| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08567969B2 |
Bi-polymer infrared optics for high-G applications
Optical systems configured to withstand operation in high acceleration and varying temperature environments, and methods of assembling the same. In one example, an imaging optical apparatus includes a primary minor made of an unreinforced polymer, a secondary mirror made of the unreinforced polymer and optically coupled to the primary minor, a field lens optically coupled to the secondary minor, and a strut having a plurality of cross-struts and mounting features configured to mount the primary minor, the secondary mirror and the field lens. In some examples, the imaging optical apparatus further includes an outer retainer disposed behind the primary minor and coupled to the strut, and an inner retainer disposed behind the field lens and coupled to the strut, the outer and inner retainers configured to structurally support the primary minor and the field lens and to accommodate deflections of the primary minor. |
| US08567967B2 |
Hinge construction
A hinge construction for a wing mirror unit for a motor vehicle is proposed that comprises a first hinge part for mounting on the motor vehicle and a second hinge part, pivotably connected therewith via a shaft. The second hinge part supports a mirror frame of the wing mirror unit, wherein the shaft is connected with one hinge part and wherein the other hinge part is arranged pivotably about the shaft. The mirror frame has a location guide that corresponds with a location rib of a power fold module that is inserted into the frame. |
| US08567966B2 |
Universal sphere mount
The universal sphere mount provides a spherically mounted retro-reflector conical nest mount having a base, a body of lesser diameter than the base, and a precise nest in the body that receives a retro-reflector target. The body steps inwardly from the base or has bevel. The body has a lesser diameter than the base so the reflector achieves an orientation below a horizontal plane at any horizontal rotation upon the body. The nest receives a spherically mounted retro-reflector and positions it with high precision over the shank. The nest has at least three oblique clearance areas, equally spaced, that permit a maximum negative acceptance angle for incident light to a mounted spherically mounted retro-reflector without occlusion and at any angle of rotation upon the body. The universal sphere mount achieves tolerances, within 0.0005 inch of the centerline and of the height of a spherically mounted retro reflector placed therein. |
| US08567964B2 |
Ultraviolet retroreflectors
A waveband selective retroreflective article, comprising a body layer having a plurality of concave retroreflective elements, each said concave retroreflective element forming a cavity having open-face surfaces and an additional layer that includes particles of a wave-band selective material. |
| US08567963B1 |
System for a self-cleaning/wiping protective dome integrated into an outdoor camera housing
A system for a self-cleaning/wiping protective dome being integrated into an outdoor camera housing is an apparatus that is used to protect a camera assembly from moisture, weather conditions, and other environmental conditions. The apparatus includes a rotatable dome, a driving mechanism, a fixed wiper assembly, a dispensing mechanism, an enclosure, a mounting bracket, and a remote relay control device. The fixed wiper blade is pressed against the rotatable dome so that the fixed wiper blade cleans the exterior of the rotatable dome as the driving mechanism revolves the rotatable dome. The dispensing mechanism sprays wiper fluid onto the rotatable dome. The remote relay control device is used to electronically control and command the driving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism. The enclosure houses the components that could be affected by environmental factors. The mounting bracket attaches to the apparatus to an elevated structure such as a pole. |
| US08567962B2 |
Projector
A projector includes: an electro-optic device which modulates light emitted from a light source; a projection lens which projects the light modulated by the electro-optic device; and a lens shift mechanism which shifts the projection lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the projection lens, wherein the lens shift mechanism includes a shift unit which supports the projection lens and shifts the projection lens in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, a guide unit which guides the shift of the shift unit, and a drive unit which moves the shift unit, and the drive unit includes a rotation section as a rotated part which has a first bevel gear rotating around a center axis extending in the same direction as that of the optical axis, and a transmission section which has a second bevel gear engaging with the first bevel gear and transmits the rotation of the rotation section to the shift unit. |
| US08567961B2 |
Light array projection and sensing system
A low cost, light projection and sensing system that projects an image onto a display surface using an array of light emitters. The system or device has an integral sensing capability of the display surface using light sensors. Both the emitters and sensors are coupled to a control unit. The device modifies the light-projected image and sensor view region with its control unit. The device projects an animated overlaid image or large tiled image of photographic resolution. In at least one embodiment, a projection device may create smooth animation of its projected image by varying the brightness of one or more illuminated images within its generated video frames. Computer implemented methods are utilized for light emitter activation and brightness control. |
| US08567957B2 |
Active polarization switch for speckle reduction in laser projection sources
A laser-based imaging system (200) is configured to reduce perceived speckle in images (201). The imaging system (200) includes one or more laser sources (207), a light modulator (204) configured to produce the images (201) with light (205) from the laser sources (207), and one or more active polarization switches (206) disposed in an optical path of the imaging system (200). The active polarization switch (206) is configured to alternate a polarization orientation of the light in synchrony with an image refresh cycle of the system. The active polarization switch can be clocked in accordance with a clocking angle to optimize speckle reduction. Additionally, one or more light preconditioners (991,992) may be used to help optimize speckle reduction. |
| US08567956B2 |
Projector
A projector includes a liquid crystal light valve to which the image data is written in a line sequential manner, a polarization switching element for switching between the first and second polarization states throughout the switching areas in a line sequential manner, and a birefringent optical element for changing the light path of the incident light in accordance with the polarization state thereof. The boundary position between the switching areas of the first and second polarization states moves in sync with the boundary position between the first and second image data writing areas corresponding to the first and second sub-frame. |
| US08567954B2 |
3D display system with rear projection screens formed of water mist or spray
A 3D display system using a planar sheet of mist or water droplets as a rear projection screen. The system includes a screen generation assembly with a nozzle configured to convert supply water into a screen of water droplets. The screen is substantially planar and has a front surface facing a viewing area and an opposite rear surface. The display system includes a projection assembly projecting 3D content onto the rear surface. The projection assembly includes a first projector projecting left eye images and a second projector projecting right eye images. The 3D content may be provided using polarization or other 3D technology. For example, the first projector includes a first interference filter and the second projector includes a second interference filter differing from the first interference filter, whereby the left and right eye images are presented concurrently on the rear surface with differing bands of the visible color spectrum. |
| US08567951B2 |
Characterization of retinal parameters by circular profile analysis
Certain diseases of the retina are diagnosed by circular profile analysis of retinal parameters, such as thickness. Retinal thickness around a user-defined circle on the retina is measured by three-dimensional optical coherence tomography or other ophthalmological techniques. Abnormally thin regions are identified by comparing a measured function of thickness vs. polar angle to a reference function of thickness vs. polar angle. A degree of abnormality is characterized by the ratio of the integral of the measured thickness function to the integral of the reference thickness function over the abnormally thin region, as specified by a range of polar angles. |
| US08567944B2 |
Printing method
A printing method for producing durable images onto a printable recording medium is disclosed herein. The printing method encompasses providing a printable recording media; applying an ink composition containing a liquid vehicle and a colorant; wherein the print speed of the printing method is 50 fpm or higher. The printable recording media encompasses a base substrate, a first ink-receiving layer containing more than about 80 wt % of one or more particulate inorganic pigments and a second ink-receiving layer, on top of the first ink-receiving layer, including particulate inorganic pigments having an average particle size of about 0.1 to about 2 μm. |
| US08567943B2 |
Media clearance mechanism for printer
A media clearance mechanism for a printer, the media clearance mechanism having a door hingedly mounted to a body of the printer which can be opened to expose a media width of a media path to a media width printhead of the printer; a media diverter mounted to the door such that when the door is in a closed position the door and the diverter define guiding portions of the path, the diverter being pivotally mounted to the door so that the diverter pivots out of the way upon opening of the door; and a displacement mechanism configured to retract the diverter with the opening movement of the door and to reposition the diverter for media guiding with the closing movement of the door. |
| US08567942B2 |
System for transporting media in printer
A system for transporting media in a printer is provided having a media roller rotatably mounted to the printer housing, a motor, a drive belt looped about the motor drive shaft and the roller so as to impart the motor rotational driving force to the roller, a tensioning member pivotally mounted to the housing for contacting and thereby tensioning the drive belt about the motor drive shaft and roller, a brace member mounted to the housing about a slotted arm of the tensioning member, and a locking screw fixed to the housing through the brace member and slotted arm. The pivoted position of the tensioning member relative determines the tension imparted on the drive belt. The locking screw locks the pivoted position and the brace member is fixedly mounted so that rotation of the locking screw is not imparted to the slotted arm during fixing of the locking screw. |
| US08567941B2 |
Transporting device and image recording apparatus including the same
There is provided a transporting device transporting a medium, including: a first member pair which changes a posture of the first member pair between a first posture and a second posture; a second member pair which changes a posture of the second member pair between a third posture and a fourth posture; and a movable member which is movable between a fifth posture and a sixth posture, and which has a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion, wherein, in a process that the movable member moves from the fifth posture to the sixth posture, the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, and while the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture, the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair. |
| US08567938B2 |
Large-particle inkjet printing on semiporous paper
A print is produced on a semiporous recording medium. The semiporous recording medium is dried to an equilibrated 20% RH. Hydrophilic liquid is deposited on the medium in a selected fluid pattern within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. The recording medium is charged so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the recording medium and the discharged areas correspond to the fluid pattern. Charged dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charge in the charged areas on the recording medium is deposited on the medium in a pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern. The dry ink is at least in part hydrophilic, so the dry ink adheres to the hydrophilic liquid, and at least some of the liquid is drawn into or around the deposited dry ink particles. |
| US08567937B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
There is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus including: a first discharge head which discharges, toward the recording medium, an ink containing a coloring agent; a second discharge head which discharges, toward the recording medium, a liquid which improves image quality and which contains a component for coagulating or depositing the coloring agent; an energy emitting device which emits active energy; and a transport mechanism which transports the recording medium to a position opposed to the first discharge head and the second discharge head, wherein: at least one of the ink and the liquid contains a curable substance which is curable by being irradiated with the active energy. |
| US08567932B2 |
Fluid container having fluid interface for micro-fluid applications
A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. Users orient a housing to deplete the ink in a direction of gravity toward a bottom of the interior. The imaging device has a rotating latch. The latch mates with a top of the supply item to keep in place the supply item. Fluid exit and air venting ports reside on a side of the housing that gets inserted first into a container slot of the imaging device. A space separates the ports so a biasing member can push against the housing to assist in ejecting the supply item upon users activating the latch. The ports are separated a maximum distance to facilitate the ejection, while the exit port remains near a bottom to minimize stranding ink. Further embodiments note arrangements, distances and consumer features, to name a few. |
| US08567930B2 |
Ink container supports
In one embodiment, an ink container support includes a support tray adapted to support an ink container, and a front panel associated with the support tray, the front panel being adapted to facilitate user interfacing with the ink container when supported by the support tray. |
| US08567928B2 |
Ink driven solvent pump for an image forming apparatus
A configuration of an image display apparatus which can reduce a pump exclusive for solvent is provided. The image display apparatus of the present invention is provided with an ink chamber in an ink supply path from an ink container to a printhead and a solvent chamber in a solvent supply path from a solvent container to the printhead. The ink chamber and the solvent chamber are formed by dividing a liquid chamber by an elastic member (diaphragm), and volumes (capacities) of the ink chamber and the solvent chamber are changed by a pressure of the ink. |
| US08567926B2 |
Liquid-ejecting head, liquid-ejecting apparatus, piezoelectric element, and method for manufacturing liquid-ejecting head
A piezoelectric element comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer containing bismuth lanthanum iron and manganese formed above the first electrode, and a second electrode formed above the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer contains crystals preferentially oriented in a (111) plane. |
| US08567925B2 |
Ink-jet head, ink-jet apparatus, and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides an ink-jet head which comprises an ink supply channel configured to allow ink to flow, two or more ink chambers each having a bottom surface with a nozzle and an upper surface constituting of a vibrating plate, the two or more ink chambers being arranged in a row along a direction in which the ink flows in the ink supply channel, a partition wall partitioning the ink chambers. and a piezo-mounting plate having two or more multilayer piezoelectric elements and two or more columns fixed thereto. The two or more multilayer piezoelectric elements are arranged in a row, and the two or more columns are arranged between the multilayer piezoelectric elements. And also, the piezo-mounting plate is arranged on the upper surface of the ink chambers. In the ink-jet head, the vibrating plate constituting the upper surface of the ink chamber is held between the partition wall and the column. A large gap and a small gap are arranged between the two multilayer piezoelectric elements adjacent to each other, and the column is arranged at only the portion with a large gap. |
| US08567922B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator unit and method for testing piezoelectric actuator unit
A piezoelectric actuator unit includes: a wiring board; a piezoelectric actuator which is provided with a piezoelectric layer, a plurality of individual electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer, a common electrode which faces the plurality of individual electrodes sandwiching the piezoelectric layer between the common electrode and individual electrodes, and which is divided into a plurality of split electrodes, a plurality of individual contact points which are in conduction with the individual electrodes, and which are to be connected to the wiring board, and a plurality of reinforcing contact points which are connected to the wiring board to reinforce a connection with the wiring board; and a conduction mechanism which brings the plurality of split electrodes into conduction. Each of the split electrodes is in conduction with at least one of the reinforcing contact points. |
| US08567921B2 |
Ink-jet apparatus
An ink-jet apparatus includes an ink supply flow path, an ink discharge flow path, and an ink flow path connecting them, in which piezoelectric elements are provided in the ink flow path having at least one turn part, the piezoelectric elements are arranged to be opposed to the ink flow path and are provided upstream of the turn part in the ink flow path and downstream of the turn part in the ink flow path, and a nozzle is provided between the piezoelectric element and the turn part in the ink flow path. |
| US08567918B2 |
Piezoelectric element, piezoelectric actuator, liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and method for producing piezoelectric element
A piezoelectric element includes a substrate; a first conductive layer disposed on or above the substrate; a piezoelectric layer covering a top and a side of the first conductive layer; a relaxing layer disposed on or above the piezoelectric layer and along an edge of a top surface of the piezoelectric layer; and a second conductive layer covering at least the relaxing layer and the piezoelectric layer. |
| US08567916B2 |
Liquid supplying mechanism and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid supplying mechanism includes a flow channel forming member that has a base having a plate-like shape on which an upstream portion of a plurality of liquid supplying flow channels are formed so as to supply ink to each of a plurality of liquid ejection heads that are assembled to a liquid ejection head unit, and a plurality of connection members in a tubular shape that extend from one side of the of the base so as to form a downstream portion of the flow channels that individually communicate with the upstream portion of the respective liquid supplying flow channels and are disposed such that the distal end of the connection members correspond to the positions of the connection holes that are formed on the respective liquid ejection heads. |
| US08567913B2 |
Multiple priming holes for improved freeze/thaw cycling of MEMSjet printing devices
An ink jet print head includes an ink chamber defined by an electrostatically actuated membrane and a nozzle plate opposing the membrane. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle hole and a group of priming holes, the priming holes configured to maintain a substantially ink free surface on the nozzle plate during a freeze thaw cycle of ink in the ink chamber. A method for accommodating expansion and contraction of ink during a freeze thaw cycle of ink in an ink chamber is also provided. The method includes providing a group of priming holes in a nozzle plate of the ink chamber, the group of priming holes maintaining a substantially ink free surface on the nozzle plate during the freeze thaw cycle. |
| US08567911B2 |
Silicon interposer for MEMS scalable printing modules
A print module and a method of forming the same, the print module including a substrate, an ink jet die, and an interposer between the substrate and the ink jet die. The substrate includes an ink channel and an air vent, and the die includes a plurality of ink apertures. The interposer includes etched openings therein of a truncated pyramid shape; the openings of the interposer reconfiguring the ink channel and air vent passages between the substrate and die to allow for greater tolerance in alignment and manufacture of the print head module. |
| US08567906B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of making the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heads and a head support member. Each head has multiple nozzles arrayed in at least one row to eject liquid droplets. The support member has first and second positioning portions to position each head. Each head has a first positioning face to position each head in a nozzle array direction and a second positioning face to position each head in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction. The first positioning face and the second positioning face are cut faces formed by cutting. Each of a first distance between the first positioning face and a first reference nozzle and a second distance between the second positioning face and a second reference nozzle is uniform between the heads. Each head is mounted to the support member with the first and second positioning faces contacting the first and second positioning portions, respectively. |
| US08567905B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus
An inkjet recording apparatus includes an upstream conveying unit that includes a conveying roller and a pinch roller that is in contact with the conveying roller at a position that is displaced downstream of the conveying roller in a conveying direction of a sheet; a recording head that is disposed downstream of the upstream conveying unit and that discharges liquid; a carriage that supports the recording head and scans in a direction that intersects the conveying direction; a platen that supports the sheet at a position facing the recording head; a downstream conveying unit disposed downstream of the carriage and that conveys the sheet; and a control unit that moves the carriage so that a liquid discharge port surface of the recording head is positioned outside a side edge of the sheet when a trailing end of the sheet passes a nip between the conveying roller and the pinch roller. |
| US08567903B2 |
Liquid droplet jetting apparatus
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a liquid droplet jetting head which jets droplets of two types of liquids; a discharge mechanism which discharges the two types of liquids from the jetting head respectively; a waste liquid recovery device which recovers the two types of liquids discharged by the discharge mechanism, having a waste liquid case, an absorbing body accommodated in the waste liquid case, two liquid intake portions for letting the two types of liquids discharged by the discharge mechanism flow respectively into the waste liquid case, and a waste liquid detection section which detects whether only one or both of the two types of liquids has or have reached a detection position by measuring electric conductivity at the detection position away from the two liquid intake portions in the absorbing body; and a full liquid judging section which judges whether the absorbing body is fully permeated. |
| US08567901B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus
An ink jet printer includes a movable carriage supporting a recording head, a cam member adjusting the height position of the carriage to adjust the distance between the paper and the recording head, a cap member that can abut the recording head, and an engagement member that can engage with the carriage in a case where the carriage moves from a printing area to a head opposing position. The cam member adjusts the height position of the carriage when the distance between the paper and the recording head is between a first distance in which the carriage does not engage with the engagement member and a second distance in which the carriage engages with the engagement member. The carriage is decelerated while moving, and the deceleration timing is earlier for the second distance than for the first distance. |
| US08567899B2 |
Printing system with independently operable printhead service modules
A printing system that has a printhead assembly for printing media fed along a media path and a plurality of service modules for the printhead assembly. Each of the service modules is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes and each of the service modules are independently operable. |
| US08567895B2 |
Abnormality judgment apparatus and abnormality judgment method of liquid supply system
An abnormality judgment apparatus of a liquid supply system which supplies liquid from a liquid tank to a liquid ejection head via a liquid flow channel, includes: a pressure change application device which applies a pressure change to the liquid flow channel; first and second pressure measurement devices which measure a pressure in the liquid flow channel; and an abnormality judgment device which performs abnormality judgment and identification of an abnormal location in the liquid supply system, according to measurement values measured by the first and second pressure measurement devices before and after the pressure change is applied by the pressure change application device. |
| US08567894B2 |
Reflex Printing with temperature feedback control
A method for operating a web printing system enables web and roller changes arising from temperature changes to be identified and used to adjust operation of the reflex registration system. The method includes identifying a temperature change for at least one roller in a web printing system, identifying a temperature change for a web moving through the web printing system at one or more locations in the web printing system, modifying web velocity computations for a reflex registration system with reference to the identified temperature change for the at least one roller and the identified temperature change for the web, and operating printheads to eject ink onto the web at positions identified with reference to the modified web velocity computations. |
| US08567893B2 |
Print signal generation system
An embodiment of a print signal generation system is provided. The system comprises a sensor, a divisor processing unit, a reference signal generator, and a print trigger signal generator. The sensor detects a first offset of a first location of a medium being printed. The divisor processing unit generates a first divisor according to the first offset and a predetermined divisor. The reference signal generator generates a reference signal. The print trigger signal generator generates a print trigger signal according to the first divisor and the reference signal. |
| US08567892B2 |
Printing device, printing method, and print data creation program
A printing device for discharging ink from a print head to print an image includes a detection unit configured to detect pixels of at least a high-concentration side of an edge of the image as edge pixels based on image data including plurality of pixels, a halftone processing unit configured to create dot data expressing whether or not dots are formed based on the image data, and a printing unit configured to print the image by combining together dots formed at multiple different timings in a common print region of a print medium. The halftone processing unit is configured to create the dot data so that dots are formed disproportionately towards one of the multiple timings in positions on the print medium where dots corresponding to the edge pixels are formed. |
| US08567885B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator including a main body provided with storage chambers, doors to open and close the storage chambers, and first door side frames, each of which forms one side surface of each door. Each door includes a handle groove stepped so as to be opened forward and sideward and provided on each first door side frame and a handle extended so as to cover the handle groove, and the handle is disposed so as to be substantially parallel with a front surface of each door, thereby providing unity to designs of the handle and the door. |
| US08567878B2 |
Toilet users rollable desk
A toilet users rollable desk for a compact personal office desk for the commode user. A toilet users rollable desk generally includes a desk that provides the toilet user with a space between the knees and legs to read, write, use the computer and store personal items as well as a shelf to place coffee or nourishment. A toilet users rollable desk is also able to store toilet tissue, hold reading material and be conveniently moved in front of the commode user for all processes to be best utilized in the large, average or small toilet commode area. |
| US08567876B2 |
Vehicle track
The tracks of the present invention utilize cut pieces of reinforcement which are associated with each individual drive lug. By using individual pieces the lugs can be easily built up with multiple layers of rubber and reinforcement. The cut pieces can be strategically shaped and placed to optimize their effect to realize improved performance and durability of the track. Incorporation of such inner fabric reinforcement layers adds stiffness to the lugs and thereby increases the torque capacity of the track. Additional layers also provide increased damage resistance after the outer layers of fabric are worn away, and added layers improve wear resistance on the sides of the lugs due to undercarriage misalignment and track-to-wheel contact when the vehicle turns during normal operations. |
| US08567869B2 |
Shield control device for carrying out the longwall function of a longwall unit in the longwall face working in a mine
The shield control device of a longwall shield for carrying out the longwall functions of the longwall shield in the longwall face working in a mine is associated with a distributing device upstream of a group of functional elements. Each of the functional elements of the longwall shield is associated with an exclusive address code word, on the call of which the internal connection between the shield control device and the functional elements depends. The distributing device is arranged in close proximity to the functional elements. The functional elements are valves or sensors. |
| US08567867B2 |
Child seat with adjustable back
A child seat has a seat base with a seating surface, a front edge, and a back end. A back support surface of the child seat is generally inclined relative to the seating surface. A seat bight is formed at the juncture between the seating surface and the back support surface. The seat bight is adjustable between a first bight position spaced a first distance from the front edge of the seat base and a second bight position spaced a second distance from the front edge of the seat base. The second distance is less than the first distance. A seat back insert can be provided that is attachable to the seat base in one or more insert positions defining one or more of the bight positions. The insert can create the back support surface at one or more position relative to the front edge. The seat base can also have a back wall creating the back support surface further from the front edge when the insert is removed. |
| US08567859B2 |
Sliding roof system, in particular for motor vehicles
A sliding roof system, in particular for motor vehicles, with at least one guide rail, a carriage which is shiftable in the guide rail, a guide element located at the front, which can cooperate with a cover of the sliding roof, and a swing-out lever located at the rear, which likewise can cooperate with the cover and can be moved by the carriage from a starting position into a position swung out, is wherein the swing-out lever is mounted on the guide rail with a fixed swivel axis and that at least in the starting position the end of the swing-out lever associated to the cover lies on the side of the swivel axis facing the carriage. |
| US08567857B2 |
Vehicle-body lower structure of vehicle
A connection member which connects an outside portion of a cross member and an inside wall face portion of a side sill includes a cross-member-side connection portion connected to the cross member and a side-sill-side connection portion connected to the side sill, the side-sill-side connection portion is configured to have a lower rigidity than the cross-member-side connection portion, and an outside end portion of the cross member is located at a specified position which is located on the outside of the cross-member-side connection portion and on the inside away from the inside wall face portion of the side sill. Thereby, the impact load in the vehicle side collision can be effectively supported by the cross member with a simple structure. |
| US08567854B2 |
Front structure of vehicle
An impact absorption member is provided behind a bumper face, a lower stiffener is provided below this member and projects forward to sweep a leg portion of an object hitting against a front potion of a vehicle, and headlamp units are provided at both side portions of the bumper face. A lamp housing of the headlamp unit is supported at a vehicle-body member located in back of the lamp housing, a load absorption portion provided on the inside of and rearward from an edge of the bumper face to absorb an impact load is provided integrally at the lamp housing, and a load transmission portion to transmit the impact load inputted to the bumper face to the load absorption portion is provided at the bumper face. |
| US08567849B2 |
Dual load path design for a vehicle
A system for absorbing and distributing front impact forces in a vehicle is provided, the system including a primary impact system and a secondary impact system, each of which includes a bumper and a structure for transferring impact loads. The primary impact system includes a primary bumper and a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, where one end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and the other end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to a torque box. The secondary impact system includes a secondary bumper and an assembly of sub-frame components separate from the front rails that allow impact loads to be transferred in parallel through the front rails and the sub-frame. |
| US08567842B2 |
Transverse sliding/accommodation easy entry seat
A vehicle having a door opening defining a threshold. A slide system includes a track operably connected to the vehicle. A slide is linearly moveable relative to the track. A seat is operably connected to the slide. The slide is laterally movable between a retracted position that corresponds with the seat being positioned inside the vehicle and an extended position that corresponds with the seat being disposed in the threshold. The seat may translate from a rearward position to a forward position in order to facilitate the clearance of the seat through the threshold. A portion of the seat may rotate downward to facilitate clearance of the seat through the threshold. Alternatively, a forward portion of the seat may move forward and rearward relative to a rearward portion of the seat. |
| US08567841B2 |
Motor vehicle trunk lid
A trunk lid for a motor vehicle includes an inner lining, a rear window, and a structural reinforcement. The structural reinforcement includes an upper portion which defines a rear-window opening and a lower portion which extends the upper portion toward the bottom of the trunk lid. The structural reinforcement is made in a single piece of a polymer material. An outside of the structural reinforcement is completely covered at least by the rear window and an outer covering panel placed beneath the rear window. An inside of the structural reinforcement is completely covered by the inner lining. The structural reinforcement and the inner lining interact to form a first hollow frame, of a first closed section, surrounding the rear-window opening, and to form a second peripheral hollow frame, of a second closed section, that is close to the outer edges of the trunk lid. |
| US08567839B2 |
Multi-part equipment piece for a vehicle and connecting method
An equipment piece includes first and second components, such as a vehicle door armrest and a vehicle door. The first component is insertable in a recess, such as a slot, in the second component. The second component may be secured in the first by deformation of a projecting portion configured as a tab having a wall thickness smaller than its longitudinal extension. The tab is anchorable non-positively in the second component after inserting into the recess and pending about a longitudinal axis of the tab. |
| US08567834B2 |
Synchronization of spreader twist-locks in twin lift operations
A spreader includes inner and outer locks connectable to the corner castings of a single container and to two containers connectable in twin relation to the spreader. The outer lock is carried in pairs in the ends, respectively, of extendable beams telescopically supported in a main beam. The inner lock is moveable in pairs on the main beam exterior. In each set of associated pairs of inner and outer locks, the pair of inner locks is operable for displacement through a second drive which is separate from a first drive that is operative for displacement of the outer lock through extension or retraction of the extendable beam. |
| US08567827B2 |
Threaded union for tubulars used in high-pressure fluid applications
A threaded union for tubulars used for high-pressure fluid applications includes a unitary nut supported by at least two nut retainer segments received under a top wall of the nut in an annular segment retainer groove in one of the tubulars. The nut retainer segments fully support the unitary nut. The nut retainer segments are held in the annular segment retainer groove by securing the nut retainer segments in the segment retainer groove. |
| US08567826B2 |
Gas nozzle attachment
An attachment system, for attaching a gas nozzle on a gas nozzle mount arranged on a welding torch, allows detachable attachment of the gas nozzle. To create such an attachment one part of the gas nozzle mount is designed to be eccentric and for mounting a fixing element. Via an additional part of the gas nozzle mount and via at least one part of a penstock of the welding torch, a guide is formed for the gas nozzle and the gas nozzle can be secured via a rotational movement. |
| US08567825B2 |
Telescopic extension, in particular for a household appliance, and associated household appliance
A telescopic extension for a household appliance comprises: an inner tube and outer tube, with the inner and outer tubes being telescopically slidable with respect to each other A constraining device is configured so as to block sliding of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube An actuating device is operatively connected to a slider. The actuating device comprises a substantially cylindrical body fitted on at least part of the outer surface of the outer tube. The substantially cylindrical body comprises at least one opening positioned to expose a surface of the outer tube whereby grip of user on the substantially cylindrical body may also contact the exposed surface of the outer tube and lock the cylindrical body with respect to the outer tube. |
| US08567820B2 |
Trailer stabilizer
A trailer stabilizer and signaling system comprising: (a) a repositionable freight trailer stabilizer comprising a frame having mounted thereto a wheel, the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer including a repositionable jack; and, (b) a stabilizer signaler operatively coupled to the trailer stabilizer, the stabilizer signaler including a deployable signal configured to confirm the trailer stabilizer is secured under a parked freight trailer. |
| US08567817B2 |
Side airbag device for vehicle
A side airbag has a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber with a pressure lower than the pressure in the high-pressure chamber. An inflator is provided in the low-pressure chamber with a gas discharge section facing the high-pressure chamber. In a side collision, gas from the inflator is supplied mainly toward the high-pressure chamber and is supplied also to the low-pressure chamber. The high-pressure chamber and the low-pressure chamber are partitioned by a partition wall. A check valve mounted to the partition wall is opened by the pressure gas supplied from the inflator, which is provided in the low-pressure chamber, toward the high-pressure chamber, and thus the cheek valve permits the gas to flow from the low-pressure chamber to the high-pressure chamber. When the inflator completes the discharge of the gas, the check valve restricts such flow of the gas from the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber. |
| US08567814B2 |
Patterned weakening of airbag coverings
A panel for use over a vehicle airbag includes a skin layer with a plurality of stress concentrators formed in an inner surface in a uniform two-dimensional pattern. A deployment opening may be formed through the skin layer with no pre-determined tear seam location. Multiple possible tear seam locations may be defined along stress concentrators arranged in such patterns. One method of forming stress concentrators in the desired pattern or arrangement includes a calendering operation that may be the same or similar operation used to form decorative grain patterns on the outer surface of the skin layer. |
| US08567813B2 |
Saddle-type vehicle
A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay. |
| US08567810B2 |
Foldable shopping cart
A foldable cart (100) comprising a foldable framework with foldable wheel units (140) and flexible containers (130) attachable thereto. The cart may be folded to fit a vehicle's luggage room, and the containers may be used to store products when attached to the framework, and carry them on when the framework is folded. The framework and the wheels may be folded inwardly such as to minimize the volume and the dimensions of the folded cart. |
| US08567809B2 |
Collapsible shopping cart
A collapsible shopping cart includes a collapsible support assembly having a support frame with a vertical frame member and a horizontal frame member. The vertical support member is pivotally secured to the horizontal support member allowing the support frame to be selectively folded. A plurality of wheels are coupled to the horizontal support member. The plurality of wheels are coupled to the horizontal support member for movement between a use orientation and a storage orientation, wherein when the plurality of wheels are in the use orientation they extend from the horizontal support manner in a manner permitting engagement with a horizontal support surface such that the support assembly may roll thereupon. First and second storage receptacles shaped and dimensioned for selective attachment to the support assembly are provided. |
| US08567808B2 |
Modular standing frame
A modular standing frame is described herein. The modular standing frame has a chair module adapted to raise and lower a user between sitting and standing postures without inducing shear between the user and the seat and seat back of the chair module. The chair module may be selectively coupled to one of a glider module adapted to provide walking-type exercise to a standing user, a workstation module that provides a work surface for a sitting or standing user, and a mobility module that allows the standing frame to be moved about by a user much like a wheel chair. |
| US08567798B2 |
Mobile cart base with traction wheel
A multi-wheeled base for a mobile cart includes one or more swiveling, optionally locking, caster wheels and one or more non-swiveling traction wheels to improve the maneuverability of the cart by making it easier to steer and stop. The traction wheels may be manually-engaged traction wheels, which may be operated by a cam and lever. The traction wheels may also be automatically-engaged traction wheels operated by a motor and a threaded shaft, and activated by a motion-sensitive sensor or by an on/off electrical switch or button. The traction wheels are preferably in contact with the floor when the mobile cart is moving, and raised above the surface of the floor when the cart is stationary. |
| US08567793B2 |
Spherical annular seal member and method of manufacturing the same
A spherical annular seal member 39 includes a spherical annular base member 37 defined by a cylindrical inner surface 33, a partially convex spherical surface 34, and an annular end faces 35 and 36; and an outer layer 38 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 34 of the spherical annular base member 37. The spherical annular base member 37 includes a reinforcing member 5 made from a metal wire net and a heat-resistant material 6 filling meshes of the metal wire net of the reinforcing member 5 and formed integrally with the reinforcing member 5 in mixed form. The outer layer 38 includes a base layer 46 and a sliding layer 40 constituted of a lubricating composition and adherently formed integrally on the base layer 46 at an outer layer intermediate surface 42, the base layer 46 including a reinforcing member 15 made from a metal wire net and compressed and a heat-resistant material 14 filling meshes of the metal wire net of the reinforcing member 15 and closely press bonded to the reinforcing member 15, the base layer 46 being formed integrally with the partially convex spherical surface 34. |
| US08567791B2 |
Multi-layer steel insert for gaskets
The present invention relates to a multi-layer steel insert for a cylinder head gasket for an internal combustion engine comprising. The cylinder head gasket may be made from metal or a composite material, and is disposed between a cylinder head and a cylinder block. The MLS insert may be located around at least one fluid passage aperture. The MLS insert has a first outside layer and a second outside layer each comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, an outer perimeter, an inner closed perimeter defining a fluid aperture, and a bead. The beads may be half beads or whole beads. An intermediate layer is arranged between the outside layers and includes an upper surface and a lower surface, an outer perimeter and an inner closed perimeter defining a fluid aperture. The MLS insert may be attached to the cylinder head gasket by mechanical or chemical means. |
| US08567790B2 |
Sealing structure using metal gasket
