted on the positioning panel. When a fixed end and a tightening end of a wrapping strap are mounted between the rocker assembly and a tensioning wheel, the teeth panels slide and the positioning panel swings to adjust engaging surfaces and engaging forces between the teeth panels and the wrapping strap according to thickness of the wrapping strap. Thus the wrapping strap is able to securely wrap around the goods and is not scratched. |
| US08387518B2 |
Vertical rotisserie cooking system
A vertical rotisserie open flame oven having a central flame post dispersing aesthetically pleasing flames and a secondary heater positioned outside the path of rotation of the food items. The oven has a central chamber area where the heat transfer to the food items is executed in a desirable manner to properly cook the food items without burning the surface thereof. |
| US08387517B2 |
Tea kettle with detachable infuser and integrated thermometer
A tea kettle and related methods for preparing an optimally flavored hot tea. The tea kettle is capable of heating water for steeping tea leaves and steeping the packaged or loose leaf tea leaves within the tea kettle. The tea kettle can include an integrated heating element for heating the water. The tea kettle includes an integrated thermometer and can include an integrated timer for tracking the water temperature and steep time respectively so as to insure that the tea leaves steep at the proper temperature and duration of time. The tea kettle can include a detachable mesh infuser that attaches to a lid of the tea kettle for holding tea leaves during steeping. |
| US08387514B2 |
Hydrostatic piston machine with output volume flow in the circumferential direction
A hydrostatic piston machine with a cylinder drum, which is rotatably mounted in a housing, is provided. A plurality of cylinder bores are disposed in the cylinder drum, which bores can be connected via cylinder openings provided in the cylinder drum to a first control opening and a second control opening. The first control opening is connected to a low-pressure line and the second control opening to a high-pressure line. The first control opening is connected via a first connection and a second connection to a channel, wherein the first connection and, lying opposite, the second connection are disposed at the first control opening. |
| US08387511B2 |
Armored cab for vehicles
An armored cab having at least an upper wall, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall. The armored cab and its respective walls include a longitudinal axis extending from the back wall to the front wall. The bottom wall includes at least one concave surface. The at least one concave surface faces downwardly and away from the armored cab, and is disposed in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the armored cab. |
| US08387510B1 |
Composite armor system including a ceramic-embedded heterogeneously layered polymeric matrix
The present invention's stratified composite material system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a strike stratum and a backing stratum. The strike stratum includes elastomeric matrix material and inventive ceramic-inclusive elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane corresponding to the front (initial strike) surface of the strike stratum. More rigid than the strike stratum, the backing stratum is constituted by, e.g., metallic (metal or metal alloy) material or fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix material. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The inventive ceramic-inclusive elements geometrically describe any of various inventive modes, including: first mode, having a flat front face and a textured back face; second mode, having a pyramidal front section and a prismatoidal (especially, prismoidal, e.g., truncated pyramidal or prismatic) body section; hybrid mode, combining features of first and second modes. |
| US08387508B2 |
Support member for supporting shell, and method
The invention relates to a support member for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon, and a method. The support member (6) comprises means for fastening a support element (8) to at least one fin (5) belonging to the tail end (4) of a shell (1). The means comprise at least one fastening piece (10), which comprises: at least one first fastening surface (14a), which may be arranged substantially parallel with a side of the fin (5), and which fastening piece (10) may be supported to the support element (8); at least one second fastening surface (14b), which second fastening surface (14b) is movably arranged so that the second fastening surface (14b) is movable in relation to the first fastening surface (14a) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) of the shell (1); and means for pressing the fastening surfaces (14a, 14b) against the sides of the fin (5) arranged between them so as to provide friction locking between the fastening piece (10) and the fin (5). |
| US08387503B2 |
Pyrotechnic device for destroying ammunitions
The invention relates to a pyrotechnic device for the destruction of munitions by an explosive at least partially surrounding the munitions having walls for confining the active products. The device includes an igniter for the controlled ignition of the explosive, the igniter configured to couple explosive detonation waves into the walls of the munitions along at least two opening lines of said walls of the munitions. Application of embodiments of the invention includes controlled destruction of munitions or objects containing pyrotechnic and/or chemical substances. |
| US08387499B2 |
Linear saw with stab-cut bevel capability
A method for automatically cutting a workpiece comprising the steps of moving a workpiece along its longitudinal axis, positioning a cutting blade by rotating the blade about a vertical axis, positioning the cutting blade by rotating about a bevel axis, and vertically moving the blade into cutting contact with the workpiece, thereby stab cutting the workpiece and creating a bevel cut. The method may also comprise moving the blade along a transverse axis. Further steps may include moving the cutting blade along a transverse axis simultaneous to moving the workpiece along it longitudinal axis, thereby creating a scarf cut. |
| US08387497B2 |
Extensible absorbent layer and absorbent article
The present invention provides a method of preparing an absorbent layer from an absorbent nonwoven web having a first plurality of slits with a first orientation and a second plurality of slits with a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation. The first plurality of slits and the second plurality of slits are at least partially through the absorbent nonwoven web, and the second plurality of slits at least partially intersects the first plurality to form apertures in the absorbent nonwoven web. |
| US08387484B2 |
Gear-change control device for a bicycle
A gear change control device for a bicycle having a handlebar with straight end portions, comprises a first control lever with a control portion arranged behind the end portion of the handlebar, with reference to the longitudinal direction of the bicycle, and extending at least partially at a position lying substantially at the same level of the handlebar, with respect to a vertical direction in the condition of use of the handlebar and a second control lever with a control portion arranged at the same level, below or upper the control portion of the first control lever. |
| US08387481B2 |
Horizontal multiple articulation type robot
A horizontal multijoint type robot is so constructed that it comprises a first arm connected through a first joint shaft to a base, a second arm connected through a second joint shaft to the first arm, and a working shaft provided rotatably and movably up and down on the distal end of the second arm, and that the arm length L1 of the first arm and the arm length L2 of the second arm are equal to each other so that the second arm is able to overlap the first arm. |
| US08387476B2 |
Hydraulic actuation valve arrangement for dual clutch transmission
A control system is provided for a multiple clutch transmission (10) having at least three synchronizers (74, 76, 78, 80) with opposed acting alpha and beta pressure chambers (106, 104) to selectively synchronize alpha or beta gears with a rotating shaft. The control system includes a pressure source (124), a sump (120), a first multiplex valve (160) having a first position allowing fluid communication of alpha and beta chambers for two synchronizers (74, 76) with the pressure source (122) and diverting alpha and beta pressure chambers (106, 104) of remaining synchronizers (80, 78) to sump (120). The first multiplex valve (160) has a second position reversing the above action. A second multiplex valve (164) connected with the first multiplex valve (160) having a first position connecting alpha and beta chambers (106, 104) of a given synchronizer with the pressure source (122) and alpha and beta chambers (106, 104) of the other synchronizer with the sump (120). The second multiplex valve (164) has a second position reversing the action. A first regulator valve (170) is connected with the second multiplex valve (164) for selectively connecting the alpha chamber (106) with one of a set of the pressure source (122) and the sump (120). A second regulator valve is provided connected with the second multiplex valve (164) for selectively connecting the beta chamber (104) with one of a set of the pressure source (122) and the (sump 120). |
| US08387469B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for structural health monitoring
Embodiments can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring the structural health of one or more structures and associated materials. For example, a structural health monitoring system can be provided. The system can include a structure to be monitored, the structure including a material with multiple triboluminescent sensors and multiple nano-optoelectronic members; and an analyzer in signal communication with the nano-optoelectronic members. |
| US08387467B2 |
Method for testing the coating of a vane base
A method for testing a coating for blade roots, includes: providing a disk test piece including at least one bearing surface and a blade test piece including at least one bearing surface coated with the coating to be tested, the blade test piece including two test piece halves adapted to be engaged on either side of the disk test piece, and subjecting the blade test piece engaged with the disk test piece to tensile cycles during which the test pieces undergo tensile stress with respect to each other in a tensile direction, the tensile strain being transmitted via the bearing surfaces contacting the blade test piece and the disk test piece. The method allows for very faithful reproduction of the behavior and ageing of the coating and thus allows for accurate evaluation of the quality of the coatings. |
| US08387463B2 |
Pressure-based diagnostic system for process transmitter
A process transmitter for measuring a process variable in an industrial process comprises a gauge pressure sensor, an excitation source and transmitter circuitry. The gauge pressure sensor measures a pressure difference between a process fluid and a reference volume, and generates a pressure sensor signal representing the pressure difference. The excitation source generates a pressure pulse within the reference volume to influence generation of the pressure sensor signal. The transmitter circuitry is connected to the gauge pressure sensor to provide an output related to a change in the pressure sensor signal due to the pressure pulse. |
| US08387456B2 |
Gravity gradient sensor
A gravimeter for detecting a gravity difference between two points is disclosed. The gravimeter comprises an interferometric arrangement wherein the length of a reference arm is dependent upon the gravity local to a first accelerometer and the length of a sample arm is dependent upon the gravity local to a second accelerometer. A pair of photodetectors that operate in complimentary fashion provide electrical signals based on a first signal conveyed by the reference arm and a second signal conveyed by the sample arm. A change in the differential gravity between the two points induces equal and opposite changes to the magnitudes of the two electrical signals. |
| US08387447B2 |
Particulate matter measuring device
An object of this invention is to improve resistance to heat and to increase a measurable range of a pressure without increasing a cost. In order to attain the object, a first unit arranged near an exhaust gas pipe and a second unit arranged separately from the first unit and connected to the first unit through a connecting pipe are provided, and the first unit has an exhaust gas flow channel from one end of which an exhaust gas is introduced, an orifice part arranged in a midst of the exhaust gas flow channel, a pressure rising check valve of a mechanically operating type that is connected to a downstream side of the orifice part in the exhaust gas flow channel, and a dilution gas flow channel that is connected to a downstream side of the orifice part in the exhaust gas flow channel so that the diluted exhaust gas diluted by the dilution gas is derived from the other end of the exhaust gas flow channel. |
| US08387446B2 |
Measuring device in a radiofrequency ignition system for internal combustion engine
A measuring device including: a supply circuit for radiofrequency ignition including a transformer including a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator having a resonance frequency higher than 1 MHz, and including two electrodes capable of generating a spark upon an ignition control; a measuring capacitor connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator; a measuring circuit of ionization current of the combustion gases in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine associated with the resonator, the circuit being connected at terminals of the measuring capacitor; and/or a measuring circuit that measures a voltage at the resonator terminals upon an ignition control, the circuit being connected to terminals of the measuring capacitor. |
| US08387443B2 |
Microcantilever with reduced second harmonic while in contact with a surface and nano scale infrared spectrometer
Described herein are devices and methods for sensing pulsed forces. Some of the described devices and methods are also useful for measuring infrared absorbances and compiling spectral and chemical maps of surfaces. Also described are microcantilever having reduced harmonic frequencies when operating in contact mode. Some of the described microcantilevers comprise an internal resonator configured to vibrate substantially independent of friction between the microcantilever tip and a surface when the microcantilever operates in contact mode. A number of the described devices and methods are useful for monitoring pulsed forces with enhanced sensitivity. |
| US08387440B2 |
Method for detecting a fuel leakage in an aircraft engine and system for carrying out said method
A method for detecting and localizing a fuel leakage in the engine of a multi-engine aircraft consisting in determining a fuel consumption for each aircraft engine, in comparing the consumption of each engine with the other aircraft engines, in determining the engine exhibiting the greater fuel consumption ratio, in determining the excess consumption ratio of the aforementioned engine with respect to the other engines, in checking whether the excessive consumption is caused by a leakage and in triggering an alarm if the step is checked. A system for detecting and localizing a fuel leakage in the engine of a multi-engine aircraft including an airborne computer for carrying out the aforementioned method is also disclosed. |
| US08387439B2 |
Method and device for determining a signal offset of a roll rate sensor
In order to determine a signal offset (OFS_SIG) of a roll rate sensor in a vehicle (10), a roll rate sensor signal (OMEGA_ROLL_SIG) is detected. A transversal acceleration (AC) of the vehicle (10) is determined. A temporal derivative (DRV_AC) of the transversal acceleration (AC) is determined. Verification is made as to whether a value of the temporal derivative (DRV_AC) of the transversal acceleration (AC) is smaller than a predefined first threshold value (THD—1). The signal offset (OFS_SIG) of the roll rate sensor is determined in accordance with the roll rate sensor signal (OMEGA_ROLL_SIG) if the value of the temporal derivative (DRV_AC) of the transversal acceleration (AC) is smaller than the predefined first threshold value (THD—1). |
| US08387436B2 |
Alignment device and methods of using the same
An alignment device is located on a mandrel of an installation tool and is used to align a structural member in an opening of a workpiece while seating a radial flange of the structural member against a first surface of the workpiece. The alignment device comprises a disk-shaped device having an outer surface, an inner surface forming an opening through the alignment device, and where the opening is sized to be at least slightly smaller than a major diameter of an expansion portion of the mandrel. In one embodiment, the alignment is nylon to allow the inner surface of the alignment device to be repeatedly, radially expanded and yet the opening formed by the inner surface returns to its original size. |
| US08387433B2 |
Method for applying a coolant
There is described a method for applying a coolant to a rolled product and/or to at least one cylinder of a roll stand provided with a rolling gap. During the method the following steps can occur: determining a total cooling rate applicable according to the effective power in the rolling gap, determining the cooling rate for several areas according to a flatness distribution determined b a flatness measuring system, wherein the difference in the cooling rate is determined by comparing the totality of the thus determined cooling rates with a predetermined total cooling rate and is used for determining the components of an additional cooling rate for the areas taking into account the top and lower limits of the cooling rate thereof. Said procedure is repeated in such a way that the coolant differences remain above a predefinable value. |
| US08387427B2 |
Water jet peening method and apparatus thereof
A high-pressure water jet is injected from a nozzle scanned and a shock wave generated due to the collapse of bubbles included in the water jet is impacted on a WJP execution object. Tensile residual stress close to the surface of the WJP execution object is improved to compressive residual stress. The shock wave is detected by a pressure sensor and a shock wave generation frequency is obtained. Whether the obtained shock wave generation frequency is larger than a set value or not is decided. When the shock wave generation frequency is larger than the set value, a high-pressure pump is stopped and the injection of the water jet from the nozzle is stopped. When the shock wave generation frequency is equal to or smaller than the set value, the operation condition of the high-pressure pump is changed. The pressure of the water jet injected from the nozzle is increased and the WJP is executed for a part of the WJP execution object where the shock wave generation frequency is equal to or smaller than the set value. Improvement effect of the residual stress of the WJP execution object can be confirmed more accurately. |
| US08387426B2 |
Metallic strip and methods and structures incorporating the same
A method of forming a flexible conduit including: providing an elongated flexible metallic strip having a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the central portion includes a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of the elongated shaped strip; rolling the first end portion in a first direction and the second end portion in a second direction generally opposite the first direction to form a shaped flexible strip; and helically winding the shaped flexible strip upon itself. |
| US08387425B2 |
Movable key combination element and lock assembly
A key device for use with more than one lock, the key device including a shaft portion, and at least one movable key combination element retained within the shaft portion and including first and second portions adjacent one another, the first portion of the at least one movable key combination element being located along on the shaft portion and the second portion of the at least one movable key combination element being located offset to the first portion. |
| US08387424B2 |
Method for making a rotating lock for an automotive vehicle
The invention relates to a method for making a rotating lock (10) for the locking system of an automotive vehicle, that comprises at least first and second complementary parts (5, 6) that can be assembled in at least one overlap area (7) for defining a stator (12) inside which a rotor (11) can be rotated, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a first step for assembling the two parts (5, 6) in order to position in said overlap area (7) at least one opening (32) formed in the first part of the stator (6) opposite the opening of a corresponding cavity (34) formed in the second part of the stator (5); a second crimping step during which a crimping punch (22) is introduced in each opening (32) for at least partially deforming the wall of the opening (32) in the direction of the corresponding cavity (34) in order to crimp the assembly of the two parts of the stator (5, 6). |
| US08387421B2 |
Drum-type washing machine
A drum type washing machine is provided. The drum type washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub, and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force that rotates the drum. The washing machine may also include a supporting plate to rotatably support a rotational shaft extending between the motor and the drum, and a plurality of supporters connected between the supporting plate and the cabinet. Such an arrangement may increase washing capacity by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing an external size of the cabinet. |
| US08387417B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting fibrous material
It is an object of the present invention to uniformly disperse fibrous material such as short glass fibers so as to be distributed on a collection conveyor, without using compressed air for dispersion of the fibrous material.The present invention provides a method for collecting fibrous material, wherein the fibrous material fiberized by a spinner of a fiberizing unit is dispersed by a hollow bucket disposed just under the spinner, so as to be collected on a collection conveyor disposed below the hollow bucket, comprising: forming said hollow bucket by connecting a blasting section having an oval opening at its lower end, with a waistline section as a lower end of a hopper section having a circular shape in cross section, and deforming the inner surface of the blasting section toward said oval opening, thereby dispersing the fibrous material dropped in the hollow bucket in a width direction of the collection conveyor from the blasting section, so as to be collected on the collection conveyor. |
| US08387416B2 |
Device and method for manufacturing a preform for optical fibres by chemical vapour deposition
A method and device for manufacturing a preform for optical fibers through chemical deposition on a substrate for deposition arranged vertically is described, comprising a chemical deposition chamber including at least one gripping member rotatably mounted about an axis Z-Z and adapted to hold at least one end of at least one elongated element constituting a substrate for chemical deposition for the formation of a preform for optical fibers. The chamber includes, moreover, at least one burner which is mobile along a direction Z substantially parallel to said axis Z-Z and adapted to deposit, on said at least one elongated element, a chemical substance for the formation of a preform and at least one suction element for collecting exhaust chemical substances, said at least one suction element being arranged on the opposite side to said at least one burner with respect to said axis Z-Z and being mobile along said direction Z. Said at least one suction element is advantageously positioned at a different height (preferably lower) with respect to that of said at least one burner to optimise the fluid dynamic conditions inside the chemical deposition chamber. |
| US08387411B2 |
Refrigeration apparatus
An air-conditioning apparatus uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, and includes a two-stage-compression-type compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, and an intercooler. The intercooler uses air as a heat source. The intercooler is configured and arranged to cool refrigerant flowing through an intermediate refrigerant tube that draws refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler is integrated with the heat source-side heat exchanger to form an integrated heat exchanger, with the intercooler disposed in an upper part of the integrated heat exchanger. |
| US08387410B2 |
Air cooling type chiller
An air-cooling type chiller is provided. The chiller may include a plurality of fans, and an intermediate device provided between adjacent fans of the plurality of fans. When one of the fans is disabled, air is not drawn in through the disabled fan due to the intermediate device, but instead may pass through a condenser, thereby minimizing degradation in condensing efficiency. The intermediate device may be formed as an auxiliary condenser so that any air drawn in through a disabled fan passes through the auxiliary condenser, also minimizing impact on condensing efficiency. |
| US08387409B2 |
Sanitized water dispenser
A method and apparatus for sanitizing a water dispenser that dispenses water for human consumption is disclosed. The dispenser can be in the form of any dispenser that dispenses water for human consumption employing a reservoir that dispenses water through one or more spigots. Water in the reservoir is sanitized with an air/ozone gas mixture that is transmitted to a porous polymeric diffuser having a central bore and a porous wall. The porosity of the porous wall defines bubble size. |
| US08387405B2 |
Antimicrobial ultraviolet light system for refrigerator sanitation
A refrigerator is adapted to include a plurality of ultraviolet light bars, which may be adjustably connected to sufficiently radiate UV light throughout the refrigerator compartment in connection with a control box and power cord which operate to control the bacterial level present on and around foodstuffs being stored therein. A series of UV light bars are capable of being arranged and plugged into one another by daisy chain to allow for a timer-controlled illumination of UV light to radiate throughout the compartment. Sensors in the control box signal the timer, and a wire ribbon extending from the control box provides a connection to the external power source without significantly affecting the seal of the refrigerator door. Power is supplied to the UV light sources via a ribbon-type power cable passing from the refrigerator interior compartment to the exterior by passing between the refrigerator and the refrigerator door and over the peripheral gasket, whereby power may be supplied to said control box by connection of said male electrical plug to an electrical outlet without significantly affecting the integrity of the thermal seal. |
| US08387403B2 |
Goods presentation refrigerator with air flow provisions for preventing condensation on door
A cooling goods presentation refrigerator for presenting refrigerated goods or frozen goods has a vertical access opening to the goods chamber that is subdivided into vertically superposed compartments. The current of cooling air is conducted out of the head part directly into the shelf compartments arranged underneath it, during which the cooling air flows from the top downward through one shelf compartment after the other. From the lowest shelf compartment, the air is trapped in a collection chamber arranged underneath it and subsequently prepared by the cooling unit for the next circulation. The head part of the goods presentation refrigerator includes an air-permeable separating wall against the adjacent shelf compartment. The shelf compartment bottoms are air-permeable, so that the current of cooling air can flow successively downward through the shelf compartments. |
| US08387400B2 |
Thermal management for fuel injectors
