| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08608445B2 |
Centrifugal pump impellers
A centrifugal pump impeller includes front and back shrouds and a plurality of pumping vanes therebetween, each pumping vane having a leading edge in the region of an impeller inlet and a trailing edge, the front shroud has an arcuate inner face in the region of the impeller inlet, the arcuate inner face having a radius of curvature (Rs) in the range from 0.05 to 0.16 of the outer diameter of the impeller (D2) The back shroud includes an inner main face and a nose having a curved profile with a nose apex in the region of the central axis which extends towards the front shroud, there being a curved transition region between the inner main face and the nose. Fr is the radius of curvature of the transition region and the ratio Fr/D2 is from 0.32 to 0.65. Other ratios of various dimensions of the impeller are also described. |
| US08608441B2 |
Rotatable blade apparatus with individually adjustable blades
The lengths and/or chords and/or pitches of wind turbine or propeller blades are individually established, so that a first blade can have a length/chord/pitch that is different at a given time to the length/chord/pitch of a second blade to optimize performance and/or to equalize stresses on the system. |
| US08608440B2 |
Simplified system for controlling propeller blade pitch in an aircraft turboshaft engine
A system for controlling propeller blade pitch in a turboshaft engine, including: a first track connected to a propeller blade, of which the rotation provides for the setting of the incidence of this blade; a second track; a member actuating the first track, arranged between the first and second tracks, and having a recessed angular portion; and at least one locking member provided between the first and second tracks, housed in the recessed angular portion and in the notch. The locking member can occupy a normal over-center position rendering the first and second tracks integral in rotation, and a release position authorizing the displacement in rotation of a unit including the first track, the locking member, and the actuating member. |
| US08608434B2 |
Variable geometry turbine
A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel mounted within a housing assembly for rotation about a turbine axis, the housing assembly defining a radial gas flow inlet passage; an annular wall member defining one wall of the inlet passage and which is displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis to control gas flow through the inlet passage; and a linkage mechanism comprising at least one actuating member operably connected to the annular wall member to control displacement of the wall member. The actuating member extends in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis through an aperture defined by a retaining member such that a first bearing surface defined by the actuating member extending transverse to the turbine axis is contacted by a surface of the retaining member so as to connect the actuating member to the annular wall member. The aperture is appropriately dimensioned to define a clearance between a wall of the aperture and a portion of the actuating member located within the aperture so as to accommodate displacement of the retaining member, resulting from displacement of the annular wall member, relative to the actuating member. |
| US08608432B2 |
Cooling system
A fan configured for integration with a structure having at least two support members is disclosed. The fan comprises a fan guard, a fan blade surrounded by the fan guard, and first and second mounting brackets. Each of the first and second mounting brackets is configured for connection to a respective one of the support members. The fan also comprises first and second connectors oppositely disposed on the fan guard and configured for connection to a respective one of first and second mounting brackets. The first and second connectors are adjustable with respect to the first and second mounting brackets, and the fan is configured to rotate between at least two struts. Rotation of the fan between the at least two struts is limited such that an opening defined by one of the struts and said fan guard does not exceed a predetermined size. |
| US08608428B2 |
Submersible centrifugal pump with normal and ejector modes of operation
The present invention relates to a submersible centrifugal pump assembly comprising an impeller suspended in the end of a drive shaft, and driven in rotation relative to an impeller seat which is stationary in normal operation and which defines an axial intake for liquid to be transported by the impeller in rotation. The pump assembly is characterized in that the impeller seat is journalled in a pump housing for limited rotational movements in opposite directions of rotation relative to the pump housing, and in rotation controlled in guide means for limited linear displacements in opposite axial directions relative to the impeller. |
| US08608421B1 |
Nut tightening system
A device for applying rotational torque to a fastener (such as a nut) on a fastening member (such as a threaded rod) to maintain the tight fastening. One specific embodiment of the device uses a recoil spring to apply such torque directly to the fastener; the device enables continued tightening of the fastener long after the initial fastening occurs. |
| US08608416B2 |
Cargo supporting device
The present invention discloses a cargo supporting device, addressing a problem in prior art conventional cargo supporting devices, where the teeth on the handle might be brought in dead lock with the teeth on the inner tube. The present cargo supporting device includes an inner tube and an outer tube, and the outer tube is hinged to a handle. The outer tube is further hinged with a jogged part which keeps being inserted among the teeth. A clutch mechanism is provided between the handle and the jogged part. The handle can be connected with the jogged part by means of the clutch mechanism. The handle can be disengaged from the jogged part by said clutch mechanism when the handle is turned to the inner tube. Therefore the gear would not be brought in dead lock with the teeth of the inner tube during the aforesaid two states being switched. |
| US08608415B2 |
Intermodal transport platform
A collapsible intermodal transport platform and methods for its operation are disclosed. The invention comprises first braces that rotate about a mounting point on the frame that supports a cargo loading surface. The first braces are positioned along the platform so as to provide lifting and stacking fitments at the standard overhead crane lifting points when in a lift configuration. The first braces may be rotated inboard down to the loading surface, thereby presenting stacking blocks at the crane lifting points for stacking several platforms together. Second braces attach to the first braces to assist in load distribution. The second braces may assist in translating the platform from one position to another by rotating along a wheel. Other features and aspects disclosed lend to the invention's low weight and high carrying capacity, as well as its unique load securing features. |
| US08608413B2 |
Shank attachment device
A shank attachment device attaches a core drill to a rotating portion of a drill device and includes an arbor and a shank. The arbor is detachably attachable to the rotating portion. The arbor and the shank are detachably attachable to each other. The shank is detachably attachable to the core drill. A stopper engages a groove of the shank to stop a movement of the shank in an axial direction away from the arbor. A rotational torque of the arbor can be transmitted to the shank by engaging a first engaging portion of the arbor with a first engaged portion of the shank. The shank contacts the arbor to stop the movement of the shank in the axial direction toward the arbor. |
| US08608411B2 |
Device for consolidating soils by means of mechanical mixing and injection of consolidating fluids
Device (1) for consolidating soils by mechanical mixing and injection of consolidating fluids is designed to be connected to one or more drilling rods and to carry out operations of drilling and mixing. The device has a main body (10), one or more blades (30) (30′) (30″), which are mobile with respect to the body (10) and are constrained by cams (22) to a central structure (20) internal to the body (10). The device (1) has channels for the flow of fluids (40), which are connected in a liquid-tight way to at least one sprayer; a relative motion is generated between the central structure (20) and the external body (10) as a function of the pressure of a liquid introduced into the channels for the flow of fluids (40), which brings about opening of the blades (30) (30′) (30″). |
| US08608408B1 |
Secondary column enhanced tension leg platform
A tension leg platform for use in offshore hydrocarbon production and drilling operations, wherein the tension leg platform can include a plurality of column pairs. Each column pair can include a primary column connected with a secondary column and a secondary pontoon between the primary column and secondary column. The primary columns can be configured to support a deck, and the secondary columns can be connected with the primary column below the draft of the tension leg platform. The tension leg platform can also include a plurality of primary pontoons for connecting the primary columns to one another. |
| US08608400B2 |
Position arrangement device and joint module thereof
According to an example embodiment, a position arrangement device includes at least one joint module between a first base and a second base. The at least one joint module is configured to adjust a position of the second base relative to the first base based on elastic flexion in the joint module. |
| US08608394B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes: a plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member, the supporting shaft being inserted into a supporting shaft insertion hole provided to the frame member or to the cover, the supporting shaft insertion hole being elongated in a direction having a vertical component when the cover closes the space; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member when the cover closes the space, the positioning mechanism including at least two projections that project from one of the frame member and the cover, and that are spaced apart from each other in a direction of an axis of the supporting shaft, and projection insertion holes provided to the other one of the frame member and the cover to receive corresponding projections when the cover closes the space. |
| US08608391B2 |
Shock-absorbing mechanism for movable mirror of camera
A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera, includes a movable mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a mirror-advancing shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a mirror-retracting shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The mirror-advancing shock-absorbing member is held in a position so as not to contact with the movable mirror by the mirror-retracting shock-absorbing member when the movable mirror is in the viewfinder light-guiding position. |
| US08608385B2 |
Main bearing for engine with high belt load
A main bearing (20) for supporting a rotating crankshaft (56) includes an upper shell (22) and a lower shell (24). An upper inner surface (32) of the upper shell (22) has an oil supply groove (26) extending circumferentially therealong, an oil stem groove (28) extending obliquely from the oil supply groove (26), and a pair of oil distribution grooves (30) extending from the oil stem groove (28) along and parallel to the oil supply groove (26) to present an F-shape along the upper inner surface (32) of the main bearing (20). The oil grooves (26, 28, 30) provide for improved lubrication of the main bearing (20) at startup and when the engine is idle or stopped, especially in electric and hybrid vehicles. The main bearing (20) also has exceptional strength and load bearing capacity. |
| US08608383B2 |
System for holding a linear motion guide track to a support base and method therefor
A system for securing a linear motion guide track (1010) to a support extrusion (1030) comprises an elongated wedge (1040) having a protrusion configured for insertion in a slit in one side of the well of the support extrusion for positioning the wedge in the well, the wedge having deformable teeth on a side opposite the protrusion such that insertion of the guide track in the well deforms the teeth of the wedge thereby securely holding the guide track in the support extrusion. |
| US08608381B2 |
Easy pour bag
Vertical fill and form bags fabricated from flexible packaging film are provided with at least one transverse seal at an oblique angle. Upon opening, the oblique angled seal provides a natural use easy pour dispensing feature. The bag is intuitively and ergonomically easy to use to facilitate controlled pouring without spilling. The bag are especially useful for bulk particulate contents especially consumer food products such as ready-to-eat cereals for use in food service venues such as universities and hospitals. Apparatus and method of preparation for the productions of the easy pour bulk bags are described including using transverse sealers at least one of which is oriented at an angle such as to impart the oblique angled transverse seal. |
| US08608372B2 |
Portable timepiece
A wristwatch has a casing containing a movement. An insertion cylindrical portion of a pipe is inserted into a through-hole in a body of the casing, and the pipe is fixed to the body. A push-button has a button shaft engageable with a contact member of the movement through the pipe, and a push operation head connected to the button shaft and disposed outside the body. The button shaft has a first portion integrated with the head and a second portion screwed onto the first portion. The second portion has a diameter greater than that of the first portion and an engagement surface capable of approaching and being separated from a tip of the insertion cylindrical portion. The push-button is biased toward the outside of the body by a spring so the engagement surface is held in contact with the tip of the insertion cylindrical portion. |
| US08608370B1 |
Combination holding furnace and electromagnetic stirring vessel for high temperature and electrically conductive fluid materials
Apparatus for, and method of, containing, transferring and electromagnetically stirring an electrically conductive fluid is provided. A vessel is formed from spaced-apart annular structural elements, or hoops, that are bound together by a high-temperature electrical insulating material, which also forms the interior surface of the vessel. Reinforcing members are embedded in the high-temperature electrical insulating material and passed through the hoops. The vessel is disposed within an electrical stator having multiple electrical poles. Each pole is wound with a separate coil. Current can be supplied to each coil winding, with a suitable phase shift between currents to all coil windings, to achieve an electromagnetically induced stirring and heating of the electrically conductive fluid. The vessel may be removably disposed in the electrical stator so that the vessel can be transported to and from the electrical stator for induced stirring. |
| US08608366B2 |
Screw-shaped LED
A screw-shaped LED including a high power LED, a metal circuit board, power supply cords, and a screw-shaped housing. The high power LED and the metal circuit board are both mounted inside the screw-shaped housing. Within the housing, the high power LED is fixed on and electrically connected with the metal circuit board. The power supply cords are electrically connected with the metal circuit board and pass through the screw-shaped housing. |
| US08608365B2 |
Backlight fixing device with adjustable test angle
A backlight fixing device includes a base plate, a first slidable unit and a second slidable unit. The base plate includes an L-shaped bar formed on an upper surface of the base plate protruding from edges of two adjacent sides of the base plate. A first guiding groove and a second guiding groove are defined in the upper surface of the base plate and extended perpendicularly from the other two adjacent sides of the base plate towards a central area of the base plate correspondingly. The first slidable unit is movably attached to base plate to be movable along the first guiding groove. The second slidable unit is movably attached to base plate to be movable along the second guiding groove. The first slidable unit, the second slidable unit and the L-shaped bar form a receiving space for accommodating a backlight module. |
| US08608363B2 |
Recycling backlights with semi-specular components
A hollow light-recycling backlight has a “semi-specular” component providing a balance of specularly and diffusely reflected light improving the uniformity of the light output. The component may be arranged on the reflectors (1021), (1014) or inside the cavity (1016). This balance is achieved by designing the component's “transport ratio” defined by (F−B)/(F+B), (F and B are the amounts of incident light scattered forwards and backwards respectively by the component in the plane of the cavity) to lie in a certain range. Furthermore, the product of the front and back reflector “hemispherical” reflectivities should also lie in a given range. Alternatively, the “cavity transport value”, a measure of how well the cavity can spread injected light from the injection point to distant points in the cavity should lie in a further range and the “hemispherical” reflectivity of the back reflector should be >0.7. |
| US08608362B2 |
Collimating light engine
Collimating light engines, methods of making collimating light engines, and articles incorporating collimating light engines are disclosed. In one aspect, a light source and circuitry can be disposed between a reflector and a reflective baffle to form a collimating light engine. The light source is at least partially obscured from view by the reflective baffle. Light emitted from the light source is partially collimated upon leaving the light engine. Light uniformity of the output surface of a backlight can be proved by disposing an array of the collimating light engines in the backlight |
| US08608360B2 |
Liquid light guide having position retaining function
An illumination apparatus includes an irradiation source and a liquid light guide coupled thereto. The liquid light guide has the form of a goose neck. A liquid filled light guide tube of the liquid light guide is supported in a position retaining tube and at least one end of the light guiding tube, preferably the light input end, is supported rotatably in the position retaining tube. |
| US08608356B1 |
Underbody terrain lighting for off-road vehicles
The present invention may be used for illuminating the terrain in the proximity of the axles, differential, wheels and tires for off-road vehicles. An access cover of differential gear axle housing may have lateral ribs formed as part of the cover outside surface. A recess may be formed by recess walls as an element of the lateral ribs. A light emitting device may be mounted in the recess and may be electrically connected through a port in the recess walls to an electrical power source controllable from an off-road vehicle. |
| US08608352B2 |
Illuminating device
An illuminating device is disclosed in this invention. The illuminating device includes a shell, a light module, and a fan. The light module is disposed on the shell. The shell includes a sealed space. The fan is disposed within the sealed space. |
| US08608351B2 |
Removable optical component for luminaire
This is directed to a luminaire having a removable inner accessory and optical component. A luminaire can include a base and an outer accessory through which light generated by a light source placed in the base is transmitted. To customize the light emitted by the luminaire, an inner accessory having an optical component can be placed within the outer accessory. The optical component can be tuned to provide a light pattern corresponding to an environment in which the luminaire is placed. Because all of the components used to create the luminaire, other than the optical component, are standard, the luminaire can be easily constructed with a default optical component, but also easily customized at a minimal cost. In addition, the optical component can be recessed relative to the outer accessory to improve optical performance of the luminaire. |
| US08608348B2 |
Sealed electrical device with cooling system and associated methods
An electrical device and method are presented, the device having an enclosure defining an interior volume sealed from the environment and an electronic lighting apparatus, which may include a heat generating element such as a light source, a heat sink, and a fluid flow generator, and optionally a support offsetting the fluid flow generator form the heat sink. The heat sink may be positioned adjacent the heat generating element and transfer heat there from. The fluid flow generator may create a flow of fluid to transport heat away from the heat sink and to the enclosure. The electronic lighting apparatus may be carried by the enclosure and partially disposed within the interior volume of the enclosure. The electrical device may further include an optic carried by the enclosure. |
| US08608346B2 |
Backlight module and light guide plate fixture thereof
The present invention discloses a backlight module and a light guide plate (LGP) fixture thereof, wherein the LGP fixture comprises a LGP, a heat dissipation base and a plurality of clamps. The heat dissipation base is planar and correspondingly disposed below the LGP. The heat dissipation base is installed with the clamps on sides of the LGP. Each of the clamps has a bottom portion, and a retaining plate and at least one upright plate are vertically formed from the bottom portion. The upright plate and the retaining plate are clamped on the heat dissipation base, and the clamps are used to position the LGP. |
| US08608344B2 |
LED lighting structure
An LED lighting structure includes a main body and a filling body. The main body has a first side and a second side. The first side has multiple raised sections. The second side has multiple light incidence sections corresponding to the raised sections respectively. At least one recessed channel section is formed on the second side around the light incidence sections. The filling body is disposed in the channel section. The filling body provides waterproof effect to prevent humidity and alien particles from infiltrating into the channel section. Also, multiple main bodies can be quickly serially connected. |
| US08608338B2 |
Light source unit
A light source unit includes an LED mount bar and a set of LEDs. The LED mount bar has an inside channel that is located at a center portion of the LED mount bar, and outside channels that are located at outside portions of the LED mount bar, respectively. The set of LEDs is disposed in the inside channel and the outside channels. The set of LEDs is ranked into a plurality of chromaticity regions within a predetermined chromaticity range in a chromaticity coordinate system and ranked into a plurality of luminous flux ranges according to a luminous flux value of the LEDs, respectively. The inside channel including a plurality of first LEDs from a subset of the set of LEDs. The subset of LEDs is ranked in a predetermined chromaticity region of the chromaticity regions and ranked in a predetermined luminous flux range of the luminous flux ranges. |
| US08608336B2 |
Multifunction electricity generating assembly using solar power
A multifunction electricity generating assembly includes: a pivot seat mounted pivotally in a housing; a solar power collecting unit mounted selectively to the pivot seat, and including a carrier connected detachably to the pivot seat to co-rotate with the pivot seat relative to the housing, and formed with electrical contacts that contact respectively and electrically exposed conductive members of the pivot seat when the carrier is connected to the pivot seat, and a solar power collecting plate connected electrically to the electrical contacts, and carried on the carrier for converting solar power into electrical energy; and a rechargeable battery unit disposed in the housing for storing collecting plate, the electrical energy converted by the solar power collecting plate. |
| US08608335B2 |
Lighting apparatus with a boost
Lighting apparatus and structures are described to space electrical drivers from a light panel. In this way, a driver box housing the driver can be spaced from the light panel to communicate with pre-existing facilities (e.g. electrical wiring) and can serve the additional advantage of keeping the driver box out of standing water that may accumulate on the structure. |
| US08608334B2 |
Device for displaying and illuminating an image
Some embodiments may include a device for displaying and illuminating images. The device may include a housing including an interior portion. An opening in the housing may provide access to the interior portion. A viewing aperture may be formed in the housing. The device may include a light guide having a light source. The light guide may be removably received within the housing via the opening. The device may include a graphic medium with an image printed thereon. The graphic medium may be removeably received within the housing via the opening and guided via a guide surface disposed on a portion of the light guide. The graphic medium may be guided via the guide surface and positioned with respect to the light guide such that at least a portion of the image is viewable through the aperture and at least partially illuminated via light originating from the light source. |
| US08608333B2 |
Helmet lighting system
A helmet including a lighting system integrated into said helmet, the lighting system comprising a first layer; light emitting means mounted to said first layer; controller means mounted to said first layer for controlling said light emitting means; wiring means for linking said light emitting means to said controller means; a second layer fixably attached to said first layer thereby providing an area between said first and second layer for said light emitting means, controller means, and wiring means; power means fixably attached to said second layer for powering said controller and light emitting means; and operating means functionally linked to said controller means for operating said controller means. The application also discloses lighting system contained in a shell that that can be attached to an existing helmet. This application also discloses a lighting system contained in a flexible material that can be fitted onto an existing helmet. |
| US08608325B2 |
Focusing mount
A focusing mount includes a focusing frame fixed to a focus tube with at least one lens having an optical axis which is connected to a constraining frame by prismatic joints for enabling movement of the focusing mount along the optical axis without any twisting, lateral, rotational or swing movements. |