A metal gasket has a primary bead formed on an area positioned between a cylinder bore and a cooling water passage. A second bead is formed on an area corresponding to an opening of one or more cooling passages. A base member of the metal gasket comprises bead plates that have a rubber coating layer. The base member also comprises a shim member disposed between the bead plates. The primary bead is formed by defining a space respectively between the bead plates and the shim member. The secondary bead is formed by defining a space on a given area between the bead plates. |
| US08567789B2 |
Sealing device
A sealing device for sealing space between two members concentrically and relatively rotating comprising a core member fixedly fitted into one of the two members, a metal slinger fixedly fitted into the other of the two members, and an elastic seal member fixedly attached to the core member and having a seal lip which elastically and slidably contacts the slinger. The slinger has a slidably contacting treated surface for the seal lip as is processed such a surface-treatment as defined by the following parameters: arithmetic mean roughness Ra in the range from 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm, root-mean-square roughness Rq in the range from 0.6 μm to 2.0 μm, mean surface irregularity interval Sm in the range from 0.05 mm to 0.17 mm and peak count Pc (50%) in the range from 20 to 60. |
| US08567788B2 |
Motor vehicle brake master cylinder seal
Master cylinder for a hydraulic braking circuit, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising an annular seal (1) placed in a housing (6) of the body comprising an internal dynamic sealing lip (14) surrounding the piston, fitting into an annular groove (20) of the piston when this piston is in a rear rest position, an outer static sealing lip (10) pressing against a wall of the housing, and an additional static sealing lip (16) which presses against a wall of the housing of this seal and with the outer lip defines a small closed volume (V) of liquid. |
| US08567783B2 |
Gaming machine with zone-based thermal management system
A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game includes a gaming cabinet, a first surface, a video display assembly, and a first blower. The gaming cabinet includes an intake port and an exhaust port. The first surface is within the cabinet and divides the cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The video display assembly includes a video display having a display area and a display housing. The video display assembly is positioned adjacent to the upper chamber of the game cabinet at an angle between about 0 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to horizontal. The display housing forms a longitudinal channel along a substantial portion of a back side opposite the display area. The first blower is disposed in the upper chamber. The longitudinal channel is at least partially sealed such that the first blower creates a negative pressure within the longitudinal channel. |
| US08567776B2 |
Multifeed processing apparatus with measuring unit for multifeed detection pattern
A multifeed processing apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit and is connected to a multifeed detecting mechanism and an image reading mechanism. The control unit includes (i) a measuring unit that measures a multifeed detection pattern from any one or both of an output of the multifeed detecting mechanism and an image of a medium read by the image reading mechanism, (ii) a determining unit that determines whether the measured multifeed detection pattern is included in a multifeed disable pattern stored in the storage unit, (iii) a reading control unit that regards a multifeed detection performed by the multifeed detecting mechanism as invalid, and causes the image reading mechanism to continue a reading operation, and (iv) a storage control unit that stores the measured multifeed detection pattern as the multifeed disable pattern in the storage unit. |
| US08567769B2 |
Apparatus and method of dissolving a gas into a liquid
Apparatus and process for dissolving gas in a liquid. The process comprises: tangentially introducing a liquid into a chamber having an inner wall with sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex in the flowing liquid; orthogonally introducing gas into the flowing liquid through means located at the chamber inner wall for developing gas bubbles within the liquid. The apparatus comprises: a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall, the chamber being oriented in any direction enclosed at both ends and with an entry port to introduce liquid to develop a spiral flow of liquid along the chamber inner wall toward the output end, a porous wall to permit the introduction of gas orthogonally into the stream to develop gas bubbles within the stream, and an exit port to discharge the mixture of gas bubbles and liquid. |
| US08567767B2 |
Apparatuses, systems and methods for efficient solubilization of carbon dioxide in water using high energy impact
A method for the efficient solubilization of carbon dioxide in water through the use of high energy impacts is disclosed. The method can optionally includes mixing the carbon dioxide and water to form an annular dispersed flow, accelerating the carbon dioxide and water prior to the collision; providing a retention network to collect the carbonated water flow. Also disclosed are systems and apparatuses for practicing the disclosed methods. |
| US08567761B2 |
System with position-determination for lifting columns, and method therefor
A system and method for lifting and lowering an object such as a vehicle, comprising: at least two lifting columns; communication means for communication with the at least two lifting columns; position-determining means for carrying out a position determination for each of the at least two lifting columns; selection means for selecting at least one of the lifting columns on the basis of the position determinations; and at least one control unit co-acting with the communication means during use for the purpose of controlling the lifting columns selected with the selection means. |
| US08567759B2 |
Advanced fluidics gate valve with active flow control for subsea applications
A valve assembly for use in a wellhead assembly that includes a valve body, a cavity formed in the valve body, and a flow passage through the valve body that intersects the cavity. Also included is a gate slidable in the cavity between an open position and a closed position. A bore is formed through the gate. A fluidic passage is also formed through the gates that provides fluid communication between the bore and an upstream side of the valve member. The fluidic passage is formed so that when the gate is being moved into the closed position, fluid upstream of the gate enters the fluidic passage and exits into the bore to assist closing the valve. |
| US08567753B1 |
Tunable valve assembly
A tunable valve assembly comprises a valve body, an adjustable preload flange centrally coupled to the valve body, and a viscoelastic element; the assembly attenuates valve-generated vibration transmitted to a pump housing. The vibration spectrum is narrowed and its amplitude reduced through hysteresis loss of closing impulse energy. The viscoelastic element comprises a peripheral groove portion coupled to a central reservoir portion via a plurality of fenestration portions. At least a first predetermined assembly resonant frequency is achieved by changing valve assembly compliance (with associated hysteresis loss) through adjustment of annular shear preload applied by the flange to the viscoelastic element reservoir portion. Such preload adjustment effectively maximizes hysteresis loss at the resonant frequency. At least a second predetermined assembly resonant frequency is achieved through choice of a circumferential shear-thickening material within the viscoelastic element groove portion. Assembly resonant frequencies are chosen to approximate pump housing resonant frequencies. |
| US08567750B2 |
Device having both non-abrading and fire-resistant properties for linking concrete formwork panels
A device for connecting and maintaining a first panel and a second panel of a concrete formwork in a fixed, spaced relationship during a wall building process includes a first connector embeddable within the first panel and having a non mold-abrading surface. A bridge links the first connector with the second panel, and at least a portion of the bridge is made of a fire-resistant material. Due to the properties of the device, it does not unduly scratch molding equipment during formation of an insulated panel in which it is to be embedded, and resists passage of smoke or flames through the formed concrete wall in the event of a fire. |
| US08567746B2 |
Mounting apparatus for fan module
A mounting apparatus for securing a fan module comprises a chassis, two mounting members, and an installing member rotatably secured to the fan module. The enclosure comprises two substantially parallel sidewalls. Two mounting members are rotatably secured to the two sidewalls. Each of two mounting members is provided with a limiting portion. A pivot is defined in the installing member. The limiting portion is received in the pivot hole for engagement or disengagement from the pivot hole by rotating the installing member. |
| US08567742B2 |
Mounting bracket protection device
A protective device for a mounting bracket suitable for installation of solar collectors. The device includes a U-shaped polymeric base member having a substantially rectangular bottom joined to two opposed upwardly-projecting side walls, the bottom having at least one aperture adapted to receive a mounting fastener capable of attaching the base member to a substrate. A substantially rectangular polymeric cover having substantially the same dimensions as the base member bottom is attached to the base member's side walls. The protective device also includes a metallic mounting bracket adapted to receive a mounting strap. The base member and cover define a partial enclosure having at least one opening through which the mounting strap or a portion of the metallic mounting bracket can pass, and which can retain and protect sealant placed over the mounting fastener. |
| US08567741B2 |
Hard coated seat rail
A seat rail for attaching seats in aircraft is provided. The seat rail includes a profile element for attaching the seats, and a support element for attaching the seat rail in an aircraft. At least the support element is manufactured from aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The surface of the aluminum or the aluminum alloy includes, an oxide layer, and the oxide layer has been manufactured by means of hard anodic oxidation. |
| US08567737B2 |
Clamping device
A clamping device is used for clamping an object. The clamping device includes a main body, an actuating mechanism, and two clamping arms. The actuating mechanism is disposed within the main body. The actuating mechanism includes a gear and cam, which are coaxial with each other. Each of the two clamping arms has an extension part. The two extension parts are engaged with two opposite sides of the gear. In a case that the engaging element is engaged with the cam, the two clamping arms are in an open status. In a case that the engaging element is disengaged with the cam, the gear is driven by the cam to be rotated. As the gear is rotated, the two extension parts are towed to be linearly moved. Consequently, the two clamping arms are switched from the open status to a clamping status. |
| US08567736B2 |
Mounting apparatus for expansion card
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis, a mounting tray accommodated in the chassis, and a securing member. The chassis includes a bottom plate and a rear plate connected to the bottom plate. The mounting tray is secured to the rear plate. The securing member is located between the bottom plate and the mounting tray. A through hole is defined in the securing member. The mounting tray is attached to a flange of a securing plate, and the through hole receives an insertion portion of the securing plate. |
| US08567735B2 |
Work station with height adjustment lock
A workstation comprises a support and a carriage mounted on the support and movable relative to the support. The carriage supports a work platform. A counter-balance supports the carriage and the work platform. A lock mechanism locks the carriage relative to the support in a desired position. The workstation may comprise a swing arm attached to the support at a vertical pivot such that the support may pivot relative to the swing arm. A method of operating the work station is also provided comprising moving an actuator to retract the pin from the rack. The weight of the support is supported by the counter-balance. The carriage is repositioned and the actuator is released to allow the pin to move to the extended position where it engages the rack. |
| US08567728B2 |
In-vehicle device mounting structure
An in-vehicle device mounting structure includes a plurality of brackets through which the in-vehicle device is mounted to an installation member of a vehicle. Each bracket includes a device mounting portion to be fixed to a surface of the in-vehicle device, a vehicle attachment portion to be fixed to the installation member under the in-vehicle device, a drawn bent portion that is curved to smoothly connect the device mounting portion to the vehicle attachment portion, and a plurality of slits that extend across the drawn bent portion such that the device mounting portion is notched and the slits are arranged in parallel substantially in the front and rear directions of the bracket. |
| US08567726B2 |
Aircraft trailing edge devices, including devices having forwardly positioned hinge lines, and associated methods
Aircraft trailing edge devices, including devices having forwardly positioned hinge lines, and associated methods are disclosed. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a wing and a trailing edge device coupled to the wing. The trailing edge device can be movable relative to the wing between a stowed position and a deployed position, with the trailing edge device having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface. The upper surface can have an intersection point with the wing when the trailing edge device is in the stowed position. The motion of the trailing edge device relative to the wing can include rotational motion about a hinge line positioned forward of the intersection point, and a gap can be positioned between the trailing edge of the wing and the leading edge of the trailing edge device when the trailing edge device is in the deployed position. |
| US08567723B2 |
Automated receiver aircraft identification (ARAI) for in-flight refueling
An aerial identification and fuel inventory control system is disclosed. An RFID transponder mounted on a refueling aircraft transmits an identifier identifying the refueling aircraft in proximity to a fuel delivery aircraft. Substantially just prior to a start of fueling the refueling aircraft, the identifier is automatically logged in the fuel inventory control system. Upon completion of the fueling, a quantity of off-loaded fuel associated with the identifier is automatically logged in the fuel inventory control system. A fueling report may be automatically generated. |
| US08567719B2 |
One-piece basin for a compartment of a transportation device
A compartment for a transportation device is provided. The compartment may include a one-piece basin, an inflatable wall member, and multi-directional support arms to attach the basin within the transportation device. The one-piece basin may fit through an opening in the transportation device. Methods of installation for installing the compartment within the transportation device are also provided. |
| US08567715B2 |
Flight control system for an aircraft
The invention relates to a flight control system for an aircraft comprising control surfaces and actuators associated with the control surfaces to control flight functions, including roll, yaw, pitching, and aerodynamic braking of the aircraft. The actuators associated with the control surfaces that control at least one of the flight control functions are electromechanical actuators. A part of the control surfaces associated with the electromechanical actuators is divided, where each of the divided control surfaces is comprised of at least two independent surfaces. |
| US08567711B1 |
Swept-wing powered-lift aircraft
Apparatus and methods provide for a swept-wing powered-lift aircraft. Aspects of the disclosure provide a powered-lift aircraft that utilizes the engine exhaust flow over upper surface blown flaps to increase lift during various flight operations. The powered-lift aircraft has wings with inboard portions and outboard portions. The adjacent inboard and outboard portions share a swept leading edge. The leading edge is swept to a degree that shifts the outboard portion rearward to a position in which the aircraft center of lift has little to no variance upon the activation or deactivation of a powered-lift system. |
| US08567710B2 |
Cable protection device
A cable protection device is designed to prevent a cable from being damaged by rubbing against a helicopter. A protection frame is installed-below a winch 11 connected to a helicopter. A supporting groove is formed on the protection frame, and a slide-contact body is rotatably fitted in the support groove. A part of the slide-contact body is exposed, and the cable hung down from the winch is brought into contact with the exposed portion. The slide contact body is divided into two or more parts, and it is formed by continuously aligning the divided slide-contact bodies of the cylindrical shape. Both ends of the divided slide-contact body are aligned by fitting the recession and the projection of the tapers of the ends of the adjacent divided slide-contact bodies to each other. |
| US08567709B2 |
Rotorcraft with variable incident wing
A twin-rotor side-by-side compound rotorcraft has a fuselage and variable incident wing assembly that pivots relative to fuselage. The aircraft also has landing gear assembly and a tail fin assembly. The variable incident wing assembly is pivotally attached to the fuselage, and includes wing members, engines fixedly mounted to the wing members or another area of the rotorcraft, and a mast attached at a fixed angle relative to the wing members. Then engines may also be located near the fuselage or another area of the rotorcraft. The variable incident wing assembly is capable of pivoting about a pivot axis, thereby allowing mast orientation in at least a hover mast position and a forward flight mast position. The rotors provide additional forward thrust and the wings provide additional lift, when the mast is in the forward flight mast position. |
| US08567704B2 |
Rotary grater
A rotary grater includes a main body having a portion of one side formed from a resilient material. An internal grating barrel includes a plurality of grating teeth and is configured to grate cheese or other food items. The barrel is positioned for rotation inside the main body, such that cheese within the main body can be urged against the barrel by pressure against the resilient material, which will collapse as the food item decreases in size. |
| US08567702B2 |
Post consumer scrap film recycling process
A method for processing a supply of post consumer scrap linear low density or low density polyethylene film into near-virgin quality blown film product. The method includes tearing the supply of film in a shredder, wherein the surface area of the film is exposed, including delaminating the film. The torn supply of film is washed in a water bath including a surfactant. The film is agitated in the bath containing the surfactant wherein contaminants on the film are removed from the film. The washed film is ground into smaller pieces and additional washing of the ground film in a rotating friction washer occurs wherein additional contaminants are removed from the film. The ground film is then dried and compacted without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality blown film product. |
| US08567700B2 |
Showerhead with 360 degree rotational spray control
A showerhead is disclosed with a control surface about the lower periphery of the showerhead that can be continuously rotated through 360 degrees to control the water spray patterns exiting the showerhead. The control surface is mechanically linked by a cam track and mating cam followers to a set of plungers in the showerhead faceplate. The plungers can be axially moved within openings in the faceplate of the showerhead by rotation of the control surface. That axial movement of the plungers allows a user's adjustment of the spray patterns exiting the showerhead. |
| US08567698B2 |
Closed case oscillating sprinkler
An oscillating sprinkler head transmission for alternately driving an output shaft and sprinkler head nozzle to oscillate it with spring bias being provided to prevent the transmission from being placed in an inoperative position, where the sprinkler head is not oscillated. |
| US08567697B2 |
Lawn sprinkler
A flow regulator for use with a lawn sprinkler. The apparatus includes an impeller, a regulator portion and a nozzle regulator portion. The sprinkler is configured to regulate the delivery of water according to the shape of the area to be irrigated, so that water is not wasted on adjacent areas which do not require irrigation. |
| US08567695B2 |
Piezoelectric device, inkjet print head and method of manufacturing the same
There are provided a piezoelectric device, an inkjet print head, and a method of manufacturing the same. The piezoelectric device includes piezoelectric ceramic powder containing 90 parts by weight or more to less than 100 parts by weight of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3, and more than 0 part by weight to 10 parts by weight or less of glass frit, based on 100 parts by weight of a piezoelectric substance composition for the piezoelectric device, wherein the glass frit contains 10 to 20 parts by weight of ZnO, based on 100 parts by weight of glass frit. |
| US08567689B2 |
Sanitary operator of a hot water heat pump
A method of sanitizing pipes, etc. in a hot water supply system includes the steps of normally heating water by driving water from a water storage tank, into a heat exchanger. Typically, a water pump is stopped once the water storage tank receives a particular percentage of hot water. However, when a sanitation mode is desired, the pump is not stopped, such that the water tank becomes all, or almost all, hot water. The hot water is then delivered to the pump, and from the pump to the heat exchanger. This hot water is thus operable to sanitize pipes and the pump. |
| US08567686B2 |
System and method for creating multizones from a single zone heating system
The present invention features a multizone conversion system for converting a single zone system into a multizone system. The multizone conversion system is designed to require minimal renovations and does not require extensive new wiring. Each room within the new multizone system has its own thermostat controls and each room can be set to its own specific temperature. The multizone conversion system does not require new piping to and from the boiler. Each thermostat is equipped with a temperature sensing device, temperature setting controls, an LCD monitor or display and an RF circuit that includes an RF transmitter and an RF receiver. Each heating element within the room is outfitted with an input device that contains an RF circuit, a switching valve and a battery compartment. The thermostat communicates wirelessly with the output device located in the room and control the flow of the heated water through the existing heating element or alternatively through a bypass pipe if heat is not required. |
| US08567682B2 |
Portable terminal and pistol grip sled with optimized scan angle
A portable terminal, handheld computer and handle are provided. The portable terminal includes a handheld computer operable as a stand-alone device, including operational components having a display and a scanner, and an expansion connector capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral. The peripheral includes at least a handle held by an operator of the portable terminal. The handheld computer is electrically and mechanically coupled to the handle so that the angle between the viewing area of the display and a scanner beam from the scanner is optimized without tilting the viewing area of the display. The portable terminal includes: a handheld device operable as a stand-alone device, including: one or more operational components; and an expansion connector being capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral directly or via an external device connectable to the peripheral, the handheld device being electrically coupled to the peripheral via the expansion connector and identifies the peripheral. The handle for a handheld device, includes: a housing including a grip held by an operator of a handheld device, the handheld device being operable as a stand alone device; a coupling assembly being capable of mechanically and operationally coupling to the handheld device directly or via an external device connectable to the handheld device; and an actuator coupling to the coupling assembly for actuating at least one function of the handheld device, the actuator being configured so that the user operates the actuator while holding the grip. |
| US08567681B2 |
Displaying a barcode on a display of an infusion pump
An infusion pump system includes an infusion channel, and a display associated with the infusion channel. The display is for rendering a scannable barcode. |
| US08567676B2 |
System and method of voting via an interactive television system
A method includes determining, at a first computing device associated with a network, whether voting for video content is permitted from a second computing device. The second computing device is coupled to the network to receive the video content. The method further includes, in response to determining that voting for the video content is permitted from the second computing device, sending data related to a graphical user interface to the second computing device. The graphical user interface enables receipt of voting input for the video content. The method further includes, in response to determining that voting for the video content is permitted from the second computing device, updating a voting record for the video content with the voting input received from the second computing device via the graphical user interface. |
| US08567673B2 |
Code reader, sales data processing apparatus and method
According to an embodiment, a code reader, comprising: an imaging pickup unit; a light source configured to irradiate light onto an imaging pickup area by the imaging pickup unit; a switching unit configured to switch between a code reading mode applicable for the imaging pickup unit to image pickup a code symbol in the imaging pickup area and a second mode which is carried out the control which is different from the control carried out in the code reading mode; and a light source control unit configured to enable the light source to illuminate light by changing light illuminating patterns when the switching unit switches between the code reading mode and the second mode. |
| US08567671B2 |
Wireless payment method and systems
A method for conducting a transaction is disclosed. The method includes using a first portable electronic device, and directly transmitting a request for payment to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link. Then, the second portable electronic device transmits an approval of the request for payment to the first portable electronic device. One of the first and the second portable electronic devices then sends the request for payment to a payment hub service. The payment hub service then facilitates the transfer of funds from a payer institution to a payee institution to complete the transaction. |
| US08567668B2 |
Method and apparatus for distribution of money transfers
A method for performing transactions comprises receiving registration in formation and money transfer transaction specifications, generating a distribution profile based on the registration information, and storing the money transfer transaction specifications in the distribution profile. The distribution profile is identified based on an initiation instruction and associated user authentication data, and one of the money transfer transaction specifications in the distribution profile is identified based on the initiation instruction. Payment source status is verified according to the identified money transfer transaction specification, and a staged send transaction is initiated, based on the payment source status at the time the send transaction is initiated. |
| US08567667B2 |
Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records, such as user cards, to cause machine user authorization and financial transfers. Account data read from a user card is associated in a data store with instructions for displaying a customer interface uniquely associated with the particular bank where the user holds the account. The customer interface includes user-selectable financial transaction options. The arrangement enables the customer interface of the user's home bank, with which the user is familiar, to also be automatically displayed when the user operates automated banking machines of other banks. |
| US08567666B2 |
Light guiding device, reader/writer device for noncontact communication medium, and electronic apparatus
A light guiding device used for a reader/writer device for a noncontact communication medium is provided with a light guide plate having a transparent main body part which can transmit light inputted from an LED and a protruding part protruding from a part of an end surface of the transparent main body part. A diffusely reflecting part is provided on a lower surface side of the transparent main body part, and a first light emitting part is provided on an upper surface side of the transparent main body part. Reflecting parts are provided on an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the protruding part, and second light emitting part is provided at a leading end. of the protruding part. When the first light emitting part is covered by the noncontact communication medium, the second light emitting part can check a light emitting state. |
| US08567664B2 |
Secure ATM deposit
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a secure cash deposit bin housed in an automated teller machine (ATM) for receiving cash from customers, and methods and systems for using the secure cash deposit bin. Embodiments of the present invention provide a cash deposit bin, with a lid, in which there is a receptacle that receives cash and automatically seals the cash within it when the secure cash deposit bin is opened. An exemplary system further includes the secure cash deposit bin comprising a limited-entry device in the lid and an access sensor locking device on the bin. |
| US08567661B2 |
Two-piece shipping tray
A two piece shipping tray having a first unitary blank which provides a bottom panel with opposed end panels and opposed side panels connected by foldable corner gussets and a second unitary blank which provides a two walled cross divider adhered in fixed relation to the bottom panel to provide a knocked-down-flat condition in which the two walled cross divider foldably engages the bottom panel and in which the opposed side panels have a portion of the corresponding foldable corner gussets adhered in fixed relation to the opposed end panels to engage each of the opposed side panels with the bottom panel, which allows the basic configuration of the shipping tray to be manually foldably produced from the knocked-down-flat condition. |
| US08567658B2 |
Method of plasma preparation of metallic contacts to enhance mechanical and electrical integrity of subsequent interconnect bonds
A method of removing oxidation from certain metallic contact surfaces utilizing a combination of relatively simple and inexpensive off-the-shelf equipment and specific chemistry. The method being a very rapid dry process which does not require a vacuum or containment chamber, or toxic gasses/chemicals, and does not damage sensitive electronic circuits or components. Additionally, the process creates a passivation layer on the surface of the metallic contact which inhibits further oxidation while allowing rapid and complete bonding, even many hours after surface treatment, without having to remove the passivation layer. The process utilizes a room-ambient plasma applicator with hydrogen, nitrogen, and inert gasses. |
| US08567656B2 |
Staple cartridges for forming staples having differing formed staple heights
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied so as to apply various clamping forces and pressures to soft tissue captured within the staples. In at least one embodiment, the staples can include crowns formed thereon which can be utilized to adjust or control the clamping force and/or pressure applied by the staples. |
| US08567653B2 |
Automated air pillow dispenser
A packaging material handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first pair of traction members configured for cooperatively engaging a chain of pre-inflated pillows from opposite sides thereof and being operable for driving the chain in the flow direction. The device further includes a second pair of traction members configured for cooperatively engaging the chain from opposite sides thereof. The second pair of traction members are spaced apart from the first pair of traction members along a flow direction and are operable for driving the chain in the flow direction. The first and second pairs of traction members are operable for holding the first and second portions of the chain during a breaking operation. The device further includes a breaking member disposed between the first and second pairs of traction members and movable against the chain across the flow direction in the breaking operation to break the chain for detaching the first portion from the second portion. |
| US08567649B1 |
Eyewear holder for a sun visor
A holder for eyewear which removably attaches to a standard sun visor within a motor vehicle, comprises a spring clip releasably attachable to the sun visor, further having a decorative vehicle motif enclosure to clamp and secure the eyewear between protective pads. The vehicle motif comprises an upper and lower portion hingedly attached and latched to each other. The holder further comprises enhancements including the capability to broadcast pre-recorded audible sounds or messages, an integral flashlight, and a spray nozzle which propels a stream of a cleansing fluid. The holder may be introduced having different vehicle motif embodiments, such as a big rig, a truck, an automobile, or the like. |
| US08567647B2 |
Multifunctional seal device for a valve for a drinking receptacle
A multifunctional sealing device for a valve structured for opening of a discharge conduit by virtue of upstream-directed movement of a sealing body relative to the discharge direction. The distinctive characteristic of the invention is that the sealing body is of a radially flexible arrangement; wherein the discharge conduit is provided with at least one storage seal seat for sealing reception of the sealing body when the valve is in a storage mode, and also at least one utility seal seat for sealing reception of the sealing body when the valve is in a closed utility mode; wherein the at least one utility seal seat is provided upstream of the at least one storage seal seat; and wherein both the storage seal seat and the utility seal seat are structured for sealing against the sealing body during downstream-directed movement of the sealing body. |
| US08567638B2 |
Openable and closable container
An openable and closable container includes a container body having a take-out opening, and an opening-closing lid provided on the container body swingably about a swing axis on a base end side of the lid, the lid opening and closing the take-out opening. Plate rubber (an elastic member) is provided between the contain body and the opening-closing lid. A packing member (an elastic sealing body) is attached to the rear surface of the opening-closing lid such that the packing member seals the take-out opening of the upper plate. |
| US08567636B2 |
Hydro-pneumatic pressure vessel
A hydro-pneumatic pressure vessel includes a container unit, a connector unit and a protecting unit. The container unit includes an elastic diaphragm dividing an inner space of the container unit into a water chamber and an air chamber. The connector unit includes a water fitting connected to the container unit and formed with a water port. The protecting unit includes a protecting member and a resilient connecting member interconnecting the water fitting and the protecting member. The protecting member is movable from an open position to a blocked position for blocking the water port so as to prevent the diaphragm from being squeezed by an air pressure of the air chamber into the water port. |
| US08567631B2 |
Tool box
A toolbox including a basin portion and a lid pivotally articulated thereto between an open position and a closed position, is provided. The lid includes two or more latches, each positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, two or more biasing members, each associated with one of the latches and adapted to bias its associated latch toward its locked position, and an activation mechanism operationally connected to the latches such that operation of the activation mechanism brings all of the latches to their unlocked positions. The basin includes two or more latch-receiving arrangements, each configured to receive one of the latches when in the locked position with the lid in its closed position, thereby preventing articulation of the lid to its open position. The latches and latch-receiving arrangements are mutually configured such that upon articulation of the lid toward its closed position, the latch-receiving arrangements are configured to urge the latches from their locked positions so as to allow the lid to be brought fully to its closed position. |
| US08567629B2 |
Food packaging with a lid and closure system for packaging
The packaging for a food product is provided with a container having an upper opening. An annular frame that is mounted as a close fit on the container has an upper face provided with an annular projection extending in the continuation of the interior face of the frame. A lid mounted articulated with respect to the frame is adapted to close off the opening, the lid having a top wall, a side wall and an interior skirt, a continuous groove being defined between the side wall and the interior skirt. A measuring utensil with a bowl is stored between the opening of the container and the lid in the closed position. The annular projection is inserted into the continuous groove and the interior skirt presses at least partially against said interior face of the frame in the closed position of the lid. |
| US08567626B2 |
Fastening device for fastening a tube to a bearing structure and transport and storage container with such a fastening device
A fastening device for fastening a tube to a bearing structure, particularly a horizontal mesh frame tube of a mesh cage attached to a transport pallet used to hold a liquid container. To form the fastening device the tube has a fastening section with a zone flattened by compression and provided with a fastening hole to accommodate a fastening bolt connecting the fastening section to the bearing structure. The fastening hole has a perimeter shaped such that the perimeter defines a force application plane between a bolt head and the fastening section that is inclined at an angle α relative to a fastening plane in which the fastening section is connected to the bearing structure. The perimeter has a hole embrasure formed by an annular collar extending in the direction of a fastening axis, and which defines a bearing surface for the bolt head disposed in the force application plane. |
| US08567625B2 |
Synthetic resin container having a rectangular cylindrical part and a round cylindrical narrow part
A synthetic resin container including a mouth part 2, a shoulder part 3, a trunk part 4 and a bottom part 5, wherein the trunk part 4 has rectangular cylindrical parts 41 and 42, and a round cylindrical part 43 which is formed by narrowing into a cylindrical shape a region between the upper rectangular cylindrical part 41 positioned near the shoulder part 3 and the lower rectangular cylindrical part 42 positioned near the bottom part 5 side. |
| US08567624B2 |
Lightweight, high strength bottle
A bottle includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the bottle, and a grip portion. The grip portion is recessed within the top portion of the bottle. The bottle may include a vacuum panel array and/or a rib array to help improve strength, reduce material and accommodate deformation forces tending to collapse the bottle upon filling with pasteurized contents. |
| US08567619B2 |
Vent valve assemblies for baby bottles
A vent valve, and a vent valve assembly, for a liquid dispensing container, employ a vent disc having small open vent holes in cooperation with an overlying thin flexible flap that covers and closes the vent holes to limit liquid pressure on the holes when the container is upright, yet require little suction pressure to move the flap to draw liquid or vent through the holes. The vent valve can be used in a bottom cap that is attachable to the bottom open end of the container. The vent valve assembly includes such a bottom cap, a sealing member for sealing the bottom cap to the container, and a vent valve. The vent valve and/or bottom cap have an elevated vent disc and a top portion having the thin flexible flap. |
| US08567616B2 |
Dock with plural cleaning heads
A dock with plural side-by-side bays that each stores one treatment head. The dock has plural parallel slots that each communicate with a bay and the dock has a first side open to the bays for movement of the heads into and out of the bays. Each head has a connecting post extending through a slot so each post can slide in its slot for removal of each head from a respective bay. A pole has an end connector for detachable connection to a post, one at a time, while the one treatment head is in a bay, and for sliding the head out of the dock for use. |
| US08567614B2 |
Counter display for securely displaying merchandise
A counter display includes a pedestal adapted to be positioned on a support surface and at least one lockable display arm for securely displaying items of merchandise suspended from the display arm. The display arm has an elongate rod for supporting the items of merchandise thereon and a mounting end for mounting the display arm on the pedestal. The rod has a free end opposite the mounting end for loading the items of merchandise on the rod and for removing the items of merchandise from the rod. An end assembly is disposed on the display arm adjacent the free end of the rod and is movable between a locked position for preventing items of merchandise from being removed from the rod and an unlocked position for permitting items of merchandise to be removed from the rod. A lock mechanism releasably locks the end assembly on the display arm. Another lock mechanism releasably locks the display arm on the pedestal. Another lock mechanism locks a removable cover on the pedestal such that the display arm cannot be removed from the pedestal unless the cover is removed from the pedestal. |
| US08567612B2 |
Hybrid TFC RO membranes with nitrogen additives
RO membranes using chlorinated water as a feed stream maybe protected from damage by the chlorine with a protective layer including reactive nitrogen which forms chloromines on the surface of the membrane that reduce chlorine penetration. This protective layer also provides substantial anti-fouling capabilities, whether used with a chlorinated or unchlorinated feed stream because the chloramines are anti-bacterial. Although chlorine is lost in use, the anti-fouling layer or coating can be recharged with additional chlorine without damaging the discrimination layer. The anti-fouling layer or coating may be advantageously used with Thin film composite, TFC, membranes for use in forward and reverse osmosis may include nanoparticles, monohydrolyzed and/or di-hydrolyzed TMC, and/or alkaline earth alkaline metal complexes or other additives. |
| US08567611B2 |
Filtration material
The invention discloses a filtration material for desalination, including a support layer, and a desalination layer formed on the support layer, wherein the desalination layer is a fiber composite membrane and includes at least one water-swellable polymer. The water-swellable polymer is made of hydrophilic monomers and hydrophobic monomers, and the hydrophilic monomers include ionic monomers and non-ionic monomers, and the ionic monomers include cationic monomers and anionic monomers. |
| US08567607B2 |
Folding box with a blister pack contained therein
A folding box with a blister pack held therein is produced from a one-piece blank, having a first tab which starts integrally from a narrow side wall and in the use position inside the folding box rises obliquely inwards from this edge toward the opposite wall and is supported resiliently against the latter. A second tab is bent back from the support point of the first tab and in the use position comes to lie between the first wall and the first tab or the second wall, and in turn carries at its edge a locking tab which in the use position engages in a hinged fashion between two blister cavities or cavity rows arranged one behind the other in the insertion direction, and thereby secures the blister pack in locking fashion without the need for beads or other deformations that affect the surface on the folding box. |
| US08567606B2 |
Book-like packaging structure for receiving a blister pack
A book-like packaging structure for receiving at least one blister pack having at least one receptacle. The book-like packaging structure includes at least one inner blister pack retainer for receiving the at least one blister pack, the at least one inner blister pack retainer having an inner edge, an outer edge, a first retainer portion and a second retainer portion, said second retainer portion adjacent an inner spine panel having a width equal to or greater than the depth of the at least one receptacle; and a cover for enclosing the at least one inner blister pack retainer, the cover having a first cover portion having an inner edge, a second cover portion having an inner edge and a spine, the spine joined to the inner edge of the first cover portion and the inner edge of the second cover portion, wherein the inner spine panel rests against the spine such that the inner edge of the at least one inner blister pack retainer is positioned adjacent to the spine of the cover. A method of making a book-like packaging structure is also provided. |
| US08567605B2 |
Method of storing liquid composition for organic semiconductor element
Problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent volatilization of an organic solvent while a liquid composition for an organic semiconductor device is stored by placing in a container, and to prevent deterioration in function of an organic compound for forming an organic semiconductor device. Means for solving the problem is a method of storing a liquid composition for an organic semiconductor device comprising the step of storing the liquid composition for an organic semiconductor device containing an organic compound for forming an organic semiconductor device, and an organic solvent, in a container having a container body, a packing covering an opening part of the container body, and a lid, wherein the container body has an inner wall formed of a material which does not chemically act on the organic solvent nor on the organic compound, and a surface of the packing, which covers the opening part and which comes into contact with the opening-periphery part when the packing and the lid are mounted to the container body to form a sealed state, is formed of a material containing a resin having fluorine atom. |