Methods of managing fuel temperatures in fuel injectors for gas turbine engines include cooling fuel circuits by initiating fuel flow therethrough using opened, closed, and semi-open control techniques. A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a feed arm having a fuel inlet fitting for delivering fuel to at least one fuel conduit extending through the feed arm. A nozzle body depends from the feed arm and has at least one fuel circuit extending therethrough. The fuel circuit is configured and adapted to receive fuel from the feed arm and to issue fuel from an exit orifice of the nozzle body. Sensing means are provided adjacent to the at least one fuel circuit. The sensing means are configured and adapted to provide temperature feedback in order to control fuel flow in the at least one fuel circuit to maintain fuel temperature within a predetermined range. |
| US08387398B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling the secondary injection of fuel
A combustor (28) for a gas turbine engine is provided comprising a primary combustion chamber (30) for combusting a first fuel to form a combustion flow stream (50) and a transition piece (32) located downstream from the primary combustion chamber (30). The transition piece (32) comprises a plurality of injectors (66) located around a circumference of the transition piece (32) for injecting a second fuel into the combustion flow stream (50). The injectors (66) are effective to create a radial temperature profile (74) at an exit (58) of the transition piece (32) having a reduced coefficient of variation relative to a radial temperature profile (64) at an inlet (54) of the transition piece (32). Methods for controlling the temperature profile of a secondary injection are also provided. |
| US08387397B2 |
Flow conditioner for use in gas turbine component in which combustion occurs
A gas turbine component in which combustion occurs. The gas turbine component includes a liner, including a first surface facing a first space and a second surface facing a second space, the liner being interposed between the first and second spaces and having a through-hole defined therein extending from the first to the second surface by which incoming flows proceed from the first space and to the second space. At least the first surface is formed to flow condition the incoming flows to resist separating from sidewalls of the through-hole. |
| US08387392B2 |
Fuel injection system and burner using the same
Disclosed herein is a fuel injection system, including: a fuel injection module including a primary fuel injector and one or more secondary fuel injectors disposed around the primary fuel injector; an air supply module for supplying air to the fuel injection module inwardly and outwardly; and a fuel supply module for supplying fuel to the fuel injection module, wherein the fuel injection module serves to generate multistage flames in a burner by forming a rich fuel flame region using the primary fuel injector and forming a lean fuel flame region behind the rich fuel flame region using the secondary fuel injectors through a burning process of gasifying secondary fuel. |
| US08387388B2 |
Turbine blade
The invention relates to a method for increasing the steam mass flow of a high-pressure steam turbine of a steam power plant, particularly a steam power plant including reheating, during a start-up phase of the steam power plant, particularly also during an idle period of the steam power plant, wherein at least one electric consumer is connected upstream of a generator of the steam power plant before synchronization with a power supply grid. The invention further relates to a steam power plant, comprising a generator, a high-pressure steam turbine, and at least one electric consumer, which can also be connected during a start-up phase of the steam power plant, particularly also during an idle period of the steam power plant, in order to increase a steam mass flow of the high-pressure steam turbine before a synchronization process of the generator with a power supply grid. |
| US08387387B1 |
Floating solar pond energy conversion apparatus
A horizontal structure defines an expansive floating solar pond underlain by an open-ended chamber, and a distributed network of heat engines produce electricity based on the temperature differential between the heated solar pond water and ambient seawater. Each heat engine includes a heat exchanger disposed near the bottom of the solar pond, a working fluid boiler at least partially submerged in the solar pond, a turbine-generator, and a working vapor condenser disposed under the solar pond in the open-ended chamber. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger and the boiler to vaporize working fluid for powering the turbine-generator, and cold ambient seawater is passed through the condenser to condense working vapor downstream of the turbine-generator. Warmed seawater from the condenser is exhausted into the open-ended chamber, where it is naturally retained by convection to minimize heat transfer from the solar pond to the ambient seawater. |
| US08387382B1 |
Diesel engine with air boosted turbocharger
A booster mechanism is selectively connected to an exhaust turbine which consequently powers an intake air compressor. The booster mechanism applies additional power to the exhaust turbine in order to give the engine full or near full torque above idle revolutions per minute (RPM). In one embodiment, the booster mechanism comprises an air flask which contains pressurized air or another pressurized air source that can be utilized to provide a pressure source for additional power to the exhaust turbine. |
| US08387381B2 |
Electric booster
The present invention relates to an electric booster in which a rotation of an electric motor is converted into a linear motion and transmitted to an output member by a rotation-linear motion mechanism, and the output member pushes a piston of a master cylinder to generate a brake fluid pressure in a pressure chamber in the master cylinder. The present invention is characterized in that an ECU casing containing boards and the like such as a board for controlling the electric motor is coupled to the top of a motor casing constituting the electric motor. The ECU casing is offset in one direction in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing an axis of the master cylinder. A male connector is provided at a side surface of the ECU casing on the opposite side from the offset direction F side, and a space between the male connector and an interference area of the ECU casing with the other components and devices is utilized as a space for attachment/detachment of the male connector to/from the female connector. |
| US08387375B2 |
Systems and methods for optimizing thermal efficiency of a compressed air energy storage system
Systems, methods and devices for optimizing thermal efficiency within a gas compression system are described herein. In some embodiments, a device can include a first hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic cylinder, and a hydraulic actuator. The first hydraulic cylinder has a first working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the first hydraulic cylinder and which divides the first hydraulic cylinder into a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber. The second hydraulic cylinder has a second working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the second hydraulic cylinder and which divides the second hydraulic cylinder into a third hydraulic chamber and a fourth hydraulic chamber. The hydraulic actuator can be coupled to the first or second working piston, and is operable to move the first and second working pistons in a first direction and a second direction such that volume in the hydraulic chambers are reduced accordingly. |
| US08387366B2 |
Reducing agent injection valve abnormality detection device and abnormality detection method, and internal combustion engine exhaust gas purification system
A reducing agent injection device is equipped with a storage tank that houses a reducing agent, a pump that pressure-feeds the reducing agent, a reducing agent injection valve that injects the reducing agent pressure-fed by the pump into the inside of an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, a supply path that interconnects the pump and the reducing agent injection valve, and a pressure sensor that is disposed in the supply path. The reducing agent injection device is configured such that it can suck, into the inside of the supply path, a gas inside the exhaust pipe via an injection hole in the reducing agent injection valve by subjecting the inside of the supply path to depressurization processing. An abnormality detection device detects clogging of the reducing agent injection valve in the reducing agent injection device and includes a clogging determination component. The clogging determination component uses a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor after the start of the depressurization processing to determine whether or not clogging is occurring in the reducing agent injection valve. |
| US08387356B2 |
Method of increasing power output of a combined cycle power plant during select operating periods
A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period. |
| US08387353B2 |
Off-the-road steel cord with crimped strands
A steel cord (10) adapted for the reinforcement of rubber products, the steel cord (10) comprises a core (12) and three or more outer strands (14) twisted around the core (12) in a cord twisting direction. The outer strands (14) comprise outer filaments (16) twisted in a strand twisting direction which is the same as the cord twisting direction. The outer strands (14) have a wavy form which makes spaces between the core (12) and the outer strands. The steel cord (10) has improvements on elongation at break and impact resistance capacity. |
| US08387352B2 |
Cornhead divider lift assist linkage
A corn head divider lift assist linkage comprises two members and a spring pivotally coupled together, wherein one of the two members is pivotally coupled to a row crop divider and another of the two members is pivotally coupled to a bracket that is fixed at the rear of two adjacent row units. |
| US08387349B2 |
Machine for cartoning products
A machine for cartoning products incorporates a cardboard box forming section, at least one box conveyor, and one robotic loading section. The machine includes a section for closing boxes, for example by folding and gluing the respective flaps. The closing section is fed directly by the box conveyor. During the closing operation, a servo-train of the conveyor is operated with a forward motion synchronized with the work cycle of a closing device of the closing section. |
| US08387346B1 |
Method of gift box wrapping
A method of gift box wrapping utilizing a pre-formed and pre-taped wrapping paper sheet, having a marking on a back side thereof which divides the sheet into a first end and a second end, a placement area within the marking, and an embossed label integrally disposed on the sheet front side, with which a user wraps a gift box without the use of scissors and a roll of tape. A user places a gift box within the placement area and folds the first end over a portion of the gift box, then folds the second end over the gift box and secures the second end to a double-sided first adhesive strip disposed proximal to a first edge on the first end. The user then folds and secures the left and right sides of the sheet with double-sided second adhesive strips to encase the gift box therein. |
| US08387344B2 |
Split crimper for heat sealing packaging material
A split crimper for use in a crimping assembly for engaging and heat sealing overlapping layers of a packaging material includes a first crimper portion having a crimping surface and a second crimper portion that is secured to the first crimper portion to form a crimper. Portions of the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity, and a heating element is disposed completely within the interior cavity. |
| US08387343B2 |
Medicine dispensing system and medicine dispensing device
There is provided a medicine dispensing system configured such that a medicine dispensing device includes a sub unit having a function to dispense medicine that is connected to a medicine dispensing device that includes a main unit having a function of packing medicines. There is also provided a medicine dispensing device that can be appropriately integrated with such a medicine dispensing system. The medicine dispensing system includes, in some embodiments a main unit, a sub unit and a transfer device connecting the main unit and the sub unit. The medicine dispensing system transfers the medicine dispensed in the sub unit to the main unit by means of a transfer device and dispenses the medicine at a medicine packing part together with the medicine dispensed from a main storage part in the main unit. |
| US08387342B2 |
Picking line and method for inserting products into a packaging container
The invention relates to a picking line for inserting products into a packaging container, having a conveyor belt for the delivery and the transport of products in a transport direction, and at least one picker equipped with a position image processing system for determining the position of the products on the conveyor belt. A quality image processing system is disposed in the transport direction upstream of the at least one picker for checking the products passing the quality image processing system on the conveyor belt in the transport direction for predetermined quality features, and for associating quality information to be transmitted to a picker adjacent downstream of the quality image processing system in the transport direction, serving as a control command for grasping or not grasping the products. |
| US08387339B2 |
Adjustable wall support system and method
An adjustable support system and method for supporting for an operable partition includes an adjustable length overhead truss. The adjustable length overhead truss is supported at opposite ends by first and second vertical supports. A track is coupled to the adjustable length overhead truss, and a plurality of wall panels are coupled to the track. The plurality of wall panels are movable from a folded storage position to a deployed use position to form a wall under the adjustable length overhead truss. |
| US08387338B1 |
Method of making concrete facade logs and siding for a building
A method of making siding for attachment to a frame of a building. The siding has the appearance of antique hewn wood logs, and the siding includes modular lengthwise sections and corner modular sections of reinforced concrete façade logs. |
| US08387336B2 |
Water-resistive barrier, exterior wall or roof assembly, and method of applying the barrier
A method of assembling an exterior wall or roof structure of a building with a water-resistive barrier includes covering a surface of an inner sheathing member of a wall or roof structure with a series of partially overlapping courses of water-resistive sheet material. Each overlapping section of the courses of water-resistive sheet material is bonded together with a continuous strip of adhesive to form an air-tight seam. The strip of adhesive is carried integrally on the water-resistive sheet material thereby eliminating a need for separately applying construction tape to seal the seams. A water-resistive barrier and assembly of an exterior wall or roof assembly of a building is also provided. |
| US08387333B2 |
Structural support device with web brace
A structural support device for supporting a joist relative to a support, wherein the joist has a web and a bottom, may include a hanger assembly having a seat configured for resting the bottom of the joist thereon, a side portion extending therefrom, and a securing portion extending from the side portion for securing the device to the support, and a web brace assembly operably extending from the hanger assembly at a junction and configured for articulation between a pre-adjusted position and an adjusted position to adjustably engage and align with the web of the joist. A method of making and using are also provided. |
| US08387332B2 |
Structure of modular frame for partitioning wall
A modular frame structure (1) for a wall made of glass or other pane material includes: a lower side or base (2) suitable to receive and lock an edge portion of a pane, an upper side or cross member (4) suitable to receive and lock an edge portion of a pane, one or more posts (6) suitable to receive and lock a portion of a pane, connecting means (8), suitable to guarantee a connection between posts (6) and lower (2) and upper (4) sides, in which: posts (6) comprise a reinforcing bar (9) suitable to confer stiffness to frame structure (1), connecting means (8) comprise a first undercut coupling seat (27) obtained on lower side (2), a second undercut coupling seat (28) obtained on upper side (4), first coupling portion (29) being insertable in first undercut (27), second coupling portion (30) being insertable in second undercut (28). |
| US08387328B2 |
Device for connecting prefabricated concrete sections
A device is provided for joining pre-cast concrete sections, the device including a cable loop, wherein the cable sections forming bent portions of the cable loop have elements for keeping the cable sections in a bent-over position, the elements are cable cores which lie within the cable sections of the cable loop and which are plastically deformable. |
| US08387327B2 |
Mechanical locking system for floor panels
Floor panels (1, 1′) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system consisting of a flexible locking element 15 in a locking groove 14 which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically. |
| US08387326B2 |
Insulating siding system
An insulating siding system contains two components: a sheathing panel and a siding panel. The sheathing panel contains slots or grooves, while the siding panel contains connectors that fit into the slots or grooves. The siding panels are fit or attached to the sheathing panel without the need for fasteners, such as nails or staples, to penetrate the siding panel, creating a uniform exterior. |
| US08387325B2 |
Insulated siding apparatus
An insulated siding member and a method of fabricating an insulating siding member is described. The siding member may include a siding panel, an insulation member and a backing layer. The siding panel may have a cavity that may serve as a molding receptacle to allow the insulating material to be molded directly into the cavity of the remainder of the siding panel. The cavity may also allow for the insulation layer to be applied directly to the panel, whereby there may be no need for an additional adhesive layer to attach the insulation member with the siding panel. Thus, the backing layer may be attached directly to the insulation member. The siding member may have a configuration that may also allow the siding member to be easily engaged with or be interlocked with another siding member to provide for better and more uniform insulation. |
| US08387317B2 |
Systems and support assemblies for restraining elevated deck components
A system for restraining relative lateral and/or vertical movement between adjacent support tiles of an elevated building surface assembly. The system is usable with a support structure including a plurality of support pedestals that are disposed in spaced-apart relation on a fixed surface and that are disposed beneath corner portions of surface tiles to vertically support and elevate the tiles above the fixed surface. The system includes stability members that may be inserted into predetermined gaps between adjacent surface tiles so as to be fit between adjacent surface tiles to restrict lateral and/or vertical movement of the tiles. Fasteners may be placed through apertures in inner portions of the stability members into the top surface of the support pedestals to further secure the stability members to the support pedestals. |
| US08387312B1 |
Platform arrangement
A removable platform for covering bowling alley lanes to provide a flat surface above the lanes suitable for a variety of other activities. |
| US08387306B2 |
Method of monitoring and controlling termites with heat-treated wood
In a method of monitoring and/or controlling termite populations in an area accessible to the termites a wood that has been heat-treated to a temperature of greater than about 150 degrees C. (302 degrees F.) is located in the area and monitored. A toxic bait may also be located in the area. In another method, a toxic bait that contains a toxicant and wood that has been heat-treated to a temperature of at least about 150 degrees C. (302 degrees F.) may be located in the area. |
| US08387305B2 |
Rodent management system having a housing with an entry opening
A rodent management station includes a housing having a base and a lid together at least in part defining an interior space. The housing has an entry opening and an internal partition structure configured to partition the interior space of the housing into a bait chamber having an entryway spaced from the entry opening. A pathway is defined at least in part by the partition structure and extends away from the at least one entry opening to the entryway of the bait chamber. The partition structure has at least one through-opening therein other than at the bait chamber entryway to provide open communication between the pathway and the bait chamber other than at the bait chamber entryway. The at least one through-opening is sized substantially smaller than the housing entry opening and the bait chamber entryway to inhibit rodents against entering the bait chamber at the at least one through-opening. |
| US08387297B2 |
Quick connect/disconnect recoil pad
Applicants have disclosed a quick connect/disconnect recoil pad for the butt-end of a shoulder-mounted firearm. The recoil pad can be installed and removed without tools or implements, to swap in another recoil pad. Applicants' preferred embodiment comprises: an interchangeable recoil pad assembly having a recoil pad; and a spring-loaded latching means, attached to the rear or butt-end of a gun stock for connecting the recoil pad assembly onto the stock and for later quickly disconnecting the pad assembly, if desired, via a release button housed in the stock. |
| US08387294B2 |
Handgun identification light
The handgun identification light is a device attachable to a handgun, the device illuminating the handgun with flashing blue and red lights to provide advanced real-time early warning to police officers who encounter a fellow off-duty plainclothes or undercover officer during their response to the commission of a crime. The device has an on-off switch connected to a battery and flashing LED's disposed along opposing sides of the device. The device includes a tilt switch, grip switch, or gun motion sensor that detects when a user draws the weapon. By activation of the flashing red and blue light device on his weapon, an off-duty plainclothes or undercover police officer who draws the weapon becomes readily identifiable by other officers in proximity as a fellow law officer, thus avoiding misidentification and tragically resultant friendly fire incidents. |
| US08387287B2 |
Protective cover for a bicycle cleat
A protective cover for a bicyclist cleated shoe includes a thin flexible body member arranged in a generally cylindrical shape having a hollow interior and an engagement area disposed at the interior of the body member configured to receive and retain a cleat extending from the bicyclist shoe such that the cleat is covered by the engagement area and/or the body member, where the body member is configured to be disposed on the shoe in a position of engagement in which the cleat is received and retained at the engagement area and a position of disengagement where the body member remains secured to the shoe while the cleat is free from contact with the engagement area and is exposed for attachment to a pedal of the bicycle. |
| US08387285B2 |
Footwear with sole force distribution and sense enhancement
According to the present invention there is provided a sports shoe (10) having an upper part (12) configured to receive the foot (14) of a wearer and a sole arrangement (16) which is inclined so as to reduce in height in a forwards direction, wherein the sole arrangement (16) includes a rigid portion (40) and a compressible portion (28) where the rigid portion (40) is thinner than the compressible portion (28) and, in use, is provided between the compressible portion (28) and the foot (14) of the wearer, wherein further the rigid portion (40), in use, is provided beneath the heel (22), lateral aspect of the mid foot, the fifth metatarsal bone (52) and the fifth metatarsal joint (34) of the foot (14) of the wearer. |
| US08387278B2 |
Sole for footwear
A sole (12) for an item of footwear such as a shoe (10) includes a heel part (18) and a forefoot part (16), the forefoot part (16) including a rocker region (20). The rocker region (20) has a length extending transversely across the sole (12) and a width extending along the sole (12). The sole (12) is arranged so that in use during a gait cycle in which the sole (12) contacts a substantially planar support surface (38), a region of contact between the sole (12) and the support surface (38) moves across the width of the rocker region (20). |
| US08387275B2 |
Method for drying sludge
A method for drying sludge comprising the following steps: (a) Dry dehydrated sludge to obtain a carrier for drying sludge (6); (b) Transport the carrier for drying sludge (6) and dehydrated sludge to be dried (1) to a stirring and mixing apparatus (2) for stirring and mixing and thereby obtain mixed sludge; (c) Transport the mixed sludge (3) to a drying apparatus (4) for drying; (d) Repeat steps (b) and (c); characterized in that in said step (d) a portion of the mixed sludge (3) obtained from the stirring and mixing apparatus (2) which is in an amount determined by amount of sludge carrier (6) required for drying is extracted and transported to the drying apparatus (4) for drying and the rest of the mixed sludge is discharged as final product (7). |
| US08387272B2 |
Clogging detecting system for dryer
The present invention discloses a clogging detecting system for a dryer which can display a clogging degree or state of an air passage to the user through a remote controlling device. The clogging detecting system for the dryer includes the dryer for judging the clogging degree of the air passage, and sending the clogging degree to a remote controlling device, and the remote controlling device for receiving the clogging degree from the dryer, and displaying the clogging degree through a display unit. |
| US08387271B2 |
Hair dryer
A hair dryer apparatus and method for use in hair care. The apparatus preferably includes a therapeutic housing having at least one near infrared emitting diode, a nozzle, and a housing. Further, disposed within the apparatus may be a circuit board, which is in electronic communication with at least three control buttons, a microprocessor, a liquid crystal display, and a voltage regulator. |
| US08387270B2 |
System and method for spray drying a liquid
Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material. |
| US08387269B2 |
Spray dried human plasma
The technology relates to spray dried plasma and methods of making the same. The method includes providing plasma to a spray drying apparatus, spray drying the plasma, at the spray drying apparatus, to form physiologically active plasma powder, the spray drying apparatus configured utilizing one or more parameters, and storing the physiologically active plasma powder. |
| US08387268B2 |
Dryer and foreign material removing apparatus thereof
A dryer and a foreign material removing apparatus thereof are provided. The foreign material removing apparatus includes a case; a first filter housed in the case; and a second filter disposed downstream from the first filter based on a direction of air flow in the case, the first filter and the second filter performing a relative motion with respect to each other. |
| US08387266B2 |
Device for measuring a body part of a living being
A body limb measurement device (10) comprising a track (12), a cart (14), and a laser source (16) fixedly attached to the cart. The cart is capable of linearly moving along the track. The device can further include a vertical support (18) having a pivot (20), and the track can comprise a pivot receiver (22), wherein the pivot receiver (22) is rotatably attached to the pivot (20). The track (12) can include units of length measurement (24) embedded therein. The cart (14) can include a reference point (26) to correspond to the units of length measurement, to track the cart's position on the track (12). A method of measuring a body part (28) comprising the steps of moving the cart (14) along the track (12) to measure the distance between a first edge (32) and a second edge (34) of the body part (28). |