| US08608321B2 |
Systems and methods for projecting in response to conformation
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection. |
| US08608315B2 |
Device and method for the pre-operative selection and position determination of an endoprosthesis
A device and method for pre-operative selection and determination of a position of an endoprosthesis using a first rear projection screen with variable opacity and a movable second rear projection screen located in front of the first projection screen in respect of rear projection. The device may include a first projection unit for generating at least one first projection of the region of a subject in which an endoprosthesis is to be fitted, onto the first rear projection screen, and a second projection unit for generating at least one second projection of the endoprosthesis onto the second rear projection screen, the scaling of the first and second projection being identical. In an alternative embodiment, the second rear projection screen can be omitted. |
| US08608314B2 |
Scanning optical system for large axial scan depth anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT)
An optical coherence tomography scanning system includes a lens divided into two halves: one optimized to achieve normal incidence angles on the posterior surface of the eye's lens, the other optimized for the anterior surface of the eye's lens. |
| US08608313B2 |
Training and/or measuring visual focusing and vergence abilities using a plurality of optical elements
The visual focusing and/or vergence abilities of a subject may be trained and/or tested using apparatuses and methods in accordance with the present invention. The subject may be provided with an apparatus having optical elements having different optical characteristics and instructed to look through an optical element having a first optical characteristic and to focus on an indicia or object. The subject may be instructed to rotate the apparatus and to look through optical elements having a second optical characteristic and to focus on the same or different indicia or object. The subject may be instructed to repeat this process with this or further apparatuses having optical elements having the same or different optical characteristics. The visual focusing and/or vergence abilities of a subject may thus be tested and/or trained. |
| US08608311B2 |
Colored contact lens
A computer-implemented method of designing an iris region of a colored contact lens including providing an annular digital image representing at least a portion of an iris region of the eye. Applying a gradient fill algorithm to the digital image. And applying a halftoning algorithm to the digital image. |
| US08608310B2 |
Wireless powered contact lens with biosensor
A contact lens having an integrated glucose sensor is provided. The contact lens includes an electrochemical sensor configured to measure the level of glucose in the tear fluid of the eye of the user wearing the contact lens. The electrochemical sensor is powered by radiation off-lens, through an RF antenna or a photovoltaic device mounted on the periphery of the contact lens. The power provided to the contact lens also enables transmission of data from the electrochemical sensor, for example by backscatter communications or optically by an LED mounted to the lens. |
| US08608298B2 |
Printing apparatus
Provided is a printing apparatus in which bubbles in a print head are easily removed. The printing apparatus includes a first one-way valve disposed between the pump and the ink tank in the collection channel, the first one-way valve allowing movement of ink from the pump to the ink tank and blocking movement of ink from the ink tank to the pump; a circulation channel that connects the ink tank to the collection channel at a position between the pump and the first one-way valve, the circulation channel enabling circulation of ink from the ink tank, through the print head, and to the ink tank; and a second one-way valve disposed in the circulation channel, the second one-way valve allowing movement of ink from the ink tank to the pump and blocking movement of ink from the pump to the ink tank. |
| US08608293B2 |
Process for adding thermoset layer to piezoelectric printhead
Disclosed is a process for preparing an ink jet printhead which comprises: (a) providing a diaphragm plate having a plurality of piezoelectric transducers bonded thereto; (b) aligning an electrical circuit board having a fill joint with the piezoelectric transducers and temporarily attaching the electrical circuit board to the piezoelectric transducers, thereby creating a layered structure having interstitial spaces between the diaphragm plate, the piezoelectric transducers, and the electrical circuit board; (c) applying a thermoset polymer through the fill joint and allowing it to fill the interstitial spaces via capillary action; and (d) curing the thermoset polymer to form an interstitial polymer layer. |
| US08608288B2 |
Liquid drop ejector having self-aligned hole
A method for forming a self-aligned hole through a substrate to form a fluid feed passage is provided by initially forming an insulating layer on a first side of a substrate having two opposing sides; and forming a feature on the insulating layer. Next, etch an opening through the insulating layer, such that the opening is physically aligned with the feature on the insulating layer; and coat the feature with a layer of protective material. Patterning the layer of protective material will expose the opening through the insulating layer. Dry etching from the first side of the substrate forms a blind feed hole in the substrate corresponding to the location of the opening in the insulating layer, the blind feed hole including a bottom. Subsequently, grind a second side of the substrate and blanket etch it to form a hole through the entire substrate. |
| US08608278B2 |
Direct marking printer having a user configurable print resolution
A printing device can be configured with different numbers of ink colors and ink types to print with a different cross-process direction print resolution for each ink color and ink type. The printing device includes a plurality of printhead arrays with each printhead array being configured to eject ink onto an image receiving surface at a first print resolution in a cross-process direction. Each ink supply in a plurality of ink supplies is configured to provide ink to one printhead array in the plurality of printhead arrays, and a controller is configured to operate the printhead arrays at one of at least two combinations of ink colors and ink types. The controller operates the printhead arrays ejecting a same ink color or a same ink type at a second print resolution in the cross-process direction that is different than the first print resolution. |
| US08608277B2 |
Printing position alignment method and printing apparatus
Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value. |
| US08608273B2 |
Print data compensation for variations in paper position within a printing system
Methods and systems herein provide for print data compensation for a print head based on a lateral offset of a media relative to the print head. In one embodiment, a print controller of a printer identifies an edge of a media that is parallel to a direction of travel of the media, and determines a lateral offset between the edge of the media and a print head of the printer. The print controller then modifies data for the print head based on the lateral offset to compensate for a lateral motion of the media relative to the print head. |
| US08608268B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a speed of ink discharged from a recording head, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a speed change based on the speed acquired by the first acquisition unit and a reference speed; a setting unit configured to set driving information relating to the recording head based on the information relating to the speed change acquired by the second acquisition unit, and a drive unit configured to drive the recording head based on the driving information set by the setting unit. |
| US08608264B2 |
Refrigerator rail system for removably supported side-sliding shelves
A repositionable rail system for a refrigerator includes first and second rails, each rail having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures. A crossbar has first and second ends adapted to fit within respective apertures on the first and second rails. After inserting the crossbar into the apertures, the crossbar is rotated to a fixed angled position. A half-width shelf having a hook is adapted to removably supported, in a cantilevered manner, by the crossbar. The half-width shelf can be slid along the crossbar for repositioning within the refrigerator cabinet, or may be placed alongside another half-width shelf on a crossbar, or replaced with a full width shelf mounted on the first and second rails in a corresponding, cantilevered manner. |
| US08608263B2 |
Beverage container storage and dispensing compartment for a refrigerator
A storage/dispensing compartment includes a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, a bottom wall portion and opposing side wall portions that collectively define a storage zone. The storage/dispensing compartment further includes a mounting element that is arranged on an underside of the bottom wall portion. The mounting element cooperates with a mounting member to position and secure the storage compartment in a storage cavity of a chiller compartment arranged on a refrigerator door. The storage/dispensing compartment, constructed in accordance with one embodiment, includes first and second, laterally arranged storage zones, each having respective inlet and outlet portions and a plurality of divider walls. The divider walls establish a serpentine path that extends from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. |
| US08608259B2 |
Housing of electronic device
A housing includes a main body, a cover coverable on the main body, and a latching mechanism for latching the cover to the main body. The main body defines at least one elongated hole. The cover defines at least one latching hole corresponding to the at least one elongated hole. The latching mechanism includes a driving member and a latching member coupled to the driving member. The driving member is rotatable around an axis A and drives the latching member sliding between a first position away from the axis A to a second position adjacent to the axis A. When the latching member is driven to slide to the first position, the latching member is detachable from the at least one latching hole, and the cover is unlatched from the main body; when the latching member is driven to slide to the second position, the latching member is latched to the at least one latching hole, and the cover is latched to the main body. |
| US08608257B2 |
Projector suspension device
A projector suspension device includes a casing and a suspension mechanism. The casing defines a space for accommodating an optical projection engine, and the casing has a trough extending into an inside of the casing. The suspension mechanism includes a fixed rod and a movable rod, and the fixed rod is disposed inside and fixed to the casing. One end of the movable rod is connected to the fixed rod, and another end of the movable rod is fixed to a stationary object. The movable rod is slidably coupled to the fixed rod and slides relative to the fixed rod so as to be stored inside the trough or to stick out from the trough. |
| US08608253B1 |
Locking hub
A locking hub that is useful for wheels on small vehicles. Such wheels may use a press fit or integrally cast version of the invention. The locking hub fits over a shaft. The hub has a bore for receiving the end of the shaft. An outer member is connected to and spaced from the hub. A finger is adjacent to the bore and has a protrusion that extends into the bore. The finger is resilient and movable between a first and second position. The first position has the protrusion protruding into the bore and the second position has the protrusion outside of the bore with the finger being bent radially outward. The shaft has a notch or hole that receives the finger. A locking device may selectively be placed between the outer member and the hub to prevent the finger from moving into its second position, thereby locking the hub onto the shaft. |
| US08608244B2 |
Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat having a seat part and a backrest that can be inclined relative to the seat part to allow transfer between an in-use position and a stowed position includes structure that causes the length of the backrest to change during the transfer. In a particular embodiment, the length of the backrest is greater in the in-use position than in the stowed position to provide satisfactory comfort and safety to an occupant seated in the vehicle seat when it is in the in-use position and to provide a compact arrangement in the stowed position. |
| US08608236B2 |
Front module for a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a front module for a motor vehicle, wherein the front module is in one piece and is composed exclusively of plastic. |
| US08608235B2 |
Vehicle body structure
Disclosed is a vehicle body structure of an automobile in which a front edge portion of a front windshield glass is supported by an air box including a vertical wall surface portion facing an inner side of a vehicle compartment. In the vehicle structure, the front edge portion of the glass is connected to the air box in such a way that when glass membrane vibrations of the glass in surface inward-outward directions are in a phase shifting in an inward direction to the vehicle compartment, the vertical wall surface portion of the air box shifts in an outward direction from the vehicle compartment, and when the glass membrane vibrations of the glass in the surface inward-outward directions are in a phase shifting in an outward direction from the vehicle compartment, the vertical wall surface portion of the air box shifts in an inward direction to the vehicle compartment. |
| US08608230B2 |
Localized energy dissipation structures for vehicles
An impact protection structure for a vehicle impacting a blunt-object barrier includes a support structure of the vehicle, an energy absorbing rail coupled to the support structure, and a localized energy dissipation structure. The energy absorbing rail extends an energy absorbing rail length and includes a plurality of lumens. The localized energy dissipation structure extends a localized energy dissipation structure length less than the energy absorbing rail length. |
| US08608229B2 |
Motor vehicle having interconnected outer skin components and a method for connecting outer skin components
A motor vehicle having interconnected outer skin components and a method for connecting outer skin components is provided. In cutting off damaged outer skin components and replacing same, in a connected state of the two outer skin components, a reinforcing component is arranged on an inner surface of each of the two outer skin components via an adhesive. This results in a two-layer construction at the joint between the two outer skin components. |
| US08608222B2 |
Fuel tank cover and fuel tank cover module for a motor vehicle
A tank inlet cover module is provided, which is installable in a motor vehicle, and a tank inlet cover mounted so it is pivotable thereon. The tank inlet cover module has a groove body having an end stop for limiting a pivot movement of the tank inlet cover. The tank inlet cover itself has a tank inlet cover body and a counter stop element, which interacts with the stop of the tank groove via a counter stop surface, furthermore, means being provided for damping a structure-borne noise propagation between counter stop element and the tank inlet cover body. |
| US08608221B1 |
Resettable pop-up system for a closure panel
A counterbalanced hinge system rotatably attaches a closure panel to a body for rotation about a rotation axis. The counterbalanced hinge system applies an assist torque to the closure panel to bias the closure panel about the rotation axis from a closed position into an open position. A pop-up system is moveable from an un-sprung position into a sprung position to apply an opening force to the closure panel. A reset system includes a connecting cable interconnecting the counterbalanced hinge system and the pop-up system. The reset system converts a portion of the assist torque applied by the counterbalanced hinge system into linear motion of the connecting cable to move the pop-up system from the sprung position into the un-sprung position automatically upon the closure panel moving from the closed position into the open position. |
| US08608212B2 |
Door closer apparatus
A door closer apparatus includes: a pole lever that is rotated by a pole which rotates in the direction opposite from the direction of engaging a latch; a pole lever urging portion that urges the pole lever; a spring that urges the pole lever in the direction of coming into contact with the pole; a stopper that comes into abutment with the pole lever at a half lock position to prohibit the pole lever from rotating in the direction of coming into abutment with the pole; a first switch that is activated in response to the latch positioned in a range from the initial position to a position between the half lock position and the full lock position; and a second switch that is activated in response to the pole lever positioned in a range from a position between the initial position and the half lock position to the full lock position. |
| US08608210B2 |
Coupling device for tubular members
A coupling device includes a coupling body and a collar adapted to engage a tubular member in a fluid tight seal. The coupling device includes axially spaced front and back ferrules which engage during mounting to provide a plurality of seals intermediate the ferrules and the tubular member as well as the coupling body. The back ferrule includes a generally cylindrical or tubular wall that is elastically/plastically deformed to an arcuate shape to enhance the maintenance of the seals. |
| US08608207B2 |
Apparatus to make up multiple quick connect couplings
An apparatus for providing coolant to a computer rack system comprises a first and a second quick disconnect couplings each having a male insert, a female socket aligned with the male insert and a release collar movable on the female socket between a release position and a docked position, a carriage slidably coupled to the chassis to move the male inserts between a retracted position with male inserts separated from the female sockets and a docked position with male inserts inserted into the female sockets. A resilient member intermediate the chassis and the release collars assists in moving the release collars from the release position to the docked position to make up a fluidic circuit. A collar stop coupled to the chassis and aligned with the release collars engages and moves the release collars from the docked position to the release position to break out the fluidic circuit. |
| US08608206B2 |
Pipe-sealing collar
The invention comprises a replacement collar for a roof vent pipe. The collar provides UV protection for an existing gasket or can be used as a separate installation. Preferably, the collar has a thicker gauge and includes a seal flange and pre-applied sealant. The collar is designed for universal application for all appropriate sizes of pipe with unique cut line indentations to enable correct trimming to selected size. |
| US08608204B2 |
Tags
A self attaching tag made essentially of self adhesive printable plastic to be attached to a fragile and easily deformable object characterized in that the tag is covered with a plurality of varnishes which allow for the protection of pre-printing and for printing and writing on at the moment of use. The tags are delivered on large rolls where perforations allow for easy separation of the tags. |
| US08608203B2 |
Spray prevention device
A device for preventing spray from emerging from the wheels of vehicles comprises a panel (4) that is adapted to be mounted substantially vertically behind a vehicle wheel (3) for receiving on a first side water released by the wheel (3) as it rotates. The panel (4) includes at least one passage (6) which leads from the first side to a rear second side of the panel (4). The or each passage (6) is other than normal to the plane of the panel (4). There is at least one water-collecting pocket (7A, 7B, 7C) along the side of the or each passage (6). In use, air and water enter the or each passage (6) and are separated so that air passes through the or each passage (6) and mixes with ambient air and water collects in the at least one water-collecting pocket (7A, 7B, 7C). |
| US08608200B2 |
Passenger seat air bag, passenger seat air bag apparatus and vehicle
When an air bag body beings to expand due to gas flowing from an inflator into the air bag body, a left side folded piece and a right side folded piece which have been folded into concertinas expand quickly to thrust laterally to the left and right. Vent holes are located to be exposed in upper faces of the folded pieces. Accordingly, the gas can flow out from the interiors of the folded pieces through the vent holes as soon as the folded pieces begin to expand. |
| US08608197B2 |
Airbag module for a motor vehicle
An airbag module for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag module comprising a gas bag, which is inflatable by means of a gas generator for the protection of a person, and a vent opening through which gas originating from the airbag module can escape, and a device for controlling the outlet cross-section of the vent opening, which comprises at least one covering member with which the vent opening can be covered, in order to at least partly close the same, and which furthermore comprises an actuating mechanism which cooperates with the covering member, in order to vary the outlet cross-section of the vent opening. The actuating mechanism includes a gas source and an element inflatable by means of the gas source, which during inflation cooperates with the covering member such that it effects a change in the outlet cross-section of the vent opening. |
| US08608196B2 |
Gas generating system
A gas generating system (10) including a filter assembly (36) formed from a plurality of nodules (36b) positioned and secured in relation to each other so as to form a porous structure (36a). In one embodiment, the nodules (36b) are metallic and are secured in relation to each other using either a sintering process or a brazing process. The nodules (36b) may be bonded directly together, or the nodules may be secured within a metallic matrix material. The gas generating system may also include a first baffle plate (40) positioned between the plurality of nodules (36b) and a gas source of the gas generating system (10), and a second baffle plate (42) positioned between the plurality of nodules (36b) and a housing wall (12c) of the gas generating system (10). The baffle plates (40, 42) provide added structural integrity to the porous structure (36a) and increase the length of a tortuous flow path of gases through the filter assembly (36). Apertures (40a, 42a) and are provided in the baffle plates (40, 42) to aid in directing the flow of gases through the porous structure (36b), thereby ensuring a tortuous flow path for the gases. A vehicle occupant protection system (480) incorporating the filter assembly (36) is also described. |
| US08608195B2 |
Airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat
An airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wrapping member that wraps up an airbag in a folded-up configuration. The wrapping member includes a joint portion that is secured to an airbag housing or its vicinity together with the airbag, a main body that extends forward from the joint portion and a cover portion that extends rearward from the joint portion for deployment between the airbag and an out-of-position object in an initial phase of airbag deployment. During a folding process of the airbag, the cover portion is wrapped around a front-rear contracted bag, and a leading end of the cover portion is tucked down between an upper folded portion and a lower folded portion of the front-rear contracted bag. |
| US08608194B2 |
Steering wheel assembly for a motor vehicle
A steering wheel assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel that can be mounted rotatably about a steering axle on a motor vehicle is provided. The steering wheel assembly comprises an airbag module disposed in a pre-determinable use position on the steering wheel, and an adjusting device disposed on the steering wheel assembly. Said adjusting device is adapted and provided for adjusting the spatial position of the airbag module relative to the steering wheel for the purposes of compensating for tolerances perpendicular to the steering axle. In the process, the adjusting device comprises adjusting means for generating an adjusting force that has at least one force component along the adjusting direction of the airbag module and also a guide device for guiding the airbag module along the adjustment direction thereof. |
| US08608191B2 |
Protection device including an inflatable member
A protection device comprising an inflatable member and one or more structures is described. The inflatable member comprises a first wall and a second wall that form an internal chamber. The one or more structures are housed in the internal chamber, and each structure in the one or more structures comprises a first mesh and a second mesh connected by a plurality of tie members. Methods for manufacturing such a protection device are also described. |
| US08608190B2 |
Telescoping handle assembly and stroller equipped with the same
A telescoping handle assembly includes a first handle, a second handle, a first coupling member, a second coupling member and a driving member. The second handle is movably disposed in the first handle. The first coupling member is movably disposed in the first handle and the second handle. The second coupling member is movably disposed in the second handle. The driving member is coupled to the second coupling member and used for driving the second coupling member to move from a first position to a second position. When the second coupling member is located at the first position, the second coupling member is capable of moving with respect to the first coupling member. When the second coupling member is located at the second position, the first coupling member and the second coupling member are capable of moving together while the driving member is driven. |
| US08608188B2 |
Light duty cart
The foldable frame cart carries items and doubles as a table. A main-frame has a pivotally attached upper framework, a lower frame stand and wheels attached to the main-frame. A panel attaches to the cart space defining members. The cart is a table when the main-frame is positioned horizontally on the ground. The upper and lower framework are fully extended. The cart has swivel locks. A lower swing arm safety latch system maintains the first frame stand in a fully extended position with respect to the main-frame. An off center swing hinge lock system pivotally attaches the upper framework to the main-frame. The hinge lock systems prohibits unintentional closure or collapse of the framework from its fully extended position with respect to the plane of the main-frame. |