| US08567601B2 |
Roofing product
A starter block and a shingle are utilized to form courses that may be positioned in overlapping fashion on a roof to form a roofing covering system. The particular design of the starter block and shingle result in a roofing product that provides increased durability over previous designs. The starter block may be formed with top and bottom surfaces, opposite side surfaces with tapering heights, and a front surface having a greater height than a back surface of the starter block. When the starter block is coupled to a roof deck, a semi-rigid shingle having a generally planar bottom surface may be placed upon the starter block so that a portion of the shingle extends off of the starter block over the back surface thereof and onto the roof deck to facilitate contact between the shingle and the roof deck at a location more proximal to the starter block back surface than if the same back surface had the same height as the front surface. Additionally, the semi-rigid shingle may have an exposed portion and a headlap portion, with the exposed portion extending from a forward shingle edge to the headlap portion and the headlap portion extending from a back shingle edge to the exposed portion. The exposed portion has a central region with a generally uniform thickness moving in the longitudinal direction. Unlike the exposed portion, the headlap portion has a taper in average thickness moving in the longitudinal direction. The taper extends for at least a substantial part of the headlap portion. |
| US08567598B2 |
Packet
A container (1) for smoking articles may have a container portion (3), a lid (5) connected by a hinge to the container portion (3) and a ratchet mechanism (26, 37, 50, 60, 70, 80, 110, 120, 130, 140) to resist opening the lid (5). |
| US08567596B1 |
Electronic device protective film application kit and method
A kit holding a film sheet and a miniature squeegee may also include a bottle of an activation solution for an adhesive on the film sheet. The film sheet corresponds in size and shape to a display of an electronic device. Excess solution is removed from the display while evenly distributing the adhesive using wiping motions with the squeegee. In a dry adhesive application, a cover sheet over the adhesive is perforated so that one portion of the cover sheet may be removed for adhering one part of the film sheet to the display, and after securing the one part, the remainder of the cover sheet is removed to adhere the remainder of the film sheet to the display. |
| US08567593B2 |
Belt profile and profiled belt
This invention provides a belt profile and profiled belt that can be easily mounted to and detached from a toothed belt. Specifically, a profile body and a claw section are integrally formed via a connection section. A side edge section of the toothed belt is inserted between the profile body and the claw section from an inner side in the belt width direction. The profile body is arranged on a rear surface side of the toothed belt. The claw section is arranged at the side edge section, on the tooth surface side. The connection section passes outside the side surface of the toothed belt. The profile is mounted on the toothed belt by engaging the claw section with a belt tooth while the profile body and the claw section sandwich the side edge section. The profile is removed from the toothed belt by performing these procedures in reverse order. |
| US08567592B2 |
Adjustable part loader
An example adjustable part loader system includes a first loader adjacent a base and adjustable along the base having a first motor and a second loader adjacent the base and adjustable along the base having a second motor. The second loader is aligned with the first loader along the base in a position relative to a dimension of a first part to be loaded. The first loader and the second loader each carry a distinct portion of the same part. The first loader is adjustable relative to the second loader. A controller system in communication with the first loader and the second loader and controls both simultaneously. |
| US08567590B2 |
Method, clip and device for transporting an article to be treated in an electrolytic system
The invention relates to the conveyance and preferably also to the electrical contacting of an item to be treated (1), for example in the form of a printed circuit board or a conductor foil, in an electrolysis system. A device according to the invention comprises a large number of clamps (10) able to move along a conveyance path (4) and driven by a continuously revolving drive means (20). The device is configured in such a way that the clamps (10) at the start (4a) of the conveyance path (4) are brought from an open state into a closed state in order to grip and preferably also electrically to contact the item to be treated, and that the clamps (10) respectively at the end (4b) of the conveyance path (4) are brought from the closed into the open state in order to re-release the item to be treated (1). For this purpose, the clamps (10) comprise a first clamping surface (19), arranged on one side of a conveyance plane (2), and a second clamping surface (17), arranged on the opposing side of the conveyance plane (2). The clamps (10) are configured in such a way that both the first clamping surface (19) and the second clamping surface (17) are movable with respect to the conveyance plane (2) in order to open or close the clamp (10). |
| US08567589B2 |
Blow molding machine for containers and mandrel holder
A blow molding machine for containers, having a conveyor path carrying a mandrel holder and pre-forming mandrels attached to the mandrel holders in an exchangeable manner by means of removable couplings, wherein each coupling has a mandrel clamping mechanism and a releasing element accessible form outside that can be adjusted at least relative to the mandrel holder for releasing the clamping mechanism. In the mandrel holder, particularly for use in a blow molding machine, the mandrel clamping mechanism is designed with a ball joint lock, and the ball joint lock can be released by means of a releasing element in order to exchange a performing mandrel. |
| US08567587B2 |
Matrix conveyor for use as a sorting device or palletizing device
It is disclosed a matrix conveyor (10) comprising: a plurality of individual roller modules (28), wherein respectively one roller module (28) is arranged at each point of intersection of a regular grid-shaped structure (68), and wherein the roller modules (28) commonly define a conveying plane (30), which is substantially planar, for transporting a conveying good (72) thereon; and a superordinated control device (12) being adapted to individually control each of the individual roller modules (28) so that the conveying good (72) can be transported along a path (74), which can be planned in advance, wherein a shape of the path (74) is defined by a plurality of overlaps of at least two basic conveying directions (60, 62) of the conveying plane (30); wherein the at least two basic conveying directions (60, 62) geometrically span the conveying plane (30), and wherein each of the roller modules (64) is drivable in only one of the at least two basic conveying directions (60), wherein directly adjacent roller modules (66) are respectively drivable in the other one of the at least two basic conveying directions (62). |
| US08567567B1 |
Winding tool for torsion spring for sectional garage door
A winding tool for tightening a torsion spring for a sectional overhead door. The winding tool features two half hub assembles that wrap around an overhead door shaft, wherein a translational sprocket is disposed on the hub assemblies. The hub assemblies connect to the winding cone of a torsion spring via fingers that engage the hub assemblies. A winding box is removably attached to the hub assemblies. The winding box features a worm gear that engages the translational sprocket. A handle bar can be rotated with a drill to cause rotation of the worm gear. Rotation of the worm gear causes rotation of the translational sprocket and ultimate winding of the torsion spring. |
| US08567564B2 |
Non-interrupted oil supply for gas turbine engine
An oil supply system for a gearbox in a gas turbine engine includes a holding container which holds a quantity of oil to be delivered to a pump. The holding container includes a flexible barrier. |
| US08567553B2 |
Electric power steering system
A reduction gear coupled to an electric motor includes: a first bearing that rotatably supports a first end portion of a worm shaft such that the worm shaft is allowed to oscillate in an oscillation direction about the first end portion; and a first elastic member that elastically urges a second bearing in such a direction that an axis-to-axis distance between the worm shaft and the worm wheel reduces. The first end portion and an output shaft of the electric motor are coupled by a joint. A second elastic member located between the joint and the first end portion elastically urges the worm shaft toward a second end portion and applies a preload on the first bearing. An outer ring of the first bearing is interposed in an axial direction by the third elastic member and the fourth elastic member. |
| US08567548B2 |
Independent rear drive system
An independent rear wheel drive assembly for three-wheeled motorcycles is provided having a wheel carrier adapted to rotatably support a wheel, and the wheel carrier includes an interior portion. Also provided is a control arm having a first end, a second end, and an interior portion. The first end of the control arm is pivotably coupled to the wheel carrier and the second end is pivotably coupled to a differential housing. A first end of a stabilizer bar is pivotably coupled to the wheel carrier and a second end is pivotably coupled to the differential housing. A first end of the drive shaft assembly is adapted to be coupled to the wheel and a second end is adapted to be coupled to a differential. Moreover, a portion of the drive shaft assembly is disposed within the interior portions of the wheel carrier and the interior portion of the control arm. |
| US08567545B1 |
Gauge mount bracket with air vents
A gauge mounting bracket for a snowmobile that allows hot gas in the engine compartment to circulate and escape through a plurality of side vent openings formed thereon. The mounting bracket allows the user to adjust the angular position of a speedometer or tachometer gauge on the dashboard of a snowmobile to accommodate riders who sit or stand while driving. The mounting bracket includes lower dashboard mounting surface and an upper gauge mounting surface. The lower dashboard mounting surface is flush mounted on the existing dashboard of a snowmobile while the upper gauge mounting surface is tilted upward and aligned 5 to 50 degrees from the dashboard mounting surface. During assembly, the mounting bracket is mounted over an existing or newly created hole in the dashboard that leads to the engine compartment. Heated air created in the compartment travels upward and rearward and then escapes through the vent openings. |
| US08567542B2 |
Intake air routing structure for a vehicle, and vehicle including same
A vehicle intake duct surrounds a high-flow intake passage, which ensures flow capacity and does not spatially restrict other components. The vehicle includes an engine attached to a vehicle body frame, with the intake duct interconnecting an air cleaner and a throttle body, a transmission for sending engine output to wheels, and a seat mounted on an upper longitudinal frame section of the vehicle body frame. The air cleaner is also provided on the upper longitudinal frame section forward of the seat. The intake duct includes a first extending portion descending rearwardly and downwardly from an outlet of the air cleaner and passing laterally of the throttle body, a curved portion extending rearwardly from the first extending portion and toward a center of the vehicle body frame, and a second extending portion wound around toward a rear portion of the throttle body and connected thereto. |
| US08567540B2 |
Drive unit for an electric hybrid vehicle
A drive unit for a hybrid electric motor vehicle includes a bevel pinion driveably connected to a power source, a bevel gear meshing with the bevel pinion and aligned with an axis, first and second drive shafts, a differential mechanism including an input secured to the bevel gear for transmitting power between the input and the first and the second drive shafts, an electric motor/generator including a rotor, and a planetary gear set driveably connected to the input and the rotor for transmitting power between the rotor and the input such that a speed of the rotor is greater than a speed of the input. |
| US08567535B2 |
Inverted pendulum type moving body
An inverted pendulum type moving body comprising: a base body; a moving behavior unit movable in all directions on a floor surface; an actuator driving the moving behavior unit; and a control unit controlling the actuator so that at least a tilt angle of the base body equals a predetermined target angle, the control unit also controlling the actuator so that the moving behavior unit moves along a predetermined trajectory. |
| US08567534B2 |
Thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting elements and bits incorporating the same
Cutting elements have substrates including end surfaces. TSP material layers extend over only a portion of the end surfaces or extend into the substrates below the end surfaces. Bits incorporate such cutting elements. |
| US08567530B2 |
Collapsible rock head and associated structure
A collapsible cutter bit or rock head for use with an underground auger boring machine has an expanded position for cutting rock in front of an underground pipe and a collapsed position for withdrawing the rock head through the underground pipe. The auger boring machine is configured to bore a passage through a body of soil and rock and simultaneously lay the underground pipe in the passage. Forward rotation of the cutter bit causes expansion while collapse of the cutter bit may be driven by reverse rotation of the cutter bit or another mechanism. |
| US08567526B2 |
Wellbore steering based on rock stress direction
A method of steering a drilling operation of a well using rock stress measurements. The method includes obtaining well data from at least one logging while drilling tool in the well, where the well data includes stress direction information, generating, using a central processing unit (CPU), a well trajectory using survey data from the well, where the well trajectory includes a borehole direction, determining, using the CPU, a direction of minimum horizontal stress using the well data, and comparing, using the CPU, the direction of minimum horizontal stress to the borehole direction to determine that a directional criteria is not satisfied. The method further includes in response to determining that the directional criteria is not satisfied, generating an updated well trajectory that satisfies the directional criteria and adjusting the drilling operation using the updated well trajectory. |
| US08567521B2 |
Power tool
A power tool includes a case; a motor installed within the case, the motor comprising a motor housing and a rotor with shaft; a gear train comprising a gear train housing and a speed reduction mechanism installed within the gear train housing and connected to the shaft of the motor. The motor housing and the gear train housing are integrally formed as a common housing and fixed relative to the case. |
| US08567515B2 |
Tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings. In one embodiment, a method of hanging a liner assembly from a previously installed tubular in a wellbore includes running the liner assembly and a setting tool into the wellbore using a run-in string. The setting tool includes an isolation valve and the liner assembly includes a liner hanger and a liner string. The method further includes sending an instruction signal from the surface to the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve closes in response to the instruction signal and isolates a setting pressure in the setting tool from the liner string; and increasing fluid pressure in the setting tool, thereby setting the liner hanger. |
| US08567511B2 |
Method and apparatus for running casing in a wellbore with a fluid driven rotatable shoe
Apparatus for running a casing string into a wellbore features a housing arranged for coupling to the casing string in fluid communication with an interior thereof, a shoe rotatably supported at a lower end of the housing, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism features a shaft extending internally along the housing toward the upper end thereof from a connection of the shaft to the shoe, and a ribbon coiling around and along the shaft toward the shoe in a manner radially spaced from the shaft above the connection thereof to the shoe. The ribbon drive rotations of the shaft through action of a fluid on said ribbon under pumping of said fluid through the housing from the casing. The drive mechanism thus employs a simple structure of a rotor assembly spinning within the housing, without requiring an additional stator or housing-carried vanes. |
| US08567510B2 |
Pressure actuable downhole tool and a method for actuating the same
Pressure actuable downhole tool such as a packer and a method for actuating the same typically uses a control line to trigger a configuration change in the tool in which a communication line is opened between the throughbore of the tool and apressure responsive actuator, allowing the pressure responsive actuator to be set by downhole fluid pressure applied via the throughbore. Thus the pressure from the control line is used to trigger actuation of the tool, but the throughbore pressure is used to set the tool. The advantage of this activation mechanism is that the tool can be set even when pressure supplied by the control line is insufficient to fully actuate or set the tool, and in certain embodiments, the tool can be set using much higher tubing pressure than could be supplied through the control line, thereby allowing more reliable and instantaneous setting than tools set using control line pressure alone. |
| US08567508B2 |
Wellhead change-out flange and method of use thereof
A change-out flange suited for use at an existing head casing of an oil or gas production well. The change-out flange is devised to replace standard hammer caps atop a well casing. By the present invention, with comparative ease a variety of wellhead equipment can be removably and interchangeably secured to the wellhead using an existing casing bowl or spool. The change-out flange has a casing hub that can be screwed unto a known casing bowl, and an integral connection flange provided with a plurality of connection holes arrayed in a manner consistent with the connection hole arrays of an assortment of conventional wellhead devices such as valves. A variety of well head devices thus can be more readily removed from, and securely replaced upon, the change-out flange. Lockdown pins are insertable into the change-out flange in a manner which secures the tubing hanger in place within the casing bowl. The disclosed change-out flange apparatus according can be installed on the wellhead casing without the need to remove pre-existing production tubing. |
| US08567506B2 |
Fluid isolating pressure equalization in subterranean well tools
A fluid isolating pressure equalization in a subterranean well. A well system includes a well tool including a chamber therein containing an electrical assembly in a dielectric fluid, and a pressure equalization apparatus including a flowpath having opposite ends. One end is connected to the chamber, and the other end is connected to a source of another fluid. The flowpath extends alternately upward and downward between the opposite ends. A pressure equalization apparatus for use with a well tool in a subterranean well includes multiple spiral wraps of a tube. A flowpath in the tube extends in opposite directions in respective successive wraps of the tube. |
| US08567505B2 |
Injection of liquid into boreholes, with suckback pulsing
When injecting liquids into the ground, imposing pulses on the injected liquid is effective to increase penetration and saturation of the ground. Imposing suckback onto the pulses is effective to make the liquid in the ground behave as a coherent unitary body, surging out and back each pulse, and to super-saturate the ground. The tool includes a suckback-chamber, which is timed to open to the ground formation just as the pulse-valve closes. A biasser (e.g a spring) drives the chamber open and sucks in some of the liquid from the ground. The chamber is then emptied, back to the ground, by the rising pressure as the pulsing tool is recharged. The suckback-chamber can be added to any type of pulsing tool. |
| US08567500B2 |
Cooling apparatus and methods for use with downhole tools
Cooling apparatus and methods for use with downhole tools are described. An example apparatus includes a cooling apparatus for use with a downhole tool. The cooling apparatus includes a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is configured for fluid communication with a wellbore and the inlet is spaced from the outlet. The cooling apparatus also includes a pump configured to convey at least one of a drilling fluid or a formation fluid between the inlet and the outlet. Additionally, the cooling apparatus includes a heat exchanger coupled to a surface adjacent the flow passage and a component of the downhole tool to convey heat from the component to the cooling fluid. |
| US08567498B2 |
System and method for filtering sand in a wellbore
A technique enables long-lasting filtering of fluid flow in a wellbore. The technique employs a base pipe and a sand control screen surrounding the base pipe. The sand control screen has a support layer, a filter media surrounding the support layer, and a protective shroud. At least one of the support layer and the protective shroud layer utilizes longitudinal ribs held in place by a transverse wire. The components of the sand control screen cooperate to provide a simple but durable system for long term filtering of sand from fluid flow in a wellbore. |
| US08567485B2 |
Heat exchanger for connection to an evaporator of a heat transfer system
A heat transfer system having an evaporator, a heat exchanger, and a working fluid that undergoes compression. The heat exchanger includes a first tube made from a steel alloy which is alloyed to facilitate bending, the first tube having a first end connected to the outlet of an evaporator and a second tube having a first end connected to the inlet of the evaporator. The second tube is positioned in thermal contact with the first tube for a portion of the respective lengths of the first tube and the second tube, so as to allow an exchange of heat between the fluid within the tubes. |
| US08567481B2 |
Method and composition of binder for manufacturing sand molds and/or cores for foundries
A binder for the production of sand cores and/or molds for foundries that includes sand mixed with an alkyl silicate, preferably tetraethyl silicate; an aqueous solution of an alkali metal silicate, preferably sodium silicate, which solution also contains an alkali metal hydroxide, preferably sodium hydroxide, where the ingredients in such mixture are preferably in given percentage ranges and are mixed until the sand shows a homogeneous aspect and constitution. Also method of manufacturing sand molds for foundries that includes mixing foundry sand with the aforementioned binder, blowing the sand mixed with the binder, having still between 0.5% to 2.5% of water, into a cold box by means of air that is at room temperature, and once the cold box mold has been filled with the sand, passing a hot air current through the sand to dry and harden the binder thus obtaining the foundry mold. |
| US08567474B2 |
Window covering safety device
A window covering is disclosed that has a safety device that includes a first cord segment having stops spaced along the first cord segment, and a second cord segment having stops spaced along the second cord segment. The first cord segment and the second cord segment extend from respective end caps. The end caps are configured to connect to the ends of a bottom rail. A first anchor is connected to the first cord segment, and a second anchor is connected to the second cord segment. At least one of the first end cap and the first anchor is configured to releasably connect to the first cord segment at a selected stop on the first cord segment and at least one of the second anchor and the second end cap is configured to releasably connect to the second cord segment at a selected stop on the second cord segment. |
| US08567472B2 |
Wire trolleys, movable partition systems including such wire trolleys, and related methods
Wire trolleys for use with a movable partition system comprise a wire-supporting member through which wire may be inserted. At least one roller configured for insertion into a track along which a movable partition extends is connected to the wire-supporting member. Movable partition systems comprise a track. A movable partition comprising at least two sheets of panels extending at least substantially parallel to one another and distanced from one another to define an interior space between the at least two sheets of panels are suspended from and movable along the track. At least one wire trolley located in the interior space between a proximal end and a distal end of the at least two sheets of panels comprises at least one roller in rolling engagement with the track and a wire-supporting member at least partially supporting at least one wire inserted through the wire-supporting member. |
| US08567468B2 |
Apparatus and method for pressing printed circuit board
An apparatus for heating and pressing a printed circuit board includes a first pressing member, a second pressing member, a driving member, a heater and an electromagnetic assembly. The driving member is configured for driving the first pressing member and the second pressing member to move toward or away from each other. The heater is configured for heating one of the first and second walls, and the electromagnetic assembly is capable of generating a magnetic field to attract the second wall to create additional pressure. |
| US08567467B2 |
Process and apparatus for producing composite structures
A process and apparatus for producing perforated composite structures, such as acoustic skins suitable for aircraft engine nacelle and duct components. The process includes placing a mat member, a non-impregnated fabric member, and a resin film on a tool surface so that pins disposed on the mat member project through the fabric member and resin film to define holes therein. The fabric member is between the mat member and resin film, and the fabric member and resin film define a stack that conforms to the mat member and tool surface. A caul member is then placed on the stack so that apertures in the caul member are penetrated by the pins. The stack is heated to melt the resin film and cause molten resin to infuse the fabric member and yield a resin-infused fabric stack, after which the molten resin within the resin-infused fabric stack is at least partially cured. |
| US08567465B2 |
Self-supporting pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass with a reinforcing ply structure extending between a pair of bead portions and a pair of sidewalls, a tread, a belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of the carcass and radially inward of the tread, and two inserts. Each insert is located in each sidewall. Each sidewall is located radially outward of one of the pair of bead portions. Each insert has a first material and a second material. The first material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the second material. |
| US08567464B2 |
Low noise pneumatic tire
Provided is a low noise pneumatic tire in which the noise absorbing member on the inner peripheral surface of the tire is made less likely to be damaged when the pneumatic tire is removed from the rim. The pneumatic tire includes a noise absorbing member of a porous material which is attached to an inner peripheral surface of the tire. In the pneumatic tire, a lubricant is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the noise absorbing member. Alternatively, both end portions, in a tire width direction, of the inner peripheral surface of the noise absorbing member are covered with protective layers harder than the noise absorbing member. |
| US08567463B2 |
Semi-hollow pneumatic tire and associated wheel rim, notably for agricultural machinery
A pneumatic tire of the semi-hollow type includes a casing having an uninflated inner volume and including an inner wall provided with a retaining bead and a convex outer wall forming the tread of the tire, the inner wall and the outer wall of the tire being connected by two annular borders. The inner wall of the tire is concave so as to surmount a convex outer wall of the peripheral seat of a rim of a wheel, this outer wall being provided with a peripheral slot adapted to accommodate the retaining bead of the tire. |
| US08567457B2 |
Collapsible funnel with integral cap for filling vehicle fluid reservoir
An apparatus for a vehicle having a fluid reservoir fillable with fluid from a container includes a fill tube that empties into the reservoir. A funnel is fixed to the fill tube. The funnel collapses to a stowed position and extends to a use position. The funnel collapses and extends only outside of the fill tube. A cap is connected to the funnel and seals the fill tube opening when the funnel is in the stowed position. The cap is removable from the fill tube opening and has an extension that opens a seal of the container when the funnel is in the use position to permit filling of the reservoir through the funnel and the fill tube. |
| US08567456B1 |
Attachable funnel with internal strainer
An attachable funnel with internal strainer is used to transfer and strain fluids, such as used cooking oil, from one container to another container for storage and reuse. The funnel includes an insertable screen strainer to filter out food particles and other contaminants from the contaminated fluid. The base of the funnel includes a collar having a plurality of threaded attachment rings to allow the funnel to be screwed onto a storage container. The threaded attachment allows the funnel to remain securely in place on a mouth of the container without risk of tipping or spilling. Integral vent tubes are provided to allow air to escape from the container. |
| US08567454B2 |
Active sterilization zone for container filling
An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temperature in an active sterilization zone utilizing an e-beam sterilization unit. |
| US08567453B2 |
Apparatus, methods, components, and systems for assembling and/or inflating a tire-wheel assembly
An apparatus for processing an un-inflated tire-wheel assembly for forming an inflated tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least a first robotic arm and a second robotic arm forming a pair of robotic arms; an assembling end effecter attached to the first robotic arm; and an inflating end effecter attached to the second robotic arm, wherein the assembling end effecter is indirectly interfaceable with the inflating end effecter by way of the un-inflated tire-wheel assembly. One or more methods are also disclosed. One or more components are also disclosed. One or more systems are also disclosed. |
| US08567449B2 |
Systems and methods for locating and restoring service lines in pipeline rehabilitation
Embodiments of the present invention include a system for locating and restoring service lines during pipeline restoration. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the system includes a movable chart, a plug with a marking magnet, and an attachment part. In some embodiments of the present invention, the movable cart is deployed along the inside of a pipeline. In some embodiments, the attachment part is movably coupled to the movable cart. The attachment part is configured to install a plug into the service line at a location where the service line intersects the pipeline, according to some embodiments. In other embodiments, the attachment part is configured to mark the location of the plug in the service line and remove the plug from the service line to restore a fluid connection between the service line and the pipeline. |
| US08567442B2 |
Soft start device for pneumatic systems and method for the operation of a soft start device
In a soft start device for pneumatic systems comprising a primary inlet where compressed air can be supplied at primary pressure, wherein the primary inlet is, via a valve circuit, connected to at least one secondary outlet which can be coupled to a load and where compressed air can be discharged at secondary pressure, the secondary pressure being lower than or equal to the primary pressure, wherein a main valve is installed between the primary inlet and the secondary outlet, a restrictor device being installed in the bypass, wherein the main valve and the restrictor device together with further directional valves of the valve circuit are interconnected such and the valve circuit can be switched into a standard switching position for venting such that the secondary outlet is vented, the valves of the valve circuit are interconnected such that several further switching positions for venting are possible. |
| US08567440B2 |
Solenoid operated valve
A solenoid operated valve is provided for controlling liquid or gaseous media, the valve comprising at least two media ports opened and closed by an armature and a solenoid with a yoke and a coil, wherein the armature includes a magnetizable material is movably arranged inside a valve body housing having a non-magnetic material, wherein the media ports empty into the valve body housing, and wherein the valve body housing is arranged between the yoke and an additional element for magnetically interacting with the armature. |
| US08567435B2 |
Centreline flow valve
A valve (10) is disclosed. The valve (10) has an inclined valve seat (14) defining a fluid aperture (18), and a valve head (20) for contact with the valve seat (14) for closure of the fluid aperture (18). A lever arm (22) is attached to the valve head (20). There are biasing means (32) operatively coupled to the lever (22) arm for urging the valve head (20) into contact with the valve seat (14), the biasing means (32) being arranged to provide decreased biasing on opening of the valve head (20) relative to the fluid aperture (18). |
| US08567434B2 |
Closing and sealing means for air admittance valves in sanitary waste water pipe systems
The closing and sealing device for use in air admittance valves includes a valve housing (10) designed to be connected to the waste water pipe system, an upper cap (14) and a valve closing and sealing device which includes a fixed valve seat (22) and a movable closing member (24). The housing (10) includes at least one passageway (16) in communication with the surrounding atmospheric air, and at least one passageway (18) in connection with the inner space (19) of the sewage system, each of the passageways being in contact with the movable closing member (24). The closing device includes a rigid movable closing member in the shape of a poppet valve (40) having an inverted bowl shaped central part (42) provided, at its periphery, with an inverse angled conical surface (44) extending upwards and designed to co-operate with the sealing device which includes a fixed valve seat (22) having an upper edge provided with a soft annular seat (50) presenting a thin annular cantilever lip (52) extending towards the center of the seat (22). |
| US08567429B2 |
Faucet with a replaceable control valve
A faucet capable of accepting different types of control valves includes an adapter disk, whereby a precise ceramic control valve can be mounted to the faucet. When the faucet is used alone without the adapter disk, a safety control valve can be mounted in the faucet. In this way, the faucet can accept two different kinds of control valves, thereby increasing the functionality thereof. |
| US08567428B2 |
System for supplying fertilizers via irrigation water
Using as a raw material solid fertilizer housed in a tight container (1) with a hermetic closure and having a container holder in which said container can be housed in a tight-fitting manner, connected to a bypass (10-11) of the general irrigation pipe (13), such that the water diverted by said bypass penetrates the container (1), dissolves the fertilizer and exits in order to be directed back to the irrigation pipe, the invention is focused on providing a pressure regulator assembly, based on a pressure controller (23), a check valve (24), a safety valve (25) and a small pipe which opens out into a normally closed depressurization valve (26), this pressure regulator feeding a “Venturi” type fertilizer solution injector element (27), which is also connected to the upper portion of the container holder for the evacuation of air (39). A constant working pressure during the injection is thus achieved, it being furthermore possible for the injection flow rate to be regulated as desired through an injection regulator valve (12) established in the sector of the irrigation pipe (13) comprised between the branches (10) and (11) forming the bypass. The danger that the pressurized compressible fluids (38-39) may involve is also eliminated. |
| US08567427B1 |
Blowout preventers using plates propelled by explosive charges
Blowout preventer blocks, each having a channel and plate(s) to close it. The blocks are placed over a pipe through which oil or other fluid is escaping, so that the pipe is in their channels. Alongside the channel in each block are one or more plates, having diameters somewhat larger than the diameter of the channel. Explosive charges propel the plates into the channel to seal it off and stop the leak. When multiple blocks and/or multiple plates in a block are placed over a pipe, the assembly may be referred to as a “Christmas tree.” There are passages that allow the plates to move into place to block the channel. Leading edges of the plates act as male elements that engage female reciprocal ends of the passages to create a seal. Grooves and tunnels in the plates allow fluid to escape into the pipe to ensure a seal. |
| US08567422B2 |
Umbrella
The present invention relates to an umbrella including: a shank consisting of an outer tube coupled with a handle and inner tube secured within the outer tube; an auxiliary rib fixing member and a main rib fixing member arranged on the top of the outer tube and of the inner tube, respectively; a rib assembly consisting of a plurality of auxiliary ribs and main ribs rotatably assembled to the auxiliary rib fixing member and the main rib fixing member; an operating slit extending in the vertical direction on the handle and opposed to the outer tube; an operating handle moving in a vertical direction along the outer tube and is assembled to the inner tube by a pin inserted through the operating slit; an operating button mounted on the handle is elastically supported by a spring, and has a stopper protrusion inserted into the operating slit; and a stopper hole formed below the operating handle at the position matched to an upper head center and a lower dead center where the inner tube elevates, and which is selectively coupled with the stopper protrusion of the operating button. |
| US08567421B2 |
Method and system for uniformly applying a multi-phase cleaning solution to a substrate
An apparatus used to supply a force onto a cleaning solution for processing a substrate for cleaning surface contaminants is disclosed. The apparatus includes a force applicator and a gate. The force applicator is configured to be adjusted to a first height off the surface of the substrate. The gate is positioned adjacent to a trailing point of the force applicator and is configured to be adjusted to a second height off of the surface of the substrate to enable planarization of the cleaning solution as the solution moves to the trailing point. |
| US08567420B2 |
Cleaning apparatus for semiconductor wafer
A cleaning apparatus for a semiconductor wafer includes: a gas jet device including a gas nozzle which jets a first gas onto the surface of a semiconductor wafer to thin the thickness of a stagnant layer on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; and a two-fluid jet device including a two-fluid nozzle which jets droplet mist onto a region where thickness of the stagnant layer of the semiconductor wafer is thinned, the droplet mist being mixed two-fluid of a liquid and a second gas. |
| US08567419B2 |
Evaporation material cleaning apparatus
An apparatus capable of cleaning a material includes pipes arranged in a first barrel; and through holes defined in a second barrel. The second barrel is received in the first barrel. The apparatus further includes a driver comprising a drive shaft, the drive shaft extending through the first barrel and being connected to the second barrel. A fluid container is included store fluid, an air controller is provided air-dry the material. Before washing the material, the second barrel is driven by the driver to cause each of the through holes to disengage from a corresponding pipe. After washing the material, the second barrel is driven by the driver to cause each of the through holes to engage with the corresponding pipe. |
| US08567415B2 |
Hair styling apparatus
Hair styling apparatus including a first arm comprising a first heatable element, a second arm comprising a second heatable element, said second arm being connected to said first arm in such a way to allow the opening and closure of the apparatus by respectively moving said arms away and close one to each other; temperature regulators, associated to said heatable elements, comprising a heat source and a temperature sensor for regulating the temperature of said heatable elements; characterised in that it also comprises compensators, operatively connected to said temperature regulators, for compensating temperature drops to which said heatable elements are subjected when styling a hair lock. |
| US08567413B2 |
Hair addition for providing bump up effect
Devices having real or synthetic hair that are worn on a user's head to complement, accent, or otherwise alter the appearance of the user's hair are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a hair addition for providing a bump up effect includes a foundation, a plurality of attachment members coupled to the foundation for attaching the foundation to a wearer's hair, a plurality of hair strand retention members spanning the foundation, and a plurality of hair strands coupled to the hair strand retention members and collectively concealing the foundation, the attachment members, and the hair strand retention members. The foundation has an outer frame and a plurality of shaping strips. The outer frame defines front and rear sides and opposed ends. The shaping strips extend from the front side to the rear side, and each shaping strip is bendable and retains its form until further manipulated. |
| US08567409B2 |
Method and instruments for treating GERD
The invention relates surgical abdominal methods of treating a reflux disease in a patient by implanting a movement restriction device that, when implanted in a patient, restricts the movement of the stomach notch in relation to the diaphragm muscle preventing the cardia to slide up through the diaphragm hiatus opening. Also disclosed is a laparoscopic instrument for providing a movement restriction device to be invaginated in the stomach fundus wall of a human patient to treat reflux disease. |
| US08567407B1 |
Internal pressure therapy apparatus
A hydraulic device that includes a membrane-covered walled enclosure that enables control of pressure against a body part to be controlled through desired fluid addition or removal from the enclosure. Through pressure control of the membrane a desired traction force is applied to prevent injuries or therapeutically treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and skin disorders. |
| US08567405B2 |
Fixation device
This invention relates to a fixation device and a method for immobilizing a head of a patient relative a treatment unit or medical device during treatment of the head. The fixation device is provided with an interface unit adapted to be fixated in relation to an adaptor unit for connection to the treatment unit, or to a frame for connection to the medical device. Furthermore, the fixation device is provided with a bite-block for being inserted into a mouth of a patient and a positioning arrangement movably connecting the bite-block to the interface unit. The positioning arrangement is adapted to be fixated by means of an adhesive for fixation of the bite-block such that the head of a patient can be immobilized relative said adaptor unit or frame. |
| US08567403B1 |
Biochemical agent filter using ultraviolet irradiation on nanoparticle-embedded ionic grids
A system includes an ultraviolet light source, such as light-emitting diodes, disposed between a first ionic grid and a second ionic grid. The first and the second ionic grids have opposite ionic charges and a plurality of silver nanoparticles disposed thereon. The ultraviolet light source is configured to emit, onto the first and the second ionic grids, ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of between about 100 nm and about 280 nm. A biochemical detector may be located adjacent to the first ionic grid on a side of the first ionic grid opposite the ultraviolet light source. The ultraviolet light source, first ionic grid, and second ionic grid may be located within a housing connected to a gas mask, and a membrane filter may be disposed between the gas mask and housing. The housing may include a power source connected to the ultraviolet light source. |
| US08567398B2 |
Pressure support system and method
A pressure generating system and method for generating a flow of fluid at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The system includes a pressure generator and a valve that controls the pressure/flow of gas delivered to the patient. The system monitors energy provided to the valve, a characteristics associated with movement of the valve, a position of the valve, or any combination thereof. In addition, the controller controls an operating speed of the pressure generator such that the valve operates over a majority of the range of positions during use of the pressure support system. |
| US08567397B2 |
Methods for battery power management of positive airway pressure apparatus
Methods relating to the power management of positive airway pressure apparatus using a battery are disclosed herein. The methods, in various aspects, are adapted to prolong the delivery of a positive airway pressurized therapy when the positive airway pressure apparatus is operated under battery power. |
| US08567395B2 |
Inhaler device for administering medicaments through the respiratory tracts
An inhaler device for administering medicaments through the respiratory tracts comprises a disposable or single-use assembly including a heat source which can be actuated by a user for vaporizing a liquid medicament held near the heat source. |
| US08567392B2 |
Electronic anesthesia delivery apparatus
