| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08448910B2 |
Wall mountable holder system
A substrate-mountable holder system, comprising: a first portion comprising a base having first and second front surfaces, a rear surface, a top and a bottom, a hook extending from proximate the bottom, a lobe extending rearwardly from a rear surface proximate the top, a pad extending rearwardly from the rear surface, an opening for receiving an anchor extending through the base, the opening between the lobe and the pad; and a second portion for operatively engaging the first portion; wherein the first and second portions each include at least one, and preferably a plurality of, interfacing protrusions and indentations for engaging the second portion with the first portion. Each of the protrusions and indentations on the first and second portions may be proximate the bottom of their respective portions. The system further may include a self-drilling drywall anchor having a bore, and a fastener for operatively engaging the first portion and the bore. |
| US08448909B2 |
Stand for a surgical microscope with a parallelogram support driven by an energy storing device
A stand for a surgical microscope is suggested that is provided with vertical and horizontal supports; articulation units; and a displacement unit that is attached to one of the articulation units. At least one pivot support is provided and encompassed by the displacement unit. A displacer is provided at the pivot support. The pivot support has a pivotable parallelogram support that is provided with a spring or a gas damper as energy storing device that interconnects and supports movement of the movable parts in the interior of the parallelogram support assisting with a stored force in a displacement movement. A holding arm is attached to the pivotable parallelogram support and simultaneously serves for displacing the optics carrier in the X direction. |
| US08448908B2 |
Support device
A support device for supporting at least one predetermined foldable member includes a pair of bracket members for mounting on a predetermined vertical structure a predetermined distance apart, a securing mechanism operably connected to each bracket member and engageable with such predetermined vertical structure for securing each of such bracket members to such predetermined vertical structure, and a support rod manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape and including a first end and a second end, such support rod for supporting such at least one predetermined foldable member releasably thereon and being releasably supportable in a substantially horizontal position by such bracket members. |
| US08448906B2 |
Support apparatus
A support apparatus includes a support member having at least one thread, a collar attached to the support member that is moveable along the one or more threads of the support member and at least one arm assembly attached to or positioned on the collar. The one or more threads may include a ridge formed on the support member or a groove formed in the support member. The one or more arm assemblies are configured to hold an object such as, for example, a monitor, copy holder, liquid crystal display or light fixture. |
| US08448904B2 |
Robotic satellite refuelling tool
A tool mounted on a servicer satellite for fuelling an unprepared or partially prepared client satellite. The tool includes a robotic arm mounted on the servicer satellite and a valve tool configured to be releasibly gripped by the robotic arm. The valve tool includes a housing with a support frame and a wrench mechanism mounted on the support frame. The wrench mechanism is configured for removing and replacing the first access valve cap on the first fill-drain valve and coupling a first propellant fill line to the first propellant tank optionally removing and replacing the second access valve cap on the second fill-drain valve on the second propellant tank and coupling a second propellant fill line to the second propellant tank, and actuating the valve actuation nut on the first fill-drain valve, and optionally actuating the valve actuation nut on the second fill-drain valve. |
| US08448900B2 |
Semi-levered landing gear and associated method
A semi-levered landing gear is provided that includes a shock strut, a truck beam pivotally connected to the shock strut and a semi-levered landing gear mechanism including at least three links configured to angularly orient the truck beam and a truck pitch actuation system operatively connected to at least one of the three links. The landing gear mechanism may be configured to cooperate with an extension of a shock strut by positioning the truck pitch actuator in a retracted position, thereby positioning a forward end of the truck beam in a raised position relative to the aft end of the truck beam. The landing gear mechanism may also be configured to cooperate with a retraction of the shock strut into the wheel well by extending the truck pitch actuator to position a forward end of the truck beam in a lower position relative to the aft end of the truck beam. |
| US08448896B2 |
Guiding system for aircraft nacelle maintenance
A nacelle includes a downstream structure having an outer structure, a concentric inner structure surrounding a downstream portion and an upstream section having a relatively small diameter and a downstream section having a relatively large diameter, the inner and outer structures define an annular flow channel. The nacelle includes a guiding system for connecting the inner structure and downstream portion or a portion of a suspension mast, the system combines a translation and rotation movement of at least a portion of the inner structure between a working position, where the inner structure is used as a cowling for the turbojet downstream portion, and a maintenance position where the inner structure exposes the turbojet downstream portion and enable movement of the portion of the inner structure along the profile of the upstream section having a relatively small diameter, and the downstream section having a relatively large diameter. |
| US08448893B2 |
Laminar flow wing optimized for transonic cruise aircraft
Aircraft configured to operate at Mach numbers from above 0.80 and up to 1.2 with wing sweep angles defined by the wing outboard leading edge of less than 35 degrees, and incorporating calculated values of the ratio of outboard wing panel aspect ratio raised to an exponent of 0.78, divided by the ratio of maximum thickness divided by chord (t/c), greater than about 45, characterized by one of the following: a) where maximum thickness divided by chord (t/c) is at a location approximately 70% of the distance outboard from the attaching aircraft body to the wing tip, or b) where maximum thickness divided by chord (t/c) is the average value of (t/c)'s located between approximately 50% of the distance outboard from the attaching aircraft body to the wing tip. |
| US08448891B2 |
Yarn storage device
A yarn storage device provided for supplying yarns to a yarn processing device has a number of yarn storage tubes (1) which are each provided with an input side (2) along which the yarn is supplied to the yarn store (4) and an output side (3) along which the yarn is delivered from the yarn store (4) to the yarn processing device. The yarn storage device also has a yarn loader which is provided for introducing the yarn into the respective yarn storage tube (1) in the form of successive windings which form the yarn store. A yarn is guided in a yarn storage tube of a yarn storage device of this type. |
| US08448890B2 |
Paper dispenser
A paper dispenser dispenses paper from a dispenser roll lying in a dispensing position. The paper dispenser contains two transport rollers for the web of paper, the rollers defining a gap, and a mobile sensor element for identifying the end of the web of paper. The sensor element being arranged between the two transport rollers downstream of the gap in the direction of transport of the paper. |
| US08448885B2 |
Methods of compounding nanoparticles with a resin
Methods of compounding nanoparticles (e.g., surface-modified silica nanoparticles) with a resin (e.g., a curable resin) are described. The methods use continuous wet milling technology and can be used to compound nanoparticles, including highly aggregated and agglomerated surface-modified nanoparticles, into a resin or resin precursor. |
| US08448882B2 |
Spreader mount
A spreader assembly used to spread a material held in a hopper onto an associated ground surface may include a spreader mount that: (1) has at least three laterally spaced ground contacting surfaces that support the spreader assembly to a ground surface when the spreader assembly is detached from a vehicle; and, (2) remains attached to the spreader assembly when the spreader assembly is attached to the vehicle. |
| US08448881B2 |
Fuel injector
An apparatus and method for minimizing and/or preventing thermal degradation of fuel in a fuel injector is disclosed. The body of the injector includes a fuel gallery with a contoured scarf formed therein. The scarf is configured to minimize and/or prevent fuel recirculation thus reducing the likelihood that fuel will dwell in an area long enough to sufficient to cause the degradation of the fuel. |
| US08448879B2 |
Apparatus for discharging sprays or mists, comprising an oscillating fire burner, and mist pipe for such an apparatus
Such apparatuses are used for discharging active substances along with various carrier media, water often being used as a carrier medium. In order to ensure that the water perfectly nebulizes together with the active substance, the mist pipe (10) comprises at least three additional pipes (3 to 6) which partly surround each other to form annular chambers (31 to 33). Such a mist pipe (10) allows the size distribution of the drops to be kept within narrow limits even when water is used as a carrier medium. The nebulizer and the mist pipe (10) are mainly used in the health sector, in agriculture, plantations and greenhouses, for protecting supplies and for disinfection purposes on humans, in animal husbandry, and in food production. |
| US08448878B2 |
Fuel injector with needle control system that includes F, A, Z and E orifices
A common rail fuel injector includes a needle valve member that moves to open and close nozzle outlets for a fuel injection event responsive to pressure in a needle control chamber. Between injection events, the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the fuel inlet by a first pathway that includes a Z orifice, and fluidly connected to the fuel inlet by a second pathway that includes an F orifice, an intermediate chamber and an A orifice. During an injection event, the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to a drain outlet by a third pathway that includes the A orifice, the intermediate chamber and an E orifice. Different performance characteristics are achieved by adjusting the sizes of the respective of F, A, Z and E orifices. |
| US08448877B1 |
Vehicle traction mat and associated method
A vehicle traction mat may include a flexible and unitary body having a central portion. A first and second ramp may be connected to axially opposed first and second ends of the central portion. A tread layer may be positioned on a top surface of the central portion and terminating prior to reaching the first and second ramps. A plurality of first studs may be statically attached to a top surface of the body and protruding upwardly from the central portion such that a top most tip of each of the first studs penetrates out through the tread layer and terminates above the tread layer. A plurality of second studs may be statically attached to the central portion and protruding downwardly therefrom. The body may be selectively rolled and unrolled between cylindrical and planar shapes during non-operating and operating conditions respectively. |
| US08448876B2 |
Semiconductor application installation adapted with a temperature equalization system
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an fluid circulating installation adapted with a temperature equalization system and fluid transmission duct disposed in a heat carrier existing in solid or liquid state in the nature where presents comparatively larger and more reliable heat carrying capacity. The fluid passes through the solid or gas state semiconductor application installation to regulate the semiconductor application installation for temperature equalization, and flows back to the heat equalization installation disposed in the natural heat carrier of heat for the heat equalization installation providing good heat conduction in the natural heat carrier to provide the operation of temperature equalization regulating function on the backflow of the fluid. |
| US08448874B2 |
Method for manufacturing a component by etching
A method for manufacturing a component by etching, the component including a substrate and an electrically conductive line configuration supported by the substrate, the electrically conductive line configuration being formed by etching away locally an electrically conductive coating supported by the substrate. An etching mask is used to control locally removal and maintenance of the electrically conductive coating by using an etchant and it includes barrier material on at least one main area corresponding to the electrically conductive line configuration to be maintained during etching. The etching mask further includes at least one sub-area comprising barrier material, the sub-area being arranged at a distance from the edge of the main area. Etchant is applied on the component until areas of electrically conductive coating not protected by the main area of the etching mask and until the area of the electrically conductive coating protected by the sub-area of the etching mask has been substantially removed by the etchant. |
| US08448872B2 |
Card with digital display
The invention relates to a card (38) including a digital display (10) arranged in a node (4) defining the central portion of the card. It further comprises a plastic layer (40) the major portion (42) of which is opaque, and a transparent display portion (44). A pattern (14) is printed on the upper face of the plastic layer (40), in particular by an offset printing technique. The plastic layer (40) is covered with a transparent film (12) attached thereto by a thin glue layer (34) defining an adhesion interface. The electronic display (10) is fully integrated in the card (38) and the printed pattern (14) exhibits a good contrast on the opaque portion of said plastic layer. Furthermore, a good adhesion is obtained between all the layers of the card. |
| US08448871B2 |
Tag tape, RFID label, tag tape roll, and RIFD circuit element cartridge
A disclosure discloses tag tape comprising a plurality of RFID tag main bodies, and a first tape and a second tape provided on opposite sides in the tape thickness direction so as to position said plurality of RFID tag main bodies therebetween, wherein: said RFID tag main body comprises a sheet-shaped antenna base, a tag antenna provided on said antenna base that transmits and receives information, and an IC holding body that includes an IC circuit part storing information and a holding member holding said IC circuit part to said antenna base; said second tape comprises an affixing adhesive layer for affixing said plurality of RFID tag main bodies to an object to be affixed, and a separation material layer provided on said affixing side of said affixing adhesive layer and peeled off by a user at the affixing; and an affixing streamlining process for streamlining label affixing without impairing a communication function is executed on at least of said separation material layer and said IC holding body. |
| US08448862B2 |
Graphical code readers that are configured for glare reduction
A method for glare reduction may be implemented by a graphical code reader. The method may include illuminating a target area using a plurality of light sources. The method may also include capturing images of the target area using at least one image sensor that operates in accordance with a rolling shutter technique. The method may also include determining that glare is present in at least one captured image. The method may also include determining which of the light sources are responsible for the glare. The method may further include taking corrective action to reduce the glare in subsequent images based on which of the light sources are responsible for the glare. |
| US08448860B2 |
System and method for determining asset location in a rack
The present invention describes a method of determining the location of an asset comprising the steps of: for each asset tag in the rack, exchanging identity information and location information with at least one tag of a neighboring asset, wherein at least the location information is exchanged along a substantially physically unobstructed path between the asset tag and it's at least one neighboring asset tag; for each asset tag, transmitting the identity information and location information exchanged to a collection unit; and responsive to the information transmitted to the collection unit determining the location of the asset relative to other assets. |
| US08448858B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting suspicious activity using video analysis from alternative camera viewpoint
A system performs video identification of items involved with transactions, as captured in video data, and compares this item identification information with transaction data obtained from a transaction terminal such as a point-of-sale register to identify situations that are suspicious and may indicate fraudulent activity or operator error. In particular, the system as disclosed herein utilizes unique camera positions, and can use video data from more than one camera, to perform robust detections of fraudulent or suspicious activities associated with transactions in the transaction area. By obtaining video data originating from at least one video camera that monitors a transaction area, the system can automatically (i.e. no human involvement needed) analyze the video data to track items involved in a transaction in the transaction area. Using this information, the system can compare the video analysis of the tracked items to transaction data produced from a transaction terminal to identify suspicious activity. The system can also create, update and maintain object models for items tracked in a transaction area, in part, to assist in identifying suspicious activity. |
| US08448856B2 |
Medium processing apparatus
A bill processing apparatus is provided that can reduce the frequency of occurrences of removal of a paper medium (dispensed bill) being forgotten. Processing a medium handover port where a paper medium is handed over, and a medium handover port mechanism provided at the medium handover port and successively raising and lowering the paper medium, fed out from inside the machine (the automated teller machine), inside the medium handover port. The medium handover port mechanism notifies a user of the position of the paper medium with a visible action by successively raising and lowering the paper medium inside the medium handover port. |
| US08448853B2 |
Data medium, identity document and corresponding security-protection method
A data medium has at least first and second parts joined together, each having an outer face turned towards the outside and a hidden inner face. At least one of the first and second parts bears, at a certain distance from the outer faces, hidden markings corresponding to personalization data. This first part and preferably the second part of the medium are, at least locally, opaque with respect to through-transmission of laser radiation liable to modify the hidden markings. |
| US08448851B2 |
Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
An automated banking machine system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is operative to read a financial card bearing account indicia with a card reader. A user is able to perform at least one banking operation responsive to account indicia read by the card reader from the card. The banking operations include dispensing cash and accessing financial accounts. The card reader may further communicate a component to an automated banking machine component, which is operative to use the component from the card reader to operate the card reader. |
| US08448849B1 |
Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and at least one of a note acceptor and a cash dispenser. The automated banking machine carries out financial transfers related to user accounts based on information read from cards. The automated banking machine provides a printed receipt for transactions conducted. The machine carries out transactions when operatively connected to a source of power and a transaction network. The machine also carries out functions to control the power status of devices in the machine. |
| US08448848B2 |
Method and system to monitor hand hygiene compliance
A hand hygiene compliance monitoring system includes a portable data reader having a display and a memory, a portal trigger configured to recognize an entrance event in response to a person with the reader entering a room, and a dispenser trigger configured to cause the reader to record a dispensing event in the memory when the person with the reader causes a cleaning dispenser to dispense cleanser. The display shows feedback relating to the person's compliance with hand hygiene requirements. |
| US08448846B2 |
Medication recording device
A device and method records and identifies a medication that is to be introduced into a body by generating an image of the medication. The image of the medication is converted to image data of the medication that comprises a format for comparison with medication identification data stored in a database. Time-stamp data is generated and associated with the image data of the medication. The image data of the medication and associated time-stamp data are stored. The medication is identified by comparing one or more medication-identification parameters stored in the database with the image data of the medication. |
| US08448845B2 |
Meter register and remote meter reader utilizing a stepper motor
A meter for flowing material, e.g., water, has a meter register having an electronic display, e.g., an LED or LCD display, and a mechanical read-out display driven by a stepper motor to record units of water that flowed through the meter. In the event of an electrical power failure, the LED or LCD readout values are lost, however, the mechanical read-out values remain. Further, signals are transmitted to a microprocessor of a meter register to change the rotation of the stepper motor so that the meter register can be used with different types of meters. Still further, a meter generator co-acting with a meter register forwards an electrical pulse signal after a quantity of material or utility passes through a water meter to a microprocessor of a remote reader. The remote reader includes an odometer coupled to a stepper motor. |
| US08448844B2 |
Hermetically sealed paperboard container with enhanced barrier performance
A hermetically sealed paperboard container including a container body component including upper and lower ends, the body component being formed from a blank including a paperboard layer having first and second major sides, a first sealant layer on the first major side, a barrier layer on the second major side, and a second sealant layer on the barrier layer, wherein the blank includes first and second longitudinal ends, the first longitudinal end being skived to a predetermined thickness for a predetermined width, the skived portion being folded over onto the blank and heat-sealed to the first sealant layer to form a folded first longitudinal end, and wherein the body component includes an overlapped seam including the folded first longitudinal end positioned inside the second longitudinal end, a bottom component sealed to the lower end; and a lid component hermetically sealed to the upper end. |
| US08448843B2 |
Two-piece container assembly and methods of making the same
A container assembly is disclosed. The container assembly includes a tube portion including a plurality of sides. The container assembly further includes a base portion including a bottom panel and a plurality of flaps extending from the bottom panel. The plurality of flaps overlap a portion of the plurality of sides. |
| US08448839B1 |
Brazing method using BCuP and BAg braze alloys
A brazing method includes the steps of providing a first part and a second part, at least a first portion of the first part is configured to fit inside a second portion of the second part, preplacing a first self-fluxing braze alloy on one or more of the first portion and second portion, preplacing a non-phosphorous braze alloy on the first self-fluxing braze alloy, preplacing another layer of the first self-fluxing braze alloy on the non-phosphorous braze alloy, thermally treating at least one of the first portion and second portion, to create a temperature differential between the first portion and second portion, inserting the first portion into the second portion, and heating at least one of the first portion and second portion to melt both layers of the first self-fluxing braze alloy and the non-phosphorous braze alloy. The first portion is joined by brazing to the second portion. |
| US08448828B2 |
Shipping bag reversible into a backpack
A flexible shipping bag, which after use for shipping an item in commerce, can be turned inside out and transformed into a re-usable backpack with an open top. The flexible shipping bag includes sealing flaps configured to enable opening the flexible shipping bag by cutting off a portion of the sealing-flap. The sealing-flaps fold into the flexible shipping bag when the flexible shipping bag is turned inside out revealing backpack flaps each configured to define a draw-string tube-like passage therethrough. The flexible shipping bag includes a drawstring and a tab extending from an inside edge of the shipping bag, preferably near the bottom, and configured to secure the drawstring. The inside of the shipping bag may also include a separate pouch. The top of the pouch may include means to close the pouch. |
| US08448822B2 |
Device for packaging a product
Various embodiments of a device for packaging a product are disclosed. Certain embodiments of the device may include an external shell having a neck and a container forming at least one housing adapted to receive the product. The container may be disposed inside the external shell. The device may also include a closure member configured to be coupled to the container to close an opening of the container. The external shell may include a through-hole formed through the neck of the external shell, and the container may include an exterior flange extending from an external surface of the container. The exterior flange may be configured to engage the through-hole of the external shell to retain the container in the external shell. |
| US08448818B2 |
Drop forming discharge device having collision member and method of using same
The liquid material discharge device and method discharges a liquid droplet even under a condition where discharge of a small amount of liquid material is required. The apparatus has a liquid chamber having the discharge opening through which the liquid material is discharged, an extrusion member having a plunger and a contact portion, the plunger being thinner than the liquid chamber not to contact a side wall of the liquid chamber and having a forward end portion which advances and retracts within the liquid chamber, and a collision member disposed adjacent to the extrusion member on the side opposite to the plunger and having a piston and a collision portion facing the contact portion. The collision portion collides against the contact portion such that the extrusion member is advanced at a high speed to discharge the liquid material. |
| US08448816B2 |
Wipes
The invention relates to a container haying a nozzle or opening (11), containing a roll of wipes, for dispensation in a direction parallel to the axis of the roll through the nozzle or opening of the container. The wipes (1) are formed from a continuous length of material (2) with parallel side edges (2A,2B) having a leading end (3A) and a ‘trailing end (3B). The rupturable lines (4) extend from a point (5A) on one first side edge (2A) to a point (5B) on the second side edge (2B). Each rupturable line is more easily ruptured adjacent the second side edge than the first side edge. The wipes are arranged such that said point on the first side edge of the rupturable line emerges from the nozzle or opening before said point on the second side edge. |
| US08448812B2 |
Waste container with base member
A waste container provides at least one protrusion spaced below a lip extending radially outwardly from an upper edge of the waste container. The at least one protrusion is spaced below the lip to permit a gripper from an automatic lifter to grasp the waste container between the at least one protrusion and the upper lip. The at least one protrusion may be a plurality of triangular shaped bosses formed midway between the upper edge and lower edge of the waste container. Alternatively, the at least one protrusion may be a base portion which extends radially outwardly at a lower edge of the waste container. The at least one protrusion prevents the waste container from slipping completely through the grippers while the waste container is inverted while emptying the contents into a truck. |
| US08448809B2 |
Thermal barrier liner for containers
A thermal barrier liner maintains a beverage within a container at a desired temperature. The liner may include a closed cell substrate, a base layer having gas or liquid filled microcapsules, a base layer having microencapsulated solid-liquid phase change material, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, an integral cooling element incorporates solid/liquid phase change material. The cooling element can either be attached to the exterior of the container, the interior of the container, or free-floating within the container. Other embodiments include container holders or direct beverage holders incorporating phase change materials to control temperature of the beverages. The embodiments may further include thermochromatic ink to provide a visible color indication of temperature changes for the beverage. |
| US08448807B2 |
Handle of detachable grilling pan
A handle of a detachable grilling pan has: a main body with a downward opening and a window, both disposed on the top side of the main body, a shaft, a “L” shaped hook and a spring. The main body is connected to the grilling pan by a fixing plate. The “L” shaped hook is hinged to the shaft, and the long straight free end of it extends out the window of the handle, and the short straight free end of it extends out the opening of the handle body and toward the grilling pan. The spring presses against the long straight end to make the free end of the short straight end hook the opening of the shell of the grill. When the long straight part of the hook is pressed, the hook rotates around the shaft and the grilling pan can be removed from the grill shell. |
| US08448805B2 |
Attached lid container with bag retention features
A container includes a base wall and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from side edges of the base wall. A first end wall and a second end wall extend upward from end edges of the base wall. A lid is hingeably connected to each of the side walls. A first protrusion protrudes from an upper edge of the first end wall for hooking onto a bag in the container. |
| US08448804B2 |
Pivoting cover with a fastening device
A cover for a container, in accordance with one embodiment that allows quick and easy access to products within the container. The cover for a container includes a pivot score line transversing the cover thereby forming a front cover portion and a back cover portion. The pivot score line pivotally connects the front cover portion and the back cover portion. The cover also includes a fastening device. The fastening device includes a first fastening component mounted on the front cover portion and a second fastening component mounted on the back cover portion. The first fastening component engages the second fastening component upon pivoting the cover at the pivot score line. Using the present embodiment, products may be repeatedly dispensed from a container quickly and easily. |
| US08448798B2 |
Dispensing closure with pliable sealing surface
A dispensing closure that comprises a pliable sealing surface that is selectively formed with a dispensing opening or a cleanout. At least a portion of the pliable sealing surface can be formed at a base of a skirt, wherein the skirt engages the dispensing closure with the container. Material of the pliable sealing surface can be bonded with material of a body portion and a flap portion of the dispensing closure during a multi-shot injection molding process. The pliable sealing surface can be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer and the body portion and flap portion can be formed from a polymer material. |
| US08448787B1 |
Hand tool display rack
A hand tool display rack includes a body having a rectangular end extending therefrom and an opening is defined through the rectangular end. Two protrusions extend from two outsides of the rectangular end and a block is located in the opening. The block is located corresponding to the protrusions. The body and the block is connected by a connection portion which protrudes beyond the rectangular end so that the user can easily cut the connection portion when picking the hand tool from the display rack. |
| US08448785B2 |
Syringe disposal device
The present invention discloses a syringe disposal device (10) for a single syringe (1) having an elongate body (2) with a needle (3) at one end and a finger engageable flange (4) at its other end. The device (10) comprises an elongate enclosed sheath (12) having a closed tip (14) at one end and a cuff (16) at the other end. A syringe detention device (26) is located adjacent the cuff (16) and has at least one inclined sloping surface (28) each of which has a frangible portion (31) rupturable by the syringe flange (4) passing the surface (28) to convert the sloping surface (28) into a cantilevered strip (28A). |
| US08448780B2 |
Sheet bundle conveying apparatus and paper sheet handling apparatus
In a system, a carrier includes one or more contact members that come into contact with a paper sheet bundle in which one or more paper sheets are stacked, to push the paper sheet bundle, and the paper sheet bundle is conveyed by the carrier along a conveying path. Suppressing unit that suppresses the paper sheet constituting the paper sheet bundle from passing through a gap existing between a constituent member and the contact members to enter on an inner side of the carrier, the constituent member forming a space of the conveying path, the paper sheet bundle pushed by the carrier coming into contact with the constituent member. |
| US08448778B2 |
Device for dividing a flow of lumpy material into two sub-flows
A device for dividing a flow of lumpy material into two sub-flows comprises a dividing mechanism which comprises a dividing edge for splitting the material flow into two sub-flows, an apparatus for directing the material to the dividing mechanism and an apparatus for diverting the two sub-flows away from the dividing mechanism. The dividing edge can be moved back and forth in its longitudinal direction following its own track. Embodiments of the device can permit the wear on the dividing edge to be more evenly distributed and the service life of the device may thereby be increased. |
| US08448774B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming piece goods batches
An apparatus for forming piece goods batches, comprising a first transport device which transports the piece goods along a predefined transport path at a first transport speed, a second transport device which transports the piece goods along the predefined transport path at a second transport speed and which is arranged downstream of the first transport device along the transport path, and an assembling device which is arranged downstream of the second transport device along the transport path and forms batches from a plurality of piece goods. The apparatus may further comprise a buffer device which transports the piece goods along a variable buffer section and which is arranged between the first transport device and the second transport device, wherein the first transport speed and the second transport speed differ at least at times and the buffer device at least at times receives the piece goods streams brought about as a result of different speeds. |
| US08448773B2 |
Bill and voucher/ticket handling apparatus
The invention relates to apparatus for use in the handling of banknotes, tickets and/or vouchers. The apparatus allows the same to be inserted into the apparatus through an aperture and to then be fed to storage or a printing apparatus. The apparatus allows the dispensing of bills, tickets or vouchers and the same are dispensed through the same aperture thereby reducing the size of the apparatus as only one aperture and feed means is required for inserting and dispensing which is in contrast to known apparatus which have an aperture for inserting and a separate aperture via which the banknotes, tickets or vouchers are dispensed. |
| US08448760B1 |
Progressively dampened hydraulic buffer system
A buffering, energy absorbing, system has tapered grooves within either the inner surface of a cylindrical main body or along the sides of a piston head to allow fluid flow, where the tapered grooves increasingly or decreasingly restrict the flow of fluid between the inside of the main body and an accumulator. |
| US08448758B2 |
Supplementary braking thrust apparatus for brake and supplementary method thereof
Disclosed is a supplementary braking thrust apparatus for a brake, comprising a thruster. A push lever of the thruster acts on a brake unit. The supplementary braking thrust apparatus of the brake further comprises a supplementary braking mechanism, and the supplementary braking mechanism acts on a brake arm to realize supplementary braking. Also, disclosed is a supplementary braking method of a brake, comprising the following steps: applying a braking action to the brake arm using the thruster; and applying a further braking action to the brake arm using the supplementary braking mechanism to obtain supplementary braking of the brake. |
| US08448757B2 |
Electromechanical friction brake
The invention relates to an electromechanical friction brake, for example in the form of a disc brake having an electromechanical actuation device. The electric motor of the actuation device presses a frictional brake lining against a brake disc by means of a reduction gearbox and a ball ramp mechanism. The actuation device is supported by a spring washer that is pretensioned so strongly that when the disc brake is released it acts on a segment with a falling spring characteristic; that is, a spring force exerted by the spring washer on the frictional brake lining increases with increasing tension of the disc brake. |
| US08448751B2 |
Elevator door system
An elevator door system includes an elevator car having a front face defining a door opening. At least one elevator door is coupled to the front face of the elevator car for movement between an open position exposing the door opening and a closed position covering the door opening. At least one drive motor is mounted on the front face of the elevator car and is disposed between a lower edge and an upper edge of the elevator car. The drive motor is drivingly coupled to the elevator door for moving the elevator door between the open and the closed positions. |
| US08448749B2 |
Lubricating apparatus for follower bearing
A leaf spring (S) and a lubricating member (L) are combined together and then mounted. The lubricating member (L) has a pair of protrusions (9) protruding from one of the two sides thereof to make contact with an outer ring (2) and a pair of wall faces (13) formed on the other side opposite to the pair of protrusions (9). The leaf spring (S) is formed in a mountain-like shape in cross section and provided with a pair of protruding pieces (14) that protrude from bottom edges of the mountain-like shape and respectively make contact with the wall faces (13) of the lubricating member to pinch the wall faces (13). |
| US08448747B2 |
Temporary scaffolding system
A scaffolding system in which a platform or wall may be secured to a crosspiece supported by cables near an angled structure or in another difficult location. A platform is secured to the crosspiece horizontally, while a wall is secured vertically. The crosspiece may be an angle iron or pipe, for example. Also disclosed are clamps and clamping arrangements for securing the platform or wall to the crosspiece. |
| US08448742B2 |
Electric power steering system
An electric power steering system (1) includes a tubular sensor housing (34) which accommodates a torque sensor (20), a gear housing (32) which accommodates a speed reduction mechanism (24), and an upper bearing (40) and a lower bearing (41) which rotatably support a steering shaft (3) on opposite sides of the speed reduction mechanism (24). The gear housing (32) includes a tubular lower housing (37) supporting the lower bearing (41), and an upper housing (36). The upper housing (36) includes an inner tube (67), an outer tube (68), and an annular connection wall (69) connecting the inner tube (67) and the outer tube (68). The outer tube (68) is press-fitted in the lower housing (37). The inner tube (67) is press-fitted to an inner periphery (72) of a lower portion (71) of the sensor housing (34), whereby the inner tube (67) has a reduced diameter. As a result, an outer ring (44) of the upper bearing (40) is tightly fitted and supported in the inner tube (67). |
| US08448741B2 |
Electro-hydraulic steering feedback and adjustment
A vehicle is disclosed having a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes a steering input and a feedback to the steering input. In another aspect of the disclosure, an adjustable gain is provided between steering inputs to the system and the steering output from the system. |
| US08448736B2 |
Bicycle deriving driving force by motor-generator
Disclosed is a bicycle which is a means of short-distance movement favored by men and women of all ages. The present invention is an application of a bicycle having a motor-generator disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2009-035298 that the applicant of the present invention filed. Namely, a motor-generator is mounted on a side of the rear wheel of the bicycle, and a control box and a battery are mounted under the main pipe of the bicycle, and a change-over switch and a change speed switch are mounted on the handle of the bicycle. The present invention makes it possible to charge quickly and effectively via a motor-generator that is operated by the bicycle driving force on a downhill or level ground, and with charging made, the rotary force of the motor-generator is conveyed to the rear wheel to generate electric power, so that electromotive force is produced and stored by itself, and the driving force of the bicycle can be obtained by using the stored electric power. Therefore, it is possible to use the bicycle easily and conveniently for a long time, and it has an effect of much reduced leg fatigue even in the case of moving a long distance. |
| US08448735B2 |
Cab tilt with multifunction flag pin and locking cylinder
An operator cab for a work vehicle is releasably mounted to a frame of the vehicle via a cab support pin and a flexible mount during vehicle work operations and rotationally attached via the cab support pin for servicing working parts of the work vehicle. A locking cylinder having an end pivotally connected to the cab allows movement of the pivotal connection relative to the cylinder, i.e., allows the cab to move relative to the frame as the flexible mount allows, during work operations. When the cylinder lifts the cab for servicing, movement of the pivotal connection relative to the cylinder is restricted. |
| US08448734B2 |
Canister mounting structure for motorcycle and motorcycle
A canister mounting structure for a motorcycle includes an engagement member and a lock tab. The engagement member is provided to a canister. The lock tab protrudes from an upper surface of a rear fender supported by a rear portion of a vehicle body frame to cover a rear wheel. The lock tab is engaged with the engagement member so as to hold the canister on the rear fender. |
| US08448731B2 |
Method and apparatus for determination of fast actuating engine torque for a hybrid powertrain system
An engine is coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission and the hybrid transmission is operative to transfer torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member to generate an output torque in response to an operator torque request. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device. A method for controlling the engine includes determining a preferred input torque from the engine to the hybrid transmission based upon operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, determining maximum and minimum allowable input torques from the engine to the hybrid transmission, controlling the engine at the preferred input torque when the preferred input torque is within the maximum and minimum allowable input torques, and controlling the engine based upon the maximum and minimum allowable input torques when the preferred input torque is outside one of the maximum and minimum allowable input torques. |
| US08448729B2 |
Steering system with parallelogram linkage for heavy mobile medical equipment
In one embodiment of the invention, a steering system for mobile medical equipment includes left and right steerable wheel assemblies respectively with left and right steerable wheels. A left parallelogram linkage couples to the left steerable wheel assembly to transfer a left wheel angle to the left steerable wheel assembly. A right parallelogram linkage couples to the right steerable wheel assembly to transfer a right wheel angle to the right steerable wheel assembly. A steering function generator couples to the left parallelogram linkage and the right parallelogram linkage. The steering function generator generates the left wheel angle of the left steerable wheel and the right wheel angle of the right steerable wheel. A steering tiller couples to the steering function generator and receives an input steering angle from an operator to generate the left and right wheel angles to control the direction of the mobile medical equipment around flooring. |
| US08448726B2 |
Drill bits with bearing elements for reducing exposure of cutters
A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth-of-cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof. The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to a formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed. |
| US08448724B2 |
Hole opener with hybrid reaming section
A hole opener having a hybrid reaming section for downhole earth boring operations may include a reamer body having an axis of rotation, an outer periphery, and upper and lower ends, a plurality of rolling cutters coupled to the outer periphery, the rolling cutters defining a rolling cutter cutting profile having a cutting diameter, a plurality of fixed blade cutters coupled to the outer periphery and defining a fixed blade cutter cutting profile having a cutting diameter, each fixed blade cutter being coupled between adjacent rolling cutters. At least one fixed blade cutter may be asymmetrically coupled about the axis. The cutting diameter of the fixed blade cutter cutting profile and the cutting diameter of the rolling cutter cutting profile may collectively define a gage diameter. At least a portion of the fixed blade cutter cutting profile may be deeper than the rolling cutter cutting profile. |
| US08448720B2 |
Optimized pressure drilling with continuous tubing drill string