| US08608187B2 |
Flange mount drawbar with self-aligning snubber
A drawbar assembly includes a mounting member adapted to couple to a vehicle and that includes a body portion having a first passage, an eye portion extending outwardly from the mounting body portion, wherein the eye portion includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a second passage extending therethrough adapted to receive a pintle hook therein, and a wedge member slidably received within the first passage of the body portion. The wedge member is slidably movable between a first portion, wherein the wedge member is withdrawn into the first passage of the body portion, and a second position, where the wedge member extends into the second passage of the eye portion. The wedge member is located between the top surface and the bottom surface of the eye portion, and does not extend above the top surface or the bottom surface. |
| US08608184B2 |
Mobility assistance device
A mobility assistance device for use as a walking aid includes a frame member extending from a front assembly to a rear assembly. The front and rear assemblies comprise a pair of wheels for rotational movement of the assistance device. The mobility device further comprises an energy absorption assembly located between the frame member and an axle housing of a rear assembly. The energy absorption assembly includes first and second ends, the first end is operably connected to a rearward position of the frame member and the second end is rotatably connected to the axle housing assembly supporting the pair of wheels of the rear assembly. |
| US08608181B2 |
Active roll control system
An active roll control system may include a sliding unit which includes a housing disposed on a suspension, a slide rail disposed within the housing along vehicle width direction, and a connector movably disposed on the slide rail, wherein the connector may be pivotally connected with a lower end of the stabilizer link, the connector guided along the vehicle width direction according to vehicle driving condition, and a driving unit connected with the connector so as to drive the connector, wherein the connector may be movable at inward of an imaginary line connecting the first connecting point connected with the knuckle and the second connecting point connected with the outward portion of the sub frame. |
| US08608180B2 |
Chuck with jaws moved radially outwardly for clamping
The invention relates to a chuck comprising a chuck casing (3) and jaws (1) moved radially outwardly and having an axially extending clamping face (17) for clamping a workpiece. The jaws (1) are guided in radial guides and are provided with two sloping guideways on an axially slidable clamping piece (4) is guided in such a manner that the jaws (1) are moved radially upon an axial sliding motion of the clamping piece (4). A jaw casing (2) accommodating the radial guides of the jaws (1) is carried for axial movement in the chuck casing (3) and is supported on the chuck casing (3) in the direction of the clamping movement of the clamping piece (4) via an axially resilient spring element (9). |
| US08608177B2 |
Sealing system
A sealing system is provided which is intended to achieve an improvement in durability. A dust seal is composed of a first dust seal (100) and a second dust seal (200) which is arranged at a location nearer to an atmospheric air side than the first dust seal (100), wherein each of the first dust seal (100) and the second dust seal (200) has a seal lip formed so as to be slidable with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the shaft. The first dust seal (100) has seal lips (121, 122) made of urethane rubber, and the second dust seal (200) has only a single seal lip (221) which is made of a rubber higher in flexibility than urethane rubber, and which extends toward the atmospheric air side. |
| US08608176B2 |
Sealing arrangement
A sealing arrangement for the sealed leadthrough of rotating shafts (2) through housing bores of housings (1) comprises at least one lip seal (3, 8, 14, 15) with a sealing lip that faces toward the area normally under higher pressure. In order to extend substantially the area of application of sealing arrangements with lip seals and by doing so, to make use of the sealing arrangement to achieve its advantages of being more economical, more durable also at pressure peaks, easier to install, and easier to maintain, also at higher pressures and pressure fluctuations, the lip seal (3, 8, 14, 15) on the side (5) facing the area with higher pressure is under a constant pressure that is higher than the highest pressure occurring inside the housing (1), and a gap (7, 10) that throttles the outflow is provided between this area and the inside of the housing. |
| US08608171B1 |
Game machine with tamper resistance function
A game machine includes a cabinet, a shutter, a sensor and a drive mechanism. The cabinet has a chute for guiding items therein to a hatch accessible to a user. The shutter is normally disposed in a closed position in the cabinet to cover the chute in order to prevent the item from entering the hatch. The sensor is provided for detecting whether an item is deposited on the shutter, and if yes, sending out a signal. Upon reception of the signal, the drive mechanism is activated to cause the shutter to move to an opening position uncovering the chute to allow entry of the detected item into the hatch. |
| US08608167B2 |
Pole assembly for flying disk game
A game apparatus which allows for a target disposed on the top of a pole to be knocked down by a projectile. The game apparatus includes a segmented pole which can be assembled and disassembled easily via coupling mechanisms between each segment. The top segment of the pole includes a top cap where a surface on which targets can be placed, is provided. The bottom segment of the pole is connected to a base which holds the pole up. Alternatively, a stake can be coupled to the bottom segment of the pole to drive the pole into the ground directly. A scoring mechanism along the surface of the poles is provided, as well as a target illuminating device to enhance the visibility of the target. The top cap of the pole can also include illumination such that the game can be played even in low ambient light. |
| US08608165B2 |
Sheet conveyance device and image forming apparatus with conveyance guide for conveyance belt
A sheet conveyance device includes an upstream rotary member and a downstream rotary member, an endless rotatable conveyance belt, stretched over the upstream rotary member and the downstream rotary member, to convey a sheet of recording media thereon in a predetermined conveyance direction, a conveyance guide disposed downstream of the conveyance belt in the predetermined conveyance direction, disposed across a gap from the conveyance belt, to guide the sheet to a predetermined conveyance position, and a guide member to introduce the sheet into a gap between the conveyance belt and the conveyance guide and onto the conveyance belt, so that the sheet is conveyed from the downstream rotary member to the upstream rotary member. |
| US08608163B1 |
Method and apparatus for constant velocity cut-sheet inversion in a printing system
An approach is provided for inverting a sheeted substrate processed by a printing system while continuously running the sheeted substrate through the printing system without stopping. The approach involves a series of rolls that cause an orientation of the sheeted substrate to be changed such that the sheeted substrate may be returned to a first process path when inverted for duplex printing, or otherwise diverted to a bypass path. |
| US08608162B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a discharger, and a presser including a swingable member and a contact member is provided. The contact member is partially attached to the swingable member in a condition to create clearance between an unattached part and the swingable member. Weights of the contact member and the swingable member affect the sheet when the recording medium contacts the contact member and the contact member is moved to swing upward along with the swingable member by the recording medium. Resilient force is provided by the contact member to affect the recording medium when the recording medium contacts the contact member and the contact member is moved in a direction to narrow the clearance. |
| US08608157B2 |
Medium feed device and image forming apparatus with suction-member moving mechanism
A medium feed device includes a suction member that sucks a medium on a stack member, a surrounding member supported movably in directions toward and away from the stack member together with the medium by suction, a stack-member moving mechanism, a suction-member moving mechanism, a transport member that transports the medium, a detected part associated with the surrounding member, a detecting part that is supported at the suction-member body and detects the detected part, a detector that detects a medium surface position based on a detection result of the detected part detected by the detecting part if the surrounding member moves toward the suction-member body from a state in which the medium contacts the surrounding member. The stack-member moving mechanism moves the stack member based on the medium surface position. |
| US08608154B2 |
Sheet tray and image forming apparatus including same
A sheet tray for feeding a sheet toward an image forming part of an image forming apparatus. The sheet tray is detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus in a sheet feeding direction and includes a tray portion, a detachable cover member provided apart from the tray portion with a gap interposed therebetween through which the sheet passes in an engaged state in which the tray portion and the cover member are engaged with each other, a lock assembly that engages the tray portion and the cover member with each other in the engaged state and disengages the cover member and the tray portion from each other in a disengaged state, and a switching mechanism that puts the lock assembly into the engaged state in absence of the sheet within the gap and into the disengaged state at presence of the sheet within the gap. |
| US08608152B2 |
Sheet conveyor device and image-reading device
A sheet conveying device is provided that may include a sheet receiving portion having a movable member, a protruding portion and a recessed portion. The protruding portion may protrude from an upper portion of a sheet receiving surface of the movable member when the movable member is located in one position. When a document is discharged from an outlet port onto the sheet receiving surface of the movable member, the protruding portion may come into contact with a leading edge of a sheet. When the movable member is located in another position, the recessed portion may receive the protruding portion therein. |
| US08608150B2 |
Sheet post-processing apparatus with branched holding path
A sheet post-processing apparatus is provided that includes a first delivery path that guides a sheet to a first post-processing portion, a delivery holding path having a first holding path which branches off from a branch point of the first delivery path and a second holding path which is formed to be continuous with the first holding path and joins together with the first delivery path; a second delivery path that branches off from a branch point of the first holding path and guides the sheet to the second post-processing portion; a first path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first delivery path; and a second path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first holding path. |
| US08608148B2 |
Tool holder, tool, and workstation with tool holder and tool attached thereto
A tool holder (2) defines three stop surfaces (18, 20, 22), which lie in three planes (60, 62, 64), which are perpendicular to each other. A pin (24), which can be lowered into the base body (8) of the tool holder (2) and extended from it, is to be introduced into a receptacle (42) of the tool (4) and comprises a slanted active contact surface (26), which defines a fourth plane (66), which intersects each of the three planes (60, 62, 64) of the tool holder (2) at an acute angle, as a result of which the active pressure surface (26), upon the extension of the pin (24), exerts a force component toward each of the three stop surfaces (18, 20, 22). A corresponding tool (4) and a workstation with the tool holder (2) and the tool (4) attached thereto are also described. |
| US08608147B1 |
Workpiece carrier
A workpiece carrier including an insert rail having a plurality of teeth, with each of the plurality of teeth having a first beveled upper edge surface. |
| US08608146B2 |
Reinforced pin for being used in a pin chuck, and a pin chuck using such reinforced pin
Improved durability and longevity of spin chucks is achieved by using a composite support pin structure in which a pin body of a chemically inert plastic includes a hollow cavity containing an insert formed from a material whose Young's modulus is greater than that of the inert plastic. |
| US08608141B2 |
Travel control for a gas spring and gas spring having very short travel modes
A gas spring capable of having long and short travel modes is described. The gas spring uses liquid in combination with pressurized air to affect the travel length. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than, for example, by 50%. |
| US08608138B2 |
Inline infusion device and method for introduction of a gas into a flowing media
The present invention comprises a method and system for the infusion of a gas into a liquid. The gas is passed through a container with ceramic filtering material of a specific pore size after which the gas enters the flow stream of the liquid. |
| US08608124B2 |
Baked goods decorating and display assembly
A rotating and tilting cake stand comprising a rotation assembly, a base assembly, and a platter. The rotation assembly has a fixed portion and a rotatable portion. A rotation control mechanism controlling the rotation of the rotatable portion relative to the fixed portion. The base assembly has a base portion and a support portion that connects to the rotation assembly. Within the base assembly is a tilt-support arm that is connected to the rotation assembly and support portion with a pin that allows the tilt-support arm to pivot, causing the platter to tilt. In the base portion, a lock engages the tilt-support arm to either inhibit or allow the tilt-support arm to move freely. The lock is manipulated by a button in the base portion that is connected to a rotational pivot that is connected to the lock. |
| US08608123B2 |
Stand device for portable electronic device
To provide a stand device capable of improving workability in removing a portable electronic device. A stand device has a pedestal and a lever mechanism. The pedestal is supported movable between a support portion for supporting an electronic device mounted on the support surface and a removal position at which the pedestal is arranged through a movement thereof in which the pressing portion descends. The lever mechanism includes a pressed arm and a projection. The pressed arm is pressed by the pressing portion to thus move downward when the pedestal moves from the support position to the removal position. The projection moves upward along with the rotation of the fulcrum portion caused by the downward movement of the pressed arm to thus project from the support surface of the pedestal. |
| US08608117B2 |
Isolator having push and turn mounting
An elastomeric assembly is disposed within an aperture defined by a supporting structure of a vehicle. The elastomeric assembly is movable between a first position where the elastomeric assembly can move axial within the aperture and a second position where the elastomeric assembly is prohibited from moving axially within the aperture. |
| US08608114B2 |
Platform and launch initiation system for secondary spacecraft for launch vehicle
A platform and launch initiation control system for secondary spacecraft for a launch vehicle includes an aluminum honeycomb core sandwiched between top and bottom structural aluminum skins and strengthened by a spider-like stiffener. Spool inserts for engaging the secondary spacecraft are arranged on the platform. A computer processor based auxiliary payload support unit (APSU) is provided on the platform and receives power and enable signals through a single cable from the LV to permit the APSU to control the release of the secondary spacecraft transparently to the LV without impacting LV operations. |
| US08608113B2 |
Method for capturing a container of planet-ground samples traveling in open space
A method for capturing a container of planet ground samples moving in space by a probe also moving in space includes, when the probe is on the orbit of the container, at a distance of a few meters therefrom and the receiving face of the probe is oriented toward the container, generating, on board the probe, a first controlled magnetic field to reduce the angular speeds of the container and orient it in a preferred direction for the capture, and, when these speeds have become negligible and the probe is positioned in the correct orientation, while the probe is being brought closer to the container, a process of attraction of the container relative to the probe is begun using another field whose field lines converge toward the capture zone of the probe. |
| US08608108B2 |
Aircraft configuration with ramp access to multiple decks
An aircraft may include a cabin having a first portion, a second portion, a first ramp and a second ramp. The first portion of the cabin may include an upper deck and a lower deck. The upper deck and the lower deck may be disposed proximate to each other with vertical separation therebetween. The second portion may include an intermediate deck disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to planes in which the upper deck and the lower deck lie. The intermediate deck may be vertically separated from both the upper deck and the lower deck. The first ramp may extend between the lower deck and the intermediate deck to provide access therebetween. The second ramp may extend between the upper deck and the intermediate deck to provide access therebetween. |
| US08608106B2 |
Aircraft cooling system
An aircraft cooling system (10) comprises a cooling element (12), which comprises a housing (14), a cooling air inlet (18) formed in the housing (14) and a plurality of heat exchangers (32, 34, 36, 38), which are disposed on lateral surfaces (24, 26, 28, 30) of the housing (14) and through which cooling air supplied through the cooling air inlet (18) may flow. A cooling air supply channel (40, 40′) connects a cooling air supply opening (44, 44′) formed in a tail section of an aircraft to the cooling air inlet (18) of the cooling element (12). A cooling air outlet channel (46) connects the heat exchangers (32, 34, 36, 38) of the cooling element (12) to a cooling air discharge opening (50). |
| US08608104B2 |
Device and system for propelling a passenger
The invention relates to a propulsion device (10) comprising a body (11) arranged for receiving a passenger (1) and engaging with a thrust unit (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) supplied with a pressurized fluid from a compression station. The arrangement of such a device offers great freedom of movement through the air or under the surface of a fluid. The invention also relates to a propulsion system in which the compression station can be remote in the form of a motorized marine vehicle. |
| US08608099B2 |
Hammer mill, rotor of a hammer mill, hammer pins, catch device and fixing device
A hammer mill has a lockable milling chamber and a rotor disposed in the milling chamber. The rotor has a shaft supporting plural rotor discs and plural hammer pins for receiving hammers or hammer assemblies. The hammer pins do not extend over all the segments defined by the discs. |
| US08608097B2 |
System and method for monitoring operational characteristics of pulverizers
In a system for monitoring the operating condition of a pulverizer, a sensor interface module positioned on or proximal to the pulverizer. The sensor interface module is operable to receive information generated by one or more sensors mounted on the pulverizer. An operator control station is in communication with the sensor interface module and is operable to receive data from the sensor interface module relevant to the signals received from the sensors. The operator control station is also operable to generate operational information indicative of a functional characteristic of the pulverizer and to track the operational information to determine whether degradation of the functional characteristic is occurring. |
| US08608096B2 |
Method for the production of water-absorbing polymer particles
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising classification by means of a tumbler screening machine, wherein the tumbler screening machine used for classification is equipped with at least one ball knock cleaning system and entrained balls are removed outside the tumbler screening machine by means of a capture device. |
| US08608095B2 |
Method for the disintegration of lignocellulose to fibers
The method for disintegration of materials containing lignocellulose to fibers is characterized in that roller pressure is applied to the material containing lignocellulose in a flat die pellet mill by pinch rollers which can have an offset from the die of several millimeters, said pressure being applicable over a wide area, and the material being in a mixture with fiber-improving agents and moist on the surface, whereby the fiber improving agents, supported by the high moisture in the pore interiors, enter far into the interior of the fiber material and react spontaneously or with a delay, wherein finally the disintegrated and refined material is pressed through the bores of the flat die. |
| US08608093B2 |
Fuel injector having a high-pressure inlet
The invention relates to a fuel injector for the operation of an internal combustion engine, having an injector body. An inlet bore of the injector body connects a conical pressure connection to a valve chamber for supplying highly pressurized fuel. The valve chamber is placed along a longitudinal center axis of the injector body and above a nozzle needle. According to the invention, the inlet bore further has a fan-shaped contour starting at the conical pressure connection along the extension thereof, the contour having a fan angle and a variable cross-section in the shape similar to an elongated hole. |
| US08608088B2 |
Data carrier device
A passive data carrier device (100) comprises an input port (110) for receiving a finite duration radio frequency input signal of defined time and frequency spectral characteristics. The data carrier device (100) comprises at least one branch (130) having combinations of passive RF elements, such as band filters (134) and time delays (136), optionally together with powder dividers (120) and combiners (140). The input signal is processed by the device (100) to form an output signal having time and frequency spectral characteristics different from the input signal. The data carrier device (100) has potential application in an RF identification system. |
| US08608086B1 |
Attachment bracket for an RFID tag
An apparatus for temporarily attaching an RFID tag to a mobile object includes a bracket comprising a first arm comprising an object mounting surface, and a second arm comprising a tag mounting surface. The first arm further comprises an attachment mechanism used to attach the bracket to a support surface. |
| US08608084B2 |
Financial card with embedded circuit lock technology
The claimed invention is directed to a contactless card, an inlay for a contactless card or a circuit embedded within a contactless card containing a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) circuit that is only actuated when the card is flexed. The RFID circuit comprises an antenna comprising a first conductive lead, a second conductive lead; and an RFID chip connected to the antenna. A dielectric layer having an aperture is embedded in between the antenna and a bridge, the aperture in the dielectric layer being situated between the first conductive lead and the second conductive lead of the antenna. Normally, the bridge is biased away from the first conductive lead and the second conductive lead. When the card is flexed, the bridge is biased into contact with the first conductive lead and the second conductive lead thereby completing the circuit. |
| US08608083B2 |
Cards and devices with magnetic emulators with zoning control and advanced interiors
A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to act as a magnetic stripe read-head detector and a data transmitter. A multiple layer flexible PCB may be fabricated to include multiple magnetic emulators. An emulator may include a coil that includes magnetic, ferromagnetic, or ferromagnetic, material in the coil's interior. Coils may be associated with zones. As a read-head is detected to move from zone-to-zone, coils may be activated to transmit information in those zones. |
| US08608081B2 |
Chip card comprising a display
A chip card (1) comprises a chip card controller (3), access to at least one power source (7, 8, 10), a display (6), and a display driver (5) operatively coupled to the chip card controller (3), to the display (6), and to the at least one power source (7, 8, 10). The display driver (5) is configured to drive the display (6) and the display driver (5) comprises, as an integral part, a power management functionality (11) configured to manage power that comes from the at least one power source (7, 8, 10) for at least the display driver (5). |
| US08608075B2 |
Code reading apparatus and computer program product
Disclosed is a code reading apparatus including a control section including: a first adjustment section repeating focus setting within a first execution time to execute first focus adjustment; a second adjustment section changing a focal position of a variable focal lens within a second execution time to execute second focus adjustment; a timer section counting a first execution number of the first focus adjustment and a second execution number of the second focus adjustment; and a time setting section setting the first execution time to be shortened starting from a predetermined first initial set time such that the first execution time is shortened as the first execution number increases, and setting the second execution time to be shortened starting from a predetermined second initial set time such that the second execution time is shortened as the second execution number increases. |
| US08608074B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating and decoding machine-readable symbols