An electronic anesthesia delivery apparatus for mixing a carrier gas and first and second anesthetic agents comprises a chassis having an electronic vaporizer, the vaporizer having a first anesthetic chamber and a second anesthetic chamber retaining the first anesthetic agent and the second anesthetic agent, a carrier gas input port in flow communication with the first anesthetic chamber and the second anesthetic chamber, a precision orifice and an electronic control valve corresponding to each of the chambers being downstream of the gas input port, each of the chambers having a conduit in flow communication with the carrier gas input port, each of the conduits extending into each of the chambers below an upper level of anesthetic agent, wherein the carrier gas passes through a porous diffuser near an end of the conduit and bubbles through the anesthetic agent, the chamber further comprising an anesthetic gas outlet port, an electronic touchscreen display for controlling carrier gas flow rate to the first anesthetic chamber and the second anesthetic chamber, the electronic touchscreen display further allowing control of concentrations of the anesthetic agent in an anesthesia to a patient by intermittently opening and closing of the electronic control valve, a circuit board having an input/output portion, the circuit board in electronic communication with the electronic touchscreen display, the input/output portion receiving temperature of the anesthetic agent, the electronic anesthesia delivery apparatus allowing use of a first anesthetic agent while a second anesthetic agent is one of either replaced or substituted in the second chamber. |
| US08567391B2 |
Heat and moisture exchanger, heat and moisture exchanging device, and mask
A heat and moisture exchanger configured to be located between a respiratory system of a patient and an anesthesia circuit connected to an anesthesia apparatus, or a respiratory circuit connected to a respirator for maintaining a temperature and humidity of an aspired gas required to a patient under anesthesia or artificial respiration comprises a heat storage carrier material, and a moisture absorption and release material added to the heat storage carrier material. In the heat and moisture exchanger, at least one of density of the heat storage carrier material, number of cells of the heat storage carrier material, and an added amount of the moisture absorption and release material in the heat storage carrier material is set to decrease from the patient side to the side of the anesthesia apparatus or the respirator, along a flow direction of a respiratory gas in the heat storage carrier material. |
| US08567389B2 |
Anesthesia system
An anesthesia system is provided including an anesthesia apparatus, an anesthetic dispenser with an anesthetic reservoir, at least one dispensing parameter detection means, a contactless interface between the anesthesia apparatus and the anesthetic dispenser for transmitting data, especially the dispensing parameters, and for supplying the at least one dispensing parameter detection means with energy. The data and energy transmission takes place by means of electromagnetic field forces. |
| US08567386B2 |
Self-powered air circulating device for use in connection with a radiant heat oven
A thermoelectric powered air circulating device for use in connection with a conventional radiant heat oven operates to circulate heated air within the oven to promote convection cooking therewithin that otherwise would not be possible without the device. The device includes a container having a quantity of fluid therein, a thermoelectric device, a first heat exchange structure connected to the thermoelectric device and configured to conduct heat between the thermoelectric device and the quantity of fluid, a second heat exchange structure connected to the thermoelectric device and configured to conduct heat between the thermoelectric device and the heated air with the oven space, and an electric fan operably connected to the thermoelectric device to receive electrical power therefrom. A temperature differential in the thermoelectric device causing the thermoelectric device to generate electrical energy to power the electric fan, thereby resulting in the circulation of the heat air within the oven space. |
| US08567382B2 |
Bow stabilizer with integrated adjustable accessory mounting rails
A bow stabilizer/vibration dampener incorporating one or more attachment rails for mounting a variety of accessories to the stabilizer for use in conjunction with the bow or other target sighting device. The rails are adjustable side to side at their ends and are preferably of the picatinny or weaver rail configuration. Anywhere from one to four (or more) accessory rails may be positioned symmetrically or asymmetrically on the stabilizer. In addition, the invention anticipates application of the adjustable rail structures positioned in other locations on the bow. |
| US08567381B2 |
Bowstring sound dampener
A bowstring sound dampener is disclosed. The dampener comprises a sleeve and a piston. The sleeve is generally cylindrical with a frustoconical first end adapted to threadedly receive a mounting rod for connecting the dampener to a bow. The sleeve comprises a second end which is flared outwardly with a pair of generally V-shaped grooves formed diametrically therein creating a pair of diametrically opposed arms. The sleeve is configured to matingly receive the piston therein. The piston is formed as a generally cylindrical member having a pair of grippers extending therefrom on one end with a groove formed therebetween. The grippers flare outwardly from the piston in a diametrically opposed configuration and are mounted to the piston such that the grippers move inwardly when the piston enters the sleeve, thereby grasping the bowstring, and outwardly when the piston exits the sleeve, thereby releasing the bowstring. |
| US08567379B2 |
Firing linkage mechanism for toy submachine gun
A firing linkage mechanism for submachine gun includes a link biasable forwardly following a forward displacement of a firing pin and an air plug upon striking of a hammer against the firing pin and forcible to return the firing pin and the air plug after the striking action of the hammer, and a stop rod for engaging the link to hold the link, the firing pin and the air plug in position and to stop the link from returning the firing pin and the air plug after the striking action of the hammer and movable by a counterweight set to release the link for stopping a compressed gas from flowing out of a magazine into a bolt when the counterweight set is moved along oblique sliding rail portions of sliding rails in the submachine gun. |
| US08567376B2 |
Projectile launching device
A projectile launcher includes an acceleration rail with an accelerator mounted on opposite sides of the rail. Each accelerator includes an elastomeric energy generator having an end that is held stationary, while another end is connected to a string. This string then passes over a series of pulleys and crosses over the rail into the other accelerator. Thus, both accelerators act on the same string. In operation, as the string is pulled back and engaged with the projectile on the acceleration rail, the elastomeric drives are stretched. Also, each series of pulleys effectively causes a velocity multiplication that enhances the momentum of the projectile when it is launched. |
| US08567371B2 |
Throttle auto idle with blade brake clutch
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for automatically adjusting a speed of an engine in response to the loading on the engine. In particular, an automatic idle system and method can comprise a governor linkage with a first end for connection to the rotatable shaft of an engine governor and a second end for connection to a throttle control of the engine, and an actuator connected to the second end of the governor linkage. The actuator can be movable in response to a load on the engine to move the governor linkage from a base position to an adjusted position. In this arrangement, when the engine is in a low-load state, the governor linkage can be moved toward a throttle-closed position. |
| US08567369B2 |
Spark ignited radical injection system
A system, including, a free-radical ignition system, that includes a pre-combustion chamber configured to combust a first fuel-air mixture to generate a flame, a shockwave, and free radicals, an injection passage configured to inject the free radicals driven by the shock wave from the pre-combustion chamber toward a combustion chamber, and a quench system configured to extinguish the flame in the pre-combustion chamber or the injection passage. |
| US08567366B2 |
Engine manifold with modular runners
An intake manifold assembly for an internal combustion engine that has a modular construction and includes a base member, a runner, and a shell, wherein the base member removably attaches to the engine, and the runner and the shell each separately and independently removably attach to the base member. In another aspect, the assembly further includes a fastener for attaching the runner to the base member, wherein the shell is formed so as to retain the fastener between the shell and the base member when the shell is attached to the base member. In another aspect, the assembly further includes a bumper affixed to a surface of the base member, wherein the bumper abuts a surface of the internal combustion engine. In another aspect, the base member includes a sealing ridge that mates with a sealing groove provided on the shell. |
| US08567358B2 |
Environmental friendly two stroke engine
This is mainly a one-cylinder environmental friendly two stroke engine with a lubrication and a gas control mechanism similar to a four stroke engine. An additional rotation inside of a cylinder of a piston making a stroke motion is utilized for a better gas control mechanism. Control edges on the rotating piston open and close ports in the cylinder in the right sequence, most importantly the exhaust port will be closed prior to the opening of the transfer port. The piston with the rigidly connected L-shaped piston rod rotate around the axis of symmetry of the piston by a rotating spherical bearing rigidly, but eccentrically connected to a rotating shaft. A certain angle between the shaft and the axis of rotation of the piston creates also a stroke motion. An oil-ring around the piston rod works in the same way as by a four stroke engine. |
| US08567357B2 |
Coolant circuit for an internal combustion engine
A coolant circuit for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder crankcase with at least two opposing cylinder banks, and cylinder heads associated to the cylinder banks, includes a first subcircuit for cooling the cylinder crankcase and a second subcircuit in separate parallel relationship to the first subcircuit for cooling the cylinder heads. A coolant pump circulates a coolant at least temporarily between a main heat exchanger and the cylinder heads and/or cylinder crankcase. At least one check valve is arranged in the first subcircuit to allow a flow of coolant through the cylinder banks only in a direction from an intake side to an exhaust side. |
| US08567355B2 |
Integrated control system and method
An integrated control system for use with an engine connected to a generator providing electrical power to a switchgear is disclosed. The engine receives gas produced by a gasifier. The control system includes an electronic controller associated with the gasifier, engine, generator, and switchgear. A gas flow sensor monitors a gas flow from the gasifier to the engine through an engine gas control valve and provides a gas flow signal to the electronic controller. A gas oversupply sensor monitors a gas oversupply from the gasifier and provides an oversupply signal indicative of gas not provided to the engine. A power output sensor monitors a power output of the switchgear and provide a power output signal. The electronic controller changes gas production of the gasifier and the power output rating of the switchgear based on the gas flow signal, the oversupply signal, and the power output signal. |
| US08567353B2 |
Assemblies and methods for securing a riser brace
An assembly for securing a riser brace to a riser pipe includes brackets configured to engage a yoke of the riser brace and clamp bands that are configured to extend around the riser pipe and connect to the brackets. The assembly also includes a connection that connects the assembly as a unit and is configured to adjust the tightness of the assembly around the riser pipe and riser brace. |
| US08567350B2 |
Dog boot
A dog boot is provided comprising a generally vertical and cylindrical elongated tubular legging portion ending in and connected to a toe-box portion both of which are attached within a generally horizontal non-slide sole portion. The legging portion extends upwardly from the toe-box portion and defines an offset longitudinal slit providing adjacent, opposite, overlapping flap portions that are equipped with loop and hook fastening material allowing for ease of insertion and extraction of the dog's leg and paw. The generally tubular legging portion has two adjustable fastening straps for cinching the legging portion securely at two separate points around the dog's leg. Within the non-slide portion is a removable sole insert shaped to receive the pads of the dog's paw wherein the removable sole insert works as a shock absorber for the dog and adds comfort and stability during wear. |
| US08567347B2 |
Pet cooling bed
A thermodynamic pet cooling station that uses conductive properties to transfer cold temperatures from a cooling element contained within an insulated base to the surface of a platform tile, creating an efficiently cooled area where an animal my rest when he/she is subjected to dangerously hot weather. The pet cooling station is thermodynamically cooled using three integral components: a molded insulated base, structural platform tiles made from a conductive metal comprised of a planar surface with temperature-transfer cases affixed to their underside, and cooling pods, that can be pre-frozen and are reusable, containing a non-toxic liquid that is housed in either a similar conductive metal or a durable membrane that will hold its shape and efficiently transfer the frozen temperature to the temperature-transfer cases allowing thermodynamics to follow the specific pathway of interconnected metal and move the cold temperature up and across the structural platform planar surface in an efficient manner. Once the frozen cooling pods are inserted into the temperature-transfer cases, and the structural tiles are lowered into the insulated base, the unit creates several hours of an efficiently cooled surface for the animal to enjoy without any human intervention. |
| US08567344B2 |
Method of and device for milking a dairy animal dependent on the lactation periods
The invention provides a milking device having at least one teat cup connectable to a teat of a dairy animal, and a method of controlling the milking device. A measuring sensor measures the amount of milk secreted. Data regarding the dairy animal are collected in a control unit. The method includes the steps of: providing a milking frequency determined in a first manner at a first lactation phase and a milking frequency determined in a second, different manner at a later, second lactation phase, for example, the stimulation phase and the stable phase, respectively, wherein the first manner results in a higher milking frequency than the second manner in the same circumstances; identifying a dairy animal and determining the associated milking frequency; milking the dairy animal dependent on the milking frequency; determining the milk production; and switching from the first to the second lactation phase, dependent on the milk production. |
| US08567337B2 |
Flag pole device
A flag pole device includes a pole, an upper rotary barrel and a lower rotary barrel rotatably mounted on the pole for securing a flag, and a connection rod connected between the upper rotary barrel and the lower rotary barrel. The upper rotary barrel and the lower rotary barrel each have a side column at the periphery, which has a through hole for receiving the connection rod. The connection rod has opposing flat top and bottom end portions disposed in the same plane and respectively inserted through a flat bottom hole portion of the through hole of the upper rotary barrel and a flat top hole portion of the through hole of the lower rotary barrel and positioned in a respective crossed hole portion and stopped at a respective step in the side column of the upper rotary barrel and the side column of the lower rotary barrel, assuring synchronous rotation of the upper rotary barrel and the lower rotary barrel and avoiding tangling of the flag on the pole. |
| US08567335B2 |
Deployment and retrieval of floatable objects
A ship s fender system and method of deployment and retrieval comprising a group of fenders (12) linked together to lie on the surface of the water adjacent a ship s hull (11) with hauling lines (14) connected by davits (15) to winches to lower and raise the fenders. Each hauling line (14) is connected to its respective fender by a two-part ball and tape connector so that connection and release of the hauling lines (14) is carried out automatically and remotely thus avoiding the need for the conventional hazardous procedure whereby the lines are connected and disconnected manually by a crew in a boat. The system may be used to deploy and retrieve other floatable objects such as working platforms or submersible vehicles. |
| US08567334B1 |
System for aiding line handling when docking a boat or other vessel
A boat docking device, for use with a boat, a dock adjacent to a body of water, and dock lines each having a fixed end secured to the dock, and a free end. The docking device has a mast that is secured to the dock, and an arm that is secured to the mast and is selectively pivotable between an extended position substantially perpendicular to the dock, and a retracted position substantially parallel to the dock. The arm has a lower surface having a plurality of clips for holding the dock lines as they extend substantially parallel to the arm along the lower surface with the free end of dock lines available at the distal end so when the arm is extended perpendicular to the dock and over the body of water, the boater can grab the free end before the boat reaches the dock. |
| US08567326B2 |
Secondary air seeder assembly and system using the same
A secondary air seeder assembly for depositing seed along the tire tracks formed by an air seeder cart and system comprising the same is provided. The secondary air seeder assembly includes includes first and second elongated and parallel main frame members, each having a terminal forward end and a terminal down turned rearward end. First and second elongated and parallel transverse frame members are connected to and extend between the first and the second main frame members at a longitudinal spaced distance from one another. Two forward caster wheels, one is connected at each terminal forward end of the first and the second main frame members. Two rearward wheels, one is connected at each terminal down turned rearward end of the first and the second main frame members. First and second elongated coupling frame members, are each connected at first end thereof to the first transverse frame member at a spaced distance and connected together at a second end thereof forming a hitch point. A hitch is located at the hitch point. One or more dry material applicator assemblies are connected to the second transverse frame member between the first and the second main frame members. One or more dry material applicator assemblies connected to the first transverse frame member between the first and the second main frame members. |
| US08567323B1 |
Pallet-like base for datacenter equipment racks
An apparatus is described that forms a base resembling a pallet that can be retrofitted onto computer equipment racks, and other datacenter equipment, in order to allow the equipment or equipment rack to be moved with a moving device such as a pallet jack or one or more safe movers. Using a moving device to move items of equipment or and equipment rack allows the equipment or rack to remain fully loaded and in a vertical orientation, to help minimize downtime, minimize equipment damage, and maximize personnel safety. |
| US08567321B2 |
Computer table for a furniture
A fixing device for a table top. The table top having a profile installed into the table top. The profile can be cast-in into the table top, or the table top can be laminated around the profile. The profile includes a through bore having a number of longitudinal grooves. A shaft is arranged to be directed through the bore. A sleeve terminates the shaft at one end. The sleeve includes a number of locking lugs arranged to engage into the grooves of the profile. |
| US08567319B2 |
Gas generator
A gas generator for a restraining apparatus includes a housing, an inner tube member within the housing, an ignition device on a bottom portion of the housing within the inner tube member, a solid gas generating agent in a combustion chamber, and an adsorbent separated from the solid gas generating agent and stored in a cup-shaped container. The container is provided such that a gap is formed between an opening portion of the container and a ceiling portion of the housing or a member in the housing, and a bottom portion side of the container is inserted such that at least a part of an outer circumferential wall surface of the container directly opposes an inner circumferential wall surface of the inner tube member. At activation, the container is moved by an impact and abuts against the ceiling portion of the housing or the member to close the opening portion. |
| US08567317B2 |
Thermal indicators
A thermal indicator using indicia formed by opaque ink applied to a thermal imaging material element is described. The ink is substantially the same color as the imaging element background and remains substantially hidden until the imaging element background changes color when heated. Time-temperature exposure indicating labels can be prepared using a printer with direct thermal type and ink jet type print heads. |
| US08567316B2 |
Method for controlling a temperature of a press and press having a temperature control device
In a method for controlling the temperature of a press which has an applicator roller and a screen roller, the screen roller has its temperature controlled at different temperatures and the applicator roller has its temperature controlled at a constant temperature. In this manner, the choice of the screen roller temperatures can be set individually for each printing unit depending on the optical ink density values which the operator desires. |
| US08567315B2 |
Plate supply and discharge device and printing plate forming device using same
To provide a plate supply and discharge device and a printing plate forming device which are capable of transferring plates and printing plates of various sizes and preventing the plates and printing plates from being damaged in the plate supply and discharge device (printing plate forming device). A plate supply and discharge unit (4) which supplies a plate (P1) to a drawing unit (3), receives a printing plate P2, which is obtained by drawing an image on the plate P1, from the drawing unit (3), and delivers it to a processor. The plate supply and discharge unit includes a plate supply table (41) for allowing the plate (P1) to float at atmospheric pressure, moves the plate (P1) in a state of being allowed to float at atmospheric pressure above the plate supply table (41), and supplies it to the drawing unit (3). |
| US08567312B2 |
Bulk bag conditioning system
A Bulk Bag Material Conditioning System that includes a main conditioner frame and a plurality of bulk bag conditioner assemblies engaged to the upper portion of the main conditioner frame where the bulk bag conditioner assemblies travel a non-linear path, typically on an arcuous path from a bulk bag disengaged position to a bulk bag engaging position. |
| US08567311B2 |
Control logic for applying preservative to agricultural bales
A method and apparatus are provided for applying preservative to agricultural crops during baling. More particularly, a baler has a preservative application system and a crop moisture sensor array. The crop moisture sensor array is in communication with the preservative application system so that the application of preservative to the crop can be controlled in response to a moisture content sensed by the crop moisture sensor array that exceeds both a moisture content threshold value and a threshold value relating to the percentage of crop material having a moisture content above the moisture content threshold value. |
| US08567309B2 |
Hand tool for stuffing pitted or cored produce
A stuffing hand tool for inserting food material into pitted or cored produce items such as olives, figs, strawberries, cherries, which includes a body easily gripped with one hand by a user allowing a tube projecting from one end to be pressed into a mass of food material creating a plug of food material retained in the tube which is stuffed into an item when a plunger is advanced by depressing a pusher cylinder extended out from the opposite end of the body. |
| US08567299B2 |
Pressurized fluid delivery system and method of use
A pressurized fluid delivery system and method that can be used to interrogate objects, such as the interrogation and detonation of IEDs. The system and method entail pressurizing a liquid within a vessel with a compressed gas source so that the liquid within the vessel is at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The pressurized liquid, the compressed gas, or a mixture thereof is then selectively delivered to an outlet, and then discharged from the outlet to physically interrogate the object. |
| US08567293B2 |
Method for cutting through a band encompassing a stack of blanks
A method of severing a band (11) which encloses a blank stack (10), wherein the band (11), preferably in the region of a band station (19), is severed by a cutting means, in particular a knife (23), and is then removed from the blank stack (10). According to the invention, it is provided that the blank stack (10) is pushed together such that the band (11) is spaced apart from the blank stack (10), at least in certain regions, and that the band (11) is then severed in the spaced-apart region by the cutting means. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for implementing the method. |
| US08567292B1 |
Screw removal tool
A tool for loosening and/or unscrewing a screw in an object. The tool includes a frame dimensioned and configured to receive (or be mounted on) an object having at least one screw removably embedded therein. |
| US08567290B2 |
Retrofit system for tethering a hand tool
A retrofit system for tethering a hand tool includes a tool collar having a collar body, a first body end, a second body end, and a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and a tethering tab having a first tab opening and a second tab opening transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tethering tab. The bore of the tool collar has a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area of a first tool portion of the hand tool providing a snug fit of the tool collar on the first tool portion. The second tab opening of the tethering tab being spaced from the first tab opening and the first tab opening having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the first tool portion providing for free rotation of the tethering tab around the first tool portion. |
| US08567287B2 |
Reversible open-ended ratchet wrench
The present invention relates to the field of open-ended wrenches, and more specifically to a dual pawl assembly which can be used within an open-ended ratchet wrench to facilitate a bi-directional ratcheting motion. |
| US08567285B2 |
Mobile robotic vacuum cleaner with a detachable electrical fan
A driving module installed in a base frame having a power socket is disclosed to include a casing detachably affixed to the base frame and defining therein an accommodation chamber, a motor fixedly mounted in the accommodation of the casing and having an output shaft and a power cable extended out of the casing and electrically connected to the power socket, a transmission gear set rotatable by the output shaft of the motor, a transmission shaft pivotally mounted in the casing and having a driving portion drivable by said transmission gear set to rotate the transmission shaft and at least one first toothed face, and at least one rotation shaft pivotally mounted in the casing, each rotation shaft having a second toothed face meshed with the first toothed face and rotatable by the transmission shaft. |
| US08567283B2 |
Vehicle operating pedal device
A vehicle operating pedal device includes an operating pedal having a hollow structure; a reaction force member; a pivotal connecting portion; and a reinforcement member having a form of a flat plate and disposed between paired side walls. Paired through-holes are formed in the paired side walls which have forms of flat plates and are located on both sides in a vehicle width direction, parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the support shaft axis, at positions on a straight line that is substantially parallel to the support shaft axis, in the pivotal connecting portion. A pin insertion hole is formed in the reinforcement member at a position corresponding to the paired through-holes, a connecting pin is inserted through the pin insertion hole, and the reinforcement member is integrally fixed to the paired side walls at a portion on an outer peripheral side of the pin insertion hole. |
| US08567282B2 |
Throttle grip apparatus
A throttle grip apparatus is provided with a throttle grip (1) rotatably mounted on a leading end of a handlebar (H) of a vehicle, a magnet (6) which is integrally rotatable with the throttle grip (1), a detector (13) for detecting variations of a magnetic field of the magnet (6) in a non-contact manner so as to detect a rotation angle of the throttle grip (1), and a frictional device (9, 10) for generating a resistance force during a rotation of the throttle grip (1). The resistance force is variable. |
| US08567277B2 |
Transmission device
A transmission device includes a gear case, a first gear, a second gear and a backlash adjusting mechanism. The first gear, the second gear and a backlash adjusting mechanism are received in the gear case. The first gear includes a shaft. The second gear is meshed with the first gear. Both of the first gear and the second gear are bevel gears. The backlash adjusting mechanism includes a resilient member and fastening member. The fastening member passes through the gear case. The resilient member resists the fastening member and an end of the shaft of the first gear, respectively. An elastic variation of the resilient member is changed or adjusted by the fastening member, such that a backlash between the first gear and the second gear is adjusted via the resilient member. |
| US08567273B2 |
Gear transfer dual clutch transmission
A dual clutch transmission having improved packaging and reduced spin losses provides a five, six or seven forward speeds and reverse. An input shaft includes two or three gears which are in constant mesh with and directly drive associated gears freely disposed on a pair of parallel quills. Synchronizer clutches associated with these driven gears selectively synchronize and connect the gears to the quills which are, in turn, connected to countershafts residing within the quills. Additional gears which are in constant mesh with a pair of ring (output) gears are synchronized and connected to the countershafts by additional synchronizer clutches. Activation of two synchronizer clutches and one input clutch provides a selected gear ratio and transfers torque from the input shaft to the output ring gears. |
| US08567268B2 |
Environmental testing device
An environmental testing device includes a humidity control module, a temperature control module; and an air circulation module. The air circulation module includes an enclosure and a fan received in the enclosure. Two pairs of airflow openings are defined in the enclosure and form different airflow passages that allow air to flow along different directions in the environmental testing device. |
| US08567266B2 |
Method and device for measuring dust concentration in flowing gas
A method and device is provided for measuring dust in a flowing gas, particularly atmospheric air. The device includes an intake nozzle which is configured such that aerodynamic forces continuously position the intake nozzle along the direction of gas flow. The velocity of the measuring stream in the inlet of the intake nozzle is compared with the velocity of gas flowing around the intake nozzle. The possible difference between the measured velocities is compensated by changing the velocity of the measuring stream in a mechanical way such as with a suction pump. |
| US08567264B2 |
Vehicle seat and passenger'S weight measurement device for vehicle seat
The submarine phenomenon can be prevented and the accuracy of a passenger's weight measurement is improved. A vehicle seat includes a pair of fixed lower rails fixed on the floor of a passenger compartment, a pair of movable upper rails that are engaged with the fixed lower rails so as to be slidable in a front-and-rear direction with respect to each of the fixed lower rails, a sub frame which is disposed at an upper side of the movable upper rails, load sensors and that lie between the sub frame and the movable upper rails, brackets and which are disposed so as to erect them on each of the movable upper rails, and a submarine pipe 11 which is crossed between the brackets. The submarine pipe is disposed to be slidable in a left-and-right direction with respect to the right bracket. |
| US08567261B2 |
Device and method for checking the leak tightness of caps on medical hollow bodies
A device for checking the seal-tightness of closure caps on medical hollow bodies has a drive, a retaining element for the hollow body, and a retaining device for the closure cap. The retaining device is pivotably supported relative to the retaining element. The device further includes a sensor for the relative rotation of the retaining device with respect to the retaining element. A torque may be applied to the closure cap by the drive, the retaining element, and the retaining device. A hollow body and a closure cap are gripped by the retaining device and the retaining element from the same side, as viewed along the longitudinal axis of a hollow body. |
| US08567260B2 |
Sensor-equipped bearing for wheel
A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces defined respectively in outer and inner members in face-to-face relation with each other. One of the inner and outer members, which serves as a stationary member, has an outer diametric surface provided with three or more sensor units. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments, fixed to the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in contact with therewith, and one or more strain sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain occurring in the strain generating member. A load estimating section is provided for estimating a radial load and an axial load in the wheel support bearing assembly, from respective output signals of the sensors. |
| US08567257B2 |
Optical tactile sensors
A sensor for sensing pressure is disclosed. The sensor may be a pressure sensor for sensing pressure, or a tactile sensor for sensing tactile events through pressure measurement. In one aspect, the sensor includes at least one pressure sensor having at least one VCSEL on a substrate. It further includes a compressible sensor layer covering a top surface of the at least one VCSEL, and a reflecting element covering a top surface of the sensor layer. A method of manufacturing such a sensor is also disclosed. |
| US08567247B2 |
Three-dimensional wafer-scale batch-micromachined sensor and method of fabrication for the same
A vibratory sensor is fabricated as a three-dimensional batch-micromachined shell adapted to vibrate and support elastic wave propagation and wave precession in the shell or membrane and at least one driving electrode and preferably a plurality of driving electrodes directly or indirectly coupled to the shell to excite and sustain the elastic waves in the shell. The pattern of elastic waves is determined by the configuration of the driving electrode(s). At least one sensing electrode and preferably a plurality of sensing electrodes are provided to detect the precession of the elastic wave pattern in the shell. The rotation of the shell induces precession of the elastic wave pattern in the shell which is usable to measure the rotation angle or rate of the vibratory sensor. |
| US08567244B2 |
Liquid level transducer with isolated sensors
A transducer for determining the level of liquid within a container includes a mounting head adapted for connection to the container and a sensor assembly adapted to extend into the container from the mounting head. The sensor assembly includes a housing having an upper portion connected to the mounting head and a lower portion that extends from the upper portion. The lower portion has a hollow interior that is isolated from liquid within the container. A plurality of sensor elements are located within the hollow interior. A float rod is pivotally connected to the housing and a float is connected to a distal end of the float rod to thereby cause pivoting movement of the float rod in response to a change in liquid level within the container. An actuator is located outside of the housing and is operatively associated with the float rod for pivotal movement therewith. The actuator is operative to change an electrical state of at least one of the sensor elements to thereby indicate a level condition of the liquid within the container. |
| US08567238B2 |
Method for determining the rotation speed of a supercharger in an internal combustion engine
A method for determining the rotation speed of at least one supercharger which compresses the sucked air in an internal combustion engine; the control method, during the normal operation of the internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of detecting, by means of a microphone, the intensity of a sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; determining a frequency content of the sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; identifying the frequencies with maximum amplitude within the frequency content of the sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; recognising the frequencies with maximum amplitude which are each other's multiples or submultiples; and determining the rotation speed of the supercharger using exclusively the frequencies with maximum amplitude which are each other's multiples or submultiples. |
| US08567235B2 |
Tube measurement technique using linear actuator and pressure sensor
An infusion pump uses sensors, movable members and a control unit to determine tubing thickness in a tube-loading section of the pump. The infusion pump utilizes sensors, such as a pressure sensor, to record forces imparted by a tube undergoing no pressure, a single pressure, or a pressure sweep, to determine thickness. Using these values, the tubing wall thickness can be determined. The infusion pump can also compress a tube using a movable member of the pump and records the distance traveled by the movable member to compress fully the tube. Using this distance, the tubing wall thickness can be determined. |
| US08567234B2 |
Gas sensor
A gas sensor, including a cylindrical outer tube; and a seal member disposed therein, the seal member including: a lead wire insert hole and an atmosphere communication hole. The seal member has a groove extending outwards in a radial direction at a rear end-facing surface from the atmosphere communication hole while circumventing the lead wire insert hole, the groove having a cutout toward the front end of the seal member. The gas sensor further includes: a protection portion which covers the atmosphere communication hole; and an arm couples the protection portion and the outer tube, and extends in the radial direction, the arm being at least partially disposed in the groove of the seal member. and the arm is disposed so as to define a gap with the bottom surface of the groove. |
| US08567233B2 |
Gas charge container, atom probe apparatus, and method for analyzing hydrogen position in material
A gas charge container includes a sample holder which holds a needle-shaped material, a deutrium gas supply portion which charges a deutrium gas into the needle-shaped material held by the sample holder, and a heating portion which heats the needle-shaped material held by the sample holder. The needle-shaped material is cooled by blocking the heat generated by the heating portion after the needle-shaped material is heated by the heating portion. |
| US08567232B2 |
Gas sensor using nanotubes
Techniques are generally described for detecting a concentration level of at least one gas. Some example devices may include a sensor including conductive plate on a surface of dielectric including a nanotube layer formed thereon. The conductive plate and the nanotube layer form a resonator that resonates at a frequency in response to an interrogation signal. The nanotube layer may be configured to associate with one or more gas molecules. The frequency at which the resonator resonates may shift according to which gas molecules are associated with the nanotube layer to identify a particular gas. An amount of resonance may be exhibited as a resonant response signal. An amplitude of the resonant response signal may be indicative of the concentration level of the detected gas. |
| US08567225B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing a bent member
A bent member having excellent dimensional accuracy is manufactured by stably forming a high temperature portion uniformly in the circumferential direction of a steel tube and in a narrow region in the axial direction of the steel. The bent member is manufactured by supporting a steel tube at a first position while feeding it, performing induction heating of the steel tube at a second position with an induction heating coil, cooling the steel tube at a third position to form a high temperature portion which moves in the axial direction of the steel tube, and three-dimensionally varying the position of a gripping mechanism for the steel tube in a region to apply a bending moment to the high temperature portion. |
| US08567224B2 |
Stretched metal article having reinforced terminal edge and method of making same
A reinforced wall in a drawn metal workpiece is formed by folding an annular wall back on itself in a punch-driven operation. |
| US08567223B2 |
Method and tool for expanding tubular members by electro-hydraulic forming
An electro-hydraulic forming tool having one or more electrodes for forming parts with sharp corners. The electrodes may be moved and sequentially discharged several times to form various areas of the tube. Alternatively, a plurality of electrodes may be provided that are provided within an insulating tube that defines a charge area opening. The insulating tube is moved to locate the charge area opening adjacent one of the electrodes to form spaced locations on a preform. In other embodiments, a filament wire is provided in a cartridge or supported by an insulative support. |
| US08567222B2 |
Manufacturing method for insulated electric wire and its manufacturing apparatus
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an insulated electric wire and an apparatus for manufacturing an insulated electric wire that can stably manufacture a conductor having a larger sectional width according to desired dimensions as compared to the rolling where the conductor is rolled by a pair of rolling rolls free-rotated, and that can conduct the entire process in a tandem arrangement. |
| US08567221B2 |
Spool lock
A lock for locking adjacent spools that have parallel, non-collinear adjacent axes of rotation has first and second locking plates with spool-engaging surfaces. A locking member connects the locking plates. The locking member is connected to an intermediate position on each of the first and second locking plates. The locking member has a release position and a locking position. In the locking position, the spool-engaging surfaces clamp against adjacent spools. |
| US08567220B1 |
Magnetic lock assembly
A magnetic lock assembly, having a lock assembly; a key assembly; and packaging having at least one wall. The lock assembly mounts exteriorly onto the packaging. A rail assembly has rail members and a transversal member. A plate assembly mounts interiorly within the packaging. The lock assembly has a pin assembly. The lock assembly suspended from the rail members is placed in a locked position, whereby the pin assembly is blocked by the transversal member to prevent removal of the packaging from the rail assembly. The key assembly having a predetermined magnetic force is presented onto the lock assembly to cause the pin assembly to shift from the locked position, to an unlocked position, whereby the transversal member does not block the pin assembly to permit removal of the packaging from the rail assembly. |
| US08567208B2 |
Water chiller
A water cooler has a heat exchanger; a water inlet line through which water is supplied to the heat exchanger and a water outlet line through which the water flows out of the latter; a cooling medium supply line which supplies a cooling medium to the heat exchanger so that in the heat exchanger the water is cooled in the heat exchange with the cooling fluid. |
| US08567207B2 |
Compressor control system using a variable geometry diffuser
A system for controlling a centrifugal gas compressor (108) in an HVAC, refrigeration or liquid chiller system (100) in which flow of gas through the compressor is automatically controlled to maintain desired parameters within predetermined ranges so as to prevent stall and surge conditions within the system. A variable geometry diffuser (119) in the compressor controls the refrigerant gas flow at the discharge of the compressor impeller wheel (201). This arrangement reduces mass flow, decrease/eliminate flow-reducing stall, and increases the operating efficiency of the compressor at partial load conditions. The variable geometry diffuser control in combination with a variable speed drive (VSD) (120) increases the efficiency of the compressor at partial system loads, and eliminates the need for pre-rotation vanes at the inlet of the centrifugal compressor. |
| US08567203B2 |
Air conditioner and defrosting operation method of the same
An air conditioner is provided, in which some of a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers implement a defrosting operation and others implement a heating operation. The air conditioner includes a compressor to compress refrigerant, a hot gas pipe to which a part of the refrigerant compressed in the compressor is moved, a 4-way valve to which the remaining refrigerant compressed in the compressor is moved, an indoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant, having passed through the 4-way valve, undergoes heat exchange with indoor air, and a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers, some of which implement a heating operation as the heat-exchanged refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger is moved therethrough while others implement a defrosting operation as the refrigerant having passed through the hot gas pipe is moved therethrough. |
| US08567200B2 |
Process