A method of drilling a wellbore can include drilling the wellbore with a continuous tubing drill string, and sensing at least one parameter with an optical waveguide in the drill string. A well system can include a continuous tubing drill string, and an optical waveguide in the drill string. The optical waveguide may sense at least one parameter distributed along the drill string. |
| US08448718B2 |
Modified hand-held tool
A method of modifying a hand-held tool which having a stationary handle actuated by a movable handle connected to a movable tool jaw by a connection linkage, the method including removing the moving handle and the stationary handle. A pneumatic actuator with a piston rod is added. The connection linkage is modified to extend between the piston rod and the movable tool jaw. A trigger is added between the pneumatic actuator and a source of pressurized gas. |
| US08448715B2 |
Fire suppression
A fire suppression apparatus adapted for connection to a water supply for a faucet has one or more spray nozzles (26), at least one valve (20) operable into an open position to fluidly couple the one or more spray nozzles (26) to a water supply for a faucet (4), a fire sensor (28), and a controller (21) connected to the fire sensor (28), and upon sensing a fire, the fire sensor (28) is adapted to trigger the controller (21) to operate the at least one valve (20) into the open position. |
| US08448712B2 |
Re-latch mechanism for wellbore liner system
A tool for releasably coupling a first tubing to a second tubing in a wellbore has a tubular mandrel configured to couple to and be carried into the wellbore by the first tubing. A collet ring is in an interior of the mandrel and has a plurality of collets to engage the second tubing. A releasing piston is carried in the interior of the mandrel to change between supporting the collet ring such that the collets can release from the profile and allowing the collet ring to lock such that the collets are locked in the profile. |
| US08448704B2 |
Method and system for monitoring the incursion of particulate material into a well casing within hydrocarbon bearing formations including gas hydrates
A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing. |
| US08448701B1 |
Wellhead protection tool
A wellhead protection tool for simultaneously fitting within a lower portion of a tubing head and extending into a gate valve can have four portions with different diameters. A plurality of sealing grooves with seals can provide for sealing of the wellhead protection tool. A locking ring can engage the tubing head and injection portions thereof, allowing for continuous monitoring of seals between the tubing head and the gate valve using a client device at a remote location. |
| US08448699B2 |
Electrical submersible pumping system with gas separation and gas venting to surface in separate conduits
A technique enables independent lifting of fluids in a well. The technique utilizes an electric submersible pumping system which is disposed in a wellbore and encapsulated by an encapsulating structure. The encapsulating structure has an opening through which well fluid is drawn to an intake of the electric submersible pumping system. A dual path structure is positioned in cooperation with the electric submersible pumping system and the encapsulating structure to create independent flow paths for flow of a gas component and a remaining liquid component of the well fluid. The independent flow paths also are arranged to prevent contact between the well fluid components and a surrounding wellbore wall. |
| US08448693B2 |
Sealed thermal interface component
A sealed thermal interface component minimizes or eliminates the exudation of fluids, such as silicone oils, while preserving the excellent thermal conductivity of silicon-based thermal pad materials and enhancing the conformability of the component. In an example embodiment, one or more thermal pads are formed of conformable thermal management material that may exude fluid under elevated temperatures or over time. Film encapsulates the thermal pad or pads, forming a sealed and partially evacuated thermal interface component. In one embodiment of the invention, the thermal pad or pads are formed of an elastomeric silicon-based thermally conductive material and the film is made of polyurethane. |
| US08448692B2 |
Mold for gravity casting and gravity casting method using the mold
A mold and method for gravity casting may integrally cast a turbine housing having a twin scroll unit and a bypass unit and an exhaust manifold having a plurality of exhaust runner units. A turbine housing-side riser may be formed based on the end portion of the twin scroll unit within a first mold and a second mold in the state where the cavity of the turbine housing is formed so that the end portion of the twin scroll unit which is the outlet of the turbine housing is upward disposed. |
| US08448688B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for controlling a movable partition
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for directionally controlling a movable partition are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one roller assembly coupled to a portion of a movable partition. A roller element of the roller assembly may be configured to maintain contact with an adjacent surface (e.g., a floor) while the partition is displaced along a desired path even though the adjacent surface may exhibit unevenness, undulations or other substantially nonplanar surface features. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to maintain a substantially constant force between the roller element and the adjacent surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to maintain a force between the roller element and the adjacent surface substantially within a specified range. A steering actuator may also be used to select, or change, the orientation of the roller assembly with respect to the partition. |
| US08448685B2 |
Bonding carbon-carbon composites through a reactant layer
An apparatus for bonding a first carbon composite to a second carbon composite through a reactant layer includes a housing, and a pair of conductive press plates electrically isolated from the housing. The press plates are adapted to position the two parts to be bonded with a reactant layer therebetween. The press plates are subjected to an electrical potential and a clamping force, sufficient to initiate a combustion reaction that creates a molten ceramic to bond together the carbon-carbon composites. |
| US08448683B2 |
Heavy duty pneumatic tire
A heavy duty pneumatic tire comprises a carcass ply of steel cords turned up around a bead core in each bead portion so as to form a pair of turned up portions and a main portion therebetween. The steel cords of the carcass ply are rubberized with a topping rubber having a hardness Ht1 of from 68 to 90 degrees. The bead core is composed of: a bead core main made of windings of a steel wire; a rubber coating penetrating into the bead core main and having a hardness Hb of from 78 to 90 degrees; and a bead core wrapping layer surrounding the bead core main and composed of at least one ply of parallel organic fiber cords rubberized with a topping rubber having a hardness Ht2 of from 70 to 90 degrees. The fineness of each of the organic fiber cords of the bead core wrapping layer is in a range of from 940 to 4200 dtex. The distances between the organic fiber cords of the bead core wrapping layer is in a range of from 0.3 to 1.4 mm. The organic fiber cords of the bead core wrapping layer are inclined at an angle α1 in a range of from 20 to 70 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction. A minimum distance between the carcass cords and the axially innermost winding of the steel wire of the bead core main is in a range of from 0.8 to 3.0 mm. |
| US08448682B2 |
Tire for heavy vehicles
A tire comprising at least two working layers and at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements positioned radially between two working crown layers. At least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements has an axial width greater than 0.5×S, and is made up of two parts separated axially from one another, and, axially between the two parts of the layer of circumferential reinforcing elements, two working crown layers are coupled over an axial width greater than 0.035×S. |
| US08448680B2 |
Tyre provided with an expelled-water deflector device
Tire having a tread, sidewalls axially and radially extending towards the inside of the tread, the tread having a running surface, intended to be in contact with the ground during running, and axially lateral faces on either side of the tread, this tire having, furthermore, at least on one of the sidewalls and near the tread, a circumferential rib intended to modify the height of expelled water in the transverse direction (corresponding to a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the tire) in the case of the tire running on wet ground. The circumferential rib comprises a deflector device for deflecting the stream of expelled water in the case of the tire running on water-covered ground, this deflector device being formed from a plurality of protuberances projecting from the circumferential rib and being arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the transverse direction. The circumferential rib further includes a plurality of studs for reducing the power of the stream when the tire is running on water-covered ground, these studs being placed between the protuberances of the deflector device. |
| US08448677B2 |
Apparatus and method for refilling a refillable container
A refilling apparatus for a refillable container and associated methodology is described and wherein the apparatus includes a refillable dispensing container; a source of pressurized propellant for delivery to the refillable dispensing container; a valve coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the source of pressurized propellant; a source of a liquid to be dispensed by the refillable container and which is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the valve, and a pressurized vessel positioned downstream relative to both the sources of the liquid to be dispensed, and the pressurized propellant, as well as the valve, and which encloses a volume of the liquid to be dispensed to refill a depleted refillable dispensing container when the refillable dispensing container engages the valve. |
| US08448674B2 |
Sterile filling machine having filling station and E-beam chamber
A sterile filling machine and related method are provided for sterile filling a container with a substance. The container includes a resealable stopper or portion and a chamber for receiving the substance therein. The sealed, empty containers are subjected to radiation capable of penetrating through the resealable portion and chamber for sterilizing the container. The previously sterilized containers are then transported through another sterilizing chamber, such as an e-beam chamber, to sterilize the penetrable surface. A filling member is moved into engagement with the resealable portion to pierce the sterilized penetrable surface of the resealable portion and inject the substance through the filling member and into the chamber of the container. Energy is then transmitted onto the stopper to hermetically re-seal the penetration in the resealable portion. |
| US08448668B2 |
Device for damping pressure variations in a sealed chamber
The present invention relates to a device (1) for damping pressure variations in a sealed chamber, including: a flat element (4) held stationary in the sealed chamber and perforated with at least one opening (10); at least one flat mobile element (3) arranged, in normal operation, in the same shared plane as the element held stationary in the chamber so as to cover the opening of the element which is held stationary, said mobile flat element being suitable for separating from the opening in the direction of the top or the bottom of the chamber, the dimensions of said element which is held stationary being at least equal to those of the opening for the element which is held stationary, preferably equal to those of said opening; at least one joining member (7) rigidly connecting the mobile element to the element which is held stationary and enabling the flat mobile element to be held, separated or returned relative to the opening of the element which is held stationary, in particular said joining member comprising a rod (8) surrounded by at least one torsion or compression spring (9), as well as use of the device. |
| US08448667B2 |
Multi-function pull-out wand
A multi-function faucet wand configured to be removably supported by the delivery spout of a faucet. The faucet wand includes a mode control movable in response to user input from between a first position for directing water in an aerate mode, and a second position for directing water in a spray mode. A flow control is movable in response to user input from between a first position for providing a low flow rate of water, and a second position for providing a high flow rate of water. |
| US08448664B2 |
Fluid control device with fluid temperature display
A fluid control device connected to a water pipe and having a mini water turbine and electrical generator combination for generating electricity by taking advantage of the water flow. The electricity is supplied to a temperature measurement member for measuring temperature of the water flowing through the device. The temperature in the form of electrical signal is sent to an LCD panel and circuit assembly for showing so as to visually alert a person using the tap water. |
| US08448662B1 |
High inlet pressure three-stage pressure regulator
Two-stage and three-stage regulators having a piston situated in a first stage for substantially reducing high pressures introduced into the regulator. The reduced pressure from the first stage is exerted against a second-stage valve in a two-stage embodiment, and against an additional third-stage valve in a three-stage embodiment, each valve of which includes a plunger-actuated diaphragm that urges an actuator to open a ball valve at a selected pressure to allow fluid to flow out of the regulator at a desired and much-reduced pressure. |
| US08448661B2 |
Inflatable leak diverter
An exemplary inflatable leak diverter for collecting falling fluids. The invention may comprise one or more flexible, inflatable, generally tubular, circumferential inflation chambers of substantially identical dimensions superimposed upon each other and fixedly joined along their line of juncture, if applicable; a fluid-collecting well portion of the same general plane shape encompassed within the inner contours of multiple chambers; and drain located approximately in the center of the fluid-collecting well portion. |
| US08448657B2 |
Passive-cycle skipping valve
A passive cycle skipping valve comprising a pawl and a wheel comprising a first plurality of pins, wherein a distal end of the pawl is configured to engage any of the first plurality of pins where when the second pin is separated from the first pin by at least a threshold pin separation distance, the valve opens and when the second pin is not separated from the first pin by at least the threshold pin separation distance, the valve does not open. |
| US08448651B2 |
Hair care device
The present invention relates to a hair care device (1) with a handle (3), a function head (4) having a hair treatment means, preferably comprising a bristle and/or a tooth field and/or air blower outlet means, as well as with an ion discharging device (8) for releasing ions, which has at least one ion outlet (9) and can be actuated by an actuating switch (10). According to the invention, the hair care device is characterized in that a closure device (11) for closing the ion outlet is provided, which can be actuated by the actuating switch. |
| US08448647B2 |
Feeder system for rod components of tobacco products
A feeder system and associated method are provided for feeding rod components of a tobacco product, particularly a rod-shaped, cylindrical, or stick-type tobacco product, wherein such a tobacco product may be intended to be used in a smokeless manner. A hopper is configured to receive a plurality of rod components therein. A separator device is operably engaged with the hopper and is configured to receive one of the plurality of rod components at a time therefrom. An orienting device is operably engaged with the separator device. The orienting device is configured to receive the one of the plurality of rod components in a first orientation and to direct the one of the plurality of rod components into a second orientation, different from the first orientation, and toward a subsequent process. |
| US08448642B2 |
Measuring gas sample holder for measuring the concentrations of gas components and process for manufacturing a measuring gas sample holder
A measurement gas vessel (3) for the measurement of the concentration of gas components of a stream of breath from a patient has a thin-walled inner part (11) which has two opposite facing walls limiting the breath stream. The walls are transparent to infrared light. An outer part (10) which in the central region (7) has two recesses on opposite sides which, with the walls (16) of the inner part (11), each form a window (9). A region of the inner part (11) outside the windows (9) is thermally connected to the outer part (10), and the outer part (10) surrounds the inner part (11). |
| US08448639B2 |
Nose cannula heated/humidified gas delivery system
A low flow heated/humidified respiratory gas delivery system, especially useful for low flow rates as preferred in the treatment of neonate and other such patients, wherein the respiratory gas is heated and humidified as desired for delivery to the patient and the temperature is monitored at the point of delivery to the patient. |
| US08448633B2 |
String damper having aperture
A bow string vibration and noise damper includes an aperture and a body portion. The string vibration and noise damper is configured to be mounted on the bowstring. In this way, a closed loop is created by inserting at least a portion of the body portion through the aperture. The closed loop encircles a portion of the bowstring thereby attaching the string vibration and noise damper to the bowstring. |
| US08448627B2 |
Throttle valve control device
An electronically-controlled throttle valve control device may include a coil spring that is engaged with a throttle body and a rotating body to bias a throttle valve in a fully opening direction and a fully closing direction, a spring guide that is provided to the rotating body and is capable of supporting the coil spring from inside, and an opener member that is provided to the rotating body and is biased by the coil spring in the fully opening direction or the fully closing direction. The coil spring includes a first coiled portion that is capable of biasing the throttle valve in a first direction, a second coiled portion that is capable of biasing the throttle valve in a second direction, and an intermediate coiled portion that is positioned between the first and second coiled portions. The coil spring is formed such that a central axis of the intermediate coiled portion is displaced radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the first coiled portion. |
| US08448626B2 |
Exhaust system for engine braking
An engine braking system includes a turbocharger having a turbine and a compressor. An exhaust manifold includes a first pipe for channeling a first portion of the engine exhaust and a second pipe for channeling a second portion of the engine exhaust. The first and second pipes are connected to an inlet of the turbine. A cross pipe, as part of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) conduit, is open between the first and second pipes and at one end to the remaining portion of the EGR conduit. A valve can be arranged within the cross pipe and ca be operable in a first mode of operation to block flow between the first and second pipes and allow flow between the first pipe and the remaining portion of the EGR conduit and to allow flow between the first and second pipes and the inlet of the turbine. The valve is operable in a second mode of operation to allow flow between the first and second pipes, and to reduce or block flow between the second pipe and the turbine inlet. |
| US08448621B2 |
Engine start control system and method
An engine start control system is provided that includes a controller configured to perform an idle stop control to stop an engine based on an establishment of a condition. The system further includes a motor configured to reverse-rotationally drive a crankshaft to a predetermined position for normal-rotational or reverse-rotational driving, after engine stop. The controller includes a reverse-rotational drive controller configured to reverse-rotationally drive the motor at a rewinding control duty ratio immediately after the engine is stopped. The controller further includes a reverse-rotation stop condition processor configured to detect whether the crankshaft is rewound to the predetermined position by the reverse-rotational drive controller. Further, the controller includes a motor brake controller configured to apply a brake to the crankshaft by reverse-rotationally driving the motor when it is detected that the crankshaft is rewound to the predetermined position. The motor brake controller is configured to apply the brake stepwise. |
| US08448618B2 |
Variable valve lift apparatus that is equipped with swing arm
A variable valve lift device equipped with a swing arm variably lifting an exhaust valve or an intake valve may include an outer body in which a mounting groove is formed in the middle portion thereof, an inner body mounted inside the mounting groove of the outer body and with a rear end thereof pivotally-connected to the outer body in the outer body, and a latching portion formed in the outer body and the inner body and fixing or releasing a front end portion of the inner body to the outer body. |
| US08448616B2 |
Internal combustion engine cycle
An internal combustion engine including an air intake pressurization device having an outlet from which air at a pressure substantially greater than ambient air pressure is expelled, an expansible combustion chamber into which air is received from the device outlet and from which exhaust gases are expelled, first and second intake valves and one or more exhaust valves, each valve having open and closed states. The combustion chamber is in periodic fluid communication with the device outlet through at least one of the first and second intake valves, and exhaust gases are expelled from the combustion chamber via the exhaust valve(s). A control valve disposed between the first intake valve and the device outlet has an open position in which the device outlet and the combustion chamber are in fluid communication via the first intake valve in its open state, and a closed position in which fluid communication between the device outlet and the combustion chamber via the first intake valve is comparatively restricted. The exhaust valve(s) is in its open state when the first and second intake valves are both in their closed states, the first and second intake valves are both in their open states when the exhaust valve(s) is in its closed state, and the second intake valve is moved from its open state into its closed state substantially prior to movement of the first intake valve from its open state into its closed state. |
| US08448613B2 |
8-stroke internal combustion engine
An 8-stroke internal combustion engine which generates power in a highly efficient manner by injecting water such that the combustion gas is re-circulated, retaken into a cylinder block and recompressed immediately after 4-strokes resulting from the burning of fuel such that 4-strokes resulting from the combustion of fuel and 4-strokes resulting from the evaporation and volume expansion of injected water are alternately repeated. |
| US08448606B2 |
Method and apparatus for pet tethering device
A tether device allows a pet to roam freely within a pre-defined area of space while restricting the pet from moving beyond the perimeter of a pre-defined area. The location of the perimeter is programmed into the tether device by providing distance and angular coordinates of the distal end of the tether from the tether device. The location of the pet, once attached to the tether device is likewise determined by the combination of coordinates. When the microcontroller senses the pet is nearing the perimeter of the pre-defined area, a lock mechanism is activated which prevents further movement in a direction that will exceed the perimeter, and only allows movement of the pet away from the perimeter. The lock mechanism may have a cushioning mechanism to prevent a hard stop. The tether device can also generate alarm tones to alert the user and/or train the pet. |
| US08448605B2 |
Small animal entertainment, exercise and interaction structure
A small animal structure includes several modular units slideably interconnected to form a maze and at least one end cap secured to at least one modular unit. The modular units have a common bottom edge defining an open bottom of the small animal structure. A combination of a small-animal structure and a small-animal cage includes modular units slideably interconnected to form a maze. The modular units have a common bottom edge defining an open bottom of the small-animal structure. The small-animal structure is mounted on a floor of the small animal cage. |
| US08448603B2 |
Animal bowl with spill-resistant rim
Pet waterers and feeders are provided that have a spill-resistant rim. In particular, in one embodiment, a device for dispensing at least one of food and liquid to an animal is provided. The device includes a bowl and a coupler positioned over a first opening of the bowl. The coupler is configured to receive a bottle. Additionally, the device includes a spill-resistant rim positioned over a second opening of the bowl. The spill-resistant rim extends inwardly into the second opening to prevent spilling of the bowl's contents. |
| US08448600B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method, and storage medium
A substrate processing apparatus is disclosed equipped with a transfer mechanism that transfers a substrate processed at a processing block to a carrier so that the increase of the number of transfer process is suppressed, improving the processing efficiency. The substrate processing apparatus is configured in such a way that, when a second-transfer module houses at least one substrate and a carrier that can house the at least one substrate is not placed in a carrier-placement unit, the at least one substrate is transferred to a buffer module. When the second transfer module houses at least one substrate and the carrier that can house the at least one substrate is placed in the carrier-placement unit, the at least one substrate is transferred to the carrier, regardless of whether or not a substrate is being transferred from the buffer module to the carrier. |
| US08448599B2 |
Device for processing a substrate, method of processing a substrate and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Provided is a substrate processing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which are hard to cause a defect in processing a substrate owing to that a pressure inside a process chamber is not kept constant, and which enable a better processing of a substrate. |
| US08448598B2 |
Coating device
A coating device includes a case, a reaction module, and a cover. The case defines a reaction cavity. Receiving plates are positioned on an inner surface of the reaction cavity. The reaction module is received in the reaction cavity and capable of being rotated in the reaction cavity. The reaction module includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing includes electric magnets and waveguides. The electric magnets are positioned around the outer housing. Waveguide channels are defined in the outer housing. Each waveguide is partially received in a corresponding waveguide channel. The inner housing is received in the outer housing. A first receiving chamber is defined between the inner and outer housings. A second receiving chamber is defined in the inner housing. The first receiving chamber communicates with the second receiving chamber and the reaction cavity. The cover covers the opening end. |
| US08448594B2 |
Vehicle height restrictor and alerting device
Disclosed is a device for providing a preliminary alert to the driver of a vehicle approaching an overhead obstacle. The inventive concept consists of a vertical mounting post to which is attached a non-marring horizontal height restrictor arm. The position of the height restrictor arm on the vertical post is at the same vertical distance from the roadway surface as is the vertical distance of the specific overhead obstacle for which an alert is provided. The height restrictor arm is affixed to the vertical post by means of a multi-directional pivotal connector comprising a hollow sphere, spring, and chain assembly. The pivotal connector allows the height restrictor arm to move, after contact by a vehicle, in a multitude of directions, fore and aft, up or down. |
| US08448591B2 |
Method and arrangement for attachment and/or disassembly/assembly of a tunnel thruster
A method and an assembly/disassembly arrangement for a tunnel thruster unit includes a thruster unit and a tunnel, a first attachment arrangement for fitting of said thruster unit to the tunnel and at least one further attachment arrangement for safe fitting of the thruster unit in the tunnel. A further attachment arrangement is in the form of a first interface device fixedly attached to and protruding from attached to the inside of the tunnel wall and a second interface device fixedly attached to the thruster unit. |
| US08448589B2 |
Process to manufacture tufted backing materials
A process to manufacture tufted backing materials comprises the steps of a) providing a roll bearing a backing material which backing material comprises a first side exhibiting a first colour and a second side exhibiting a second colour, wherein the first colour is different from the second colour, the first side is the front side and the second side is the rear side, b) unwinding the backing material from the roll, c) tufting the backing material, d) cutting the backing material at a position between the roll bearing the backing material and the tufting device, e) rotating the roll bearing the backing material by an angle of 180°, f) unwinding the backing material from the roll in a second unwinding direction which is opposite to the first unwinding direction and guiding the backing material into the tufting device, and g) tufting the backing material. A backing material for tufted carpets or filters comprising a first woven or non-woven layer having a second colour different from the first one is also described. |
| US08448587B2 |
Row unit bounce monitoring system
An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit seeds within soil. The agricultural implement system also includes a bounce sensor rigidly coupled to the row unit and configured to output a signal indicative of a bounce magnitude, a bounce direction, or a combination thereof, of the row unit. |
| US08448583B2 |
Nestable pallet
A nestable pallet includes a deck having an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of ribs extending perpendicularly from the upper panel to the lower panel. The upper panel further includes a plurality of openings for receiving feet of a similar pallet when nested. The lower panel further includes a plurality of feet extending downward from the deck, each foot having a cavity defined therein lined within one of the plurality of openings in the upper panel. Each cavity is configured to receive a foot from a similar pallet when nested therein. |
| US08448582B2 |
Plastic pallet structure
A plastic pallet structure, includes a plurality of bases. Each base includes a basic portion, the basic portion includes an opening clamping portion, an arch bridge, an extension portion, an arch bridge portion, first and second supporting portions, the complete base is formed by means of plastic pre-casting and by coupling a mesh-typed sheet body to every section. The opening clamping portion is disposed with a slide-in slot. To increase the bearing capacity thereof a space for accepting a metal bar may be disposed above each opening clamping portion. The combination plastic pallet with a backbone is formed after the bases are coupled together as such. Furthermore, since the bases are combined, one single base can be replaced if damaged. |
| US08448574B1 |
Ultra-miniature electro-mechanical safety and arming device
An ultra-miniature, electro-mechanical, MEMS type safe and arming (S&A) device for medium- or large-artillery rounds, including, three sequenced S&A interlocks: a setback slider which provides a 1st interlock with respect to an arming slider which moves due to the round's spin; a stop and release mechanism that holds the arming slider until a release command signal is initiated by the fuze circuit, triggering a spot charge which generates an expanding gas wave that flexes the latch arm from contact with the safety catch, unlocking the 2nd interlock, thereby freeing the arming slider to continue its motion into an arming position, unlocking the 3rd interlock, and aligning the parts of the firetrain within the device, such that upon signal from the fuze circuit to an output charge, the device will ignite the acceptor charge within the round. |
| US08448569B2 |
Apparatus for treating milk
The present invention is directed to a system for treating milk and colostrum. The system includes a circulation pump and piping system, a heat exchanger for adjusting and/or maintaining milk temperature, and an ultraviolet light treatment device that treats the milk. |
| US08448568B2 |
Oven
An oven has a first conveyor, a first burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from above the first conveyor, and a second burner directs heat toward the first conveyor from below the first conveyor. A method includes providing foodstuff on a conveyor, exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from above the conveyor, and exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from below the conveyor. Another oven has a first conveyor and first conveyor insulators that surround the first conveyor and define a first zone. Another method includes introducing foodstuff to a first conveyor belt within a first insulated zone, introducing heat into the first insulated zone, and retaining a portion of the heat within the first insulated zone. Another oven has an insulated cooking zone that closely envelopes a cooking path and an insulated oven zone that substantially envelopes the cooking zone. |
| US08448567B2 |
Soup preparing and dispensing machine (SPDM) and method of producing individual servings of hot or cold soup using the same
Hot or Cold soup made fresh from scratch, can or concentrate is prepared in a suitable container and after its preparation is kept cool, blended and re-circulated for long term shelf life until a serving is requested. This serving volume of soup is automatically pumped and heated to serving temperature (hot soup) and served in a suitable container like a cup or a bowl. The entire system where the soup resides is always kept refrigerated. The only portion of the soup that is heated after its preparation is the one dispensed. If it is a soup that is served cold the heating prior to dispensing is by-passed. |
| US08448566B2 |
Hot beverage dispenser
The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser that comprises a hot water tank; a brew basket; a sprayhead for spraying hot water from said water tank to said brew basket in order to brew said brewable substance; a container for storing said freshly brewed liquid concentrate drips from said brew basket; a heat exchanger immersed in hot water inside said water tank for reheating said freshly brewed liquid concentrate when pumped from said container; a source of flavor ingredients preferably packed in disposable bag-in-box; a mixer and whipper for mixing and whipping simultaneously all of the following items: said reheated freshly brewed concentrate discharged from said heat exchanger, said flavor ingredients and hot water from said hot water tank to form a hot freshly brewed beverage mixed with flavored ingredients, filled with air bubbles and with a foamy topping; and a control system for activating said beverage dispenser. |
| US08448559B2 |
Vehicle hull including apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast
A vehicle hull includes a personnel compartment and an apparatus for inhibiting effects of an explosive blast operably associated with the personnel compartment. The apparatus is configured to redirect at least a portion of a blast wave resulting from an explosive blast. The apparatus defines a cavity in which a blast attenuator is disposed. The blast attenuator comprises a core defining a plurality of interconnecting pores defining a pore volume of the core, a shear thickening fluid disposed in the pore volume of the core, and an enclosure in which the core and the shear thickening fluid are disposed. |
| US08448557B2 |
Firing mechanism security apparatus for remotely controlled automatic machine gun
A firing mechanism security apparatus prevents runaway machine gun fire by first sensing rounds being fired and sensing that the trigger mechanism is not instructing the weapon to fire. A mechanical actuator may block a path of the ammunition between the ammunition storage box and the machine gun or blocks spent ammunition from being ejected. Without engaging the trigger mechanism directly, a stopper signaled by a controller or motor may move from a first position to a second position and thereby be interposed between rounds of ammunition adjacent the ammunition storage box or between the ammunition feeder and the machine gun. The ammunition feeder may, alternatively, include a mechanical actuator that receives a signal from a motor or controller, the actuator capable of blocking the feeder's advancement of ammunition. Additionally, the gun may be elevated as a safety precaution. |
| US08448553B2 |
Cutting tool
A cutting tool for cutting sheets of materials, such as, for example, sheets of building materials. The cutting tool includes a base defining a support surface. The base includes a slot extending through the support surface along at least a portion of the base. The cutting tool further includes a handle having a proximate end pivotally engaged with respect to the base. The handle is pivotally movable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. The cutting tool further includes a blade integrated or positioned with respect to the proximate end of the handle. The blade includes a plurality of generally flat cutting surfaces arranged in a polygonal profile. When the handle is in the closed position, the slot receives at least a portion of the blade. |
| US08448551B2 |
Dual lock brake lathe chuck
A dual lock brake lathe chuck comprises of at least one primary drive gear with keyhole along with at least one secondary drive gear with keyhole. The keyhole is rotated through the side of the chuck whereas the secondary keyhole is rotated through the back of the chuck. Rotation of either the primary keyhole or the secondary keyhole extends a plurality of jaws to secure a brake rotor on a brake lathe. The secondary keyhole positioned on the back of the chuck allows easier access of the keyhole when a brake rotor is attached to the chuck allowing the user to ensure that the brake rotor is securely tightened onto the brake lathe chuck. |
| US08448548B2 |
Bolt tightening method, bolt tightening device, bolt supplying method, and bolt supplying device
A tightening head (1) is provided with at least two sockets (4i, 4ii) which are alternatively connected to an output shaft of a nut runner (3), a socket replacing mechanism (6) and a bolt supplying mechanism (7). The socket replacing mechanism (6) is provided with a moving mechanism (61) and a posture changing mechanism (64). The moving mechanism (61) moves each socket (4i, 4ii) between a using position where the socket (4i, 4ii) agrees with an axis of the output shaft of the nut runner (3) and a waiting position which is distant from the axis. The posture changing mechanism (64) changes a posture of each socket (4i, 4ii) to an upward posture corresponding to the waiting position and to a tightening posture corresponding to the using position. The bolt supplying mechanism 7 is provided with bolt magazines (8i, 8ii) and bolt holding mechanism (9i, 9ii).During a bolt tightening step is executed by one socket in the using position, the bolt (B) is supplied to the other socket in the waiting position. |
| US08448544B2 |
Induction hardened blade
A method of manufacturing a blade including heating and quenching a coil of strip steel material to harden the material, heating the strip steel material to temper the material, grinding a first angle along an edge of the material, and subsequent to the grinding, re-hardening, for example by induction heating, the edge of the material. |
| US08448543B2 |
Clamping device for rotary index device for machine tool
In a rotary index device for a machine tool, in which the index position of, for example, a circular table is maintained by normally clamping a clamp disc with a clamping mechanism and in which, for example, the circular table is unclamped by an unclamping mechanism when an indexing operation is performed, the clamping mechanism includes a fixing portion, a resiliently deformable supporting portion, and an urging mechanism. The fixing portion is fixed to a housing of the rotary index device for the machine tool. One end of the supporting portion is secured to the fixing portion, and a pressing portion having a face that opposes the clamp disc is secured to the other end of the supporting member. The urging mechanism normally urges the supporting portion towards the clamp disc to realize a state in which the clamp disc is pressed by the pressing portion. |
| US08448538B2 |
Parking brake lever apparatus
A parking brake lever apparatus for a vehicle may include a lever operably activated by a driver, a connecting member rotatably coupled to a support bracket which is fixed to a vehicle body and configured to support the connecting member, first and second rods, one ends of which are pivotally coupled to the lever with a predetermined distance therebetween and the other ends of which are connected to the connecting member, wherein the other end of the first rod is fixedly connected to rotation axis of the connecting member and the other end of the second rod is pivotally coupled to the connecting member and disposed with a predetermined distance from the rotation axis of the connecting member, and a position control unit to selectively hold the connecting member to a rotational position. |
| US08448535B2 |
Multiple-angle transmission apparatus
A multiple-angle transmission tool includes a first shell, a transmission stick, a first gear, a second shell, a connecting unit, a second gear, a transmission unit and a screw bolt, wherein each the first shell and the second shell has a connecting surface that has a number of recessed portions arranged in a circular manner, and each recessed portion is spaced with a protruding portion to form a restricted position to engage. Also, the first gear, the second gear and the transmission unit are located in a receiving space formed within the first shell and the second shell. When the first shell and the second shell move along the entire circumference, the momentum can be transmitted and changed when the first shell, the second shell and the transmission unit are engaged. |
| US08448534B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispersing a sample of particulate material
An apparatus for dispersing a sample of particulate material, includes a carrier (31;35;37;38;39) having a sample-bearing surface on which to place the sample, and a housing (10;44;48) for forming a dispersion chamber (17), at least when closed off at a base (46;51). The carrier is arranged such that the sample-bearing surface is removed from contact with the sample upon application of a sufficient pressure differential across the carrier between the sample-bearing surface and an opposite side of the carrier. The housing (10;44;48) has an inlet (26) at least partially facing the base (46;51). The apparatus includes an apparatus (15;16) for passing a volume of fluid past the carrier (31;35;37;38;39) through the inlet (26) by subjecting the carrier (31;35;37;38;39) to a pulsed positive pressure differential relative to the dispersion chamber (17). |
| US08448533B2 |
Baseplate for use in particle analysis
A test baseplate is configured to support and expose at least one storage device component to particle evacuation and particle analysis. The test baseplate includes a base having an upper surface that extends between an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall and having a lower surface defined by the inner peripheral wall. The test baseplate also includes a top clamp configured to be fastened to the upper surface of the base to secure the at least one storage device component to the base. |
| US08448532B2 |
Actively cooled vapor preconcentrator
An analyte collection system device includes an active area that includes a plurality of perforations extending therethrough. The plurality of perforations are arranged to permit passage of an analyte fluid flow through the microscale plate. A heating element is provided for heating the active area, and a thermal distribution layer is disposed over at least a portion of the active area. For cooling the active area at or below an ambient temperature, an active cooler is provided. |
| US08448531B2 |
Compressive force measurement device
A compressive force measurement device with a pressure-/voltage converter in chip technology features a spherical segment-shaped sensor area. The pressure-/voltage converter is disposed between one base disc and one cover disc, wherein the base disc and the cover disc are tensioned against one another by means of springs with essentially identical pulling force. Forces acting on the cover disc have the effect that the cover disc always positions itself perpendicularly to the direction of force, whereby some of the springs are additionally loaded and others are relieved and thereby a compensation of forces takes place that act obliquely on the compressive force measurement device. |
| US08448530B2 |
Roll-to-roll compatible pressure sensitive event sensing label
The present invention discloses a smart label to be affixed on or integrated in an object and able to provide an electrical signal indicative of the applied pressure or force and/or the position of the applied pressure or force at a touch point on the object to which the label is affixed. The smart label comprises a layer structure and a detector system, the layer structure comprising of at least a stack of a first, a second and a third layer. The first and third layers comprise a flexible, electrically conductive or semiconductive material and at least two electrodes for connecting the layers to the detector system. The second layer comprises a flexible, deformable and compressible material. The second layer is electrically nonconductive or electrically conductive but less conductive than the first and third layers, wherein the second layer separates the first and third layers. |
| US08448529B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining seat occupancy
An apparatus for determining a seat occupancy includes a load detecting portion provided between one of a front portion and a rear portion of a seating portion of a seat for a vehicle that includes a lifting function for changing a height position of the seating portion relative to a floor for the vehicle, the seat including a seat back at the rear portion of the seating portion of the seat, the load detecting portion detecting a seating load applied to the seating portion, and a seat occupancy determining portion comparing the seating load detected by the load detecting portion with a predetermined threshold value and determining a seat occupancy state of the seat, the seat occupancy determining portion changing the threshold value based on the height position of the seating portion. |
| US08448526B1 |
Dual paddlewheel flow sensor