For recognizing two-width barcodes having N bars and N spaces, a first class (cluster) A of wide bars or spaces contains n elements Array [1] to Array [n], and a second class (cluster) B of narrow bars or spaces contains N−n elements Array [n+1] to Array [N] are created. Looping n times where n=1 to N−1, a mean value μA to of class A and a mean value μB of class B are calculated, a between-class difference D=μA−μB is calculated, a value of n when D achieves a maximum value is recorded, and if n=M when D achieves the maximum value, then the N bars or spaces are recognized as a two-width barcode; otherwise, the N bars or spaces are determined as not a two-width barcode. |
| US08608071B2 |
Optical indicia reading terminal with two image sensors
An optical indicia reading terminal configured to capture and process an image of decodable indicia can comprise a first image sensor and a second image sensor having overlapping fields of view. The optical indicia reading terminal can further comprise at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog signals read out of the two image sensors into first and second digital signals, respectively. The optical indicia reading terminal can further comprise a hand held housing encapsulating the two image sensors. The optical indicia reading terminal can further comprise a microprocessor configured to output a decoded message data corresponding to the decodable indicia by processing at least one of the two digital signals. |
| US08608070B2 |
Systems and methods to define possible ESD risk
Systems and methods for performing test procedures for measuring and defining the sensitivity of payment devices to ESD (electrostatic discharge) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a plurality of test equipment in a controlled environment are used to measure the peak discharge current (Ip) when a payment device is inserted into a charge/discharge device during several simulated conditions. Energy levels of the discharge currents are calculated using an energy calculation program. One or more reference current and energy levels are determined. |
| US08608067B2 |
Web service for enabling network access to hardware peripherals
The present specification discloses methods and systems to enable a peripheral device, which otherwise lacks intrinsic networking capabilities, to be accessible over a network once attached to a local multi-function device, such as computers, laptops, printers, copiers, or other computing devices. An enabling application executing on the multi-function device includes a first layer that communicates with the local peripheral device using a driver specific to the peripheral device, a second layer that abstracts a subset of functions from the first layer and exposes the subset of functions to a third layer, and the third layer which communicates over the network with a client and provides the client access to the subset of functions through standardized calls. |
| US08608066B2 |
Combined radio-frequency identification and touch input for a touch screen
A method for a point of sale terminal, including reading a first PIN code that is stored in an RFID chip that is embedded in a plastic card, identifying a first keypad character on a touch sensitive display screen that is being tapped by the plastic card, reading a second PIN code that is stored in an RFID chip that is embedded in a plastic card, identifying a second keypad character on a touch sensitive display screen that is being tapped by the plastic card, determining whether the second PIN code matches the first PIN code, and if the determining is affirmative, then appending the second keypad character to the first keypad character to generate a two-character input code, else starting a new one-character input code with the second keypad character alone. |
| US08608065B2 |
Authenticating electronic financial transactions
To improve security and simplify financial transactions in electronic communications environments, a cryptographic Private Key is securely stored in a storage device of a user. A Public Key Certificate corresponding to the Private Key is also created and can be stored in an online repository for merchant access. The Public Key Certificate identifies a payment card of the user, and is signed by or on behalf of a financial institution issuing the payment card. When initiating a payment card transaction with a merchant, a data item is signed using the Private Key. The signed data item and the Public Key Certificate are conveyed to the merchant, which enables the merchant to authenticate the transaction without needing to communicate with the user's financial institution, and while avoiding the inconvenience and privacy issues associated with obtaining other card details and user details. |
| US08608063B2 |
Systems and methods employing intermittent scanning techniques to identify sensitive information in data
Potentially sensitive information (e.g., account numbers for payment cards, etc.) may be identified from data by use of an “interval scanning” technique, in which a string of data is evaluated in intervals. When a system employs an interval scanning technique, data is evaluated by analyzing bytes of data in periodic sequence (e.g., every thirteenth byte, etc.), while the bytes between the analyzed bytes are initially ignored. If the value of an analyzed byte corresponds to a character of interest (e.g., a decimal numeral or numeric digit (i.e., a character having a value that corresponds to a base-ten, or Arabic, number, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9), etc.), that byte is identified as a “base byte,” from which a more focused evaluation (e.g., a byte-by-byte analysis, or sequential analysis, etc.) may then commence. |
| US08608058B2 |
Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
A banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that can read identifying data from user cards. The system can authorize operation of an automated banking machine responsive to the read data. The system can provide an electronic transaction receipt to the machine user. A bank computer is operable to submit the receipt to a system address of record with the bank. The address can correspond to an e-mail address, phone number, or other address associated with an account involved in the transaction. The receipt can also include an image associated with the transaction. The system can also operate to image a check deposited at the machine, and then electronically send the image to the check maker, the payee, and/or a clearinghouse. |
| US08608056B2 |
Guiding pathway
A method and apparatus are disclosed for guiding an item of media travelling along a pre-determined transport pathway. The apparatus includes a guide body comprising an arcuate guide surface, at least one drive roller comprising an outer drive surface, and at least one pulley member having an outer item engaging surface that extends through an opening in the guide surface and is urged against the outer drive surface. The drive roller and pulley member co-operate to lift an item away from the guide surface at an arcuate region of the transport pathway. |
| US08608054B2 |
System for on-site management of an event
A system includes a first portable, ruggedized, and waterproof case. The first portable, ruggedized, and waterproof case includes a router and a switch. The system further includes a computing system connectable to the switch. The computing system includes a first memory for storing first ticket information and a first set of instructions. The computing system further includes a first processor that, upon execution of the first set of instructions, receives a ticket identifier scanned from a ticket. The first processor also compares the ticket identifier to the stored first ticket information. Based on the comparison, the first processor further generates an indication of validity of the ticket. The first processor further transmits the indication of validity of the ticket. |
| US08608052B2 |
High-density barcodes for medical consumables
A medical instrument for carrying out at least one medical function is proposed, more particularly a medical instrument embodied as a hand-held instrument. The medical instrument is designed to interact with at least one medical consumable in order to carry out the medical function. The medical instrument has at least one code reader for reading out at least one item of information from an optical code of the medical consumable. The code reader comprises at least one image sensor. The code reader furthermore comprises at least one areal light source, which is designed to illuminate the optical code in a transmissive fashion. |
| US08608051B2 |
Folding box for cigarettes
The hinge-lid pack comprising box part (11) and lid (12) features a polygon-like configuration in the region of its side walls (22, 23), namely having angular wall legs (28, 29) and a narrow, transverse side wall (22, 23). The cross-sectional shape of the hinge-lid pack thus conforms to the contour of a cigarette group as the pack's contents, with the cigarette group having at its edges adjacent to the side walls (22, 23) a marginal transverse row of 2 cigarettes and adjacent thereto a transverse row of 3 cigarettes. |
| US08608050B2 |
Re-usable, knock-down box apparatus and method
An apparatus formed from a single piece of planar material as a continuous and contiguous structure is foldable into a re-usable, knock-down box. A bottom panel supports contents placeable in the box. A front panel and a rear panel operate as shear walls to support the bottom. End panels act as shear walls adjacent to and extending between the front panel, rear panel, and bottom panel. Hinge panels are formed with a free portion, extending from an edge of one of the end, front, and rear panels, and a fixed portion, fixed to a surface of an adjacent one of the end, front, and rear panels to fix the positions of the front, rear, and end panels with respect to each other and the bottom panel in an assembled configuration. Drawing a front edge of the lid toward the front panel, one may lock the lid against the front panel by inserting a tab portion of the lid into a slot formed between the front panel and the front tuck panel. |
| US08608047B2 |
Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge. |
| US08608043B2 |
Surgical instrument having a multi-layered drive beam
A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. The movable handle is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a plurality of layers and at least one layer has a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. At least one of the layers of the drive beam is affixed to an adjacent layer of the drive beam via at least one spot weld. |
| US08608034B2 |
Dispensing valve
A dispensing valve includes a resiliently flexible mounting portion, a resiliently flexible opening portion disposed radially inwardly of the mounting portion, and a resiliently flexible intermediate portion disposed radially between and coupled to the mounting and opening portions, and extending both radially outwardly and axially to form a first radial space between the opening and isolating portions, and spaced radially inwardly of the mounting portion to form a second radial space between the mounting and intermediate portions. The mounting portion includes an annular rib extendable axially outward with respect to the opening portion to limit axial movement of the opening portion during dispensing and venting of the valve. |
| US08608033B2 |
Process of making a shrink sleeve on a bottle with integral dip tube
Described is a shrink sleeve label for a fluid dispensing container having a bottle and fluid withdrawing assembly for liquids, such as liquid cleaners and the like. The bottle has an external integral dip tube formed at the bottle front surface and separated from the bottle by a partition. The integral dip tube fluidly connects to the bottle interior at a landing below the top of the bottle neck. A fluid dispensing mechanism, such as a pump or trigger-sprayer, is attached to the top of the bottle to take fluid up through the integral dip tube and dispense the fluid accordingly. The shrink sleeve label covers the bottle, the integral dip tube and the partition. |
| US08608032B2 |
Dispenser
A disinfectant dispenser includes a rotating assembly coupled to a base and rotatable thereabout and a first motor operatively coupled to the rotating assembly for rotation thereof when activated. A carriage is pivotally mounted to an upper portion of the rotating assembly and movable between vertical and horizontal configurations. A second motor is operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage between the vertical and horizontal configurations. A control unit is electrically connected to the power source and motors and includes programming for activation thereof. A delivery unit configured to hold a propellant container is attached to the carriage, the delivery unit defining an outlet to dispense the propellant when activated. A solenoid is positioned proximate the delivery unit so as to activate the propellant when the solenoid is actuated. |
| US08608025B2 |
Pneumatic liquid dispensing apparatus and method
A dispenser and method for dispensing a liquid. The dispenser includes a barrel with an interior chamber for holding the liquid, a discharge outlet communicating with the interior chamber for discharging the liquid, and an air space for receiving pressurized air for forcing the liquid from the interior chamber through the discharge outlet. An air supply solenoid valve and an air exhaust solenoid valve are each operatively coupled with the barrel. The air supply solenoid valve controls the flow of pressurized air to the air space, and the air exhaust solenoid valve controls the flow of air from the air space to atmosphere. A control selectively activates the air supply solenoid valve and the air exhaust solenoid valve to respectively supply air to the air space and exhaust air from the air space in order to dispense desired amounts of the liquid from the discharge outlet. |
| US08608023B2 |
Sheet product dispenser
A sheet product dispenser includes a body portion defining an inner cavity arranged to support a stack of sheet products and a faceplate attached to the body portion. The faceplate portion is arranged to support and dispense the sheet products, has an opening comprising a rectangular portion with a centrally disposed arcing triangular portion having a centrally disposed arced apex, the rectangular portion extends from an upper edge of the faceplate to the arced apex, the opening is arranged to expose a plurality of the sheet products on one end of the body portion through the rectangular portion and to expose a planar surface of a single sheet product through the arcing triangular portion. |
| US08608021B2 |
Road tanker fluid storage tank fill cover assembly
A fill cover assembly for a liquid fuel storage tank of a road tanker, the assembly comprising: a seat member having a frame, the frame defining a fill aperture, the frame being configured to be fixedly coupled to a base plate of a liquid storage tank, the base plate having a plate aperture formed therein, thereby to form a fluid-tight seal between the seat member and the base plate around said plate aperture; and a fill-cover coupled to the tank and arranged to be moveable with respect to the frame between a closed condition in which a fluid-tight seal is formed between the fill-cover and the frame and an open condition in which fluid may be passed through said fill aperture to fill said storage tank, wherein the assembly is further arranged to allow venting of pressurized fluid from the liquid storage tank in the event that a pressure of the fluid exceeds a prescribed value. |
| US08608014B2 |
Cylindrical pressure vessel having a defined leakage path
Cylindrical pressure vessel with an internal body enclosed by an external body, with a cylindrical section closed by end caps and with the internal body and external body kept separate from each other to avoid a transfer of shear forces, wherein at least one end cap is connected only with the external body and contacts, with an overlap section intruding into the internal body, the inside surface of the internal body, with a seal arranged in the overlap section that contacts an interior circumferential surface of the internal body, and with at least one recess serving as a defined leakage path in case of an expansion of the external body relative to the internal body being arranged on the side of the seal facing away from the interior chamber, in the interior circumferential surface of the internal body that encloses the overlap section of the end cap. |
| US08608013B2 |
Gas cylinder
A gas cylinder (1) formed of a cylinder body (2) with a tubular wall (5) having at least a first tubular portion (11) that is enlarged, and at least a second tubular portion (12) that is adjacent and narrowed relative to the first tubular portion (11). |
| US08608012B2 |
Automotive fuel tank
An automotive fuel tank is provided in which a plurality of mounting members are provided on a built-in part which are fusion bonded to an inner surface of an outer wall of the fuel tank so as to attach the built-in part in place in the fuel tank. An abutment portion is formed on the mounting member which is brought into abutment with an inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank. The abutment portion has formed thereon an abutment surface which is made to tightly stick to the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank and elongated projections which project from the abutment surface, whose cross section at their distal end portions is of triangular shape and which penetrate into an interior of the outer wall of the fuel tank, and a height of an apex of the elongated projection from the abutment surface is in the range of 30% to 70% of a thickness of the outer wall of the fuel tank. |
| US08608007B2 |
Resealable easy-open end
Provided is a resealable easy-open end including a panel functioning as an end for hermetically sealing a can and having an opening formed at one side thereof and on which a score (S) is engraved; a tab having a first button hole formed in a button coupling part formed at a center thereof, rotatably coupled to a first button protruding from the panel through the first button hole, and rotatably installed between a first position at which a front end pressing part is disposed on the opening and a second position at which a rear end finger portion is disposed on the opening; and a closing plate rotatably installed between the first position and the second position, and to configured to be supported by the tab at the second position to close the opening when the tab breaks the score to open the opening. |
| US08607998B2 |
Railway car yoke
A railway car yoke includes a nose end and at least two straps adjoining the nose end. At least one top strap adjoins a top portion of the nose end and at least one bottom strap adjoins a bottom portion of the nose end. The railway car yoke also includes a butt end adjoining the at least two straps such that the nose end and the butt end are separated by the at least two straps. The butt end comprises at least one concave contour along an outside surface of the butt end. The outside surface is a surface along the butt end opposite the nose end that extends from a top surface of the at least one top strap to a bottom surface of the at least one bottom strap. |
| US08607996B2 |
Server cabinet and server cabinet assembly
A server cabinet assembly includes a number of chassis arranged on a floor in a row, a sliding rail mounted on the floor, a sliding plate slidably supported on the rail, and a supporting frame to accommodate servers. Each chassis includes a bottom wall defining a pair of sliding slots perpendicular to the sliding rail. The sliding plate defines a pair of slots in a top surface thereof. The supporting frame includes a bottom plate, and a number of rollers mounted to the bottom plate. When the sliding plate is slid along the rail to one of the chassis, and the slots of the sliding plate align with the sliding slots of the one of the chassis, the rollers slide on the slots of the sliding plate and the sliding slots of the chassis to move the supporting frame in or out of the chassis. |
| US08607995B1 |
Folding shelf
Embodiments of the present invention include a folding shelf intended for attachment to a door having a mail slot. The shelf is pivotably attached below the mail slot by a support and moved from its storage position to its operative position by a chain attached to the door by a fastener. The chain is attached to the shelf near that part of the shelf that is distal from the door. Using embodiments of the present invention, items inserted through the door are retained on the shelf rather than fall to the floor, and the door remains functional when the shelf is in the operative position. |
| US08607984B2 |
Cup and bowl carrier
A tray having a socket configured for holding containers of different sizes is provided. The tray includes a socket having a lower portion configured for accommodating a first container, such as a beverage cup, and an upper portion configured for accommodating a second container, such as a bowl, having a base that is larger than the base of the first container. The lower portion of the socket includes a plurality of inwardly-sloping stabilizing walls extending therein that are adapted for supporting a commonly-sized beverage cup within the lower portion of the socket. The upper portion of the socket comprises a shelf structure that is surrounded by a plurality of stabilizing shoulders for supporting a bowl therein. The socket is thus adapted for optionally holding either a beverage cup within the lower portion or a bowl within the upper portion. |
| US08607983B2 |
Packaging system
A system for discretely packaging liquid or solid medication, or other substances, comprising a tray (10) with individual compartments (12) each containing a removable pot (17) and a perforated sealed sheet (21) enabling individual pots to be removed from the tray (10) for dispensing of its contents. The system also includes a computer and printer with software to create printed matter for the sheet (21) representative of the contents of the individual pots (17). An outer container (24) may receive several such filled and sealed trays (10) and an information sheet (28). One or more windows (30) in the container (24) provide a visual display of the contents. The system enables safe, accurate and easy packaging and dispensing of medication or other substances. |
| US08607980B2 |
Openable and reclosable sealed package for confectionery products
A reclosable consumer product package assembly (10) supports a plurality of consumable products (12). The product package retains and encloses the products, The package is formed from a planar sheet (16) folded about the products. The folded sheet (16) defines a portion overlying the products and an extending portion extending beyond the products to define a foldable flap (29). The sheet is scored at a location overlying at least a portion of the products. The foldable flap is folded over the scored location and adhesively secured thereto such that upon opening the flap, the scored location is removed from its overlying location to expose the products for dispensing. The flap is reclosable over the exposed products. |
| US08607979B1 |
Paint brush protector and maintenance device
A paint brush protector and maintenance device provides storage, protection, and care for paint brushes includes a clamshell enclosure that opens to encase bristle and ferrule portions of a paint brush. The enclosure in at least one embodiment provides a rigid plastic to ensure that the bristles remain in a straight position and a plurality of drying holes along a front surface to aid in drying the bristles after cleaning. An end portion of the enclosure has a compressible stabilizer pad to hold the paint brush securely in place. The apparatus also provides a brush comb that clips onto the exterior of the enclosure providing a toothed comb and a pair of stiff bristle brushes to clean and condition the bristles as needed. |
| US08607977B2 |
Keyboard unit with cradling function
A keyboard unit adapted to provide a cradling function for a portable terminal includes: a keyboard and a keyboard case for receiving the keyboard to protect the keyboard from an external environment. The keyboard case has a cradling unit adapted for cradling a portable terminal after the keyboard is extracted from the keyboard case. |
| US08607975B2 |
Case for portable electronic device
An electronic device can be inserted into a pocket formed with a main cover through between a side cover and the main cover. A part of the electronic device where an operating stick is formed can be stored in a flap formed with the side cover. The upper end of the flap rim of the side cover is positioned further away from the center line C1 of the case than the lower end is. The pocket rim of the main cover gets closer to the center line C1 of the case as it goes from the upper end to the lower end. According to a case including the main cover and the side cover, insertion/removal work of the electronic device can be facilitated, undesired exposure of the electronic device can be prevented, and a load applied to the operating stick can be readily reduced. |
| US08607974B2 |
Pack for smoking articles
The disclosure addresses aspects of a PACK FOR SMOKING ARTICLES, wherein smoking articles may include, but are not limited to, cigarettes and the like. This disclosure details a pack for smoking articles comprising a plurality of planar panels, and a blank for producing such a pack. In one embodiment, at least one of the panels includes a plurality of formations extending out of the plane of a surface of the panel(s). In one non-limiting implementation, the formations may provide protection for the contents of the pack from subsequent processes performed thereon. |
| US08607972B2 |
Miscarriage care package
The present invention is a miscarriage kit. More specifically, the present invention is a kit for use with a miscarriage by a human. The kit comprises at least one item for use in helping the human with the miscarriage. For example, the miscarriage kit may contain at least one under pad/bed liner, at least one sanitary napkin, at least one towel, at least one pair of gloves, at least one specimen pan, and at last one container for holding pregnancy remains. |
| US08607970B2 |
Jewelry detention system and method
A device for displaying jewelry comprising a retractable cord positioned beneath a jewelry display pad, wherein the cord passes through a slot in the display pad and is securely attached to an item of jewelry to be displayed on the display pad, and wherein the item of jewelry can be pulled away from the display pad for examination by a customer. |
| US08607956B2 |
Bottle receiving and detection apparatus and method therefore