Production of concentrated CO2 and electricity from a hydrocarbon feedstock by introducing an air feed stream and a methane fuel feed stream to an autothermal reactor (ATR) to produce synthesis gas, withdrawing a synthesis gas stream from the ATR and heat exchanging with a water stream to produce steam and heat exchanging the synthesis gas stream with a process stream to produce superheated steam. If necessary, steam is introduced to the synthesis gas stream before passing to a shift converter where synthesis gas reacts with steam to generate additional CO2 and H2. A shift converted gas stream is withdrawn from the shift converter and heat exchanged with a process stream to produce superheated steam. The shift converted gas stream is passed to a CO2 separation unit to separate a concentrated CO2 stream from a H2 stream, and the H2 stream is combusted in a gas turbine to produce electricity. |
| US08567196B2 |
Steam turbine power plant and operating method thereof
A steam turbine power plant 10 includes a steam turbine facility 20 in which power is generated by driving steam turbines with steam from a boiler 21 generating steam using combustion heat and steam from a heat collecting steam generator 31 generating steam using sunlight, and a carbon dioxide collecting facility 60 in which carbon dioxide contained in combustion gas from the boiler 21 and the like is collected. Further, steam from the heat collecting steam generator 31 is delivered to a solar heat steam turbine 32 and performs expansion work, and thereafter part of the steam is delivered to the carbon dioxide collecting facility 60 via a pipe 51 and heats the absorbing liquid 100 in the recovery tower 80. |
| US08567193B2 |
Waste heat recovering device
The present invention provides a waste heat recovering device capable of recovering waste heat with good efficiency from various heat sources in an internal combustion engine. The waste heat recovering device for driving an expander 14 by evaporating a working fluid by waste heat of an internal combustion engine 11 includes: a working fluid circulation flow path 15 in which the working fluid of the expander 14 is caused to circulate; a high-temperature heat exchanger 12 for heating the working fluid flowing in the working fluid circulation flow path 15 by a high-temperature fluid such as exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine 11; a low-temperature heat exchanger group 16 having, for each of low-temperature fluids such as cooling water and oil of the internal combustion engine 11, a low-temperature heat exchanger 13a, 13b for heating the working fluid flowing in the working fluid circulation flow path 15 by any one of the low-temperature fluids, the low-temperature heat exchangers 13a, 13b being disposed in parallel with each other; a flow rate control valve 17 that controls a flow rate of the working fluid flowing into each low-temperature heat exchanger 13a, 13b of the low-temperature heat exchanger group 16; and control means 18 for controlling the flow rate control valve 17. |
| US08567191B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling transient engine response
Various methods and systems for operating an internal combustion engine are provided. In one embodiment, an example method for operating an internal combustion engine includes, under a first condition, charging a compressed air storage vessel via a compressor. The method further includes, under a second condition, directly injecting compressed air from the storage vessel to a cylinder of the engine to enhance fuel combustion. |
| US08567188B2 |
Accelerating cooling in active material actuators using heat sinks
An actuator includes a thermally activated active material element, such as at least one shape memory alloy wire, and a heat sink configured to operatively engage the element and accelerate cooling after activation, so as to improve bandwidth. |
| US08567187B2 |
Thermoacoustic engine
A thermoacoustic engine includes first and second stacks disposed in parallel in a looped tube and a heat storage unit disposed in the looped tube. A circuit length between a center of the first stack and a center of the heat storage unit is equal to a circuit length between a center of the second stack and the center of the heat storage unit. A first acoustic circuit including the first stack and the heat storage unit has a circuit length which is equal to a circuit length of a second acoustic circuit including the second stack and the heat storage unit. |
| US08567185B1 |
High efficiency actuator method, system and apparatus
A method, system and apparatus including a mechanism capable of performing a variety of operations, each operation having a respective power requirement and a power source capable of providing power to the mechanism at a variety of different levels corresponding to the operations being undertaken by the mechanism where the power source is regulated to at least provide a first lower power level sufficient for one or more operations requiring a lower power level and is increased to provide a higher power level as needed for one or more alternative operations requiring a higher power level. |
| US08567184B2 |
Energy recovery system in a gas compression plant
A system for recovering energy in a gas compression plant. The system comprises at least one centrifugal compressor configured to suck the gas, at a certain inlet pressure, from a suction conduit and configured to deliver the gas, at a certain outlet pressure that is greater than an inlet pressure, through a delivery conduit The system also includes at least one gas recirculation system configured to redirect the gas from the delivery conduit to the suction conduit when the gas flow rate entering into the compressor is below a certain limit value. In the portion of the plant arranged downstream of the compressor, at least one turbo-expander and at least one valve are installed in parallel so that they cooperate with each other and are controlled by electronic devices so as to protect the compressor and to produce useful energy during recirculation mode. |
| US08567182B2 |
Vehicle exhaust heat recovery system and method of managing exhaust heat
An exhaust heat recovery system (EHRS) for a vehicle is operable to direct exhaust heat to a vehicle transmission under certain operating conditions. In some embodiments, the EHRS may also direct exhaust heat to a heater for vehicle passenger compartment. Preferably, the EHRS is controllable to manage available exhaust heat according to vehicle operating conditions, by prioritizing the heat flow among the engine, the transmission, and the vehicle heater. The EHRS may also operate in a bypass mode during which exhaust heat is not directed to the engine, the transmission or the vehicle heater. A method of managing exhaust heat recovery on a vehicle having an EHRS is also provided. |
| US08567181B2 |
Procedure for metering a reagent and device for implementing the procedure
A procedure for metering a reagent into an exhaust duct of a combustion engine, which is required for a catalytic conversion of NOx in a SCR-catalyzer and a device for implementing the procedure are suggested. Determined is the difference between a calculated and a measured NOx-concentration each downstream after the SCR-catalyzer. The difference is compared to a difference threshold. After an exceeding of the difference threshold a lowering of the metering rate on to a sinking metering rate is undertaken, which is higher than zero. After a waiting time, a comparison of the calculated and the measured NOx-concentration is provided each downstream after the SCR-catalyzer. If the measured NOx-concentration is above the calculated NOx-concentration the metering rate is increased. If the measured NOx-concentration is below the calculated NOx-concentration the metering rate is lowered. The approach according to the invention enables an adaptation of the metering, at which it is ensured that a NOx-conversion can always take place. |
| US08567180B2 |
Reformer unit
A diesel engine having an inlet side and an outlet side provided with at least one inlet valve and one outlet valve per cylinder, comprises a reformer catalyst unit comprising a catalyst located downstream of the outlet valve(s) and located such that a proportion of the hot exhaust passes through the catalyst while the remainder of the hot exhaust passes to a turbocharger and/or to exhaust gas aftertreatment, wherein the catalyst unit is provided with diesel fuel supply means, preferably in the form of a diesel fuel injector, such that diesel fuel may be injected to provide heat to the reformer catalyst to raise it to an effective reforming temperature. The output from the reformer unit may be fed to the inlet side of the engine, and/or may be admixed with the remainder of the exhaust gases prior to catalytic aftertreatment. Improvements in emission control are possible. |
| US08567178B2 |
Positive displacement rotary vane engine
The present invention is an engine, which includes a positive displacement compression process, a variably fueled, continuous combustor and/or heat exchanger, and a positive displacement, work-producing expander. This arrangement avoids the traditional stochiometric mixture requirements utilized in spark-ignition based engines and the emission problems associated with diesel engines. |
| US08567173B1 |
Linkage wear prevention device
A linkage wear prevention device for preventing or fixing wear in a linkage device such as a chain. The linkage wear prevention device generally includes a clip device having a hollow main body with a channel extending therethrough. The clip device is initially C-shaped, with a slot defined by a first end and a second end. The first and second ends each include projections and indentations which act to fuse together the ends of the clip device. When so fused together, the clip device will take on an O-shaped structure which fully encloses around a damaged portion of a linkage. |
| US08567172B2 |
Connecting unit, band and electronic device including band
A connecting unit including an outer frame member having a pair of hole sections, a pair of first connecting sections and long holes for inserting a controller. The connecting unit further includes a holding frame body which includes through-holes at positions corresponding to the long holes, slide members which include a second connecting section which protrudes and retracts from the pair of hole sections and slide in the extending direction of the long holes by slide operation of the controller, elastic members which bias the slide members to an opposite direction of an insertion direction of the controller and a locking member which locks the slide member at a position where connection between the second connecting section and the first connecting section of the adjacent segment members is released. |
| US08567170B2 |
Device and method for creating a planting rope from plant root material
A device for producing a root rope includes a transport path for suspending a carrier line thereabove, root material being deposited on the carrier line. A winding apparatus receives the carrier line and also receives at least one wrapping material. The winding apparatus uses a winding motion to wrap the wrapping material around the root material and carrier line, securing the root material to the carrier line and creating the “root rope.” A reel receives the root rope from the winding apparatus, the reel using a rotating motion to wrap the root rope around the reel. |
| US08567163B2 |
Method for packaging articles
An apparatus for packaging articles, in particular a stack of insulation panels, includes an element for supplying a stack of articles to a transfer position, and an adjustable spout forming a discharge channel having a receiving end and a distal end. The apparatus is further operative to wrap the stack with a packaging foil material, and transfer it into the spout. The adjustable spout comprises at least four spout members which are moveable relative to each other so as to vary the height and the width of the spout. |
| US08567158B2 |
Container end closure with optional secondary vent opening
The present invention relates to an opening device for a beverage container. More specifically, the invention relates to a metal end closure having a primary opening area and at least one optional secondary vent opening which can be opened with the same pull tab. The primary opening area of the metal end closure may be opened by utilizing a pull tab interconnected to a central panel, the pull tab being adapted for applying a downward force to form a first opening. Subsequently, the pull tab is rotated and the tail end lifted to form a second opening in the end closure. |
| US08567154B2 |
Apparatus and methods for mounting a photovoltaic module on a roof
Embodiments of the invention provide systems, devices, and methods for mounting a photovoltaic module to a structure, such as a roof. An embodiment of a method for mounting a photovoltaic module to a structure may include providing a photovoltaic module, a first mounting device, and a second mounting device. The first mounting device and the second mounting device may be coupled with the structure, such as a roofing membrane, so that opposing mounting channels of the respective devices face one another. The method may further include inserting a first edge of the photovoltaic module within the mounting channel of the first mounting device and inserting a second edge of the photovoltaic module within the mounting channel of the second mounting device so that the photovoltaic module is disposed between the first mounting device and the second mounting device. |
| US08567152B2 |
Cushion material fastening structure for interior trim part
A cushion material fastening structure includes: an interior trim part, made of synthetic resin, that is provided with an opening and an elastic deformation portion at least part of which projects inward in the opening; and a cushion material, having a sheet shape, that is caught by the elastic deformation portion by being plunged into the opening while elastically deforming the elastic deformation portion, whereby the cushion material is fastened to the interior trim part. |
| US08567151B2 |
Toggle link deck to building connector
A device for connecting an exterior deck structure to a contiguous building via a bore-hole through the deck ledger and building header retains the deck in place in the event of earthquake or similar stresses. A pair of tension members comprising interlocked tensile links, are encapsulated in a generally cylindrical plastic plug to maintain ½ to 2 inches separation, to provide a thermal barrier. A pivoting toggle pin on the end of one link pivots between a first position aligned with the axis of the link and a second position transverse to the axis. The plastic plug may have an extending lip supporting the pivot pin in axially alignment. The second link may be rigid or flexible, has a sealing member adapted to slide thereon to seal the bore-hole. The second link is adapted to be fastened securely to a joist or other appropriate member of the deck. |
| US08567146B2 |
Method and apparatus for repairing concrete
A composite material used to repair concrete. The composite material includes a first fiber system including at least one fiber layer. Each fiber layer includes a plurality of fibers. The binding material secures together the plurality of fibers. The composite material is positioned and secured in a slot cut in a concrete structure. |
| US08567144B2 |
Low cost roof system and method of constructing the same
Disclosed herein is low cost roofing system. The system includes a roof deck, a sealant material disposed only at all locations on the roof deck that would otherwise be gas and liquid transmissive, insulation upwardly adjacent the roof deck, weight board upwardly adjacent the insulation, and a waterproofing membrane upwardly adjacent the weight board.Further disclosed herein is method for constructing the low cost rapidly installed roof system. The method includes sealing all openings in a roof deck, which without said sealing would allow migration of fluid therethrough, disposing insulation upwardly adjacent the roof deck, disposing weight board upwardly adjacent the insulation, applying sealing compound at a roof edge or penetration extending from the roof deck to a top surface of the weight board, and installing a waterproofing membrane upwardly adjacent the weight board. |
| US08567140B2 |
Façade construction
Such a substructure has vertically and horizontally running profiles which are fastened on a masonrywork wall, cross over one another and have holes. So that there is no need for dimensionally accurate installation, or for holes to be drilled into the profiles at the building site, in order to avoid displacement of a profile when the connection between the profiles is being loosened, both the vertically and the horizontally running profiles have slots, wherein the slots of the vertically running profile cross over the slots of the horizontally running profile, and at least one of the profiles has a channel-like cross section, it being possible for a plate which has a slot to be inserted into the channel, and fixed, at the crossover point of the profiles, the slot of said plate crossing over the slots of the vertically and of the horizontally running profiles and it being possible for the plate to be locked to the profiles by means of a locking component which passes through the crossing-over slots. |
| US08567134B1 |
Snap-in and progressive locking photovoltaic module
A photovoltaic assembly for converting solar radiation to electrical energy is described. The photovoltaic assembly includes a first photovoltaic module, a second photovoltaic module and a coupling platform. The first and second photovoltaic module each have a first side for securing to the coupling platform. The coupling platform has a retractable locking mechanism and a retaining device. The retaining device is positioned such that the first side of the second PV module inhibits the retractable locking mechanism from releasing the first side of the first PV module. The coupling platform also includes a support member for mounting to a tracking drive system or a roof top. |
| US08567131B2 |
Wind turbine tower suspension means
A method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower, whereby the elements are partly or completely attached to the wind turbine tower by means of magnetic attraction forces. Wind turbine suspension units may be attached to the wind turbine tower, preferably completely or partly to the inner wall by means of magnetic attraction forces, which present structure-weakening attachments to the tower or part of the tower. |
| US08567130B2 |
One piece corner fitting
The present invention discloses a one piece corner fitting for a corner section of an eaves trough. The corner fitting of the present invention includes two arms designed to substantially fit within the corner section of the eaves trough, each arm including a back side wall configured to lie substantially adjacent a back side wall of the eaves trough corner section, a front side wall configured to lie substantially adjacent a front side wall of the eaves trough corner section and a bottom surface extending between the back side wall and the front side wall of the corner fitting, said back side wall front side wall and bottom surface forming a channel. |
| US08567129B2 |
Vehicle door control method and system therefor
A vehicle door control method includes operating a vehicle door handle to disengage a door lock device of a vehicle door, beginning to count time upon the operation of the door handle, if the vehicle door has moved from a fully closed position after the door lock device has been disengaged, operating a power assist mechanism to move the vehicle door in an opening direction, if the vehicle door has not moved from the fully closed position, operating the power assist mechanism to urge the vehicle door to move in the opening direction, if the vehicle door moves while being urged by the power assist mechanism, the operation of the power assist mechanism is continued to move the vehicle door in the opening direction, if the vehicle door does not move while being urged by the power assist mechanism, the power assist mechanism is operated in a direction which urges the vehicle door to move to the fully closed position. |
| US08567122B2 |
Vertical hanging fabric plant container
A plant container or planter fabricated from a breathable, flexible, geo-textile, material such as recycled polyester needle-punched felt, which is self-supporting without an internal support structure. The geo-textile material is porous to both air and water, which allows air-born nutrients to pass to the roots and inhibit the ability of mold species to grow and harm the plant. The geo-textile material is configurable to various container designs that permit the non-conventional plant placement including the mounting of the plant containers on vertical surfaces, flat surfaces, and by suspension from ceilings and walls. The inclusion of a flexible, durable, impermeable, water-retaining recycled rubber, vinyl, or plastic bottom and/or backing liner in the construction of the plant containers/hangers allow the planters to be placed on indoor and outdoor surfaces such as wood, stucco, wallboard, carpet, and various other surfaces which might otherwise be damaged by moisture. |
| US08567118B2 |
Belowground tree anchoring apparatus and method
The belowground tree anchoring apparatus (10) includes a blanket (12), a plurality of stakes (16), and a plurality of ties (14). The blanket (12) fits over the root ball (B) at the base of the trunk (R) of the tree (T) and has a center opening and an elongated, radial slit (22) for facilitating this arrangement. The blanket (12) has a plurality of peripheral tie attachment holes, which may be reinforced with grommets. The stakes (16) are driven into the planting hole (H) at the bottom of the hole (H), and each stake (16) is connected to the blanket by a tie (14), and each tie (14) is attached to the blanket (12) at one of the peripheral grommets. When the ties (14) are fully tensioned, the blanket (12) holds the root ball (B) tightly to the ground. |
| US08567115B2 |
Heated roller for control of soil-borne pests such as nematodes, pathogens, fungus, and weeds
An apparatus for controlling or eradicating nematodes or other soil-borne pests having a heated metal roller having surface-mounted blades to heat the soil to a desired temperature and depth sufficient to effect control of the relevant species in the soil under the roller. The roller is heated with one or more burners firing across the surface of the roller. The apparatus further includes a heat exchanger through which the combustion products generated by the burner or burners are exhausted and in which the combustion air is preheated. In accordance with one embodiment, the heat exchanger condenses water vapor in the combustion products which water vapor, together with any water that evaporates from the soil during heating, may be captured and returned to the soil. |
| US08567109B1 |
Luminescent fishing lure with transparent lip
The present invention features a luminescent fishing lure for attachment to a fishing line and attracting fish. In some embodiments, the lure comprises a body having a top portion and a bottom portion. In some embodiments, the top portion is opaque and the bottom portion is transparent. |
| US08567107B1 |
Gun chamber cleaning brush with container
A chamber cleaning brush for a gun chamber may include a generally cylindrical body; at least three groups of bristles spaced axially apart along the body; and a pivot ring disposed on the body between two of the groups of bristles. The body may include a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion with at least one group of bristles disposed on the larger diameter portion and at least two groups of bristles disposed on the smaller diameter portion. |
| US08567103B2 |
Elastic wristband
An elastic wristband with an elongate strip of injection molded resilient thermoplastic material and one or more graphic panels. The elongate strip includes a center portion, a left side portion and a right side portion joined by left and right living hinges. The central portion includes recessed areas for receiving the graphic panels. The central portion of the elongate strip also includes end tabs that are welded together to form a continuous circular band. The band is elastic in nature and can fit over a person's hand and onto a person's wrist to form a decorative wristband. |
| US08567095B2 |
Footwear or orthotic inserts with inner and outer bladders separated by an internal sipe including a media
A footwear or orthotic device, including a footwear or orthotic sole and an insert with an outer bladder having an uppermost surface curved concavely relative to an intended wearer's foot location in the device, as viewed upright and unloaded in a frontal plane. The outer bladder forms a component of the sole. An inner bladder includes a gas located inside and is substantially surrounded on at least the top, bottom and sides by the outer bladder. The outer bladder and inner bladder are separated by an internal sipe including a media. The sipe is formed by an inner surface of the outer bladder and an outer surface of the inner bladder. The surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and the surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other. |
| US08567094B2 |
Shoe construction having a rocker shaped bottom and integral stabilizer
A shoe construction comprising an outsole constructed from a slip resistant material and a wedge shaped cushion member having a rounded and beveled shaped lower surface bonded to the outsole. A midsole body member is bonded to the cushion member having a torsion spring member secured to the midsole body member. The torsion member assists in stabilizing the shoe construction by directing an outer surface of the outsole to a preferred position, while the lower surface is constructed and arranged to provide a curved rocker-like surface whereby the outsole remains in contact with the ground, and requires muscle control, throughout a walking step. |
| US08567088B2 |
Apparatus for drying hoofs on hoofed animals
A hoof drying apparatus. The hoof drying apparatus is specifically sized and shaped to accommodate one or more hoofs of a hoofed animal and dries a bottom, side and top portion of a hoof from the bottom up. The hoof drying apparatus is portable and specifically designed, but is not limited to, drying hooves for the purposes of: hoof wall repair, preparation for medication for hoof diseases and preparation of the hoof for application of hoof dressings and hoof shoes. The hoof drying apparatus can also be used for drying non-hoofed animals. |
| US08567087B2 |
Mop wringer
A mop wringer comprises a housing supporting a first roller and a second roller. The first roller is supported by the housing in a first position where the first roller is spaced from the second roller a first distance and in a second position where the first roller is spaced from the second roller a second distance. The second roller is supported on an arm where the arm moves relative to the housing to move the second roller toward and away from the first roller between a third position and a fourth position. A drive mechanism moves the arm between the third position and the fourth position and rotates the roller in the fourth position. |
| US08567085B2 |
Tape measure with sealable cleaning aperture
A tape measure assembly with a cleaning aperture is disclosed herein and comprises a central spool upon which a measuring tape containing linear markings is coiled and stored. A protective housing or case surrounds the central spool and allows pivotal rotation of the central spool mounted therein. A cleaning aperture is provided through the protective housing to allow access to the measuring tape and spool without disassembly of the protective housing. An easily removable plug is used to seal the cleaning aperture when not in use to preventing ingress of debris through the cleaning aperture. |
| US08567084B2 |
Profile measuring instrument
A coordinate measuring machine includes a probe having a measurement unit, a movement mechanism for moving the probe and a host computer for controlling the movement mechanism. The host computer includes: a compensation-amount calculating unit for calculating a compensation amount for compensating an error in the position of the measurement unit caused by the movement of the probe; and a compensator for compensating the error in the position of the measurement unit based on the compensation amount calculated by the compensation-amount calculating unit. The compensation-amount calculating unit calculates a translation-compensation amount for compensating a translation error of the probe and a rotation-compensation amount for compensating a rotation error of the probe based on a rotation frequency of the movement of the probe. |
| US08567083B2 |
Junction box locator
A locating device to find all hidden utility outlets such as electrical boxes after a wall covering such as gypsum board has been placed there over. The apparatus in one embodiment includes a first body locatable within a junction box proximate a rear surface of a wall covering, said first body having a magnet located therein. A second body locatable proximate a front surface of the wall covering opposite the first body. The second body includes scribing points to mark an indent on the surface of the said wall covering. The apparatus further comprises an elongate member having proximate and distal ends and being pivotally mounted to the second body. The elongate member has a second magnet at the proximate end thereof wherein the distal end is alignable with an alignment indicator when the scribing points on the second body are aligned with the entry point for a cutting tool. |
| US08567081B2 |
Apparatus and method for imaging feet
An apparatus and method for determining contours of a patient's foot. The apparatus includes an alignment section that orientates the foot relative to an optical imaging section. The alignment section includes at least one support member located proximate a focal length of the imaging section, that engages the plantar surface substantially only in the immediate area of the fifth metatarsal head of the foot. The support generates a dorsally-directed load that locks the midtarsal joint. The alignment section further includes a heel stirrup and a laser beam or other reference line for aligning the second metatarsal head with the distal one-third of the lower leg, to place the subtalar joint in a neutral condition. The foot is thus suspended in space such that the imaging section is able to obtain an accurate measurement of the plantar surface without distortion of the soft tissues or bone structure of the foot. |
| US08567080B2 |
Method of measuring and identifying foot arch type
The invention provides a method of measuring and identifying foot arch type according to footprint data. The method includes: obtaining a static standing footprint having a foot contour including lateral and medial contours; obtaining a lateral ball and lateral heel tangent points of the footprint, and a medial ball and a medial heel tangent point of the footprint; obtaining a ball and a heel mid-point; obtaining a foot center axial line and a foot perpendicular bisector; obtaining the length of a foot width Lf as the length of the foot perpendicular bisector, and the width a foot arch La; and calculating a foot type index FTI by dividing the width of the foot arch La by the length of the foot width Lf (FTI=La/Lf), and identifying a foot arch type of the footprint by the foot type index FTI. |
| US08567076B2 |
Geodetic target for a geodetic instrument
A geodetic target for use in geodesy includes a support, a measuring target supported by the support, an identifier supported by the support, and a controller. The identifier includes at least one identification element that is configured to be switchable between at least two optical states and has a first predetermined optical property in one optical state and does not have the first predetermined optical property in a further optical state. The controller is configured to change the state of the at least one identification element. A geodetic measurement instrument includes an identifier detection unit, a measuring unit, and a transmitter configured to address a receiver of the geodetic target and to transmit control commands to the same which effect the change of the optical state of the at least one identification element of the identifier of the geodetic target. A system includes the geodetic measurement instrument and geodetic target. |
| US08567068B2 |
Safety razors
A safety razor blade unit has an upper face, a bottom face, a front and a rear face. A plurality of cutting edges are positioned between a first guard surface and a first cap surface at the upper face. A frame element is formed separately from and connected to the rear face, the frame element has a second guard surface and a second cap surface. An auxiliary blade is supported by the frame element having an elongated cutting edge disposed between the second guard surface and the second cap surface. The elongated cutting edge of the auxiliary blade is directed generally away from the upper face of the blade unit. The second guard surface, the second cap surface, and the cutting edge of the auxiliary blade are at the rear face of the blade unit. |
| US08567067B2 |
Method of manufacturing fluid dynamic bearing mechanism, motor, and storage disk drive
A method of manufacturing a bearing mechanism of a motor includes steps a)-e). In step a), a bearing assembly is assembled. In step b), an upper seal gap between an upper thrust portion and an upper hub annular portion is arranged to face downward to increase the width of a gap between an outer tubular portion and a flange portion, or a lower seal gap between the outer tubular portion and a lower hub annular portion is arranged to face downward to increase the width of a gap between the upper thrust portion and the flange portion. In step c), pressure in all gaps is reduced. In step d), lubricating oil is injected into the upper or lower seal gap which faces upward, and a predetermined time or longer is allowed to pass. In step e), pressure is returned to atmospheric pressure. |
| US08567066B2 |
Aircraft rib-spar joint
A method of forming a rib-spar joint during assembly of an aircraft wing, the method comprising: providing a spar with a fixedly attached rib post, the rib post having a first coordination feature; providing a rib having a web with a first tooling feature; providing a tooling component having a second tooling feature for cooperating with the first tooling feature, a second coordination feature for cooperating with the first coordination feature, and a plurality of drill bushings; fixedly attaching the tooling component to the rib web by aligning the first and second tooling features; aligning the rib with the spar by aligning the first and second coordination features; drilling fastener holes in the rib and the rib post off the drill bushings of the tooling component; removing the tooling component from the rib web; and fastening the rib to the rib post using the fastener holes to form a rib-spar joint. The method may be applied to form front and/or rear rib-spar joints. |
| US08567065B2 |
Method of augmenting a ring
A method of augmenting a ring including the steps of: receiving the ring having markings on the inner surface thereof, creating a setting having a size and position defined by at least one of the markings, and placing a gemstone in the setting. The locations of the markings are determined by considering various factors, including the inner shank circumference, the number of gemstone sizes, and the number of non-marking areas. |
| US08567064B1 |
PCA air hose tension strap
A hose section for use in a modular PCA air delivery system includes a tension strap extending approximately parallel to and away from the body of a first end of the hose section, and a receiver loop formed on the exterior of the second end that receives a part of the strap therethrough so that the strap can be folded back in the direction of the first end, and fastened to the first end thus holding the first hose section to the second hose section when either hose section is pulled. |
| US08567061B2 |
Combustion chamber comprising a cooling unit and method for producing said combustion chamber
A method for producing a combustion chamber includes providing a combustion chamber wall; forming a plurality of milled recesses in the combustion chamber wall, along a longitudinal axis and in an area of the longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis; and forming a cooling channel having a substantially rectangular cross section and opposite web walls inside the combustion chamber wall along the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a flow a cooling medium along the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of milled recesses form depressions in the web walls. |
| US08567060B2 |
Gas turbine rotor assembly method
Methods of assembling a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine having a plurality of components. The method comprises, in one aspect, determining a static unbalance force of each component using the mass and the center of mass location, and determining an optimum assembly arrangement minimizing static unbalance forces. Optimal component stacking positions, among other things, may then be established. |
| US08567058B2 |
Surface finishing of rotor blades for wind turbine
The present invention relates to a method for surface treatment of a wind turbine rotor blade (1) comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge separating substantially opposing first and second surfaces of said rotor blade. The method comprises the steps of providing a wind turbine rotor blade, supporting said rotor blade at least at a root end and at a distal position along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade and providing moveably arranged first and second surface treatment devices (24, 25) adapted to provide surface treatment of the first and second surfaces of the rotor blade, respectively, wherein the first and second surface treatment devices are moved in opposite directions and towards the leading and trailing edges, respectively, during surface treatment of the first and second surfaces of the rotor blade. |
| US08567057B2 |
Motor-compressor unit mounting arrangement for compressors
A method of assembling a compressor, including assembling, first as a subassembly external of the compressor housing, portions of the motor-compressor unit, including a crankcase, mount brackets, stator, outboard bearing assembly, and drive shaft. Thereafter, the motor-compressor unit subassembly is inserted into a first end of the housing, and the housing is shrink-fit around the subassembly. The mount brackets may then be welded to the interior surface of the housing. Once the mount brackets are welded to the housing, the remainder of the components of the motor-compressor unit, including the orbiting scroll member, the Oldham coupling, and the fixed scroll member, are then assembled to the motor-compressor unit subassembly and the housing through a second end of the housing opposite the first end, followed by welding the top and bottom caps to the housing. |
| US08567048B2 |
Method of manufacture of multi-layer wire structure
A structure for wireless communication having a plurality of conductor layers, an insulator layer separating each of the conductor layers, and at least one connector connecting two of the conductor layers wherein an electrical resistance is reduced when an electrical signal is induced in the resonator at a predetermined frequency. |
| US08567045B2 |
Process to manufacture a magnetic write head
As track densities increase, it becomes increasingly important, while writing in a given track, not to inadvertently write data in adjoining tracks. This problem has been overcome by limiting the width of material in the ABS plane to what it is at the write gap. The part of the lower pole that is wider than this is recessed back away from the ABS, thereby greatly reducing its magnetic influence on adjacent tracks. Four different embodiments of write heads that incorporate this notion are described together with a description of a general process for their manufacture. |
| US08567043B2 |
Method of assembling low noise rotor or stator of an electric motor or generator
A stator or rotor of an electric motor or generator comprises a core formed of ferromagnetic material having a plurality of teeth arranged circumferentially about an axis. In one aspect of the invention, at least one retaining member connects the end portions of at least two of the teeth to each other in a manner inhibiting relative movement between said tooth end portions. By inhibiting relative movement between said tooth end portions, vibration is reduced. Vibration can also be reduced by welding interior surfaces of a core to each other. Reducing the vibration reduces the noise emissions of the rotor or stator during operation. |
| US08567039B2 |
Machine tool and process for machining a workpiece
The present invention relates to a machine tool and a corresponding process for machining a workpiece by means of one or more tools controlled by means of control data, the machine tool comprising at least 5 simultaneously controllable axes. A control device being suited to control the tool supported in a support means by means of the control data along a tool path to remove material from the workpiece clamped in a clamping means. The machine tool being suited to machine a first workpiece to provide the first workpiece with a first gearing, the first workpiece being a counter piece to a second workpiece having a second gearing. The machine tool also comprising a test system suited to determine after and/or during the machining of the first workpiece on the machine tool whether a current geometry, in particular a current tooth flank geometry and/or current tooth gap geometry, of the first gearing of the first workpiece differs from a target gearing geometry, in particular from a target tooth flank geometry and/or target tooth gap geometry, of the first gearing of the first workpiece. |
| US08567033B2 |
Method of constructing an articulation joint for steerable medical device
A method of constructing an articulation joint includes forming a metallic tube with a number of rings formed therein. Springs may be secured to the inside surface or outside surface of the rings to allow the joint to bend in directions transverse to the axis of the springs. A fixture may be used to hold the springs at the correct position within the tube and the springs may be urged toward the rings or vice versa to obtain a good bond between the springs and the rings. |
| US08567030B2 |
Apparatus for fastening a mounting rail to a threaded shaft
An apparatus for fastening a mounting rail includes a retaining element comprising a supporting surface for a contact side of the mounting rail, a gripping extension projecting from the supporting surface which engages behind the retaining edge, a first elongated hole disposed transversely to the mounting rail configured to have a threaded shaft pass therethrough, and bracing slopes. A clamping element comprises a second elongated hole disposed transversely to the mounting rail configured to have the threaded shaft pass therethrough, and mating slopes. Nuts engage the threaded shaft. The retaining element and the clamping element are arranged axially between, and are braced together by, the nuts, so that the clamping element and the mounting rail advance toward each another and the mating slopes slide downward on the bracing slopes. The mounting rail is thereby clamped against the gripping extension by the clamping element and is held down on the supporting surface. |
| US08567029B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing a knockout
An apparatus for removing a knockout region from a saw blade includes an elongate body having a center axis. A distal end of the elongate body can include a head, having a concave region, wherein the concave region has a fulcrum section. A slot includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the second surface. The first surface and the second surface preferably are separated be a width greater than the thickness of the saw blade. The slot is positioned rearward of the concave region and is angled at a substantially acute angle relative to the center axis. The concave region is sized and shaped such that the fulcrum section contacts a first face of the saw blade and the slot is sized and shaped such that the first surface of the slot contacts a second face of the saw blade. Preferably, the fulcrum region engages the first region and the slot engages the second portion at the same time. |
| US08567027B2 |
Piezoelectric printhead and related methods
A piezoelectric printhead and related methods provide a first metallic electrode and a second metallic electrode deposited over a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, of a piezoceramic plate. The second electrode is segmented into a plurality of electrode segments. A diaphragm is positioned over a plurality of pressure chambers, where the diaphragm includes a conductor positioned over each chamber. The piezoceramic plate is attached to the diaphragm such that each conductor on the diaphragm faces multiple electrode segments. |
| US08567021B2 |
Method for constructing a product and fastener therefore
A method for constructing a product comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of component parts fashioned from a flexible substrate material and having a flat profile when disassembled; forming apertures in the component parts to establish fastening points for facilitating product assembly, where each aperture has a single-component snap fastener mounted therein; integrally molding each snap fastener to include a female section and a male section; assembling the component parts by removably stackably affixing the fastener male sections of a first component part to the fastener female sections of a second component part, to form a self-supporting, three-dimensional product exoskeleton having flexibly curved surfaces; and returning the component parts to a flat profile upon disengaging the snap fasteners from the product. |
| US08567020B1 |
Clip with retractable levers
A clip having a pair of operating levers slidably interconnected respectively to a pair of jaws joined together by a curved throat, an elongated slot formed on the inner side of each operating lever, a spring pocket formed in the outer surface of each jaw, a spring tab disposed in each pocket with an upstanding resilient stop tab joined to the spring tab and being disposed in the slot. |
| US08567018B2 |
Linkable rope assembly
A linkable loop rope system that includes at least two loop rope assemblies fastened together by a coupling mechanism operable to releaseably couple the rope assemblies for use in securing large and/or irregular shaped objects on a transport vehicle or a tarp or cover on such objects during transport. |
| US08567017B2 |
Two-member assembling structure
A two-member assembling structure in which a clip mounted to a pedestal of an attachment member is inserted into a clip hole of a mating member, the clip includes a pedestal coupling portion coupled to a rib of the pedestal, an engaging arm adapted to pass through the clip hole while undergoing elastic deformation when the clip is inserted into or removed of the clip hole, an engaging surface formed on an outer side surface of the engaging arm and capable of engaging with a hole edge of the clip hole, a stable portion extending from the engaging surface and opposed to the rib of the pedestal so as to be capable of contacting therewith, and a regulating portion protruding toward the rib of the pedestal from a position in the vicinity of the stable portion. As the pedestal of the attachment member, there are prepared at least three kinds of pedestals for low retention, medium retention, and high retention. The rib of the pedestal for low retention is provided with a relief hole allowing entrance of the regulating portion of the clip, and the rib of the pedestal for high retention is provided with a protrusion for receiving the stable portion of the clip. |