| US08387263B1 |
Easy use utensil
A utensil in the form of a spoon having a spill resistant bowl. The bowl may have an angled tip at the front portion of the bowl and a secondary reservoir at or near the rear portion of the bowl. In some embodiments, portions of the inner surface of the bowl may be textured near the perimeter edge along the sides of the bowl. The utensil may also have an ergonomic handle having a depression on the top and concavity on the bottom with a flattened portion at the rear end. The flattened portion allows the utensil to stand upright. |
| US08387260B2 |
Pistachio nut opener
A handheld pistachio nut opener that is box-shaped comprising an upper and lower piece, each with one protrusion that are oriented vertically but aligned horizontally and inserted into an open or partially open pistachio nut, and through manual compression of the apparatus between the thumb and forefinger, the protrusions travelling in opposite directions through translational vertical motion while remaining engaged with the pistachio nut shell halves until the shell halves break apart into two disjoined pieces revealing the edible portion inside, the arcs of the protrusions protecting the edible portion from being damaged. |
| US08387259B2 |
Dual headed razor blade system
A dual headed razor blade system includes a first razor blade head assembly and a second razor blade head assembly. The razor blade head assemblies include an elongated in-line main handle having opposed upper and lower ends and opposed front and rear faces supports; additionally, the system includes a shorter in-line arm having opposed upper and lower ends, and opposed front and rear faces. The first razor blade head assembly is mounted to upper end of a first blade support, which in turn is mounted at the upper end and on the front face of the elongated main in-line handle; the second razor blade head assembly is mounted to the upper end of a second blade support, which in turn is mounted at the upper end of the shorter elongated in-line arm, while the lower end of the in-line arm is pivoted at a concave recess. |
| US08387257B2 |
Vehicle interior panel and method to manufacture
A vehicle interior panel is provided that includes an interior panel substrate defining an aperture for a light source to extend through the interior panel substrate, a lens attached to the interior panel substrate, wherein the lens extends over at least a portion of the aperture for the light source, an at least partially transparent material that extends over the lens, and a plurality of positioning holes defined by the interior panel substrate, such that at least a portion of the plurality of positioning holes are configured to correspond to a plurality of positioning pins of an interior panel mold. |
| US08387256B2 |
Method for improved scaling of filters
Method of reducing performance variability of membrane scaling devices. Scaling device performance uncertainty is reduced, thereby reducing the scaling safety factor, by specifying a narrow range or subset of the set of all qualified manufactured membranes for installation into scaling devices. In certain embodiments, the scalability factor is reduced by determining where within the performance distribution a particular membrane lies, and adjusting the scaling factor accordingly. |
| US08387255B2 |
Fine pattern mold
The fine pattern mold that includes a roll, a buffer tube with inner peripheral surface is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the roll, and a stamper tube in which its inner peripheral surface is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the buffer tube and a fine concave/convex pattern is formed on its outer peripheral surface, wherein the buffer tube has a larger coefficient of linear expansion and a smaller elastic modulus than those of the stamper tube. |
| US08387254B2 |
Method of rebuilding solenoids for automatic transmissions
A method of rebuilding a solenoid for use in automatic transmissions is disclosed. In one embodiment, an improvement over the original equipment design allows for increased durability of the solenoid. In another embodiment, a lower cost method is disclosed for reusing an expensive component. In either case, various components within the solenoid are reused, reconditioned or replaced. A preferred process for disassembling the solenoid is also disclosed. |
| US08387248B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger is provided in which heat exchanger shells are formed by electro forming about a mandrel. The shells are attached and joined to provide a heat exchanger module. As the shells are not press formed problems with respect to material elongation to achieve deep grooves in the shells are potentially avoided and shells can be created with more desirable thickness to achieve more efficient heat exchange. Furthermore, reduced shell thickness will also reduce weight and therefore improve the acceptability of heat exchangers in particular applications such as those associated with aerospace and automotive sports. |
| US08387246B2 |
Shaft member for fluid lubrication bearing apparatuses and a method for producing the same
A low-cost shaft member for hydrodynamic bearing apparatuses restores the pressure balance in a thrust bearing gap formed on both axial sides of the flange portion in an early stage. A shaft material integrally having a shaft portion and a flange portion with a through-hole between both end faces of the flange portion is formed in a common forging step. As a result, the through-hole is formed to open to an inner diameter side of the bearing gaps avoiding the thrust bearing gaps formed on both end faces of the flange portion of the shaft member as a finished product. |
| US08387243B2 |
Method for manufacturing multistage exhaust turbocharger
A method of manufacturing a multistage exhaust turbocharger having a high-pressure stage turbocharger and a low-pressure stage turbocharger includes providing a high-pressure turbine housing of the high-pressure stage turbocharger, the high-pressure turbine housing being integrally formed with the exhaust manifold by casting or welding, assembling constituent parts of the high-pressure stage turbocharger using the high-pressure turbine housing as a reference, after the assembling constituent parts of the high-pressure stage turbocharger, attaching the low-pressure stage turbocharger to the high-pressure stage turbocharger by attaching a low-pressure turbine housing to a low-pressure turbine connection flange, and after the attaching the low-pressure stage turbocharger, attaching an air supply channel to connect between a supply air outlet of the low-pressure stage turbocharger and a supply air inlet of the high-pressure stage turbocharger, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger is disposed below the high-pressure turbocharger. |
| US08387241B2 |
Method of fabricating wiring board
A method of fabricating a wiring board including at least one conductor layer and at least one resin insulating layer, the method including a wiring groove forming step of forming a wiring groove in the resin insulating layer by irradiating a surface of the resin insulating layer with a laser, and a wiring layer forming step of forming the conductor layer such that at least a portion of the conductor layer is embedded in the wiring groove to form a wiring layer in the wiring groove. |
| US08387239B2 |
Manufacturing method of embedded circuit substrate
An embedded circuit substrate comprising: a core structure having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; a first patterned conductive layer disposed on the first surface and embedded in the core structure; a second patterned conductive layer disposed on the second surface and embedded in the core structure; and a plurality of conductive blocks disposed in the core structure for conducting the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer is provided. Furthermore, a manufacturing method of an embedded circuit substrate is also provided. |
| US08387236B2 |
Apparatus for mounting conductive balls
A head that moves across a surface of a mask, which includes a plurality of apertures for disposing conductive balls on a substrate, whereby, while the head is rotating about an axis that is perpendicular to the mask, the axis moves across the surface of the mask. The head includes a gatherer that gathers the conductive balls into a circular area that is smaller than the surface of the mask and disposed around a center of rotation of the head, the conductive balls being gathered from an area around the circular area when the head rotates. |
| US08387234B2 |
Multi-turn coil device
A multi-turn coil device comprising a flexible circuit board and a plurality of serially electrically coupled coils coupled to both sides of the flexible circuit board. The coils are formed such that when the circuit board is folded in an accordion manner, the coils are substantially aligned and have the same direction of current flow. The coils are serially coupled sequentially from front to back and back to front wherein the coupling of the coils is through a plated through hole in the flexible circuit board. |
| US08387232B2 |
Method of manufacturing antenna formed with case
There is provided an antenna integrally formed with a case and a method of manufacturing the same. An antenna integrally formed with a case according to an aspect of the invention includes: a case unit formed of a dielectric material; a radiator including a radiation unit tightly fixed to an outer surface of the case unit and terminal units each extending from an end portion of the radiation unit, passing through the case unit, and exposed on the inside of the case unit; and contact pins provided on a board disposed adjacent to the case unit and electrically connected to the individual terminal units. |
| US08387231B2 |
Stator coil production method including in-slot portion shaping step and coil-end portion shaping step
A stator coil producing method and a stator coil production machine. The stator coil is used in an electric rotating machine. The stator coil production machine includes a rotary retainer which rotates to move shaping press pairs along a looped path. The rotary retainer has retaining holes through which the shaping press pairs are retained. The retaining holes are shaped to permit the shaping press pairs to move along the looped path, thereby pressing or shaping portions of a conductor wire into in-slot portions to be disposed in slots of a stator core and coil-end portions each of which is to extend between adjacent two of the in-slot portions outside the slots. The method comprises an in-slot portion shaping step of shaping portions of the insulator-coated conductor wire into the in-slot portions and a coil-end portion shaping step of shaping portions of the insulator-coated conductor wire into the coil-end portions. |
| US08387230B2 |
Method of making an ultrasonic transducer system
In a method of making an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric ceramic material that is at least partially covered by metal plating is provided. A plurality of substantially parallel cuts is formed in the plating so as to define a plurality of transducer elements and a ground element. A plurality of conductors is provided. An end portion of each conductor is operatively connected, such as by ultrasonic bonding, to a respective one of the transducer elements or the ground element. Next, a backing material is bonded to the plurality of transducer elements and the ground element such that the end portion of each conductor is sandwiched between the backing material and a respective one of the transducer elements or the ground element. The conductors are bent to allow for operative connection to an ultrasound system. The operative connection between the conductors and the transducer elements is maintained during the bending step. |
| US08387222B2 |
Pen barrel assembling device
A pen barrel assembling device includes a base with a first frame and a second frame fixed to the top of two ends of the base. A movable rod extends through the first frame and fixed to the first frame by a first fixing bolt. An end part is connected to the first end of the movable rod and the outer section is positioned in the end part. A push rod extends through the second frame and is movable toward the movable rod by pivoting a lever. The metal section is connected to the free end of the push rod. Multiple blocks are pivotably or slidably connected to the base and each block includes an engaging recess which is removably engaged with the movable rod. |
| US08387219B2 |
Casket ornament attachment mechanism
A casket comprises a casket shell, a casket lid closeable on the shell, a mounting plate mounted to the shell, the plate including at least one keyhole groove therein, a medallion casket ornament having a rear side, the ornament including at least one magnet mounted on the rear side, and a magnetic adapter plate having a rear side, the adapter plate including at least one fastener with a head thereon mounted on the rear side, the adapter plate removably secured to the shell by inserting the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove in the mounting plate and seating the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove, the casket ornament removably secured to the shell by positioning the at least one magnet of the ornament on the adapter plate. |
| US08387216B1 |
Tie wrap for bundling objects
A twist tie device having an elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material. A cover covers the shape-retaining deformable material along the length of the elongated piece. The cover has a bond between the elongated piece and the cover. The bond between the cover and the elongated piece is along the entire interior surface of the cover. An outer cover may be bonded to the cover. The outer cover may have a gripping surface and a non-gripping surface. The gripping surface will provide more grip for the twist tie device when it is wrapped around itself and the gripping surface will provide more grip when it is wrapped around objects. A non-gripping surface being generally smoother than the gripping surface is suitable for containing indicia. |
| US08387208B2 |
Cleaning computer peripherals
A keyboard cleaning apparatus includes: a conduit configured to receive an airflow; and a brush attached to the conduit and including a plurality of bristles arranged in a pattern proximate at least one orifice in the brush, the pattern of bristles defining a passageway in fluid communication with the orifice, the passageway including at least two open ends configured to receive at least a portion of a key of a keyboard. |
| US08387207B2 |
Surface treating head
A surface treating head includes a main body, a suction cavity in the main body including first and second suction channels, each of which is bounded on one side by a working edge, an air duct interposed between the first and second suction channels for conveying air towards the working edges, a brush unit and a drive mechanism for moving the brush unit between a stowed position in which the air duct is open to the atmosphere and a deployed position in which the air duct is closed. |
| US08387205B2 |
Blower apparatus with releasable mount and direction control
A blower assembly is releasably attached to a lawnmower frame by quick-release mounting system comprising a down-facing blade and up-facing receiving pocket that frictionally stably vertically engage. The blower assembly includes a blower unit, a flexible hose with an outlet for emitting a directed air flow, adjustment structure for adjustably supporting the flexible hose in different vertical and horizontal positions and orientations, and powered actuators operably connected to the adjustment structure to selectively bend the flexible hose. A powered control automatically controls the actuators for automatically operating the actuators to move the outlet to a selected position and orientation. Related methods include removing and reconnecting the blower assembly to different lawnmowers and lawn care wheeled devices. |
| US08387198B2 |
Paint brush extension fastener
A paintbrush holder assembly affixes a standard paintbrush to a holder that in turn engages an extension rod. The holder includes a hollow tubular shaft with a circular cross section that includes a first end, a middle portion and a second end. Three or more semi-circular fasteners attach to the middle portion of the tubular shaft via flex points. One fastener includes a lock pin to engage a locking shaft. The locking shaft has an “L” shaped lock track having a sufficient size and dimension to fit about the tubular shaft and capable of sliding from the second end to a point proximate the first end. The extension rod connects to the holder via male threads which secure to female threads located at the second end of the tubular shaft. |
| US08387194B2 |
Apparatus for reducing buildup of deposits in semiconductor processing equipment
An apparatus for cleaning a gas tube includes an actuator and a plunger head attached to the actuator. The actuator is configured to reciprocate the plunger head along a longitudinal axis of the gas tube between a retracted position and an extended position and to rotate the plunger head from a first angular position to a second angular position. A method of cleaning a gas tube includes positioning a plunger head including a plurality of longitudinally extending tines in the gas tube, rotating the plunger head relative to a longitudinal axis of the gas tube, and scraping deposits from an interior surface of the gas tube using longitudinally extending edges of the tines. |
| US08387190B2 |
Method of detecting an off-balance condition of a clothes load in a washing machine
An off-balance detection method comprises a plurality of off-balance detection schemes that utilize wash basket speed to detect an off-balance load condition at speed ranges that span the entire spin cycle and include speeds corresponding to natural frequencies of a mass comprising a wash tub and a wash basket. The schemes can be used alone or in combination with one or more of the other schemes. The off-balance detection method can further comprise a power limiting method to prevent motor overload when an off-balance condition is present. |
| US08387189B2 |
Method for washing of washer
A novel washing method of a washing machine that is capable of performing a washing operation of laundry with reduced washing water consumption and low power consumption and, in addition, sterilizing the laundry is disclosed. The washing method includes supplying washing water containing detergent into a tub to perform a high-concentration washing process, and, before or after the high-concentration washing process, supplying steam into a drum. |
| US08387188B2 |
Multi-purpose tool
A multipurpose tool (10) can comprise a shovel (14) on a top center area, a hatchet or ax (18) on a lower area adjacent to the shovel, a hammer (16) on an opposing side of the hatchet or ax on the lower area, and a handle (24) protruding from the lower area; The shovel, hatchet or ax, and hammer are integrated as a single piece. The handle can also be integrated with the shovel, ax or hatchet, and hammer as a single or unitary piece. An accessory handle or tool 20 can selectively attach to the multipurpose tool 10. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08387184B2 |
Auto contour handle apparatus
A patient support apparatus includes a frame and seat, thigh, and head sections coupled to the frame. A linkage is coupled to the head, seat, and thigh sections. The linkage has a first mode of operation in which the seat and thigh sections remain substantially parallel to each other as the head section is raised and lowered and the linkage has a second mode of operation in which the thigh section tilts relative to the seat section as the head section is raised and lowered. A handle is movable relative to the head section between a first position in which the linkage is in the first mode of operation and a second position in which the linkage is in the second mode of operation. |
| US08387183B2 |
Mitigation of brake failure
A method and system for mitigations brake failure in a medical device. The method and system includes a motion system for at least one movable load. Each movable load has a drive, a controller for the drive, and a brake. The controller is adapted to monitor positional parameters of the drive or electrical parameters of the brake or a combination of both. The method involves the step of monitoring the parameters and evaluating the parameters to detect a brake failure of the brake. |
| US08387181B1 |
Sheet system with handles
A sheet system having a sheet with a top and bottom surface, a first, second, third and fourth side, the second side being opposite the first side, the sides are adapted to hug sides of a mattress, an elastic band lines a portion of bottom edges of each side, a first handle on the top surface of the sheet near the first side and near the third side, a second handle on the top surface of the sheet near the first side and about halfway between the third side and fourth side, a third handle on the top surface of the sheet near the second side and near the third side, and a fourth handle on the top surface of the sheet near the second side and about halfway between the third side and fourth side. |
| US08387179B2 |
Siderail mechanism
A person-support apparatus comprises a frame, a first siderail, and a second siderail. The frame includes a first support section and a second support section. The first support section is configured to pivot between a first support position and a second support position with respect to the second support section. The first siderail is coupled to the first support section and configured to move therewith. The second siderail is coupled to the frame and is configured to move along the frame between a first position and a second position. The second siderail is configured to be positioned adjacent to the second support section in the first position, and adjacent to the first support section and below the first siderail in the second position. |
| US08387178B2 |
Playard top rail and latch mechanism
A juvenile product includes a frame with a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections, a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail, and an elastic bias element coupled to the first rail section or the second rail section and configured to be under tension in or near the in-use orientation such that the elastic bias element drives the rail away from the in-use orientation when the rail is near the in-use orientation with the latch assembly not in the latched state. |
| US08387174B1 |
Swimming pool skimmer creature raft rescue device
A device for rescuing, retrieving and setting free native wildlife caught in a swimming pool skimmer comprises a body and a retrieval apparatus. The body has a base and an elevated surface of lesser external dimensions than a flange of the base. The body has an enclosed volume captured between the base and the elevated surface. The retrieval apparatus is associated with a portion of the body. |
| US08387172B2 |
Water flow controlling system and method
A system for controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a Toilet, which includes a buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position. The system includes a converting element, for converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position. A programming element enables programming of a controlling time, for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet. A controlling element is connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, for retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in a raised open position upon non-automated user actuation thereof to the raised open position, and for releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time. |
| US08387169B2 |
Baseball practice helmet
A baseball training helmet having a helmet portion for protecting a player during practice and an integral face portion that extends away from the helmet portion to form a front aperture that provides a restricted field of view for a player wearing the training helmet. |
| US08387166B2 |
Convertible bag and vest combination
A combination of a vest and a versatile, adaptable bag allows a person to comfortably carry articles, even while physically active. The vest is contoured to the shape of a person's body, limiting the jostling of the vest and integrally attached bag as the person moves. One advantageous feature of the convertible bag is that its size can adapt to the desired contents: the upper portion of the bag acts either as a flap for the lower portion, or as a vertical extension of the lower portion when the bag contents are more voluminous. Further, the vest portion sits high on the chest of the person wearing the vest. This increases comfort to the person by distributing the weight better, and reduces sweating, particularly during physical activity such as riding a bicycle. |
| US08387165B1 |
Disposable and reusable germ screen
Screen covers, devices, systems and methods of using the covers. The screen cover can have dome shaped front configuration and capital A rear side configuration that can be formed from a pliable material having a waterproof coated surface. The screen cover can have a closed front side, closed top, closed sides and an elastic band across the back having openings above and below the band. The screen cover can be disposable or reusable. Methods of using and removing the screen cover include removing the cover without contaminating the other hand that removes the cover. |
| US08387163B2 |
Flexible face mask apparatus
A flexible face mask is provided for protecting the face from outdoor elements. The face mask comprises a nose shield portion configured to cover the user's nose, a pair of cheek shield portions configured to cover the sides of the user's face, and a pair of ear strap portions configured to cover and receive the user's ears and eyewear. A reinforcing strip on the skin-facing side of the nose shield allows the nose shield to better conform to the user's nose. The face mask is configured for attachment to both eye glasses and goggles. For eyeglasses, a pair of small “C” - shaped cuts in the nose shield are configured to receive the nose pads of the eyeglasses. For goggles or eyeglasses, a set of hook and loop patches are utilized, wherein one patch is affixed to the eyewear's bridge and the mating patch is affixed to the nose shield. |
| US08393011B2 |
Piezoresistor height sensing cantilever
A device comprising at least one cantilever comprising at least one piezoresistor is described, where the cantilevers comprise silicon nitride or silicon carbide and the piezoresistors comprise doped silicon. Methods for making and using such a device are also provided. |
| US08393008B2 |
Hardware-based output protection of multiple video streams
Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and computer systems for managing dynamic allocation of one or more protected memory segments for storing content of secure data are provided. Initially, the secure data is recognized as being carried by a media stream being communicated from a media-reading device. One or more protected target segments and protected target segments are instantiated, where these protected memory segments are protected from illicit access by hardware-based rules. Regions of hardware memory are dynamically allocated to hold these protected memory segments and the secure data is iteratively written thereto. The protected source segments are associating with the media stream based on a license attached thereto, while the protected target segments are associating with presentation devices based on a standard of output protection supported thereby. Accordingly, the protected source segments are mapped to the protected target segments according to whether the license encompasses the standard of the output protection. |
| US08393007B2 |
System and method for distributing digital content to be rendered in accordance with usage rights information
Methods, apparatus, and media for distributing digital content to at least one recipient computing device to be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device in accordance with usage rights information. An exemplary method comprises determining, by at least one sending computing device, if the at least one recipient computing device is trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, sending the digital content, by the at least one sending computing device, to the at least one recipient computing device only if the at least one recipient computing device has been determined to be trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, and sending usage rights information indicating how the digital content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device, the usage rights information being enforceable by the at least on recipient computing device. |