A paddlewheel flow sensor has two independently rotating paddlewheels in a flow passage. The spacing between the wheels can be selected to respond to most of the flow while simultaneously tolerating trash carried by the flowing fluid. Each wheel has its own rotation sensor, and an average of the two rotation sensor outputs can be used to determine flow rate. |
| US08448522B2 |
Grip-mounted specimen holder
The disclosure relates to a specimen holder for a grip used in materials, or similar testing. The user can position a specimen or testing sample within the open jaw, and then remove his or her hands to a safe location before activating the grip to grip the specimen. |
| US08448511B2 |
Method for evaluating degradation of a particulate matter sensor after an engine start
A system for improving operation of an engine having a particulate matter sensor is presented. The system may be used to improve engine operation during cold starts especially under conditions where water vapor or entrained water droplets are present in vehicle exhaust gases. In one embodiment, particulate sensor degradation is indicated in response to an output of said particulate matter sensor staying below a threshold as engine temperature increases past the dewpoint temperature. |
| US08448510B2 |
Device for monitoring the level of the condensate collected in the measuring cylinder of a standardized distillation apparatus and method implemented by using this device
Device for monitoring the level of the condensate collected in the measurement cylinder of a standardized distillation apparatus for automatically distilling liquid specimens, characterized in that it comprises: on the one hand, a double optical barrier emitting a central beam centered on the measurement cylinder (1), so as to allow detection of the part below the meniscus, and an eccentric beam offset with respect to the central beam and located close to the wall of the measurement cylinder (1), so as to allow the part above the meniscus to be detected; and, on the other hand, a fixed optical barrier intended for counting the drops of condensate falling into the measurement cylinder (1) during distillation. |
| US08448509B2 |
Device and method for determination regarding the liquid level in containers
A measurement device (3) and a method for determination regarding the liquid level in a container (1) with a wall (2) is described. A force is applied in a point on the wall on the outside of the container (1) and the resulting impulse response is measured and calculated. From the impulse response a determination is made regarding the liquid level in the container. |
| US08448497B2 |
Apparatus and method for measurement of water vapor permeability
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method by which quantities of water vapor passing through a measured object can be measured with high sensitivity and in a short time period. The apparatus and method measure water vapor permeability of the measured object based on a dew point temperature in a second space measured after introducing water vapor into a first space, wherein the first space and the second space are parted from each other by the measured object, and wherein the first space is maintained at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity under atmospheric pressure, and the second space is maintained in a dry state with a dew point temperature of −70° C. or less under atmospheric pressure. |
| US08448495B2 |
Device for quantifying the contents of at least one gaseous constituent contained in a gaseous sample from a fluid, related assembly and process
This device includes a stage for forming a gaseous flow from the sample, and a column for separation by selective retention of each gaseous constituent. It includes an oven for combustion of the gaseous flow in order to form a gaseous residue from each constituent, and a quantification unit for quantifying the content of each constituent to be analyzed in the gaseous flow. The quantification unit includes an optical measurement cell connected to an oven, and a mirror for introducing a laser incident optical signal into the cell. The quantification unit also measures a transmitted optical signal resulting from an interaction between the optical signal and each gaseous residue in the cell, and calculates the content on the basis of the transmitted optical signal. |
| US08448493B2 |
Gas chromatograph-combustion system and method for mass spectrometry
A gas chromatograph-combustion apparatus and method are disclosed in which the carrier gas type and flow rate is continuously exchanged to facilitate high speed, high sensitivity compound specific isotope analysis. Samples are injected into a gas chromatograph that uses H2 as the carrier gas. The gas stream exiting the gas chromatograph is passed through a combustion system in which H2 and the samples are combusted, simultaneously and totally, to oxidize the sample to CO2 and/or N2 gas, and to convert H2 gas to water vapor. Water vapor is removed using a water separator. Therefore, combustion serves the dual purpose of preparing the samples for isotopic analysis and converting H2 to water vapor, which can be easily separated out. A second carrier gas may be used to convey the CO2 and N2 to a mass spectrometer where the isotopic composition (e.g. 14C or 15N) is determined. |
| US08448492B2 |
Method for in-situ determining the compactness of grainy material layers and device for performing the process
The object of the invention is a device for in-situ determining the compactness of grainy material layers, especially determining the compactness of material layers containing equally solid part, liquid and gaseous phases e.g. soils, that consists of a guide body, a loading disc connected with the guide body and a dropping-weight movable relating the loading disc along the guide body. The characteric feature of the device is that an indicator figure (20) is adjusted to a dropping weight (13), the indicator figure (20) has a guide organ (21), wherein one of the guide organs (21) and the guide body (11) are at least periodically in a connection with each other restricting the direction of movement and the guide body (11) is complemented with a length measuring unit (30). |
| US08448491B2 |
Vibratory flow meter and method for correcting for an entrained phase in a two-phase flow of a flow material
A vibratory flow meter (100) for correcting for an entrained phase in a two-phase flow of a flow material is provided. The vibratory flow meter (100) includes a flow meter assembly (10) including a driver (104) and with the vibratory flow meter (100) being configured to generate a vibrational response for the flow material. The vibratory flow meter (100) further includes and meter electronics (20) coupled to the flow meter assembly (10) and receiving the vibrational response. The meter electronics (20) is configured to generate a measured two-phase density of the two-phase flow using the vibrational response, determine the computed drive power needed by a driver (104) of the flow meter assembly (10), and calculate a density compensation factor using a liquid density of a liquid component of the two-phase flow, an entrained phase density of an entrained phase component, the measured two-phase density, and the computed drive power. |
| US08448488B2 |
Flat wire manufacturing method of manufacturing flat wire for ring gear
A round steel rod having a carbon content between 0.30 and 0.60% is processed by a cold working process to form a flat wire for forming a ring gear. The cold working process forms a semifinished flat wire by at least one cold rolling or cold roller drawing step and at least one two-way or four-way rolling step. The semifinished flat wire is processed by die drawing using a drawing die to obtain a finished flat wire in a last stage of the cold working process. The cold working process reduces the round steel rod at a total area reduction of 65% or below. |
| US08448485B1 |
Lock and key combination with rotatable locking tumblers
A lock and key combination wherein at least one locking tumbler includes a key sensing portion, a body portion and a locking portion. A cavity, accommodating an associated locking tumbler, is larger than the contour of the body portion so as to permit a translatory as well as a rotary movement of the locking tumbler in a movement plane within the cavity. A code pattern on the key blade includes at least one wave-like guiding surface. When the key blade is inserted into the key slot, the locking tumbler is controlled by two mutually spaced formations, which engage with the wave-like guiding surface of the key blade, and is guided at opposite side surfaces by two associates walls of the cavity, to be retained precisely in the movement plane. The locking portion of the locking tumbler is movable to enable the locking mechanism to be released. |
| US08448482B2 |
Door hook for a household appliance door
A door hook for a door assembly of a household appliance, wherein the household appliance includes a housing having an opening for accessing an interior of the housing, a tub disposed inside the housing, the tub having a rotating drum therein for receiving laundry through the opening, the door assembly having a see-through portion for viewing into the tub, the door assembly being pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between an open position for accessing the opening of the housing and a closed position for closing the opening of the housing, the door hook including a base plate having a front face and a rear face, a striker extending from the front face of the base plate, and a locating feature extending from the rear face of the base plate. |
| US08448479B2 |
Ion eluting unit and device loaded with same
In an ion elution unit, a drive circuit applies a voltage between electrodes to elute metal ions from the electrodes. Polarities of the electrodes are reversed cyclically with a voltage application halt period placed in-between. A current detection circuit detects the current flowing between the electrodes. A check of operation of the current detection circuit is carried out before the application of a voltage to the electrodes is started. The operation of the current detection circuit is started when a predetermined period of time passes after the application of a voltage to the electrodes is started. |
| US08448476B2 |
Warp knitting fabrics having ground organization expressing various design patterns
Provided are warp knitting fabrics having a ground organization expressing various design patterns. The warp knitting fabrics comprise: a ground organization formed with warps knitted into a loop shape; and a pattern organization knitted on the ground organization, wherein the ground organization includes two or more unit designs continuously arranged in a transverse direction of the ground organization, each of the unit designs comprises two or more unit organizations arranged in a longitudinal direction of the ground organization, each of the unit organizations comprising a specific loop shape of a network structure formed by a chain of a specific chain number group comprising an array of a plurality of chain numbers, and each of the unit organizations has a different loop shape of a network structure from each other. |
| US08448475B2 |
Skin material for interior material
The skin material for an interior material, formed of a three-dimensional warp knitted fabric includes: front and back ground parts, each of which is formed with knitting yarns guided by at least two guide bars and has at least two knitting patterns, and connecting yarns that connect the front and back ground parts, wherein: the front ground part has a cord stitch pattern and another knitting pattern; a sum of a number of loops of the cord stitch pattern and a number of loops of the another knitting pattern is smaller than a sum of numbers of loops of the at least two knitting pattern forming the back ground part; and a ratio of the number of loops of the another knitting pattern with respect to the number of loops of the cord stitch pattern is from 20 to 80%. |
| US08448469B2 |
Method for manufacturing float glass and apparatus for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a float glass by floating the glass on a molten tin that is contained in a molten tin bath, which includes the steps of a) discharging a portion of the molten tin in the molten tin bath to the outside of the molten tin bath; b) removing oxygen dissolved in the molten tin that is discharged from the molten tin bath by injecting an oxygen stripping gas that contains hydrogen into the molten tin; and c) returning the molten tin from which oxygen is removed to the molten tin bath, and an apparatus for manufacturing the same. |
| US08448468B2 |
Mask and method for sealing a glass envelope
A mask for laser sealing a temperature and environmentally sensitive element, such as an OLED device, surrounded by a frit wall between first and second substrates. The mask is opaque and has a transparent elongate transmission region. The width of the transmission region may be substantially equal to the width of the frit wall. A strip of opaque mask material extends approximately along a longitudinal center line of the elongate transmission region. The mask is located between a laser and the first or second substrate. The laser emits a generally circular beam having a diameter that is larger than the width of the frit wall and is directed through the transmission region in the mask, such that opaque portions of the mask block portions the laser beam and the transparent transmission region allows a portion of the laser beam to pass through the mask and impinge upon the frit wall to melt the frit wall, thereby joining the first and second substrates and hermetically sealing the element therebetween. A process and system for sealing such an element between a first substrate and a second substrate separated by at least one frit wall employing such mask. |
| US08448464B2 |
Set of rings
A set consisting of several pairs of rings (1, 2), wherein each ring has a single raised pattern (11, 21) enabling it to fit together with one other ring of the set. The raised pattern is, for example, arranged on the edge (10, 20) of each ring. The ring is mounted on an adaptation ring (3, 4) so that it can be adapted to the diameter of the wearer's finger. The individual ring pairs are manufactured with the aid of a cutting program on a digitally controlled machine. |
| US08448462B2 |
System and method for making ice
A system and method for making ice is provided. The system for making ice may include a tray for containing water to be used for making ice, and an ice-making pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the ice-making pipe during an ice-making process, while a refrigerant of relatively high temperature flows through the ice-making pipe during an ice-releasing process. |
| US08448461B2 |
Fast cool down cryogenic refrigerator
A refrigeration system for minimizing the cool down time of a mass to cryogenic temperatures including a compressor, an expander, a gas storage tank, interconnecting gas lines, and a control system. The compressor output is maintained near its maximum capability by maintaining near constant high and low pressures during cool down, gas being added or removed from the storage tank to maintain a near constant high pressure, and the speed of said expander being adjusted to maintain a near constant low pressure, no gas by-passing between high and low pressures. |
| US08448451B2 |
Height ratios for a transition piece of a combustor
Provided is a combustor connection structure in which a cross-sectional area (Dout) of a transition piece outlet is set within a range of 0.79≦Dout/Din≦0.9, relative to a cross-sectional area (Din) of a transition piece inlet of a combustor, and in a first stage turbine nozzle of a turbine connected to the transition piece outlet, a size (Hin) in a radial direction between upstream ends of the inner shroud and the outer shroud has a same dimension as a size (a) in a radial direction of the transition piece outlet. In a combustor transition piece that is included in the combustor having a center line (S) arranged with an angle to an axial center (R) of a rotor of a gas turbine and that guides combustion gas to the turbine, a cross-sectional area is monotonously reduced from the transition piece inlet in which the combustion gas flows to the transition piece outlet from which the combustion gas flows out. |
| US08448450B2 |
Support assembly for transition duct in turbine system
A support assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The support assembly includes a transition duct extending between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section. The transition duct has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis. The support assembly further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the transition duct. The plurality of protrusions are configured to allow movement of the transition duct about at least one axis. |
| US08448448B2 |
Cooling air bleed device in a turbomachine
An air bleed device for cooling components in a turbine engine, including an annular conduit having a substantially rectangular cross-section formed in a housing and having a radially internal wall swept by an airflow is disclosed. The device includes an air inlet orifice, and a flap valve for controlling the airflow entering through the orifice, formed by a plate borne by a maneuvering member mobile in translation parallel to the axis of the orifice between a position in which the plate closes off the orifice and a position in which the plate opens the orifice. |
| US08448446B2 |
Actuating device, bypass air bleed system equipped therewith, and turbojet engine comprising these
An actuating device for opening and closing at least one shutter in a gas turbine engine, such as a turbojet engine, includes at least one actuator made of a two-way shape memory alloy having a first stable state at a first temperature in which state it actuates either the opening or the closing of the shutter, and a second stable state at a second temperature, in which state it actuates either the closing or the opening of the shutter, respectively. |
| US08448443B2 |
Combustion liner thimble insert and related method
A gas turbine combustor liner has at least one circumferential row of air holes adapted to supply air in a radial direction into a combustion chamber within the liner. One or more of the air holes have a thimble fixed therein, the thimble having a substantially circular body and a pair of lips extending from an interior end of the thimble in diametrically opposed upstream and downstream directions. |
| US08448440B2 |
Method and apparatus for achieving higher thermal efficiency in a steam engine or steam expander
A high order of thermal efficiency is achieved in a steam engine or steam expander having a piston clearance that approximates zero together with a negligible amount of compression, such that pressure in the clearance volume approximates ambient pressure, i.e. atmospheric or condenser pressure as the case may be at the end of the piston return stroke when the clearance is essentially zero and constitutes a new engine apparatus and Rankine operating cycle that can be referred to as “zero clearance with zero compression”. The steam admission valve assembly can be operated either automatically responsive to piston contact or by means of a cam shaft or electrically by means of a solenoid. A normally open exhaust valve permits residual steam to be exhausted through the piston return stroke, closed by the piston or cam then held closed by a fresh charge of steam. |
| US08448439B2 |
Electric power plant, and method for running electric power plant
An electric power plant supplies steam generated to a high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine. The steam discharged from the low-pressure turbine is condensed with a condenser. Water generated with the condenser is heated with a low-pressure feed water heater and a high-pressure feed water heater. The steam extracted from the high-pressure turbine is supplied to the high-pressure feed water heater. The steam extracted from the low-pressure turbine is compressed with a steam compressor, and the steam whose temperature has been increased is then supplied to the high-pressure feed water heater. The feed water is heated in the high-pressure feed water heater by the steam extracted from the high-pressure turbine and the steam compressed with the steam compressor. Because the feed water is heated by the extracted steam and the compressed steam in the high-pressure feed water heater, the amount of power consumed by the steam compressor can be reduced. |
| US08448435B2 |
Control of a shape memory alloy actuation arrangement
An SMA actuation apparatus comprises: an SMA actuator arranged to drive movement of a movable element; a current supply supplying a drive current; a detection circuit detecting a measure of the resistance of the SMA actuator; and a control unit operative to generate a closed-loop control signal supplied to current supply for controlling the power of the drive current to drive the resistance of the SMA actuator to a target value. The control unit derives: an estimate of a characteristic temperature of the SMA actuation apparatus on the basis of the supplied power, using a thermal model; and a resistance offset on the basis thereof. The closed-loop control signal is generated on the basis of the error between the measure of the resistance of the SMA actuator and the target value of the resistance of the SMA actuator, adjusted by the resistance offset to compensate for variations in resistance. |
| US08448434B2 |
Shape memory alloy drive device
A shape memory alloy drive device has drive control portion for displacing a shape memory alloy up to a target displacement value by applying a voltage or an electric current to the shape memory alloy by servo control, and also has contact detection portion for detecting a predetermined change in a drive control value, or, for example, a sharp increase in the drive control value, representing the amount of the voltage of the electric current applied by the drive control portion. When detecting a predetermined change, the contact detection portion determines that a movable portion having a lens etc. mounted thereon is in contact with a stationary mechanism. The shape memory alloy drive device further has drive limiting portion which, when the determination described above is made, causes the drive control portion to limit the target displacement value within a predetermined range. This limits an electric current flowing when the movable portion makes contact with the stationary mechanism, preventing overheating and excess stress. |
| US08448432B2 |
Actuators
Actuators suited for use with, for example, vehicular suspension systems. In some embodiments, the present actuators include a reversible hydraulic pump configured to produce variable hydraulic pressure; a hydraulic cylinder assembly having a cylinder bore, and a piston positioned within the cylinder bore that is axially movable relative to the cylinder bore; and a hydraulic circuit hydraulically coupling the reversible hydraulic pump to the hydraulic cylinder assembly. In these embodiments, actuated axial motion of the piston relative to the cylinder bore is accomplished without the use of check valves, pressure regulating valves, or actively controlled valves. |
| US08448431B2 |
Hydraulic circuit adapted for coupling motors
A hydraulic circuit including: at least one primary motor comprising at least first and second distinct sub-motors, the first sub-motor having a first main orifice, and the second sub-motor having a second main orifice; and at least one secondary motor; in which circuit said first main orifice of the primary motor(s) is connected to a first main orifice of the secondary motor(s) via a first series duct, and the second main orifice of the primary motor(s) is connected to a second main orifice of the secondary motor(s) via a second series duct. This configuration of circuit makes coupling possible between the primary motor(s) and the secondary motor(s). |
| US08448428B2 |
Exhaust gas purification system for internal combustion engine
In an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, a NOx selective reduction catalyst for reducing NOx with ammonia that is adsorbed on the NOx selective reduction catalyst is disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine. In the NOx selective reduction catalyst, ammonia in a first adsorption state that is adsorbed at a low temperature and ammonia in a second adsorption state that is adsorbed at a high temperature are present. Because ammonia, which has been in the first adsorption state and which is desorbed from the NOx selective reduction catalyst, tends to be discharged to the atmosphere, a control section that estimates an adsorption amount of ammonia in the first adsorption state is provided in the exhaust gas purification system for the internal combustion engine in order to control the adsorption amount of ammonia in the first adsorption state within a specified level. |
| US08448423B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling operation of a spark-ignition direct-injection engine
Operation of a spark ignition, direct injection engine having an aftertreatment system including an oxidation catalyst and a selective catalyst reduction device is described. The method includes controlling to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and retarding spark ignition timing. Engine fueling is then controlled to a lean air/fuel ratio and spark is retarded. The engine is then operated to generate ammonia reductant. Engine operation then comprises operating at a preferred air/fuel ratio and controlling spark ignition timing to a preferred timing. |
| US08448420B2 |
Aircraft nacelle that incorporates a device for reversing thrust
An aircraft nacelle in which a power plant is arranged delimits a duct for a flow which assists the thrust. The nacelle includes a device for reducing, canceling, or reversing the thrust that includes at least one flap that can have an active position in which it deflects—in the direction of a radial opening—at least a portion of the flow and an at-rest position in which the flap does not interfere with the flow, whereby the wall of the nacelle delimiting the duct includes at least one moving part that can occupy a first position in which it is interposed between the flow to be deflected and the flap and another position in which it releases the flap so as to allow the flap to change position and to move from the at-rest position to the active position. |
| US08448418B2 |
Method for controlling a flowrate of a recirculated exhaust gas
A method for controlling a turbomachine exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is provided. The EGR system may allow for the removal and sequestration of at least one constituent within the exhaust before the recirculation occurs. |
| US08448413B2 |
Method for making reclosable package having an accessible zipper
A reclosable package includes a tray, a top sheet, and a fastener. The tray has a well for receiving contents and a peripheral flange surrounding the well. The top sheet is attached to the peripheral flange. The fastener has two interlocking members, one attached to the peripheral flange and the other attached to the top sheet. A tamper-evident feature located on the package prevents access to the fastener and is connected thereto by one or two lines of weaknesses. In one embodiment with one or two lines of weakness in the top sheet, the fastener remains adjacent to the tray's peripheral flange, which is intact after the tamper-evident feature is removed by tearing along these lines of weakness. In a second embodiment with two lines of weakness, the tamper-evident feature, comprised of portions of the peripheral flange and the top sheet, is torn from the package along both lines of weakness. |
| US08448412B2 |
Wrapping method
A wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a plastic film including a supporting frame with which a ring arrangement is associated that rotates around a wrapping axis of the film and around the product. The supporting frame further supports a carriage arranged for supporting a reel of the film and for supporting a first roller and a second roller for unwinding and stretching the film. A first motor and a second motor are mounted on the supporting frame and coupled, respectively, with the first roller and the second roller. |
| US08448407B1 |
Roof mounting assembly
An apparatus for securing a roof-mounted structure to a roof is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a shaft extending along a longitudinal shaft axis and including a first end opposing a second end; the first end including a roof fastening portion; the second end including a drive part and an anchor portion for securing the roof-mounted structure to the shaft; and the shaft including a radially projecting shoulder surface disposed between the first and second ends and oriented toward the first end. |
| US08448406B2 |
Hybrid top chord bearing framing system
A method and system is provided for constructing a multilevel structure using a hybrid top chord bearing floor framing system. The method and system may include a top chord bearing floor truss positioned on a first frame structure. The top chord of the truss may include a load-bearing interface with a top surface and a bottom surface. The truss may be wholly supported by the load-bearing interface of the top chord. The method and system may further include a second frame structure on the top surface of the truss. The first frame structure may be secured to the second frame structure via a fastener that extends through both the second bottom load bearing member and load-bearing interface of the truss into the first top load bearing member of the first frame structure. |
| US08448405B2 |
Roof mount sealing assembly
A variety of roof mount sealing assemblies are disclosed. The roof mount sealing assemblies allow a user to mount rails for solar panels, signs, satellite dish or any other desired item on the roof and have the mounting location sealed against water. The roof mount sealing assemblies has a body with a recess for a flexible washer, which is attached to a bolt body (or formed with the bolt body) and threaded either down in a base plate or directly into the roof. The bolt body and body form a double stud assembly, which also holds a flashing onto the roof to provide further water proofing. |
| US08448399B2 |
Floor strip
A thin decorative thermosetting laminate of postforming quality is glued to a longitudinal carrier to form a floor strip. The laminate has a thermosetting resin as well as hard particles impregnated therein to increase the abrasion resistance of the laminate. The carrier generally has a cross section of a dilatation, transition or a finishing profile, depending on the intended use of the floor strip. The floor strip has a tab portion on a surface that engages a channel on a floor tile or a reducer. The tab portion locks the floor strip into place and prevents movement of the floor tile or the reducer with respect to the floor strip. |
| US08448383B2 |
Door drive for a swing door of a passenger transport vehicle
The subject of the invention is a door drive for a swing door of a passenger transport vehicle, comprising a rotary post, which is arranged at the vehicle, with at least one pivot arm for arrangement at a door leaf, wherein a motor is arranged in the rotary post and is connected with the rotary post, wherein at least one planetary transmission stage is provided for stepping down the rotational speed of the motor and wherein the pinion cage of the at least one planetary transmission stage comprises a rotary element, particularly a pinion, which is fixable. |
| US08448379B2 |
Pure-grown totally concealed clean room vegetable factory
Plant roots are moved by various means and sometimes exposed to air within a clean room system of plant production. A tub and lid system of plant containment and plant care may be integrated into a rack system which may be contained within a clean room environment devoid of bugs, environmental deviations, pollution and other contaminates found in a typical organic system of the prior art. |
| US08448377B1 |
Closed-circuit pest extermination system
A method and semi-permanent system for applying various pesticides within an interior space of a building structure includes a pipeline having a plurality of solenoid valves, each valve controlled by a microcontroller so that a predetermined amount of pesticide is distributed according to a predetermined, sequential timed firing sequence. The pipeline is installed external to an interior wall surface and may extend to areas far removed from the wall. A second pipeline supplies air to the solenoid valves and the microcontroller controls the flow of air to the valves so that an effective wet spray-cold aerosol fogging may be achieved. One or more sensors may be used to monitor the interior space of the building for purposes of safety. The entire system may be controlled through a computer interface, a network interface controller, a web-based interface, or a wireless device interface. |
| US08448375B1 |
Fishing apparatus
The present disclosure is a bobber that has a front hollow cavity, a rear hollow cavity, and a middle hollow cavity separating the front cavity from the rear cavity, the middle hollow cavity having a first opening in a top portion of the middle hollow cavity and a second opening in a bottom portion of the middle hollow cavity. In addition, the bobber has an arm comprising a first end and a second end, the arm extending through the first opening and the second opening and fixedly connected to the middle hollow cavity, the arm attached at a first end to fishing line such that when water pressure is applied to the second end of the arm extending from the second opening the arm moves vertically causing bait attached to the fishing line to move vertically in a body of water. |
| US08448373B2 |
Gun sight
Various gun sights for firearms and related methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the sight includes an apparatus adapted to be mounted at a rear end of a firearm and arranged to occlude one eye of a user of the firearm and to generate an illuminated dot that is disposed such that it is generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. The gun sight produces a collimated beam of light that creates an image of an illuminated dot by either a refractive method or a reflective method. In use, a dominant eye of the user is occluded by the sight and the other eye of the user is focused on the target. The user then adjusts the position of the gun relative to the target such that the user perceives the illuminated dot of the sight to be positioned on the target. |
| US08448368B2 |
Rifle accessory rail, communication, and power transfer system—rail contacts
The present invention is related to weapons systems. In particular, the present invention is directed to accessory attachment systems for rifles and small arms weapons that enable attached accessory devices to draw power from a central power source and communicate with the user and/or other devices. |
| US08448367B2 |
Modular fore-end rail/hand guard assembly system for firearms with selectable heat dissipation characteristics
A modular fore-end rail assembly for mounting onto a firearm includes a hand guard and a bushing element that combines with an end portion of the hand guard to encircle the standard barrel nut, thereby supporting the entire assembly without requiring modification to the standard barrel nut. The thermal transfer characteristics of the material from which the bushing element is manufactured may be selected to either increase or decrease the rate at which heat is transferred from the barrel nut to the hand guard allowing for rapid changes of bushing elements and, therefore, rapid and selective changes in the heating rate of the hand guard. |
| US08448366B2 |
Pistol converter
A pistol converter including a body defining a forward pistol barrel engaging portion, a stock coupled to the body, and a rear engagement member for firmly engaging an external portion of a rear of a frame of the pistol. |
| US08448364B2 |
Double stack box magazine for rimmed cartridges of varying length
Disclosed is a double stack box magazine for rimmed ammunition cartridges of varied lengths. It includes a housing having a neck portion in which cartridges are arranged in a single column, a double-stack portion in which cartridges are arranged in laterally alternating columns, and a transition portion between the neck portion and the double-stack portion. A pair of rim clearance channels is provided, on opposed interior lateral surfaces of the housing. A first channel portion allows clearance for cartridge rims without respect to forward and rearward position of the cartridges within the housing, which may vary depending on individual cartridge length. A second channel portion in the neck provides an abutment against which laterally opposed areas of a cartridge rim bear to shift the cartridge to a rearward position. A third channel portion provides transition between the first and second channel portions. |
| US08448359B2 |
Clothing iron holder with water reservoir
The clothing iron holder with water reservoir is a protective accessory for use with a clothing iron or the like. The holder includes a water reservoir having a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, and is sized and shaped to receive the clothing iron. The front portion has an opening formed therethrough for releasably covering and connecting to a water fill opening of the clothing iron such that water exiting the water fill opening is received within the water reservoir. Thus, if the iron accidentally falls or is tipped over, the water will spill into, and be collected within, the water reservoir. |
| US08448357B2 |
Coupler
Couplers for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator. Couplers having a first side for attaching the coupler to the excavator arm and a second side onto which the accessory will be coupled. The coupler includes a latch for selectively securing and releasing an attachment pin of the accessory in a jaw, groove, hook or slot in the second side of the coupler. The coupler is fully controllable from within the cab of the excavator and it allows improved security in the securement of the accessory to the coupler, i.e. preventing accidental decouplings, but while still allowing intentional decoupling operations to be carried out without undue burden. |
| US08448356B2 |
Article of footwear for riding
An article of footwear for riding is disclosed. The article includes a second portion of an upper having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than a first coefficient of friction associated with a first portion of an upper. The article further includes a detachable spur member configured to attach to a heel counter of the article. |
| US08448354B2 |
Single eyelet laces with interlocking aglets and methods of lacing the same
A kit including (a) an article having a plurality of pairs of opposing eyelets, including a first pair of opposing eyelets near a top of the article and a second pair of opposing eyelets disposed beneath the first pair of opposing eyelets; (b) a first lace that is threadable through respective eyelets of the first pair of opposing eyelets and fixable at insides of the eyelets, said first lace having (i) a first elastic body; and (ii) one of a stop or openable stop on one end of the first body; and (iii) an openable stop on an opposite end of the first body; and (c) a second lace that is threadable through respective eyelets of the second pair of opposing eyelets and fixable at insides of the eyelets, said second lace having (i) a second elastic body; and (ii) one of a stop or openable stop on one end of the second body; and (iii) an openable stop on an opposite end of the second body; and wherein at least the openable stop on the opposite end of the first body can interlock with the openable stop on the opposite end of the second body with the first and second laces threaded through the first and second pair of eyelets respectively. Also, a method for using the kit. |
| US08448351B2 |
Article of footwear with straps
An article of footwear with straps is disclosed. The article includes provisions for releasably securing the straps to a sole structure of the article. End portions of the straps are provided with separable portions that can be individually inserted through apertures in the sole structure. In addition, a thong portion includes separable portions that can be individually inserted through an aperture in the sole structure. |
| US08448350B2 |
Protective foot covering and dance shoes incorporating same
A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot. |
| US08448348B1 |
Construction method and apparatus
The invention comprises novel apparatuses and methods for positioning and/or for determining the locations of one structural member such as a stud, rafter or joist on another structural member such as a beam during construction. |
| US08448346B2 |
Trigger assembly for parts checking jigs and the like
A trigger assembly for parts checking jigs and the like has a pivoting trigger arm with a central bearing aperture. A universal base is supported on the jig, and has two pairs of pivot pin apertures located adjacent opposite ends, a U-shaped central channel in the bottom face in which the trigger arm is received, and two laterally spaced gauge bushing apertures in the upper face. A pivot pin extends through the bearing aperture in the trigger arm and one pair of the pivot pin apertures in the base. A spring is mounted in the base and biases the trigger arm to an extended position. A gauge bushing is received in one of the two bushing apertures, such that the trigger arm assembly can be readily reconfigured for placement at various locations on the jig by selective mounting of the trigger arm and the gauge bushing in selected ones of the associated base apertures. |
| US08448341B2 |
Bow-sight mount
A sight mount is provided and may include a frame, a first bracket slidably supported by the frame, and an arm rotatably attached to the first bracket at a first pivot point and rotatably supported by the frame at a second pivot point. A first adjustment assembly may adjust a distance between the first pivot point and the second pivot point. A second adjustment assembly may include a rotatable wheel to pivot the arm about the second pivot in response to rotation of the wheel relative to the frame to move the first bracket relative to the frame. |
| US08448335B2 |
Method of manufacturing a wall structure and a machining tool
A method of manufacturing a wall structure includes producing at least one elongated web in a workpiece by feeding a machining tool along the workpiece, wherein the machining tool simultaneously machines a first side surface of the web, a second side surface of the web and a top surface of the web. |
| US08448331B2 |
Component mounting apparatus
A component mounting apparatus includes: two heads equipped with plural nozzles for suctioning and mounting a component; a memory holding at least one of information on maximum speed and maximum acceleration; an operation determining unit determining whether an operation after a suctioning operation of any one of heads is a suctioning operation or not; a speed/acceleration calculating unit calculating at least one of speed and acceleration at the time of axial movement by using at least one of the maximum speed and the maximum acceleration for the suction, if it is determined that the operation after the suctioning operation is the suctioning operation; a control signal generating unit generating a control signal; and a driving unit performing movement from the suction operation to a component suction position of the subsequent nozzle in accordance with the control signal when the suctioning operation by the subsequent nozzle is performed. |
| US08448329B2 |
Method of manufacturing an integrated lead head suspension flexure
An integrated lead head suspension flexure including a plurality of integrated leads each including at least one lead portion unbacked by the flexure spring metal layer and configured to be substantially inline with the general plane of the spring metal layer. The leads are disposed on a dielectric layer including an unbacked dielectric layer portion having a surface positioned between the major surfaces of the spring metal layer. |
| US08448328B2 |
Methods of making aluminum based composite squirrel cage for induction rotor
A method of making a rotor is provided. The method includes mixing aluminum and carbon nanotubes; forming the mixture into an aluminum-carbon nanotube composite conductor bar; providing a laminated steel stack having a plurality of longitudinal slots; placing a plurality of the conductor bars in the longitudinal slots, first and second ends of the plurality of conductor bars extending out of the longitudinal slots; placing the laminated steel stack with the plurality of conductor bars in a casting mold having cavities for a pair of end rings wherein the first and second ends of the plurality of conductor bars extend into the cavities; and filling the cavities with aluminum, aluminum alloys, an aluminum composite, or combinations thereof. Rotors made from aluminum-carbon nanotube composite are also described. |
| US08448327B2 |
Method of manufacturing radiation tomography apparatus
A method of manufacturing radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention includes a first spacer joining step of joining a spacer to a radiation detector, and a second spacer joining step of joining both the radiation detectors to each other via the spacer such that clearance between adjacent scintillators corresponds to integral multiples of an arrangement pitch of scintillation counter crystal. Accordingly, the scintillators provided in the radiation tomography apparatus of this invention are arranged more regularly, which achieves enhanced spatial resolution of the radiation tomography apparatus. |
| US08448325B2 |
Drawer dishwasher installation kit assembly
An installation kit assembly and method permit convenient installation of a drawer dishwasher in a cavity of a kitchen worktop, such that the front of the dishwasher is directed out from the cavity, the cavity having at least one inner wall. The installation kit assembly includes at least one fixation device, having a first part and a second part, which are foldably interconnected, at least one fastener for attaching the first part of the at least one fixation device to the inner wall of the cavity, and at least one second fastener for attaching the second part of the one fixation device to the front of the drawer dishwasher. |
| US08448324B2 |
Joining magnesium with reinforced polymer composite fasteners
A method is disclosed for forming corrosion-resistant joints in a plurality of overlapping thin metal sheet workpieces, at least one of which comprises at least 85% by weight of magnesium sheets. The fastener is a fiber-reinforced polymer rod shaped and sized for insertion into a coaxial opening formed in each sheet and subsequently upset on each end to form a head. The workpiece sheets are deformed to form mechanically-interfering features which cooperatively complement the strength of the fastener, under at least some joint loading patterns. The method may be used for other workpiece and fastener compositions. |
| US08448323B2 |
Method for modernizing an elevator
A method for modernizing an elevator includes arranging a first rope clamp and a second rope clamp such that the first rope clamp and the second rope clamp are supported by a same support element; removing the old hoisting roping; and installing a new hoisting roping by guiding the new hoisting roping to pass from the traction sheave to the elevator car or the counterweight via the aperture in the floor of the machine room, the new hoisting roping comprising a first part that is guided to pass to the elevator car or the counterweight to a first diverting pulley, and onwards from the first diverting pulley back upwards to the first rope clamp; and a second part that is guided to pass to the elevator car or the counterweight to a second diverting pulley, and onwards from the second diverting pulley back upwards to the second rope clamp. |