| US08567015B2 |
Cable termination system
A cable termination system and method of assembly is provided that clamps strength members of the cable after they have been wrapped around a winding member. The clamping force required is therefore reduced by the capstan effect of the winding member. The winding member is preferably a torus that encircles the cable, and the system may comprise a number of progressively larger tori arranged in sequence along the cable to provide sufficient room for wrapping all of the strength members around them. |
| US08567014B1 |
Foldable handle
A foldable handle includes a handgrip having two opposite ends each provided with a pivot portion, two mounting seats each pivotally connected with the respective pivot portion of the handgrip, two pivot members each mounted between the respective pivot portion of the handgrip and the respective mounting seat, and two bushings each mounted between the respective pivot portion of the handgrip and the respective mounting seat. Thus, each of the pivot members and each of the bushings are located between the respective pivot portion of the handgrip and the respective mounting seat so that the respective pivot portion of the handgrip is pivoted relative to each of the mounting seats smoothly. |
| US08567010B2 |
Wheel construction including a locking device
A wheel construction including a locking device, characterized in that said wheel construction comprises a box-like body of a substantially prismatic configuration and opened at least at a bottom portion thereof, in said box-like body being snap arranged a fork element cooperating with a lever element for locking a rotary movement of a wheel. |
| US08567008B2 |
Cyclone chamber construction for a surface cleaning apparatus
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path. The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a dirt collection chamber and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path. The cyclone chamber may have first and second opposed ends and a sidewall extending between the first and second opposed ends. The sidewall may have a first portion extending from the first opposed end towards the second opposed end and a second portion extending from the second opposed end towards the first opposed end. The first and second portions may meet at a juncture. The first opposed end and the first portion may be openable. |
| US08567006B2 |
Upright vacuum cleaner
Several embodiments of an upright surface cleaning apparatus are disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus. A support member is mounted to the surface cleaning head. A mounting member mounted to the support member. At least one of a first cleaning stage of the upright surface cleaning apparatus and a suction motor is mounted directly or indirectly to the mounting member. A suction motor is provided in the fluid flow path. |
| US08567000B2 |
Interdental brush and method of producing the same
An interdental brush of the present invention includes bristles (11), a wire (12) twisted with the bristles (11), and a handle (20) attached to the wire (12). The handle (20) includes a main body (21). The main body (21) is formed with a longitudinal hole (41) through which a base part of the wire (12) extends, a space section (42) connecting to the longitudinal hole (41), and extending through the main body (21) in a lateral direction, and a tubular wire detachment preventing portion (50) extending from a peripheral portion of an opening of the longitudinal hole (41) at an inner wall surface of the space section (42) into the space section (42). The wire detachment preventing portion (50) is curved together with the wire (12) with a tip portion of the base part of the wire (12) being inserted therein. |
| US08566999B1 |
Extension for paint brush handle
A paint brush holder comprising an elongated cylindrical body having an open forward end portion and a coaxial reduced internal diameter rearward end portion, the tubular body forward end portion being dimensioned to slidably receive the paint brush handle and the tubular body forward end portion having an elongated narrow width slot therein extending from the cylindrical body open forward end to adjacent the reduced internal diameter rearward end portion; a threaded bolt extending perpendicularly from the paint brush handle and exterior of the cylindrical body through the elongated slot; and a nut threadably received on the bolt exteriorally of the cylindrical body whereby the paint brush handle may be lockably adjusted relative to the cylindrical body to thereby adjust the position of the paint brush bristles relative to the cylindrical body forward end. |
| US08566995B2 |
Endoscopic duct cleaning tool
Provided is an endoscopic duct cleaning tool which uses elastic porous members to prevent the inside of a duct of an endoscope from being damaged, and which can firmly fix the elastic porous members to a core wire and secure a sufficient thickness in each of the elastic porous members.This endoscopic duct cleaning tool 1 is inserted into a duct 53 of an endoscope 50 to clean the duct 53. The endoscopic duct device 1 includes a core wire 10 consisting of a stranded wire, plural cylindrical elastic porous members 20 disposed at certain intervals and at certain places in an axial direction of the core wire 10 so as to cover an outer circumference of the core wire 10 directly, and resin tubes 30 covering outer circumferences of portions of the core wire 10 which are not covered with the elastic porous members 20. An outer diameter of each of the resin tubes 30 is formed to be larger than an inner diameter of each of the elastic porous members 20. A frontmost end tube 31 and a basemost end tube 32 disposed in a frontmost end portion and a basemost end portion of the core wire 10 respectively are fixedly attached to the core wire 10. |
| US08566994B2 |
Produce bin scrubber and related methods
A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution. |
| US08566987B1 |
Anatomical seat cushion
A seat cushion configured to promote pelvic support and alleviate pressure in the parineal, rectal, and coccyx regions. An embodiment of the seat cushion comprises a foam base having one or more reinforcing layers patterned to shape compliance in said base. Another embodiment comprises a channel shaped in relation to the ischial tuberosity allowing specific support and pressure relief for pelvic regions. Other embodiments are described and shown. The resulting seat cushion promotes posture with seating comfort and may be of specific aid to patients suffering from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Embodiments are described and shown that can be manufactured inexpensively from readily available materials and customized to accommodate a specific user's need. |
| US08566982B2 |
Fabric system
Bedding material including a first fabric section manufactured from performance fabric and having a first and second side; and, a second fabric section attached to the first side of the first fabric section. Additionally, a third fabric section can be attached to the second side of the first fabric section. The first fabric section can be attached to the second fabric section through a flatlock stitch. The first fabric section can include a first zone and a second zone wherein the first zone contains different performance properties from the second zone and the first zone can have thermal or moisture wicking properties. |
| US08566979B1 |
Infant crib having paired sets of vertically hinged doors for creating opening along entire sidewall
A displaceable sidewall of an infant crib made from outwardly rotatable bi-fold door sets that cooperate to open outward to provide limited or complete access to the bed space. Each of the doors has a latch mechanism to retain the doors in a closed position and the central doors have a locking pin for maintaining the integrity of the sidewall when closed and locked. |
| US08566978B2 |
Crib set with stationary and moveable crib
A crib set including a stationary and moveable crib is provided so as to form a respective upper and lower crib housed by a cabinet-like frame. The upper crib includes a foldable gate structure for allowing access to a child therein, while the lower crib is moveable relative to the frame so as to allow overhead access to a child using the crib. |
| US08566975B1 |
Faucet control structure
A faucet control structure includes an outlet head, a switch rod and a valve body. The outlet head is provided therein with a through-hole, a downward outlet end and an inlet chamber. The outlet end and the inlet chamber are separated by the through-hole. One end of the switch rod is enlarged to form a pulling head, and the other end is provided with a restricting groove. The valve body has a partitioning plate whose front surface is provided with two clamping claws. An inverted U-shaped flexible piece is integrally formed atop the valve body. Both sides of the flexible piece are provided with a bending section respectively. The bending sections provide a force for supporting the valve body when the valve body is compressed by an external force, and provide a restoring force to the valve body after the external force is removed. |
| US08566969B2 |
Adjustable fitting helmet
A helmet includes a helmet body defining a helmet interior. A fit system is provided to engage the helmet to the head of a wearer, at least a first and second portion of the fit system are moveable independent of the other. A fit adjuster varies a characteristic of the fit system, such as size, shape, orientation or pressure, allowing a wearer to customize fit of the helmet. |
| US08566964B1 |
Medical access shirt
A medical access shirt includes a shirt body having a pair of front shirt panels and a rear shirt panel carried by the front shirt panels and a generally elongated, rectangular rear shirt panel opening in the rear shirt panel. |
| US08566963B2 |
Concealed interior pouch pocket
An outerwear garment that incorporates a sealable, concealed pocket sewn inside of the pouch pocket of an outer garment that features such a pouch pocket. The device consists of an outerwear garment that has a pouch pocket located at the front, center of the garment on the lower portion of the garment. The concealed pocket is sewn into the garment, inside the pouch pocket, and incorporates a concealed pocket sealing mechanism for closure. The concealed pocket located inside the pouch pocket allows an individual to store his or her personal items in a secure location while still retaining the pouch pocket for the purpose of providing the individual with a place to easily insert his or her hands or other items of lesser importance. The design of the exterior pouch pocket conceals bulky items stored within the concealed interior pocket from detection by an onlooker. |
| US08566962B2 |
PWM heating system for eye shield
Eye-shield condensation preventing system comprising an eye shield adapted for protecting a user's eyes and adapted for defining at least a partially enclosed space between the user's eyes and the eye shield, a power source, a pulse-width modulator preferably comprised of a microcomputer, switching means, preferably comprised of a MOSFET device, that is responsive to the pulse-width modulator, a preferably indium-tin-oxide (ITO) heating element on the eye shield, and a circuit interconnecting the power source, the pulse-width modulator, the switching means and the heating element for controlling heating of the eye shield. In one embodiment the eye shield is divided into a plurality of heating regions. A current adjustment means, sensors, and optionally user-selectable profiles are employed to allow heating adjustment or automated anti-fog capability and variable condition adaptability of the invention. |
| US08572761B2 |
Method and system for preventing unauthorized reproduction of electronic media
A method for selectively controlling access to electronic media disposed on a media storage device according to one embodiment is described. The method comprises creating a first list comprising a plurality of process identification values. Each of the plurality of process identification values of the first list is associated with a software application that is accessing the media disposed upon the media storage device. The method further includes creating a second list comprising a second plurality of process identification values. Each of the second plurality of process identification values is associated with a software application that is storing data. The method further includes determining that a particular software application is creating an unauthorized copy of the media disposed upon the media storage device. The method further includes preventing the particular software application from storing a usable copy of said electronic media. |
| US08572760B2 |
Systems and methods for secure agent information
Semantic information may be secured by an agent using one or more semantic security labels (e.g., security predicates). The agent may be configured to allow other agents to access the semantic information according to a set of semantically expressed policies, strategies, and/or rules. A request to receive information may be mapped to a negotiation policy of the agent. The agent may evaluate the request against a semantic information sharing policy. If the information is accessible under the information sharing policy, the information may be provided. If not, the agent may negotiate information sharing terms using the negotiation ontology, strategy, and rules. Similarly, the agent may request information from other entities. Terms of the information requests may be negotiated using the negotiation ontology, strategy, and rules. |
| US08572758B1 |
DLP-enforced loss scanning, sequestering, and content indexing
A system and method is disclosed for implementing a data loss prevention (DLP) system configured to protect sensitive data in conjunction with corresponding content indexing (CI) metadata. In response to detecting a data loss risk, such as to data at rest (e.g., stored on a file system) and/or to data in motion (e.g., data being transmitted across a network) the system may perform any number of data loss prevention actions, including sequestering the data. The system may utilize an interface to a content indexing system in order to discover CI metadata associated with the data and sequester the CI metadata associated with the data. One or more common sequestration rules may be applied to the sequestration of the data and of the metadata. For example, the data and metadata may be encrypted using the same key and/or sequestered in the same location. |
| US08572757B1 |
Seamless secure private collaboration across trust boundaries
Seamless, secure, private, collaborative file synchronization across trust boundaries, typically as a companion to a store and sync file service. Information needed to recover a file is stored within the file itself, without giving away secret data. User specific personal keys are preferably only stored on the users' device(s). A unique ID is also created for each protected file; a password is generated that depends on (a) a key value that can either be (i) the user's personal key in the case of a file that is to be private or (ii) a shared key in the case of a file that is to be shared with other users, and (b) the unique file ID. The password is then encrypted using a recovery key and also stored in the file itself. The file is secured using a format that supports password-based content encryption. |
| US08572746B2 |
Predictive blacklisting using implicit recommendation
A method is provided for determining a rating of a likelihood of a victim system receiving malicious traffic from an attacker system at a point in time. The method comprises: generating a first forecast from a time series model based on past history of attacks by the attacker system; generating a second forecast from a victim neighborhood model based on similarity between the victim system and peer victim systems; generating a third forecast from a joint attacker-victim neighborhood model based on correlation between a group of attacker systems including the attacker system and a group of victim systems including the victim system; and determining the rating of the likelihood of the victim system receiving malicious traffic from the attacker system at the point in time based on the first forecast, the second forecast, and the third forecast. |
| US08572744B2 |
Information security auditing and incident investigation system
An information security auditing and incident investigation method can include applying a correlation template to query different audit targets in an enterprise system to provide a complete result set for the query across different audit targets, receiving audit data provided in response to the query and rendering the audit data to produce an audit report. The applying step can include distributing one or more distributed audit and response tools to each of the targets in the enterprise and communicating with the targets in the enterprise to acquire audit data from each of the targets. The receiving step can include organizing the audit data in a hierarchy, and recursively walking the hierarchy as a directed, cyclic graph noting memberships and paths. Finally, the rendering step can include generating a graphical visualization interface, disposing a real-time object browser within the interface, and further disposing a differential report in the interface. |
| US08572743B2 |
Virus localization using cryptographic hashing
Methods for using integrity checking techniques to identify and locate computer viruses are provided. A method for virus localization for each of three types of virus infections is provided, including the steps of computing a sequence of file blocks, calculating hashes for the sequences of file blocks from a host file and calculating hashes for the same or related sequences of file blocks from an infected file, and comparing the hashes from host file to the hashes from the infected file from the same or related sequences of file blocks such that when some of said first hashes and said second hashes do not match, a location of a virus is output. Methods for computing the sequence of file blocks depending on the type of virus infection, and for calculating the hashes using a collision resistant hash function, a digital signature scheme, a message authentication code, or a pseudo-random function. |
| US08572741B2 |
Providing security for a virtual machine by selectively triggering a host security scan
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that protects an application from malware on a host system. During operation, the system receives a command to commence execution of the application on the host system. In response to the command, the system causes a security scan to be performed on the host system to detect malware, wherein the malware can compromise the security of the application. The system also restricts one or more operations associated with the application until the security scan successfully completes. |
| US08572738B2 |
On demand virus scan
A method and apparatus are provided for performing periodic virus scans on a computer system that mitigates utilization of system resources. All objects designated as non-recently used are placed in an archived format and rendered un-executable. The archived objects are omitted from periodic virus scans. At such time as a request for an archive object is received, or access to an archived object is otherwise required, the archived object is converted to a non-archived state. In addition, before the returned object is made available to a requester, the recently converted object is subject to a virus scan on-demand. Accordingly, the periodic virus scan omits all archived objects, which will only be subject to a virus scan upon receipt of request to the archived object. |
| US08572737B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for providing internet-based proxy services
A proxy server receives, from multiple visitors of multiple client devices, a plurality of requests for actions to be performed on identified network resources belonging to a plurality of origin servers. At least some of the origin servers belong to different domains and are owned by different entities. The proxy server and the origin servers are also owned by different entities. The proxy server analyzes each request it receives to determine whether that request poses a threat and whether the visitor belonging to the request poses a threat. The proxy server blocks those requests from visitors that pose a threat or in which the request itself poses a threat. The proxy server transmits the requests that are not a threat and is from a visitor that is not a threat to the appropriate origin server. |
| US08572736B2 |
System and method for detecting behavior anomaly in information access
The present invention provides a system and method for identifying anomaly in information requests. The information requests are modeled into a plurality of basic elements and association among the basic elements are tracked. The association of one information request is compared with a plurality of bitmap tables and counters representing a baseline information from a historical behavior information. If the association of this information request differs from the baseline information, an alert is issued. |
| US08572734B2 |
Geographical intrusion response prioritization mapping through authentication and flight data correlation
Preferred systems and methods for geographically mapping intrusions through network or authentication data and flight data correlation are described. In one aspect, methods and systems include receiving threat data, receiving network or authentication data, receiving flight location data, correlating the threat data and the network or authentication data with the flight location data to generate map data, and generating a map displaying a geographical location of the intrusion based on the map data. |
| US08572732B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for enabling communication between security systems
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for enabling communication between security systems. In use, a first communication protocol of a first security system and a second communication protocol of a second security system are identified, where the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol are different such that the first security system and the second security system are incapable of communicating therebetween. Further, the first security system is updated with a first security definition and/or the second security system is updated with a second security definition for enabling communication between the first security system and the second security system. |
| US08572731B1 |
Systems and methods for blocking a domain based on the internet protocol address serving the domain
A computer-implemented method to block a domain based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address serving the domain is described. A trigger event on a first domain is detected. The IP address serving the first domain is identified. The identified IP address is compared with a list of IP addresses. The trigger event is blocked based on a determination that the identified IP address matches at least one IP address on the list. |
| US08572729B1 |
System, method and computer program product for interception of user mode code execution and redirection to kernel mode
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, code is executed in user mode. Further, the execution of the code is intercepted. In response to the interception, operations are performed in kernel mode. |
| US08572724B2 |
Method and apparatus for network session validation
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a plurality of token-based rules. A token-based rule facilitates access to a resource. The apparatus may further store a plurality of tokens. The apparatus may receive a first token indicating that access to the resource has been requested and determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon the first token. The at least one token-based rule may condition access to the resource upon a second token. The second token may indicate that the resource is associated with a virtual private network of the link layer of the open systems interconnection model. The apparatus may determine that the plurality of tokens includes the second token associated with the at least one token-based rule and generate a session token based at least in part upon the first token and the second token. |
| US08572721B2 |
Methods and systems for routing packets in a VPN-client-to-VPN-client connection via an SSL/VPN network appliance
In a method and system for routing packets between clients, a packet is received from a first client connected to a secure sockets layer virtual private network (an SSL/VPN) network appliance. An identification is made, responsive to an inspection of the received packet, of i) a type of connection required for transmission of the received packet to a destination address identified by the received packet and ii) a second client connected via an SSL/VPN connection to the SSL/VPN network appliance and associated with the identified destination address. A request is made for establishment by the second client of a connection of the identified type within the SSL/VPN connection. The received packet is transmitted to the second client via the established connection of the identified type. |
| US08572717B2 |
Dynamic access control policy with port restrictions for a network security appliance
A network security appliance supports definition of a security policy to control access to a network. The security policy is defined by match criteria including a layer seven network application, a static port list of layer four ports for a transport-layer protocol, and actions to be applied to packet flows that match the match criteria. A rules engine dynamically identifies a type of layer seven network application associated with the received packet flow based on inspection of application-layer data within payloads of packets of the packet flow without basing the identification solely on a layer four port specified by headers within the packets. The rules engine is configured to apply the security policy to determine whether the packet flow matches the static port lists specified by the match criteria. The network security appliance applies the actions specified by the security policy to the packet flow. |
| US08572716B2 |
Integrating operating systems with content offered by web based entities
Example embodiments are provided for integrating operating systems with content offered by internet based entities. |
| US08572715B2 |
Method for use in a network based safety data storage system
In a method for use in a data storage system which applies high safety requirements for the storage of data on a server in a telecommunications network and for the retrieval of the files by the local computers linked with the server via the network, the applicant is provided with a user certificate and public and secret keys, preferably on a chip card. Once the server is dialed up via the Internet, a client program is forwarded to the user which controls authentication of the user and the transmission of additional safety-relevant features of proof such as biometrical systems, geographical positioning, time-dependent data, network and computer data, etc., to the server. The storage system on the server is provided with a locker-type characteristic by establishing folders comprising a specific file for the safety requirements related thereto. The lockers are distinguished by their specific function and are only displayed to the user when the safety requirements are met. This locker system thus also has virtual character. |
| US08572708B2 |
Method and arrangement for integration of different authentication infrastructures
A method that provides efficient integration of infrastructure for federated single sign on (e.g. Liberty ID-FP framework) and generic bootstrapping architecture (e.g. 3GPP GAA/GBA architecture) uses an integrated proxy server (IAP). The IAP is inserted in the path between a user and a service provider (SP). The IAP differentiates type of access and determines corresponding operative state to act as a liberty enabled server or as a GAA/GBA network application function. A Bootstrapping, Identity, Authentication and Session Management arrangement (BIAS) leverages on 3GPP GAA/GBA infrastructure to provide an integrated system for handling Liberty Federated SSO and 3GPP GAA/GBA bootstrapping procedures at the same time. This method and arrangement provides improved use of infrastructure elements and performance for authenticated service access. |
| US08572706B2 |
Policy engine for cloud platform
A policy engine is situated between the communications path of a cloud computing environment and a user of the cloud computing environment to comply with an organization's policies for deploying web applications in the cloud computing environment. The policy engine intercepts communications packets to the cloud computing environment from a user, such as a web application developer, for example, in preparation for deploying a web application in the cloud computing environment. The policy engine identifies commands corresponding to the communications packets and directs the communications packets to appropriate rules engines corresponding to such commands in order to execute rules to comply with an organization's policies. Upon completion of execution of the rules, the communications packets are forwarded to the cloud computing environment if they comply with the policies. |
| US08572695B2 |
Method for applying a physical seal authorization to documents in electronic workflows
A system and method for applying a pre-existing physical seal authorization to documents provides for authentication of electronic documents using physical seals and without interrupting the electronic workflow. The system of the present invention includes a seal capture device coupled to a computer, and the computer coupled by a network to a paper-like document server. The seal capture device detects depression of a seal thereon and outputs the image of the seal and other metadata to the computer. The computer stores the metadata in its local log using a logging module. The computer also adds the image of the seal and other metadata to the electronic document being displayed. Finally, the computer sends the metadata for storage in the global log of the paper-like document server, and the authorized document to the next step in the electronic workflow. The paper-like document server stores the metadata in other servers or entangles the global log with the logs of other servers for additional security. |
| US08572692B2 |
Method and system for a platform-based trust verifying service for multi-party verification
A method and system for a platform-based trust verifying service for multi-party verification. In one embodiment, the method includes a client platform accessing an service provider over a network. Upon accessing the service provider, the client platform receives a request from the service provider for platform measurement and verification. The client platform collects platform information and performs measurement and verification, including performing an integrity manifest comparison. If the integrity manifest comparison indicates a good client platform posture, then the client platform signs the client platform posture and sends an approval notification to the service provider indicating that the client platform has not been compromised. The client platform may then receive the service of the service provider. If the integrity manifest comparison indicates that the client platform posture is not good, then the client platform will send a failure notification to the service provider indicating that the client platform has been compromised. |
| US08572687B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing session validation
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may receive a first token indicating that access to the resource has been requested. The apparatus may determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon the first token, and determine that a plurality of tokens includes a second token associated with the at least one token-based rule. The apparatus may then generate a session token based at least in part upon the first token and the second token in response to the determination that the plurality of tokens includes the second token. The apparatus may terminate the session token based on a received third token. |
| US08572678B2 |
Security policy flow down system
A system and method are provided that distill an organization's information security plan into a detailed and unambiguous security object model. The developed security object model provides a visualization of complex relationships between individual elements and levels that is usable to carry into effect the organization's information security plan. Configuration control and a verifiable level of security compliance are provided through implementation of the organization's information security plan by the developed security object model. The developed security object model is hosted on a computing platform in communication with at least the organization's network to provide information security plan compliance, configuration control and gap analysis in a usable form to the organization. |
| US08572674B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for modular, string-sensitive, access rights analysis with demand-driven precision
A static analysis for identification of permission-requirements on stack-inspection authorization systems is provided. The analysis employs functional modularity for improved scalability. To enhance precision, the analysis utilizes program slicing to detect the origin of each parameter passed to a security-sensitive function. Furthermore, since strings are essential when defining permissions, the analysis integrates a sophisticated string analysis that models string computations. |
| US08572673B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method
There is a described a method of certifying compliance with a designated process defined by a plurality of rules which are specified in a public template, wherein at least one rule associated with a process includes a certification requirement which requires compliance with that rule to be certified by a rule certifying authority. A processing apparatus operating in a secure environment receives rule compliance data and checks the received rule compliance data to verify that any certification requirement has been satisfied. If the processing apparatus confirms that all the rules specified in the public template are satisfied, then the processing apparatus issues a process compliance certificate which is digitally signed by the process certifying authority. |
| US08572671B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US08572670B2 |
Video distribution device, video distribution system, and video distribution method
To provide a video distribution device which can realize a smooth change of reproduction speed without increasing a data transfer rate from the time of a normal reproduction and decrease a decoding load even when the reproduction speed is changed.The video distribution device which distributes a video content composed of a basic signal and one or more extended signals that are hierarchically configured includes content read-out means for reading out the basic signal and the extended signal in the video content at mutually independent bit rates and reproduction speed change means for changing a content reproduction speed by specifying a read-out bit rate for each signal to the content read-out means. |
| US08572669B2 |
In-band data recognition and synchronization system
A method and apparatus for recognizing and synchronizing to in-band data at a multimedia device is provided. A content stream includes in-band data. The in-band data is processed and in-band data pattern data associated with the content stream are created. Metadata are attached to the event identification data. The event identification data are provided to multimedia devices which receive broadcasted multimedia content streams containing video programs with in-band data. The in-band data are processed and compared to the event identification data. If a match occurs, the multimedia device uses the metadata to perform specified actions. |
| US08572665B2 |
Selective distribution of cell based video streams over packet based networks
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to allow selective distribution of video information over packet based networks. Video information associated with a particular channel is received at an edge router from a cell based network. The edge router uses label switching to selectively distribute the video information to designated nodes in the packet based network. |
| US08572662B2 |
Method of providing customized hospitality media functions at a plurality of set-top boxes being connected to an RF coax network, and hospitality media system thereof
A hospitality media system includes a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) coupled to a radio frequency (RF) coax network. Each STB has an identifier for identifying the STB. A content source broadcasts media content to the STBs utilizing the RF coax network and an update server distributes software data to the STBs. The software data causes a particular STB to perform a media function customized for the particular STB according to the identifier of the particular STB. |
| US08572658B2 |
Method for mapping between signaling information and announcement information and broadcast receiver
A method for mapping signaling information to announcement information and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of providing a Non-Real-Time (NRT) service, the method comprises extracting identification information of first signaling information and second signaling information based upon a program specific information/program and system information protocol (PSI/PSIP) table, receiving the first signaling information and second signaling information based upon the extracted identification information, constructing and displaying a service guide using the received first signaling information, acquiring first content identification information as a content selected from the displayed service guide, accessing a File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) session using the received second signaling information, acquiring second content identification information matched with the acquired first content identification information from the accessed FLUTE session and receiving and storing one or more file constructing corresponding content based upon the acquired second content identification information. |
| US08572657B2 |
Controlling program guide in broadcast receiving device
A broadcast receiving device and a method for change one or more configurations of windows of a program guide displayed on a display unit of a broadcast receiving device according to a user input, are discussed. |
| US08572648B2 |
Transmitting/receiving system and method of processing data in the transmitting/receiving system
A receiving system and a data processing method are disclosed. The receiving system includes a receiving unit, a demodulator, a first handler, and a second handler. The receiving unit receives a broadcast signal including fast information channel (FIC) data, mobile service data, and a service signaling channel, the FIC data including a field indicating that a table signaling service guide bootstrap information to the service signaling channel is included therein, and the mobile service data and the service signaling channel are packetized into an RS frame belonging to a desired ensemble. The demodulator demodulates the received broadcast signal. The first handler acquires service guide bootstrap information from the table included in the service signaling channel. And, the second handler accesses a service guide announcement channel by using the service guide bootstrap information. |
| US08572647B2 |
Online ad placement based on user metrics for hosted media
The present invention provides methods for determining which ads to present to a user. An embodiment of the method comprises identifying one or more ads, at least one of the identified ads associated with a video. For each identified ad, a first score is calculated. The first score for the identified ad associated with the video is calculated based on one or more metrics representing user interactions associated with viewing the video. In one embodiment, the score for the ad associated with the video will be better (e.g., higher) the more viewers of the video hosting service interact with the associated video, since such interactions thereby indicate a higher over level of viewer interest in the video. One or more of the identified ads are selected to be presented to the user based at least in part on the first score of each of the identified ads. The one or more selected ads are transmitted to a device for presenting to the user. |
| US08572643B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for dynamic grouping and content distribution
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for dynamic content distribution and grouping includes a server for providing a plurality of content channels, at least one tuning/decoding means for receiving/decoding at least one of the plurality of content channels, and at least one respective display means for displaying the at least one received/decoded content channel. In such embodiments of the present invention, the server is configured to dynamically configure the at least one tuning/decoding means to receive/decode at least one of the plurality of content channels. More specifically, in embodiments of the present invention, the server dynamically configures the at least one tuning/decoding means by communicating a channel change command to the at least one tuning/decoding means over a dedicated radio-frequency channel or, in an alternate embodiment, using an internet protocol. |
| US08572642B2 |
Customized program insertion system
A customized consumer advertisement module and process are provided for inserting a user selected object into a user selected category of program. The user stores model objects locally at the user site, or communicates the model objects to a remotely located broadcaster for storage at a broadcaster site. The user selects categories of programs in which the model objects, or portions thereof, will be inserted. The customized consumer advertisement module inserts the model objects, or portions thereof, into the selected categories of programs. |
| US08572640B2 |
Media data use measurement with remote decoding/pattern matching
Systems and methods are provided for identifying and/or measuring usage of media data gathered at a user location using remote decoding and/or pattern matching techniques. A data set is formed based on the media data, which includes some, but not all, of the information represented by the media data. The data set is communicated to a remotely located processing system for detecting a code based on the data set and/or conducting a pattern matching process based on the data set. |
| US08572632B2 |
Devices as services in a decentralized operating system
Various embodiments of the present invention transform devices into Web services or special-purpose servers that are capable of communicating with personal computers. Various embodiments of the present invention allow various low-level aspects of device drivers to reside in the devices, eliminating the need for the devices to be compatible with legacy specification. Various embodiments of the present invention allow various devices to be shipped from the factory with low-level software already built in so that users are liberated from having to deal with the experience of installing and upgrading device drivers. In various embodiments of the present invention, each device is preferably a network node identifiable by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). |
| US08572628B2 |
Inter-thread data communications in a computer processor
Inter-thread data communications in a computer processor with multiple hardware threads of execution, each hardware thread operatively coupled for communications through an inter-thread communications controller, where inter-thread communications is carried out by the inter-thread communications controller and includes: registering, responsive to one or more RECEIVE opcodes, one or more receiving threads executing the RECEIVE opcodes; receiving, from a SEND opcode of a sending thread, specifications of a number of derived messages to be sent to receiving threads and a base value; generating the derived messages, incrementing the base value once for each registered receiving thread so that each derived message includes a single integer as a separate increment of the base value; sending, to each registered receiving thread, a derived message; and returning, to the sending thread, an actual number of derived messages received by receiving threads. |
| US08572626B2 |
Symmetric multi-processor system
The present invention relates generally to computer operating systems, and more specifically, to operating system calls in a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) environment. Existing SMP strategies either use a single lock or multiple locks to limit access to critical areas of the operating system to one thread at a time. These strategies suffer from a number of performance problems including slow execution, large software and execution overheads and deadlocking problems. The invention applies a single lock strategy to a micro kernel operating system design which delegates functionality to external processes. The micro kernel has a single critical area, the micro kernel itself, which executes very quickly, while the external processes are protected by proper thread management. As a result, a single lock may be used, overcoming the performance problems of the existing strategies. |
| US08572625B2 |
Method and system for application migration using per-application persistent configuration dependency
A system and method for determining application dependent components includes capturing interactions of an application stored in memory of a first environment with other components at runtime. The interactions are parsed and categorized to determine dependency information. The application is migrated to a new environment using the dependency information to reconfigure the application after migration without application-specific knowledge. |
| US08572624B2 |
Providing multiple quiesce state machines in a computing environment
A system, method and computer program product for providing multiple quiesce state machines. The system includes a first controller including logic for processing a first quiesce request. The system also includes a second controller including logic for processing a second quiesce request. All or a portion of the processing of the second quiesce request overlaps in time with the processing of the first quiesce request. Thus, multiple quiesce requests may be active in the system at the same time. |