| US08393006B2 |
Procurement and audit of digital rights management data
A method and computer program product to procure digital rights management (DRM) event data comprises collecting a first set of event data in one or more standardized event data formats, and communicating the first set of event data to an event data collection server for storage. A second set of event data may also be collected in one or more standardized event data formats, which is also communicated to the event data collection server for storage. The method and computer program product may also include storing the first set, and optional second set, of event data in a centralized repository, authorizing access to the event data, and responding to at least one query from an authorized audit computer to provide event data associated with at least one of the first set of event data and the second set of event data retrieved from the centralized repository. |
| US08393000B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for enabling a secure location-aware platform
A method, apparatus, and system enable a secure location-aware platform. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention may utilize a secure processing partition on the platform to determine a location of the platform and dynamically apply and/or change security controls accordingly. |
| US08392998B1 |
Uniquely identifying attacked assets
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for uniquely identifying attacked assets. One method includes maintaining asset data mapping unique asset identifiers to non-unique asset identifiers and maintaining protection data mapping identifiers of sensors to unique identifiers of assets protected by the sensor. Attack data specifying attacks on particular assets is received. The unique identifier of each asset attacked is determined from the attack data, the protection data and the asset data. |
| US08392996B2 |
Malicious software detection
A method, system, computer program product and/or a computer readable medium of instructions for detecting one or more entities which are able to reinfect a processing system with malicious software. The method includes: monitoring, in the processing system, activity indicative of the malicious software reinfecting the processing system; in response to detecting the activity, storing a record of the activity and one or more entities associated with the activity; determining if the malicious software has reinfected the processing system; and in response to determining that the malicious software has reinfected the processing system, analysing the record to detect the one or more entities which were associated with the activity that caused and/or assisted in reinfecting the processing system with the malicious software. There is also disclosed a method, system, computer program product and/or a computer readable medium of instructions for detecting a variant of malicious software in a processing system. |
| US08392994B2 |
System, method and computer program product for context-driven behavioral heuristics
A system, method and computer program product are provided for detecting unwanted data. A scan for unwanted data is performed to generate results of the scan. A context of the scan is then identified. Further, the presence of unwanted data is conditionally indicated based on both the results of the scan and the context of the scan. |
| US08392991B2 |
Proactive test-based differentiation method and system to mitigate low rate DoS attacks
A low rate DoS attack detection algorithm is used, which relies on a characteristic of the low rate DoS attack in introducing high rate traffic for short periods, and then uses a proactive test based differentiation technique to filter the attack packets. The proactive test defends against DDoS attacks and low rate DoS attacks which tend to ignore the normal operation of network protocols, but it also differentiates legitimate traffic from low rate DoS attack traffic instigated by botnets. It leverages on the conformity of legitimate flows, which obey the network protocols. It also differentiates legitimate connections by checking their responses to the proactive tests which include puzzles for distinguishing botnets from human users. |
| US08392988B2 |
Terminal device and method for checking a software program
A terminal device according to the present invention includes: a first domain configured to execute multiple software programs; and a second domain configured to operate independently of the first domain and to check whether or not the software programs are safe. The second domain includes: an execution sequence storage unit configured to store execution priority of the multiple software programs to be executed by the first domain; a software program checking unit configured to check whether or not the multiple software programs are safe, according to the execution sequence storage unit; and an execution restricting unit configured to restrict the first domain from executing a software program included in the multiple software programs and having a check result indicating that the software program is unsafe, before checking of all the multiple, software programs is completed. |
| US08392982B2 |
Systems and methods for selective authentication, authorization, and auditing in connection with traffic management
The present invention provides a system and method for authentication of network traffic managed by a traffic management virtual server. A traffic management virtual server may determine that a client has not been authenticated from a request of the client to access a server. Responsive to the request, the traffic management virtual server may transmit a response to the client with instructions to redirect to an authentication virtual server. The authentication virtual server may receive a second request from the client. The authentication virtual server may then authenticate credentials received from the client and establish an authentication session for the client. Further, the authentication virtual server may transmit a second response to redirect the client to the traffic management virtual server. The second response identifies the authentication session. The traffic management virtual server then receives a request from the client with an identifier to the authentication session. |
| US08392981B2 |
Software firewall control
A software firewall that may be simply configured using rules specified for types of network interfaces rather than individual network interfaces. The network types may be specified with type identifiers that have a readily understandable meaning to a user, facilitating ease of configuring the firewall. The network types could include, for example, wired, wireless and remote access. A rule specified based on a network type can be translated to firewall filters for network interfaces of that network type. The translation may be performed automatically and may be updated based on network location awareness information. |
| US08392980B1 |
Trusted host list for TLS sessions
Methods, devices, and systems for creating and using a trusted host list for Transport Layer Security (TLS) sessions are provided. The proposed solutions described herein provide a mechanism of specifying authorization policy for TLS sessions where such authorization was traditionally implied by the possession of a certificate issued by a mutually trusted third party. The proposed solutions also provide for wildcard use and regular expression matching to simplify administration of the trusted host list. |
| US08392978B2 |
Secure authentication using hardware token and computer fingerprint
A method and apparatus for secure authentication of a hardware token is disclosed. In one embodiment, a host computer fingerprint is used to generate a partial seed for a challenge-response authentication which is performed on the hardware token. In another embodiment, the host computer fingerprint is used as a personal identification number for the hardware token. |
| US08392975B1 |
Method and system for image-based user authentication
Some embodiments provide a system that authenticates a user. During operation, the system obtains an identifier for the user from an identification card associated with the user and displays a set of images to the user. Next, the system receives an image sequence comprising a sequence of images selected by the user from the set of images. Finally, the system authenticates the user based on the identifier and the image sequence. |
| US08392973B2 |
Autonomous intelligent user identity manager with context recognition capabilities
A remotely located, uniquely identified resource can serve an application utilized by the Web browser. Access to the application can require authentication including a userid and password. A memory for a record associated with the application can be queried. The memory can include a set of userids and passwords indexed against unique application identifiers that are independent upon server identifiers or URLs. Responsive to querying the memory, a match between the application requiring authentication and a unique application identifier in the memory can be determined. A userid and password can be provided without manual input from a user from memory that is associated with the unique application identifier to the remotely located. The uniquely identified resource can use the userid/password as authentication to access the served application. |
| US08392972B2 |
Protected access control method for shared computer resources
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for providing protected computer communications. The present invention may provide for computer communications where in response to a receipt of a communication at a first computing facility from a second computing facility, the first computing facility may be caused to send a request to a compliance center for security compliance information relating to the second computing facility. In response to the request for security compliance information, the first computing facility may receive compliance information related to the second computing facility, which may cause the first computing facility to perform an action regulating further communications from the second computing facility if the second computing facility security compliance information indicates that the second client computing facility is not compliant with a current security policy. |
| US08392969B1 |
Method and apparatus for hosting multiple tenants in the same database securely and with a variety of access modes
A method for managing multi-tenancy database access, including receiving credentials from a user associated with a first organization and a second organization, validating the credentials received from the user, logging the user into an access module, generating a first realm ID associated with the credentials and a first access type, generating a second realm ID associated with the credentials and a second access type, storing the first realm ID, the second realm ID, and the credentials in an authentication module, generating a connection request, establishing a connection from the access module to a data repository based on the connection request, generating a first identifier associated with the first realm ID and a second identifier associated with the second realm ID after establishing the connection; and storing the first identifier, the first realm ID, the second identifier, and the second realm ID in the data repository. |
| US08392965B2 |
Multiple biometric smart card authentication
Techniques for multiple biometric smart card authentication are provided. At least two biometric readings are obtained from a requesting user. Both biometric readings are verified before access to resources of a smart card are made available to the requesting user. |
| US08392963B2 |
Techniques for tracking actual users in web application security systems
A method for tracking and identifying an identity of a user accessing a web application. An application normal behavior profile (NBP), wherein said NBP includes a plurality of authentication identifiers of the web application is generated. It is determined using the NBP whether an authentication request submitted by the user was successful. A first actionable data on a successful authentication request is saved. A second actionable data on an unsuccessful authentication request is saved. |
| US08392962B2 |
Web-based collaborative framework
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for facilitating network communications. Briefly described, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes a server-based application configured to produce web pages for a web site in accordance with input received from a user; and an interface to the server-based application receiving selections of features which are available to be added to the web site in response to user prompts and to set access rights on which features are to be available to different roles of users. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US08392961B2 |
Dynamic access control in a content-based publish/subscribe system with delivery guarantees
Improved access control techniques for distributed messaging systems such as content-based publish/subscribe systems are disclosed. For example, a method for providing access control in a content-based publish/subscribe system, wherein messages are delivered from publishing clients to subscribing clients via a plurality of brokers, includes the following steps/operations. One or more changes to an access control policy are specified. An access control version identifier is associated to the one or more changes. The one or more changes are sent to one or more brokers of the plurality of brokers that have a publishing client or a subscribing client associated therewith that is affected by the one or more changes. The access control version identifier associated with the one or more changes is sent to each of the plurality of brokers. |
| US08392958B2 |
Communication system, transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus and reception method
[Object]To make it possible for the reception side to carry out an optimum process for an image signal (image data) depending upon the type of a content.[Solving Means]An AV system 40 composed of an HD recorder 41 and a display unit 42 uses a communication interface of the HDMI. An HDMI source 53 of the HD recorder 41 transmits image data (image signal) in the form of differential signals to an HDMI sink 61 of the display unit 42 through three TMDS channels. The HDMI source 53 inserts content identification information for the identification of the type of a content of image data to be transmitted into an AVI InfoFrame packet placed in a blanking period. A control section 64 of the display unit 42 controls operation of a display processing section 62 which carries out a process for displaying for the image data based on the content identification information (ITC, CT1 and CT0) received by the HDMI sink 61 and a display section 63 for displaying an image. |
| US08392956B2 |
Systems and methods for processing media content requests
A method for processing media content requests includes receiving, at a multimedia distribution computing device, a request for a media stream to be provided to a media device. The method includes determining, at the multimedia distribution computing device, whether media content of the media stream is for time-shifted viewing. The method includes sending a unicast transmission including at least a portion of the media content to the media device when the media content is not determined to be for time-shifted viewing. The method includes joining the media device to a multicast group associated with the media stream without sending the unicast transmission to the media device when the media content is determined to be for time-shifted viewing. |
| US08392954B2 |
Method and system for delivering personal media over cable television
A method and system for delivering personal media over cable television have been disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing digital content, the digital content including digital photographs, digital video, and music. The digital content is queued for review. A photo show is generated from the digital content. The photo show is transmitted to a cable system for transmission on a video on demand system. |
| US08392947B2 |
System and method for home audio and video communication
A method for near real time data communication is disclosed. The method includes discovering a first device associated with a first location, determining available data from the first discovered device, and inserting a listing for the first discovered device into an electronic program guide (EPG). A data structure in memory is disclosed that includes a device identifier field for containing data indicating an identifier for a discovered device, a name field for containing data indicating a name associated with the discovered device, a receiver available field for containing data indicating a data receiver is available for the discovered device location, an electronic program guide (EPG) field for containing data indicating an EPG and an EPG2 field for inserting listings for discovered device data into the EPG for display to a user at an STB. A system is disclosed for near real time data communication is also disclosed. |
| US08392944B2 |
Digital broadcasting receiving apparatus with improved start-up speed and start-up method for the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus
A digital broadcasting receiving apparatus with improved start-up speed and a start-up method for the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus are provided. The start-up method for the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus includes performing a booting operation related to a central processing unit (CPU) when the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus is powered on, performing a channel decoding operation related to a channel to be displayed while the CPU booting is being performed, and displaying the channel decoded by the channel decoding operation when the CPU booting and the channel decoding are finished. Accordingly, the start-up time of the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus can be remarkably reduced. |
| US08392943B2 |
Communications between networked cable services system devices
Communication methods between networked cable services system devices are provided. Two or more cable services system set-top boxes may be networked together in a house, business or other facility. Alternatively, two or more set-top boxes may be networked together where the two or more set-top boxes are located remotely from each other and are networked via a cable services system. A first set-top box may be designated and equipped as a proxy server for managing communications between networked set-top boxes and one or more other set-top boxes may be designated and equipped as client devices for communicating with other networked set-top boxes via the proxy server set-top box. One or more communication applications may be deployed on each of the networked set-top boxes for allowing user-to-user communications via the networked set-top boxes, as well as, user-to-set-top box communication via the networked set-top boxes. Communications between set-top boxes that may be enabled include, but are not limited to, text communications, voice communications, video communications, set-top box control communications, real time gaming, and the like. |
| US08392941B2 |
Contents viewing and listening management apparatus, content viewing and listening management method, program, and contents viewing and listening management system
With a contents viewing and listening management method using a contents viewing and listening management apparatus, a viewing and listening request of a content is made for displaying a predetermined content. Information relating to users whose viewing and listening of the relevant predetermined content is restricted, and information relating to administrators who manage viewing and listening of a content by the users are managed. If restriction is set to a content relating to the viewing and listening request, a relevant user ID is obtained. Whether or not the requested is a content of which viewing and listening has been permitted by the administrator as to each of the users is determined. If the content of which the viewing and listening has been requested is not permitted, a message which requests permission for viewing and listening of the requested content is transmitted to a second terminal possessed by the administrator. |
| US08392939B2 |
Audience state estimation system, audience state estimation method, and audience state estimation program
A system for estimating audience state using the video signal relative to an imaged audience and audio signal according to voices from the audience generated in an input unit. A characteristic amount detection unit detects information on a movement amount, movement periodicity, a volume, voice periodicity of the audience, and a frequency component of voices from the audience based on the video signal or the audio signal. An estimation unit estimates an audience state based on the detected result. An output unit outputs the estimated result of the audience state. The audience state can be easily estimated without observing the audience state by a person. |
| US08392932B2 |
Information processing device for causing a processor to context switch between threads including storing contexts based on next thread start position
An information processing device for causing a processor to execute a plurality of threads by switching between them. Each thread performs a process in correspondence with an obtainment of an event. The information processing device, when causing a second thread to transit from a non-execution state to an execution state to replace a first thread, detects whether or not, in the first thread having transited to the non-execution state, a next start position of a process belongs to an already processed part, detects whether or not a start position of a process in the second thread in the execution state belongs to the processed part; and determines whether or not to set a context for execution of the second thread into the processor in accordance with detection results of the first and second detection units, and performs processing in accordance with the determination. |
| US08392919B2 |
Runtime environment for virtualizing information technology appliances
A system for virtualizing information technology (IT) appliances can include an IT appliance hosting facilities software. The IT appliance hosting facilities software can be implemented at a layer of abstraction above a virtual machine host, which is implemented in a layer of abstraction above a hardware layer of a computing system. The IT appliance hosting facilities software can include programmatic code functioning as virtualized hardware upon which a set of IT appliance software modules are able to concurrently run. The IT appliance hosting facilities software can provide caching, application level security, and a standardized framework for running the IT appliance software modules, which are configured in conformance with the standardized framework. |
| US08392918B2 |
Interrupt processing on virtualized platform during periods which virtual machines are enabled to get interrupts according to scheduling policy
A technique to process interrupts on a virtualized platform. A plurality of virtual machines (VMs) runs on the virtualized platform having at least a processor. The VMs include a power VM. A VM scheduler schedules the VMs for execution on the virtualized platform according a scheduling policy. A virtualized interrupt mask controller controls masking an interrupt from an interrupting source according to the scheduling policy. An interrupt is masked from an interrupting source according to the scheduling policy for at least one of the VMs; and the at least one of the VMs is caused to get the interrupt when the at least one of the VMs is enabled according to the scheduling policy. |
| US08392916B2 |
Multiple layers of virtualization in a computing system
In accordance with one embodiment, a method of nesting a second virtual machine (VM) on a first VM running on a physical machine is provided. The method comprises receiving a first instruction from the physical machine, wherein the first instruction originates from the first VM, wherein a first control structure is associated with the first VM, and wherein a second control structure is associated with the second VM; creating a secondary control structure based on the second control structure associated with the second VM; providing the first instruction and the secondary control structure to the physical machine, wherein the physical machine executes the first instruction according to information included in the secondary control structure; and updating the secondary control structure to correspond to current state or execution environment of the physical machine. |
| US08392915B2 |
Efficient volume manager hot swapping
Methods of hot-swapping a logical volume manager (LVM) and updating an associated extent map are presented. Methods for migrating a virtual machine running an application using an LVM from one physical machine to another physical machine are also presented. The LVM can be used by a database application or other applications in a single-node or multi-node environment. The LVM is shut down, version numbers for each segment of its associated extent map are saved, and a new LVM is started. The new LVM's extent map is compared with the old extent map, and segments in the LVM which have changed are selectively updated. |
| US08392911B2 |
Download discovery for web servers
Facilitating installation of additional functionality on a web server. The method includes at a data store, receiving a request from a client to access programmatic code units. The data store includes programmatic code units. The programmatic code units are configured to provide additional web server functionality when installed at a web server. The client is distinct and separate from the data store. The method further includes, at the data store, providing information about one or more programmatic code units to the client. Input is received from the client selecting one or more programmatic code units to be installed on a web server. The web server is separate and distinct from both the data store and the client. The one or more selected programmatic code units are sent to the web server, where after the one or more selected programmatic code units are installed on the web server. |
| US08392910B1 |
Stochastic method for program security using deferred linking
A method to install software by receiving a partially linked version of the software including a plurality of code modules, randomly ordering the code modules, assigning non-volatile memory addresses for the software and generating an executable image of the software. A system to install a software application having a partially linked object code version of the software application including a plurality of code modules and an installation program configured to randomly order the code modules, assign non-volatile memory addresses for the software, and generate an executable image of the software, wherein the installation program performs the ordering, assigning, and generating on a target computing device that is different from a development computing device that partially linked the software application. |
| US08392907B2 |
Communication terminal
A communication terminal includes: an update section that obtains software via a communication network from a predetermined provider so as to update the software; and a failure monitor section that monitors whether there is a failure to interfere with an update of the software by the update section. The communication terminal further includes an update record section that records, if there is the failure and the update becomes an incomplete update on an occasion of the update by the update section, the presence of the incomplete update; and an update prompting section that prompts, if a monitor result by the failure monitor section changes from that there is a failure to that there is no failure, performing by the update section the update whose presence is recorded by the update record section. |