A device and method for receiving and detecting a bottle. The device includes a chute, a bottle inlet for receiving the bottle into the chute, and a bottle outlet through which the bottle exits the chute. A stop member is disposed to engage the bottle within the chute, the stop member being biased to allow the bottle to pass in one direction, but to move into and grip the bottle if the bottle is moved in the other direction. Sensors detect the position of the bottle within the chute, and can indicate that the bottle was received within the device. A method for receiving and detecting the bottle is also provided. |
| US08607949B2 |
Dual clutch
A dual clutch which has two friction clutches, a central pressure-exerting plate and two pressure plates which are axially movable relative to the pressure-exerting plate with the interposition of the friction linings of two clutch disks, which each mesh with one gearbox input shaft, of actuating devices. The dual clutch is held at the drive-input side, with the dual clutch being supported at the gearbox side by an actuating system, which holds the two actuating devices, for actuating the pressure plates, and with the actuating system being rotatably held on the clutch housing. |
| US08607945B2 |
Carbon fiber-reinforced intelligent wheeled backpack and human transportation seat with adjustable foot rest
A system and a method of a carbon fiber-reinforced intelligent wheeled backpack and human transportation seat with adjustable foot rest is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of simultaneous human being and luggage transportation through an airport may include coupling an upper part of a handle assembly to a hollow lower part through a connector wherein the upper part of the handle assembly may be permitted to be pulled in and out of the hollow lower part of the handle assembly. A backpack body comprising a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) material may be coupled to the hollow lower part of the handle assembly wherein the backpack body may include spinable wheels, an adjustable seat, and adjustable footrests for simultaneous human and luggage transportation. |
| US08607944B2 |
Shock-absorbing structure
A shock-absorbing structure configured to absorb an impact load in a specific direction includes a first steric portion having a hollow steric structure; and a second steric portion disposed inside the first steric portion and having a hollow steric structure. In the shock-absorbing structure, the second steric portion includes a wall portion along a direction crossing the specific direction. |
| US08607942B2 |
Suspension damper having inertia valve and user adjustable pressure-relief
A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools. |
| US08607938B2 |
Electric parking brake
Disclosed is an electric parking brake commonly used as a single puller type or a dual puller type. The electric parking brake includes an actuator housing; a parking cable connected to a brake that applies braking force to wheels of a vehicle; a motor generating driving force to operate the parking brake; a reduction gear unit for transferring power of the motor; a screw nut unit including a gear member connected to the gear reduction unit, a nut member connected to the gear member, and a screw member connected to a first parking cable of the parking cable while moving relative to the nut member; and a displacement sensor connected to the nut member of the screw nut unit. The displacement sensor includes a sensor housing, a magnet housing that moves relative to the sensor housing, a magnet elastic member elastically supported between the sensor housing and the magnet housing, a magnet provided in the magnet housing, and a hall IC provided in the sensor housing. The magnet housing is coupled with a second parking cable of the parking cable or the actuator housing. |
| US08607934B2 |
Air/hydraulic injection lubrication unit
The present invention is an air/hydraulic injection lubrication unit. The present invention is embodied in a handheld lubrication system conveniently transported in a carrying case. A frame provides a base on which the system components are mounted. The system components include a lubricant barrel assembly in conjunction with a cradle assembly and an air/hydraulic pressure pump removably-mounted upon the frame. A hose assembly at one end is releaseably fastened to the discharge end of the lubricant barrel assembly. When the air/hydraulic pressure pump is activated, the lubricant or other material in the lubricant barrel is forced out of the hose assembly through a lubricant discharge unit located at the opposing end of the hose assembly. |
| US08607933B2 |
Lubricant-dispensing system and method of operating same
A lubricant dispenser has a housing whose interior is subdivided by a shiftable piston into a generally closed gas compartment and a lubricant compartment having an outlet port and filled with a body of lubricant. A gas generator associated with the gas compartment is electrically energizable to produce gas and thereby pressurize the gas compartment, shift the piston, and express lubricant from the outlet. A controller including a power supply and a circuit is connected between the power supply and the gas generator for feeding current from the power supply to the gas generator. During a first predetermined part of an operational cycle of the dispenser, the gas generator is energized at a first level. During a second predetermined part of an operational cycle after the first time, the gas generator is energized at a second level lower than the first level. |
| US08607931B2 |
Compressible accommodation ladder and related methods
An accommodation ladder includes a body having opposite sides, an upper, and rear and bottom surfaces. The body is formed of a compressible material, such as dense foam material, and the upper surface of the body forms a staircase with a plurality of steps. Spaced stanchions extend upwardly from the staircase and stanchion pipes extend through the body and receive lines therethrough to secure the body to a marine structure. The spaced stanchions are adapted to accommodate a plurality of releasable safety lines therebetween. A method of facilitating access between adjacent first and second marine structures includes arranging the staircase accommodation ladder between the structures, the accommodation ladder being a fender between such structures. |
| US08607929B2 |
Acoustically tunable sound absorption articles and methods of making same
A moldable acoustic facing comprises cellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers entangled together. The acoustic facing has a basis weight of from about 1.5 to about 5.0 ounces per square yard (osy), a thickness of less than about 0.050″, a mean pore size of between about 8 microns and about 40 microns, and an elongation at break of at least twenty percent. The acoustic facing includes less than about five percent synthetic microfiber and has an acoustic resistance of at least about 250 Rayls. |
| US08607926B2 |
Composite flame barrier laminate for a thermal and acoustic insulation blanket
A multilayer laminate comprising in order, a polymeric film layer capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 200 C for at least 10 min, an adhesive layer having an areal weight of from 2 to 40 gsm capable of activation at a temperature of from 75 to 200 degrees C. and an inorganic refractory layer. |
| US08607925B2 |
Wedge-shaped acoustic diffuser and method of installation
A wedge-shaped, number theoretical acoustic diffuser both diffuses and reflects sound while eliminating wasted space created by prior art. The inventive diffuser consists of wells of continuously variable depths which provide wide-bandwidth diffusion in a single dimension. The back of the wells are reflective planes of a plurality of angles that direct energy away from the sound source. The invention may be installed in the upper corners of a room, with the deepest end of the wedge-shape up and tapering down to the thinnest end of the wedge shape. This installation allows floor standing furniture or other objects to be placed against the wall, an impossibility with the installation of prior art. The present invention may be installed as an array in which the deepest ends of the wedge shape are butted together. This formation splits and reflects sound in two different directions both away from the sound source. |
| US08607923B2 |
Exhaust apparatus of internal combustion engine
An exhaust apparatus for internal combustion engines which can reduce exhaust noises, its weight and production cost with no need to provide a sub-muffler. The exhaust apparatus is provided with an inner pipe having the upstream open end and the downstream open end is disposed in the tail pipe, and the upstream open end of the inner pipe is protruded outwardly from the inside of the tail pipe to be extended into the resonance chamber, and thus the upstream open end is closed by the resonance chamber defined by the outer shell of the muffler, the end plate, and the partition plate. |
| US08607922B1 |
High frequency horn having a tuned resonant cavity
A high frequency horn for use in a multiple frequency loudspeaker system having a midrange transducer and a high frequency transducer is disclosed. The high frequency horn includes a horn chamber, horn mouth, a horn throat, a tuned resonant cavity, and a port connected to both the tuned resonant cavity and the horn chamber. The horn throat and horn chamber are located on opposite sides of the horn chamber, the port is located proximate to the horn throat, and the horn throat is configured to be connected to the high frequency transducer. The tuned resonant cavity is tuned to reduce high frequency standing waves produced by the midrange transducer within the horn chamber. |
| US08607918B2 |
Motorcycle engine
A motorcycle is provided that includes a connecting pipe, a throttle body, an intake pipe, and an air cleaner, which are intake system parts disposed forward of a cylinder of an engine and are connected to the front side of the cylinder. The motorcycle further includes an exhaust pipe and a muffler, which are exhaust system parts connected to the rear side of the cylinder. The cylinder is inclined rearward, and the exhaust pipe of an exhaust system part extends forward along one side of the motorcycle in a widthwise direction of the engine 50 and detours the front of the engine and then extends rearward along the other side of the motorcycle in a widthwise direction of the engine. |
| US08607917B2 |
Electrically-operated hydraulic actuator unit and hydraulic four-wheel-drive work vehicle
Provided an electrically-operated hydraulic actuator unit that includes an electrically-operated motor controlled by a control apparatus and actuating a volume adjusting mechanism through driving-side and driven-side arms, and a clutch mechanism in which the driven-side arm presses a contact member against a clutch case so that the driven-side arm is locked when a force from the volume adjusting mechanism is applied to the driven-side arm. The control apparatus can set duties of first to fourth drive signals to be output to the electrically-operated motor in a neutral-side start period, a neutral-side ordinary actuation period, a higher-volume-side start period and a higher-volume-side ordinary actuation period. The duties of the first and fourth drive signals are larger than that of the second drive signal, the duty of the third drive signal is larger than that of the fourth drive signal, and an integrated ON-time of the third drive signal is larger than that of the first drive signal. |
| US08607913B2 |
Motorized three-wheeled vehicle rear steering mechanism
A system that steers the rear wheels of the three wheeled vehicle in coordination with the operator turning the front wheel that improves handling, performance and safety. The rear wheels are steered by a rear end mounted powered steering rack that is controlled by a steering control computer that receives input from a variety of sensors including a sensor for vehicle speed and a sensor in the steering neck that measures the angular rotation of the handlebars as they are turned by the operator. Based on these inputs, using proprietary programming the steering control computer calculates the rate, timing and direction to turn the rear wheels. Rear steering offers advantages over front wheel only steering including being easier for the operator to turn the vehicle, a smaller turning radius, better straight line stability, better high speed handling, improved corning performance, improved steering response and improved safety. |
| US08607912B2 |
Snowmobile suspension
A suspension system for a snowmobile has a rail and first and second suspension arms having lower ends pivotally connected to the rail. A first shock absorber pivotally connected between the first suspension arm and the rail. A second shock absorber operatively pivotally connected between the first suspension arm and the rail. Left and right brackets are connected to the second suspension arm. Left and right tie rods have lower ends operatively pivotally connected to the first suspension arm and upper ends pivotally connected to their corresponding brackets about a first pivot axis. The second shock absorber is disposed laterally between the left and right tie rods. The suspension is movable between a first position where the first pivot axis intersects the second shock absorber and a second position where the first pivot axis is spaced from the second shock absorber. |
| US08607911B2 |
Moving shelf equipment
A movable rack system able to carry out a widthwise shift control of a movable rack without using a sheet rail member to be detected. The system is so configured, that magnets are placed at stop positions of the movable rack on the floor surface as members to be detected, while the movable rack is equipped with magnetic sensors to detect the magnets. When the movable rack stops traveling, the magnetic sensors detect the magnets and compares the detected magnetic intensity to the magnetic intensity detected at the previous stop. If the change exceeds a pre-determined value, namely the widthwise shift exceeding a pre-determined value is detected, a travel route of the movable rack to eliminate the widthwise shift is determined. In the next travel of the movable rack the rotation speeds of the respective driving motors are controlled so that the movable rack follows the travel route. |
| US08607909B2 |
Fuel cell vehicle
This fuel cell vehicle FCV is provided with a fuel cell FC as well as a first tank and a second tank, which store a reaction gas to be supplied to the fuel cell FC. The first tank and the second tank are arranged in the front area of the fuel cell vehicle FCV. The second tank is arranged nearer to a rear area than the first tank and arrangement is performed so that the positions of the tanks are out of alignment in a vertical direction. This configuration enables compatibility to be ensured between an increase in the tank capacity of the fuel cell vehicle and an increase in the space in a passenger room and a trunk, and is capable of absorbing the impact of a collision even if the collision occurs. |
| US08607899B2 |
Rock bit and cutter teeth geometries
A rolling cone drill bit for cutting a borehole comprises a rolling cone cutter mounted on a bit body and adapted for rotation about a cone axis. Further, the bit comprises a tooth extending from the cone cutter. The tooth includes a base at the cone cutter and an elongate chisel crest distal the cone cutter. The crest extends along a crest median line between a first crest end and a second crest end and includes an elongate crest apex. The tooth also includes a first flanking surface extending from the base to the crest, and a second flanking surface extending from the base to the crest. The first flanking surface and the second flanking surface taper towards one another to form the chisel crest. Moreover, the tooth includes a first raised rib extending continuously along the first flanking surfaces and across the chisel crest to the second flanking surface. |
| US08607898B2 |
Force compensator for top drive assembly
A force compensator for a top drive assembly includes a carrier block, a pair of top drive link assemblies, a mandrel, and a shock absorber assembly. The top drive link assemblies being positionable on either side of a power swivel and having a lower end connectable to the power swivel, an upper end connected to the carrier block, and being slidably positionable on a derrick of a drilling rig. The mandrel is slidably disposed through the carrier block and has an upper end connectable to a mover assembly of the drilling rig. The shock absorber assembly is interposed between the carrier block and a lower end of the mandrel in such a way that the shock absorber assembly is movable between an expanded condition and a compressed condition. |
| US08607897B2 |
Center discharge gas turbodrill
A compact gas turbine motor and a speed reduction transmission capable of providing the speed and torque required for drilling with center discharge bits. The transmission includes two sun gears of different pitch diameters, keyed to the turbine shaft. Upper planet gears, whose carrier is fixed in place, drive an outer ring gear, which engages lower planet gears having a different pitch diameter. The lower planet gears engage the lower sun gear. Due to the different pitch diameters of the sun gears and planet gears, the gear carrier for the lower planet gears rotates in the same direction as the turbine shaft, but at a much slower rate. Exhaust gas from the turbine can be directed through one or more flow restriction elements to increase gas density in the turbine, further reducing turbine speed. The flow restriction element can comprise a venturi, to provide a vacuum assist to remove cuttings. |
| US08607891B2 |
Electrical power tool
An electrical power tool may include an electric motor, a speed change device, and a battery pack. The speed change device is capable of changing a reduction ratio thereof and capable of automatically switching between a high speed low torque mode in which a high speed low torque is output and a low speed high torque mode in which a low speed high torque is output, based on an external torque applied to a spindle. A distance from the axis to a center of gravity of the battery pack and a mass of the battery pack are set such that an inertia moment around the axis is greater than a reaction around the axis that is produced when the high speed low torque mode is changed to the low speed high torque mode in the speed change device. |
| US08607886B2 |
Combined plug and sealing ring for sprinkler nozzle and related methods
A combined plug and sealing ring for a sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle plug having a substantially cylindrical portion adapted to engage within a nozzle orifice of a sprinkler nozzle, and a cap overlaying the substantially cylindrical portion. A sealing ring is adapted to seat onto a threaded pipe fitting portion of the sprinkler nozzle. A leash interconnects the nozzle plug and the sealing ring. A combined plug and sealing ring in combination with a sprinkler nozzle, and a method of installing a sprinkler nozzle in a highly corrosive or extremely corrosive environment are also disclosed. |
| US08607885B2 |
Fire suppressor cylinders with enhanced bubble production
A fire suppression cylinder includes a valve at an outlet of a canister, and a control for the valve. The canister receives a liquid suppressor agent and a pressurized gas. A feature within a portion of the canister will receive the liquid suppressor agent. The feature increases the formation of gas bubbles within the liquid suppressor agent. |
| US08607881B2 |
Heavy duty rope sockets and related methods
A rope socket comprises a slip cone subassembly having a straight outer diameter and a tapered inner diameter. A plurality of slips is positioned within the slip cone body. A retainer ring holds the slips together. A guide plug is positioned within the slips to maintain the slips in an opening position during insertion of a cable. A spring stabilizer having a spring thereon is coupled above the slip cone assembly to ensure even compression of the spring. A safety slot is located on the body of the rope socket in order to provide a visual indication of the cable position. |
| US08607880B2 |
Gas lift plunger acceleration arrangement
An elongated plunger arrangement for moving up and down in a tubing string and a plunger lift system for an oil well and a gas well, the plunger having an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion, all of the portions having an elongated longitudinally directed bore or cavity therewithin, the plunger also having a direction accelerating arrangement therewithin, the direction accelerating arrangement comprising an elongated acceleration inducing valve containing shift rod extending through the elongated bore, wherein the shift rod is longer than the elongated plunger. |
| US08607878B2 |
System and method for cathodic protection of a subsea well-assembly
Disclosed herein is a subsea well assembly; wherein in an example embodiment the subsea well assembly includes an umbilical attached to a power source. The power source can be on a platform. Also included is a connector for connecting the umbilical to a receptacle included with the subsea well assembly and a subsea control module delivering power and control signals to the subsea well assembly. An impressed current protection module is integrated in the subsea control module that receives power from the umbilical. |
| US08607876B2 |
Flapper valve
A flapper valve includes a valve body, a valve cover pivotally coupled to the valve body at a hinge between an open and closed position, and a biasing element biasing the valve cover to the closed position. The valve cover includes an interior face comprising a sealing surface and a boss including a face surrounded by a beveled edge joining the boss with the sealing surface. |
| US08607874B2 |
Controlling flow between a wellbore and an earth formation
A valve for controlling flow in a subterranean well can include a working fluid and a closure member which rotates in response to phase change in the working fluid. A well system can include a valve which controls flow between a wellbore and a tubular string, with the valve including a working fluid and a closure member which rotates in response to phase change in the working fluid. Rotation of the closure member can displace a seat relative to a plug of a check valve. |
| US08607873B2 |
Flow controller device
A flow controller device for controlling a fluid flow between a petroleum reservoir and a pipe body is described. The fluid flow is carried through a flow restriction. A pressure-controlled actuator is connected to a valve body that cooperates with a valve opening. The valve opening is connected in series subsequent to the flow restriction. A closing side of the actuator communicates with fluid located upstream of the flow restriction. An opening side of the actuator communicates with a fluid located downstream of the flow restriction and upstream of the valve opening. |
| US08607872B1 |
Fire prevention blow-out valve
The present invention comprises fire arrestor device a triggering mechanism operatively connected to a well head and a plunger with a plug at one end being connected to the triggering mechanism. A guide and a valve are mounted to an inner surface of oil piping positioned below the well head align the plunger. A plug is formed at the distal end of the plunger, and is seated on a spring below the valve seat. The spring is held in compressed mode during normal operation. In the event of destruction of the well head, the triggering mechanism will melt or break. The spring then urges the plug upward engaging the valve seat and shutting off the fuel flow. |
| US08607866B2 |
Method for accelerating start-up for steam assisted gravity drainage operations
The present embodiment is a method for decreasing the time required for a start-up phase in a steam assisted gravity drainage production. The present method begins by forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well, beginning a preheating stop by introducing heat between the injection well and the production well, beginning a steam squeeze stage by injection steam into the formation and beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage production. |
| US08607863B2 |
System and method for downhole communication
A method of servicing a wellbore extending from a surface and penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The method comprises placing a workstring in the wellbore, wherein the workstring comprises at least a first downhole tool, a signal receiver subassembly, and a conveyance between the first downhole tool and the surface. The method further comprises the signal receiver subassembly receiving a first signal generated by contact between the wellbore and the workstring and initiating a first function of the first downhole tool based on the first signal. |
| US08607858B2 |
Spiral whipstock for low-side casing exits
A whipstock features a spiral ramp so that, in a horizontal run, access to a milled window with other tools is not impeded because such tools can traverse onto the ramp and still be directed to the window. Angular rotation of the ramp can be at 180° or more and the pitch is selected to avoid getting the equipment being advanced into a bind. Optionally, a guide track can be configured into the whipstock ramp to help the mill follow the spiral path until the proper orientation is obtained and the track ends to allow separation of the mill from the track. A slot can be provided near the ramp upper end to aid in retrieval operations. |
| US08607857B2 |
Vacuum debris removal with articulated pickup and visual capability
A debris removal tool has a lower end pickup hose into which debris laden fluid is pulled when there is circulation through the debris removal tool from the surface. An anchor near the open end of the hose stabilizes the lower end near a recess or groove from which debris is to be removed. Once the anchor is set the hose can be extended or retracted as well as rotated on its axis to pick up debris. A camera can be located in or near the hose opening to be able to see where the debris is located and for confirmation that the debris is being removed and that the debris has fully been removed. |
| US08607848B2 |
Method for casting metal strip with dynamic crown control
A method of continuously casting thin strip dynamically controlling roll casting surface configuration by controlling the temperature of water flowing through the longitudinal water flow passages in a cylindrical tube thickness of no more than 80 millimeters of counter rotated casting rolls, and varying the speed of the casting rolls with attenuation of the ends of the casting rolls with a casting roll drive system responsive to electrical signals received from sensors during a casting campaign. |
| US08607846B2 |
Mold and molding manufacturing method
A mold includes a first groove part and a second groove part. The first groove part extends with a constant length or a constant width from a center part to an outer circumferential part of the mold. The second groove part extends from a terminal end of the first groove part on an outer circumferential part side of the first groove and merges with any portion of the first groove part. A molding manufacturing method includes manufacturing a preform by semimolten die casting or semisolid die casting using the mold. The method may also include removing a portion of the preform corresponding to the second groove part. |