| US08572623B2 |
Determining an optimal computing environment for running an image based on performance of similar images
Aspects of the present invention provide an approach that evaluates a locally running image (e.g., such as that for a virtual machine (VM)) and determines if that image could run more efficiently and/or more effectively in an alternate computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, embodiments of the present invention evaluate the local (existing/target) image's actual and perceived performance, as well as the anticipated/potential performance if the image were to be migrated to an alternate environment. The anticipated/potential performance can be measured based on another image that is similar to the existing/target image but where that image is running in a different computing environment. Regardless, the system would display a recommendation to the end user if it were determined that the image could perform better in the alternate environment (or vice versa). |
| US08572620B2 |
Resource management
The invention relates to a method, device and system for management of resource in a communication network having a resource owner (RO) providing the resource and at least one resource user (RU) using the resource. According to the present invention a resource broker is introduced between the resource owner and the at least one resource user. Said broker is arranged to perform a management procedure for deciding whether to perform a allocation, keeping or release of resource. In order to take a decision a resource usage measure (TTL) is used. In accordance with the present invention said measure is updated when user's usage measure (Keep Alive, InterestMsg) informing about the expected usage of the resource by a resource user is obtained. The update is performed by means of a cumulative algorithm taking into account current and past values of the resource usage measure (TTL). |
| US08572617B2 |
Processor-implemented systems and methods for event handling
Processor-implemented systems and methods are provided for synchronization of a thread, wherein the thread waits for one or more events to occur before continuing execution. A processor-implemented system and method can include a wait data structure which stores event conditions in order to determine when the thread should continue execution. Event objects, executing on one or more data processors, allow for thread synchronization. A pointer is stored with respect to a wait data structure in order to provide visibility of event conditions to the event objects. The thread continues execution when the stored event conditions are satisfied. |
| US08572611B2 |
Managing conflicts between multiple users accessing a computer system having shared resources assigned to one or more logical partitions and one or more appliance partitions
A management system for managing computer resources assigned by a hypervisor to one or more logical partitions and/or one or more appliance partitions in a multi-user computer system receives login information from a new user logging into the computer system through a service interface (e.g. a hardware management console) or a non-service interface, builds a conflict list, and sends the conflict list for presentation to the new user. The new user is notified of any users that are logged into any part of the computer system that could conflict with the new user's actions. Such users may be logged into the computer system through service and/or non-service interfaces. In one embodiment, the new user can choose to continue logging in irrespective of any conflicts shown. After choosing to continue, the new user is preferably requested to input an end-time. This end-time may be displayed, in turn, to all subsequent users that log into any part of the computer system that could cause conflict. The management system is preferably a component of the hypervisor. |
| US08572608B2 |
Methods and systems for converting a related group of physical machines to virtual machines
A computer implemented method for processing virtualization of physical computers that are part of a group into virtual computers is provided. The method includes obtaining relationship data from the physical computers, where the relationship data identifies parameters used to communicate within the group. Then, the method analyzes utilization parameters for each of the physical computers of the group. A visual model for proposed virtualization of the group of physical computers is then generated. The visual model identifies hosting machines designated to define a virtual computer for each of the physical computers, where the visual model provides a graphical illustration of the group of physical computers once converted to virtual computers. The method enables adjustment of the proposed virtualization of the group of physical computers. Then, an execution sequence of virtualization operations to be carried out is generated, if execution of the proposed virtualization is triggered, and the execution sequence is saved to storage and accessed upon execution. |
| US08572606B1 |
System and method for avoiding synchronization bugs through virtualization
A system and method for reducing the likelihood of concurrency errors by identifying vulnerable segments of computer code and stalling other virtual machine threads of execution. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vulnerable segment is identified at runtime, for example in a dynamic translator. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vulnerable segment is identified ahead of time, for example in a static translator. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the vulnerable segment is identified in the binary translator of a virtual machine monitor. |
| US08572601B2 |
System and method for automatic installation and maintenance of hardware and software in a distributed computer system
The invention relates to a system and a method for automatic installation and maintenance of hardware and/or software in the system nodes (SK) of a distributed computer system, in particular in a distributed automation system, comprising a system installation and/or system maintenance tool (WZ), wherein the system installation and/or system maintenance tool (WZ) can be activated from a single arbitrary access in the distributed system. The system installation and/or system maintenance tool (WZ) selects a software package and/or a functional component, and automatically executes the maintenance steps of the selected software package and/or of the selected functional component as regards the distribution, installation and/or configuration of the software package and/or of the selected functional component in a defined sequence on the system nodes (SK) of the distributed system. |
| US08572597B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing an over-the-air software update in a dual processor mobile station
A wireless communication device for accessing a wireless network and downloading a software upgrade file. The wireless communication device comprises: i) a CPU for controlling wireless communications with the wireless network; ii) a first memory associated with the first CPU; iii) a CPU for executing at least one end-user application on the wireless communication device; and iv) a second memory associated with the second CPU. The first CPU downloads the software upgrade file from the wireless network and stores the downloaded software upgrade file in the second memory for subsequent execution. The first CPU and the second CPU share resources in order to carry out software upgrades for either or both CPUs. |
| US08572595B1 |
Methods and apparatus for aggressive scheduling in source code compilation
Computer-executed transformation of source code enables optimization of the code for one or more of parallelism, locality, and memory footprint of operations represented in the source code on a computing apparatus. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08572591B2 |
Dynamic adaptive programming
Creating and executing platform portable code. A method includes declaring an object as being a dynamic object in a program. The program is a program compiled using a static language, except that the dynamic object is excluded from static analysis on the object when the program is compiled. The dynamic object includes a dependent call to a platform specific API. The platform specific API is available on one or more platforms to which a compiled version of the program will be deployed, but not available on one or more other platforms to which the compiled version of the program will be deployed. |
| US08572583B2 |
Method and system for testing software for industrial machine
There are provided a method and system for testing software for an industrial machine with continuous test values reflecting actual environmental factors, using a simulator before the software for the industrial machine is embedded into an actual industrial machine. A method for testing software for an industrial machine, the method comprising the steps of: coding a program for a diagram through which the industrial machine is driven; compiling the program into an instruction with which the industrial machine is driven; downloading the compiled program onto a simulator for implementing a programming interface provided by the industrial machine; executing the compiled program in the simulator: generating a first data for testing the compiled program: transmitting the first test data to the simulator having the downloaded program from a testing tool; and outputting a result data obtained after executing the program having the transmitted first test data and then transmitting the result data to the testing tool. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a time taken for testing, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the testing and to save cost required in the testing. |
| US08572580B2 |
Computer application packages with customizations
Applications operated within a virtual environment may be organized into a package containing various software components. Each software component or resource may have a specific name and other metadata, including a designator for overwriting or modifying the component. A policy may define how any changes to specific software components may be stored and retrieved based on the designator. One or more sets of changed components may be generated, persisted, and re-applied to create a customized version of the application based on the original package. The application may be operated within a virtual application environment or within a dedicated virtual machine environment. |
| US08572577B2 |
Monitoring changes to data within a critical section of a threaded program
A method, system and program product for monitoring changes to a variable within a critical section of a threaded program. The method includes establishing, using a debugging tool, a watch for monitoring changes to a variable that occur outside of the critical section and executing a portion of the threaded program with a debugger. Further, the method includes determining, using the tool, whether or not a thread has executed a start breakpoint set for the critical section, if the thread has executed the start breakpoint set, determining whether or not the thread has executed an end breakpoint set for the critical section, and if the thread has not executed the end breakpoint set, displaying any watches triggered responsive to updates to the variable that occur outside of the critical section, such that, only updates to the variable that occur outside of the critical section will trigger the displaying. |
| US08572570B2 |
Assisted compositional reasoning for test scripts
Assisted compositional reasoning for test scripts is implemented by a Type Inference of GUI Object References (TIGOR). TIGOR makes types of GUI objects explicit in the source code by using the properties of GUI objects as referred to in test script statements to access a GUI object repository for GUI objects that have matching GUI objects properties. TIGOR analyzes the GUI object types of the matching GUI objects in view of a sequence of operations performed on the GUI objects in the test script statements. TIGOR infers a GUI object type for a GUI object when that GUI object type is determined to be valid and/or compatible with a sequence of operations, such as API calls, executed in test script statements that perform actions on the GUI object. |
| US08572569B2 |
Modified implementation of a debugger wire protocol and command packet
A client debugger application or a virtual machine includes a receiving module configured to receive a command packet of a debugging protocol from a computer. The command packet includes an identifier (ID) field. The client debugger application or the virtual machine also includes a parsing module configured to parse an ID from the ID field. One byte of the ID field doubles as a command set value and another byte of the ID field doubles as a command value. The client debugger application or the virtual machine further includes a debugging module configured to use the parsed ID, command set value and command value to perform at least one debugging operation. |
| US08572557B2 |
Program code generation support device and method, program execution device and method, and program code compression processing device and method and program thereof
To obtain a program code generation support device, method, and the like, capable of generating a new program code, in particular, generating in accordance with an incorporating apparatus, by performing a further optimization on a program code. The device includes storage means for storing as data, an optimization rule that is composed of a conversion condition for converting data of a program code and a conversion content thereof, and code optimization means that includes a code analysis unit for analyzing the program code, a condition search unit for search a part matching the conversion condition in the program code through a collation with the optimization rule stored in the storage means on the basis of the analyzed program code, and an optimization unit for generating data of a new program code by converting the part matching the conversion condition on the basis of the conversion content. |
| US08572554B2 |
Method and system for integrating Java and JavaScript technologies
A method and system for integrating Java and JavaScript technologies is provided. An example system includes a JavaScript proxy generator and a runtime module. The JavaScript proxy generator may be configured to automatically generate a JavaScript proxy in a form of a Java application programming interface. The runtime module may be configured to call the JavaScript proxy from the Java module, pass control of execution to the JavaScript module, execute the JavaScript module to generate an output method or object, and pass control of execution to the Java module to continue execution of the Java module. |
| US08572553B2 |
Systems and methods for providing feedback for software components
Systems and methods for transforming applications to provide uniform mechanisms for commenting on application objects, and mechanisms for collecting and processing feedback are described herein. An aspect provides for analyzing application code for at least one user action event handler associated with at least one object; and for modifying each at least one user action event handler located within the application code to contain at least one action configured to handle feedback for the associated at least one object; wherein invoking the at least one user action event handler triggers the at least one action configured to handle feedback. Other embodiments and aspects are also described herein. |
| US08572549B2 |
Estimation of web accessibility assessment and remediation efforts
Tools and techniques are described for estimating web accessibility and remediation efforts. One or more web accessibility standards can be indicated to be included in the effort estimate. A user can indicate which individual guidelines are to be included in standard test effort estimates by selecting individual guidelines, sub-guidelines or priority or success criteria levels. Standard test effort estimates are calculated based on test factors associated with the indicated individual guidelines or sub-guidelines. A total test effort estimate is calculated based on the standard test effort estimates and one or more web page counts, and a web accessibility and remediation effort estimate is calculated based on the total test effort estimate. A framework implementing the effort estimation methods can comprise multiple spreadsheets for use within a spreadsheet application running on a computing device. |
| US08572545B1 |
Methods and mechanisms for extracting and reducing capacitor elements
A method of extracting capacitance from a layout record includes imposing voltages on conductors in a layout record, and determining a total charge for each of the conductors to obtain a capacitor element for the conductors. A method of extracting capacitance from a layout record includes matching a configuration of conductors in a layout record against a reference pattern, and determining an extracted capacitance for the conductors based at least in part on the reference pattern. A method of extracting capacitance from a layout record includes providing a layout record of a circuit design, the layout record having data representing conductors and metal fill, and extracting capacitance to determine a set of capacitors between the conductors, the set of capacitors accounting for the metal fill. |
| US08572543B2 |
Automation of tie cell insertion, optimization and replacement by scan flip-flops to increase fault coverage
A method for designing an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) splitting a design layout of the integrated circuit into a plurality of tiles, (B) adding a plurality of tie-to cells to the design layout, wherein at least one of the tie-to cells generating a tie-to signal at a particular logical level is added into each of the tiles having at least one gate with an input fixed to the particular logical level and (C) routing the tie-to signal to each of the inputs within each of the tiles. |
| US08572538B2 |
Reconfigurable logic block
A programmable logic device includes logic blocks such as a logic array blocks (LAB) that can be configured as a random access memory (RAM) or as a lookup table (LUT). A mode flag is provided to indicate the mode of operation of configuration logic such as a configuration RAM (CRAM) used during partial reconfiguration of a logic block. An enable read flag is provided to indicate if values stored in the configuration logic are to be read out or a known state is to be read out during a data verification process. Thus, exclusion and inclusion of portions of a region of configuration logic from data verification and correction processes allow a region of configuration logic to store both a design state and a user defined state. Moreover, the region of configuration logic may be dynamically reconfigured from one state to another without causing verification errors. |
| US08572536B2 |
Spare latch distribution
Aspects of the invention provide for spare latch distribution for an integrated circuit design. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include a method of generating a computer system for spare latch distribution in an integration circuit design, the method including: providing a computer system operable to: receive design data for the integrated circuit design, the design data including a plurality of latches; segment the integrated circuit design into a plurality of equal sections; determine a latch density within each of the equal sections; and determine a number of spare latches, based on the latch density, for each of the equal sections. Further, it is understood that the above are performed for each clock domain within the integrated circuit design. |
| US08572534B2 |
System and method for designing multiple clock domain circuits
A Hardware Description Language (HDL) utilizing a Term Rewriting System (TRS) is provided that simplifies handling of clocks, and signaling between various clock domains of a multi-clock domain circuit specification. A specific clock data type is supplied for use with clock signals. Using the clock data type, and other requirements of a circuit specification, clock domain crossing between domains of clocks of the same clock family is handled implicitly. For clock domain crossing between clock domains driven by clocks of different clock families, a “hardware approach” and a “linguistic approach” are provided. A “hardware approach” provides facilities to explicitly specify a synchronizer, using, in part, TRS rules. A “linguistic approach” allows a designer to abstracts the instantiation of synchronizers and instead specify a circuit specification in terms of differently clocked interfaces. |
| US08572530B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing path-level skew optimization and analysis for a logic design
A method for designing a system including optimizing path-level skew in the system and analyzing path-level skew in the system. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08572527B1 |
Generating properties for circuit designs
An analysis tool that generates properties for a circuit design. The debugging tool receives a circuit design encoded in a hardware description language. The tool identifies portions of the circuit design that correspond to features of interest (e.g., counters, finite state machines, one hot vectors, etc) in the circuit design. Each portion of the circuit design has a cone of influence, and the tool identifies control signals from within the cones of influence. By identifying control signals in this manner, the tool can then generate the properties based on values for the control signals and the identified portions of the circuit design that are obtained from data describing the operation of the circuit design over a number of clock cycles (e.g., simulation data). The result is one or more properties that are likely to represent a relevant behavior of the circuit design. |
| US08572525B2 |
Partition response surface modeling
A group of models are developed to predict printed contour deviations relative to the corresponding layout edges for different classes of layout topologies. A plurality of calibration layouts with topologies belonging to a class of layout topologies are used to generate a model for the class of layout topologies. A standard least square regression is modified for model creation. The model error may be monitored dynamically. |
| US08572524B2 |
Statistical optical proximity correction
An optical proximity correction (OPC) model incorporates inline process variation data. OPC is performed by adjusting an input mask pattern with a mask bias derived from the OPC model to correct errors in the input mask pattern. |
| US08572520B2 |
Optical proximity correction for mask repair
Integrated circuit (IC) methods for optical proximity correction (OPC) modeling and mask repair are described. The methods include use of an optical model that generates a simulated aerial image from an actual aerial image obtained in an optical microscope system. In the OPC modeling methods, OPC according to stage modeling is simulated, and OPC features may be added to a design layout according to the simulating OPC. In the mask repair methods, inverse image rendering is performed on the actual aerial image and diffraction image by applying an optical model that divides an incoherent exposure source into a plurality of coherent sources. |
| US08572518B2 |
Predicting pattern critical dimensions in a lithographic exposure process
A method for predicting pattern critical dimensions in a lithographic exposure process includes defining relationships between critical dimension, defocus, and dose. The method also includes performing at least one exposure run in creating a pattern on a wafer. The method also includes creating a dose map. The method also includes creating a defocus map. The method also includes predicting pattern critical dimensions based on the relationships, the dose map, and the defocus map. |
| US08572517B2 |
System and method for modifying a data set of a photomask
The present invention provides a method for compensating infidelities of a process that transfers a pattern to a layer of an integrated circuit, by minimizing, with respect to a photomask pattern, a cost function that quantifies the deviation between designed and simulated values of circuit parameters of the pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer. |
| US08572512B2 |
Electronic document location indication and navigation method, system and program
While a user is viewing in a first display area a portion of an electronic document intended to be printed to produce a printed product, presenting to the user in a second display area a representation of the physical outline of the printed product and an indicator that indicates to the user the size and location of the electronic document portion relative to the printed product. When the user positions a cursor in the second display area, a second indicator image, visually distinctive from the first indicator image, is displayed. The user can position the second indicator at a desired location relative to the representation and request that the portion of the electronic document at that second indicator location be displayed in the first display area. |
| US08572507B2 |
Systems and methods for interacting with dynamic protocols
Systems and methods to provide users with a user interface at the point of use that provides customizable, interactive protocols, where a protocol is typically an instruction set, procedure, or methodology. |
| US08572506B2 |
Visualization tool for qPCR genotyping data
Systems and methods are used to display data obtained from a qPCR instrument. Each of two or more samples is probed with a first labeling probe and a second labeling probe. A first data set is received from a qPCR instrument at a first cycle number that includes for each sample a first labeling probe intensity, and a second labeling probe intensity. A second data set is received at a second cycle number that includes for each sample a first labeling probe intensity and a second labeling probe intensity. A first plot of first labeling probe intensity as a function of second labeling probe intensity is created using the first data set. A second plot of first labeling probe intensity as a function of second labeling probe intensity is created using the second data set. The first plot and the second plot are displayed in response to user defined input to provide dynamic and real-time analysis of genotyping data. |
| US08572504B1 |
Determining comprehensibility of a graphical model in a graphical modeling environment
In an embodiment, degree of comprehensibility of a graphical representation of a model is identified. The model is provided in a graphical modeling environment. The degree of comprehensibility of the graphical representation of model is identified based at least in part on one or more visual characteristics of one or more elements in the model. The one or more elements in the model include at least one of entities in the model, or relationships in the model. The degree of comprehensibility assigned to the model is communicated, for example, to a user. |
| US08572502B2 |
Building control system user interface with docking feature
Building control systems that include a user interface that is configured to help manage relatively large amounts of building control data in an efficient and intuitive manner. In some cases, subsets of building control information can be associated with display elements such as windows or tabs, which can then be docked to provide a convenient way to selectively display only certain subsets of the building control information. |
| US08572500B2 |
Application screen design allowing interaction
A screen design user interface that may operate in an interactive mode and a design mode. The user interface includes a screen presentation portion for presenting an application screen under design, and a mode control for selecting between the interactive mode and the design mode. When the user interface is in interactive mode, the user interface actually allows interaction with one or more application element of a screen displayed in the screen presentation portion such that interaction with the corresponding application element causes execution of a corresponding function and thus a corresponding change in state of the screen. When the user interface is in design mode, the user interface supports design of the application screen by recognizing design gestures, but disables the application elements. |
| US08572499B2 |
Visual depth-indicators for messages
Techniques are described for display and navigation of hierarchical messages, which displays include contextual data for the messages. Context information for a current message includes reply messages, parent messages, and metadata representations. Message representations are also associated with visual depth indicators that are independent of the text of the messages. |
| US08572496B2 |
Embedding variable fields in individual email messages sent via a web-based graphical user interface
Method and system of present invention provide a web-based graphical user interface to a remote user for sending electronic messages, where the interface comprises an element for selecting an option for sending individual electronic messages to multiple recipients in visible fields (“to” and “cc”), obtain a set of data, comprising a list of two or more recipients in visible fields, a message subject and/or a message body, where the message subject and/or the message body contain a markup indicating variable field, and generate and transmit individual electronic messages. |
| US08572495B2 |
Providing electronic distribution of filtered calendars
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing electronic distribution of filtered calendars. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving control data. The control data may be configured to indicate a portion of master calendar data a user designates to transmit. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include filtering the master calendar data based on the control data to create filtered calendar data and transmitting the filtered calendar data. |
| US08572490B2 |
Embedded video player
A system, method and various user interfaces provide an embedded web-based video player for navigating video playlists and playing video content. A website publisher can create and store a video player with customized parameters (e.g., player type, appearance, advertising options, etc.) and can associate the player with a playlist of selected videos. The stored video player is associated with a player ID in a player database and can be embedded in a website using an embed code referencing the player ID. A user interface for the embedded player provides controls for controlling video playback and for controlling the selection of a video from the playlist. |
| US08572489B2 |
Handlebar audio controls
A vehicle audio system having handlebar mounted controls that permit an operator to control the audio system utilizing finger controls mounted on the handlebars. |
| US08572486B2 |
System and method for integrated presentation of information
There is provided a method and system to present event information to a user of an electronic messaging and organizing system. An integrated list of individual events is defined to include message-related events (e.g. email, SMS, phone logs, etc.) and time-organization-related events (future or current appointments, alarms). The integrated list is displayed in a graphical user interface on a display of an electronic device to provide a snapshot of the user's activities. |
| US08572485B2 |
Splitting and merging routing domains
Apparatuses and methods for merging multiple domains into a merged domain and splitting a single domain into multiple domains in an Automatically Switched Optical Network (ASON) are disclosed. For merging, a node in a first domain can be identified to be a new Routing Controller (RC) for the merged domain. A second domain can be identified to be merged with the first domain. Nodes, including old RCs, in the first domain and the second domain are notified of the identity of the new RC in the merged domain. The topology of the old RC's domain is sent to the new RC. The new topology is computed by the new RC from the topology information given by the old RCs. The updated topology is distributed to nodes in the merged domain via the new RC. |
| US08572481B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying additional snippet content
An electronic device concurrently displays snippets including a first snippet and a second snippet. The first snippet includes first displayed snippet content corresponding to a first portion of content from a document associated with the first snippet. The second snippet includes second displayed snippet content corresponding to a second portion of content from a document associated with the second snippet. The device detects a gesture associated with the first snippet, which includes detecting a first contact and a second contact and detecting movement of the first contact relative to the second contact. In response, the device modifies the first snippet to include an additional portion of content from the document associated with the first snippet that was not included in the first displayed snippet content and maintains display of the second snippet without adding any additional content from the document associated with the second snippet. |
| US08572480B1 |
Editing the sequential flow of a page
Editing the sequential flow of objects of a page is disclosed. The objects may have intended correct sequential order for processing or viewing, which may be difficult to detect by a computer algorithm. An initial flow may be created using an initial flow algorithm to provide an initial order of the objects. The initial flow may be visually represented on a page, such as by a curve drawn through the objects. A human editor may reorder the objects if the initial flow is not correct. In some aspects, the editor may trace a new order of the objects by controlling an input device to sequentially order the objects in an editor-assigned flow. In other aspects, the editor may sequentially select objects to create the editor-assigned flow. In response to the editor-assigned flow, a validation flow may be created, which may assist the editor in confirming accuracy of the edited flow. In other aspects, heuristics may learn from the editor-assigned flow to improve the initial flow over time. |
| US08572477B1 |
Web-based incremental computing
A method and a system implementing web-based incremental computing. A webpage updates when a data value relevant to displayed information is altered and updates only those affected elements. A watch system monitors relevant data values and in conjunction with a dependency tree, may execute functions to alter only altered elements of a webpage. A framework to automatically track data dependencies and propagate data changes is disclosed. |
| US08572472B2 |
Fault detection apparatus, fault detection method, and fault detection program
A comparison unit compares polarities of a plurality of redundant input signals. A comparison-result storing unit stores a comparison result of the comparison unit for each predetermined sampling cycle. A judgment unit judges whether the redundant input signals are normal using a plurality of comparison results for a predetermined number of samplings in a time-series order from a latest comparison result among a plurality of comparison results stored in the comparison-result storing unit. |
| US08572471B2 |
SOVA sharing during LDPC global iteration
Decoding is performed on input data to obtain first decoded data using a first error correction decoder. If decoding by a second error correction decoder on the first decoded data fails, decoding is performed using an output of the second decoder and using the first decoder. A reservation request is sent from the second error correction decoder to a memory prior to completion of the decoding on the first decoded data. Space is reserved in the memory in response to receiving the reservation request from the second decoder. |
| US08572466B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, devices, and methods of replacing at least partially non-functional portions of memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining that a portion of a memory is at least partially non-functional, replacing the portion of at least partially non-functional memory; and adjusting an error detection and/or correction process responsive to determining that the portion of the memory is at least partially non-functional and/or replacing the portion of at least partially non-functional memory. |
| US08572465B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory system having first and second error correction units
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory system includes a semiconductor memory, at least one first error correction unit and at least one second error correction unit. The semiconductor memory stores a data frame encoded with LDPC codes. The at least one first error correction unit performs a first error correction for the data frame according to a first iterative decoding algorithm. The at least one second error correction unit performs a second error correction for the data frame which is failed to correct error by the at least one first error correction unit. The at least one second error correction unit performs the second error correction according to a second iterative decoding algorithm which uses a message having a larger number of quantization bits than that of the first iterative decoding algorithm. |
| US08572461B2 |
Feedback signaling error detection and checking in MIMO wireless communication systems
A method of feedback in a wireless transmit receive unit includes providing a precoding matrix index (PMI), error checking the (PMI) to produce an error check (EC) bit, coding the PMI and the EC bit and transmitting the coded PMI and EC bit. |
| US08572456B1 |
Avoiding interleaver memory conflicts
Interleaving and deinterleaving schemes for operating in parallel on sections of a data block to load memories with respective segments of a reordered version of the block, in a manner which can avoid memory conflicts. |
| US08572452B2 |
Block code decoding method and device thereof
A block code decoding method and device thereof are provided. The procedure of the bounded distance decoding is simplified and the number of correlation calculating is reduced via a set of pre-established XOR masks. The decoding method includes: picking up the source code part of the received message; executing a XOR calculating for the source code part with the XOR masks, and encoding the results thereof to produce a set of compared codes; executing a correlation calculating for the set of compared codes and the received message; and determining a compared code having the maximum correlation result as the decision. |
| US08572442B2 |
Decoding error detection method and decoding device in radio communications system
A decoding device includes a decoding unit that decodes control data to generate decode data, the control data indicating a state of a radio propagation channel; a reliability calculating unit that calculates a reliability indicator indicating a reliability of the decode data; and an outputting unit that outputs decode data whose reliability indicator is larger than a specified threshold; wherein the reliability calculating unit calculates the reliability indicator of decode data to be decoded, based on a similarity indicator indicating a similarity between the decode data to be decoded and previous decode data whose reliability indicator is larger than the threshold. |
| US08572440B1 |
System and method for managing information stored in semiconductors
A system and method of identifying a memory includes detecting defects in regions of the memory, comparing the detected defects with defects contained in a previously-created defect map associated with the memory and stored in another memory of a device accessing the memory, confirming the identity of the memory where a result of the comparison indicates the detected defects match defects contained in the previously-created defect map; and denying the identity of the memory where the result of the comparison indicates the detected defects do not match the defects contained in the previously-created defect map. |
| US08572439B2 |
Monitoring the health of distributed systems
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring the health of distributed systems. Embodiments of the invention provide distributed, self-maintained, continuous health monitoring. Using XML and pluggable infrastructure, a logical view of an appliance can be provided. The logical view abstracts physical implementation details of the appliance. Monitoring agents can correlate different distributed system failures and events and reason over collected health information. |
| US08572436B2 |
Computing device and method for managing motherboard test
A system and method for managing a test of a motherboard can create a first test data consisting of test items. In the first test data, one or more selected test items to perform can be identified. A second test data is obtained by performing a logical NOR operation on the test bits corresponding to the selected test items. After performing the test items, a third test data is created by setting the test bits corresponding to the selected test items that pass the test to the test bits of the selected test items in the first test data, and by setting the test bits corresponding to the selected test items that fail the test to the test bits of the test items that have not been selected in the first test data. By comparing the third with the test data, a test result of the motherboard is obtained. |
| US08572428B2 |
Storage apparatus and control method for storage apparatus
A first controller stores externally input data to a memory of the first controller, reads data stored in the memory of the first controller and transmits the data to a second controller through a first controller bridge, detects a failure at the first controller bridge in transmission of the data. The second controller receives the data through a second controller bridge, writes the received data into a memory of the second controller, and determines whether the failure is caused by the first controller if a failure occurs in the memory controller and the second controller bridge. If a failure is detected in the first controller and the second controller and the failure is caused by the first controller, the first controller transmits the data causing the failure during transmission through the first controller bridge and the second controller receives the data through the second controller bridge. |
| US08572424B2 |
Semiconductor device to select and output data to a data bus
A semiconductor device that can transmit data in wide bus width regardless of the width of an external data bus connected thereto. In a semiconductor device on the data output side, m-bit internal data is divided into n blocks. A data selection circuit selects m/n pieces of data at a time and a data output section outputs these pieces of data to an external data bus of a width of L(=m/n) bits. At this time an output control circuit controls the selection of data by the data selection circuit and a synchronous signal output section outputs a synchronous signal indicative of selected data. In a semiconductor device on the data input side, a data input section accepts data transferred via an external data bus and a data get circuit outputs the data to an internal data bus corresponding to a synchronous signal a synchronous signal input section accepted. By getting data corresponding to all synchronous signals, the data get circuit will get m-bit data. |
| US08572421B2 |
Adjusting device performance based on processing profiles
Adjusting processor performance based on processing profiles. The method may determine that a process has entered a processing state after an idle state. In response to entering the processing state the processing time of the processor may be monitored. In response to the processing time exceeding a first threshold of time, the performance of the processor may be increased from a first level to a second level. In response to the processing time exceeding a second threshold time, the performance of the processor may be decreased from the second level to a third level. |
| US08572417B2 |
Storage system and power consumption reduction method for the same
In a storage system that includes two or more file servers each including an arbitrary number of operating virtual file servers, a management server: holds a load information table regarding a load on each virtual file server for each time period and redundancy information table for the storage system; judges, with reference to the load information table and redundancy information table, whether or not the loads on the virtual file servers can be handled by a smaller number of file servers than the number of currently-operating file servers; selects, if the judgment result is positive, a power-off target file server and makes another file server fail over a virtual file server in the power-off target file server; and turns off the power-off target file server. |
| US08572416B2 |
Low power computer with main and auxiliary processors
A processing device including first processors, second processors, a first chipset, and a second chipset. The first chipset is in communication with the first processors via a first bus. The second chipset is in communication with the first chipset via a second bus and is directly connected to the second processors. The first chipset and the second chipset are connected between (i) the first processors and (ii) a first non-volatile memory and a second non-volatile memory. The second chipset is connected between (i) the second processors and (ii) the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory. The first processors access the first non-volatile memory during a first power mode. The second processors access the second non-volatile memory during a second power mode that is different than the first power mode. |
| US08572412B1 |
Method and apparatus for warming up integrated circuits
Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The IC chip includes functional circuits configured to perform desired functions when a chip temperature is higher than a threshold, such as a room temperature. The IC chip includes a warm-up module configured to warm-up the IC chip in a warm-up mode to raise the chip temperature above the threshold. A method for warming up an IC chip prior to operation is also disclosed. |
| US08572411B2 |
Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” |
| US08572406B2 |
Integrated circuit protected against horizontal side channel analysis
An integrated circuit including a multiplication function configured to execute a multiplication operation of two binary words x and y including a plurality of basic multiplication steps of components xi of word x by components yj of word y is described. The multiplication function of the integrated circuit is configured to execute two successive multiplications by modifying, in a random or pseudo-random manner, an order in which the basic multiplication steps of components xi by components yj are executed. |
| US08572405B2 |
Collusion-resistant outsourcing of private set intersection