| US08392905B2 |
Compiling apparatus
The present invention effectively utilizes auxiliary registers and provides a compiler system which secures error detectability when the auxiliary registers are shared for plural uses. The instruction definition resource configuring unit configures, as preparation for processing by the register assigning unit, respective resources such as a register to be defined or referred to by for each instruction in an intermediate code. The instruction definition resource configuring unit detects possibility of instructions each of which is to be decomposed into plural instructions. As for an instruction to be possibly decomposed, the instruction definition resource configuring unit configures a corresponding register in the intermediate code, assuming the corresponding register used for the decomposition to be defined and referred. The register assigning unit uses the register as a general register as far as a live range of the register used for the decomposition does not overlap. |
| US08392904B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for efficient code update
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently collecting code updates. The apparatus includes a generation module that identifies sites that provide code updates based on information about the computing system and its components that is already stored in the system. A supplement module identifies additional sites by monitoring Internet traffic on the computing system and looking for certain keywords, patterns, and regular expressions in visited sites. The user may also manually enter sites to supplement the sites automatically identified by the generation module and the supplement module. A monitor module monitors the identified sites for changes and determines when a new code update is available. A notification module notifies the user of the code updates when the monitor module determines that they have become available. The apparatus may also include a download module that automatically downloads new code updates for the user to install. |
| US08392902B2 |
Upgrading software applications offline using a virtual machine
A system and method upgrade software applications offline using a virtual machine. Software applications used by actual customer machines may rely upon customer specific data and protocols. An upgraded version of a software application may become available. The upgrade may be loaded onto a virtual machine. Customer specific data or protocols associated with a previous version of the application may be copied to the virtual machine. The upgraded version may be modified on the virtual machine using the data associated with the previous version. The upgrade process using the virtual machine may detect and eliminate problems with the upgrade associated with the customer machine and/or settings. Once modified, the upgraded version may be transferred from the virtual machine to the customer machine. The upgrade process may be performed primarily on the virtual machine. Therefore, the downtime of the customer machine required to complete the upgrade process may be substantially reduced. |
| US08392898B2 |
Running time of short running applications by effectively interleaving compilation with computation in a just-in-time environment
Managing just-in-time compilation is provided. The process designates a set of compilation threads for exclusively performing compilation functions associated with an application. A set of computation threads is designated for executing the application. Processor cycles are dynamically allocated during runtime between the set of compilation threads and the set of computation threads to maintain a ratio of processor cycles consumed by the set of compilation threads to processor cycles consumed by the set of computation threads. |
| US08392895B2 |
Firmware extension method and firmware builder
A firmware extension method is provided, particularly adaptable for an embedded system. Firstly, a baseline firmware image is provided with a header file. Secondly, an extension firmware image is generated based on the header file, comprising one or more extended functions. Thereafter, a callback table is generated, comprising pointers pointing to entries of the extended functions in the extension firmware image. The baseline firmware image, the extension firmware image and the callback table are then merged to generate a merged firmware image. |
| US08392893B2 |
Emulation method and computer system
The computer system of the present invention emulates target instructions. The computer system includes a processing unit for branching to collective emulation coding for emulating plural of target instructions created beforehand collectively, thereby processing those instructions collectively according to the coding when those target instructions are combined so as to be processed collectively and a memory for storing the collective emulation coding. |
| US08392892B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing application
An application analyzing method includes extracting a variable corresponding to a particular input data item and information regarding a value of the variable by analyzing a plurality of source programs constituting an application, record information of a database used by the application, and execution control information of the application, and outputting, based on the variable and the information regarding the value of the variable extracted in the extracting, information regarding a presumed value with respect to the input data item as presumed requirement information. |
| US08392890B2 |
Method and system for testing websites
Methods and systems to test of web browser enabled applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, a browser application can allow a user to perform test and analysis processes on a candidate web browser enabled application. The test enabled browser can use special functions and facilities that are built into the test enabled browser. One implementation of the invention pertains to functional testing, and another implementation of the invention pertains to pertains to site analysis. |
| US08392889B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for real time configuration and analysis of network based algorithmic service objectives
A network based algorithmic Service Objective (SO) is evaluated by defining an SO script comprising a plurality of Service Indicators (SIs), each of the SIs comprising an equation including a plurality of operands and at least one operator, instantiating the SO script into an object-oriented representation of the SO, obtaining values for each of the plurality of operands, and computing each of the SI equations using the obtained values. |
| US08392887B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying graphic user-interface components
Systems and methods for identifying a target position on a computer display are provided. A system receives computer display data indicative of contents of a computer display and identifies a first area of interest within the computer display. Identifying the area of interest includes receiving a first image and searching the computer display for the first image. Upon finding a match for the first image, a location of the match for the first image is identified as a first point. A second image is received and searched for on the computer display. Upon finding a match for the second image, the location of the match is identified as a second point. The first point and the second point are used in defining an area of interest. A target position is located within the area of interest. |
| US08392884B2 |
Test case automatic generation method for testing proactive GSM application on SIM cards
The present invention relates to a method for the definition of case tests and for the automatic generation of the corresponding scripts able to validate and test the GSM applications on IC or SIM Cards, such method being also able to automatically produce the documentation relative to the designed case test, thus realising an instrument able to evolve in time simultaneously with the applications to be tested. The method has been proposed to reduce the test time, to increase the automation (both the designing and the execution), the possibility of reuse and the maintenance relatively to the instruments offered by the prior art which consist of manual tests of the GSM applications or of tests being manually coded in a script language by a programmer. |
| US08392881B1 |
Supporting efficient access to object properties in a dynamic object-oriented programming language
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that supports efficient access to object properties in a dynamic object-oriented programming language. During operation, the system receives a request to access a property for an object associated with a given map object. The system then determines a hash value using the given map object and a signature for the property, and uses the hash value to retrieve a code stub from a cache. Next, the system executes this code stub, which includes instructions that facilitate accessing the property, to access a memory field associated with the property. |
| US08392880B2 |
Rapid application development for database-aware applications
Embodiments of the invention provide application development tools that allow developers to rapidly build database-aware applications and database unit tests. Embodiments of the invention support multiple scenarios for database-aware application development, including beginning from a database table and automatically creating application code to access the table, beginning from an existing database query, beginning from existing application code that accesses a database, and hybrids or variations of these approaches. |
| US08392879B2 |
Parameter assistant for automatically specifying parameter values for a software program
A system and method for dynamically determining a plurality of possible or valid parameter values and automatically including one of the parameter values in a software program. In one embodiment, the plurality of possible parameter values may be dynamically determined based on a hardware configuration of a computer system. A graphical user interface for selecting a parameter value may be displayed. The graphical user interface may visually indicate the plurality of dynamically determined possible parameter values and may allow a user to easily select one of the possible parameter values for inclusion in the software program. User input may be received to the graphical user interface to select a first parameter value from the plurality of possible parameter values. The first parameter value may be programmatically included in the software program in response to the first parameter value being selected. |
| US08392877B1 |
System and method of application development using replaceable self-contained components (RSCCS)
A method and system for creating a software application code including multiple Replaceable Self-Contained Components (RSCCs) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes creating each RSCC by instantiating and initializing an object instance of a Replaceable Component Class (RCC) that substantially encapsulates construction code of a Self-Contained Component (SCC), creating an RSCC registration module which resides in each of a first set of RSCCs for registering each of the services provided by each of the first set of RSCCs with the service registration object, and creating an RSCC service finding module which resides in each of a second set of RSCCs for consuming each of the services provided by one of the first set of RSCCs for facilitating communication between the RSCCs in the software application code upon an event selected from the group consisting of a user event, a sensor event, a timer event, and a data/state change event. |
| US08392873B2 |
Methods and apparatus for implementing model-based software solution development and integrated change management
The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for implementing a model-based paradigm for use in developing systems of software solutions. In a method of the present invention, a developer defines templates for use in creating software architecture elements which comprise a software solution or a system of software solutions. The template definitions comprise specifications of template attributes. The developer specifies relationships and dependencies among the templates using a computer programmed to receive the template definitions. |
| US08392871B2 |
Decomposition with multiple exposures in a process window based OPC flow using tolerance bands
Setting final dimensions while protecting against the possibility of merging shapes is provided by performing a decomposition of tolerance bands onto a plurality of masks for use in a multi-exposure process. This allows the maximum process latitude between open and short failure mechanisms, while also providing a mechanism to enforce strict CD tolerances in critical regions of a circuit. The decomposition enables co-optimizing various types of shapes placed onto each mask along with the source used to print each mask. Once the tolerance bands are decomposed onto the two or more masks, standard tolerance-band-based data preparation methodologies can be employed to create the final mask shapes. |
| US08392869B2 |
Systems and methods for circuit lifetime evaluation
Systems and methods for estimating the lifetime of an electrical system in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes iteratively performing Worst Case Analysis (WCA) on a system design with respect to different system lifetimes using a computer to determine the lifetime at which the worst case performance of the system indicates the system will pass with zero margin or fail within a predetermined margin for error given the environment experienced by the system during its lifetime. In addition, performing WCA on a system with respect to a specific system lifetime includes identifying subcircuits within the system, performing Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) with respect to each subcircuit to determine whether the subcircuit fails EVA for the specific system lifetime, when the subcircuit passes EVA, determining that the subcircuit does not fail WCA for the specified system lifetime, when a subcircuit fails EVA performing at least one additional WCA process that provides a tighter bound on the WCA than EVA to determine whether the subcircuit fails WCA for the specified system lifetime, determining that the system passes WCA with respect to the specific system lifetime when all subcircuits pass WCA, and determining that the system fails WCA when at least one subcircuit fails WCA. |
| US08392867B2 |
System, method and program storage device for developing condensed netlists representative of groups of active devices in an integrated circuit and for modeling the performance of the integrated circuit based on the condensed netlists
A system and method for developing condensed netlists for sub-circuits within an integrated circuit and for modeling the performance of the integrated circuit based on the condensed netlists rather than full netlists. An IC layout is segmented into a plurality of sub-circuits, each comprising a group of one or more of a given type of active devices connected to (i.e., sharing) the same electrical sub-circuit terminals through a similar resistive network (i.e. such that they are subjected to approximately the same overall combined parasitic resistances). Full netlists corresponding to the sub-circuits are extracted from the layout and condensed. Each condensed netlist accounts for performance variations (e.g., as a function of variations in operating power supply voltages, operating temperatures and, optionally, self-heating and/or stress) exhibited by the active devices and resistive network in a sub-circuit. The condensed netlists for the sub-circuits are then simulated over the full range of operating temperatures and full range of operating power supply voltages for the integrated circuit in order to generate a performance model for the integrated circuit. |
| US08392866B2 |
Task-based multi-process design synthesis with notification of transform signatures
A task-based multi-process design synthesis methodology relies on a plurality of child processes to assist a parent process in performing optimizations on an integrated circuit design. Objects from an integrated circuit design are grouped into subsets and assigned to child processes, with each child process performing a transform on each of the objects in the subset assigned to that child process and determining which of the objects in the subset are candidate objects for which performance of the transform has been successful. Each child process also provides result data to the parent process for each candidate object to reduce the overhead of the parent process when performing the transform on the candidate object. The result data, which may include, for example, a set of instructions or hints, may allow a parent process to take advantage of the efforts of the child process in performing the transform. |
| US08392863B2 |
Method for circuit layout and rapid thermal annealing method for semiconductor apparatus
The present invention provides a design method for circuit layout and a rapid thermal annealing method for a semiconductor apparatus. The design method includes: establishing a ternary relationship among a device electric parameter, an annealing temperature and a distributing density of STI patterns, and establishing a binary relationship between the device electric parameter and a gate pattern length; obtaining a difference between distributing densities of STI patterns in a particular region and in a target region; obtaining an electric parameter difference corresponding to the difference between the distributing densities of STI patterns according to the ternary relationship; obtaining a gate pattern length difference corresponding to the electric parameter difference according to the binary relationship; and adjusting a gate pattern length in the particular region according to the gate pattern length difference. As compared with a traditional design method, the design method for circuit layout provided by the invention does not need adding dummy structure patterns, thereby avoiding negative influence to normal electric performance of the semiconductor apparatus by adding dummy structures. |
| US08392862B1 |
Structures and methods for optimizing power consumption in an integrated chip design
Various methods and apparatuses are described for a power distribution structure. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit contains power gating cells that each contain Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) device switches located relative in the power distribution structure to power up and down a block of logic containing a plurality of individual cells using these MOS device switches. The MOS device switches can be tuned to requirements of a target block of logic in order to meet its optimal voltage drop requirements during its active operational state while minimizing leakage current in its off state. |
| US08392860B1 |
Identifying speed binning test vectors during simulation of an integrated circuit design
A method for automated functional coverage includes creating event monitors that monitor signals and events within an IC design based upon timing information in a timing report generated by a timing analysis tool. In particular, speed paths that have a higher timing criticality may be selected for monitoring during simulations of the IC design. In addition, if an event is detected on a speed path, the endpoint of that speed path may be forced to a failing value, and the simulation may be resumed. At some point later in the simulation, the simulation results may be checked to determine if a failure that corresponds to the failing value was observed at a structure that would be visible on a manufactured version of the IC design. If the failure is visible, the test vectors that were used may be identified and captured for use in production testing. |
| US08392855B2 |
Transferring pattern onto semiconductor substrate using optimum transfer condition determined for each divided area
According to one embodiment, a pattern forming method comprises transferring a pattern formed in a surface of a template to a plurality of chip areas in a semiconductor substrate under different transfer conditions. Furthermore, the transferring the pattern formed in the surface of the template to the plurality of chip areas in the semiconductor substrate under the different transfer conditions comprises transferring the pattern formed in the surface of the template to the semiconductor substrate at least twice under each identical transfer condition. Moreover, the pattern forming method comprises dividing each of the plurality of chip areas into a plurality of areas, determining an optimum condition for each set of corresponding divided areas in the plurality of chip areas, and transferring the pattern onto the semiconductor substrate using the optimum transfer condition determined for each divided area. |
| US08392854B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device by using uniform optical proximity correction
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes dividing a design pattern layout into a repetitive pattern part and a non-repetitive pattern part, obtaining an optical proximity correction (OPC) bias from an extracted portion, the extracted portion being a partial portion of the repetitive pattern part, applying the OPC bias obtained from the extracted portion equally to the extracted portion and other portions of the repetitive pattern part so as to form a first corrected layout in which corrected layouts of the other portions are the same as that of the extracted portion, and forming a photomask in all portions of the repetitive pattern part according to the first corrected layout. |
| US08392851B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a thumbnail display control unit, a process display control unit, and a changing unit. The thumbnail display control unit controls a thumbnail image representing a content of the image data to display on the touch panel. The process display control unit controls process-indicating images corresponding to a plurality of candidate processes to be performed on the image data to display on the touch panel together with the thumbnail image. The changing unit changes a designated thumbnail image to a processed thumbnail image that represents a result of the designated process performed on the image data corresponding to the designated thumbnail image designated while maintaining to display the thumbnail image other than the designated thumbnail image designated each time the process designating unit designates the process. |
| US08392848B2 |
Electronic calendar auto-summarization
A relativity controller is a scroll bar/window combination that provides a way to see data in relation to both the context of its wholeness and the salience of its contents. To accomplish this, the linear density or other appearance of the scroll bar (acting as a ruler or scale) varies with the density of the document salience (as indicated by different kinds of annotations or marks). It also provides a way to zoom between perspectives. This is usable on many different data types: including sound, video, graphics, calendars and word processors. |
| US08392847B2 |
System and method for providing content on an electronic device
A computing device includes a display and a processor coupled to the display and configured to display a plurality of items of information in a time-sequential manner, with a predetermined time interval between items of information being displayed. At least one of the items of information includes data originating from an application operating on the computing device. |
| US08392845B2 |
Methods and apparatus to control information presented to process plant operators
Methods and apparatus to upgrade and control information presented to process plant operators are disclosed. A disclosed example method to control information presented to a process plant operator comprises presenting a first version of a process plant display, presenting a dynamic attention user interface when a selectable element of the first version of the process plant operator display is activated, wherein the dynamic attention user interface is to be used to adjust an importance of information presented in the first version of the process plant display, and presenting a second version of the process plant display based on a variable adjusted via the dynamic attention user interface. |
| US08392835B2 |
Parameter supply apparatus for audio mixing system
In an apparatus having a display for supplying parameters to a mixing system, a first display control section controls the display to present a scene list containing identifications of each scene and configuration data of the mixing system specified by first specification data contained in each scene. A scene selection acceptance section accepts selection of a scene from the scene list presented on the display. A second display control section controls the display to present operation data of the mixing system specified by second specification data contained in the selected scene, such that the display presents each portion of the operation data. Each portion contains one option of the operation data specified by the second specification data in manner distinguishable from another option not specified by the second specification data. |
| US08392829B2 |
Modular documentation using a playlist model
A server device receives modular topics, where each of the modular topics includes a machine-readable and machine-storable work product that includes information related to a single, stand-alone topic. The server device stores the modular topics in a content repository as a topic library. The server device receives selection of topics from the topic library to generate one or more customized pathway pages, where each of the customized pathway pages includes a plurality of links to ones of the stored modular topics. The server device enables access to the modular topics stored in the content repository via the generated one or more customized pathway pages. |
| US08392827B2 |
Method for generation and assembly of web page content
A method for dynamically converting electronically encoded HTML document from a text format to an image format. The method includes receiving a request for the content from a client, obtaining the content in text format, determining a content creation preference, and converting the content in text format to content in the image format according to the content creation preference. The method includes replying to the request, wherein the reply includes the content in the image format. The method applies a watermark to the content in the image format according to a watermarking preference. The method generates an image map in accordance with a mapping preference, wherein the image map relates selectable spatial display coordinates to external document identifiers. |
| US08392821B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying videos with overlays and tags
In a system and method for displaying a video and an overlay or tag, an application that runs through a browser on a client is used to send a request from the client to a server over a computer network. In response to the request, at least the following is sent from the server to the client: a first uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to a location on the network where the video is stored, a second URL corresponding to a location on the network where the overlay or tag is stored, and playlist data. The first and second URLs are associated with different servers on the computer network. The first and second URLs and the playlist data are used at the client to retrieve the video and the overlay or tag, and build a playlist. The client merges the video and the overlay into an integrated media sequence that is played to a user via the browser in accordance with the playlist, and displays the tag. The user is automatically linked to content associated with the overlay or tag when the user clicks on a representation of the overlay or tag displayed on the browser. |
| US08392819B2 |
Column selection, insertion and resizing in computer-generated tables