| US08607843B2 |
Sunshade device
A sunshade device including: a sunshade; a stay to which one edge of the sunshade is fixed; a windup shaft to which the other edge of the sunshade is fixed; a first support member supporting one end of the windup shaft to rotate relative thereto and move relative thereto in a longitudinal direction of the windup shaft, and mounted at a vehicle; a second support member supporting the other end of the windup shaft to rotate relative thereto and move relative thereto in the longitudinal direction of the windup shaft, and mounted at the vehicle; and a biasing member configured to pivotally bias the windup shaft against the second support member. The windup shaft includes a restricted portion at the other end thereof, and the second support member includes a rotation restricting portion and a rotation releasing portion formed to be adjacent to each other. |
| US08607842B2 |
Device and method for increasing the wind load resistance and disengage-ability of overhead roll-up doors
A door assembly having a flexible door panel wound and unwound on a drum or the like to selectively block or permit access through an opening, the flexible door panel having a stiffness, a width, and a length. The door assembly further includes vertically extending side columns disposed on opposite sides of the opening, the side columns being configured to engage a marginal edge of the flexible panel to vertically guide the panel while opening or closing. Attached to a leading edge of the door panel is a bottom bar having a greater stiffness than the door panel and a narrower width than a distance between the vertical panel guide assemblies. Bottom bar guides are disposed proximate a lower portion of the opening and are configured to engage a portion of the bottom bar only when the bottom bar is located in at least a partially closed position. |
| US08607838B2 |
Retractable shade with collapsible vanes
A retractable cover for architectural openings having collapsible vanes includes a support structure in the form of a sheet of material, monofilaments, tapes, ribbons, cords, or the like, supporting an upper edge of a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending vanes with the lower edges of the vanes in most embodiments of the invention being connected to operating elements adapted to raise the lower edges of each vane toward the upper edges to define openings or gaps between the vanes through which vision and light can pass in an open condition of the covering. Variations of the covering do not require movement of a lower edge of a vane relative to an upper edge but simply movement of some vanes relative to other vanes. The vanes can be made of materials having different flexibilities and where more rigid materials are used, creased fold lines can be established for desired operability. |
| US08607833B2 |
Router depth adjustment mechanism
A routing machine comprises a plunge post, an electric motor, and a motor housing slideably connected to the plunge post. The motor housing defines an upper surface. A lockpiece selectively engages the plunge post between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lockpiece is allowed to slide relative to the plunge post along with the electric motor and motor housing when the lockpiece is in an unlocked position. The lockpiece is configured to lock in place relative to the plunge post and limit the extent to which the electric motor and motor housing may slide relative to the plunge post when the lockpiece is in the locked position. A fine adjustment mechanism is moveably connected to the lockpiece. The fine adjustment mechanism is configured to move the electric motor and motor housing relative to the plunge post when the lockpiece is in the locked position. |
| US08607829B2 |
System and method for the automation of column and media packing
This invention provides for the fully automated, hands free, packing of chromatography columns by means of delivering a pre-calculated volume of slurry and using two different packing modalities to stop the packing when either 1) this volume has been delivered in the column, or 2) when the adapter is moved to reach a bed height corresponding to the pre-calculated volume. Thus, a chromatography column can be packed in a fully automated fashion and such a column is 1) stable and 2) has the desired performance characteristic. |
| US08607826B2 |
Interlocking bend limiter and method of assembly
Interlocking bend limiter sections are substantially mirror images of each other and are joined to form an interlocking bend limiter segment without use of fasteners by engaging engaging each other's interlocking ends. An interlocking bend limiter comprises a plurality of interlocking bend limiter segment secured at an end by an end piece. |
| US08607822B2 |
Heating and air conditioning system
A heating and cooling system for a building utilizes lower vents which open into lower portions of rooms of a building, and upper vents which open into upper portions of rooms of the building. When the system is operating in a heating mode, heated air is delivered into the upper portions of the rooms through the upper vents and air is removed from the rooms through the lower vents. When the system is operating in a cooling mode, cool air is delivered into the rooms through the lower vents, and air is removed from the rooms through the upper vents. Operating the heating and cooling modes in this fashion provides the most efficient operation of the heating and cooling system. |
| US08607816B2 |
Structure of solenoid valve attached to resin cover by insert-molding
A structure of a solenoid valve attached to a resin cover by insert-molding, the solenoid valve includes a valve body having a cylindrical shape and at least two fluid passages, a spool housed in the valve body and slidable therein in an axial direction relative to the valve body, a solenoid for actuating the spool, wherein a plurality of flanges is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the valve body, and at least one of the flanges has a through hole formed in the axial direction relative to the valve body. |
| US08607809B2 |
Independently adjusting, multi-legged walking cane
The invention is a multi-legged walking cane where each leg operates independently of each other by employing compressible legs, enhancing stability thru the complete gait cycle. |
| US08607803B2 |
Hair treatment process providing dispersed colors by light diffraction
Hair was coated with polymer-containing fluid and then hot pressed to form a composite of hair and a polymer film imprinted with a nanopattern. Polychromatic light incident on the nanopattern is diffracted into dispersed colored light. |
| US08607797B2 |
Airflow restriction system
Airflow restriction systems are described herein which may be used to treat various disorders by creating expiratory positive airway pressure while providing for patient comfort regardless of the patient's anatomical variances. Such a device may be removably secured externally over the patient's nose rather than within the nasal passages to increase patient comfort. The restriction device may be secured, e.g., via an adhesive, to the patient and actuated via any number of mechanical or electromechanical mechanisms. Moreover, the restriction device may include one or more sensors to detect the patient's respiration activity such that the device may be actuated to correspond to the patient's exhalation and squeeze or otherwise constrict the nasal passages at least partially by pressing against the exterior surface of the nose to restrict the expiratory airflow. |
| US08607794B2 |
Non-invasive breathing assistance apparatus and method
An nCPAP device for assisting patient breathing includes a generator body forming an inlet, a chamber, and first and second flow circuits. The chamber directs pressurized gas from the inlet to the flow circuits. The flow circuits each include a nozzle, a channel, and at least one port. The nozzle emits a jet stream into the channel in a direction of a patient side thereof. The port fluidly connects the channel to ambient, and promotes entrainment of ambient air with the jet stream. In some embodiments, the channel forms a ramp feature directing exhaled air toward the jet stream in an angular fashion. The generator body requires reduced driving pressures to achieve target CPAP levels and reduces total imposed WOB as compared to conventional designs. |
| US08607791B2 |
Ventilator-initiated prompt regarding auto-PEEP detection during pressure ventilation
This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating ventilatory parameters, analyzing ventilatory data associated with those parameters, and providing useful notifications and/or recommendations to clinicians. Modern ventilators monitor, evaluate, and graphically represent a myriad of ventilatory parameters. However, many clinicians may not easily identify or recognize data patterns and correlations indicative of certain patient conditions, changes in patient condition, and/or effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Further, clinicians may not readily determine appropriate ventilatory adjustments that may address certain patient conditions and/or the effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Specifically, clinicians may not readily detect or recognize the presence of Auto-PEEP during various types of pressure ventilation. According to embodiments, a ventilator may be configured to monitor and evaluate diverse ventilatory parameters to detect Auto-PEEP and may issue suitable notifications and recommendations to the clinician when Auto-PEEP is implicated. The suitable notifications and recommendations may further be provided in a hierarchical format. |
| US08607789B2 |
Ventilator-initiated prompt regarding auto-PEEP detection during volume ventilation of non-triggering patient exhibiting obstructive component
This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating ventilatory parameters, analyzing those parameters and providing useful notifications and recommendations to clinicians. That is, modern ventilators monitor, evaluate, and graphically represent multiple ventilatory parameters. However, many clinicians may not easily recognize data patterns and correlations indicative of certain patient conditions, changes in patient condition, and/or effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Further, clinicians may not readily determine appropriate ventilatory adjustments that may address certain patient conditions and/or the effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Specifically, clinicians may not readily detect or recognize the presence of Auto-PEEP during volume ventilation of a non-triggering patient exhibiting an obstructive component. According to embodiments, a ventilator may be configured to monitor and evaluate diverse ventilatory parameters to detect Auto-PEEP and may issue notifications and recommendations suitable for a non-triggering patient to the clinician when Auto-PEEP is implicated. The suitable notifications and recommendations may further be provided in a hierarchical format. |
| US08607786B2 |
Inhalation method and apparatus
A drug delivery apparatus of the type which releases a drug in aerosolized form into the inhaled airstream of a person, programmed to release the drug in a pulse which ends a pre-set time before the person is expected to stop inhaling. In doing so, a minimum residence time within the lungs is created, and drug treatment time can be reduced. A corresponding method of controlling a drug delivery apparatus comprises the step of controlling the apparatus to release the drug in aerosolized form into the inhaled airstream of a person in a pulse which ends a pre-set time before the person is expected to stop inhaling. |
| US08607781B2 |
Partially transparent sun collector having a sun protection function
The present invention relates to a sun collector comprising a flat absorber body (1) on or in which one or more absorber channels (17) for the flow of a heat transfer medium are configured. In areas which are not occupied by the one or more absorber channels (17), the absorber body (1) of the present sun collector has penetrable openings (4, 10, 13) for sunlight to pass through. The sun collector therefore provides the double function of a sun collector with a partially transparent sun protection device. |
| US08607777B2 |
Folding worktable for use on an outdoor grill
The present invention relates to outdoor grill accessories, and more particularly, a foldable worktable attachment for an outdoor grill that includes a large table that is pivotally connected to the side of the grill. When in an erect position, the table provides ample space for preparing foods and the like, but when in a collapsed position, the table lies flush against one of the sides of the grill housing, thus, enclosing supporting legs that are folded and stored between the table and the grill housing. |
| US08607776B2 |
Barbecue
The invention relates to a barbecue comprising a carrier element, a grilling area being substantial horizontal orientated and being located at the top of the carrier element and a cover, wherein the cover can be positioned in a first position in which the grilling area is covered and in a second position in which the grilling area is accessible. To improve the functionality of such a barbecue, the invention suggests that means are provided to allow the cover to move from the first position into the second position, wherein the cover is pivoted during the movement from the first position into the second position around a horizontal axis and wherein the barycenter of the cover is moved from a first level to a second, lower level. |
| US08607771B1 |
Automatically-repeating, rapid-firing rubber band gun with an ammunition-powered operating system
An automatically-repeating, rapid-firing rubber band gun with an ammunition powered operating system. The gun includes a mechanism for retaining, releasing and projecting a plurality of stretched rubber bands, with the release of the rubber bands occurring in such a manner as to allow the harnessing of a portion of the elastic potential energy present in the rubber bands to perform work upon the mechanism. Work performed upon the mechanism results in the mechanism moving relative to a static structure within the gun, and this relative movement affects a temporal sequencing of the release of the rubber bands. A trigger system provides for control of rubber band discharge by way of alternately inhibiting or allowing rubber band release. A structural frame supports the operating system and provides for the gun to be manually operated. |
| US08607765B2 |
Method for adjusting pressure in a fuel tank and a fuel tank system
A method and a fuel tank system for adjusting a pressure in a fuel tank are described. Evaporated fuel tank escapes from the fuel tank under overpressure with respect to the ambient and is transferred to a temporary storage for at least one substance of the evaporated fuel. A venting means, through which the evaporated fuel escapes, is controlled by at least one parameter different from a pressure or at least one information provided in form of data. The pressure in the fuel tank can thereby be more variably adjusted. |
| US08607758B2 |
Motorcycle engine
A motorcycle engine includes a cylinder block with an axis extending perpendicularly or slightly inclined forwardly. A cylinder head includes an intake port, an exhaust port disposed on a front surface of the cylinder head opposite the intake port, an engine hanger boss, a coolant temperature sensor mounting portion, and a cam chain tensioner lifter. The intake port has an outer opening having a center disposed on a level upward of a center of an outer opening of the exhaust port. The engine hanger boss is provided on either side of the cylinder head, has a centerline that crosses the intake port, and disposed upwardly of an upper end of the outer opening of the exhaust port. The cam chain tensioner lifter and the coolant temperature sensor are in an overlapping position in a side view, downwardly of the engine hanger boss and an open end of the intake port. |
| US08607754B2 |
Roller tappet
The invention concerns a roller tappet (1) for a high pressure fuel pump, said roller tappet (1) comprising a housing (2) comprising on a drive side front end (3), a slide-mounted roller (4) serving as a running surface of a cam, said housing (2), as viewed in housing direction, comprising a bridge member (5) arranged below the roller (4), said bridge member (5) comprising on a front end (7) turned towards a driven side front end (6) of the housing (2), a support (8) for a tappet follower member, wherein a shell member (11) like a semi shell or a one-third shell separated out of a rolling bearing ring is seated in a cylindrical cavity (9) of a further drive side front end (10) of the bridge member (5), and the roller (4) extends for sliding displacement directly in said shell member (11). |
| US08607746B2 |
Cooling system expansion tank
An expansion tank is disclosed in which a non-return valve is fitted in an outlet port of the expansion tank to limit backflow of coolant into the expansion tank in the event that the pressure in the expansion tank falls below the pressure in a return conduit thereby preventing the expansion tank from filling with coolant. The non-return valve and the expansion tank are formed as a single component and the non-return valve is located in an outlet port of the expansion tank. |
| US08607737B2 |
Watering fountain
A watering fountain having a first valve assembly coupled to a pressurized water supply, including a check valve configured to restrict water flow under pressurized water conditions. The fountain includes a second valve assembly selectably coupleable to the first valve assembly and including a disabling structure, a valve, a drain port, a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm actuator, and a quick connect valve. The watering fountain also includes a fluid conduit extending upwardly from the second valve assembly. The fountain includes an activator rod extending upwardly from the second valve assembly inside the fluid conduit. The watering fountain includes a basin extending upwardly from the fluid conduit. The fountain includes an activator plate operationally coupled to the activator rod and disposed within the basin. |
| US08607733B2 |
Atomic layer deposition apparatus and atomic layer deposition method
An atomic layer deposition apparatus includes: a first chamber which is surrounded by walls including a supply hole for the reactive gas formed thereon; a second chamber which is surrounded by walls including a supply hole for a source gas formed thereon; an antenna array which is provided in the first chamber, the antenna array having a plurality of rod-shaped antenna elements provided in parallel respectively to produce the plasma using the reactive gas; a substrate stage which is provided in the second chamber, the substrate being placed on the substrate stage; and a connecting member which connects the first chamber and the second chamber to supply gas containing reactive gas radical from the first chamber to the second chamber, the reactive gas radical being produced using the antenna array. |
| US08607732B2 |
In-liquid plasma film-forming apparatus, electrode for in-liquid plasma, and film-forming method using in-liquid plasma
In an in-liquid plasma film-forming apparatus having: a vessel 1 being capable of accommodating a substrate “S” and a liquid “L” including raw material therein; an electrode 2 for in-liquid plasma, electrode 2 which is disposed in the vessel 1; an electric power device 3 for supplying electricity to the electrode 2 for in-liquid plasma; the electrode 2 for in-liquid plasma is equipped with: a main electrode 21 having a discharging end 22; an auxiliary electrode 26 not only facing the discharging end 22 but also being disposed between the discharging end 22 and the substrate “S” that face each other; and a plasma generating unit 29 having a space that is demarcated by a surface 22a of the discharging end 22 and a surface 26a of the auxiliary electrode 26 facing the surface 22a, and being for generating plasma by means of electricity being supplied to the main electrode 21. |
| US08607730B2 |
Method of replacing liquid of circulation line in substrate liquid processing apparatus of single-wafer type
An apparatus and method of replacing a liquid of a circulation line in a substrate liquid processing apparatus of a single-wafer type, which can replace the liquid more efficiently, by relating the replacing method with a process-liquid replenishing method. A substrate liquid processing apparatus of a single-wafer type includes: a circulation line through which a process liquid is circulated; a tank disposed in the circulation line; a liquid level sensor disposed in the tank; a liquid replenish part configured to replenish the tank with a new process liquid, based on an output of the liquid level sensor; and a liquid-replacement control part configured to stop the operation of the liquid replenish part based on a predetermined replenish stop condition that is set cooperatively with a predetermined liquid disposal condition, and to discard all the process liquid in the tank based on the predetermined liquid disposal condition. |
| US08607729B2 |
Dip coating line
A line for the dip coating of objects operates with a known conveyor system. In order to avoid a collision between the objects and the hard structure adjoining the movement path, a position transducer measuring the absolute value is provided for each possible degree of freedom of movement of the object fixed to the holding frame. The course of a first boundary surface or a boundary line, which reproduces the course of the hard structures along the movement path of the object, is stored in a memory. Also stored is the course of a second boundary surface or boundary line, which runs at a distance from the first boundary surface or boundary line. Finally, the course of a contour which represents the course of the object fixed to the holding frame is also stored. The control device calculates, from the signals supplied to it by the position transducers and the other stored data, whether the contour representing the object fixed to the holding frame intersects the second boundary surface or boundary line or not and, in the first case, interrupts immediately the further movement of the object. |
| US08607722B2 |
Aerodynamic wind propulsion device having active and passive steering lines and method for controlling of such a device
An aerodynamic wind propulsion device is provided, particularly for watercraft, in form of an aerodynamic wing connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, at least one pair of two active steering lines being connected to the aerodynamic wing at two points in distance and being coupled to a drive unit at the steering unit, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected at the steering unit to at least two of the tractive lines and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force, and two passive steering lines are connected to each other to form a continuous passive steering line section passing through the steering unit in order to passively follow a deformation of the aerodynamic wing. |
| US08607720B1 |
Apparatuses and methods for positioning an embroidery pattern on an embroiderable
Apparatuses and methods for positioning an embroidery pattern are provided. According to an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for positioning an embroidery pattern includes a central edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a centerline of an embroiderable, and an outer edge comprising a set of first, embroidery-positioning points. The set of first points is adapted to receive an adjacent marking to indicate a starting point for embroidering an embroidery pattern on the embroiderable. |
| US08607719B1 |
Feed regulator for thermostatic control
The effective length of a control arm having manually alterable stops repositionable along is rendered automatically changeable by means of a solenoid movable strip arranged to be either pressed against the control arm or removed from contact with the control arm by operation of the automatically operated solenoid which may usually be operated by a change in the surrounding ambient temperature. |
| US08607718B2 |
Recovery boiler combustion air system with intermediate air ports vertically aligned with multiple levels of tertiary air ports
A combustion air system particularly useful for Kraft process recovery boilers or soda process recovery boilers has a level of liquor air ports located above the black liquor guns, and multiple levels of tertiary air formed by substantially vertically aligned tertiary air ports located above the black liquor guns. The liquor air ports and the tertiary air ports are on the same opposing walls of the furnace and are substantially vertically aligned with air ports in the same wall at different levels. The liquor air ports are located just above the black liquor guns, within a range of about ½ foot to about four feet. The tertiary air ports are laterally offset with respect to the tertiary air ports on the opposing wall of the furnace. The first tertiary air level is located a vertical distance in the range of about four feet to twelve feet above the elevation of liquor air ports, and the second and any additional tertiary air levels are located and spaced from an adjacent tertiary air level at regular spaced vertical intervals in the range of about four feet to eight feet. The vertically aligned and laterally offset tertiary air ports form a combustion air pattern of vertical sheets which travel across the width of the furnace to the opposing wall to carry smaller liquor particles to the walls of the furnace and reduce carryover and improve combustion efficiency. |
| US08607713B2 |
Device for pivoting one or more nose flaps of a track-guided vehicle
The invention relates to a device for pivoting one or more nose flaps of a track-guided vehicle, a railway vehicle in particular. It is hereby provided for the device to comprise at least one supporting frame (10) connected or connectable to the vehicle undercarriage and at least one actuating device connected on one side to the at least one supporting frame (10) and on the other to the pivotable nose flap (1a; 1b) for pivoting the nose flap (1a; 1b) relative to the supporting frame (10) from a closed state into an opened state and vice versa, wherein the actuating device comprises at least one lifting spindle drive (30a, 32a; 30b, 32b). |
| US08607712B2 |
System for guiding rails on a rail train