Implementations of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and computer-readable storage mediums for receiving an encrypted first data set from a first entity, storing the encrypted first data set in computer-readable memory, receiving an encrypted second data set from a second entity, storing the encrypted second data set in computer-readable memory, receiving public encryption information associated with the encrypted first data set and the encrypted second data set, storing the public encryption information in computer-readable memory, and processing, using the one or more processors, the encrypted first data set and the encrypted second data set to provide the set intersection, wherein an advantage of a first adversary in guessing data elements of the encrypted first data set is negligible in a security parameter. |
| US08572404B2 |
Security and safety manager implementation in a multi-core processor
A system includes a multi-core computer processor. One or more cores of the multi-core computer processor are configured as a security co-processor for the system and for other cores of the multi-core processor, and one or more cores of the multi-core computer processor are configured as a safety manager co-processor for the system and for other cores of the multi-core processor. An operating system of the security co-processor and an operating system of the safety manager co-processor are independent of operating systems of the other cores of the multi-core processor. The security co-processor and the safety manager co-processor are configured to boot before the other cores and to enforce security policy and/or safety policy on the other cores. |
| US08572403B2 |
Digital video guard
This invention relates to the veracity of information displayed to a user of a computer, and information provided to a computer by human input devices such as mice and keyboards. A digital video guard (DVG) device is a peripheral that is retrofitted to commodity computer devices. The DVG resides in-line with a digital display and enables secure end-to-end interactions between a user and a displayed (usually remote) application. In-band signalling within the digital video stream is used to carry encrypted information from a local or remote source, over untrusted network infrastructure through the digital video guard device to a user. The DVG decrypts and verifies the integrity of the digital video. The integrity of the displayed information is indicated by a trusted LED on the DVG hardware. Portions of the video signal may be designated as trusted, if the received data has been encrypted, signed, or labelled as trustworthy. |
| US08572395B2 |
Information processing apparatus, authentication method, and computer program
An information processing apparatus is configured to authenticate a user. In one embodiment, the information processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores user identification information in association with user authentication information. Identification information for identifying a user is inputted into the apparatus. If the inputted identification information matches the stored user identification information, the apparatus selects the user authentication information associated with the user identification information that matches the inputted identification information, and sends the selected user authentication information to an authentication server, so that authentication is executed. If the inputted identification information does not match the stored user identification information, the apparatus requires that authentication information be provided by the user. In this case, the apparatus sends the inputted user authentication information to the authentication server, so that authentication is executed; and upon authentication, the apparatus stores the inputted user identification information in association with the inputted user authentication information. |
| US08572392B2 |
Access authentication method, information processing unit, and computer product
An input personal identification number (PIN) is encrypted, identification information to identify a computer that has generated an encrypted PIN is associated with the encrypted PIN, and the associated information is sent to a recording medium. When the recording medium is again connected to the computer, it is checked whether the identification information is present in the recording medium. If the identification information is present in the recording medium, the encrypted PIN associated with the identification information is decrypted. These processes can be performed on both computer side and recording medium side. |
| US08572387B2 |
Authentication of a peer in a peer-to-peer network
A method of authentication of a verifying device by a confirming device includes the confirming device receiving and storing a shared secret derived from at least a password of a user and sending a challenge. The method further includes the confirming device receiving a response to the challenge using the shared secret; determining if the response to the challenge is correct and if the response to the challenge is correct, authenticating the verifying device. |
| US08572386B2 |
Secure device, information processing terminal, integrated circuit, terminal application generation apparatus, application authentication method
The present invention is designed to enable a secure device to authenticate a terminal application that operates on an information processing terminal and that accesses the secure device. An application issue request transmitter (301) of the information processing terminal (30) sends a request for issue of a terminal application to an application issuer (101). The application issuer (101) of an secure device (10) reads a terminal application (31) from an application storage (105) and embeds authentication information in the terminal application (31), associates an ID and the authentication information of the terminal application (31) and save them in an issue information storage (106), and sends the terminal application (31) to an application receiver (302) of the information processing terminal through an application transmitter (102). The application receiver (302) starts the terminal application (31). An application authenticator (311) of the terminal application (31) performs an authentication with the secure device (10) by means of the application authentication information. |
| US08572385B2 |
System and method for optimal verification of operations on dynamic sets
A system and method for cryptographically checking the correctness of outsourced set operations performed by an untrusted server over a dynamic collection of sets that are owned (and updated) by a trusted source is disclosed. The system and method provides new authentication mechanisms that allow any entity to publicly verify a proof attesting the correctness of primitive set operations such as intersection, union, subset and set difference. Based on a novel extension of the security properties of bilinear-map accumulators as well as on a primitive called accumulation tree, the system and method achieves optimal verification and proof complexity, as well as optimal update complexity, while incurring no extra asymptotic space overhead. The method provides an efficient proof construction, adding a logarithmic overhead to the computation of the answer of a set-operation query. Applications of interest include efficient verification of keyword search and database queries. |
| US08572382B2 |
Out-of band authentication method and system for communication over a data network
A method and system for out-of-band authentication of messages transmitted, e.g. as packets, on a communication network, whereby a first stream of data is received by a sender control module from a sender; the first stream of data is transmitted over a first channel, e.g. a non-secure data channel, toward a receiver control module; the sender control module generates authentication data of the first stream of data; the authentication data are transmitted from the sender control module to the receiver control module on a second channel, e.g. a secure data channel, distinct from the first channel; and a stream of data received by the receiver control module is checked using the authentication data. Before sending the authentication data, the sender control module transmits a control message including synchronization data to the receiver control module over the second channel. |
| US08572380B2 |
Streaming system and streaming method
A streaming system includes an authoring unit (2), a stream server (3) and a client terminal (5). The authoring unit generates a file composed of encrypted contents data and the ancillary information at least containing the packetizing control information for generating an RTP packet, a non-encrypted codec dependent header made up of the information pertinent to encoded contents data, and the encryption information for decrypting the encrypted contents data form packet to packet. The streaming server packetizes the encrypted contents data along with at least the codec dependent header and distributes the resulting data as a stream. The client terminal refers to the codec dependent header of the received packet, re-assembles the packet, and decrypts the encrypted contents data of the re-assembled packet to generate contents data. |
| US08572379B2 |
Private access to hash tables
A server and a client mutually exclusively execute server-side and client-side commutative cryptographic processes and server-side and client-side commutative permutation processes. The server has access to a hash table, while the client does not. The server and client perform a method including: encrypting and reordering the hash table using the server; communicating the encrypted and reordered hash table to the client; further encrypting and further reordering the hash table using the client; communicating the further encrypted and further reordered hash table back to the server; and partially decrypting and partially undoing the reordering using the server to generate a double-blind hash table. To read an entry, the client hashes and permute an index key and communicates same to the server which retrieves an item from the double-blind hash table using the hashed and permuted index key and sends it back to the client which decrypts the retrieved item. |
| US08572377B2 |
Method for authentication
A method for authentication of a first party, A, to a second party, B, by a trusted third party, C, is disclosed. A is registered at C, and the method comprises the steps of receiving a identification data of A from A; determining, based on the identification data, if A has the right to request a random private key, RPK; and generating a temporary RPK. Further, C combines the RPK and a random open key, ROK, to form a single use temporary master authentication code; transmits the RPK to A; and, upon receipt of the RPK and the ROK from B, determines if the received RPK and ROK matches a valid single use temporary master authentication code; and authenticates, in case of match, A to B. The first party, A, may be any handheld device, such as a mobile phone, or a PDA, or a stationary device, such as a stationary computer or an ATM. The communication between the parties may be wired or wireless. A corresponding system is also disclosed. |
| US08572376B2 |
Decryption of electronic communication in an electronic discovery enterprise system
Apparatus, methods and computer program products are described herein for automatically decrypting electronic communication that is harvested from custodians in an enterprise-wide electronic discovery system. Automatic decryption provides for electronic communication that is encrypted to be decrypted, even in instances in which the system is not provided the password and/or decryption key(s) from the encrypting custodian. The automatic decryption process, which ensues prior to delivering data to the third party data analysis provider or the requesting party, allows for data that may otherwise be unavailable or incomprehensible to the third party or requester to be readily accessible. Thus, decryption of such data in a relatively efficient and automated manner is highly beneficial. |
| US08572366B1 |
Authenticating clients
This disclosure provides a system and method for client authentication that allows a service provider to implement multiple authentication challenges to verify a user/client. The system includes an extractor, a comparer, and an attributer. The extractor receives an Internet protocol source address from a client and extracts a media access control address. The extractor also determines a source identifier of the client from the media access control address. The comparer compares the extracted media access control address with a client media access control address associated with the client, and signals execution of one or more client authentication challenges when the extracted media access control address fails to match the at least one client media access control address associated with the client. The attributer associates the source identifier with the client after successful execution of a client authentication challenge. |
| US08572365B2 |
Information gathering system, terminal unit, program for information gathering, and program for a terminal
A host computer adds a keycode to e-mail and a terminal unit leads an information gathering candidate to add reply information to the e-mail. When the host computer receives the e-mail to which reply information has been added, the host computer stores the reply information in one of data storage areas having a memory address corresponding to a memory address associated the keycode of the e-mail. |
| US08572362B2 |
Preinstalled operating system instances stored on removable storage devices
One or more removable storage devices inserted into a computing device store a number of different preinstalled operating system instances. The computing device has a number of logical partitions. Each logical partition is independently executed on the computing device. Each logical partition is mapped to and uses one of the different preinstalled operating system instances. As such, a given preinstalled operating system instance to which a given logical partition is mapped is used by the given logical partition without ever having to be installed on the given logical partition. |
| US08572359B2 |
Runtime extraction of data parallelism
Mechanisms for extracting data dependencies during runtime are provided. The mechanisms execute a portion of code having a loop and generate, for the loop, a first parallel execution group comprising a subset of iterations of the loop less than a total number of iterations of the loop. The mechanisms further execute the first parallel execution group and determining, for each iteration in the subset of iterations, whether the iteration has a data dependence. Moreover, the mechanisms commit store data to system memory only for stores performed by iterations in the subset of iterations for which no data dependence is determined. Store data of stores performed by iterations in the subset of iterations for which a data dependence is determined is not committed to the system memory. |
| US08572357B2 |
Monitoring events and incrementing counters associated therewith absent taking an interrupt
A monitoring facility that is operable in two modes allowing compatibility with prior existing monitoring facilities. In one mode, in response to encountering a monitored event, an interrupt is generated. In another mode, in response to encountering a monitored event, one or more associated counters are incremented without causing an interrupt. |
| US08572352B2 |
Virtualization controller and data transfer control method
System for controlling data transfer between a host system and storage devices. A virtualization controller implements the data transfer and includes first ports for connection with the storage devices, a second port for connection with the host system, a processor, and a memory configured to store volume mapping information which correlates first identification information used by the host system to access a first storage area in one of the storage devices, with second identification information for identifying the first storage area, the correlation being used by the processor to access the first storage area. When data stored in the first storage area is transferred to a second storage area, the processor correlates the first identification information with a third identification information for identifying the second storage area and registers the first identification information and the third identification information in the volume mapping information. |
| US08572351B2 |
Memory device with serial protocol and corresponding method of addressing
The memory device comprises a physical memory plane (PMP) comprising m first physical lines (RGP1i) extending along a first direction and n second physical lines (RGP2j) extending along a second direction, reception means for receiving a logical address (ADR) designating a first logical line (RG1i) and a second logical line (RG2j) of a matrix logical memory plane (PML), possessing 2p first logical lines extending along the first direction and 2q second logical lines extending along the second direction, in that m and n are each different from a power of two, m being a multiple of 2k, k being less than or equal to p, and the product of m and n being equal to the nearest integer above 2p+q, and in that it comprises means for addressing the physical memory plane (PMP) that are configured to address a first physical line and a part only of a second physical line on the basis of the content of the said logical address received and of the remainder of a Euclidean division of a part of the content of this logical address received by m/2k. |
| US08572350B2 |
Memory management, memory control system and writing method for managing rewritable semiconductor non-volatile memory of a memory storage system
A memory management and writing method for managing a memory module is provided. The memory module has a plurality of memory units and a plurality of data input/output buses corresponding to the memory units. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical units, dividing each of the logical units as a plurality of logical parts, and mapping the logical parts of each of the logical units to physical blocks of the memory units. The method also includes respectively establishing mapping tables corresponding to the data input/output buses, and only using one of the data input/output buses to write data from a host system into the corresponding memory unit according to the mapping table corresponding to the data input/output bus. Accordingly, the method can effectively increase the speed of writing data into the memory module. |
| US08572346B2 |
Storage system and method for efficiently utilizing storage capacity within a storage system
In a storage system 1, a storage apparatus A having a first pool 1430 including segments as unit storage areas and a storage apparatus B having a second pool 1430 having the same configuration are communicably connected to each other. In the storage system, an external volume identifier is associated with a logical volume 1420 included in the first pool 1430, the external volume identifier being used by a controller 1500 in the storage apparatus B to identify and manage the logical volume 1420 as an external volume 1425 that is a virtual volume in the storage apparatus B. Moreover, a volume identifier 5110 of the logical volume 1420 included in the first pool 1430 is rewritten into the external volume identifier in order to enable the storage apparatus B to utilize the logical volume 1420 created from the first pool 1430. |
| US08572337B1 |
Systems and methods for performing live backups
A computer-implemented method for performing live backups may include identifying a request to perform a live backup on a volume of data. The computer-implemented method may also include creating a snapshot of the volume. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying each attempt to write to the volume during the live backup. The computer-implemented method may additionally include, for each write attempt, identifying a block of data that the write attempt will overwrite and copying the block of data to a backup queue before allowing the write attempt. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08572334B2 |
System and method for locking portions of a memory card
An improved integrated circuit is provided to facilitate communication between a microprocessor and a non-volatile memory. The integrated circuit comprises at least one lock status register, at least one control register and a memory controller. The lock status register comprises a plurality of lock status bits representing whether or not a corresponding unit of storage in the volatile memory has been locked. The control register stores configurable control information for the memory controller, including sizing information defining the size of the unit of storage. The memory controller is configured to receive a modification request to modify data in the non-volatile memory; determine a target unit of storage in the non-volatile memory based on a target memory address associated with the modification request; determine from the lock status register whether the target unit of storage has been locked; and implement the modification request only if the target unit storage has not been locked. A method to be implemented by the circuit is also provided. |
| US08572332B2 |
De-interleaving mechanism involving a multi-banked LLR buffer
A de-interleaver generates a plurality of De-interleaved Reorder Physical (DRP) addresses to simultaneously write a corresponding plurality of LLR values into a multi-banked memory such that not more than one LLR value is written into each bank of the multi-banked memory at a time. A sequence of such parallel writes results in the LLR values of a transmission of a sub-packet being stored in the memory. Address translation performed during generation of the DRP addresses causes the LLR values to be stored within the banks such that a decoder can read LLR values out of the memory in a de-interleaved sequence. Each memory location of a bank is a word-location for storing multiple related LLR values, where one LLR value is stored along with its parity values. The ability to simultaneously write to multiple LLR values is used to clear locations in a fast and efficient manner. |
| US08572319B2 |
Method for calculating tier relocation cost and storage system using the same
Conventionally, the fees for using services of a storage system was calculated based on the status of use or access performance of storage areas and not based on migration of data. The present invention provides a storage system in which multiple tiers composed of storage areas of various memory devices are assigned in page units and the assigned tiers are changed based on access frequency, wherein stored costs are calculated based on status of use of the storage areas constituting the tiers, and migration costs are calculated and charged based on the amount of migration of data among tiers and the I/O access counts after migration, according to which appropriate charging of cost for using the storage system is enabled. |
| US08572318B2 |
Method and system for distributing multiple storage devices to multiple tiers in a storage apparatus
A management system of a storage apparatus, which exercises control so as to arrange data in a storage device of a certain tier of multiple tiers, carries out a first tier definition process (a process for distributing multiple storage devices to multiple tiers based on respective storage device types of the multiple storage devices and type/tier information that denotes the corresponding relationship between multiple storage device types and multiple tiers). Subsequent to the first tier definition process, the management system acquires performance information denoting the performance of a storage device for each of the multiple storage devices. The management system carries out a second tier definition process (a process for distributing the multiple storage devices to the multiple tiers based on the performance information of multiple storage devices such that two or more storage devices of similar performance are distributed to the same tier). |
| US08572315B2 |
Smart optimization of tracks for cloud computing
Optimization of tracks on a hard disk includes: determining I/O characteristics for data clusters to be stored on the hard disk; generating a set of solutions for each possible placement configuration; for each solution, calculating a plurality of cost functions using the I/O characteristics for the plurality of data clusters; for each solution, calculating a membership value using the cost function values; for each solution, calculating a fitness value using the membership value; retaining the solutions with the fitness value greater than a predetermined threshold; determining whether at least one stopping condition has been met; if not, adding new solutions to the retained solutions to generate the next set of solutions; and repeating the calculating the membership value, the calculating the fitness value, and the retaining the solutions with the fitness value greater than the predetermined threshold until at least one stopping condition has been met. |
| US08572313B2 |
Methods and apparatus providing high-speed content addressable memory (CAM) search-invalidates
Embodiments of a Content Addressable Memory (CAM) enabling high-speed search and invalidate operations and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, the CAM includes a CAM cell array including a number of CAM cells and a valid bit cell configured to generate a match indicator, and blocking circuitry configured to block an output of the valid bit cell from altering the match indicator during an invalidate process of a search and invalidate operation. Preferably, the output of the valid bit cell is blocked from affecting the match indicator for the CAM cell array beginning at a start of the invalidate process and continuing until an end of the search and invalidate operation. |
| US08572312B2 |
Data de-duplication and solid state memory device
Example methods and apparatus concern identifying placement and/or erasure data for a flash memory based solid state device that supports de-duplication. One example apparatus include a processor, a memory, a set of logics and an interface to connect the processor, the memory, and the set of logics. The apparatus may include an SSD placement logic configured to determine placement data for a de-duplication data set. The placement data may be based on forensic data acquired for the de-duplication data set. The apparatus may also include a write logic configured to write at least a portion of the de-duplication data set to an SSD as controlled by the placement data. The forensic data may identify, for example, the order in which sub-blocks are accessed, reference counts, access frequency, access groups, and other access information. |
| US08572311B1 |
Redundant data storage in multi-die memory systems
A method for data storage includes, in a memory that includes at least N memory units, each memory unit including memory blocks, defining superblocks, each superblock including a respective set of N of the memory blocks that are allocated respectively in N different ones of the memory units, such that compaction of all the memory blocks in a given superblock is performed without any intervening programming operation in the given superblock. Data is stored in the memory by computing redundancy information for a selected portion of the data, and storing the selected portion and the redundancy information in the N memory blocks of a selected superblock. |
| US08572310B2 |
Invalidating storage area of non-volatile storage medium based on metadata
In one aspect, meta data corresponding to a non-volatile storage media is read from the non-volatile storage media. Meta data to be updated is detected from the read meta data. Based on the read meta data and the detected meta data to be updated, storage areas of the non-volatile storage media are invalidated. |
| US08572307B2 |
Memory controller, memory card, and nonvolatile memory system
A nonvolatile memory system includes a memory card (102) and host equipment (101). The memory card (102) includes a nonvolatile memory (106) including a plurality of physical blocks, and a memory controller (105) for writing data into the nonvolatile memory (106). The host equipment (101) provides to the memory card (102) an access instruction that designates a logical address and a channel number. The memory controller (105) has an address conversion function for converting the logical address into a physical address in the nonvolatile memory (106), a write destination determination function for determining in relation to the channel number a physical address in the nonvolatile memory (106) to which the data is to be written, and a channel management function for individually managing for each channel number a write state in which data of a smaller size than each physical block is written. |
| US08572305B2 |
Apparatus and method for configuring a bus system
The present invention relates to an apparatus for configuring a bus system which includes a plurality of participants as well as a bus master and a safety monitor having an input unit by means of which suitable configuration information can be entered and/or selected for the configuration of the bus system and having a configuration unit configured to configure both the bus master and also the safety monitor by means of at least a piece of identical common configuration information input or selected via the input unit. The invention further relates to a method which can be carried out by the apparatus in accordance with the invention. |
| US08572302B1 |
Controller for storage device with improved burst efficiency
A controller and a method for interfacing between a host and storage medium. A storage medium interface includes CH0 circuitry for performing a CH0 process to access a buffer memory on behalf of the storage medium. A host interface includes CH1 circuitry for performing a CH1 process to access the buffer memory on behalf of the host. Access to the buffer memory is arbitrated in sequential tenures to each channel of the multi-channel bus within a maximum arbitration round trip time defined by the time taken by the storage medium to move a distance corresponding to N sectors in which N is greater than one. In the CH0 tenure, the CH0 process transfers data corresponding to N sectors of the storage medium in a multi-sector burst. The length of the tenure of the CH0 channel is pre-designated so that the multi-sector burst is completed within the CH0 tenure. |
| US08572295B1 |
Bus traffic profiling
Methods and systems for analyzing bus traffic in a target device, such as a system on-a-chip (SOC) comprises capturing a processor event and generating an interrupt based on a threshold associated with the processor event. Based on at least the interrupt, a instruction pointer associated with the processor event that generated the interrupt is identified. An instruction analyzer identifies a memory address of the instruction associated with the processor event that generated the interrupt. At least the processor event and a associated instruction information are collected by a sample collector and transferred to a host for performance profiling. |
| US08572293B2 |
System and method for ordering haptic effects
A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot. |
| US08572287B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating compression state information for interactive compression
A method of determining, at a mobile device, side information including compression state information. The method includes receiving, from a server, a unique side information identifier identifying a unit of side information used by the server for compressing data, determining, based on the side information identifier, if the unit of side information is resident on said device, and if the unit of side information is resident on the mobile device, loading the side information for decompressing the data. Otherwise, if the unit of side information is not resident on the mobile device, the method includes requesting the unit of side information from one of the server and another device. |
| US08572286B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping an appropriate service version for a client
Distributed data processing systems that provide services at two network addresses have their interfaces described in a published interface description document available at a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”). The interface description of the second of the services replaces the interface description of the first of the services. Related methods, computer readable media, and systems to benefit from an embodiment of the invention are also described and claimed. |
| US08572283B2 |
Selectively applying network address port translation to data traffic through a gateway in a communications network
Network Address Port Translation (NAPT) may be selectively applied to data traffic through a gateway in a communications network. The data traffic may be received at a primary gateway in the communications network. The primary gateway may then analyze the received data traffic to determine a network path. The primary gateway may then determine whether to apply NAPT to the received data traffic based on whether the network path terminates at a first service provider network or a second service provider network. The primary gateway may apply NAPT on the received data traffic upon determining that the network path terminates at the first service provider network or bridge the received data traffic to a secondary gateway upon determining that the network path terminates at the second service provider network. |
| US08572279B2 |
System and method for transmission of data
A system and method for data communication connecting on-line networks with on-line and off-line computers. The present system provides for broadcast of up to the minute notification centric information thereby providing an instant call to action for users who are provided with the ability to instantaneously retrieve further detailed information. The notification centric portions of information is wirelessly broadcast to wireless receiving devices which are attached to computing devices. Upon receipt of the information at the personal computer, the user is notified through different multimedia alerts that there is an incoming message. Wirelessly broadcasted URL's, associated with the data, are embedded in data packets and provide an automated wired or wireless connection back to the information source for obtaining detailed data. |
| US08572276B2 |
Pipelining protocols in misaligned buffer cases
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for effecting a desired collective operation on a parallel computing system that includes multiple compute nodes. The compute nodes may pipeline multiple collective operations to effect the desired collective operation. To select protocols suitable for the multiple collective operations, the compute nodes may also perform additional collective operations. The compute nodes may pipeline the multiple collective operations and/or the additional collective operations to effect the desired collective operation more efficiently. |
| US08572275B2 |
Method, system and software for dynamically extracting content for integration with electronic mail
The invention is a system and method, with implementing computer program code, that automatically and dynamically formats an electronic mail (e-mail) message by extracting selected text and graphical components of a web page and “wrapping” the extracted computer data about the e-mail message. Thus the extracted data forms a border about the e-mail message. The invention provides for the use of company designs and trademarks in e-mail messages without the addition of local software components resident on the user's computer, and without compromising the functionality of standard e-mail software programs. The invention wraps the e-mail received through a gateway server and sends out the wrapped e-mail to the destination (recipient) designated by the sender in the original, unwrapped message. |
| US08572271B2 |
Multimedia management system for seamless multimedia content mobility
In general, techniques are described for providing a multimedia management system to facilitate multimedia content mobility. More specifically, an apparatus may implement the techniques. The apparatus may comprise one or more wireless modems and a control unit. The one or more wireless modems receive multimedia content in a first format from a first application over a wireless communication channel. The control unit includes a Multimedia Management System (MMS) that configures the control unit to provide a multimedia bridge between the first format and a second format, where the second format is supported by a second application. The configured multimedia bridge transforms the multimedia content from the first format to the second format concurrent to the one or more wireless modems receiving a portion of the multimedia content. |
| US08572270B2 |
Method and apparatus for backing up TCP connection
A method for backing up a TCP connection includes a data transmission process and a data receiving process. The data transmission process includes obtaining, by an AMB of a transmitting end, boundary information of data; and backing up the data and the boundary information of the data to a SMB of the transmitting end. The data receiving process includes backing up, by the SMB, data received from a peer side of the TCP connection and the boundary information of the data received by the peer side to the AMB; and deleting the data received by the peer side from the data backed up by the SMB during the transmission process according to the boundary information of the data received by the peer side. The disclosure also provides an apparatus for backing up a TCP connection. |
| US08572266B2 |
Group management and graphical user interface for associated electronic devices
Methods and systems are provided for managing a group of portable communication devices. In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for managing a group of portable communication devices on an individual basis or an aggregate basis, the method comprising the steps of providing a list of the portable communication devices in the group, selecting a target portable communication device, determining the location of the target portable communication device, and presenting the location of the target portable communication device. The method may further comprise the step of determining whether the group has sufficient credit for acquiring the location of the portable communication devices in the group. |
| US08572265B2 |
Opportunistic network updates
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing opportunistic network updates. In one aspect, a method includes determining, by a queue manager on a mobile device that has a network interface, to fulfill one or more requests to upload or download data through the network interface, and in response to determining to fulfill the requests, applying, by the queue manager, one or more rules to the requests, to classify each request as a request that is to be fulfilled, or a request that is not to be fulfilled. The method also includes causing, by the queue manager, the requests that are classified as to be fulfilled to be fulfilled, or the requests that are classified as not to be fulfilled to not be fulfilled. |
| US08572264B2 |
Systems and methods for state awareness across communication channels and statefully transitioning between communication channels
A system for providing state awareness across communication channels and statefully transitioning a user between a source channel and a destination channel is disclosed. The method may comprise storing a unique identifier associated with the user and data associated with the user, retrieving the data associated with the user based upon the user identifier and in response to the user entering the destination channel that is different from the source channel, and populating the data associated with the user in the destination channel. The destination channel may comprise a display of a customer service representative, and the populating may occur automatically. Furthermore, the method may comprise placing a call to a telephone number associated with the user in response to at least one of: the user answering a requisite number of questions in the source channel and the user requesting a transition to a voice destination channel. |
| US08572263B1 |
Push gateway systems and methods
A push gateway includes a number of socket servers, a queue server, and arbiter serving, a mapping server and a number of worker servers. Each of the socket servers and the arbiter server includes a network interface. The queue server is coupled to the socket servers for bidirectional communication with the socket servers. The mapping server is coupled to the arbiter server and to the socket servers for bidirectional communication with the arbiter server and each of the socket servers. The worker servers are coupled to the queue server and the mapping server. The arbiter server is configured to facilitate communications over a network with the worker servers by at least partially balancing loads on the number of socket servers based, at least in part, upon the mapping server. |
| US08572259B2 |
Data communication terminal, proxy device, data communication system, and data communication method
A technique for easily realizing data communication without limiting the application layer protocol during data communication while maintaining the proxy function. A mobile communication terminal (2) includes a control protocol processing section (203) which transmits an address request to a proxy device (5) to acquire global address information using the HTTP that is preset so as to be used by the mobile communication terminal (2) and the proxy device (5), a TCP/UDP data transmitter/receiver section (205) which establishes a connection with the proxy device (5), and an application section (201) which transmits data via a communication path between the proxy device (5) and a server device (6) using the global address information as the transmitter address. The control protocol processing section (203) transmits information relating to the connection destination of the server device (6) to the proxy device (5) using the HTTP, and requests a connection between the proxy device (5) and the server device (6) using a predetermined transport layer protocol. |
| US08572256B2 |
Method for supporting multiple diversified data applications with efficient use of network resources
To enable applications to share an established data connection, communication configuration parameters identified by a new application are compared to the parameters requested by applications already sharing the data connection. If there are no conflicts with exclusive configuration parameter(s) required by a new application, a union rule is applied to each shareable configuration parameter of the new and currently executing applications using the data connection to determine a mutually acceptable configuration. Also determined is a measure of the degree to which all applications are supported by a compromise parameter determined by the union rule. The data connection best supporting the sharable parameters of the new and executing applications is assigned to the new application. When an application terminates, the union rules may be applied to parameters requested by the remaining applications to reconfigure the data connection. A similar process may be used when an application requests changes to configuration parameters. |
| US08572254B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing and validating secure network sessions
A method and system that employ a central server with an associated database and a Master Agent for establishing a TCP/IP connection between a client and an application server associated with a Remote Agent. The application server hosts one or more business software applications for the client, and the client accesses the one or more business software applications at the application server using the established TCP/IP session. Files created by the client using the one or more business software applications at the application server are maintained and backed-up periodically at the application server by a service provider on behalf of the client. |
| US08572252B2 |
Extensible dynamic performance instrumentation of pages
Gathering performance information with respect to delivering web resources as perceived by a user at the web client. A method includes receiving a request for a web page. As a result of receiving the request, a first set of executable instructions are sent. The first set of executable instructions are configured to indicate a plurality of resources required to be at least one of downloaded to or rendered at the client for the web page to be considered loaded at the client. The first set of executable instructions are also configured to determine when each individual resource in the required resources have been be at least one of downloaded to or rendered at the client. The first set of executable instructions are also configured to determine a length of time associated with at least one of downloading to or rendering at the client the resources in the plurality of resources. |
| US08572251B2 |
Hardware acceleration for remote desktop protocol
A method for offloading remote terminal services processing tasks to a peripheral device that would otherwise be performed in a computer system's processor and memory. In one embodiment, the disclosed method is utilized in a layered network model, wherein computing tasks that are typically performed in network applications are instead offloaded to a peripheral such as a network interface card (NIC). |
| US08572246B2 |
Method and apparatus for home network access
A manner of extending a home network to a mobile device. An FA (foreign agent) in the mobile device registers with an HA (home agent) in the home network, preferable exchanging static UIDs (unique identifiers) and certificates. The HA creates an address for the FA and maintains a registration table listing all registered FAs. The FA registration is in most cases performed while the FA is operating non-remotely and directly connected to a component of the home network. The HA registers with an SG (signaling gateway) in a secure manner and awaits a request for access to the home network. After registration with the SG, the HA initiates a heartbeat message that is acknowledged by the SG. When an FA access request is received from the SG, the HA determines whether the FA is registered with the HA and any applicable access limitations prior to granting or rejecting access. |
| US08572243B2 |
Video aware paths
Analytics describing video data published to one or more destination sites are calculated. Metrics describing performance of the video data, such as performance in different geographical areas, in different demographics and in different devices are calculated. An interface simplifies calculation of the video metrics to simplify analysis by allowing a user to identify different videos or sets of videos for analysis. Additionally, interaction with one or more web pages including the video data is also captured and combined with video data performance metrics. For example, the effect of video data on navigation between web pages within a website is described by one or more navigation paths accounting for interaction with video data. |