A method for selecting a row or column within a computer-generated table at a client computing device includes: receiving an indication of a cursor being located within a specified perimeter zone associated with a row or column within a table; in response to receiving an indication of a cursor being located within a specified perimeter zone associated with a row or column within a table, displaying an on-object user interface; receiving an indication of a selection of the displayed on-object user interface; and in response to receiving an indication of a selection of the displayed on-object user interface, designating the row or column within the table associated with the displayed on-object user interface for allowing modification to content contained within the designated row or column. |
| US08392818B2 |
Single access point for filing of converted electronic forms to multiple processing entities
Methods for efficiently publishing electronic versions of traditionally paper-based government forms and utilizing the electronic forms for web-based transactional services are disclosed. Standard paper-based government forms are automatically converted to XML format, including data fields for entry of information by customers. Multiple electronic forms are accessible to the customer at a single access point, such as a web site. At the web site, the customer selects a form for filing with any of a plurality of government agencies. When presented to the customer, the selected form is presented with some of its data fields being pre-populated according to information retrieved from a database and specific to that customer. The customer completes the form, and a back-end system integrated with the web site handles the completed form, determines the appropriate government agency for filing the form, and transmits it as a transaction to the determined government agency. |
| US08392817B2 |
Sharing of content associated with events
Techniques are provided that allow users to collaborate in relationship to data views, application displays, applications or events. A user can type in a text view related to a specific view in an application display, and the information is shared with other users that take part in sharing that view. A user that expresses an interest in an event is notified about the event and has the capability to interact, in relation to the event, with other users (e.g. by text). The particular form of interaction (and sharing) can be selectively specified. This interaction is comparable to a dynamic bulletin board where the subject is event driven, and where a user can specify who are allowed to participate. In the case of an event interest(s), users specify their interest (e.g. in other user application events or system events) and the system automatically alerts them to the occurrence of the event. |
| US08392814B2 |
Method and apparatus for high speed structured multi rate low density parity check codes
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for designing structured multi-rate low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. These LDPC codes can be also adapted to support efficient encoding. |
| US08392812B2 |
Teletext decoder
A teletext decoder is provided which is suitable for decoding a packet of teletext signal to generate a teletext. The teletext decoder includes an error judgment device for judging the accuracy of a plurality of sliced bits, and correcting an error occurrence bit in the sliced bits on the basis of a plurality of sampling points and a slicer level when the plurality of sliced bits are incorrect. |
| US08392811B2 |
Methods and systems for a-priori decoding based on MAP messages
A method and apparatus for decoding encoded data bits of a wireless communication transmission are provided. A set of a-priori bit values corresponding to known bit values of the encoded data bits may be generated. Decoding paths that correspond to decoded data bits that are inconsistent with the a-priori bit values may be removed from the possible decoding paths to consider, and decoding the encoded data bits by selecting a decoding path from remaining decoding paths of the possible decoding paths that were not removed. A-priori bit values may be extracted from various messages, such as DL-MAP, UL-MAP, RNG-REQ, and BW-REQ messages. |
| US08392809B1 |
Log-likelihood-ratio (LLR) table calibration
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system, device and a method performing N read cycles on a plurality of memory cells of a memory sector, wherein N is an integer greater than one; constructing (N+1) bin histograms based at least in part on performing the N read cycles; identifying a shortest bin histogram of the (N+1) bin histograms; and based on a height of the shortest histogram, assigning a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) to the shortest bin histogram. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08392807B2 |
System and method of distributive ECC processing
Systems and methods to perform distributive ECC operations are disclosed. A method includes, in a controller of a memory device, receiving data including a data block and main error correction coding (ECC) data for the data block. The data block includes a first sub-block of data and first ECC data corresponding to the first sub-block. The method includes initiating a data block ECC operation to process the data block using the main ECC data and initiating a sub-block ECC operation to process the first sub-block using the first ECC data. The method also includes selectively initiating an error location search of the data block ECC operation based on a result of the sub-block ECC operation. |
| US08392804B2 |
Receiver power saving via block code failure detection
A communication system includes a receiver configured to receive a packet that contains plural codewords, and a codeword failure detector cooperatively operable with the receiver. The codeword failure detector can be configured to detect a codeword failure in at least one codeword of the plural codewords as it is being received by the receiver, and to terminate reception at the receiver, when the codeword failure is detected before the end of the packet, to put the receiver into a power save mode for a duration of a remainder of the packet that contains the at least one codeword. |
| US08392800B2 |
Multi-hop network having increased reliability
The present disclosure is directed to networks having increased reliability and associated methods. In one aspect, a method for increasing reliability of a multi-hop network can include generating an erasure correction packet from a data packet using an encoder system, and splitting the erasure correction packet into a plurality of erasure correction subpackets. The erasure correction subpackets can then be transmitted across a plurality of network paths of a multi-node network using a communication system. The method can also include identifying successfully received erasure correction subpackets, and regenerating the data packet from the successfully received erasure correction subpackets using a data aggregation system and a decoder system. |
| US08392796B2 |
Reliability, availability, and serviceability solution for memory technology
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for reliability, availability, and serviceability solutions for memory technology. In some embodiments, a host determines the configuration of the memory subsystem during initialization. The host selects a write cyclic redundancy code (CRC) mechanism and a read CRC mechanism based, at least in part, on the configuration of the memory subsystem. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08392795B2 |
Low density parity check codec and method of the same
The present invention provides a low-complexity and multi-mode Low-density Parity-check (LDPC) codec, in which the decoding operations are divided into small tasks and a unified hardware is implemented so that the hardware resources can be reused in different modes. In addition, memory access is achieved via routing networks with fixed interconnections and memory address generators, the complexity of the hardware implementation is reduced accordingly. Further, the present invention provides an early termination function with which the iterative operations can be terminated early when a threshold is reached so that the power consumption can be thus reduced. The hardware resources for early termination shares a part of hardware resources with an encoder according to the present invention so that the complexity of the hardware implementation can also be reduced. |
| US08392794B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and data processing method thereof
A data processing method for a non-volatile memory device is provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a controller and a NAND flash memory. First, a target command and a corresponding target address are serially transmitted from the controller to the NAND flash memory. Then, the NAND flash memory calculates a first value according to the target address. Moreover, a cyclic redundancy check code corresponding to the target address is transmitted from the controller transmits to the NAND flash memory. Next, the NAND flash memory determines whether a transmission error has occurred by performing a cyclic redundancy check according to the first value and the cyclic redundancy check code. When the transmission error has occurred, a status register is set to inform the controller to re-transmit the target command and the corresponding target address. |
| US08392793B2 |
Code design and implementation improvements for low density parity check codes for multiple-input multiple-output channels
Methods include configuring M parallel accumulation engines, accumulating a first information bit at a first set of specific parity bit addresses using the accumulation engines, increasing a parity bit address for each member of the first set of specific parity bit addresses by a pre-determined offset for each new information bit, accumulating subsequent information bits at parity bit addresses that are offset from the specific parity bit addresses by a pre-determined offset until an M+1 information bit is reached, accumulating the next M information bits at a second set of specific parity bit addresses using the accumulation engines, increasing a parity bit address for each member of the second set of specific parity bit addresses by the pre-determined offset for each new information bit; and repeating accumulating and increasing the addresses until the information bits are exhausted. Related systems are described. |
| US08392791B2 |
Unified data protection and data de-duplication in a storage system
A data storage system comprises a plurality of storage devices and a storage system controller. The storage system controller controls data and redundancy data stored to and read from the storage devices such that the data is stored at least in part in a region which comprises storage areas on least two of the storage devices and such that the storage devices appear as a single storage device to an entity external to the data storage system. The storage system controller comprises a redundancy data generator for generating the redundancy data, a de-duplication fingerprint definer to define a portion of the redundancy data as additionally representing a de-duplication fingerprint for the region, and a data de-duplicator to identify a duplicated region based upon finding a match to the de-duplication fingerprint within the redundancy data of the data storage system. |
| US08392783B2 |
System and method for reusing radio resources
The present invention relates to a system and method of reusing radio resources capable of improving radio resource efficiency. According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a communication system including a repeater that retransmits signals transmitted from a satellite to user terminals, it is possible to reuse some of the radio resources used in a wide area coverage, such as the satellite, in a repeater coverage. Therefore, it is possible to ensure radio resources such that repeater data can be transmitted to user terminals without additional radio resources. |
| US08392778B2 |
Clock domain check method, clock domain check program, and recording medium
To reduce pseudo errors.A stationary signal is propagated through the circuit to be checked. A combination is extracted in which different asynchronous transfers occur between a transmitting side register and a receiving side register. From the extracted combination of asynchronous transfers, a circuit to be checked is extracted, and a synchronization circuit of a plurality of signals is excluded from the circuit to be checked. A stationary signal is propagated through the circuit to be checked, for each combination among all combinations of logic values “1” and “0” of the stationary signal. It is checked whether or not there exists one asynchronous transmitting side register to which signal change can logically reach, in the combination of logic values of the stationary signal propagated. Based on the result, it is determined whether or not the circuit is appropriate as a synchronization circuit for a single-signal transfer, thereby reducing pseudo errors. |
| US08392775B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit for providing plural scan signals and plural emission signals includes a plurality of shift register stages. Each shift register stage includes a scan signal generation module and an emission signal generation module. The scan signal generation module is utilized for generating a first scan signal and a second scan signal according to a first clock and a second clock having a phase opposite to the first clock. The first and second scan signals have pulses opposite to each other. The pulse width of the first scan signal is substantially twice that of the first clock. The emission signal generation module is utilized for generating an emission signal according to a third clock and a fourth clock having a phase opposite to the third clock. The pulse width of the emission signal is substantially identical to that of the third clock. |
| US08392769B2 |
Storage device, circuit board, liquid reservoir and system
A storage device according to some aspects of the invention includes a communication unit configured to perform processing for communication with a host apparatus; a storage unit configured to have a first memory area and a second memory area that store therein received data from the host apparatus, and memory area selection information; a memory control unit configured to select one of the first memory area and the second memory area as a memory area for reading, select the other one thereof as a memory area for writing, and perform control of reading and writing; and an increment determination unit configured to compare a value of data having been read out from the memory area for reading by the memory control unit and a value of the received data to determine a magnitude relation therebetween. |
| US08392768B2 |
Memory test system with advance features for completed memory system
In a memory test system with advance features for completed memory system, the hardware components are independently configured to generate versatile test patterns for performing a programmable-loading test, a real case test, and a write-feedback test. The write-feedback test is employed to independently test a memory controller which is embedded in an integrated circuit without communicating with the external SDRAM. In the integrated circuit verification stage, the memory test system supports for analyzing and distinguishing the problems inside or outside of the integrated circuit, and testing individual write and read commands. |
| US08392766B2 |
Operational method of a controller of a flash memory, and associated memory device and controller thereof
A method for enhancing verification efficiency regarding error handling mechanism of a controller of a Flash memory includes: providing an error generation module, for generating errors; and triggering the error generation module to actively generate errors of at least one specific type in order to increase an error rate corresponding to the specific type. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are provided, where the controller includes: a ROM arranged to store a program code; a microprocessor arranged to execute the program code to control access to the Flash memory and manage a plurality of blocks, and further enhance the verification efficiency regarding error handling mechanism of the controller; and an error generation module arranged to generate errors. The controller that executes the program code by utilizing the microprocessor triggers the error generation module to actively generate errors of at least one specific type to increase an error rate. |
| US08392765B2 |
Condition based detection of no progress state of an application
A system, and computer usable program product for condition based detection of a no progress state of an application are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A resource usage and an output of a set of applications including the application are monitored. The resource usage and the output are measured to determine a resource usage value and an output value at a first time. A present condition is detected under which the set of applications is executing. A determination is made whether the resource usage value is included in a sub-range of a resource usage scale and the output value is included in a sub-range of an output scale where the sub-range of the resource usage scale corresponds to the sub-range of the output scale for the present condition. The no progress state of the application is detected if the determination is negative. |
| US08392763B2 |
Technique for estimation of confidence interval for probability of defect rediscovery
A present invention for estimating a confidence interval includes: receiving a dataset comprising information on software product defects found by a first customer and a second customer, the information comprising numbers of cases of software product defects found by the first customer and the second customer; determining a probability for each case of found software product defect using the frequencies and a total number of software product defects found; determining a plurality of bootstrapping draws from the cases of found software product defects in the dataset; determining an array of conditional probabilities that the first customer may find a given software product defect given that the second customer found the given software product defect, using the numbers of the cases and the probabilities corresponding to the cases in each bootstrapping draw; and determining a confidence interval for the determined plurality of arrays of conditional probabilities. |
| US08392761B2 |
Memory checkpointing using a co-located processor and service processor
A system and method is shown that includes a processor operatively connected to a memory, the processor to include a memory controller to control access to the memory. The system and method also includes a service processor, co-located on a common board and operatively connected to the processor and the memory, the service processor to include an additional memory controller to control access to the memory as part of a checkpoint regime. |
| US08392758B2 |
Remedying method for problems in virtual server system and system thereof
According to the invention, a managing server, using a snapshot-appended information table which stores management information for identifying snapshots of a virtual server, a setting change table which stores setting change information on the virtual server, and a policy table which stores policies to be met by the virtual server, acquires the setting change information from the setting change table, selects the setting change information items from the acquired setting change information matching policies stored in the policy table, acquires management information on the snapshots of the virtual server from the snapshot-appended information table, identifies a snapshot of the virtual server with reference to the acquired management information, changes the identified snapshot of the virtual server based on the selected setting change information items, and rolls back the virtual server according to the changed snapshot. |
| US08392755B2 |
Providing protection switching via failure prediction
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, monitoring a failure prediction parameter of at least one of the plurality of protected system elements is performed. correlating a present state of the failure prediction parameter to a failure prediction criterion is performed, thus identifying a failure predicted one of a plurality of protected system elements when a failure prediction condition is met. In response to determining protection switching priority as applying to the failure predicted one or the failure predicted one being the only failure predicted system element, downloading service information of the failure predicted one to the protection system element is performed. Failure of the failure predicted one is confirmed. Switching communication service supported by the failure predicted one of the protected system elements for being supported by to the protection system element is performed. |
| US08392754B2 |
Disaster recovery production takeover
Various embodiments for disaster recovery (DR) production takeover in a computing environment by a processor device are provided. If, for a designated storage system operable in the computing environment, a takeover operation may be executed, and a DR storage system has validly replaced the designated storage system using a replacement process, a withdrawal of a DR mode of operation is performed, and ownership of at least one storage device operable in the computing environment is transferred to the DR storage system. The replacement process authorizes the DR storage system to transfer the ownership while withdrawn from the DR mode of operation. |
| US08392753B1 |
Automatic failover during online data migration
A technique automatically handles a failure during online data migration from a source array to a target array. While a host initially accesses data from the source array using multipath I/O software, the technique involves (i) transitioning the source array to a passive mode, and the target array to an active mode, and (ii) beginning a data transfer operation which transfers data from the source array to the target array. The technique further involves modifying the data on both the target array and the source array in response to modification commands sent to the target array from the host while the data transfer operation is ongoing. The technique further involves automatically failing back to providing access to the data from the source array in response to an event in which the target array loses communication with the source array for a predefined amount of time. |
| US08392751B2 |
System and method for recovery from uncorrectable bus errors in a teamed NIC configuration
A method for recovery from uncorrectable errors in an information handling system including an operating system (OS) and one or more network interface cards (NICs) is provided. The method may include detecting an uncorrectable error; determining whether the uncorrectable error is isolated to a particular NIC; determining whether the particular NIC is teamed with one or more other NICs; and notifying the OS of a successful recovery from the uncorrectable error if it is determined that (a) the uncorrectable error is isolated to a particular NIC, and (b) the particular NIC is teamed with one or more other NICs. |
| US08392749B2 |
Match server for a financial exchange having fault tolerant operation
Fault tolerant operation is disclosed for a primary match server of a financial exchange using an active copy-cat instance, a.k.a. backup match server, that mirrors operations in the primary match server, but only after those operations have successfully completed in the primary match server. Fault tolerant logic monitors inputs and outputs of the primary match server and gates those inputs to the backup match server once a given input has been processed. The outputs of the backup match server are then compared with the outputs of the primary match server to ensure correct operation. The disclosed embodiments further relate to fault tolerant failover mechanism allowing the backup match server to take over for the primary match server in a fault situation wherein the primary and backup match servers are loosely coupled, i.e. they need not be aware that they are operating in a fault tolerant environment. As such, the primary match server need not be specifically designed or programmed to interact with the fault tolerant mechanisms. Instead, the primary match server need only be designed to adhere to specific basic operating guidelines and shut itself down when it cannot do so. By externally controlling the ability of the primary match server to successfully adhere to its operating guidelines, the fault tolerant mechanisms of the disclosed embodiments can recognize error conditions and easily failover from the primary match server to the backup match server. |
| US08392748B2 |
Reliable media streaming
A reliable streaming system increases reliability of live and on-demand streaming media events through a robust server architecture that allows fast failover and recovery in the event of network, hardware, or other failures. The system provides for failover of encoders, ingest servers, which receive encoded media data from encoders, and origin servers, which serve as the retrieval point of last resort for connecting clients. The system also provides a push proxy mechanism that allows one copy of data to feed redundant servers and pre-warm caches, saving on provisioned bandwidth. In addition, the system provides a distribution server role that allows content to be automatically syndicated to a region when needed. Thus, the reliable streaming system provides a streaming solution with no single point of failure and redundancy and fast failover built into the content network architecture. |
| US08392747B2 |
Distributed fault tolerant architecture for a healthcare communication system
A healthcare communication system includes a first plurality of computer devices operable as a nurse call system. The first plurality of computer devices has core nurse call functionality. The system also includes a second plurality of computer devices communicatively coupled to the first plurality of computer devices. The first plurality of computer devices are interconnected logically and/or physically in a tiered architecture arrangement to provide fault isolation among the tiers so that faults occurring in computer devices of one tier don't affect the operability of computer devices in other tiers and so that faults occurring in any of the second plurality of computer devices don't affect the core nurse call functionality of the first plurality of computer devices. |
| US08392745B2 |
Modular integrated circuit with clock control circuit
A modular integrated circuit includes a hub module that is coupled to a plurality of spoke modules via a plurality of hub interfaces. The hub module includes a clock control circuit, coupled to the plurality of hub interfaces, that selectively supplies a plurality of clock signals to the plurality of spoke modules by receiving a clock request signal from a corresponding one of the plurality of spoke modules via the signal interface of the corresponding one of the plurality of hub interfaces, generating at least one of the plurality of clock signals in response to the clock request signal; and sending the at least one of the plurality of clock signals to the corresponding one of the plurality of spoke modules via the signal interface of the corresponding one of the plurality of hub interfaces. |
| US08392741B2 |
Latency control circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
A latency control circuit includes a delay unit configured to delay an input signal for a delay corresponding to a phase difference between an external clock and an internal clock and generate a delayed input signal, a delay information generation unit configured to generate a delay information based on a latency information and a delay amount of the input signal caused by a chip including the latency control circuit, a shift unit configured to shift the delayed input signal for a time period corresponding to the delay information in synchronism with the internal clock and an asynchronous control unit configured to selectively control the shift unit to output the delayed input signal without performing a shift operation. |
| US08392739B2 |
Multi-core processor, its frequency conversion device and a method of data communication between the cores