A system for guiding rails onto a rail train having rail cars with a plurality of vertically spaced rail support shelves includes upwardly opening guide channels extending from funnel members position at the end of the rail car to each shelf in alignment with the outermost rail receiving pockets of each shelf. A guide shoe with a horizontal roller recessed therein and projecting below the bottom of the shoe is mounted on the end of a rail threaded across the shelves and guide channels of the rail support car. An alternative guide shoe further includes vertically extending rollers projecting from the sides of the guide shoe. |
| US08607711B2 |
Most innovative mode of transportation, called a train ferry on a four track rail system
The Innovative Four Railroad Track Systems expands present two track rail systems to support the use of twenty foot wide cars that will simplify the loading, unloading and therefore transportation of many goods, especially vehicles and similar sized construction or farm equipment. The extra two rails are added on the outside of the current track in single rail lines. The expanded width of the cars allows for loading and unloading from the side which can be facilitated in the case of vehicles through a tiered loading dock much the same as is done with a ferry, hence the name “train ferry”. This will drastically reduce the time and effort required and revolutionizes the bulk transportation of these goods. |
| US08607707B1 |
Identifiable ammunition and related methods
The invention relates to an identifiable bullet and methods for making an identifiable bullet. In one embodiment, the bullet has a generally circumferential body that tapers from a rearward end toward a forward end. A generally circumferential bore extends from an orifice on the forward end into the body at least part of the way between the forward end and the rearward end. The end of the bore opposite the orifice includes a polymeric material support surface. A polymeric material is placed between the polymeric material support surface and the forward end. The polymeric material may include a user identifiable marker for allowing a user to identify the bullet when viewing the forward end. Alternatively, the polymeric material may cover a user identifiable marker and seal the user identifiable marker in the bore. A user may identify the bullet by viewing the marker from the forward end of the bullet. |
| US08607706B2 |
Device for temporarily connecting and pyrotechnically separating two assemblies
Temporary connection and pyrotechnic separation device with a longitudinal axis (X) comprising a pyrotechnic expansion tube (14) mounted in a space (11) formed in a connection zone between a first (2) and second assembly (4) to be separated, the second assembly (4) being formed of a stack of plies (12.1, 12.2) bonded together, the two assemblies (2, 4) being connected to each other by two metal parts (10.1, 10.2), said metal parts being fixed onto the first assembly and bonded onto the outer plies (12.1) of the second assembly (4), the bonding area between said outer ply (12.1) and the adjacent inner ply (12.2) is less than the bonding area between two inner plies (12.2) forming a fuse ply, such that, when the pyrotechnic expansion tube (14) is used, the outer ply (12.1) separates from the adjacent inner ply. |
| US08607704B2 |
Method for electrical flashover ignition and combustion of propellent charge, as well as propellent charge and ammunition shot in accordance therewith
The invention relates to a method of, in the electrical ignition of a propellent charge (1) provided with an electrically conductive surface coating (5) and comprising one or more propellant components (3), ensuring that ignition and progressive combustion of the propellent charge take place. The method is characterized in that said electrically conductive surface coating, when ignition of the propellent charge is desired, is connected to an electrical high-voltage source (6), in that said high-voltage source is made to generate at least one high electrical pulse to said connected electrically conductive surface coating, and in that said at least one high electrical pulse produces an instantaneous flashover ignition of the electrically conductive surface coating of the propellent charge and of all its propellant components, simultaneously. The invention also relates to a propellent charge and to an ammunition shot comprising the propellent charge. |
| US08607699B2 |
Rotating cliché pad printer
A rotating cliché pad printer includes a frame, a flat cliché operably mounted to the frame, an ink cup configured to reside on the cliché and a pad applicator. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink thereon in the etched region. The ink cup is configured to reside on the cliché and to deposit ink into the at least one etched region. The cliché and ink cup are rotatably movable relative to one another. The pad applicator includes at least one pad adapted to move into and out of contact with the at least one etched region to receive ink from the etched region. The pad is further configured to contact an associated object to transfer the received ink to the associated object. |
| US08607694B2 |
Boiler for a machine for making hot beverages
The present device concerns a boiler for use in a machine for making hot beverages including a diffuser (32) with a first wall (33) destined to be placed in contact with the liquid to be heated and a second wall (34) opposite first wall (33), heating element (11) consisting of at least one thick film or photo-etching resistor (31) arranged on second wall (34) of diffuser (32), a body which, with first wall (33) of diffuser (32), defines a heating volume (11) inside which the liquid is to be heated, characterized in that it is arranged so that heating volume (11) is positioned on either side of heating element (30). Also described is the fabrication of machines for preparing hot beverages such as coffee. |
| US08607692B2 |
Beverage system
A beverage system (1) having a coffee machine (2) for preparing and dispensing hot beverages, and a water dispenser (3) for processing and dispensing drinking water the system being inexpensive and requiring little space. The coffee machine (2) and the water dispenser (3) are connected to on other n such a way that at least one functional component of the coffee machine (2) or of the water dispenser (3) can be utilized both for the coffee machine (2) and for the water dispenser (3). |
| US08607690B1 |
Coffee brewing apparatus
A system and method for brewing coffee to produce elevated levels of niacinamide is shown. One embodiment includes providing a dark roasted coffee, brewing the coffee at pressures above atmospheric pressure in water heated above boiling temperature, and producing a brewed coffee with elevated levels of niacinamide. Another embodiment includes a system comprising a boiler with a heating element, a heat exchanger extending into the boiler, the heat exchanger having an injector with at least one lateral opening to inject water laterally into the heat exchanger, to produce pressurized water above atmospheric boiling temperature to brew ground coffee at temperatures above boiling to produce a coffee with elevated levels of niacinamide. The embodiment system may also include a thermally insulating lid. |
| US08607685B2 |
Load sharing hard point net
A shield system for an ordnance includes a frame and a flexible net subsystem supported by the frame. Diagonal lines of net material intersect at nodes forming diamond shaped mesh openings and a hard point is attached to at least select nodes. |
| US08607684B2 |
Multi-functional body armor
A flexible, multi-functional, multi-ply material mix and device, capable of providing ballistic protection are herein presented. The device and material herein presented provide multiple electronic and ballistic functionality integrated into a soft body armor that is lighter in weight and more comfortable to wear than previously available alternatives. |
| US08607683B1 |
Active ammunition magazine
An ammunition magazine for feeding linked ammunition to a weapon system having a power take off (PTO) may include a housing with a storage cavity for the linked ammunition. A drive shaft may be rotatably fixed to the housing and may include a driver on one end for selectively engaging the PTO. A drive sprocket may be mounted on the drive shaft for engaging and moving the linked ammunition in a feed direction. The drive sprocket may include first and second sprocket wheels that engage a cartridge portion of the linked ammunition. A pick-off round opening may be formed in the housing for presenting a pick-off round to the weapon system. A link chute may be disposed below the opening and including an exit for ammunition links. |
| US08607680B1 |
Combined dual bevel miter and radial arm saw device
The combined dual bevel miter and radial arm saw device provides the advantages of both a radial arm saw and a miter saw. The device thereby provides for cross cuts, rip cuts and angle cuts, all simultaneously if desired. |
| US08607679B2 |
Laminate flooring saw
A laminate flooring saw system which can be used for both rip cuts and miter cuts in one embodiment includes a first power switch proximate the saw and movable with the saw along a support arm; a second power switch that is not movable with the saw along the support arm; and a third switch movable between a first position wherein application of energy to the saw is dependent upon the position of the second power switch and independent of the position of the first power switch and a second position wherein application of energy to the saw is dependent upon the position of both the first power switch and the second power switch. |
| US08607677B2 |
Method and apparatus for anvil pruner and lopper with shock absorbing feature
A shock absorbing anvil pruner/lopper comprises a cutting blade and a shock absorbing anvil member with a compound action tang. The anvil member includes a liner member for engagement with the blade and a shock absorber in relation to the liner member, whereupon on engagement of the blade with the liner member during a cutting operation, the shock absorber will compress or otherwise absorb some of the force, providing for less physical shock being transmitted to the user through the pruner/lopper handles. |
| US08607675B2 |
Torque wrench
A torque wrench includes a driving head, a hollow handle, compression unit, an adjustment unit, an index unit and a display unit. The driving head and the handle are pivotably connected to each other. The compression unit has a resilient member and an end piece which contacts the driving head. The adjustment unit adjusts the length of the resilient member to set the torque of the wrench. The index unit has a first index and a second index, both of which are moved with the movement of the adjustment unit. The movement of the first index is detected by the display unit and transferred into digits to display the value of the torque. The second index is cooperated with the marks of the scale member to display the value of the torque. |
| US08607670B2 |
Damaged fastener extractor
A damaged fastener extractor is provided with a body defining generally cylindrical coordinates ⊖, Z and R about an axis and having a rear body portion communicating with a front body portion. The rear body portion has an outer surface shaped to be engaged by a tool to be used in rotating the body circumferentially about the axis and sized to present a working outer dimension OD to said tool. The front body portion has a front terminus and an inner surface in which the front terminus is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis and provides a generally circular receiving aperture communicating with the inner surface. The inner surface is shaped to engage a damaged fastener to be extracted and sized to present a working inner diameter ID to the damaged fastener. The front body portion inner surface has equally spaced, parallel grooves positioned thereon and oriented to extend along an arcuate, inwardly tapering path from a forward groove terminus located proximal to the front body portion front terminus to a rearward groove terminus located proximal to the rear body portion. Each groove has a centerline extending along its length and a pitch P defined by the axial displacement of the centerline per revolution of the centerline about the axis. Each groove further has a substantially constant cross-sectional geometry extending along most of its length, whereby the position of each groove centerline at the forward terminus is ⊖1, Z1 and R1 and the position of each groove centerline at the rearward terminus is ⊖2, Z2 and R2. Due to the inward taper, R1 is greater than ID/2 which is greater than R2, and an angle of inward taper μ is defined by tan μ=(R1−R2)/(Z1−Z2). |
| US08607666B2 |
Power transfer unit with output shaft having integrated joint assembly
A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by a power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to a first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to a second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes diverge from one another. A transfer unit includes a drive member rotatably supported on the first output shaft and a driven member coupled to the second output shaft. A joint is positioned within a cavity formed in the driven member and drivingly interconnects the driven member and the second output shaft. The driven member includes first and second portions separable from and re-mountable to each other to allow service to the joint. |
| US08607659B2 |
Robotic arm assembly
A robotic arm assembly includes a support body, a first segment, a second segment, a first driving device, a second driving device, a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a third bevel gear, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The first segment is rotatably connected to an end of the support body. The second segment is rotatably connected to the first segment. The first driving device and the second driving device are received in the support body. The first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are rotatably sleeved on opposite ends of the first segment, and mesh with the third bevel gear fixed to the second segment. The first transmission mechanism transmits the power of the first driving member to the first bevel gear, and the second transmission mechanism transmits the power of the second driving member to the second bevel gear. |
| US08607658B2 |
Horizontal articulated robot
A horizontal articulated robot includes a base, a first arm provided rotatably around a first rotation axis on the base, a second arm provided rotatably around a second rotation axis on the first arm, the second rotation axis being parallel to the first rotation axis, and a main shaft provided in the second arm to be extended in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis. A distance between the second rotation axis and the main shaft is shorter than a length of a straight line connecting the first and the second rotation axes. Additionally, the first arm has a recessed portion formed so as to include a position on a rotation path where a rotation radius around the second rotation axis is equivalent to the distance between the second rotation axis and the main shaft. |
| US08607654B2 |
Platform for suspended sensor stabilization
A sensor stabilization platform and method for installation in an enclosure is described, wherein the platform can be lowered into the enclosure from the enclosure's entry way (without requiring a person to enter the enclosure) and properly oriented to provide the structural support/securing capabilities needed for a sensor that is “sensing” the material at the bottom of the enclosure. The securing platform is weighted or configured to rest (without movement) at the bottom of the enclosure floor or manhole, and sensors can be lowered into the platform's receptacle(s), etc. The platform may be configured to be foldable, allowing it to be compact and pass through narrow entry ways. |
| US08607652B2 |
Apparatus for handling a liquid sample
An apparatus for handling a liquid sample, especially for automatic removal of a liquid sample from a sample-taking location, comprising: a control unit; a sample collecting unit; a supply and metering system, which is embodied to convey a liquid sample from the sample-taking location and to meter the sample into a liquid receptacle of the sample collecting unit; a housing with a first housing part, which at least partially surrounds at least the sample collecting unit, and a second housing part, which is separated from the first housing part, and which at least partially surrounds a metering space; wherein at least parts of the supply and metering system are arranged in the metering space; and wherein the apparatus furthermore includes a plate, which is releasably connected with the second housing part surrounding the metering space, and which divides the metering space into a first metering space part and a second metering space part. |
| US08607651B2 |
Hybrid capacitive force sensors
Hybrid force sensitive input devices are formed as a membrane assembly that is capable of detecting capacitive presence near the sensor surface as well as pressure inputs and varying applications of pressure to the sensor surface. As a capacitive sensor, the electrical charge of a user's hand, finger or other extremity is sensed by the conductive layers of the sensor as a function of the input extremity's location and proximity to the sensor surface. As a force sensor, a user's input contact with the sensor surface is detectable when conductive elements on apposing substrates are forced into contact when input force is applied. Increasing the applied force increases the number of conductive particles making contact allowing the electrons to travel from one conductive trace on a first substrate through the contacting conductive patches to a perpendicular conductive trace on a second substrate. |
| US08607648B2 |
Rotation angle detection device and torque detection device
A rotor includes a cylindrical magnet having a plurality of magnetic pole pairs. There are two types of the magnitude of magnetic force in the magnetic pole pairs, that is, a relatively large first magnetic force and a second magnetic force that is smaller than the first magnetic force. Three magnetic sensors are arranged around the rotor. A rotation angle computing device detects the peak values of output signals of the respective magnetic sensors. Then, the rotation angle computing device identifies the magnetic pole pair, sensed by the first magnetic sensor, based on a combination of the local maximum values of the three output signals. |
| US08607645B2 |
Time delay adjustment mechanism for sprinkler system water flow detector
A water flow detector has a spring driven mechanical timer responsive to the movement of a lever. The lever is connected to a paddle. The paddle is responsive to the flow of water in a pipe. The detector via the spring driven timer responds to the flow of water in the pipe after a predetermined delay. |
| US08607640B2 |
Sensor for measuring large mechanical strains in shear or lateral translation
A capacitive strain sensor for sensing strain of a structure. The sensor includes a first section attached to the structure at a first location and a second section attached to the structure at a second location. The first section includes a capacitor plate electrically isolated from the structure and the second section includes two electrically isolated capacitive plates, both of the plates being electrically isolated from the structure. A flexible connector connects the first section to the second section. The capacitor plate of the first section is separated from the two capacitive plates of the second section by at least one capacitive gap. When strain is experienced by the structure, a change occurs in the capacitive gap due to relative motion between the first and second sections. The first section includes a core and the second section includes a ring that receives the core. |
| US08607637B2 |
Gage pressure transducer and method for making the same
A gage pressure transducer comprising a first pressure sensing assembly exposed to a main pressure and a second pressure sensing assembly exposed to a reference pressure. The pressure sensing assemblies comprise half-bridge sensors and means for using an alignment glass plate with each sensor which reduces the amount of oil required for operation, which consequently reduces the back pressures caused by large volumes of oil. The pressure sensor assemblies are hermetically sealed using glass frits, therefore enabling the gage pressure transducer to robustly and accurately measure pressure in harsh environments. |
| US08607634B2 |
Ultrasound based method and apparatus to determine the size of kidney stone fragments before removal via ureteroscopy
A transducer is used to send an ultrasound pulse toward a stone and to receive ultrasound reflections from the stone. The recorded time between a pulse that is reflected from the proximal surface and a pulse that is reflected either from the distal surface of the stone or from a surface supporting the stone is used to calculate the stone size. The size of the stone is a function of the time between the two pulses and the speed of sound through the stone (or through the surrounding fluid if the second pulse was reflected by the surface supporting the stone). This technique is equally applicable to measure the size of other in vivo objects, including soft tissue masses, cysts, uterine fibroids, tumors, and polyps. |
| US08607633B2 |
Measuring system for resonant frequency measurements on disc brake pads
A system is provided for measuring the resonant frequencies on disc brake pads. The system includes a data recording apparatus and a measuring device in the form of a sensor system. In order to record a maximum number of resonant frequencies, the sensor system consists of two or more microphones. |
| US08607631B2 |
Heated air mass WCSP package and method for accelerometer
An inertial sensor (16) includes a differential thermocouple (13) including first (4A) and second (4B) metal traces, a poly trace (6) with a first end connected to a first end of the first metal trace to form a first (−) thermocouple junction and a second end connected to a first end of the second metal trace to form a second (+) thermocouple junction. A gas mass (10) located symmetrically with respect to the thermocouple junctions is heated by a heater (8). Acceleration or tilting of the sensor shifts the relative location of the gas mass relative to the thermocouple junctions, causing differential heating thereof and generation of a corresponding thermocouple output signal. |
| US08607624B2 |
Sensor system for determining a parameter of a fluid medium
A sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing through a channel, in particular of an intake air mass of an internal combustion engine. The sensor system has at least one sensor chip situated in the channel for determining the parameter of the fluid medium. The sensor chip is accommodated in a sensor carrier that extends into the channel. The sensor carrier has an inflow edge situated transversely to the flow of the fluid medium, which on its part has at least one turbolator, which is equipped to develop turbulences in the flowing fluid medium in the area of the sensor carrier. |
| US08607619B2 |
Fluid probe
A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element. |
| US08607615B2 |
Microfabricated thermal modulator for comprehensive 2D gas chromatography
A two-dimensional gas chromatography system having first and second separation columns, a thermal modulator disposed between the first and second columns and having a plurality of stage channels, and a micro heater monolithically integrated in the thermal modulator. The thermal modulator is operable to trap and focus gas/vapor species within the plurality of stage channels upon cooling and release the gas/vapor species to the second column upon heating by the micro heater. |
| US08607612B2 |
Sensor calibration
A method of calibrating a reversible-binding sensor for detecting an analyte includes: (i) varying the temperature of a first calibration solution from a first temperature (T1) to a second temperature (T2) while the first calibration solution is in contact with a sensing region of the sensor; (ii) determining the sensor output for the first calibration solution as a function of temperature; (iii) varying the temperature of a second calibration solution from a third temperature (T3) to a fourth temperature (T4) while the second calibration solution is in contact with the sensing region, the second calibration solution having a concentration of analyte which is different from that of the first calibration solution; (iv) determining the sensor output for the second calibration solution as a function of temperature; and (v) using the determined sensor output from steps (ii) and (iv) to calibrate the sensor. |
| US08607608B2 |
Bending apparatus and bending method
A bending apparatus (1) is for bending a workpiece (object to be worked), using a bending die (2) formed in accordance with a bent form of the workpiece, and a linear die (3) linearly extended, and includes a table (10) having a work face (11a) where the bending die (2) and the linear die (3) are placed; and a pair of rollers (40, 50) configured to move along the work face (11a), wherein each of the rollers (40, 50) is configured to move from one end side of the bending die (2) and the linear die (3) to the other end side thereof in a state of pinching the bending die (2) and the linear die (3) in a die closing direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to configure the bending apparatus (1), to make a work space small, and to improve the work efficiency of the bending. |
| US08607607B1 |
System and method for feeding wire material to a rotary press
A system and a method for feeding wire material to a rotary compaction press are provided. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of feeding a wire strand of material to a location adjacent a cutting surface; moving the cutting surface, thereby causing the cutting surface to cut the wire strand of material into a wire pellet of material; and transporting the wire pellet of material to adjacent a die table of a rotary compaction press. In some embodiments the system includes a wire exit aperture. A cutting disc may be provided adjacent the wire exit aperture and may have a plurality of wire cutting surfaces and adjacent wire notches. The cutting disc may be rotatable, thereby causing the wire cutting surfaces to sequentially pass over the wire exit aperture. |
| US08607606B2 |
Method for producing the round edge of a part, device for carrying out said method and a striker used therein
The inventive method involves deforming the extremities of a plate, which has a rectangular edge and is disposed between the working surface of strikers, by ultrasonic forging with the aid of the strikers, simultaneously moving the plate in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axes of the strikers and turning the strikers. Each striker is provided with a groove with a curvilinear generatrix which is made on the surface thereof with a variable radius R. The width of the plate is reduced by a value Δ=R(1−π/4), wherein R is the variable radius value at a point where the ultrasonic forging of the plate is carried out. The circumferential speed Vcirc.S of the striker rotation is chosen, during the plate displacement, as to correspond to the above-mentioned relationship. In the device, the circumferential speed of the striker rotation is synchronized with the plate displacement velocity. The groove of the striker is designed with the variable radius R. |