| US08448321B2 |
Press-fit device
A press-fit device includes a base plate, a jig base and a robot mounted on the base plate, a press-fit unit mounted at a portion of the robot, a supporting plate mounted on the jig base, and a supporting block mounted to a side portion of the connecting frame. The supporting plate and block can support repulsive force that can be generated when the press-fit component is press-fitted to the press-fit object. |
| US08448320B2 |
Clamp apparatus for threadedly connected tubulars
A clamp for clamping to two tubulars, each of the two tubulars including a component of a top drive system, the two tubulars threadedly connected together, the clamp for inhibiting relative rotation of the two tubulars, each of the two tubulars having at least one tubular projection projecting therefrom, the clamp including a clamp body having an interior surface, a plurality of clamp projections projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the clamp body for holding the at least one tubular projection projecting from each of the two tubulars. |
| US08448318B2 |
Removal tool
A tool and a method for removing a cord plate or junction box from a surface of a photovoltaic laminated module, that is to be refitted, scrapped or recycled includes a first and a second arm of a clamp mechanism, that can operate like a claw, positioned on opposing sides of the cord plate, at the interface between the cord plate and the module surface. The arms can be pinched together to bring the moving arm closer towards the fixed arm, to apply an upward pressure that breaks the bond between the cord plate and the module surface. |
| US08448317B2 |
Brake adjusters
A brake adjuster for adjusting the working clearance of the shoes of an automotive drum brake. The adjuster has three co-axial elements, a first end element having a head portion for engagement with a first brake shoe and a threaded stem portion, an intermediate element in threaded engagement with the first end element, and a second end element having a head portion for engagement with a second brake shoe and a stem portion slideably connected with the intermediate element and free to rotate relative thereto. A reaction member is mounted on the intermediate element, and a toothed ring gear rotates with the intermediate element and is axially located between the second end element and the reaction member. A leaf spring acts between the second end element and the reaction member for pushing the second end element away from the intermediate element. |
| US08448316B1 |
Method and apparatus for single hand attachment of drywall corner beads
A tool that can be held and operated with one hand to attach a corner bead to an outside corner of drywall includes a substantially V-shaped member having a pair of interior surfaces disposed at an angle of less than 100° and a frame or handle attached thereto. The handle may be sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the palm of a human hand. A pair of opposed pincers having pointed tips are pivotally mounted relative to the V-shaped member so as to allow the tips to move in a converging direction. A mechanical linkage system translates force applied to the handle into a converging motion of the pincers. |
| US08448313B2 |
Method for producing ceramic body
Provided is a method for producing a ceramic body, which is capable of preventing the ingress of moisture into a void between a conductor and the ceramic body more effectively in the ceramic body including the conductor therein. Ingress of a supercritical fluid containing an oxide sol precursor is achieved into a void between an internal electrode layer and a ceramic laminate. After that, the oxide sol is turned into a gel, and subjected to a heat treatment, thereby filling the void between the internal electrode layer and the ceramic laminate with an oxide. |
| US08448311B2 |
Method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator
When a base substrate where through electrodes are formed is anodically bonded to a lid substrate that includes a bonding film formed on the entire lower surface thereof, a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator includes a superimposing process for superimposing the lid substrate on the base substrate so that a piezoelectric vibrating reed is received in a cavity, after bonding the piezoelectric vibrating reed to the upper surface of the base substrate; a setting process for placing a dummy member, which is made of a material in which ions can be transferred at a bonding temperature, on an electrode plate, and placing the superimposed substrates on the dummy member so that the base substrate faces the dummy member; and an applying process for applying a bonding voltage between the electrode plate and the bonding film after heating the dummy member and the substrates up to the bonding temperature. |
| US08448309B2 |
Aramid nonwoven fabric and preparation method therefor
The present invention relates to an aramid nonwoven fabric showing more improved tenacity and superior heat-insulating property, and a method of preparing the same.The aramid nonwoven fabric is what includes 10 to 100 wt % of para-aramid staple fibers and 0 to 90 wt % of meta-aramid staple fibers, and has an air permeability of 40 to 200 cm3/cm2/sec and an average pore size of 20 to 50 μm. Such aramid nonwoven fabric can be prepared by carding aramid fibers including the para-aramid staple fibers and the meta-aramid staple fibers so as to form a web, needle-punching the same, and water-punching the same with a prescribed water pressure. |
| US08448308B2 |
Buckle
A buckle includes a buckle body, two first retainers, and two second retainers connected respectively and detachably to the first retainers. The buckle body includes an insert groove having two upwardly facing openings, two stop portions, and a resilient pressing arm. The first retainers are inserted into the insert groove via the openings, respectively. Each of the first retainers includes a resilient retaining plate biased to a retaining position to prevent removal of the corresponding first retainer from the buckle body. Each of the resilient retaining plates is removable from the retaining position. When the resilient pressing arm is pressed, each of the resilient retaining plates is removed from the retaining position by the resilient pressing arm. |
| US08448300B2 |
Auxiliary handle
An auxiliary handle for a hand-held power tool has a handle piece, a fixation means for fixing the auxiliary handle to the hand-held power tool, a rod with at least one set of teeth, and a guide in which the rod is seated longitudinally movably. A locking mechanism has a pawl, a pivot axis about which the pawl can be rotated between a locking position and a release position, and at least one locking tooth on the pawl that engages in a locked position with the guide, and is pivoted out of the guide in a release position. A spring element initially tensions the pawl into the locking position. A distance of the spring element from the pivot axis is less than a distance of the locking tooth from the pivot axis. |
| US08448292B2 |
Cyclone-like separator for a vacuum cleaner
A cyclone separator for a vacuum cleaner. The separator has a cyclone chamber, an air entrance device having a flow passage arrangement therethrough for introducing an air stream into the cyclone chamber in a manner that causes the air stream to swirl in the cyclone chamber to remove dust from the air stream, and an air outlet for emitting the air stream from the cyclone chamber. The entrance device has a control member that is operable to alter the flow passage arrangement such that one or more properties of the air stream in the cyclone chamber are affected by the alteration. The flow passage arrangement has a first path and a second path, and the control member is operable to alter the flow passage arrangement by redirecting the air stream from the first path to the second path. |
| US08448290B2 |
Device for the jointed connection of a wiper blade
The invention relates to a device (10) for the jointed connection of a wiper blade (12), having a wiper arm (18), wherein a connector (20) intended to be connected to the wiper blade (12) has a joint part (32) which forms a joint with a joint part (40) on a connector (38) intended to be connected to the wiper arm, and one of the joint parts (40) is a hub (40) open in the longitudinal direction of the associated component (20 or 28), the hub being supported with respect to the other component (38) in the direction opposite (42) the hub opening (42) when in the installed state, wherein the side walls (30, 56) of the connector (20) and of the connector (38) overlap. It is suggested that the side walls (56) of one component (38) has recesses (44) which are open to the wiper strip (14), and plunge into the projections (34) in the wiper blade (12) operating position, such that both components (20, 38) are locked against each other in the longitudinal direction. |
| US08448286B2 |
Bristle tufts and toothbrush with bristle tufts
A bristle cluster for a toothbrush is provided. The bristle cluster includes a number of bristles of a first type and a number of bristles of a second type. The bristles of the first type have wear characteristics that differ from the wear characteristics of the second type. The bristles of the first type have a wear indicator which causes a color change of the bristles, and the bristles of the second type, upon continuous mechanical stress, undergo a visible mechanical change and the free ends of the bristles of the second type are designed to be capable of being longitudinally fanned out. |
| US08448285B2 |
Toothbrush and methods of making and using same
The disclosed embodiments relate to a toothbrush and methods of making it. The toothbrush may have an elongated body being composed of a first material and having a head portion and a handle portion, a head composed of a second material and disposed in the head portion of the elongated body, and a plurality of bristles extending from the head forming a bristle brush. The method of making a toothbrush may include molding a head of a first material, inserting the head into an elongated body mold, molding an elongated body having a head portion and a handle portion of a second material onto the head, and inserting bristles into the head. The first material is more rigid than the second material. |
| US08448284B2 |
Toothbrush with faceted handle
The toothbrush according to the invention is equipped with a handle of which the surface is formed, at least in certain sections, in a facet-like manner by way of multiplicity of planar surface-area elements. The surface-area elements are arranged directly adjacent to one another and form a network of element edges. The multiplicity of surface-area elements reproduce, more or less, an essentially rounded handle form, this ensuring comfortable use of the toothbrush in different rotary positions in relation to its longitudinal axis. |
| US08448283B2 |
Toothbrush with dual rotary brushing system
The invention relates to a mechanical toothbrush with a dual rotary brushing system having a handle and a head fixed on the handle. The head is provided with adjacent contrarotating brushes that are of cylindrical shape and have substantially parallel axes, each of them being supported at least at their distal end by a bearing and each being driven by a shaft. The shafts are flexible and supported by the two bearings to allow the two brushes to move away from and towards each other. The support includes four flexible branches around a central component serving to fix the support on the head composed of a single arm. The support and/or the head of the toothbrush are designed such that the support is fixed on the head while allowing the support to pivot about its point of fixation to the head. |
| US08448280B2 |
Method of providing a parapet wall on a bridge
A bridge replacement method is disclosed. The bridge includes a deck supported by a pair of abutments, each abutment having wing walls. The deck is removed, footings are cast in holes dug behind each abutment and a pier is provided on each footing. Substantially parallel and coplanar cambered beams are provided. Each beam spans between and is supported by the piers. A brace assembly reinforces the beam camber. On each adjacent pair of beams, precast deck elements are placed, such that each element of said plurality spans the beam pair, to define at least transverse gaps between the elements and put the upper surfaces of the elements in compression in a transverse direction. The gaps are grouted. After grout curing, the brace is adjusted to reduce the beam camber and cause the upper surface of the elements to also be put into compression in a direction parallel to the beams. |
| US08448278B1 |
Ramp system for cargo airplanes
A ramp system for a C-130 cargo airplane preferably includes a lead ramp, a ramp pad, a plurality of ramps and a plurality of ramp stands. A second embodiment of a ramp system for a C-130 cargo airplane preferably includes a plurality of wedges, a plurality of ramp pads, the plurality of ramps and the plurality of ramp stands. A ramp system for a C-5 or C-17 cargo airplane preferably includes the plurality of wedges, the plurality of ramp pads, the plurality of ramps and one ramp stand. |
| US08448273B2 |
Pillow and cover for a pillow
A cover for a pillow including a hollow body for receiving the pillow, an opening for allowing insertion of the pillow into the hollow body, and a closure spanning the opening for closing the pillow within the hollow body. The hollow body includes a breathable inner liner made of a non-woven material, a breathable outer shell surrounding the inner liner, and a silk floss lining retained between the inner liner and the outer shell. A pillow including the inner liner, outer shell and silk floss lining. |
| US08448270B2 |
Movable support seat for a shower head
A movable support seat for a shower head includes a holding member to receive a removable shower head; a moving member moving vertically along a post and being used to receive the holding member; the moving member having a body disposed to the post, at least one movable retaining paw axially fixed to the body, a resilient element installed to a predetermined position of the retaining paw to actuate the paw portion to elastically engage with a peripheral outer surface of the post and to position the moving member to the post such that when a pressing portion of the retaining paw is pressed, first or second abutting wall of the retaining paw disengages from the post so that the moving member is adjusted freely on the post. |
| US08448268B2 |
Pool cover hanging assembly
A pool cover hanging assembly includes a plurality of pool cover hanging devices. Each pool cover hanging device includes a rim engaging element including a pool wall abutting portion, a horizontally adjustable member coupled to the pool wall abutting portion at a first end, and a vertically adjustable connecting member coupled to the horizontally adjustable member. Each device also includes a vertically extending rod having a top end and a bottom end, the rod lying parallel to the exterior surface of the pool sidewall and being coupled at the top end to the vertical member of the rim engaging element. A rack arm is removably coupled to the vertically extending rod, wherein the removable rack arm is adapted to support a pool cover in a stored position. |
| US08448263B2 |
Wearable stadium article of clothing
A cold-weather protective wearable article of clothing includes a substantially tubular main body portion. The main body portion having a continuous lower body portion and an upper body portion having a slit cut therein from a neck portion to an upper edge of said lower body portion. A first fastening mechanism is disposed along longitudinal edges of the upper body portion for closing such upper body portion into a tubular shape. A second fastening mechanism has a first portion thereof disposed along a shorter top edge adjacent proximal corners for holding the upper corners in place over the shoulders of a wearer. A second portion of the second fastening mechanism is disposed in at least two locations proximal midsection adjacent the longitudinal edges. A hood is one of formed integrally with and attached to the upper body portion adjacent the top edge of such upper body portion. |
| US08453259B2 |
Authentication apparatus, authentication system, authentication method, and authentication program using biometric information for authentication
In order to enable multiple logins by a same user, the authentication server includes a registration portion to store a user record including a fingerprint image for authentication of identity of a user and owner authentication information stored in a IC card issued to the user; an identity authentication portion to compare a fingerprint image received from one of MFPs with the one included in the user record for authentication; a first permission portion to transmit a permission signal permitting login based on the authenticated fingerprint image to the MFP that transmitted the fingerprint image; an owner authentication portion to compare owner authentication information received from one of the MFPs with the one included in the user record for authentication; and a second permission portion to transmit a permission signal permitting login based on the authenticated owner authentication information to the MFP that transmitted the owner authentication information. |
| US08453257B2 |
Approach for securing distributed deduplication software
The various embodiments of the present invention include techniques for securing the use of data deduplication activities occurring in a source-deduplicating storage management system. These techniques are intended to prevent fake data backup, target data contamination, and data spoofing attacks initiated by a source. In one embodiment, one technique includes limiting chunk querying to authorized users. Another technique provides detection of attacks and unauthorized access to keys within the target system. Additional techniques include the combination of validating the existence of data from the source by validating the data chunk, validating a data sample of the data chunk, or validating a hash value of the data chunk. A further embodiment involves the use of policies to provide authorization levels for chunk sharing and linking within the target. These techniques separately and in combination provide a comprehensive strategy to avoid unauthorized access to data within the target storage system. |
| US08453256B2 |
Taking configuration management data and change business process data into account with regard to authorization and authentication rules
An approach receives a request from a user, typically a change implementer, on a computer system. The request includes a user identifier and a requested action. A current timestamp corresponding to a computer system clock is retrieved. Scheduled changes are retrieved from a data store accessible by the processor. The current timestamp is compared to the scheduled change periods. The requested action is allowed if the comparison reveals that the current timestamp is within one of the retrieved scheduled changes, and the requested action is denied if the comparison reveals that the current timestamp is outside of the retrieved scheduled change periods. |
| US08453249B2 |
Document checking apparatus, computer-readable recording medium, and document checking method
A document checking apparatus includes a keyword appearance position extracting unit that extracts keywords and the appearance positions of the keywords from a target document including a confidential document; a keyword pair extracting unit that treats each keyword of the appearance positions of the extracted keywords as a target and determines whether there is another extracted keyword within a predetermined range before and after the target keyword; a feature element matrix creating unit that generates, when it is determined that there is the another keyword, combination information obtained by combining the determination target keyword and the another keyword in association with anteroposterior information of the appearance positions of the keywords; and a computing unit that determines whether the number of combination information, among the plurality of combination information of the generated target document, identical to the combination information of the confidential document is not less than a predetermined value. |
| US08453248B2 |
Method and devices for video processing rights enforcement
A system for protection against unauthorized modifications of digital content, in particular image content, in which a content processing system retrieves content, a fingerprint for the content and at least one modification limit expressing authorized modifications to the content. The content may then be modified, but before saving or exportation is allowed, a second fingerprint is calculated, and the difference between the fingerprints is compared with the at least one modification limit. If the difference is within the allowed bounds, then saving or exportation is allowed; if not, it is prevented. Also provided are a method and a content consumer device performing essentially the same steps before allowing rendering of the content. |
| US08453244B2 |
Server, user device and malware detection method thereof
A server, a user device, and a malware detection method thereof are provided. The server connects with the user device via a network, and records execution records of the user device. Based on the history of the execution records of the user device, the server can detect whether the user device has malwares or not accordingly. |
| US08453236B2 |
Tamper-aware virtual TPM
Methods, software/firmware and apparatus for implementing a tamper-aware virtual trusted platform module (TPM). Under the method, respective threads comprising a virtual TPM thread and a security-patrol threads are executed on a host processor. In one embodiment, the host processor is a multi-threaded processor having multiple logical processors, and the respective threads are executed on different logical processors. While the virtual TPM thread is used to perform various TPM functions, the security-patrol thread monitors for physical attacks on the processor by implementing various numerical calculation loops, wherein an erroneous calculation is indicative of a physical attack. In response to detection of such an attack, various actions can be taken in view of one or more predefined security policies, such as logging the event, shutting down the platform and/or informing a remote management entity. |
| US08453235B1 |
Controlling access to mail transfer agents by clients
Provided is a method and system for controlling access to a mail transfer agent (MTA), included in a mail server infrastructure (MSI), by a client, which is either a mail user agent (MUA) or an MTA not included in the MSI, and features determining whether to grant access to a client based upon the accesses made to this and other MTAs at the present time or in the past. To that end, the method includes receiving a request for access to the one of the plurality of mail transfer agents by the client. Access between the client and other MTAs is determined to obtain an existing access profile. A conditional access profile is developed from the existing access profile and from the request. The conditional access profile is compared against a permissible access profile to determine whether to grant the request. If it is determined that the conditional access profile does not violate the rules and criteria, the access is granted. Otherwise, access is denied. Also disclosed is a system that carries-out the functions of the method. |
| US08453233B2 |
Method of and circuit for identifying and/or verifying hardware and/or software of an appliance and of a data carrier cooperating with the appliance
In a method of and circuit for identifying and/or verifying the hardware and/or software of an appliance and of a data carrier, for example a smartcard, cooperating with the appliance, it is provided that a first unit (E1) for verifying the hardware and/or software of the appliance, in particular a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and a second unit (E2) for verifying and/or identifying and authorizing the external data carrier, in particular a Secure Application Module (SAM), are coupled for direct data exchange via a communication interface (17) of the central arithmetic units (2, 10), in order to reduce or eliminate the possibility of attack or manipulation. |
| US08453230B2 |
Communicating apparatus for performing communication over IP network by using SIP, controlling method therefor, and program
A communicating apparatus that is able to perform IP-FAX communication without making the user aware of the attack and without any difficulty, even if the device recognizes a DoS attack or the like. communication that uses a SIP server on a network is performed by a communicating unit. Unauthorized communication from the communication performed by the communicating unit is detected. A port number of a receiving port of the communicating unit is changed when the unauthorized communication is detected. it is determined whether or not the detected unauthorized communication has passed through the SIP server. The communicating apparatus is controlled to request the SIP server to delete the port number of the receiving port that has not been changed yet if it is determined that the unauthorized communication has passed through the SIP server and to re-register on the SIP server a port number of a receiving port that has been changed if it is determined that the unauthorized communication has bypassed the SIP server. |
| US08453220B2 |
Device association
Embodiments provide systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for enabling a client to associate with a device. In various embodiments, the device may transmit cryptographic data to a client. Based on and utilizing the cryptographic data, the client may associate with the device. |
| US08453218B2 |
System and methods for facilitating secure communications on a website
A system and methods for facilitating secure communications on a website are presented. The system comprising a security server configured to receive a secure message from a creator device is disclosed. The security server encodes the received message and sends the encoded message or a representation of the encoded message for posting on the website so that one or more users of the website have the ability to request that the security server make the message available after the encoded message has been decoded. |
| US08453214B1 |
Methods of locking a website
Methods of the present inventions allow for locking a website. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of hosting a website on at least one server communicatively coupled to a network, receiving a request to lock the website, and, responsive to the request, changing access permissions to “read-only” for a directory, folder, file, database, or database table rendering the website functional. |
| US08453211B2 |
Method of obtaining proxy call session control function address while roaming
The present invention provides a method for obtaining a proxy call session control function address, comprising when a terminal accesses an IP multi-media subsystem through a world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network in roaming scenarios, a visited authentication, authorization, and accounting server (V-AAA) of the terminal retransmitting an access request message sent by an access service network (ASN) or a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) or a home agent (HA) of said terminal to a home authentication, authorization, and accounting server (H-AAA) of said terminal after receiving the access request message, and H-AAA finally deciding whether the P-CSCF is located in a visited network or a home network according to a roaming protocol and visited network capability, and returning the determined P-CSCF address information, included by H-AAA in an access accept message corresponding to said access request message, to the sender of said access request message through V-AAA. |
| US08453208B2 |
Network authentication method, method for client to request authentication, client, and device
A network authentication method, a method for a client to request authentication, a client, and a device are provided. The method includes: receiving synchronize (SYN) data sent by a client, where the SYN data includes a sequence number SEQ1 and a network parameter; sending synchronize acknowledge (SYN_ACK) data to the client in response to the SYN data, where the SYN_ACK data includes an acknowledgment number ACK2, and the value of ACK2 is a value obtained by carrying out a function transformation according to the network parameter of the SYN data; receiving RESET (RST) data sent by the client in response to the SYN_ACK data, where the RST data includes a sequence number SEQ3 or an acknowledgment number ACK3, and the value of SEQ3 or ACK3 is the same as that of ACK2, and the RST data further includes a network parameter the same as that of the SYN data; carrying out the function transformation according to the network parameter of the RST data to obtain a check value CHK; and passing the authentication of the client if CHK matches SEQ3 or ACK3. Therefore, the occupation of storage resources is reduced. |
| US08453207B1 |
Methods and systems for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions
A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data. |
| US08453206B2 |
Detecting unauthorized tampering of a program
A tamper detection device detects tampering with a program loaded to memory, at high speed and without compromising the safety. Prior to loading of a program, a dividing-size determining unit 12 determines a block size based on random number information, a dividing unit 13 divides the program by the block size into data blocks, and a first conversion unit 14 converts, by conducting a logical operation, the data blocks into intermediate authentication data no greater than the block size, and a second conversion unit 15 conducts a second conversion on the intermediate authentication data to generate authentication data. The authentication data and the block size are stored. After the program loading, a program resulting from the loading is divided by the block size, followed by the first and second conversions to generate comparative data. The comparative data is compared with the authentication data to detect tampering of the loaded program. |
| US08453205B1 |
Secure network services via daemons
A system receives a request from a requestor for a service performed by a network device, establishes an encrypted session with the requestor, and utilizes a temporary process to determine whether the requestor is authorized for the service. If the requestor is authorized, the system redirects the service request to the service, and provides the service to the requestor. |
| US08453203B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for facilitating communication in an interoperability network
Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating communication among a plurality of entities via an interoperability network. Each entity has policy data corresponding thereto governing interaction with the entity via the interoperability network. A message is transmitted from a first one of the entities to a second one of the entities. The first entity has first policy data corresponding thereto and the second entity has second policy data corresponding thereto. The transmitted message was handled in the network according to combined policy data representing a combination of the first and second policy data. |
| US08453201B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for facilitating communication in an interoperability network
Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating communication among a plurality of entities via an interoperability network. Each entity has policy data corresponding thereto governing interaction with the entity via the interoperability network. A message is transmitted from a first one of the entities to a second one of the entities. The first entity has first policy data corresponding thereto and the second entity has second policy data corresponding thereto. The transmitted message was handled in the network according to combined policy data representing a combination of the first and second policy data. |
| US08453198B2 |
Policy based, delegated limited network access management
Policy-based, delegated limited network access management places day-to-day control of network access in the hands of authorized users, referred to as resource access administrators, selected for their business knowledge and ability to respond quickly to business events. Resource access administrators have the ability to respond, in the form of access decisions proposed by individuals with knowledge or, or responsibility for business processes and business partner relationships and shaped and pre-approved by network security specialists, referred to as network access administrators. This approach, therefore, reduces the cost, complexity, and delay (latency) associated with managing external network access without compromising network security. |
| US08453197B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for isolating a temporary partition on a host
A method, apparatus and system enable a temporary partition on a host to be isolated. More specifically, a temporary partition may be initialized in a partitioned host, assigned its own security policy and given the necessary resources to complete a task. Thereafter, the temporary partition may be dismantled. Since the temporary partition is isolated from the remaining partitions on the host, the temporary partition may be allowed to run a “weaker” security policy than the rest of the partitions because the isolation of the temporary partition ensures that the security of the remaining partitions may remain uncompromised. |
| US08453192B2 |
TV slideshow
A system may include a set-top box to detect a trigger and capture a first snapshot from a first television channel in response to detecting the trigger and based on a set of slideshow configuration parameters. The system may further provide the first snapshot to a display as a part of a television slideshow. |
| US08453190B2 |
System for sharing video with advertisements over a network
A user can create a video segment or employ an existing video segment, upload the segment to a server, indicate an advertisement to be associated with the video, and then send it to a recipient over a computer network. The user provides an indication that one or more particular video segments and advertisements are to be shared over the network. An identifier for the video segment is automatically created and the segment and the identifier are automatically uploaded to a host computer over the network such as the Internet. The video segment, the identifier (optionally with other identifying material such as an identity of the sender, and an advertisement selected by the sender can be stored at the direction of the host computer. |
| US08453187B2 |
Multistream video communication with staggered access points
A system and method that provide reduced latency in a video signal processing system. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise transmitting a first video information stream representative of a unit of video information. For example, the transmitted first video information stream may correspond to a video channel. A second video information stream representative of the unit of video information may be transmitted simultaneously with the first video information stream. The second video information stream may also, for example, correspond to the video channel. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a plurality of simultaneously transmitted video information streams. A video information stream of the plurality of received video information streams may be identified that, when processed, is expected to result in the lowest latency in presenting the unit of video information to the user. The identified video information stream may then be so processed. |
| US08453181B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing a channel search in a television
A television, such as an HDTV receiver, includes a plurality of signal inputs each of which is adapted to receive television signals comprising a plurality of channels and communicate the received television signals to a processor/tuner for selection of the various channels by a user for viewing on a display of the television. A channel search routine for the detection of channels in the television signal is accomplished on the currently designated signal input rather than on all signal inputs of the television. The channels detected during the search of the currently designated signal input are included in a channel list that is stored in memory of the television. A GUI is preferably used to initiate the channel search and is capable of displaying the detected channels relating to the currently selected signal input. Channel lists for each signal input are updated as the channels are detected. A complete channel list may be maintained for all signal inputs as well as individual channel lists for each signal input. |
| US08453180B2 |
Client-side multimedia content targeting system
A client-side multimedia content targeting system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The viewer may also explicitly express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The viewer's client system locally retains the viewer's preferences and other personal information that the viewer has entered and is sent targeting information relating to program guide objects by a server. Using the viewer's preferences and personal information, the client system creates a viewer profile, which is used with the targeting information by the client system to record content that is within the viewer profile. The invention's client-based form of targeting can be applied to almost any multimedia situation, including, but not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, music, radio, audio, etc. |
| US08453176B2 |
OCAP/STB ACAP/satellite-receiver audience response/consumer application
An exemplary aspect is directed toward one or more solutions that are capable of providing feedback information about OCAP/ACAP/IMS solutions generally related to audience acceptance and satisfaction, and extensions thereto. For example, one exemplary aspect is directed toward information, such as consumer feedback about their viewing choices, being gathered, evaluated and distributed. Even more specifically, an exemplary aspect is directed toward the use of information, such as personalized or customized information and personal preferences contained in an STB combined with an OCAP/ACAP/IMS intelligent personal agent and application(s) to provide advanced interactive and interoperable services to both obtain and distribute feedback about OCAP/ACAP/IMS services. |
| US08453174B2 |
Method and system for displaying advertising, video, and program schedule listing
A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule. |
| US08453173B1 |
Estimating demographic compositions of television audiences from audience similarities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for estimating demographic compositions of television audiences from audience similarities. In an aspect, pairwise cosine similarities of segment of viewers of rated and unrated television programs are determined, demographic information of rated programs is attributed to the unrated programs from the cosine similarity measures and demographic information for the rated programs. |
| US08453168B2 |
Disk drive having a tray lock releasing unit and a method of releasing a tray lock using the tray lock releasing unit
A disk drive including a main chassis; a tray on which a disk is to be removably mounted, the tray being installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and including a pickup transporting unit that is configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a straight line in a radial direction of the disk. The pickup base includes an optical pickup installed thereon, The disk drive also includes a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, is driven by receiving a driving force of the pickup transporting unit, and releases lock of the tray from the main chassis. The disk drive drives a lock releasing unit by using driving force of a pickup transporting unit. |
| US08453165B2 |
Distributing event processing in event relationship networks
A computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code for distributing event processing are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An analysis is performed of the event information flowing from one event relationship network subnet to another event relationship network subnet in an event relationship network. Strength of a relationship between the first and the second event relationship network subnets is determined based on the analysis. A distribution of the event processing in the event relationship network is recommended based on the strength of the relationship. |
| US08453164B2 |
Method and apparatus for reduction of event notification within a web service application of a multi-functional peripheral
Techniques are provided for reducing the amount of event notifications within a Web Service Application (WSA) of a device such as a multi-functional peripheral (MFP). In one technique, a Subscription ID is linked with a Job ID within a reduced notification table. When an event occurs related to a specific job, an event notification is sent only to the subscriber associated with that job. |
| US08453162B2 |
Context information associated with message flows in a messaging system
Method, parser, messaging system, computer program and computer program product for handling context information associated with a message flow in a messaging system, the message flow having processing nodes for processing the message. A request is received at the parser to perform a first operation associated with the message. An indication of the context information to retrieve from a context store is obtained. This context information is for use by at least one of the processing nodes in the message flow for determining how to process the message. The context information is retrieved from the context store and a logical representation of the context information is then created in a format accessible by at least one processing node in the message flow. |
| US08453160B2 |
Methods and systems for authorizing an effector command in an integrated modular environment
Methods and systems are provided for authorizing a command of an integrated modular environment in which a plurality of partitions control actions of a plurality of effectors is provided. A first identifier, a second identifier, and a third identifier are determined. The first identifier identifies a first partition of the plurality of partitions from which the command originated. The second identifier identifies a first effector of the plurality of effectors for which the command is intended. The third identifier identifies a second partition of the plurality of partitions that is responsible for controlling the first effector. The first identifier and the third identifier are compared to determine whether the first partition is the same as the second partition for authorization of the command. |
| US08453153B1 |
Loadbalancing multiple files across computing devices
A load balancer evenly distributes processing loads to multiple computing devices. A data structure may be divided into multiple files, each of which corresponds to an estimated load value. The files are assigned to the computing devices in such a way that the processing load at each of the computing devices and the number of files assigned to each of the computing devices is generally balanced. |
| US08453152B2 |
Workflow control of reservations and regular jobs using a flexible job scheduler
A scheduler receives at least one flexible reservation request for scheduling in a computing environment comprising consumable resources. The flexible reservation request specifies a duration and at least one required resource. The consumable resources comprise at least one machine resource and at least one floating resource. The scheduler creates a flexible job for the at least one flexible reservation request and places the flexible job in a prioritized job queue for scheduling, wherein the flexible job is prioritizes relative to at least one regular job in the prioritized job queue. The scheduler adds a reservation set to a waiting state for the at least one flexible reservation request. The scheduler, responsive to detecting the flexible job positioned in the prioritized job queue for scheduling next and detecting a selection of consumable resources available to match the at least one required resource for the duration, transfers the selection of consumable resources to the reservation and sets the reservation to an active state, wherein the reservation is activated as the selection of consumable resources become available and has uninterrupted use of the selection of consumable resources for the duration by at least one job bound to the flexible reservation. |
| US08453151B2 |
Method and system for coordinating hypervisor scheduling
A method for executing an application on multiple nodes includes synchronizing a first clock of a first node and a second clock of a second node, configuring a first hypervisor on the first node to execute a first application domain and a first privileged domain, and configuring a second hypervisor on the second node to execute a second application domain and a second privileged domain. Configuring the hypervisor includes allocating a first number of cycles of the first clock to the first privileged domain. Configuring the second hypervisor includes allocating the first number of cycles of the first clock to the second privileged domain. The method further includes executing the application in the first application domain and the second application domain. The first application domain and the second application domain execute semi-synchronously and the first privileged domain and the second privileged domain execute semi-synchronously. |
| US08453150B2 |
Multithread application-aware memory scheduling scheme for multi-core processors
A device may include a memory controller that identifies a multithread application, and adjusts a memory scheduling scheme for the multithread application based on the identification of the multithread application. |
| US08453149B2 |
Efficient multi-core processing of events
A computer implemented method for handling events in a multi-core processing environment is provided. The method comprises handling an event by a second application running on a second core, in response to determining that the event is initiated by a first application running on a first core; and running a third application on the first core, while the first application is waiting for the event to be handled by the second application. |
| US08453147B2 |
Techniques for reducing thread overhead for systems with multiple multi-threaded processors
Techniques for processing requests from a processing thread for a shared resource shared among threads on one or more processors include receiving a bundle of requests from a portion of a thread that is executed during a single wake interval on a particular processor. The bundle includes multiple commands for one or more shared resources. The bundle is processed at the shared resource(s) to produce a bundle result. The bundle result is sent to the particular processor. The thread undergoes no more than one wake interval to sleep interval cycle while the bundle commands are processed at the shared resource(s). These techniques allow a lock for shared resource(s) to be obtained, used and released all while the particular thread is sleeping, so that locks are held for shorter times than in conventional approaches. Using these techniques, line rate packet processing is more readily achieved in routers with multiple multi-threaded processors. |