A multi-core processor and a frequency conversion device thereof as well as a method of communication between the cores are disclosed. Each processor core of the multi-core processor includes a frequency conversion device, which includes a multi-bit state changing means, a multiple selector, a frequency conversion coefficient register, a multi-input OR gate and a clock-gating circuit unit. A common original clock is sent to the frequency conversion device of each processor core at work. The frequency conversion device real-timely reads the value of the frequency conversion coefficient register of a corresponding processor core and receives data transmission valid signals from other processor cores. By gating the common original clock, a frequency conversion function of the processor core is completed. In the invention, the dynamic frequency conversion function of a multi-core processor is achieved, the frequency conversion coefficient control may be performed by each processor core independently, and a highly effective synchronous communication may be maintained between the processor cores, so as to reduce the overall running consumption of the processor and save power on different processor cores of the multi-core processor or on different IP modules in SOC. |
| US08392738B2 |
Battery voltage saf avoidance algorithm for a wireless handheld device
A method and system for power source management of a portable device. A power source used to supply electrical energy for a portable device should ideally operate with a constant terminal voltage. However, the terminal voltage of a cell or group of cells used as a source of electrical energy can be expected to reduce in amplitude over its operational lifetime. Near the end of operational lifetime, the terminal voltage of such a source can be expected to decrease rapidly. Furthermore, the source terminal voltage will also exhibit significant variations in amplitude in response to changes in electric current demands on the source. Such source voltage variations can impair or even prevent proper operation of the electronic circuits within the portable device. Power management for proper operation of a portable device is necessary to ensure proper device operation and to prevent loss of data. The present method and system controls portable device operation by periodic determination of average source terminal voltage which is faster and simpler than continuous monitoring used with present systems. Comparison of the periodic average source terminal voltage with stored operational voltage limits allows either temporary or permanent curtailment of certain device operations. Such action can be used to prevent any loss of device data. Further, the present method offers the advantage of identifying momentary fluctuations in source terminal voltage caused by temporary demands in source current levels. Thus, continuous monitoring and prior knowledge of source load demands and equipment as required by present methods are eliminated. |
| US08392736B2 |
Managing memory power usage
Methods of method of managing memory power usage in a computing device having two or more memory modules. By monitoring a system working set size of the computing device, a determination can be made if all active memory modules are needed for the system working set size. If not all active memory modules are needed for the system working set size, one or more of the active memory modules can be selected for power down. By evacuating data from the selected one or more memory modules, placing the evacuated one or more memory modules in a power-down state, and removing the powered-down memory modules from the active memory of the computing device, memory power usage can be reduced. |
| US08392734B2 |
Power management of computers by detecting active processes in the absence of input activity
A method of controlling power consumption in a computer uses a power management program installed on the computer to detect the identities of processes running on the computer which maintain the computer in a high power state in the absence of input activity. The program compares the identity of the or each process running on the computer with a set of identities of previously identified processes and causes the computer to adopt a low power state if the detected identity of a process, or the detected identities of all the processes, running on the computer is/are in the set of previously identified processes. |
| US08392731B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
Power supply of ECUs connected to a communication network is optimally controlled so that power consumption is reduced. A transceiver/receiver converts a message of a differential signal received via a CAN bus into a digital signal. A select circuit determines whether the converted message is in a CAN format or a UART format. If it is in the UART format, the select circuit outputs a message to the UART circuit. A UART circuit determines whether the message matches a UART format. If matched, an ID determination circuit determines whether the input message is specifying a CAN ID of its own ECU. If it is the CAN ID of the ECU, the ID determination circuit outputs an enable signal to turn on a regulator and supply power to an MCU and an actuator. |
| US08392722B2 |
Digital cable system and method for protection of secure micro program
Provided is a digital cable system and method for protecting a secure micro (SM) client, and more particularly, a digital cable system and method for protecting an SM program that can improve the security of an SM program through authentication of a host and integrity verification of the SM program. A method of protecting an SM program includes: receiving host authentication information associated with a host from a trusted authority; verifying validity of the secure micro program based on the host authentication information; and sending, to an authentication proxy, a HostStateInformation message that includes host state information associated with validity verification information of the SM program. |
| US08392719B2 |
Computer readable storage medium storing software execution control program, software execution control method and software execution control system
A character string indicating a date obtained from a calendar clock is combined with a fixed-value character string held internally to generate a hash character string using a hash function. The hash character string is compared with an input character string. When there is a match, the body portion of an application software is executed. When there is no match, a process is terminated without executing the body portion of the application software. |
| US08392716B2 |
Communication apparatus, digital signature issuance method and apparatus, and digital signature transmission method
An initiator shares y_ir with a responder, calculates HASH_I on the basis of y_ir, and sends HASH_I to an IKE proxy server. The initiator receives a digital signature SIG_S generated for HASH_I and the address of the initiator from the IKE proxy server and sends the digital signature SIG_S to the responder. |
| US08392708B2 |
Auditing data integrity
Various approaches are described for auditing integrity of stored data. In one approach, a data set is provided from a client to a storage provider, and the data set is stored at a first storage arrangement by the storage provider. An auditor determines whether the data set stored at the first storage arrangement is corrupt without reliance on any part of the data set and any derivative of any part of the data set stored by the client. While the auditor is determining whether the data set stored at the first storage arrangement is corrupt, the auditor is prevented from being exposed to information specified by the data set. The auditor outputs data indicative of data corruption in response to determining that the data set stored at the first storage arrangement is corrupt. |
| US08392706B2 |
Method and system for searching for, and collecting, electronically-stored information
A method and system for searching and collecting electronically stored information are described. Consistent with an embodiment of the invention, configuration and execution of a search are separated in time and location. For example, a search configuration application executing at a first computer system is utilized to generate a search configuration file, which controls the operation of a search agent when the search agent is executing at a target computer system and performing a search of storage devices act of the target computer system. Encryption is utilized to prevent unauthorized access to the search configuration file as well as the search results file generated by the search agent. |
| US08392700B2 |
Apparatus and system for asymmetric security
An apparatus and system are disclosed for asymmetric security in data communications between two or more nodes. Asymmetric security within data communications refers to sending and receiving messages at different security levels. The apparatus includes a receiving module, a transmission module, and a communication module. The receiving module receives a first message at a first security level from a first node. A security level may be defined by implementation of one or more security features, including encryption, digital signatures, and/or other security features. The transmission module transmits a second message at a second security level to the first node in response to receiving the first message. The first and second messages may be communicated during a single communication session. The communication module communicates the second security level to the first node. The communication may be directly between two nodes or may occur via a broker or other intermediate node. |
| US08392695B1 |
Retaining operating system crash information in volatile memory across a power cycle
Microprocessor-based devices may experience crashes due to failures in software, hardware, or a combination thereof. Details about a crash may provide valuable information for determining cause of the crash. Devices may save crash information in volatile memory, place the volatile memory into a self-refresh mode, power cycle the remainder of the device, reboot, and retrieve the crash information. Other information to be persisted across a power cycle may also be saved to volatile memory in this fashion as well. |
| US08392681B2 |
Journal volume backup to a storage device
A computer system includes a first volume that is read and written from a first computer and in which write data is written, a second volume storing journal data in the first volume, the journal data delimited at each predetermined point, a third volume as a virtual volume, a unit that creates, when a backup instruction for the first volume at a predetermined point is received, the third volume from which a second computer reads the journal data and in which the second computer writes the journal data, a unit that maps the journal data to the third volume, and a unit that transfers the write data to a storage device via the second computer or transfers, through the third volume to which the journal data is mapped, the journal data to the storage device via the second computer and backs up the write data and the journal data. |
| US08392679B2 |
Computer and method for configuring data backup environment used by plurality of associatively operated applications
The present invention stores application management information indicating respective applications constituting a federated application environment, which is a group constituted by a plurality of associatively operated applications. By referencing this application management information, a plurality of applications constituting this federated application environment are specified. A plurality of first logical volumes allocated to the specified plurality of applications, and a plurality of second logical volumes constituting the backup targets for data stored in the plurality of first logical volumes, are assigned to the same volume group. |
| US08392678B2 |
Storage system and data management method
A storage system and data management method is provided that improves the reliability and fault tolerance of the hard disks saving data utilizing an AOU function.A storage system comprises a first correlating section for correlating a plurality of RAID groups composed of a plurality of physical disks, and the pool region, a second correlating section for correlating the pool region and the storage regions of the virtual volumes, a first allocation section for allocating first data from the host apparatus to the first storage region of the first RAID group based on write requests from the host apparatus, and a second allocation section for distributing second data from the host apparatus at and allocating the second data to any storage regions of the RAID group, with the exception of the first storage region of the first RAID group allocated by the first allocation section, based on write requests. |
| US08392677B2 |
Systems and methods for creating copies of data, such as archive copies
A system and method of creating archive copies of data sets is described. In some examples, the system creates an archive copy from an original data set. In some examples, the system creates an archive copy when creating a recovery copy for a data set. In some examples, the system creates a copy without redundant data, and then encrypts the data set. |
| US08392673B1 |
Data writing/reading method, a de-interleaving method, a data processing method, a memory and a memory drive apparatus
A data writing/reading method, a de-interleaving method, a data processing method, a memory, and a memory drive are provided whose costs are reduced. When a plural data interleaved in transmitter (100) are written in memory (110a) of receiver (110), the write direction is alternatively changed to row direction and column direction. |
| US08392667B2 |
Deadlock avoidance by marking CPU traffic as special
Deadlocks are avoided by marking read requests issued by a parallel processor to system memory as “special.” Read completions associated with read requests marked as special are routed on virtual channel 1 of the PCIe bus. Data returning on virtual channel 1 cannot become stalled by write requests in virtual channel 0, thus avoiding a potential deadlock. |
| US08392666B2 |
Low power high speed load-store collision detector
An apparatus detects a load-store collision within a microprocessor between a load operation and an older store operation each of which accesses data in the same cache line. Load and store byte masks specify which bytes contain the data specified by the load and store operation within a word of the cache line in which the load and data begins, respectively. Load and store word masks specify which words contain the data specified by the load and store operations within the cache line, respectively. Combinatorial logic uses the load and store byte masks to detect the load-store collision if the data specified by the load and store operations begin in the same cache line word, and uses the load and store word masks to detect the load-store collision if the data specified by the load and store operations do not begin in the same cache line word. |
| US08392662B2 |
Methods of data management in non-volatile memory devices and related non-volatile memory systems
A data management method includes assigning data buffered in a first memory device into at least two different groups for transfer to a second memory device. At least one of the different groups has at least two units of the data assigned thereto. The data is transferred from the first memory device to the second memory device in a sequence according to a respective priority associated with each of the different groups and in group-by-group manner such that units of the data assigned to a group having a higher priority are transferred to the second memory device prior to units of the data assigned to a group having a lower priority. Related systems and methods are also discussed. |
| US08392661B1 |
Managing cache coherence
Managing data in a computing system comprising a plurality of cores includes assigning home cache locations of at least a first type of data associated with a first process executing on a first core to respective caches of one or more of the plurality of cores. Cores other than a home core, whose cache includes a home cache location for given cached data, access the given cached data by communicating with the home core. Home cache locations of at least a second type of data associated with the first process are assigned to a local cache of the first core. In response to migrating the first process to execute on a second core, home cache locations of the second type of data associated with the first process are re-assigned to a local cache of the second core. |
| US08392660B2 |
Cache system including a plurality of processing units
A cache system includes processing units operative to access a main memory device, caches coupled in one-to-one correspondence to the processing units, and a controller coupled to the caches to control data transfer between the caches and data transfer between the main memory and the caches, wherein the controller includes a memory configured to store first information and second information separately for each index, the first information indicating an order of oldness of entries in each one of the caches, and the second information indicating an order of oldness of entries for the plurality of the caches, and a logic circuit configured to select an entry to be evicted and its destination in response to the first and second information when an entry of an index corresponding to an accessed address is to be evicted from a cache corresponding to the processing unit that accesses the main memory device. |
| US08392659B2 |
Extending cache capacity on multiple-core processor systems
A method, programmed medium and system are provided for enabling a core's cache capacity to be increased by using the caches of the disabled or non-enabled cores on the same chip. Caches of disabled or non-enabled cores on a chip are made accessible to store cachelines for those chip cores that have been enabled, thereby extending cache capacity of enabled cores. |
| US08392657B2 |
Monitoring cache usage in a distributed shared cache
An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a cache memory, which a number of sets. Each of the sets in the cache memory have several cache lines. The apparatus also includes at least one process resource table. The process resource table maintains a cache line occupancy count of a number of cache lines. Specifically, the cache line occupancy count for each cache line describes the number of cache lines in the cache storing information utilized by a process running on a computer system. Additionally, the process resource table stores the occupancy count of less cache lines than the total number of cache lines in the cache memory. |
| US08392653B2 |
Methods and systems for releasing and re-allocating storage segments in a storage volume
Storage segments in a storage volume coupled to a cache memory are released and re-allocated. A processor receives notice to release a segment allocated to the storage volume. A release pending status is assigned to the segment while preparing the segment for release. The storage volume is enabled to re-claim the segment while the segment includes the release pending status. |
| US08392646B2 |
Programmable controlled computer switch
A programmable controlled computer switch is disclosed. Console devices and universal serial bus devices of the computer switch can be switched as having a controlling function or a hub function. The computer switch includes a console port interface having console ports for connecting console devices, which initially have a controlling function; a universal serial bus hub port interface having hub ports for connecting universal serial bus devices, which initially have a hub function; plural computer interfaces having a computer port respectively for connecting a computer device; a matrix switching circuit connected to the console port interface, the universal serial bus hub port interface and the plural computer interfaces; and a main controlling circuit connected between the matrix switching circuit and the plural computer interfaces. |
| US08392643B2 |
Data processing device, semiconductor integrated circuit device, and abnormality detection method
A data processing device for detecting the abnormal operation of a CPU is provided. The data processing device comprises a CPU, an interrupt counter, and a counter-abnormal-value detection circuit. The interrupt counter increments a count value based on an interrupt start signal which is outputted in response to an interrupt signal indicative of an interrupt request to the CPU and which indicates that the interrupt request has been accepted, and decrements the count value based on an end-of-interrupt signal which indicates that processing corresponding to the interrupt has completed. The counter-abnormal-value detection circuit detects abnormalities by comparing the count value with a predetermined value. |
| US08392637B2 |
System and method for enabling legacy medium access control to do energy efficent ethernet
A system and method for enabling legacy media access control (MAC) to do energy efficient Ethernet (EEE). A backpressure mechanism is included in an EEE enhanced PHY that is responsive to a detected need to transition between various power modes of the EEE enhanced PHY. Through the backpressure mechanism, the EEE enhanced PHY can indicate to the legacy MAC that transmission of data is to be deferred due to a power savings initiative in the EEE enhanced PHY. |
| US08392634B2 |
Programmable controller with building blocks having modules that can be combined into a single unit
A PLC of building block type includes a switch module incorporating a switch part having N-to-N switch function between serial communication lines with a plurality of lines and a plurality of device modules individually incorporating device systems with various advanced-function device module characteristics. A CPU system having CPU functions of the PLC may be incorporated in the switch module, the switch module incorporating the CPU system and the plurality of device modules being connected together into a single body in a building block structure through module-connecting mechanisms. Dedicated serial communication lines each with a single line or a plurality of lines connect between the switch module incorporating the CPU system and each of the plurality of device modules such that a star-shaped serial communication network is formed with the switch module incorporating the CPU system as a central node and each of the plurality of device modules as a peripheral node. |
| US08392631B1 |
Methods and apparatus for transmitting data streams via a heterogeneous network
Methods and apparatus that enable a community of devices having differing underlying protocols to stream media data such as video or audio data. In one exemplary embodiment, this invention enables IEEE 1394-compliant (“FireWire” enabled) devices to communicate across an Ethernet infrastructure, such as one enabled by the Ethernet AVB Standard(s). This enhances connectivity, and also supports obviating one or more physical ports within the device(s). In another embodiment, or more wireless transports are utilized. |
| US08392625B2 |
Methods and systems to implement a physical device to differentiate amongst multiple virtual machines of a host computer system
Methods and systems to implement a physical device to differentiate amongst multiple virtual machines (VM) of a computer system. The device may include a wireless network interface controller. VM differentiation may be performed with respect to configuration controls and/or data traffic. VM differentiation may be performed based on VM-specific identifiers (VM IDs). VM IDs may be identified within host application programming interface (API) headers of incoming configuration controls and data packets, and/or may be looked-up based on VM-specific MAC addresses associated with data packets. VM IDs may be inserted in API headers of outgoing controls and/or data packets to permit a host computer system to forward the controls and/or packets to appropriate VMs. VM IDs may be used look-up VM-specific configuration parameters and connection information to reconfigure the physical device on a per VM basis. VM IDs may be used look-up VM-specific security information with which to process data packets. |
| US08392612B2 |
Replication server selection method
A method for a client computer to find a network address of a server computer by searching for the network address using at a backup search procedure if the address of the server computer cannot be identified using a primary search procedure. The primary and backup search procedures can be performed in parallel and multiple backup search procedures can be performed to identify the address of the server computer. Alternatively, the primary and backup search procedures can be performed in serial wherein the backup search procedure is performed only when the primary search procedure does not identify the address of the server computer. |
| US08392611B2 |
Network performance monitoring in a content delivery system
A method for Internet content delivery in a content delivery network established at network locations, the content delivery network comprising a plurality of content servers for serving content resources. The plurality of content servers includes a plurality of subsets of content servers, each subject being located at one of a plurality of Internet data centers. For each Internet Protocol (IP) address block from which requests for content resources are expected to be received, the method generates a candidate list of Internet data centers to be used to service the requests for content resources. For the IP address block, the method selects at least one of the Internet data centers from the candidate list to be used to service the requests for content resources. The selected Internet data center for the IP address block is written into a network map. The selecting step is carried out concurrently for each IP address block from which requests for content resources are expected to be received such that the network map comprises the selected Internet data center for each IP address block. The network map is then provided to a domain name service (DNS) associated with the content delivery network. In response to a DNS query received at the domain name service associated with the content delivery network, the network map is used to identify one of the Internet data centers from the candidate list to be used to service a request for a content resource. |
| US08392608B1 |
Using virtual networking devices to manage network configuration
Techniques are described for providing managed virtual computer networks that may have a configured logical network topology with one or more virtual networking devices, with corresponding networking functionality provided for communications between multiple computing nodes of the virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by the networking devices if they were physically present. In some situations, the emulating of networking device functionality includes receiving routing communications directed to the networking devices and using included routing information to update the configured network topology for the managed computer network. In addition, the techniques may further include supporting interactions with devices that are external to the virtual computer network, including remote physical networking devices that are part of a remote computer network configured to interoperate with the virtual computer network, and/or specialized network devices that are accessible via a substrate network on which the virtual computer network is overlaid. |
| US08392604B2 |
Peer to peer browser content caching
Facilitating browser access to cached content available from a peer to peer network by receiving a request for content from a content server, receiving from the content server content metadata indicating that the requested content is available from at least one alternative user computing device via a peer to peer network, instantiating on the user computing device a browser helper application which facilitates access to the peer to peer network, and receiving from the content server a lookup table comprising a list of alternative user computing devices from which the requested content is available. The lookup table can be parsed to select an alternative user computing device from which the content, or portions thereof, is requested. The received content can the be stored for later use or presented to the user via the browser. |