| US08453146B2 |
Apportioning a counted value to a task executed on a multi-core processor
A technique includes providing data indicative of a counted value acquired by a hardware counter of a processing core during a time segment in which a plurality of tasks are active on the core and, in a processor-based machine, determining a likelihood that the counted value is attributable to a given task of the tasks during the time segment and attributing a portion of the counted value to the given task based at least in part on the determined likelihood. |
| US08453140B2 |
Method for generically handling carrier specific provisioning for computer cellular wireless cards
Methods and systems enable computers to be equipped and provisioned to access any cellular network without the need for carrier-specific inventory or point-of sale provisioning of the cellular network transceiver. Multiple digitally signed provisioning data images for multiple carriers are stored on the computer's hard disk memory prior to sale. Upon initialization, provisioning data for a selected carrier are downloaded to random access memory of the cellular network data transceiver from the hard disk. A version number within the provisioning data is compared to a version number of provisioning information stored in the transceiver's nonvolatile memory. If the downloaded provisioning data is newer than that stored in nonvolatile memory, the downloaded provisioning data is stored in the nonvolatile memory. The random access memory is cleared of the downloaded provisioning data and initialization of the transceiver is begun. Updated provisioning information can be received and stored to the hard disk. |
| US08453138B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating an update package
Method and apparatus for generating an update package. The update package is capable of in-place updating an old version to a new version wherein the old and new versions are stored in a storage device. The method includes inserting update commands into the update package, wherein the update commands allow updating the old version to the new version. The method further includes checking the update commands for determining whether they create at least one conflict, and if so, selecting one conflict out of the at least one conflict, wherein content overridden in said one conflict requires protection. A protection command allowing protection of the content before it is being overridden and a restoration command allowing restoration of the content with the protected content after it was overridden are also inserted into the update package. |
| US08453136B1 |
Change tracking and incremental synchronization of EDA design and technology data
A method and an apparatus are described for allowing several different applications to incrementally collaborate while making changes to a circuit design. |
| US08453135B2 |
Computation reuse for loops with irregular accesses
A compiler selects a nested loop within software code that includes an outer loop and an inner loop. The outer loop includes an outer induction variable and the inner loop includes an inner induction variable. The compiler identifies a computation included in the nested loop that generates an irregular array access, which includes an expression of both the outer induction variable and the inner induction variable. Next, the compiler identifies a redundant calculation for the computation based upon the outer induction variable and the inner induction variable, and generates a temporary variable to correspond with the redundant calculation. The compiler replaces the computation with the temporary variable in the nested loop and, in turn, compiles the nested loop with the included temporary variable. |
| US08453132B2 |
System and method for recompiling code based on locality domain and thread affinity in NUMA computer systems
A technique for reducing non-local access, in dynamically generated code that resides in a code buffer of a non-uniform memory access computer system including multiple nodes, for improving overall performance of dynamic optimization systems. In one example embodiment, this is accomplished by partitioning the code buffer into multiple smaller code buffers and assigning each of the multiple smaller code buffers to one of the multiple nodes. Statically determining which methods in the generated code are executed by a thread and then to place those methods in associated one of the multiple smaller code buffers to reduce memory latencies introduced by non-local accesses. |
| US08453130B2 |
Memory management for object oriented applications during runtime
Memory management for object oriented applications during run time includes loading an object oriented application into a computer memory. The object oriented application includes a plurality of nodes in a classification tree, the nodes including key value pairs. The nodes are aggregated in the classification tree by a computer. The aggregating includes eliminating redundant keys and creating a composite node. The composite node is loaded into the computer memory. The plurality of nodes in the classification tree are removed from the computer memory in response to loading the composite node into the computer memory. |
| US08453125B2 |
Generating inputs for client-server programs for fault-detection and localization
The present invention provides a system, computer program product, and a computer implemented method for analyzing a set of two or more communicating applications. The method begins with receiving a first second application that communicates with each other during execution. Next, an initial input for executing the first application and the second application is received. The initial input is added to a set of inputs. An iterative execution loop is performed at least once. The loop begins with selecting inputs out of the set of inputs for execution. Next, using the selected inputs, the first and/or the second application is executed while information regarding the execution and information communicated to the other application are recorded. A set of one or more new application inputs for either applications is generated based the second application recorded information and the first application information. These new inputs are added to the set of inputs. |
| US08453121B2 |
Managing the tracing of the execution of a computer program
A method and system for the management of tracing data of interest in a data processing system comprises identifying the location and length of one or more such units of interest as each unit is stored in main memory during execution of the program and recording a logical assignment of each unit of interest to a slot in a wrap around trace buffer. Copying of the units of interest to the trace buffer is deferred unless one or more predefined events occur. Such events may include an attempt to overwrite the data which has been logically assigned or a request for information stored in the trace buffer. The recorded assignments are discarded whenever it is calculated that the capacity of the trace buffer would be exceeded resulting in the corresponding units never needing to be copied to the trace buffer. |
| US08453115B2 |
Automatic data manipulation to influence code paths
Software development and testing systems use adaptive feedback to construct an input dataset for a target program. The target's operation is monitored to identify significant events that correlate with the input dataset. Critical events are detected and reported to a user. Various methods of implementing the adaptive feedback, and systems that can be tested using these methods, are also described. |
| US08453109B2 |
Framework for code generators
Embodiments of the invention provide a dictionary, which may be modified by a developer, that provides a mapping of the generation routine to be performed and a pointer or identifier of the generator employed for the specified generation routine. As will be appreciated, embodiments of the invention may employ a dictionary which comprises a plurality of generation routine-code generator identity data pairs. A generator routine may be, for example, associated with the generation of source code associated with a particular object class, fields, methods, method bodies, procedures, comments, subroutines and the like. By modifying a generation routine-code generator identity data pair in a generator dictionary, a developer or user is able to modify the source code (e.g., the structure and/or content of the source) which is ultimately generated by the generator. |
| US08453108B1 |
Static, configurable kernel interface
In one approach, a method is described of generating an interface for an operating system kernel. The method calls for creating an input file, where the input file includes a node structure for the interface. A kernel component of the interface is generated from the input file. A user space component of the interface is also generated from the input file. |
| US08453105B2 |
Device and method for automatically building applications from specifications and from off-the-shelf components selected by semantic analysis
When building applications from specifications and software components, a software component is associated to a semantic description comprising at least one pertinent term for defining each public operation this software component is able to perform. An analysis module receives a specification describing an application to be built, performs a semantic analysis of this specification to extract elementary requirements from the specification text and links between these elementary requirements, these links defining the structure of the specification. The analysis module extracts, for each elementary requirement, the pertinent terms it comprises and builds a semantic description based on its extracted pertinent terms and representing the semantics of this elementary requirement. The analysis module accesses the storing module to determine, for each extracted elementary requirement, which component(s) can perform the extracted elementary requirement, and a processing module assembles the determined software components according to the structure of the specification. |
| US08453104B2 |
Thin client software development environment
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a thin client software development environment. A server-based software development application is provided that is operable to be displayed in a thin client user interface on a client computer. The server-based development application has a server-based compiler. Input is received from the client computer to interact with a software development project using the server-based software development application. The software development project is stored in a location accessible from the software development application. A compile selection is received from the client computer to compile the software development project using the server-based software development application. A compiled application is generated with the server-based software development application and provided to the client computer. A sharing feature allows the software development project to be accessed by multiple users from different client computers. |
| US08453103B2 |
Real time DRC assistance for manual layout editing
Roughly described, while manually dragging shapes during IC layout editing, editing operations determine which edges of which shapes are moving at what speed ratios. Based on the edge information and the DRC rules, the system calculates and keeps track of the minimum of the maximum distance the edges are allowed to move with the cursor without violating DRC rules, in four linear directions and all corner directions. Once a next cursor destination point is known, a DRC clean destination point is calculated based on the linear and corner bounds. If the next cursor position is beyond a the push-through distance ahead of the new DRC clean point, the editing objects are moved to the user's destination point. Otherwise, the editing objects are moved to the new DRC clean destination point, thereby stopping movement at that point. |
| US08453102B1 |
Hierarchical variation analysis of integrated circuits
Technique assesses the impact of physical circuit variations, specification parameter variation, or process variations on clock, signal, and power network performance and through a hierarchical modeling and hierarchical Monte Carlo simulation method. |
| US08453100B2 |
Circuit analysis using transverse buckets
A method (and computer program) identify shapes and locations of transistor elements within a geometric circuit layout. The transistor elements include an active area, at least one gate conductor and other transistor elements. Also, the gate conductor has sides running in a first direction, and has a width dimension running in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method defines regions within the geometric circuit layout. To do so, the method defines a first region having a perimeter positioned along the sides of the gate conductor where the gate conductor intersects the active area and then expands the perimeter of the first region in the second direction to edges of the active area to define a perimeter of a second region. The first region and the second share perimeters in the first direction. The method then expands the perimeter of the second region in the first direction to define a perimeter of a third region. The second region and the third region share perimeters in the second direction. The method then separately evaluates effects the other transistor elements have within each of the first region, the second region, and the third region, to determine a characteristic of the gate conductor. |
| US08453098B2 |
Scan chain modification for reduced leakage
A leakage power control vector is loaded into existing test scan chain elements for application to circuit elements of a circuit in which the leakage currents are to be controlled. The vector is designed to configure the circuit elements into states in which leakage currents are reduced. A multiplexer selects the power control vector for loading into the scan chain elements, and a clock generator clocks the configuration vector into the scan chain elements. A sleep mode detector may be provided to configure the multiplexer to select the power control vector and to operate the clock generator to clock the power control vector into the scan chain elements when a sleep mode of the circuit is detected. |
| US08453097B2 |
System and method for series and parallel combinations of electrical elements
A method and system for generating and matching complex series and/or parallel combinations of nominally identical initial elements to achieve compound values having constant ratios to the initial elements and to each other is disclosed. The ratios between compound values can be held constant to almost any desired degree of accuracy, with potential errors greatly reduced from those typical in the construction of individual elements of different values. Since the initial elements are nominally identical, the ratios between values depend primarily upon the connections of the initial elements, rather than their geometry, and thus remain virtually constant regardless of variations in the manufacturing process. |
| US08453093B2 |
Alignment net insertion for straightening the datapath in a force-directed placer
An automated method for aligning a critical datapath in an integrated circuit design inserts an artificial alignment net in the netlist which interconnects all cells in the bit stack of the datapath. The cells are placed using a wirelength optimization which assigns weights to wire sections based on the alignment direction. The rate of change of the alignment weighting value can vary during different stages of global placement. The invention is particularly suited for a force-directed placer which uses a linear system solver to obtain a globally optimum solution for placement of the cells having some overlap among the cells, and thereafter spreads the cells to reduce the overlap. Pseudo nets are also inserted which interconnect a cell and an expected location of the cell after spreading for that iteration. |
| US08453082B2 |
Soft error verification in hardware designs
Soft error detection is performed by computation of states based on formal methods and by simulating a synthesized target identification logic together with the design. Soft errors may be simulated in response to detecting that a simulated state of the design is comprised by the states. A BDD representation of the design may be utilized to determine the states. A Boolean satisfiability problem may be defined and solved using an all-SAT solver in order to determine the states. |
| US08453075B2 |
Automated lithographic hot spot detection employing unsupervised topological image categorization
A method for proactively preventing lithographic problems is disclosed, which employs information generated from layout patterns including hot spots in a first technology node to identify hot spots in a second technology node employing a scaled down minimum dimension. In this proactive approach, problematic patterns or complex product geometries are identified in a chip design layout of the second technology node based on detection, in the chip design layout, of topological features that are similar to topological features of known hot spots in the first technology node. The identified patterns are potential hot spots in the chip design layout for the second technology node. Known hot spots in layout patterns in the first technology node are topologically categorized to provide a database for performing the fault detection and diagnosis on the chip design layout. |
| US08453068B2 |
Visualization tools for reviewing credibility and stateful hierarchical access to credibility
Some embodiments provide a credibility system including an interface portal for presenting a holistic view of entity credibility. To provide the holistic view, the credibility system aggregates credibility data from multiple data sources. The aggregated credibility data is processed and ordered to present different dimensions of entity credibility, with each dimension graphically presented in the interface portal through an interactive credibility module. In some embodiments, the credibility data associated with each credibility module is processed to produce at least one value that quantifiably represents the credibility data. In some embodiments, the credibility data associated with each credibility module is hierarchically ordered to present the credibility data in a drill-down fashion with each hierarchical layer presenting more detailed credibility data for better understanding the credibility data presented in the preceding layer. |
| US08453062B2 |
Virtual world viewer
A method for managing and operating one or more virtual world viewers in a virtual world may include generating a virtual world viewer feature on a computer system in response to a predetermined action by the user. The method may also include generating an option in the virtual world viewer feature for the user to either enter or select a different virtual world location from a current virtual world location of a user's avatar for locating a virtual world viewer for viewing the different virtual world location. The virtual world viewer may be generated on the computer system for the user to view the different virtual world location without the user's avatar leaving the current virtual world location. |
| US08453060B2 |
Panoramic ring user interface
A computer-readable medium and user interface for displaying media objects on a geographic map to a user are described. Indications from the user are received specifying a target location and a view direction on the geographic map. A database is accessed to retrieve media objects, either individually or in a panoramic view, that were captured in a geographic location in the proximity of the target location. The retrieved media objects are displayed on the map according to their geographic location from the target location. Enlarged versions of any of the retrieved media objects captured in the view direction from the target location are then presented to the user. |
| US08453057B2 |
Stage interaction for mobile device
A device displays, on a screen, a graphical window from a sequence of graphical windows, where the graphical window includes a group of display elements. The device also receives a user input to the graphical window and identifies a type of the user input, where the type of the user input includes a horizontal input or a vertical input. The device displays, on the screen, another graphical window from the sequence of graphical windows when the type of user input is a horizontal input and scrolls through a stack of the display elements within the graphical window when the type of user input is a vertical input. |
| US08453054B2 |
Data processing apparatus, image display method, and recording medium for preview display of document data
An apparatus and method for generating image data for preview images and displaying the preview images based on the generated image data. Each preview image corresponding to a respective page of document data having a plurality of pages. The displaying of the preview image based on the generated image data is started before the generation of the image data for the preview image for all the pages is completed. Then, an instruction of a process regarding at least one of the displayed preview images is accepted and the process is executed, before the displaying of all of the preview images is completed. |
| US08453053B2 |
Rapid software report development tool with auto database handling and menu tool-bar plug-in for application report access
A method is provided for generating reports for a computer monitored or aided environment that has a server-side module, a client-side module and a database, the server-side module, client-side module and database being interconnected, The method includes creating a report layout, the report layout containing a predefined number of dynamic fields at predetermined positions; associating, at the server-side, each dynamic field with a data source; collecting, at the server-side, information for each dynamic field according to the associated data source; storing the information in the database; and displaying the information for each dynamic field on a display according to the report layout. The report layout is shared universally for the generation of a displayed report and a printed report. |
| US08453052B1 |
Real-time document sharing and editing
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for real-time document sharing and editing. In one aspect, a method includes comparing a first user's and a second user's changes to a document, the document being edited by the first user and the second user concurrently; and notifying the first user of a conflicting change and content of any conflicting change to the document made by the first user but not made to the document because of the conflicting change. In another aspect, a method includes recording a saved position of a cursor of a user editing a client-side copy of a document; receiving an update to the document and generating an updated client-side copy of the document; using the saved position to determine an updated position of the cursor; and displaying to the user the updated client-side copy of the document with the cursor displayed at the updated position. |
| US08453051B1 |
Dynamic display dependent markup language interface
Tools and techniques for creating presentations via dynamic digital content (DDC) tools using a display dependent markup language interface facilitating dynamic content are described. The markup language, “DXyml”, identifies content elements, including dynamic content elements, for display and specifies pixel locations at which to position the content elements on a client device. Pixel locations are selected for particular screen configurations, allowing the presentations to be created in advance of being served to specific types of devices with the particular screen configurations. |
| US08453043B2 |
Built-in bit error rate test circuit
System and method for testing jitter tolerance by using a built-in jitter modulation circuit is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a jitter modulation circuit, a transmitter, a receiver and a data comparison unit. The jitter modulation circuit includes a plurality of data latches, a phase-select block and a multi-phase clock generator. The multi-phase clock generator is capable of generating a plurality of signals having different phase shifts wherein one signal having a phase shift from the system clock signal is selected by the phase-select block. The selected signal alters the data by injecting jitter through a plurality of data latches. The jitter-contaminated data is transmitted to a data comparison unit through a transmitter and a receiver. The on-chip test circuit compares the jitter-contaminated data with the original data and calculates the bit error rate so as to determine whether the jitter tolerance of this semiconductor device satisfies the specification. |
| US08453041B2 |
Obscuring information in messages using compression with site-specific prebuilt dictionary
Obscuring information in messages to be exchanged over a communications network. In one aspect, the information comprises path name information and parameters for use in a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”). In another aspect, the information comprises links and parameters used in forms, where hidden parameters are removed from a form and used as URL parameters. A compression dictionary is used to create a compressed form of the information. An identifier of the dictionary and an error detection code (such as a checksum) computed over the compressed information are concatenated with the compressed information, and this is encoded for sending on an outbound message. The original information is then recovered from an inbound message which contains the obscured information by reversing the processing used for the obscuring. |
| US08453040B2 |
Obscuring information in messages using compression with site-specific prebuilt dictionary
Obscuring information in messages to be exchanged over a communications network. In one aspect, the information comprises path name information and parameters for use in a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”). In another aspect, the information comprises links and parameters used in forms, where hidden parameters are removed from a form and used as URL parameters. A compression dictionary is used to create a compressed form of the information. An identifier of the dictionary and an error detection code (such as a checksum) computed over the compressed information are concatenated with the compressed information, and this is encoded for sending on an outbound message. The original information is then recovered from an inbound message which contains the obscured information by reversing the processing used for the obscuring. |
| US08453036B1 |
System and method for dynamically resizing a parity declustered group
A storage server resizes an array of mass storage devices and distributes data blocks stored in the array of mass storage devices evenly in a declustered organization across the resized array of mass storage devices. Resizing the array of mass storage devices may include adding a new mass storage device to the array or removing a mass storage device from the array. During resizing a data block is moved from one mass storage device to another mass storage device to minimize the imbalance of parity groups shared by the new mass storage devices in the array, as well as minimize the number of data blocks to be moved to uniformly balance the load across the new mass storage device. |
| US08453032B2 |
Energy and space efficient detection for data storage
Provided are methods and systems of selectively decoding optical data read from an optical storage medium based on a checksum algorithm technique. In one embodiment, optical data is converted into a data stream and buffered, and the checksum algorithm is applied to the data stream. If the calculated checksum matches an encoded checksum of the data stream, the data stream may be output without requiring further decoding. If the calculated checksum does not match the encoded checksum, the buffered data stream may be decoded to produce a corrected data stream, and the checksum algorithm may be applied to the corrected data stream. In some embodiments, the optical data may be re-read if the corrected data stream does not pass the checksum test, and the data stream obtained from the re-reading may be combined with the buffered data stream for further decoding. |
| US08453024B2 |
I/O and comparator circuitry with compare gate and mask circuitry
A test controller applies test stimulus signals to the input pads of plural die on a wafer in parallel. The test controller also applies encoded test response signals to the output pads of the plural die in parallel. The encoded test response signals are decoded on the die and compared to core test response signals produced from applying the test stimulus signals to core circuits on the die. The comparison produces pass/fail signals that are loaded in to scan cells of an IEEE 1149.1 scan path. The pass/fail signals then may be scanned out of the die to determine the results of the test. |
| US08453021B2 |
Wear leveling in solid-state device
A flash storage device performs wear-leveling by tracking data errors that occur when dynamic data is read from a storage block of the flash storage device and moving the dynamic data to an available storage block of the flash storage device. Additionally, the flash storage device identifies a storage block containing static data and moves the static data to the storage block previously containing the dynamic data. |
| US08453020B2 |
Method for detecting the validity of downlink control information in telecommunication user equipment, decoder and baseband receiver for performing same
A method for detecting validity of downlink control information in telecommunication user equipment and a decoder and baseband receiver to perform the method are provided. The object of avoiding falsely detecting payload data and misinterpreting them is achieved by reverse encoding a bit output sequence of a Viterbi decoder; determining hard bits from a soft-bit input sequence of the decoder; determining a bit count of real received bits; comparing the reverse encoded bit stream to the determined hard bit stream and counting the number of mismatches to obtain an error count; comparing a bit error rate which is defined as a quotient of the error count and the bit count against a predefined threshold value; and rejecting the payload as invalid if said bit error rate is above said threshold value, even if a cyclic redundancy check of the payload gives a correct result. |
| US08453019B2 |
Method and system for a free running strobe tolerant interface
A method of receiving data. A plurality of data signals and clocking signals are received over a source synchronous communication channel. The plurality of data signals is strobed with the clocking signal at a plurality of coarse time offset delays (e.g., time offset delays spanning over a data bit period). The plurality of error rates associated with the strobing at the plurality of coarse time offset delays is determined. Strobing design of a transmitting component (e.g., edge-strobed, center-strobed, etc.) may be determined based on the plurality of error rates. The error rates of the plurality of data signals strobed with a plurality of time offset delays close to the determined strobing design of the transmitting component is calculated. A time offset delay is selected based on the error rates. The plurality of data signals can be strobed with the selected time offset delay to recover the transmitted data signals. |
| US08453013B1 |
System-hang recovery mechanisms for distributed systems
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for resolving a hang condition in a distributed environment including a client computer and server computer(s). A network thread is provided, which passes requests from the client computer to the one or more server computers and responses from the server computers to the client computer. Worker thread(s) are provided on the server computers. The worker threads receive requests from the network thread, execute the requests, and pass responses to the requests back to the network thread. A request is sent from the client computer to a server computer through the network thread. A timer associated with the request is started on the client computer. The timer specifies a pre-defined time period for receiving a response to the request. When no response has been received within the pre-defined time period, a reset request is sent to the server computer. |
| US08453010B2 |
Tape data recovery
A method for recovering data from a failed tape cartridge is presented. The reliability of a tape cartridge is assessed via the number of read errors encountered. If the number or read errors is excessive, the tape cartridge is deemed unreliable and the tape cartridge is restricted from storing anymore data. A search is performed to look for duplicate data and if found a copy of the duplicate data is stored to a replacement tape cartridge. The replacement tape cartridge assumes all identity of the original failed tape cartridge. |
| US08453009B2 |
Storage apparatus and control method for storage apparatus
A storage apparatus connected to a storage device includes a storage module, a memory for storing data to be copied to the storage device, buffers for temporarily saving the data, redundantly, the saved data stored in one of the buffers being recoverable by the data stored in the rest of the buffers, and a control module for executing, storing the data of write request to the storage module and the memory, copying the data to the storage device, saving the data to the buffer when an using rate of the memory is greater than a predetermined rate, writing the saved data stored in the buffer to the memory when an using rate of the memory is not greater than the predetermined rate, detecting a failure of the buffers, and rebuilding the saved data stored in the one of the buffers based on an using state of the buffers. |
| US08453002B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling power state transitions based on timer events
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first power saver, a second power saver and a controller. The first power saver executes switching from an operable condition to a first power saving state. The second power saver executes switching from the first state to a second state in which power consumption is smaller than that in the first state. The controller determines whether timer event processing executable in the first state is scheduled within a predetermined period of time when the switching from the operable condition to the second state is required, and controls the first power saver and the second power saver so as to execute switching to the first state and maintains the first state without switching to the second state, when the timer event processing is scheduled within the predetermined period of time. |
| US08453001B2 |
Method for determining switching of sleep mode, computer program product for performing the method, and recording medium for the computer program product
A method for determining switching of the sleep mode for a device is provided. The device and a base station have several connections therebetween. In the determining method, one of the connections is first provided and it is determined whether the connection is realtime or non-realtime. It is then determined whether or not the realtime and non-realtime connections satisfy the condition for entering the sleep mode according to a first condition and a second condition, respectively. If the connection does not satisfy the condition for entering the sleep mode, the device enters the normal mode. If the connection satisfies the condition for entering the sleep mode, then the foregoing steps are repeated till the connections have all been checked. If all of the connections satisfy the condition for entering the sleep mode, the device enters the sleep mode. |
| US08452996B2 |
Operating mode for extreme power savings when no network presence is detected
Drivers which control hardware devices in a network adapter chip are disabled prior to reducing power to a first portion of circuits in the network adapter chip. Power is received by a second portion of circuits which are utilized for detecting network activity and communicating the activity to processors. Upon network activity detection, the first portion of circuits receives power. Drivers are enabled subsequent to detection. Drivers are enabled after receiving power by the first portion of circuits. Processors control hardware devices, disable devices before power reduction, enable devices after network activity detection and enable devices after receiving power. The network adapter chip is reset for power reception. A power reduction mode is selected where drivers are disabled after reducing power. Drivers are enabled after hardware devices are enabled. A first state is characterized by no signal before disabling drivers. A second state is characterized by signal detection before receiving power. |
| US08452989B1 |
Providing security to an electronic device
A technique provides security to an electronic device. The technique involves disposing a microprocessor between a printed circuit board and a circuit element to restrict physical access to the microprocessor, the microprocessor having (i) a bottom which faces the printed circuit board in a first direction and (ii) a top which faces the circuit element in a second direction which is opposite the first direction. The technique further involves delivering power to the microprocessor from a power source while the microprocessor is disposed between the printed circuit board and the circuit element, the microprocessor performing electronic operations in response to the power delivered from the power source. The technique further involves electronically altering or preventing the microprocessor from further performing the electronic operations in response to tampering activity on the circuit element. Such detection of the tampering activity may involve monitoring a covert signal for tamper evidence detection. |
| US08452988B2 |
Secure data storage for protecting digital content
A non-copyable data storage disk (NCDisk) that may be used in a secure data storage system. Stored data items on the NCDisk may only be used through the data storage system, and cannot be copied to and used by any other devices. Digital data written to the NCDisk is automatically converted to a new format by the NCDisk itself before being stored on it. Similarly, when reading a data item out from the NCDisk, the NCDisk itself automatically converts the stored data item to a new data format that a reading device can recognize. Data conversion does not involve the computer operating system. The data conversion unit may include a chipset level 2 secure key management module that generates and manages the keys used for the data conversion. |
| US08452981B1 |
Method for author verification and software authorization
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a computer-implemented method for author verification and authorization of object code. In one embodiment, program object code is linked with a plurality of data blocks to create linked object code and a MAP file. Thereafter, author verification is performed by executing a plurality of comparisons between the linked object code and the MAP file. In another embodiment, a digital signing procedure is performed on linked object code by creating a signature data block. The signature data block is then encrypted and written to the linked object code to create digitally-signed object code. In another embodiment, an application program embodied in linked object code generates a data packet. The data packet is then compared to a previously-generated signature data packet from the linked object code to determine if the linked object code is authorized. |
| US08452980B1 |
Defeating real-time trojan login attack with delayed interaction with fraudster
A method of detecting a fraudulent login attempt across a network is provided. The method includes (a) receiving, at some time, a login request from a client, the login request including (1) a username associated with a user account, (2) a static password associated with the user account, and (3) a one-time password provided by a token, (b) calculating whether the time is more than a predetermined amount of time after a most-recent login to the account, (c) when the time is more than the predetermined time since the most-recent login, accepting the login request according to a first mode, and (d) when the first time is not more than the predetermined time since the most-recent login, accepting the login request according to a second mode, the second mode rejecting a greater proportion of login attempts than the first mode rejects. An apparatus and computer program product are also provided. |
| US08452978B2 |
System and method for user authentication and dynamic usability of touch-screen devices
A system and related method are provided for user authentication and dynamic usability of touch-screen devices. The system utilizes probability distribution representations including an authorized user probability distribution representation and a global or wide population probability distribution representation, to associate the purported authorized user to the authorized user. Touch dynamics or data, or other data from similar measurable characteristics, can be utilized to associate the purported authorized user and the authorized user and to determine optimal positions and sizes for user interface components. |
| US08452962B2 |
Method and apparatus for simulating a workflow and analyzing the behavior of information assurance attributes through a data providence architecture
A method and apparatus that simulates a workflow and analyzes the behavior of information assurance attributes through a data providence architecture is disclosed. The method may include injecting one or more faults into a simulated workflow, receiving a message in the simulated workflow having a data provenance wrapper, examining each data provenance record of the message and any attachments for discrepancies, identifying any discrepancies in the examination of each data provenance record of the message and any attachments; calculating a degree of trust based on any discrepancies identified in the examination of each data provenance record of the message and any attachments, analyzing the calculated degree of trust with respect to the one or more injected faults and the information assurance attributes, and outputting the analysis to a user. |
| US08452960B2 |
System and method for content delivery
A system for content delivery operates as a static network device for delivering content to a mobile node. The system includes a transceiver adapted to receive a device identifier over a public network from the mobile node, the device identifier based on a combination of user-configurable and non-user-configurable parameters of the mobile node, a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and to memory storing executable code. Executed, the code enables the processor to access a database of authorized device identifiers corresponding to known mobile nodes, establish, in response to the received device identifier matching one of the authorized device identifiers, a secure private network (SPN) with the mobile node, the established SPN tunneling across a segment of the public network, obtain the content for the mobile node, and send the content to the mobile node via the SPN. |
| US08452956B1 |
Methods and apparatus for network communications via a transparent security proxy
A data security device for providing a network transport connection via a transparent network proxy that employs different encryption security mediums along a communications session between two endpoints by emulating one of the endpoints at an intermediate node such that the communication session appears as an atomic, secure connection to the endpoints yet provides appropriate security over the end-to-end connection. A sender node sends a connection request to establish a secure communication session with an intended receiver node. A transparent proxy on an intermediate node receives the request and establishes the link employing an encryption mechanism. The transparent proxy establishes a second link with the intended receiver, and applies a second, less expensive encryption mechanism. The transparent proxy combines the two links to form the trusted, secure connection but incurring only the mitigated expense over the second link. |
| US08452946B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for efficient load processing using buffers
Various embodiments of the invention concern methods and apparatuses for power and time efficient load handling. A compiler may identify producer loads, consumer reuse loads, consumer forwarded loads, and producer/consumer hybrid loads. Based on this identification, performance of the load may be efficiently directed to a load value buffer, store buffer, data cache, or elsewhere. Consequently, accesses to cache are reduced, through direct loading from load value buffers and store buffers, thereby efficiently processing the loads. |
| US08452944B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes: a first pipeline having first nodes, and moving data held in each first node to a first node located in a first direction; a second pipeline having second nodes corresponding to the first nodes, and moving data held in each second node to a second node located in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; a first comparison unit arranged to compare data held in a node of interest with data held in a second node corresponding to the node of interest, where the node of interest is one of the first nodes; and a second comparison unit arranged to compare the data held in the node of interest with data held in a second node located one node on an upstream or downstream side of the second node corresponding to the node of interest. |
| US08452937B2 |
Moving executable code from a first region of a non-volatile memory to a second region of the non-volatile memory to reduce read disturb
A data storage device includes a controller and a non-volatile memory coupled to the controller. The non-volatile memory includes executable boot code that is executable by a processor associated with the data storage device. The controller is configured to read a first portion of the executable boot code from a first region of the non-volatile memory, and in response to detecting a condition, move a second portion of the executable boot code in a second region of the non-volatile memory to a third region of the non-volatile memory. |
| US08452930B2 |
Methods and apparatus for backup and restore of thin provisioning volume
Methods and apparatuses for backing up virtual volumes effectively by eliminating transfer and preservation of parts of virtual volumes, which contain no data. By representing virtual volumes as virtual files in a virtual file system, it is thereby possible to avoid needlessly backing up empty data space in the virtual volume. In one implementation, a storage system includes multiple virtual volumes and a virtual file system as well as a storage system control module. Each virtual volume in the multiple virtual volumes is represented as a virtual file within the virtual file system with each virtual file representing data actually stored within the virtual volume; and the storage system control module facilitates backing up a selected virtual volume, the operations involving accessing the virtual file system on the storage system; and reading the virtual file corresponding to the selected virtual volume. |
| US08452928B1 |
Virtual array non-disruptive migration of extended storage functionality