| US08392601B2 |
Network establishment and management protocol
The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information. |
| US08392599B2 |
Network device, network device management apparatus, network device control method, network device management method, program, and storage medium
A network device includes a communicator which communicate with an information processing apparatus on a network by using a first communication protocol requiring authentication and a second communication protocol requiring no authentication, a setting unit which sets the operation mode of the communicator so as to communicate with an object necessary for Plug and Play by using the second communication protocol and communicate with an object other than the object necessary for Plug and Play by using the first communication protocol, and a determination unit which determines, using identification information to identify configuration information contained in information received from the information processing apparatus, whether the configuration information is necessary for the Plug and Play. |
| US08392597B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing pair play service
A method and apparatus for providing a pair play service, the method including: searching, by a master device, for a slave device that provides the pair play service; searching, by the master device, for the pair play service of the searched slave device; and searching, by the master device, for a pair play application constituting the searched pair play service. |
| US08392596B2 |
Methods for detecting and handling video and video-like content in remote display system
Method and apparatus for improving streaming data of graphics remoting applications are described herein. According to one embodiment, a stream of data objects is generated, each data object representing graphics data associated with an image to be rendered at a client over a network. For each data object, it is detected whether the associated image includes a first region and a second region having content with different types of contents based on a changing rate of display output regions. The first region is compressed using a first compression method and the second region is compressed using a second compression method different than the first compression method. The graphics data associated with the compressed first region and second region is transmitted to the client over the network to be rendered at the client. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08392594B2 |
System and method for effectively providing content to client devices in an electronic network
A system and method for effectively supporting content distribution in an electronic network includes a content server and a peer-to-peer network of client devices. The content server stores content items received from a content provider. A recommendation engine of the content server creates a global recommendation list to identify an optimal global candidate from among the stored content items for performing an automatic and transparent content download procedure. The recommendation engine creates the global recommendation list by analyzing selectable content-ranking criteria from a plurality of device users of the client devices. The content server then downloads the optimal global candidate from the stored content items to one or more identified target devices during the content download procedure. |
| US08392591B2 |
Automatic multimedia upload for publishing data and multimedia content
Disclosed herein is a method and system for utilizing a digital data capture device in conjunction with a Bluetooth (BT) enabled mobile device for publishing data and multimedia content on one or more websites automatically or with minimal user intervention. A client application is provided on the BT enabled mobile device. In the absence of inbuilt BT capability, a BT communication device is provided on the digital data capture device. The BT communication device is paired with the BT enabled mobile device to establish a connection. The client application detects capture of data and multimedia content on the digital data capture device and initiates transfer of the captured data, multimedia content, and associated files. The digital data capture device transfers the captured data, multimedia content, and the associated files to the client application. The client application automatically publishes the transferred data and multimedia content on one or more websites. |
| US08392587B2 |
Federated management framework for credential data
Federated management framework for credential data. The framework permits credential-using applications to provide user interface panels and associated semantics to manage the credentials that are relevant to each application. This framework is suitable for use in a multi-application environment where credentials are shared among each the applications. With this framework, each management user interface associated with one of the applications can have the credentials appear in the interface. Furthermore, the framework can detect when one application's management user interface attempts a modification to a credential that will affect another application that has an interest that credential. |
| US08392586B2 |
Method and apparatus to manage transactions at a network storage device
An apparatus and method for managing a number of transactions at a network storage device (e.g., a NAS device). The network storage device is identified on the network and a usage policy is generated. The usage policy defines a number of rules comprising conditions and corresponding priorities. A transaction preferably comprises meta data associated therewith. The meta data is read from the transaction and compared to the conditions of the rules defined in the usage policy. The transactions are prioritized at the network storage device based on the rules. |
| US08392583B2 |
Distribution of shared content streams in communications networks
A method for controlling distribution of a content stream in a communications network, comprising the steps of: storing session state information about existing communication sessions within the network, receiving a request (15) for transmission of a content stream to a requesting network client (4), determining that an existing session includes the requested content stream, determining that a receiver (1) of said content stream in said existing session has a network location correlated with a network location of the requesting network client, selecting a relay network element (5) capable of servicing said correlated network locations, and setting up at least one communication session for streaming said requested content stream to both the requesting network client (4) and said receiver (1) of the content stream in the existing session through the relay network element (5). |
| US08392569B2 |
Data delivery system and data delivery method
A data delivery system and method include storing software resources in a central equipment, receiving and storing software resources sent from the central equipment, and communicating with the central equipment, terminal devices and with the intermediate server. The central equipment includes a registration-accepting unit for accepting registration of software resources, a resource information storage unit for storing resource information having a version number corresponding to the software resources accepted by the registration-accepting unit, a resource transfer unit for sending the software resources accepted and the resource information stored in the resource information storage unit to the intermediate server, a server list-creating unit for creating a server list of the intermediate servers to be sent to the terminal devices, and a sending unit for sending the server list created by the server list-creating unit. |
| US08392568B2 |
Computer system and method of managing single name space
Proposed are a computer system and a method of configuring a single name space capable of simplifying the management of a GNS and alleviating the burden of an administrator. A management apparatus collects, from each node, management information and an access log of each of the files managed by the relevant node, extracts a user who satisfies a prescribed condition as a key person for each of the nodes based on the collected management information and access log of each of the files, specifies the key person who is common to the plurality of nodes among the extracted key persons, and requests a server to integrate, as a single name space, the plurality of nodes in which the number of common key persons exceeds a predetermined first threshold. The server integrates, as a single name space, the plurality of nodes in which the number of common key persons exceeds a predetermined first threshold in response to the request. |
| US08392567B2 |
Discovering and identifying manageable information technology resources
Allocating resource discovery and identification processes among a plurality of management tools and resources in a distributed and heterogeneous information technology (IT) management system by providing at least one authoritative manageable resource having minimal or no responsibility for reporting its identity, minimal or no responsibility for advertising any lifecycle-related creation event for the resource, and minimal or no responsibility for advertising any lifecycle-related destruction event for the resource. A service oriented architecture (SOA) defines one or more services needed to manage the resource within the management system. A component model defines one or more interfaces and one or more interactions to be implemented by the manageable resource within the management system. |
| US08392565B2 |
Network memory pools for packet destinations and virtual machines
A method for processing a packet that includes receiving a packet for a target, classifying the packet, and sending the packet to a receive ring based on the classification. The method also includes obtaining an identifier (ID) associated with the target based on the classification, and sending a request for virtual memory that includes the ID. Furthermore, the method includes determining, using the ID, whether the target has exceeded a virtual memory allocation associated with the target. In addition, the method includes allocating the virtual memory, storing the packet in the virtual memory, and updating the virtual memory allocation associated with the target to reflect the allocation of the virtual memory, all if the target does not exceed the virtual memory allocation. The method further includes waiting until the target is not exceeding the virtual memory allocation if the target exceeds the virtual memory allocation. |
| US08392563B1 |
System and method for performing application level persistence
A method and apparatus for inserting and examining Cookies in the data streams of HTTP connections for the purpose of persistently directing HTTP connections to the same destination. A network device directs subsequent HTTP connections from the same client to the same server (destination) for accessing the requested resources. There are four modes for employing the Cookie to persistently direct HTTP connections. The associated mode inserts a Cookie that uniquely identifies the client into an HTTP response. The passive mode inserts Cookie information that uniquely identifies a previously selected destination into an HTTP response. In the rewrite mode, a network device manages the destination information that is rewritten over blank Cookie information generated by the destination producing the HTTP response. The insert mode inserts and removes Cookie information in the data packets for HTTP requests and response prior to processing by the destination. |
| US08392562B2 |
Systems and methods for managing preferred client connectivity to servers via multi-core system
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for providing a cookie by an intermediary device comprising a plurality of packet processing engines executing on a corresponding plurality of cores, the cookie identifying a session of a user that was redirected responsive to a service exceeding a response time limit. The cookie may be generated with identifiers based off a name of a virtual server managing a service of a server, and a name of a policy associated with the virtual server. Each packet processing engine of the plurality of packet processing engines may interpret cookies generated by other packet processing engines due to the name of the virtual server and name of the policy, and may provide preferred client connectivity based on cookies included in requests for access to a service. |
| US08392561B1 |
Wireless internet product system
Low resource internet devices such as consumer electronics products connect to web service by means of a proxy method where the connected device does not need to maintain the expensive and fragile web service interface itself, but rather uses simple low level protocols to communicate through a gateway that executes software to translate a low level proprietary wireless protocol to a proprietary low level internet protocol that can pass through a firewall to proxy servers that translate the low level protocols thus presenting an interface that makes the internet device appear to have a full web service interface to enable communication between the internet devices and the web server. |
| US08392554B2 |
System and method of remotely locating a lost mobile communication device
A system and method of locating a lost wireless communication device is provided. A remote server is contacted to indicate that the wireless communication device is lost. A lost device policy setting is then activated in a database coupled to the remote server, the lost device policy setting indicating that the wireless communication device is lost. In response to activation of the lost device policy setting, a remote location command is then transmitted from the remote server to the wireless communication device via a wireless network. The remote location command is subsequently received at the lost wireless communication device, which processes the remote location command such that a user of the wireless communication device can locate the device. |
| US08392551B2 |
Network real estate analysis
A method can be used to analyze the “real-estate” performance of content items within a network site. The method can comprise determining the click distance to reach each content item and determining the performance of each content item. The method can also comprise calculating a predicted value for performance based on statistical relationship between location and performance observed in a population of content items. The method can comprise comparing the predicted and actual performance. If a content item has an actual performance greater than its predicted performance, then it may be promoted to a better location in the site and the converse for poorer performing content. |
| US08392548B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating diagnostic information for errors detected in a network management protocol
Method and apparatus for managing a network use one or more diagnostic objects in a Management Information Base (MIB). In some implementations, a managed network device is provided that includes a management module configured to receive a request from a remote device on a network to perform one or more network management tasks. The managed network device also includes an execution engine configured to identify one or more errors associated with the request. The managed network device also includes a diagnostic engine configured to generate diagnostic information associated with the one or more identified errors. The diagnostic information can include textual information identifying one or more origins giving rise to the one or more identified errors. |
| US08392542B2 |
Data backup, storage, transfer and retrieval system, method and computer program product
A data storage system including a virtual server on a network managing a plurality of user accounts, each user account including one or more files; the virtual server adapted to verify user access information for a particular user account; the virtual server transferring over the network information relating to files stored on the virtual server in the particular user account to a verified user on a user computer; the virtual server further adapted to transfer files associated with the particular user account to and from the user computer. |
| US08392533B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth load balancing in a data distribution network
Methods, apparatuses, and software are described for implementing dynamic bandwidth load balancing in a data distribution network that provides a plurality of simultaneous video streams over a plurality of channels arranged as a plurality of bonded groups. Various factors may affect the assignment of bonded groups, from initial client device registration through subsequent video stream requests. |
| US08392532B2 |
Media acquisition, processing and distribution system for the internet
The present invention, generally speaking, provides a broad-based solution for acquisition, processing and distribution of media objects including pictures (images), movies, videos, graphics, sound clips, etc via the Internet or the like. And specifically, it is a solution to such systems for use in applications wherein there are multiple originators of media objects that will be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements. A browser-based prepare and post tool prepares and submits media objects from inside a standard browser to a remote server. A Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system receives these media objects, processes them to meet specific requirements, and delivers them for integration into remote databases. MAPD system services include media object submission, processing, hosting and mirroring. The hosting service delivers a media object URL to a remote database, allowing the media object to be requested and served by the media object server. The mirroring service delivers the actual media object to multi-point remote databases to be stored and served by the customer. |
| US08392530B1 |
Media streaming in a multi-tier client-server architecture
Systems, methods, and computer program products permit communication between servers in a server system utilizing a proxy stream communicating over a connection between the servers. A first request for content is received, at a server, and a connection is created with at least one upstream server. At the server a name associated with the content at the upstream server is identified. A second request for the content is transmitted to the at least one upstream server, where the second request identifies the name. The content is then received at the downstream server. |
| US08392527B2 |
System and method for requesting computer resources
A System including a first WEB client, a second WEB Client, and a remote computer is described. The remote computer is operable to pool cookies received by both the first and the second WEB clients. In one implementation, the system is used by multiple users to purchase items, such as printer cartridges, from an online shopping system. |
| US08392526B2 |
Sharing content among multiple devices
Systems and methods for the distribution of content among user devices of a device group are presented. In one example, logical relationship information describing logical relationships between user devices is accessed. Membership in a device group of a plurality of the user devices is determined based on the logical relationship information. Content from at least one of the user devices of the device group is received over a communication network. The received content is forwarded over the communication network to the other user devices of the device group. |
| US08392525B2 |
Mobile electronic device, content playback device, content acquisition method, content location notification method, content acquisition program, and content use system
A mobile electronic device includes a communication unit connected to a network to which one or more content playback devices and one or more content holding devices are connected, a location query request sending unit that sends to the content playback devices on the network a location query request about content being played back by a content playback device connected to the network, a location query response receiving unit that receives a location query response about the content through the communication unit via the network in accordance with the location query request, a provision request sending unit that sends a provision request for providing the content through the communication unit to a content holding device that holds the content in accordance with the received location query response, and a content receiving unit that receives the content through the communication unit via the network in accordance with the provision request. |
| US08392524B2 |
Information processing apparatus, resource identifying program, and resource identifying method
An information processing apparatus includes: an acquiring unit which acquires a related resource having a predetermined relation to an unfixed resource which is unfixed from among a plurality of fixed resources; and an identifying unit which searches the plurality of fixed resources for the acquired related resource and a resource different from the related resource having the predetermined relation as resources to identify the resources to be identified and the unfixed resource. |
| US08392522B2 |
Business inquiries and operations using messaging service
The present invention provides a system by which entities interact with one another in a manufacturing channel. The entities (such as a seller and customer) use a messaging system to perform status inquiry and functional processing steps with respect to data stored at the resource management system of the other. |
| US08392520B2 |
Mobile communication apparatus
A controller of a mobile communication apparatus, such as a cellular phone, that determines whether a received email is urgent by comparing words and phrases contained in the received email with keywords and phrases in a database. The controller generates notice information, such as an icon, when the received email is determined to be urgent, so that a user can recognize that there is an email whose sender wants to contact the user. When the notice information is selected by manipulating a key input device, the controller makes a communication with the sender of the received email. |
| US08392515B2 |
Subfederation creation and maintenance in a federation infrastructure
A computational system determines that a joining node in the federation infrastructure desires to join an identified subfederation within the federation infrastructure. The system accesses the joining node's group table, where the group table includes membership information identifying subfederations within the federation infrastructure. Each node in the federation maintains neighborhood information for each subfederation of which the node is aware. The system determines that no entry for the identified subfederation exists in the joining node's group table and, based on the determination, routes a group join message to a rendezvous point within the federation infrastructure. The rendezvous point checks its group table for an entry corresponding to the identified subfederation. The system also receives an indication from the rendezvous point indicating that the rendezvous point's group table does not include a corresponding entry for the identified subfederation and that the joining node is the first member of the identified subfederation. |
| US08392514B2 |
VCC software enhancement system
The present invention relates to a system and method for preparing modified copies of outgoing electronic communications to secondary individual recipients and groups of secondary recipients. The system is referred to as a “Visible Carbon Copy” (“VCC”). Modifications can be made to the content of the communications and additionally to attachments included with the communications. Any number of differently modified copies can be sent to any number of secondary recipients or groups of recipients. The system can be interfaced into the users existing electronic messaging system or embedded into the electronic messaging system by the manufacturer thereof. In a first embodiment, the VCC is utilized with email messaging systems. In a second embodiment, the VCC is utilized with instant messaging systems. Additional embodiments allow utilization of the VCC with any type of electronic communication system that allows for messaging to one or more recipients. |
| US08392506B2 |
Networked gaming system including a location monitor and dispatcher using personal data keys
A networked gaming system is disclosed that includes location detection and dispatcher servers operative together with one or more wireless personal digital (PDK) devices communicating with receiver/decoders (RDCs) for tracking and communicating with casino employees and patrons throughout the casino. An employee and patron tracking system in a casino is disclosed wherein beverage and other service staff are properly assigned, dispatched to the right patron or location and can be located and tracked throughout various transactions. |
| US08392492B2 |
Sine/cosine value generation apparatus
An apparatus for generating sine/cosine values of an input phase is disclosed. The apparatus includes a phase projector, an LUT-arithmetic unit, a temp sine/cosine generator and a sine/cosine value generator. The phase projector maps the input phase angle into an octant phase and determines an octant index indicating which octant the input phase angle actually locates and a flag indicating whether or not the input phase happens to be pi/4, 3*pi/4, 5*pi/4 or 7*pi/4. The LUT-arithmetic unit receives the octant phase for provision of its corresponding sine/cosine values. The temp sine/cosine generator receives the corresponding sine/cosine values of the octant phase for provision of temp sine/cosine values based on the flag. The sine/cosine value generator selectively swaps and inverts the temp sine/cosine values as the sine/cosine values of the input phase based on a swap index derived from the octant index. |
| US08392491B2 |
Shift calculator
A shift calculator including a first shifter includes a right shifter configured to perform a right shift of 0 to 3 bits and a left shifter configured to perform a left shift of 0 to 3 bits, on input data of which a data width is N bits, in accordance with left/right selection signals, based on a shift amount of 3 bits or smaller out of an input shift amount, a rotator configured to perform a right rotate shift of 0 to N−4 bits or a left rotate shift of 0 to N−4 bits, on output data from said first shifter, in accordance with said left/right selection signals, based on a shift amount of 4 bits or greater out of the input shift amount, and a mask unit configured to perform mask processing in 4-bit increments on output data from said rotator based on mask signals. |
| US08392490B2 |
Identifying decimal floating point addition operations that do not require alignment, normalization or rounding
A method, computer program product and a system for identifying decimal floating point addition operations that guarantee operand alignment and do not require alignment, normalization or rounding are provided. The method includes: receiving an instruction to perform an addition of a first operand and a second operand; extracting a first exponent (EXP) and a first most significant digit (MSD) from the first operand; extracting a second EXP and a second MSD from the second operand; and determining whether alignment between the first operand and the second operand is guaranteed, based on the first EXP, the first MSD, the second EXP and the second MSD. |
| US08392489B2 |
ASCII to binary floating point conversion of decimal real numbers on a vector processor
A system, method, and apparatus for converting a decimal real number in ASCII format to a decimal real number in floating point binary decimal format in a vector processor are described. The method results in the performance of the conversion in a branchless manner and in a constant-time regardless of the size of the ASCII string, within a given range of sizes provided for by the vector processor architecture. The method may take advantage of the single instruction multiple data (SIMD) feature of the vector processor, although it is not restricted to a single instruction. |