Described are a storage network and method of migrating data from a source virtual array to a destination virtual array transparently with respect to a storage application executing on a host. The storage application provides particular storage functionality at a source storage array while using metadata during its execution. The metadata used by the storage application are associated with the source virtual array and forwarded, during a data migration event in which data resident in logical units of storage (LUNs) of the source virtual array are copied to LUNs of the destination virtual array, to a destination storage array where the metadata is associated with the destination virtual array. |
| US08452927B2 |
Distributed storage service systems and architecture
Various methods, devices and systems are described for providing distributed storage services. A data storage device is capable of initiating a communication session with an external entity such as a local host computer (and vice versa) coupled directly to the data storage device, a remote server computer, or directly with remote data storage devices with or without intervention by a local host computer. |
| US08452924B1 |
Cache management system and method
A method, computer program product, and cache management system for receiving an indication of a data portion update within an electromechanical storage system. Information concerning the data portion update is provided to at least one proprietary, solid-state, non-volatile, cache memory system. The proprietary, solid-state, non-volatile, cache memory system is associated with at least a first of a plurality of computing devices and is not associated with at least a second of the plurality of computing devices. |
| US08452920B1 |
System and method for controlling a dynamic random access memory
A method of controlling a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a DRAM memory controller is provided. An example DRAM memory controller includes a content addressable memory (CAM) based decision control module. The CAM based decision control module includes a CAM access storage module, a next access table module, and a decision logic module. Further, the DRAM memory controller includes a DRAM access control interface. The method includes detecting a request for a read-modify-write operation. The method also includes creating a read access request and a write access request based on the detecting. Further, the method includes prioritizing the read access request and the write access request. Moreover, the method includes executing the read access request and the write access request based on the prioritizing. |
| US08452918B2 |
DRAM control method and the DRAM controller utilizing the same
A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) controller for controlling read and write operations of a DRAM includes a storage unit and a control unit. The storage unit stores a first predetermined size of data including data written into the DRAM in response to a previous partial write request, and stores the corresponding store addresses of the first predetermined size of data in the DRAM. The control unit, in response to a read request, determines whether there exists any address in the store addresses equal to a read address of the read request, and read data corresponding to the read address from the storage unit when there exists same address in the store addresses equal to the read address. |
| US08452917B2 |
Load reduction dual in-line memory module (LRDIMM) and method for programming the same
A load reduction dual in-line memory module (LRDIMM) is similar to a registered dual in-line memory module (RDIMM) in which control signals are synchronously buffered but the LRDIMM includes a load reduction buffer (LRB) in the data path as well. To make an LRDIMM which appears compatible with RDIMMs on a system memory bus, the serial presence detector (SPD) of the LRDIMM is programmed with modified latency support and minimum delay values. When the dynamic read only memory (DRAMs) devices of the LRDIMM are subsequently set up by the host at boot time based on the parameters provided by the SPD, selected latency values are modified on the fly in an enhanced register phase look loop (RPLL) device. This has the effect of compensating for the delay introduced by the LRB without violating DRAM constraints, and provides memory bus timing for a LRDIMM that is indistinguishable from that of a RDIMM. |
| US08452914B2 |
Electronic devices with improved flash memory compatibility and methods corresponding thereto
An electronic device with improved flash memory compatibility and a method corresponding thereto are disclosed. The electronic device has a NAND flash, a processing unit and a program memory. The program memory stores application software and codes of an operating system, to be retrieved and executed by the processing unit. The application software requests for NAND flash access in accordance with a specific page size. The operating system acts as an intermediary between the application software and the NAND flash and provides a device driver which allocates a number of physical pages of the NAND flash to each virtual page of the specific page size for responding to NAND flash access requests from the application software by referring to the virtual pages. |
| US08452913B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of processing data for erase operation of semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, and an erase flag storage block storing erase flag information to indicate erase states of the plurality of memory blocks. The erase flag information can be used to monitor completion of erase operations of the memory blocks and to update erase count information of the memory blocks. |
| US08452912B2 |
Flash-memory system with enhanced smart-storage switch and packed meta-data cache for mitigating write amplification by delaying and merging writes until a host read
A flash memory solid-state-drive (SSD) has a smart storage switch that reduces write acceleration that occurs when more data is written to flash memory than is received from the host. Page mapping rather than block mapping reduces write acceleration. Host commands are loaded into a Logical-Block-Address (LBA) range FIFO. Entries are sub-divided and portions invalidated when a new command overlaps an older command in the FIFO. Host data is aligned to page boundaries with pre- and post-fetched data filling in to the boundaries. Repeated data patterns are detected and encoded by compressed meta-data codes that are stored in meta-pattern entries in a meta-pattern cache of a meta-pattern flash block. The sector data is not written to flash. The meta-pattern entries are located using a meta-data mapping table. Storing host CRC's for comparison to incoming host data can detect identical data writes that can be skipped, avoiding a write to flash. |
| US08452911B2 |
Synchronized maintenance operations in a multi-bank storage system
A method and system for managing maintenance operations in a multi-bank non-volatile storage device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a data write command and associated data from a host system for storage in the non-volatile storage device and directing a head of the data write command to a first bank in the and a tail of the data write command to a second bank, where the head of the data write command only includes data having logical block addresses preceding logical block addresses of data in the tail of the data write command. When a status of the first bank delays execution of the data write command the controller executes a second bank maintenance procedure in the second bank while the data write command directed to the first and second banks is pending. The system includes a plurality of banks, where each bank may be associated with the same or different controllers, and the one or more controllers are adapted to execute the method noted above. |
| US08452902B2 |
Methods for transmitting buffer size information
A method of transmitting information about a buffer size includes transmitting a bit string comprising a first bit string and a second bit string when the buffer size is greater than or equal to a first value, the first bit string indicating a quotient which is acquired by dividing the buffer size by a second value, and the second bit string indicating a value corresponding to a remainder which is acquired by dividing the buffer size by the second value. |
| US08452899B2 |
Data allocation in a distributed storage system
A method for data distribution, including distributing logical addresses among an initial set of devices so as provide balanced access, and transferring the data to the devices in accordance with the logical addresses. If a device is added to the initial set, forming an extended set, the logical addresses are redistributed among the extended set so as to cause some logical addresses to be transferred from the devices in the initial set to the additional device. There is substantially no transfer of the logical addresses among the initial set. If a surplus device is removed from the initial set, forming a depleted set, the logical addresses of the surplus device are redistributed among the depleted set. There is substantially no transfer of the logical addresses among the depleted set. In both cases the balanced access is maintained. |
| US08452894B2 |
User data convergence (UDC) notification management
A method and arrangement in a User Data Repository, UDR, (30) for selecting an Application Front End (34a-34e) in a communication network to receive an event notification. An associated Application Type and Group Identifier, identifying an accessible portion of the network, are stored in a database (88) for each of a plurality of Application Front Ends. The Group Identifiers may be updated in the database if predefined conditions (87) are met, for example when a UDR operation requests modifying user data. When a subsequent event notification procedure is initiated, the UDR (30) selects an Application FE to receive the event notification based on the Application Type and Group Identifier of the selected Application FE. Load-distribution weights may also be assigned to each of the Application FEs, and may be considered in the selection process. |
| US08452892B2 |
Scheduling apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a scheduling apparatus sends queries to communication modules in buildings and receives facility information measured at monitor-control points from the communication modules. As for each communication module, a network address, a waiting time to receive the facility information after sending a query, and a connection with the monitor-control points, are stored. When a service request indicating at least one monitor-control point is received, queries each including the network address of a communication module connected with a monitor-control point indicated by the service request, are generated. A priority of each query is decided based on the waiting time corresponding to the communication module. Each query is added to a first send queue or a second send queue based on the priority. When queries are sent, a timing to send from the first send queue is same as or earlier than a timing to send from the second send queue. |
| US08452888B2 |
Flow control for reliable message passing
A message flow controller limits a process from passing a new message in a reliable message passing layer from a source node to at least one destination node while a total number of in-flight messages for the process meets a first level limit. The message flow controller limits the new message from passing from the source node to a particular destination node from among a plurality of destination nodes while a total number of in-flight messages to the particular destination node meets a second level limit. Responsive to the total number of in-flight messages to the particular destination node not meeting the second level limit, the message flow controller only sends a new packet from among at least one packet for the new message to the particular destination node while a total number of in-flight packets for the new message is less than a third level limit. |
| US08452887B1 |
System and method for managing and distributing audio recordings
Disclosed are system, methods and computer program products for recording, playing back, responding to and sharing audio recordings. In one example embodiment, the system includes an audio management server that stores and distributes through various third-party websites audio clips, such as voice, music, sounds, and other recordings made by system users. The audio clips can be recorded by system users directly through a central website hosted by the server. Alternatively, the audio clips can be recorded on various third-party websites using audio widgets provided by the audio management server. In addition, the recorded audio clips can be shared on various other third-party websites, such as blogs, social networking sites, celebrity sites and the like, using the audio widget provided by the server. |
| US08452886B2 |
Peer-to-peer packet scheduling algorithm
Techniques for streaming media packets in a peer-to-peer network are disclosed. |
| US08452885B2 |
Playout-dependent unicast streaming of digital video content
A technique for managing the streaming of digital video content involves providing a unicast stream to a client in response to the playout status of the unicast stream at the client. In particular, a unicast stream is provided to a client based on whether or not the unicast stream is intended for real-time playout at the client. In order to preserve valuable network resources, if the client does not intend the unicast stream for real-time playout, the unicast stream is not provided to the client. Network resources can also be conserved by utilizing one session between a stream server and a client to support more than one active unicast stream between the stream server and the client in the case where at least one of the active unicast streams is not intended for real-time playout at the client. |
| US08452879B1 |
Allocation of connection persistence to mobile browsers
A method, system, and medium are provided for determining whether a persistent or non-persistent connection should be given to a device that requested a web page. In one embodiment, upon receiving a request for the web page, the characteristics of the web page are evaluated to determine whether a persistent connection will be efficiently used when accessing with the web page. In another embodiment, the requesting user's behavior may be evaluated to determine whether, based on past behavior, the user will effectively use a persistent connection to the requested web site. A persistent connection is granted to requesting browsers most likely to make efficient use of the persistent connection based on the characteristics of the requested web site and/or the requesting user's browsing habits. |
| US08452877B2 |
Establishing a remote desktop
A method includes receiving an IP address via a non-IP protocol communication interface, the IP address associated with an operating system environment established on a computing device; storing the received IP address in memory; responsive to a cessation of communication via the non-IP protocol communication interface, accessing the IP address stored in memory and transmitting the accessed IP address via an IP protocol network interface; and receiving information via the IP protocol network interface, the information issued by the operating system environment established on the computing device associated with the IP address. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08452873B2 |
Provisioning of resources in a computer network
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for selectively and programmatically provisioning resources on a computer network. A role-based access manager discovers one or more network resources. A provisioning manager then provisions the discovered network resources. |
| US08452871B2 |
Passive and comprehensive hierarchical anomaly detection system and method
A technique for monitoring performance in a network uses passively monitored traffic data at the server access routers. The technique aggregates performance metrics into clusters according to a spatial hierarchy in the network, and then aggregates performance metrics within spatial clusters to form time series of temporal bins. Representative values from the temporal bins are then analyzed using an enhanced Holt-Winters exponential smoothing algorithm. |
| US08452869B2 |
System and method for managing customized service level agreement monitoring
A system for managing customized SLA monitoring for providing a customized SLA monitoring service is linked with an external system to receive an external index order for a customer line subscribed in the service. The system reflects demands of the customer included in the external index order on SLA management data to update the SLA management data. Further, the system uses the updated SLA management data to determine whether to monitor with the external system and the customer line according to the result of the determination. |
| US08452868B2 |
Retail product tracking system, method, and apparatus
According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment. |
| US08452864B1 |
Network resource deployment for cloud-based services
Techniques are described which simplify and/or automate many of the tasks associated with the configuration, deployment, and management of network resources to support cloud-based services. |
| US08452862B2 |
Apparatus and method for capacity planning for data center server consolidation and workload reassignment
A server migration tool used to construct data center migration scenarios allowing for a user to rapidly manipulate a large number of input parameters required to describe a transformation from one data center configuration to a new data center configuration. The tool then performs the transformation and allows the user to interact with new data center configuration to understand its performance. A novel parameterization, speed independent service demand (SISD), greatly facilitates scaling performance metrics between different hardware platforms. |
| US08452857B2 |
Audio/visual server with disc changer emulation
An audio/visual server is described that can be used to store and play audio/visual data. A removable hard disk (or other media) is connected to a dock that is in communication with a computer. While the removable hard disk is connected to the dock, audio/visual data can be transferred from the computer to the hard disk. After the hard disk is removed from the dock and connected to the audio/visual server, the server can access and play the audio/visual data. In one embodiment, the audio/visual server stores and plays music, emulates a disc changer, and communicates with an automobile stereo head unit. The interface with the head unit is programmable so that multiple head units can be supported. |
| US08452853B2 |
Browser with offline web-application architecture
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for providing an offline version of an online application. In one embodiment, the process initiates an online application on a connected client device using a specific operating environment associated with the online application. In response to detecting the online application going to an offline status, a determination is made as to whether a native application on the client device is present that is supportive of the online application. In response to a determination that the native application is present, the native application is executed using the specific operating environment associated with the online application. The specific operating environment associated with the online application on a server is transferred to an environment associated with the native application on the client. |
| US08452852B2 |
System and method for providing an information service to distribute real-time information to users via a presence system
A presence system provides information services, such as lottery information, stock quotes, entertainment information, travel information and delivery information, to users. The presence system includes a presence server for collecting and storing presence information on an information provider that provides an information service to users. The presence information includes real-time service information enabling the information provider to provide the information service to the users. Upon receiving updated presence information including the real-time service information from the information provider, the presence server provides the real-time service information to the users. |
| US08452851B2 |
System and method for grouping of users into overlapping clusters in social networks
Members of a social network user's social graph are automatically segregated into overlapping clusters according to patterns of their past communications. Each cluster within the social graph represents a group of members having a high degree of intra-cluster communication or other connection with one another. The clustering is performed according to a sorting or ranking in accordance with non-principal eigenvectors of connectivity matrices describing the intra-cluster communications/connections. The overlapping clusters exhibit maximum internal density and minimum external sparsity. |
| US08452845B2 |
Effecting hardware acceleration of broadcast operations in a parallel computer
Compute nodes of a parallel computer organized for collective operations via a network, each compute node having a receive buffer and establishing a topology for the network; selecting a schedule for a broadcast operation; depositing, by a root node of the topology, broadcast data in a target node's receive buffer, including performing a DMA operation with a well-known memory location for the target node's receive buffer; depositing, by the root node in a memory region designated for storing broadcast data length, a length of the broadcast data, including performing a DMA operation with a well-known memory location of the broadcast data length memory region; and triggering, by the root node, the target node to perform a next DMA operation, including depositing, in a memory region designated for receiving injection instructions for the target node, an instruction to inject the broadcast data into the receive buffer of a subsequent target node. |
| US08452840B2 |
E-mail response time estimation on compose or send
An e-mail application calculates a dynamic estimate of an e-mail response time. A recipient address module, a status module, a processing module, and a presentation module interact to generate a first and a second estimated response time. The first estimated response time is determined from sender side data. The second estimated response time is generated using recipient mailbox status data after the e-mail is received by the recipient. The second estimated response time is used to dynamically update the estimated response time displayed to the sender. |
| US08452839B2 |
Offline away messages
A computer program or method provides away messages from a first user to other users of a communications system, where the first user has grouped the other users into two or more groups. An interface is provided to the first user that displays representations of the other users in a manner that identifies how the first user has grouped the other users into the groups. The first user is able to select a selected group from the groups using the interface. The first user also is able to set a group away message for the selected group using the interface. The group away message is sent to a second user that has been grouped in the selected group when the second user attempts to communicate with the first user using the communications system and the first user is offline. |
| US08452837B2 |
Data delivery
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for support dependent post delivery. In one aspect, a method included generating transmission data for a web page served by a first server and rendered on the client device, the first sever belonging to a first domain; determining if the client device supports cross origin resource sharing; in response to a determination that the client device does not support cross origin resource sharing: defining an iFrame for the web page, the iFrame belonging to a second domain of a receiving server, and having a name value derived from the transmission data, receiving iFrame instructions from the receiving server and executing the iFrame instructions in the iFrame, the iFrame instruction causing the client device to: generate an HTTP POST request to the receiving server from the iFrame name value, the first HTTP POST request including the transmission data. |
| US08452836B2 |
Data exchange between a handheld device and another computer system using an exchange manager via synchronization
A method and electronic system for exchanging data between a handheld device and another computer system are described. A data file is transferred to the handheld device using the install application of a synchronization manager. The transferred file is stored as a digital stream file with its native data encoding. After synchronization, a message is sent to notify the exchange manager about the data file. The exchange manager then uses an application registry to identify the application program that corresponds to the file stream based on the extension of the stream file. The pertinent application program is then invoked and the stream file is dispatched to the application for processing. During processing, the pertinent application then formats the stream file such that the data file becomes a record within the database file that is associated with the pertinent application. |
| US08452834B2 |
Information processing apparatus, program, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus that includes a communication unit for performing communication with one or more external devices and a storage unit for storing device information containing first authentication information used for authentication to selectively perform a process related to transmission of content data on the external device. The information processing apparatus also includes an authenticating unit for authenticating the external device that has transmitted a processing request based on second authentication information contained in the processing request transmitted from the external device and the device information. Furthermore, a processing unit is used for selectively performing a process corresponding to the processing request based on an authentication result in the authenticating unit; and a data transmitting unit for selectively transmitting content data to the external device. |
| US08452830B2 |
Programmable CORDIC processor with stage re-use
A CORDIC processor has a plurality of stages, each of the stages having a X input, Y input, a sign input, a sign output, an X output, a Y output, a mode control input having a ROTATE or VECTOR value, and a stage number k input, each CORDIC stage having a first shift generating an output by shifting the Y input k times, a second shift generating an output by shifting X input k times, a multiplexer having an output coupled to the sign input when the mode control input is ROTATE and to the sign of the Y input when the mode input is VECTOR, a first multiplier forming the product of the first shift output and the multiplexer output, a second multiplier forming the product of the second shift output and an inverted the multiplexer output, a first adder forming the X output from the sum of the first multiplier output and the X input, and a second adder forming the Y output from the sum of the second multiplier output and the Y input. |
| US08452827B2 |
Data processing circuit
The invention relates to a data processing system for performing a polyphase filtering. This circuit comprises functional units (304, 305, 306) able to perform polyphase filterings, and a memory device (301, 302, 308) for storing data and coefficients. The functional units receive in parallel data and coefficients coming from the memory device, calculate results from the data and coefficients and supply these results to the memory device. |
| US08452826B2 |
Digital frequency channelizer
A method and apparatus provide digital frequency channelization of a digitally sampled input stream having a first bandwidth. The method and apparatus are implementable in software, firmware or hardware and convert a first set of real samples from the input stream into a first plurality of complex samples with a first functional block performing filtering, decimation and tuning functions, convert the first plurality of complex samples into a first pair of consecutive USB and a first pair of consecutive LSB complex samples with a second functional block performing filtering, decimation and tuning functions, and convert the first pair of consecutive USB and the first pair of consecutive LSB complex samples into a two pairs of complex USB and LSB complex samples with a pair of third functional blocks performing filtering, decimation and tuning functions, and apply the two pairs of complex USB and LSB complex samples to a string of n pairs (for n greater than or equal to one) third functional blocks each performing filtering, decimation and tuning functions. |
| US08452825B2 |
Sortable floating point numbers
The invention comprises methods for manipulating floating point numbers on a microprocessor where the numbers are sortable. That is, the numbers obey lexicographical ordering. Hence, the numbers may be quickly compared using bit-wise comparison functions such as memcmp( ). Conversion may result in a sortable floating point number in the form of a sign, leading bits of the exponent, and sets of digit triples in the form of declets (sets of 10 bits). In a variable-length version, numbers may be compressed by storing the number of trailing zero declets in lieu of storing the zero declets themselves. |
| US08452822B2 |
Universal file naming for personal media over content delivery networks
A device receives, from a content provider device, a personal media file with a custom name and generates a universal file name for the file based on a digital fingerprint extracted from the file. The device associates the universal file name with the custom name and determines that the universal file name is associated with a previously-stored file, where the previously-stored file and the file with the custom name have an identical digital fingerprint. The device discards the file with the custom name, and associates the custom name with the universal file name for later retrieval. |
| US08452817B1 |
Update of data structure configured to store metadata associated with a database system
Example embodiments provide various techniques for updating an old data structure configured to store metadata associated with database systems. In this method, a temporary data structure is created. Additionally, a new data structure representing an update of the old data structure is created. The metadata from the old data structure are copied to the temporary data structure, and the temporary data structure is transformed to match the new data structure. The metadata from the transformed temporary data structure are copied to the new data structure. The transformation of the temporary data structure instead of the old data structure may enable an application that is not being updated to be operational and to access the old data structure during the update. After the metadata is copied to the new data structure, a new version of the application is then able to access the new data structure. |
| US08452816B1 |
Managing database access
A method is used in managing database access. A framework is provided for translating versioned data between memory and persistent storage. Based on the framework, read and write requests that access records in a database are translated. Based on the framework, it is made to appear that the database is a different version of the database. |
| US08452813B2 |
Test planning using attribute value properties
A method for modeling a test space is provided. The method comprises defining a coverage model including one or more variables, wherein respective values for the variables are assigned, one or more definitions of value properties for said variables with assigned values, and one or more restrictions that limit combination of variable values that are legal for the model, wherein at least one of said restrictions is defined using at least one value property. |
| US08452811B2 |
Method and apparatus for constructing a networking database and system proactively
A method for creating networking database containing a plurality of records for different individuals in which individuals are connected to one another in the database by mutual recognition of a relationship. This mutual recognition of a relationship is inferred by the possession of the Guest Key of one member by the other member. This paradigm for network expansion allows users to proactively grow their networks both using the site features and using tools they may be more familiar with, such as email, messaging, talking, etc. |
| US08452800B2 |
Systems and methods for collaborative exploratory search
Described is a new framework that combines the best of both exploratory search and social search: Collaborative exploratory search. This system allows a small group of focused information seekers to search through a collection of information in concert. The system provides exploratory feedback not only based on the individual's search behavior, but on the current, active search behavior of one's fellow search allies. The assumption is that the users who have gotten together to search collaboratively have the same information need, but differing perspectives and insights as to how to best express the queries to meet that need. The collaborative exploratory search system will therefore provide tools and algorithmic support to focus, enhance, and augment searcher activities. Searchers can, by interacting with each other through system-mediated information displays, help each other find all relevant information more efficiently and effectively. |
| US08452799B2 |
Query rewriting with entity detection
A system receives a search query, determines whether the received search query includes an entity name, and determines whether the entity name is associated with a common word or phrase. When the entity name is associated with a common word or phrase, the system generates a link to a rewritten query, performs a search based on the received search query to obtain first search results, and provides the first search results and the link to the rewritten query. When the entity name is not associated with a common word or phrase, the system rewrites the received search query to include a restrict identifier associated with the entity name, generates a link to the received search query, performs a search based on the rewritten search query to obtain second search results, and provides the second search results and the link to the received search query. |
| US08452798B2 |
Query and document topic category transition analysis system and method and query expansion-based information retrieval system and method
An information retrieval system and method, and more particularly, a query and document topic category transition analysis system and method in which a query topic category of a query input from a user as an information retrieval keyword and a document topic category of a document which a user regards as relevant and selects from information retrieval results are classified to analyze transition between the query topic category and the document topic category, and a query expansion-based information retrieval system and method using query and document topic category transition analysis in which a query input from a user is expanded using a topic category transition analysis result, and corresponding information or documents are retrieved using the expanded query are provided. |
| US08452794B2 |
Visual and textual query suggestion
Techniques described herein enable better understanding of the intent of a user that submits a particular search query. These techniques receive a search request for images associated with a particular query. In response, the techniques determine images that are associated with the query, as well as other keywords that are associated with these images. The techniques then cluster, for each set of images associated with one of these keywords, the set of images into multiple groups. The techniques then rank the images and determine a representative image of each cluster. Finally, the tools suggest, to the user that submitted the query, to refine the search based on user selection of a keyword and a representative image. Thus, the techniques better understand the user's intent by allowing the user to refine the search based on another keyword and based on an image on which the user wishes to focus the search. |
| US08452777B2 |
Dynamic submission and preference indicator
Indicating preference for a content contribution is disclosed. A request for information associated with the content contribution is received from a first entity. The status of the content contribution is determined. A response is provided to the first entity. Determining the status of the content contribution includes determining whether a submission of the content contribution was previously received. |
| US08452772B1 |
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for addressing popular topics in a socials sphere
Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufactures for addressing popular topics in a social sphere. The method or the system continuously monitors conversations in online forum(s), identifies trend(s) of interest, identifies one or more content items that match the trend(s), and delivers the one or more content items to appropriate forum(s). The method or the system may aggregates conversations in a target forum to identify a trend and automatically responds to the trend by identifying and delivering matching existing content items to a target forum. The method or the system may further catalog a newly created content item upon creation and may identify a trend by employing some third-party products or services, by executing one or more Internet bots to monitor the online conversions, or by using trending application(s) offered by forums or social network websites. |
| US08452771B2 |
Method for differentiating traffic data obtained from probe vehicles
A remote server receives traffic data from a plurality of probe vehicles traveling on roadways. The remote server stores the received traffic data in a regular lane database and/or a carpool lane database. The remote server differentiates the received traffic data for storage in the appropriate database based on the number of probe vehicles associated with each speed pattern observed within the received traffic data. |
| US08452768B2 |
Using user search behavior to plan online advertising campaigns
Targeting parameters are generated for a media buy plan for advertisements to be displayed in conjunction with presenting web pages, based on a history of search events. Key phrases are received relative to a subject of the advertisements to be displayed. The received key phrases are provided as proposed key phrases to determine, from search events indicative of historical data of uses of a search service, a first subportion of search events for queries of the search service with the proposed key phrases and a second subportion of search events for queries of the search service not with the proposed key phrases. Classification processing is applied to determine potential targeting parameters associated with the first subportion and with the second subportion to identify potential targeting parameters that, statistically, contribute to membership in the first sub-population and in the second sub-population, respectively. Statistics are associated with the potential targeting parameters, based on the historical data, indicative of factors usable to determine whether to use the potential targeting parameters as actual targeting parameters of the media buy plan. |
| US08452764B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for a brand affinity engine using positive and negative mentions and indexing
A computer-based search engine for performing a search for a keyword, comprising a result responsive to a search, a database comprising a plurality of terms organized by categories wherein at least one of the categories includes the keyword, and relational ones of the plurality of terms to the keyword; a heuristic engine comprising a plurality of rules which, when executed by a processor, applies the rules in accordance with the relational ones of the plurality of terms to a networked site to assess the keyword as a primary subject of the networked site. |
| US08452761B2 |
Apparatus for and method of implementing system log message ranking via system behavior analysis
A novel and useful method for enabling system logs to be effectively and efficiently monitored by ranking the system log messages by their estimated value to administrators and generating a log view that displays the most important messages. The ranking process uses a dataset of system logs from many computer systems to score messages. For better scoring, unsupervised clustering is used to identify sets of systems that behave similarly. The expected distribution of messages in a given system is estimated using the resulting clusters, and log messages are scored using this estimation. |
| US08452759B2 |
Systems and methods for providing multi-directional visual browsing
Systems and methods for multi-directional visual browsing on an electronic device are described. In example embodiments, a primary result and a peripheral result are determined. A display layout based on attributes associated with the primary result and the peripheral result is generated. The display layout is then formatted into instructions, which will cause a device to render the display layout. The instructions are transmitted to the client device. |
| US08452758B2 |
Methods and systems for improving a search ranking using related queries
Systems and methods that improve search rankings for a search query by using data associated with queries related to the search query are described. In one aspect, a search query is received, a related query related to the search query is determined, an article (such as a web page) associated with the search query is determined, and a ranking score for the article based at least in part on data associated with the related query is determined. Several algorithms and types of data associated with related queries useful in carrying out such systems and methods are described. |
| US08452755B1 |
Database query analysis technology
Database query analysis technology, in which an input query is received that relates to multiple attribute classes of data records. An index that is descriptive of the data records in data storage is accessed and relative positions in the accessed index for the multiple attribute classes are identified. The accessed index is processed based on more than one of the multiple attribute classes and the identified relative positions, and the processed index is used to identify groups of data records that are included in the data records in the data storage and that share common values for the multiple attribute classes in the input query. Metrics corresponding to the data records included in each of the identified groups of data records are accessed, computations are performed on the accessed metrics, and a report is generated that reflects results of the computations. |
| US08452753B2 |
Method, a web document description language, a web server, a web document transfer protocol and a computer software product for retrieving a web document
The invention relates to a method for retrieving a web document provided by a web server, where the method comprising the usual steps of requesting a web document from the web server and replying with the web document, extended by the steps of requesting an analysis according to an inspection requirement, analyzing the content of the web document according to inspection requirements at the web server, and replying an analyzing result. The invention relates inter alia to a web document description language, a web server, a web document transfer protocol, and a computer software product for retrieving a web document. |
| US08452751B2 |
Methods and systems for managing data
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, a selection of at least one file having metadata stored in a metadata database is received, and a selection of a command to search, using at least a portion of the metadata, is received, and a search through the metadata database is performed. Methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described. |
| US08452750B2 |
System and method for the creation and access of dynamic course content
A computer based system and method for the creation and access of dynamic course content and associated media products is disclosed. The present invention utilizes dynamic current content sources such as news, web sources, blogs, podcasts, user generated content, and other sources to create media products such as slides, videos, audio and the like. The media products of the present invention are keyed to the static framework of the textbook or textbooks, and are searchable by textbook structure, media structure, key terms, date range, and the like. |
| US08452745B2 |
Online search system, method and computer program
A search system, method and computer program are disclosed in which characters of a search term are captured as they are entered into a client system (20) and used to predict search terms. Search results are obtained for a predetermined number of the predicted search terms and cached at the client system (20). Upon determining the complete search term has been entered, search results corresponding to the complete search term are displayed. |
| US08452744B2 |
System and method for analyzing locked files
Systems and methods for scanning files for pestware on a protected computer are described. In one variation, when a file on a storage device is inaccessible via an operating system of the protected computer, a listing of a plurality of pointers for the file is located on the storage device. Each of the plurality of pointers in the listing points to a corresponding one of a plurality of locations on the storage device, and the storage device stores each of a plurality of portions of data for the file at a corresponding one of each of the plurality of locations. One or more of the plurality of portions for the data are accessed and analyzed, while the operating system continues to limit access to the file via the operating system, so as to determine whether the file is a pestware file. |
| US08452742B2 |
Software configuration management method and system
It is possible to surely commit a revision made on a software component in a software component database and a software product group and to create a new software product from the same database. Provided is a software configuration management system which includes a software component database and a software product management unit and accepts data transmission/reception from a software component database management client and a software product operation client. The software configuration management system further includes: a component-product correspondence table, component-file correspondence information, a synchronization unit for mutually committing a modification of the software component database and a modification of a software product; update information; and a correspondence table update unit. |
| US08452741B1 |
Reconciling data retention requirements
Data retention requirement rules may be created to have an area association, a minimum retention period specification, and a maximum retention period specification associated with one or more rules. Users may be assigned to one or more areas of at least one rule. Data objects may associated with one or more areas that may be associated with a rule. As the rules are updated and/or changed, the minimum and maximum periods in different rules may be compared in real time to implement a data retention policy that automatically deletes, preserves, and/or prevents access to data objects according to the each of the rules. |
| US08452738B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus is capable of recording a first image file and a second image file which differs from the first image file in a recording format and which needs to be managed by a management file. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that converts a subject optical image into an image signal, a signal processor that creates based on the image signal the first image file, or image data including the second image file and a management file associated with the second image file, and a controller that controls the signal processor. The controller checks consistency between the management file and the second image file, and controls the signal processor such that, when the management file is not consistent with the second image file, creation of the image data is inhibited but creation of the first image file is allowed. |
| US08452734B2 |
FAT file in reserved cluster with ready entry state
A computer device (2010) has a file system having clusters and meta data. The computer device (2010) includes a processor (1030) and a storage (1025) coupled to the processor and having physical representations of instructions so that the processor is operable to reserve (230) at least one of the clusters and to create a log record when meta data for the file system is to be updated by a write (240) of such meta data beforehand to such a reserved cluster, and then set (250) at least one state entry to substantially represent readiness to write the meta data to the file system. |
| US08452731B2 |
Remote backup and restore
In one embodiment of the present invention, a data-backup method includes partitioning a fingerprint namespace among a cluster of backup servers, the fingerprint namespace comprising fingerprints for representing units of data, each backup server of the cluster of backup servers managing units of data having fingerprints corresponding to an assigned partition of the fingerprint namespace. The method further includes receiving backup information from a client computing device for a block of data comprising units of data, the backup information including at least a fingerprint for each of the units of data and client-specific backup information. In addition, the method includes, utilizing the fingerprint for each of the units of data, deduplicating the units of data in parallel at the cluster of backup servers in accordance with the partitioning step, the deduplicating step comprising identifying ones of the units data already stored by the cluster of backup servers. |
| US08452729B2 |
Extending cluster allocations in an extensible file system
An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. The directory entry types can define whether a cluster chain corresponding to a file can be contiguously allocated. |
| US08452723B2 |
Dataset previews for ETL transforms
Disclosed is a user interface on a display for editing data transformations comprising an ETL process. A first display area presents a data representation of a data transformation. A second display area presents a view of input data, and a third display are presents a view of output data. User input to modify the data transformation is received. In response to receiving the user input, the third display area is updated with output data generated by applying the modified data transformation to the input data. |
| US08452720B2 |
System and methods for optimizing user interaction in web-related activites
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for facilitating user interaction in web-related activities. In one embodiment, the method comprises monitoring a user's current interaction with a browser, predicting a task a user is likely to take based on a current interaction context associated with the user's current interaction and one or more rules previously generated based on one or more previously recorded browser interactions, and generating, based on the prediction, and displaying a user interface component with the browser, the user interface component selectable by the user and representing an interaction (or a sequence of interactions) that the user can select to occur. |
| US08452719B2 |
Extrapolating empirical models for control, prediction, and optimization applications
The present disclosure provides novel techniques for defining empirical models having control, prediction, and optimization modalities. The empirical models may include neural networks and support vector machines. The empirical models may include asymptotic analysis as part of the model definition as allow the models to achieve enhanced results, including enhanced high-order behaviors. The high-order behaviors may exhibit gains that are non-zero trending, which may be useful for controller modalities. |
| US08452717B2 |
Presenting an interactive guidance structure in a collaborative environment
A collaborative work environment is provided that supports collaboration among users for performance of a people service that is associated with ad-hoc activities. An information base is provided that includes information relating to responsibilities of the users and work items for the ad-hoc activities. An interactive guidance structure is presented in the collaborative environment to guide actions of the users with respect to the work items. Materials produced as a result of the actions to update the information base are collected. |
| US08452716B2 |
Kernel-based method and apparatus for classifying materials or chemicals and for quantifying the properties of materials or chemicals in mixtures using spectroscopic data
A kernel-based method determines the similarity of a first spectrum and a second spectrum. Each spectrum represents a result of spectral analysis of a material or chemical and comprises a set of spectral attributes distributed across a spectral range. The method calculates a kernel function which makes use of the shape of the spectral response surrounding a spectral point. This is achieved by comparing the value of an spectral attribute in a spectrum and each of a set of neighboring spectral attributes within a window around the spectral attribute. Weighting values can be applied to calculations when deriving the kernel function. The weighting values can assign different degrees of importance to different regions of the spectrum. The method can be used to: classify unknown spectra; predict the concentration of an analyte within a mixture; database searching for the closest match using a kernel-derived distance metric; visualization of high-dimensional spectral data in two or three dimensions. |
| US08452712B2 |
Method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses
A method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g., a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The resource library can be used by authorized end user software programs. A “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library can allow a resource library to be licensed only for use with particular software programs. |
| US08452709B2 |
Methods and systems for verifying customer supplied financial account information using debit and credit transactions
Embodiment of the invention describe methods and systems for verifying customer supplied financial account information verification using debit and credit transactions. These methods include electronically transmitting an electronic debit and credit transaction to the customer financial account, based on the customer supplied financial account information. The method also includes electronically transmitting a first statement descriptor, as part of at least one of the electronic debit transaction and the electronic credit transaction, that includes a first verification code. The method also includes electronically receiving, from the customer, a second verification code, and comparing, by the computer system, the transmitted first verification code with the received second verification code with respect to each other. The method also includes verifying, by the computer system, the customer supplied financial account information based on the comparison of the verification codes. |
| US08452704B2 |
Method and system for on-line payments
A method and system for making on-line payments makes use of computer hardware and software and utilizes, for example, a payment engine that facilitates the making of payments via the Internet. A user enrolls for the on-line payments service, designates a source account for the on-line payments, and is provided a transaction account as a money deposit account with an account number that the user can use as a source and a destination of funds and with one or more service levels. The user can make, for example, on-line payments, on-line and/or off-line purchases, cash withdrawals at an ATM, credit card account payments, bill payments, and/or international payments with funds in the transaction account and/or a line of credit associated with the transaction account. |
| US08452702B1 |
System, method and program product for minimizing fund movements
A method, system and program product, the method comprising: accessing databases, comprising (i) aggregated account information for a plurality of government-backed insured interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in a plurality of recipient depository institutions, and (ii) client account information; obtaining client account transaction information of client accounts of a first financial institution; obtaining a first amount of funds for the first financial institution; allocating the first amount of funds to other of the recipient depository institutions; allocating a second amount of funds sourced from other of the financial institutions to the first financial institution, based on criteria; netting the first amount and the second amount to obtain a net amount; if the net amount is different from zero, allocating a positive or a negative third amount, to make the second amount equal to the first amount, so no transfer is necessary. |
| US08452698B2 |
System and method for managing credit risk for investment portfolios
A system is disclosed for enabling a portfolio manager to obtain credit approval for an issuer of securities from a credit analyst. The system includes a relational database containing subjective and objective issuer information, a graphical user interface for permitting a portfolio manager to submit a credit approval request to a credit analyst, a graphical user interface for permitting a credit analyst to evaluate the credit approval request submitted by the portfolio manager based on the issuer information contained in the database, and a graphical user interface for permitting the credit analyst to resolve the credit approval request on behalf of the portfolio manager. |
| US08452695B2 |
System and method for providing security to a game controller device for electronic trading
A system for managing electronic trading, comprises an interface application including a mapping module that defines a plurality of controller signal relationships. Each controller signal relationship associates one or more of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments. The interface application receives a plurality of game controller signals generated by a game controller, and determines, based on the controller signal relationships, that one or more of the plurality of received game controller signals are erroneous. The interface application causes the communication of a command to lock the game controller based on the determination of the one or more erroneous game controller signals. |
| US08452692B2 |
Method and system for managing exchange traded funds using an intraday indicative value
A computer implemented method, system, and software for calculating and using an intraday indicative value of a leveraged Bullish or Bearish exchange traded fund (“ETF”) for arbitrage purposes, includes calculating an intraday current value of all the equity securities in the ETF (applicable only to Bullish ETFs), calculating mark to market gains or losses of at least one derivative product, and retrieving an accumulated loss or gain of the at least one derivative product and other cash equivalent amounts. The intraday indicative value of the ETF is determined by combining the calculated intraday current value of all the equity securities (applicable only to Bullish ETFs), the accumulated loss or gain, the mark to market gains of the at least one derivative product and other cash equivalent amounts. The determined intraday value of the ETF is used, by a party, for arbitrage purposes. |
| US08452690B2 |
System and method for money management using a plurality of profit levels in an electronic trading environment
A system and method for money management in an electronic trading environment are presented. According to one embodiment, a money management application intercepts an order before the order is sent to an exchange, and determines a plurality of P/L levels, based on which the money management application then selects a set of money management parameters to be used to control or modify order parameters before the order is sent to the exchange. The plurality of profit levels may include a net profit level determined based on a trader's net position and a current market level, a realized profit level determined based on trader's sells and buys associated with the tradable object, or an open profit level determined based on the realized and net profit levels. The set of money management parameters may include a maximum order quantity and a maximum net position so that, for example, if the order quantity associated with the order is higher than the maximum order quantity associated with the applicable set of money management parameters, the order quantity may be modified to the maximum order quantity. |
| US08452685B2 |
Fiduciary screener test and benefit plan selection process: more generalized applications
A process for enrolling individual participants in financial products or services or a means of determining knowledge of and competency regarding service provider advice using performance scores from a psychometric testing instrument to determine whether individual participants understand the risks of their choices. As an individual's score increases on the test, a larger array of choices become available allowing greater opportunity for financial product, service or advise customization. This screening process benefits the individual by limiting choices where risks are not properly understood. Additionally, the use of the test as a screener to curtail unsuitable choices affords investment custodians, investment advisors or other providers a mechanism to demonstrate that they have properly exercised their fiduciary duty. |
| US08452680B1 |
Biometric financial transaction system and method
Tokenless biometric authorization of transaction between a consumer and a merchant uses an identicator and an access device. A consumer registers with the identicator a biometric sample taken from the consumer. The consumer and merchant establish communications via the access device. The merchant proposes a transaction to the consumer via the access device. The access device communicates to the merchant associated with the access device. After the consumer and merchant have agreed on the transaction, the consumer and the identicator use the access device to establish communications. The access device communicates to the identicator the code associated with the access device. The identicator compares biometric sample from the consumer with registered biometric sample. Upon successful identification, the identicator forwards information regarding the consumer to the merchant. These steps accomplish a biometrically authorized electronic financial transaction without the consumer having to present any personalized man-made memory tokens. |
| US08452676B1 |
Method and system for filing a tax form using quick return
A method for filing a tax form, comprising generating a basic return form, receiving a plurality of basic return answers to a plurality of basic return questions from a user, obtaining aggregate tax data from a plurality of filed tax returns based on the plurality of basic return answers, determining a plurality of aggregate tax questions based on the aggregate tax data, determining a plurality of utilization levels for the plurality of aggregate tax questions, generating a summary input form comprising a first plurality of tax questions and a second plurality of tax questions, receiving a plurality of summary input answers to the first plurality of tax questions and the second plurality of tax questions from the user, completing the tax form based on the plurality of summary input answers to obtain a completed tax form, and filing the completed tax form with a tax authority. |
| US08452673B2 |
System for processing data acquired from vehicle diagnostic interface for vehicle inventory monitoring
A system for keeping an inventory of vehicles that serve as collateral for loans provided by a lending entity includes a vehicle monitoring device, a database, and a central vehicle data server. The vehicle monitoring device includes a wireless modem, a processor, a GPS receiver, a vehicle diagnostics interface connector, and memory. These components are preferably enclosed in a small housing which may be installed beneath the dashboard of a vehicle. The vehicle diagnostics interface connector connects to the vehicle's OBD interface which is electrically connected to the vehicle's on-board diagnostics processor. The device retrieves vehicle diagnostic data through the vehicle's OBD interface based on the occurrence of certain events during the operation of the vehicle, such as ignition events, voltage change events, and location-based events, such as crossing a geofence boundary or exceeding a mileage or speed threshold. The device transmits the retrieved vehicle diagnostic data to the central vehicle data server via a wireless communication network. Vehicle inventories are managed in the database based on the information transmitted from the vehicle monitoring device. |
| US08452663B2 |
Systems and methods for processing auto-ID data
Embodiments of the present invention improve data processing, and in particular, improve rule engines for data processing and improve processing auto-ID data. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a gateway layer between a auto-ID device layer and an auto-ID node layer for processing data. The gateway layer may incorporate a rule engine for processing data. In another embodiment, the present invention includes a rule processor where rules are activated and deactivated automatically to reduce system overhead. In another embodiment, the rule engine is composed of multiple services that can be omitted if they are not needed for the processing of a given rule set to reduce the footprint and resource consumption of the rule engine. |
| US08452662B2 |
System, program product, and associated methods to autodraw for micro-credit attached to prepaid card
A prepaid card processor receives data for a line of credit for a prepaid card from a lending institution computer. The prepaid card processor makes available draws to the line of credit line on behalf of the lending institution computer in an authorization stream for a proposed purchase using the prepaid card as payment. When the line of credit is accessed, the processor loads the prepaid card with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the prepaid card then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed purchase. Then the processor notifies the lending institution so that the line of credit balances on the lending institution computer and the prepaid card processor are kept in sync. |
| US08452661B2 |
Metered electrical charging station with integrated expense tracking and invoice capabilities
A system for safely recharging and charging electrically powered vehicles, including hybrid powered vehicles, includes an electrical charging station for connecting the vehicles to a source of Ground Fault Protected electrical power, an authorization device for permitting an operator of the vehicle to utilize a secure electronic content distributor. The system also includes a metering system for recording the amount of electrical power or electricity utilized to charge or recharge the vehicle. A cover is hinged to the charging station and includes an aperture sized to secure said power cord to said electrical connection output. A locking pin assembly secures the cover in a closed position while said position indicator is engaged and maintains the cover in a closed position until an authorization to release the cover is received. |
| US08452660B2 |
Self-checkout security system and method therefor
A system and method for enhanced security for a self-checkout system is disclosed where predicted weights of items are used to predict the total order weight. The predicted total order weight is compared to an actual weight of the order based on a weighing of the total order, and an output provided indicating whether the comparison is within acceptable limits or if a security alert or attendant assistance is needed. |
| US08452653B1 |
Method for providing information and recommendations based on user activity
A method for providing recommendations to a user based on user activity. A plurality of activity data tracking a plurality of activities of a user is obtained. The activity data may be obtained over a wide area network such as the internet or downloaded from a data card which stores activity data whenever the user participates in an activity. The activity data is either stored on the data card or transmitted over the network whenever the user uses a card when participating in any activity such as when making a purchase of goods, paying for services, watching television, etc. The activity data is processed to identify a plurality of user patterns. The user patterns are used to form a user profile and may include user habit data. Recommendations specific to the user based on the user patterns are then created for and provided to the user. The recommendations are provided to a user when the user logs onto a computer network such as the internet. The recommendations may also be provided by electronic mail, electronic pager or other methods. The recommendations are provided by various data analysis techniques including rule based inference engines and other forms of artificial intelligence. |
| US08452652B2 |
Electronic coupons decision support and recommendation system
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for determining a combination of electronic coupons (e-coupons) for redemption by a retailer in a networked environment are disclosed. In the method, a check is made to determine if a selection of e-coupons complies with redeeming conditions for a purchase. If so, a further check is made to determine if two or more of the selected e-coupons are mutually exclusive. The selection of e-coupons complying with the redeeming conditions and being non-mutually exclusive is displayed. Preferably, the method includes suggesting to a user of an optimal or near optimal selection of e-coupons. The e-coupons may reside at a user's site, a third party's site, or a site of the retailer in the networked environment. The networked environment may be the Internet, an Intranet, an Extranet, a local area network, an ATM network, a wide area network and a wireless network. |
| US08452651B2 |
Method and system for providing rewards to a portable computing device at the point of sale
A method of providing rewards to a user by storing, in a portable computing device, user profile data which may be accessed by a merchant terminal only if allowed by the user. A merchant terminal interacts with the portable computing device by accessing the user profile data from the portable computing device if allowed by the user, and providing the user with a reward in accordance with the user profile data allowed by the user to be accessed by the merchant terminal, wherein the merchant terminal provides a relatively greater reward to the user when the user allows relatively more user profile data to be accessed by the merchant terminal and a relatively lesser reward to the user when the user allows relatively less data to be accessed by the merchant terminal. |
| US08452650B2 |
Dynamic pricing for content presentations
A request for content is received. First content is selected for the request. The first content is selected from among multiple content items based on information in the request, a characteristic of how the first content is to be presented, and a stored pricing threshold value selected based on the characteristic. The characteristic of how the first content is to be presented includes an amount of available space that is occupied by the first content when the first content is presented. The selected first content is provided for presentation by a publisher that provides second content. |
| US08452647B2 |
Portable hand-held multi-function device for storing, managing and combining rewards
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card. |
| US08452640B2 |
Personalized content delivery and analytics
Systems and methods are provided that record details and analytics about a sales call presentation. Presentation materials are stored in the form of digital content in a memory. A first user interface is provided to allow a presenter to select a presentation, and a second user interface is provided to allow a presenter to enter details about the sales call. Analytical data of the presentation is recorded in real-time and the analytical data is stored in a memory, wherein the analytical data is used in part to assess the success of the presentation. |
| US08452639B2 |
System and method for marketing mix optimization for brand equity management
A method of marketing optimization with respect to brand lifetime management formulates a problem of brand equity maximization utilizing Markov Decision Process (MDP) thereby casting brand equity management as a long term regard optimization problem in MDP, The marketing mix is optimized by formulating the mix as actions in MDP and, utilizing historical marketing and transaction data, aspects of the MDP are estimated. |
| US08452636B1 |
Systems and methods for market performance analysis
A system comprises a data integration module to receive data from two or more different financial service systems, a data transformation module to transform the data, a data storage module to store the transformed data in a persistent raw data store, an analytic module configured use a business rule to condition data stored in the persistent raw data store, and a report module to organize the conditioned data for reporting. A system comprises a business rules engine, an analytic engine to automatically generate a result data set using a rule, and a report engine organize data extracted from the result data set in a report. A system comprises a raw data storage module to store persistent raw data, a processed data storage module to store processed data, a decision module configured to determine a scope of a business rule and adaptively apply the business rule to the data. |
| US08452634B2 |
Method and system for assessing the progress of a project in terms of its schedule
The invention describes a computer-implemented method and system for assessing the progress of a project in terms of its schedule. The method includes receiving project data and based on the project data, calculating a first period (PE) after which a current earned value (EV) was expected to be realized. The method also includes calculating a second period (PR) in which the current EV has been realized. Further, the method includes calculating a fraction component (EF) of a period when the current EV was expected to be realized and finally, calculating an earned schedule performance index (ESPI) based on PE, PR and EF, wherein the ESPI indicates whether the project is on schedule. |
| US08452633B2 |
System and method for improved project portfolio management
A system and method for managing a portfolio or projects is disclosed wherein the relationships between the goals of an organization are determined and a weight is applied to each goal. These weights are indicative of the importance of each goal in achieving another goal. Each project in the organization is assigned a contribution value that indicates the importance of that project in achieving one or more of the organizational goals and strategic impacts of that project to those goals is calculated as a function of the contribution value of the project. This strategic impact is compared to objective criteria, such as the budget allocated to that project, and a determination is made whether the resources allocated to that project should be adjusted as a function of the relationship between this strategic impact and the objective criteria. |
| US08452630B1 |
Method and system for scheduling workers
A method for scheduling workers in a business day. The method includes obtaining a scheduled worker distribution specifying an amount of work to be performed by the workers during a business day, where each worker is assigned a schedule within a work window, which includes a core component and a flex component. The method further includes obtaining a forecasted demand distribution for an amount of work to be performed by the workers during the business day and comparing the scheduled worker distribution with the forecasted demand distribution for the business day. The method further includes creating a new schedule for a worker when the scheduled worker distribution and the forecasted demand distribution are not substantially equal, where the new schedule is within the work window associated with the worker, and notifying, a predetermined amount of time in advance of the business day, the worker of the new schedule. |
| US08452628B2 |
System and method of facilitating interaction between members of supply chain
A computer-implemented method involves facilitating interaction between members of a supply chain. A communication platform links to a plurality of hubs for electronic data transfer. The hubs are associated with the members of the supply chain. The method provides a standardized model for product decisions for each member of the supply chain. The method involves formulating a product plan by a first member of the supply chain. The product plan utilizes the standardized model and data available to the first member to generate a forecast under the product plan. The method transfers the product plan with shared data and forecast through a first hub associated with the first member and through the communication platform to a second hub associated with a second member of the supply chain. The communication platform controls the transfer of data so that the second member can evaluate the product plan and forecast under the standardized model. |
| US08452624B2 |
Online travel reservation system and method delivering restriction-aware travel opportunities
An online reservation system including a fare search engine is described. The system comprises a database of published fares, a database of rules attached to the published fares and a fare family solver to categorize the published fares into sets of predefined generic fare families on the basis of the rules attached to the published fares. The fare family solver further comprises a generic partitioning fare family database holding the attributes of each predefined generic fare family allowing to determine to which fare family the published fares belong to. The attributes of each predefined generic fare family are first set up by a fare family composer operated by an administrator of the system.The online reservation system of the invention allows returning to the end-users of online travel service providers travel solutions categorized in families of fares having various ranges of prices and levels of restrictions attached to. |
| US08452620B1 |
Parametric directors and officers insurance and reinsurance contracts, and related financial instruments
The provision of parametric D&O insurance and reinsurance policies is afforded by systems and methods for determining one or more parametric indices of the risk arising from aggregate litigation activity, which risk is correlated with the financial exposures (e.g., payment cash flows) of the insureds' exposed to such claims, and of the insurers who provide primary D&O insurance coverage. A parametric index is for a given policy is determined from a set of parameters that define the type, scope, timing of litigation activity for the index, as well as details how the index values are determined from the underlying litigation exposure. The system and method further determine whether payments are due under such a policy and their amounts. |
| US08452613B2 |
Multiple modality computer aided diagnostic system and method
A diagnostic system having an image loader including a processor for processing multiple modality images, at least one of the multiple modality images being a mammogram image, the processing including generating diagnostic information based on a computer aided diagnostic tool and an image viewer simultaneously displaying the multiple modality images. |
| US08452609B2 |
Computer system for rule-driven emergency department coding
Among other things, the preferred embodiments provide a computer system whereby Coders can quickly and efficiently review, manage and modify patient record documentation electronically via a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on a computer display or monitor. In this manner, the Coder(s) can create electronic data files and Charge Reports that are used, e.g., by facilities to effect billing to patients and to prepare documentation to seek reimbursement from medical facilities. |
| US08452606B2 |
Speech encoding using multiple bit rates
A method system and program for encoding and decoding a speech signal including error correction data. The method comprises: receiving a speech signal comprising successive frames, for each of a plurality of frames of the speech signal, analysing the speech signal to determine side information and a residual signal, encoding the residual signal at a first bit rate, and generating an output bitstream based on the residual signal encoded at the first bit rate, and for at least one of the plurality of frames of the speech signal, encoding the residual signal at a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate; and generating error correction data based on the residual signal encoded at the second bit rate. |
| US08452605B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating audio subband values and apparatus and method for generating time-domain audio samples
An embodiment of an apparatus for generating audio subband values in audio subband channels has an analysis windower for windowing a frame of time-domain audio input samples being in a time sequence extending from an early sample to a later sample using an analysis window function having a sequence of window coefficients to obtain windowed samples. The analysis window function has a first group of window coefficients and a second group of window coefficients. The first group of window coefficients is used for windowing later time-domain samples and the second group of window coefficients is used for windowing an earlier time-domain samples. The apparatus further has a calculator for calculating the audio subband values using the windowed samples. |
| US08452603B1 |
Methods and systems for enhancement of device accessibility by language-translated voice output of user-interface items
Methods and systems for enhancement of device accessibility are described. In an example, an operating system configured to be executed on a device, may be configured to support a plurality of software applications and to support a plurality of modes of operation of the device. A given software application may include a user-interface comprising a user-interface item having a text in a first language. The operating system may be configured to receive a selection of the user-interface item of the given software application. Based on the operating system being in an accessibility mode common to the plurality of software applications, the operating system may be configured to determine a translation of the text into a second language; and a voice output corresponding to a spoken utterance of the translation of the text. The operating system further may be configured to provide, by the device, the voice output. |
| US08452601B2 |
Reading device with shortcut read function
In some embodiments, a reading device is provided with a shortcut read mode in which a user can instruct the reading device of the type of document (e.g., invoice, package label, newspaper, etc.) that is to be read so that the device can more efficiently find and read back to the user desired (target) information from the document. |
| US08452600B2 |
Assisted reader
An electronic reading device for reading ebooks and other digital media items combines a touch surface electronic reading device with accessibility technology to provide a visually impaired user more control over his or her reading experience. In some implementations, the reading device can be configured to operate in at least two modes: a continuous reading mode and an enhanced reading mode. |
| US08452598B2 |
System and method for providing advertisements in an integrated voice navigation services environment
The system and method described herein may provide advertisements in an integrated voice navigation services environment. In particular, one or more advertisements may be identified based on affinities among a current location associated with a navigation device and shared knowledge and information used to interpret natural language utterances that relate to a navigation context, wherein the one or more advertisements may then be presented via a multi-modal output. As such, the shared knowledge and the information relating to the navigation context may provide the system and method with dynamic awareness relating to context, available information sources, domain knowledge, and user behavior and preferences, among other things, which may be used to deliver targeted and contextually relevant advertisements in the integrated navigation services environment. |
| US08452594B2 |
Method and system for processing dictated information
A method and a system for processing dictated information into a dynamic form are disclosed. The method comprises presenting an image (3) belonging to an image category to a user, dictating a first section of speech associated with the image category, retrieving an electronic document having a previously defined document structure (4) associated with the first section of speech, thus associating the document structure (4) with the image (3), wherein the document structure comprises at least one text field, presenting at least a part of the electronic document having the document structure (4) on a presenting unit (5), dictating a second section of speech and processing the second section of speech in a speech recognition engine (6) into dictated text and associating the dictated text with the text field. |
| US08452591B2 |
Comfort noise information handling for audio transcoding applications
A device comprising an audio information processor to receive at least one audio stream encoded according to a first protocol by a remote network processing device, the audio stream having associated comfort noise information to indicate a level of background noise available for presentation during silence periods associated with the audio stream, the audio information processor to decode the received audio stream according to the first protocol and to encode the decoded audio stream according to a second protocol, and a background noise translator to convert the comfort noise information received with the audio stream into a format compatible with the second protocol. |
| US08452583B2 |
Method of using visual separators to indicate additional character combinations on a handheld electronic device and associated apparatus
A method and associated apparatus for using visual separators to indicate additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device. |
| US08452581B2 |
Technique using power macromodeling for register transfer level power estimation
A method for estimating power consumption of a design block of an integrated circuit includes obtaining power consumption data from designs of older-generation microprocessors, selecting a set of power consumption parameters, applying a curve-fitting technique on the obtained power consumption data for the selected set of power consumption parameters, creating a new power consumption model based on the curve-fitting technique and one or more of the power consumption parameters, using the model at a register transfer level of a newer-generation microprocessor to represent estimates of register transfer level power consumption of the newer-generation microprocessor, and outputting the register transfer level power consumption estimates based on the model. |
| US08452580B2 |
Method and system for using multiple-point statistics simulation to model reservoir property trends
A computer-implemented method and system for simulating reservoir property trends, including petrophysical trends within facies geobodies, is provided. One embodiment includes discretizing a range of values of the reservoir property to be modeled into at least two categories and utilizing the categories to discretize the associated well data and training image into categorical well data and a categorical training image. An embodiment includes applying MPS simulation using the categorical training image on a stratigraphic grid of nodes discretizing the reservoir volume to create a categorical property model. The embodiment additionally includes applying variogram-based simulation in each sub-region of the categorical property model to create a reservoir property model that reproduces the category histogram of each associated sub-region and models the reservoir property trends. |
| US08452578B2 |
Simulation method of noise performance of tire and method of producing tire
A method for simulating tire noise performance using a computer includes a step S1 of setting, using a finite number of elements, a tire model having a tread model portion provided with a tread groove, a step S2 of setting a road surface model using a finite number of elements, a step S4 of carrying out a rolling simulation to roll the tire model on the road surface model at least over a groove-grounded rolling distance between which the tread groove is brought into and out of contact with the road surface model; a step S5 of acquiring a surface coordinate value of the tread model portion in a time-series manner, and a step S7 of setting a sound space region around the tread model portion using the surface coordinate value of the tread model portion and of carrying out an aerodynamic simulation using the sound space region. |
| US08452577B2 |
Golf ball trajectory simulation method
A method for simulating a golf ball trajectory is provided. The simulation method sets up a golf ball model within a virtual airflow space where a grid has been generated, sets a weight for the ball model and applies initial conditions (initial velocity, launch angle, spin rate) to the ball model so as to cause the model to fly within the virtual airflow space, then calculates the lift coefficient and the drag coefficient for the golf ball from the air stream velocity, direction and pressure calculated in each grid cell, and calculates the flight distance and left-to-right dispersion for the golf ball from launch until landing by calculating the change in height, change in lateral direction, change in velocity and change in spin rate for the golf ball during flight. The trajectory simulation method divides the flight path into regions including a high, a medium and a low velocity region. |
| US08452575B2 |
Golf ball trajectory simulation method
A golf ball trajectory simulation method is provided. The method includes setting up a golf ball model within a virtual airflow space where a grid has been generated and setting a weight for the ball model and applies initial conditions (initial velocity, launch angle, spin rate) to the ball model so as to cause the model to fly within the virtual airflow space. The method further includes calculating the lift coefficient and the drag coefficient for the golf ball from the air stream velocity, the direction and pressure in each grid cell, and the flight distance and left-to-right dispersion for the golf ball from launch until landing by calculating, at predetermined short time intervals, the change in height, change in lateral direction, change in velocity and change in spin rate for the golf ball during flight. |
| US08452573B2 |
Carbon footprint analysis tool for structures
An emission estimation apparatus running a program configured to perform a method of calculating the amount of carbon generated during the life span of a structure by displaying a graphical user interface stored in the memory of the apparatus which is configured to gather structural information pertaining of the structure, receiving structural information from the graphical user interface into the memory of the apparatus which includes information pertaining to the size, types of material used in the structure and structural aspects of the structure, generating an estimated amount of carbon generated from the use of each type of material to construct the structure and the labor used to construct the structure based on the structural information received by the processor, estimating, by the processor, the types and amounts of material and labor required to repair the structure after a destructive event occurs based on a calculated probability and magnitude of a destructive event occurring, generating an estimated amount of carbon emitted as a result of the materials used and the labor required to repair the structure after the destructive event occurs, and displaying the total estimated amount of carbon emitted due the construction and repair of the structure on a display unit. |
| US08452570B2 |
Systems and apparatuses for testing blood glucose measurement engines
A system for testing a blood glucose measurement engine includes a host device emulator having a measurement engine port communicatively coupled to a communications port and electrically coupled to a power supply. A diagnostic computer may be communicatively coupled to the communications port of the host device emulator. The diagnostic computer may include a processor and a memory having computer readable and executable instructions. When the blood glucose measurement engine is communicatively coupled to the measurement engine port, the host device emulator simulates connection to a host device by facilitating the communication of signals between the diagnostic computer and the blood glucose measurement engine. The processor executes the computer readable and executable instructions to: transmit control signals and diagnostic signals to the measurement engine, receive and analyze data signals transmitted from the measurement engine, and monitor a glucose measurement process performed by the measurement engine. |
| US08452565B2 |
HF measurement system, method for the calibration thereof, and method for determining scattering parameters with this HF measurement system
A method for calibrating a high frequency measurement device having N measurement ports, where N is an integer ≧1, in particular a vector network analyzer, for determining scattering parameters of a measurement object with an n-port measurement, where n is an integer ≧1, wherein a high frequency test signal is fed into a first electrical lead connected to the measurement object or to a circuit having the measurement object, wherein for each port, an HF signal running on a second electrical lead, connected to the measurement object is coupled out from the second electrical lead at a first coupling position and at a second coupling position placed at a distance from the first coupling position, wherein from the two HF signals coupled out, in each port, for each measuring site or coupling site, an amplitude and/or a phase, relative to the HF test signal, of an HF signal running on the second electrical lead to the measurement object and of an HF signal running on the second electrical lead away from the measurement object are determined and therefrom, scattering parameters of the measurement object are calculated. |
| US08452560B2 |
Identifying periodic jitter in a signal
Identifying periodic jitter in a signal includes identifying transition regions of the signal, where the transition regions correspond to regions of the signal where the signal changes between different levels, determining lengths of the transition regions; and performing a statistical analysis that is based on the lengths of the transition regions in order to obtain a value indicative of a level of periodic jitter in the signal. |
| US08452546B1 |
Method for deducing a polymer sequence from a nominal base-by-base measurement
A method of processing sequencing data obtained with a polymer sequencing system identifies the most likely monomer sequence of a polymer, regardless of stochastic variations in recorded signals. Polymer sequencing data is recorded and two or more distinct series of pore blocking signals for a section of the polymer are recorded. A value is assigned to each series of pore blocking signals to obtain multiple trial sequences. The probability that each of the trial sequences could have resulting in all of trial sequences is calculated to determine a monomer sequence with the highest probability of resulting in all of the trial sequences, termed the first iteration sequence. The first iteration sequence is systematically altered to maximize the combined probability of the first iteration sequence leading to all the trial sequences in order to obtain a most likely sequence of monomers of the polymer. |
| US08452544B2 |
Utility and method for the application of signal advance amplification to analog waveform or signal detection, acquisition and processing
An analog waveform signal detection/data acquisition system that is based on negative group delay for reducing inherent delay in analog waveform or signal detection and acquisition and facilitating earlier than otherwise possible responsive actions to analog waveform data. Signal advance amplification and data conditioning reduces distortion and permits greater temporal advance than previously possible. |
| US08452543B2 |
High throughput screening for antimicrobial dosing regimens
Provided herein are methods and computer-implemented systems for using computer simulations to predict likelihood of a cell population associated with a pathophysiological condition acquiring resistance to a therapeutic agent, to screen for therapeutic agents effective to suppress acquisition of resistance within a cell population and to treat the pathophysiological conditions associated therewith. The computer simulation comprises at least an input/out system and a mathematical model, including operably linked equations, parameter values and constant values, of growth response over a period of time of a cell population in contact with an therapeutic agent. Also provide is a method for determining a best-fit mathematical model of adaptation of a microbial population to a therapeutic agent over time and using the model to simulate microbial population behavior to a therapeutic agent. |
| US08452541B2 |
Vaccine design methodology
Systems and methodologies for efficient vaccine design are disclosed herein. A methodology for efficient vaccine design in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein may be operable to receive a graph having vertices corresponding to epitope sequences present in the pathogen population, weights for respective vertices corresponding to respective frequencies with which corresponding epitope sequences appear in the pathogen population, and directed edges that connect vertices that correspond to overlapping epitope sequences. Such a methodology may also be operable to determine a candidate vaccine sequence of overlapping epitope sequences by identifying a path though the graph corresponding to a series of connected vertices and directed edges that maximizes the total weight of the vertices in the path for a desired vaccine sequence length. |
| US08452534B2 |
Route search device and route search method
Conventionally, there has been a learning route-search device that stores therein, as deviation sections, actual traveling routes deviated from optimum routes, and performs route search by substituting, with any one of the deviation sections, a route found by the device if a starting point and an ending point of this deviation section are included in the found route. Such a device substitutes a route with a corresponding one of the deviation sections without exception, and therefore, may sometimes find a circuitous route that is not desired by a user. Provided is a technology by which learned routes are applied in a more appropriate manner in accordance with routes to be found. A route search device is provided with a deviation determining unit adapted to determine whether or not a route deviated from a route found by a route search unit has been taken in travelling. If a route deviated from the route has been taken in travelling, the route search device stores, in association with one another, a road link relating to a position at which the deviated route has started, a road link relating to a position at which retaking of the found route has started, and the deviated route taken in the travelling. The route search device then substitutes at least a part of the foregoing found route with the thus stored route. |
| US08452532B2 |
Selective control of an optional vehicle mode
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that is subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a preferred consequential result related to a user-selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. |
| US08452528B2 |
Visual recognition area estimation device and driving support device
An object of the invention is to provide a visual recognition area estimation device that can accurately estimate an area recognized by a driver in real time. The visual recognition area estimation device of the present invention calculates the visual recognition area recognized by the driver by means of the visual recognition area calculation portion 11 based on the eyes of the driver, and estimates a time series visual recognition area as the area currently recognized by the driver by means of the visual recognition time space map creation portion 14 based on histories of a plurality of visual recognition areas calculated from the past to the present for a predetermined time. In this manner, by estimating the time series visual recognition area also including the past visual recognition area, the area currently recognized by the driver can be accurately estimated, and the eyes of the driver are not correlated with the obstacle but based on the standard area. Thus, it is possible to prevent the throughput from becoming too large, whereby the estimation processing in real time is possible. |
| US08452527B2 |
Method of automatic positioning for loading and unloading of container ships in container terminals
A method is provided for automatically locating a container in a stowage location of a container ship for loading and unloading of the container ship in container terminals. The method includes the following steps: obtaining the position information of the container ship from container ship positioning units, obtaining the position information of the container from container positioning units when the container is in its stowage location, and determining the stowage location of the container in the container ship by first computing a relative position of the container in the container ship based on both the position information of the container ship and the position information of the container and then correlating the relative position with a stowage plan of the container ship. |
| US08452520B2 |
Control system and method for low quantity fuel injection
A control system for an engine includes a parameter determination module and a period determination module. The parameter determination module determines a first fuel injection parameter based on a rate of change of a quantity of fuel injected during a period, and determines a second fuel injection parameter based on an initial quantity of fuel injected during the period. The period determination module determines a desired fuel injection period based on a desired fuel injection quantity, the first and second fuel injection parameters, and at least one of mass air flow (MAF) rate, intake air temperature (IAT), fuel injector pressure (FIP), engine coolant temperature (ECT), and exhaust gas air/fuel (A/F) ratio. |
| US08452515B2 |
System and method for simulating a gas turbine compressor
A method for simulating a compressor of a gas turbine may generally include determining a predicted pressure ratio and a predicted mass flow of the compressor based on a model of the gas turbine, monitoring an actual pressure ratio and an actual mass flow of the compressor, determining difference values between at least one of the predicted pressure ratio and the actual pressure ratio and the predicted mass flow and the actual mass flow, modifying the difference values using an error correction system to generate a compressor flow modifier and using the compressor flow modifier to adjust the predicted pressure ratio and the predicted mass flow. |
| US08452514B2 |
Device for executing preceding vehicle following driving control
A device executes a preceding vehicle following driving control and successively calculates a friction-braking-start threshold value, an engine-braking-start threshold value, an acceleration-control-completion threshold value by using equations L1, L2 and L3, respectively. The device uses a constant vehicle speed zone determined between the engine-braking-start threshold value and the acceleration-control-completion threshold value. When a compensated-evaluation-index value KdB_c of a vehicle distance between the own vehicle and a preceding vehicle is within the constant vehicle speed zone, the device drives the own vehicle at a constant speed. This control suppresses fuel consumption because of decreasing an acceleration and deceleration frequency of the own vehicle. Decreasing the deceleration frequency makes it possible to provide good vehicle following because less frequent acceleration is needed for following the preceding vehicle even if another vehicle cuts in between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle or the preceding vehicle accelerates after decelerating. |
| US08452510B1 |
Pumping brake detection and control device and method for internal combustion engine
A device includes: actual-intake-pipe-pressure detection unit (11); estimated-intake-pipe-pressure detection unit (12) for calculating an estimated intake pipe pressure based on a rotation speed of the engine and an opening degree of a throttle valve; pressure difference calculation unit (13) for calculating a pressure difference between the actual and estimated intake pipe pressures; pressure difference integration unit (14) for integrating the pressure difference with respect to time; pumping brake detection unit (15) for determining that a pumping brake operation is performed when a integral value is equal to or more than a first determination value; and throttle valve control unit (16) for carrying out control for the pumping brake during the pumping brake operation based on a result of the determination by the pumping brake detection unit (15), and carrying out ordinary control otherwise. |
| US08452508B2 |
Braking system for patient support
An assembly controls brakes on beds for use in healthcare facilities. The bed comprises at least one caster device supporting a base frame in relation to a supporting surface. The caster device has a caster brake. A brake control assembly is operatively engageable with the caster brake to engage the caster brake. The brake control assembly comprises a sensor for sensing a status condition of the caster brake. A controller is connected to the sensor. The controller causes engagement of the caster brake when the sensor senses the status condition for a predetermined period of time. |
| US08452505B2 |
Notification apparatus
A re-generation instruction apparatus has a re-generation instruction computer that receives brake operation information from a re-generation control computer for calculating an energy loss in a total energy from speed reduction by the brake operation of the driver, which is lost by a re-generation brake system. The calculated energy loss is utilized for preparing notification for the driver in various situations such as a pre-travel notification, a during-travel notification and/or an after-travel notification. |
| US08452500B1 |
Multi-range hydro-mechanical transmission
A powertrain includes an engine and a continuously variable transmission including a planetary gear arrangement and a variator. An input drives the variator and the planetary gears. A first planetary output gear is connected to the first output of the planetary gear arrangement. A second planetary output gear is connected to the first output, and a third planetary output gear is connectable by a first clutch to a second output of the planetary gear arrangement. A first output member is connected to the third planetary output gear, a second clutch releasably connects the first output member with the first planetary output gear, a third clutch connects the first output member with the second planetary output gear, a fourth clutch connects the second output member with the first planetary output gear, and a fifth clutch connects the second output member with the second planetary output gear. |
| US08452498B2 |
Shifting system with tactile feedback
Methods and apparatus are provided for a tactile feedback system. The system comprises a transmission indicator having a position, the position adapted to be adjusted by a user, a feedback device coupled to the transmission indicator, the feedback device adapted to produce a vibration in response to a feedback signal, and a control system adapted to detect the position of the transmission indicator and to transmit a feedback signal to the feedback device. |
| US08452495B2 |
Emergency engine RPM control apparatus for heavy construction equipment
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for contingency controlling an engine rotational speed of a heavy construction equipment, which is capable of contingency controlling the speed of an engine when a controller of the heavy construction equipment such as an excavator does not operate normally. The apparatus for contingency controlling an engine rotational speed including a machine control unit generating a driving signal to control an operation of the engine by transferring a control value received from a control dial to an engine control unit may include: an instrument panel electrically connected with the engine control unit and allowing an operator to select and control a desired engine rotational speed because a control algorithm for the engine rotational speed is made into a database; and a connection switch electrically connecting the instrument panel and the engine control unit when the control dial or the machine control unit does not operate normally. |
| US08452492B2 |
Driver assistance device and method for controlling it
A driver assistance device for a vehicle having a plurality of safety functions, such as in particular an LDW function and an LKS function, in which system-related boundary values are provided for the safety functions such that when they are undershot the safety function is activated and when they are exceeded the safety function is deactivated. The boundary values are developed to be variable. |
| US08452490B2 |
Electronic circuit for charging and heating a battery
An electronic circuit configured to operate in any of a plurality of charging and heating modes for two batteries, a primary battery and a secondary battery. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of switch and diode pairs in a stacked configuration. The stacks of switch and diode pairs are connected to an inductor, to a plurality of mode control switches, and the two batteries. The mode control switches are used to set the modes, which include a charging mode, a self-heating, a power exchange-heating mode, and a direct power transfer mode. |
| US08452483B2 |
Cell-based vehicle driving control method and system
A cell-based vehicle driving control system includes a local server for obtaining road environment information on roads within a cell and target vehicle information on a target vehicle within the cell and generating local waypoints based on the road environment information and the target vehicle information; a global server for monitoring the target vehicle information, the road environment information and local server information on the local server received from the local server; and a vehicle control terminal, mounted in the target vehicle, for receiving the local waypoints from the local server and controlling the target vehicle based on the local waypoints. The road environment information is obtained by using at least one sensor installed on the roads. |
| US08452482B2 |
Self testing systems and methods
A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a diagnostic module, a control module, and a hardware interface module. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in one or more of components that are integrated within a housing. The control module receives a request for testing of the diagnostic module and retrieves predetermined fault data corresponding to the fault. The hardware interface module receives component data for the diagnosis and the predetermined fault data, disables provision of the component data to the diagnostic module, and provides the predetermined fault data to the diagnostic module for the diagnosis. |
| US08452481B2 |
Vehicle information recording apparatus, vehicle information communication system and vehicle information communication method
A GW device for relaying data sent and received between a plurality of ECUs mounted in a vehicle stores data sent from the respective ECUs in a database and then timely sends the data. The database is stored in a time series in association with time information, and copies of database at a plurality of time points are sent to a central device at predetermined time intervals, or at the time of detection of occurrence of a problem. |
| US08452475B1 |
Systems and methods for dynamic aircraft maintenance scheduling
A system for scheduling aircraft maintenance includes communications electronics configured to receive data from systems onboard one or more aircraft while the aircraft are in flight. The system further includes computing electronics configured to receive the data from the communications electronics and to update a maintenance schedule for the one or more aircraft based on the received data. |
| US08452471B2 |
Process for operating a hybrid vehicle
A process for operating a hybrid vehicle in an internal-combustion-engine-driven mode and/or in an electric-motor-driven mode, wherein, on a route section to be traveled and considered for driving in the electric-motor-driven mode, a change to the electric-motor-driven mode will take place only when a threshold value is exceeded which represents, or correlates with the efficiency advantage achievable on the route section by a change from the internal-combustion-engine-driven mode to the electric-motor-driven mode. Starting from the instantaneous position of the hybrid vehicle, the route is examined in an anticipatory manner with respect to such a route section, wherein the threshold value is adapted when such a route section was recognized and a driving through the route section in the electric driving mode would likely lead to a lowering of the state of charge of an electric energy accumulator into a critical state of charge range. |
| US08452466B2 |
Methods and system for detecting railway vacancy
A method for detecting railway vacancy is provided. The method includes sensing, at a remote sensing unit positioned proximate to a railway, a presence of a railcar traversing the railway. The method also includes storing, in real-time, at the remote sensing unit, a sensing event indicative of the sensed presence of the railcar traversing the railway and transmitting, asynchronously from the time at which the presence of the railcar was sensed at the remote sensing unit, the stored sensing event to a master accumulation unit. |
| US08452460B2 |
Fluidics-based orientation and sorting device for plant embryos
The present invention provides an apparatus for fluidics-based automated orientation of plant embryos. The apparatus comprises flow channels, flow direction means, an orientation detector and a control unit. The orientation of embryos suspended in liquid flowing individually through the flow channels is constrained to cotyledon-first or cotyledon-last orientation by dimensional constraints. The orientation is determined by the orientation detector. Embryos not oriented as desired are directed into a reservoir tube by the flow direction means, after which the flow is directed from the reservoir tube to the outlet thereby having reoriented the embryo. Means of sorting viable embryos from other objects are optionally included in the apparatus. |
| US08452459B2 |
Heat exchange network heat recovery optimization in a process plant
A method and system for maximizing heat recovery in a heat exchange network includes collecting on-line process data from a network of heat exchangers having multiple parallel paths. The on-line process data is generated from cool process stream outlet temperatures of the paths. Stream flow rate target values are developed based on the on-line process data and include intended flow rates through each heat exchanger to equalize each of the cool process stream outlet temperatures. One or more cool stream flow control valves of the heat exchanger network and one or more process stream flow control valves of the heat exchanger network are controlled based on the flow rate target values to effect equalization of the cool process stream outlet temperatures. |
| US08452455B2 |
Control device and control method of plasma processing system, and storage medium storing control program
In a control device of a plasma processing system, a communication unit is configured to receive processing information related to a carrier of a next processing lot. A determination unit is configured to determine whether the processing information received by the communication unit has pre-treatment information related to one of the plasma processing devices. When it is determined that the processing information has the pre-treatment information by the determination unit, a generation unit is configured to generate an object for declaring execution of the pre-treatment for the carrier of a next processing lot if a desired condition of transferring of the carrier is satisfied. In addition, if the object is generated by the generation unit, a process executing control unit is configured to start the pre-treatment for the target object in the carrier of a next processing lot without any notification that the carrier reaches a destination plasma processing device. |
| US08452454B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for adjusting hydraulically operated boom
The invention relates to a method and apparatus as well as to a computer program for adjusting the operation of a hydraulically operated boom, the boom (1) comprising at least two mutually movably coupled boom parts (1a, 1b), which are coupled to move with respect to one another by means of a hydraulic actuator (5a-5b, 7a-7b), control means (13, 14) for controlling the hydraulic actuators, a detector (15) for detecting the position between the boom parts (1a, 1b), whereby for adjusting the operation of the boom (1) it is possible to configure a movement-specific adjustment parameter of the joint controller in the control means (13, 14) for each particular movement. In the invention the mutual movement of the boom parts (1a, 1b) is controlled with respect to a predetermined position, on both sides thereof, between the boom parts (1a, 1b), the actual position and motional speed values obtained from the detector (15) in response to the control signal are compared with the theoretical position and motional speed values, and the adjustment parameter of the joint controller is adjusted on the basis of the difference between the values. |
| US08452446B1 |
Automatic pill dispenser
A pill dispensing device includes a base with a top surface and a bottom surface, a transfer tray assembly coupled to the top surface of the base, a controller, and a plurality of vibrating tray assemblies. Each vibrating tray assembly couples to the top surface of the base and includes a pill tray, at least one spring support, a pill tray electric motor, and at least one optical sensor. The pill tray has an open end which is positioned above the transfer tray assembly. The at least one spring support is coupled between the top surface of the base and the pill tray. The pill tray electric motor couples to the pill tray and an offset weight. Each pill tray electric motor electrically couples to the controller. An optical sensor couples to the pill tray. |
| US08452442B2 |
Controller for a positioning device, method for controlling a positioning device, positioning device, and lithographic apparatus provided with a positioning device
A controller for a positioning device is constructed and arranged to receive a position signal indicative of a position of the positioning device, compare the position signal to a set-point signal indicative of a desired position of the positioning device to obtain an error signal, selectively modify the error signal based on the amplitude and the frequency content of the error signal to obtain a modified error signal, generate a control signal for controlling the positioning device on the basis of the modified error signal. The controller may be applied to control a positioning device in a lithographic apparatus. |
| US08452438B2 |
Method for minimizing productivity loss while using a manufacturing scheduler
Tools and/or resources which newly become available to a re-entrant flow manufacturing line, data processing pipeline or the like are allocated in substantially real time to processing operations independent of and consistent with a scheduling segment previously generated by dispatching items such as workpieces or data to tools and/or resources of a manufacturing line until the newly available tool or resource can be conveniently included in a subsequently generated schedule segment in order to avoid productivity loss due to schedule latency. Items can be dispatched in a priority order to accelerate completion of processing. A schedule segment including the newly available tool or resource can be facilitated by merging allocations of a real time dispatch list with allocations of a dispatch list corresponding to a previously generated schedule segment. |
| US08452436B2 |
Tooth movement system and method
The invention features computer based methods and systems for obtaining information about tooth movement caused by at least one orthodontic element fixed on a dentition. The invention also features computer programs for generating, when executed, a method for obtaining information about tooth movement caused by at least one orthodontic element fixed on a dentition, as well as non-transitory machine readable storage media containing such computer programs. |
| US08452432B2 |
Realtime editing and performance of digital audio tracks
A user-friendly system for real time performance and user modification of one or more previously recorded musical compositions facilitates user involvement in the creative process of a new composition that reflects the user's personal style and musical tastes. Such a system may be implemented in a small portable electronic device such as a handheld smartphone that includes a stored library of musical material including original and alternative versions of each of several different components of a common original musical composition, and a graphic user interface that allows the user to select at different times while that original composition is being performed, which versions of which components are to be incorporated to thereby create in real time a new performance that includes elements of the original performance, preferably enhanced at various times with user selected digital sound effects including stuttering and filtering. The system may also optionally comprise a visualizer module that renders a visual animation that is responsive to at least the rhythm and amplitude of the system's audio output, not only for entertainment value but also to provide visual feedback for the user. |
| US08452425B2 |
Position control device
A position control device for suppressing occurrence of stick-slip during a feed operation performed in a very low speed region is provided. Adders add an output obtained by multiplying actual speed deviation by a proportional gain, an integral component of actual speed deviation obtained by inputting actual speed deviation to an integral compensator, an output obtained by multiplying motor speed deviation by a proportional gain, and an integral component of the motor speed deviation obtained by inputting motor speed deviation to an integral compensator. The result is output as a torque feedback command. Each integral compensator has a coefficient changer capable of changing a coefficient from 0 to 1 to adjust integral gains in accordance with a speed feedforward command or a speed command. Large integral gain increases the response speed of switching from static to kinetic friction torque in a very low speed region thereby suppressing occurrence of stick-slip. |
| US08452423B2 |
Methods and systems for the design and implementation of optimal multivariable model predictive controllers for fast-sampling constrained dynamic systems
Methods and systems for the design and implementation of optimal multivariable MPC controllers for fast-sampling constrained dynamic systems utilizing a primal-dual feasibility approach and/or a graph approach. The primal-dual feasibility approach can compute and store matrices defining constraints of quadratic programming problems in an off-line part in order to calculate vectors of Lagrange multipliers and an optimizer. Then primal-dual feasibility can be checked in an on-line part using the Lagrange multipliers and the optimizer can provide a unique optimal solution for the constrained dynamic system. The graph approach can compute and store the matrices and the vectors, and also prepare and store a structure of directed graph in off-line part. An optimizer for a given parameter vector can be determined in on-line part using the directed graph, the matrices and the vectors. |
| US08452422B2 |
Flexible application device for the high-frequency treatment of biological tissue
The invention concerns a flexible application device (1) for the high-frequency therapy of biological tissue or hollow organs, including a tubular high-frequency catheter (5) with a flexible shaft tube (6) having at least one lumen passing therethrough, a head electrode (2) arranged at the distal end of the high-frequency catheter (5), an electric line (9) with a connection (20) for a high-frequency generator (11), and a connecting element (8) arranged at the proximal end of the shaft tube (6) between the shaft tube and the line (9). An electrically conducting traction element (12) extends in the lumen between the head electrode (2) and the connecting element (8) and is fixedly connected to the head electrode (2) on the one hand and the connecting element (8) on the other hand in such a way and which is of such a tensile strength that all external forces which occur during a treatment and which act on the high-frequency catheter (5) can be transmitted to the connecting element (8) by way of the head electrode (2) and the traction element (12). |
| US08452419B2 |
Cardiac rhythm management system with intramural myocardial pacing leads and electrodes
Medical devices and therapeutic methods for use in the field of cardiology, cardiac rhythm management and interventional cardiology, and more specifically to catheter-based systems for implantation of pacing leads and electrodes, or intramural myocardial reinforcement devices, within the myocardial wall of the heart, such as the ventricles, to provide improved cardiac function. |
| US08452417B2 |
System and method for treating pain with peripheral and spinal neuromodulation
A system for treating pain uses spinal cord stimulation and peripheral subcutaneous field stimulation separately or in combination. The system includes an implantable device that is configured to deliver several electrical signals. Several electrical leads are connected to the implantable device. The electrical leads are implanted in the patient such that an electrical signal induces a current to flow between a subcutaneous lumbar region of the patient and a spinal cord region of the patient. The system can also include electrical leads that are implanted in the patient such that an electrical signal induces a current to flow across a lumbar region of the patient. A method for treating leg and back pain is also disclosed. |
| US08452413B2 |
Method and system for multi-device communication
A medical data system including a plurality of receivers configured to wirelessly receive medical data via a signal. |
| US08452411B2 |
Electrode assembly for a stimulating medical device
An electrode assembly comprising a low-profile, low-volume elongate electrode carrier and a corresponding guide tube for introducing the carrier into the cochlea to place electrodes disposed at the distal end of the carrier at desired locations along the tonotopically-mapped cochlea. The electrode assembly facilitates intra- and extra-cochlea atraumatic implantation of the unobtrusive electrode carrier of the present invention thereby minimizing adverse impact to natural auditory functioning. For example, the electrode assembly may be utilized to implant the low-profile, low-volume elongate electrode carrier into the scala tympani without damaging the delicate structures of the cochlea and without interfering with the natural hydrodynamic nature of the cochlea such as the natural flow of perilymph in the cochlea canals. In one particular embodiment, the carrier is pre-curved to attain a perimodiolar position in the scala tympani to facilitate accurate delivery of electrical stimulation with a minimum stimulation current and power consumption. |
| US08452405B2 |
Methods and systems for mitigating the occurrence of arrhythmia during atrial pacing
Noncaptured atrial paces can result in long-short cardiac cycles which are proarrhythmic for ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Approaches are described which are directed to avoiding proarrhythmic long-short cycles. For cardiac cycles in which the atrial pace captures the atrium, a first post ventricular refractory period (PVARP) and a first A-A interval are used. For cardiac cycles in which the atrial pace does not capture the atrium, both an extended PVARP and an extended A-A interval are used. The A-A interval following a noncaptured atrial pace is extended from an atrial depolarization sensed during the extended PVARP. |
| US08452402B2 |
Optical sensing device for use in a medical device
A reflectance-type optical sensor includes one or more photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate. A well having sidewalls and a bottom is formed in the top surface of the substrate, and a reflective layer is formed on the sidewalls and bottom. A light-emitting diode (LED) is mounted in the well, so that light emitted laterally and rearwardly from the LED strikes the sidewalls or bottom and is redirected in a direction generally perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate. The optical sensor can be fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques. |
| US08452401B2 |
Method and device for comprehensive anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy
A method and apparatus for delivering therapy to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias is described. In one embodiment, neural stimulation, anti-tachycardia pacing, and shock therapy are employed in a progressive sequence upon detection of a ventricular tachycardia. |
| US08452400B2 |
Method and apparatus for pacing during revascularization
Cardiac protection pacing is applied to prevent or reduce cardiac injury and/or occurrences of arrhythmia associated with an ischemic event including the occlusion of a blood vessel during a revascularization procedure. Pacing pulses are generated from a pacemaker and delivered through one or more pacing electrodes incorporated onto a percutaneous transluminal vascular intervention (PTVI) device used in the revascularization procedure. The pacemaker generates the pacing pulses according to a predetermined cardiac protection pacing sequence before, during, and/or after the ischemic event. |
| US08452396B2 |
Synchronization of electrical stimulation therapy to treat cardiac arrhythmias
Systems and methods are described for analyzing a plurality of beats after detection of a suspected cardiac arrhythmia to determine a beat discriminator, identify a beat subsequent to completion of charging of an implantable medical device by applying the beat discriminator, and synchronize delivery of a shock from the medical device to the identified beat. In some examples, identifying the beat using the beat discriminator may help to accurately synchronize the shock with a beat representative of physiological cardiac events instead of an oversensed beat, e.g., noise sensed signal that is misclassified as a cardiac beat. |
| US08452387B2 |
Detecting or validating a detection of a state change from a template of heart rate derivative shape or heart beat wave complex
Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting and/or validating a detection of a state change by matching the shape of one or more of a cardiac data series, a heart rate variability data series, or at least a portion of a heart beat complex, derived from cardiac data, to an appropriate template. |
| US08452380B2 |
Interface device and protocol
The invention is an interface device and system for establishing an operating interface between an injector device and diagnostic imaging equipment. In one embodiment, the interface device may permit an operator to concurrently operate and control the injector device and the imaging equipment. The interface device may permit the injector system and the imaging system to communicate information regarding their current and future operational status with each other. The interface device may be used to synchronize the operation of the imaging equipment and the injector device. In one embodiment, the injector device and the imaging equipment may be able to communicate with each other directly or through the interface device via a communications protocol comprising binary logic signals. The binary logic signals may comprise one or more of a low strength signal, a high strength signal, an oscillating signal that oscillates between low and high signal strength, and combinations thereof. |
| US08452379B2 |
X-ray mammography with tomosynthesis
A method and system for producing tomosynthetic images of a patient's breast. An x-ray source that delivers x-rays through a breast immobilized and compressed between a compression paddle and a breast platform and form an image at a digital x-ray receptor panel. Multiple x-ray images are taken as the x-ray source and the receptor move relative to the immobilized breast. In one preferred embodiment, the x-ray source travels from −15° to +15°. The source can travel in an arc around the breast while the receptor travels linearly while remaining parallel and at the same distance from the breast platform. The sets of x-ray image data taken at different angles are combined to form tomosynthetic images that can be viewed in different formats, alone or as an adjunct to conventional mammograms. |
| US08452375B2 |
Systems and methods for locating and defining a target location within a human body
Systems and methods for locating and defining a target location within a human body. The system can include at least one marker, a probe, and a detector for use in locating the markers by providing information to a surgeon that is representative of changes in proximity between the probe and the marker. The marker can have various detection characteristics, e.g., gamma radiation, that are detectable by an associated probe and detector. The tissue volume is removed by manipulating a cutting tool based on the proximity information provided by the detector, which can be used by the surgeon to define the boundary of the tissue volume. The systems and methods of the invention are particularly useful in locating and then removing a tissue volume or other target location from amorphous, pliable tissue (e.g., breast tissue) or other body parts. |
| US08452365B2 |
Methods of using Raman spectral information in determining analyte concentrations
A non-invasive method of determining the concentration of an analyte uses Raman spectral information. A high-intensity, narrow band of light (10) is applied to one side (12a) of skin tissue (12). The high-intensity light (10) enters the skin tissue and generates a Raman signal (16). A reflective material (22) is placed in a location nearest the other side (12b) of skin tissue (12). The reflective material (22) is located generally opposite of the entry (A) of the applied high-intensity light (10). The high-intensity light (10) and the Raman signal (20) that pass through the skin tissue (12) are reflected back into the skin tissue (12) via the reflective material (22). The Raman signal (16,20) is collected and the analyte concentration is determined using the collected Raman signal (16,20). |
| US08452364B2 |
System and method for attaching a sensor to a patient's skin
A method and apparatus for affixing a sensor adjacent a tissue site is disclosed. In an embodiment, the spectrophotometric sensor comprises, a sensor body, one or more light emitters, one or more photodetectors, and a light scattering medium capable of increasing at least one of the effective detection area of the one or more photodetectors or the effective emission area of the one or more light emitters. |
| US08452363B2 |
Device for measuring an analyte in an eye fluid
The invention proposes a manual measuring appliance (112) and an analytical measuring system (110) which can be used to measure at least one analyte in an eye fluid of an eye (114). The handheld measuring appliance (112) comprises a measuring system (120) and a positioning system (122). The measuring system (120) can measure at least one property of the at least one analyte and/or at least one analyte-dependent change of property of at least one ocular sensor (116) in the eye fluid, and this can be used to infer a concentration of the analyte in the eye fluid. The positioning system (122) is set up to measure a spatial positioning, wherein the spatial positioning comprises a distance between at least one measurement location in the eye (114) and the handheld measuring appliance (112) and also furthermore at least one further positioning co-ordinate. Furthermore, the handheld measuring appliance comprises a calibration system (128), wherein the calibration system (128) is set up to perform a comparison measurement of at least one analyte concentration in a body fluid and/or to adopt measurement data from a comparison measurement performed using a separate measuring appliance and to take them into account when determining the concentration of the at least one analyte. |
| US08452362B2 |
Method and system for monitoring hydration
A device for measuring a hydration status based on an analyte concentration in a subject. The device includes: a light source configured for illuminating at least a portion of an anterior region of an eye of the subject with incident light having a substantially broad illumination spectrum at an angle substantially tangential to the surface of the eye; an optical collector configured for detecting reflected light from the at least a portion of the anterior region of the eye; an analyzer configured for analyzing the detected reflected light; and a processor configured to determine the analyte concentration level in the subject based on the analyzed reflected light, wherein the processor determines a hydration status of the subject based on the analyte concentration level and reference data. |
| US08452360B2 |
System and method for non-invasive photothermal radiometric measurement
There is provided a glucose monitoring method and apparatus based on the principle of Wavelength-Modulated Differential Laser Photothermal Radiometry (WM-DPTR). Two intensity modulated laser beams operating in tandem at specific mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths and current-modulated synchronously by two electrical waveforms 180 degrees out-of-phase, are used to interrogate the tissue surface. The laser wavelengths are selected to absorb in the mid infrared range (8.5-10.5 μm) where the glucose spectrum exhibits a discrete absorption band. The differential thermal-wave signal generated by the tissue sample through modulated absorption between two specific wavelengths within the band (for example, the peak at 9.6 and the nearest baseline at 10.5 μm) lead to minute changes in sample temperature and to non-equilibrium blackbody radiation emission. This modulated emission is measured with a broadband infrared detector. The detector is coupled to a lock-in amplifier for signal demodulation. Any glucose concentration increases will be registered as differential photothermal signals above the fully suppressed signal baseline due to increased absorption at the probed peak or near-peak of the band at 9.6 μm at the selected wavelength modulation frequency. The emphasis is on the ability to monitor blood glucose levels in diabetic patients in a non-invasive, non-contacting manner with differential signal generation methods for real-time baseline corrections, a crucial feature toward precise and universal calibration (independent of person-to-person contact, skin, temperature or IR-emission variations) in order to offer accurate absolute glucose concentration readings. |
| US08452358B2 |
Optical-based physiological sensor assembly with disposable barrier layer
A physiological sensor assembly includes a physiological sensor having at least one light source and at least one optical receiver. A substantially transparent barrier layer is disposed between the physiological sensor and the patient's skin such that the barrier layer is removably adhered to the physiological sensor and removably adhered to the patient's skin. |
| US08452356B2 |
Optical microneedle-based spectrometer
Optical microneedles are adapted for near-infrared or mid-infrared in vivo spectroscopic sensing; and provide a MEMS-based spectrometer for continuous lactate and glucose monitoring by means of a near-infrared or mid-infrared optical microneedle array in a transdermal patch. |
| US08452355B2 |
Slide device
An object of the present invention is to provide a slide device wherein slide sections can be opened and closed, while concealing a torsion spring. A slide device includes a first case, a second case, a spring which is arranged between the first case and the second case and assists opening and closing of the first and second cases; and a shielding member which conceals the spring, wherein the shielding member is arranged in a position to conceal the spring when the first case and the second case are in an open state and is arranged between the first case and the second case when the first case and the second case are in a close state. |
| US08452354B2 |
Mobile communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal including a first body, a second body slidably connected to the first body and moveable between a first position and a second position, and a slide module connecting the first body to the second body. The slide module is configured to guide the second body along a curved path between the first position and the second position such that the second body moves in both a lateral and longitudinal direction with respect to the first body. |