| US08607592B2 |
Optical fiber manufacturing apparatus and optical fiber manufacturing method
An optical fiber manufacturing apparatus including: a heating furnace in which an optical fiber is formed by melt-drawing an optical fiber preform; a sealing mechanism which is provided on an opening portion located at an upstream of the heating furnace and seals the heating furnace with an inert gas; a first pipe which is connected to the heating furnace and introduces the gas into the heating furnace; a second pipe which is connected to a lowermost compartment closest to the heating furnace among the compartments and introduces the gas into the lowermost compartment; and a gas flow rate control unit which controls a total sum of a flow rate of a gas supplied from the first pipe into the heating furnace and a flow rate of a gas supplied from the second pipe into the lowermost compartment to be substantially constant. |
| US08607590B2 |
Methods for separating glass articles from strengthened glass substrate sheets
Methods for separating glass articles from strengthened glass substrate sheets and strengthened glass substrate sheets are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes forming at least one groove on at least one surface of the glass substrate sheet and strengthening the glass substrate sheet by a strengthening process. The groove defines the glass article and partially extends through a thickness of the glass substrate sheet. The method further includes generating an initiation defect on the groove at an initiation location to cause a through crack to self-propagate through the glass substrate sheet along the groove, thereby separating the glass article from the glass substrate sheet. In another embodiment, a strengthened glass substrate sheet includes a strengthened glass having a glass article groove and an initiation groove on a surface, the glass article groove defining a glass article. |
| US08607586B2 |
Aircraft galley refrigeration system with multi-circuit heat exchanger
An aircraft galley refrigeration system is provided which, in one embodiment, includes: first and second galleys; a first chiller for providing a first heat transfer fluid to the first galley; a second chiller for providing a second heat transfer fluid to the second galley; and a heat exchanger including a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit connecting the first galley with the first chiller, and the second circuit connecting the second galley with the second chiller. In another embodiment, the system includes a first cooling subsystem with a first heat transfer fluid, a second cooling subsystem with a second heat transfer fluid, and a heat exchanger that thermally couples the first and second cooling subsystems for distributing heat between the first and second heat transfer fluids. |
| US08607580B2 |
Regasification of LNG using dehumidified air
A process and apparatus for regasification of LNG to form natural gas using ambient air as the primary source of heat are described. LNG is directed to flow through an ambient air vaporizer to form a natural gas stream through direct heat exchange between the LNG and ambient air. The temperature of the natural gas stream is adjusted to suit a predetermined delivery temperature in a trim heater exchanging heat with a circulating intermediate fluid. The intermediate fluid is directed to flow through an ambient air heater such that the intermediate fluid exchanges heat with ambient air. Heat transfer between the ambient air and the LNG is assisted using one or more force draft fans to direct the flow of ambient air over the ambient air heater and the ambient air vaporizer in turn to dry the ambient air before it arrives at the ambient air vaporizer. |
| US08607579B2 |
Particle-mediated heat transfer in Bernoulli heat pumps
Embodiments of a heat transfer apparatus, and related methods, involve at least one boundary wall defining a first flow path through a neck portion, a first heat source external to and in thermal communication with the boundary wall, and a working fluid (e.g., a first fluid component with a second fluid component entrained therein). The neck portion may be shaped such that at least a portion of the second fluid component impinges upon at least a portion of the boundary wall as the working fluid flows therethrough, whereby heat is transferred from the first heat source to the working fluid through the boundary wall. |
| US08607577B2 |
Attaching ceramic matrix composite to high temperature gas turbine structure
An assembly for use in a gas turbine engine has an underlying metal sheet, and at least one ceramic matrix composite tile attached to the underlying metal sheet with at least one fastener assembly. The panel fastener assembly includes a fastener having a threaded portion extending rearwardly from a head, which has a frustoconical surface facing the threaded portion. The frustoconical surface is received in a frustoconical bore in the ceramic matrix composite panel. A bushing is positioned on an opposed side of the metal sheet from the ceramic matrix composite panel. The bushing has a flange extending away from the metal sheet. A sleeve is received about the threaded portion of the fastener, and extends away from the panel, beyond the metal sheet. The sleeve has a lip extending radially outwardly toward the flange on the bushing, such that the flange on the bushing extends beyond a space defined between the lip and a seating surface on the bushing. A wave spring is received within the cavity. |
| US08607576B1 |
Single turbine driving dual compressors
A gas turbine engine is provided, which includes a first compressor rotor coupled to a first shaft, a second compressor rotor downstream of the first compressor and coupled to a second shaft. A combustor is disposed downstream of the compressor rotors. A turbine is disposed downstream of the combustor and coupled to the second shaft. A gear is configured to be driven by the second shaft. The second shaft is configured for driving the first shaft through the gear, whereby the turbine drives the first compressor rotor at a different rotational speed than the turbine. |
| US08607573B2 |
Combustor having a first plurality of fuel nozzles having a first cross-sectional shape and a second plurality of fuel nozzles having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape
A combustor includes a chamber mixing and burning fuel and air and an air hole plate disposed on a wall surface of the chamber. The air hole plate includes a plurality of rows disposed concentrically of a plurality of air holes jetting coaxial jets of fuel and air into the chamber. A first fuel nozzle and a second fuel nozzle are disposed near a fuel hole for jetting fuel into an air hole row on an inner peripheral side. The first fuel nozzle is structured to suppress turbulence of surrounding air flow and the second fuel nozzle is structured to promote turbulence of a surrounding air flow. In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, good flame stability can be maintained while further reducing NOx in a combustor using coaxial jets. |
| US08607570B2 |
Airblown syngas fuel nozzle with diluent openings
A fuel nozzle tip for use with a combustor and a method of assembling the fuel nozzle tip are provided. The fuel nozzle tip includes a fuel tube and an air collar coupled to the fuel tube. The fuel tube includes a first plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings and a second plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings. The fuel tube is configured to channel fuel into a mixing zone defined within the combustor. The air collar includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced air openings configured to discharge air into the mixing zone. |
| US08607567B2 |
Solar steam generator
A solar power generation system includes a solar receiver disposed on a tower that receives radiant heat reflected from a field of solar collectors. The solar receiver includes an evaporator having a plurality of vertically oriented tubes to form a panel for receiving a fluid, such as water and/or steam, wherein the tubes have a rifled internal surface. The fluid within the tubes has a mass flow greater than 0.2×106 lb/hr/ft3 at a pressure in the range of 100-2850 psia, wherein radiant heat fluxes on the outside of the tubes exceed 185,00 but/hr/ft2. |
| US08607562B2 |
Shape memory alloy heat engines and energy harvesting systems
A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy. |
| US08607560B2 |
Method for centering reciprocating bodies and structures manufactured therewith
Methods for assembling a reciprocating body, such as a piston, within a bore using a design are described. The piston is substantially centered within the bore and then connected at one end through a rotational coupling to a substantially laterally fixed structure connected to the bore such that during normal operation the piston can rotate within the bore along the bore axis of symmetry but can no longer move laterally. Before fixing the rotational coupling, the piston is connected to an external gas source and substantially aligned along the bore axis of symmetry by a gas bearing having one or more gas bearing ports disposed toward the bore. During normal operation, the gas bearing provides a rotational force sufficient to realize a non-frictional bearing between the piston and the bore. The method of assembly is particularly useful in the assembly of Stirling cycle cryocooler comprising a piston, a compressor bore, adapted to contain the piston, a gas inlet to the piston, a plurality of gas bearing ports located within the piston and disposed toward the compressor bore, the gas inlet being in fluid communication with the gas bearing ports, a rotational coupling structure attached to one end of the piston, and a substantially laterally fixed structure affixed to the compressor bore and the rotational coupling structure. |
| US08607559B2 |
Fluid bypass system
A method for actuating a bypass control valve assembly of a fluid system includes receiving a first input signal at an electronic control unit. The first input signal is related to an active position of a direction control valve that is in fluid communication with a fluid pump and a fluid actuation device. The directional control valve includes a neutral position that provides fluid communication between a fluid inlet port of the directional control valve and a fluid outlet port of the directional control valve. A second input signal is received at the electronic control unit. The second input signal is related to the rotational speed of the fluid pump. The second input signal is compared to a limit. A drain valve of a bypass valve assembly is actuated so that fluid communication between the fluid pump and a fluid reservoir through the bypass valve assembly is blocked. |
| US08607552B2 |
Emission control system with heat recovery device
In an emission control system, an absorbent in an exhaust-emission passage absorbs a particular component in the emission with a temperature thereof being lower than a first temperature, and desorbs therefrom the absorbed particular component with the temperature thereof being equal to or higher than the first temperature. A catalyst in the exhaust-emission passage converts the particular component desorbed from the absorbent into another component with a temperature thereof being equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature. A heat recovery device is disposed in the exhaust-emission passage upstream of the absorbent and recovers heat from the exhaust emission by heat exchange between a heat-transfer medium and the exhaust emission. An adjusting unit adjusts an amount of heat to be recovered by the heat recovery device to thereby adjust a temperature state of the exhaust emission. |
| US08607551B2 |
Exhaust gas purifier and system for exhaust gas purification
An exhaust gas purifier including an NOx catalyst of the selective reduction type and a diesel particulate filter arranged in series, and being disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. The purifier includes a passage for urea supply having a hydrolysis catalyst therein and a passage for hydrocarbon supply having an oxidation catalyst therein. The passages are parallel to each other and separate on an upstream side of both the NOx catalyst and the diesel particulate filter. A urea feeder which supplies urea to the passage for urea supply and a hydrocarbon feeder supplies hydrocarbon to the passage for hydrocarbon supply. The injection of an urea is thereby reconciled with the direction injection of hydrocarbon into the exhaust pipe in a compact space. |
| US08607550B2 |
System for admixing a reducing agent to an exhaust gas flow of an internal-combustion engine
A system is provided for admixing a reducing agent to an exhaust gas flow of an internal-combustion engine. The system includes an exhaust line and a metering device for feeding the reducing agent into the exhaust line, the metering device is arranged in or on a hollow body arranged on the exhaust line. An inner volume of the hollow body is connected in an exhaust-gas-conducting manner with the exhaust line. The reducing agent is feedable by a nozzle into the hollow body. A jacket body is provided between the hollow body and the nozzle-fed reducing agent, which jacket body surrounds the reducing agent at least in areas in the inner volume. Accordingly, a depositing of reducing agent on the metering device and on the hollow body is substantially avoided. |
| US08607547B2 |
Flue gas purifying device
An object of the present invention is to provide a flue gas purifying device that can suppress leakage of ammonia and can efficiently decrease nitrogen oxides in flue gas. The object is achieved by a flue gas purifying device including: an exhaust pipe; a urea-water injecting unit that injects urea water into the exhaust pipe; a catalytic unit that includes a urea SCR catalyst that promotes a reaction between ammonia and nitrogen oxides and a support mechanism that supports the urea SCR catalyst in the exhaust pipe, and is arranged on a downstream side to a position where urea water is injected; a concentration measuring unit arranged on a downstream side to the catalytic unit in a flow direction of flue gas to measure an ammonia concentration in flue gas having passed through the urea SCR catalyst; and a control unit that controls injection of urea water by the urea-water injecting unit based on an ammonia concentration measured by the concentration measuring unit. |
| US08607545B2 |
Air-fuel ratio control device
An air-fuel ratio control device is provided for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an engine. The device includes an exhaust passage having a main catalytic converter and a bypass passage having a bypass catalytic converter, the bypass passage diverging from the exhaust passage at an upstream junction and rejoining the exhaust passage at a downstream junction. A valve mechanism disposed in the exhaust passage between the upstream junction and the downstream junction moves between a closed state and an open state. During a predetermined period of time after the valve mechanism opens to permit flow in the exhaust passage, the air-fuel ratio of the engine is controlled based on a signal from a first air-fuel ratio sensor in the bypass passage using a low response correction value that is less than a normal response correction value that would be used when the valve mechanism is closed. |
| US08607541B1 |
Chain and method of assembly
A chain includes a plurality of links, each link has a first end having a knob and an opposite second end having a cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped and dimensioned to receive the knob of a mating link. The links are joined together knob-to-cavity to form a chain wherein the links can both axially and transversely rotate. In an embodiment, each link has a neck which receives a collar. In another embodiment, a wire is passed through a tunnel in all the links. |
| US08607539B2 |
Organopolysiloxane composition and process for producing rope structure with the same
Provided are an organopolysiloxane composition for producing a rope structure excellent in fatigue resistance, a rope structure using the same, and a process for producing the rope structure. The organopolysiloxane composition comprises an organopolysiloxane having an average polymerization degree of 50,000 to 200,000 and represented by the following formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 are the same or different, each independently representing —H, —OH, —COOH, —R, —NH2, —ROH, —RCOOH, or —RNH2; R representing an alkyl group or an aryl group; and each of m and n independently denotes an integer of not less than 1. The organopolysiloxane composition is applied to liquid crystalline polymer filaments in the process of producing the rope structure from the filaments. |
| US08607538B2 |
Apparatus for changing film reels
An apparatus comprises a reel-holding unit for a wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a film unwound by a plurality of rollers from the reel and a reel-changing unit for replacing a finished reel with a new reel, the reel-holding unit and the reel-changing unit being mutually positionable in a reel-change configuration in such a manner that the new reel can be positioned instead of the finished reel, the reel-changing unit being provided with elements that define a curvilinear path for an initial portion of the film of the new reel, the elements being positionable in the reel-change configuration such that when a roller of the plurality of rollers is positioned at a curve, at least one of the elements is completely interposed between the film and the roller. |
| US08607535B2 |
Forming device, machine, packaging laminate web, forming method and process in producing packages
A forming device and method for use in a packaging machine of the type where packages are produced from a tube. The forming device comprises two opposing sealing elements between which the tube is arranged to be flat-laid and squeezed to heat the thermoplastic and obtain a first transverse seal of the tube. It further comprises two volume control elements. The forming device is arranged to displace the first transverse seal off-center in relation a longitudinal axis of the first portion of the tube in a displacement direction essentially perpendicular to the first transverse seal to enable later shaping of a corresponding final package with a wall arranged with a predetermined angle of inclination in relation to the displacement direction. Also disclosed is a machine, a process and a packaging laminate. |
| US08607529B2 |
Mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly
A mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly, in one embodiment, a substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly having a non-rigid thin-sheet component includes the thin-sheet component which has selected plan area and shape, a hacker having a plan shape and area substantially similar to the thin-sheet component, and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component, the riser elements being configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component. |
| US08607513B2 |
Thermal growth compensators, systems, and methods
A thermal compensation apparatus is disclosed including an elongated element extending from a proximal end to a distal end. A length of the elongated element from the proximal end to the distal end decreases in response to an increase in the temperature of the elongated element from a baseline temperature. The length of the elongated element increases in response to a decrease in the temperature of the elongated element from the baseline temperature. In various embodiments, the apparatus may be incorporated in solar module mounting systems. |
| US08607512B2 |
Parking shelter provided with photovoltaic solar panels
The invention relates to a parking shelter (200) in particular comprising a roof (205) at least partially covered with photovoltaic solar panels (206), characterized in that said parking shelter comprises four supporting legs (201; 202; 203; 204), wherein at least one first supporting leg (201) and one second supporting leg (202) have a substantially vertical bottom portion (301) and an inclined top portion (302) directed towards the periphery of the roof. |
| US08607509B2 |
Roof ice and snow melt system
A snow and ice melting device adapted to rest on a roof; having a flat plate with a series of channels therethrough containing a heating element to heat the flat plate and melt the ice and snow on the roof. |
| US08607508B2 |
Stayed connection for wind turbine
A stayed connection for a wind turbine (1) is provided with a tower (4) having an upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) and a lower tower portion (14) and where the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) is connected to the lower tower portion (14) by means of a stayed connection (16), and wherein the stayed connection (16) comprises pipe-shaped diagonal stays (18) extending from the lower tower portion (14) and in toward the outside of the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12), as the diagonal stays (18) at their toward the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) facing end portion (28) are compressed and connected directly or via a plate portion (30) to the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) by means of a welded connection. |
| US08607503B2 |
Adventure door
A half-sized adventure door suitable for entry ways to rooms occupied by children is described. The half-door provides a substitute to the costly modification of existing doors in childcare centers and pre-schools while being in compliance with laws and regulations. The half-door decreases costs and risk of damage to existing structure as compared to other ways of implementing a half-door, and doing so while nurturing the imagination of children with a theme. The half-door is constructed to be attached to any standard interior house doorjamb using self-adhesive tape such that no tools are required and damage to existing structure can be mitigated. When the half-door is opened, lights will flash and music will sound. The music and light colors can be coordinated to match the various themes available. |
| US08607501B2 |
Watering device
A watering device is provided that includes a receptacle and a sponge wick. The receptacle includes a reservoir and a probe. The probe projects from the reservoir and is adapted to extend into potting mix in a plant pot. The probe is also adapted to hook on to the rim of the plant pot in order to support the device thereon. The wick is adapted to extend from the reservoir within or along the probe and into the potting mix in the plant pot. The wick includes non-woven Polyvinyl Alcohol fibers which are bound by a Polyvinyl Alcohol foam resin. |
| US08607494B2 |
Firearm pull-through cleaning tool with integrated foldable handle
A novel firearm pull-through cleaning tool with an integrated foldable handle. The handle is pivotable at a first tool end between a closed position wherein a portion of the handle occupies a longitudinal well in the tool body and an open position wherein the handle is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of body. When in closed position the diameter of the tool is less than the bore diameter of a weapon to be cleaned. In use, the handle is pivoted in a first direction to place the tool in the closed position; the tool is inserted into the firearm bore; a cleaning tool is attached to the attachment portion; the tool is passed through the bore; the handle is pivoted in a second direction to place said tool in the open position; and the handle is pulled to cause the cleaning tool to be passed through the bore. |
| US08607493B2 |
Frame scratch prevention tool
A scratch prevention tool used to disassemble a pistol with a generally planar body, a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a retaining aperture formed within the body, the retaining aperture intersecting the first surface and the second surface and an upper surface interconnecting the first surface and second surface. The tool also includes a side surface interconnecting the first surface and the second surface, a notch interconnecting the first surface and the second surface and interconnecting the upper surface and the side surface, an outer surface interconnecting the first surface and the second surface and interconnecting the upper surface and the side surface, wherein the upper surface abuts a lower surface of a slide of the pistol, the side surface abuts a forward surface of a stock of the pistol and wherein a portion of a magazine release member is interposed within the retaining aperture. |
| US08607492B2 |
Modular vertical foregrip
Embodiments herein relate to the field of weapon accessories, and, more specifically, to modular, electrically powered weapon accessories. Various embodiments include powered modular vertical foregrips that may serve as platforms for multiple firearms accessories, such as modular laser and/or LED lighting and/or sighting systems, radiofrequency receiver and/or transmitter systems, and/or other powered accessories. Various embodiments may be adapted to couple to a mounting rail, such as a Picatinny or Weaver rail, and particular embodiments may be adapted to couple to a lower hand guard quad-rail of an M4 or other small arms weapon. Systems in accordance with various embodiments may provide a platform that may consolidate multiple accessory devices and functions into a single ergonomic and compact unit. Thus, in some embodiments, systems disclosed herein may greatly reduce the size and weight of the total accessory package, and may provide an extremely ergonomic platform that is much easier to manage before, during, and after operations. |
| US08607491B2 |
Vertical fore grip with rotating and/or canting and/or tilting
Devices, systems and methods of canting, tilting, and rotating firearms such as rifles relative to fore grip. One version allows for a rocking and canting of the firearm by pivotally attaching an upper portion of expanded legs. Another version allows for a separate canting member to be clamped to both the upper portion of a vertical fore grip and to the lower mounting rail of the firearm. The canting member has portions that cant (move to the left or to the right) relative to one another. An operator can cant the firearm in a free-state or to fixed positions as desired. Another canting embodiment allows for an extra sleeve to compress the legs on the fore grip inward allowing the upper pivoted connection of the legs to move within the lower fore grip housing. Embodiments to allow the fore grip to rotate can also made part of the fore grip. |
| US08607486B2 |
Card for presenting information during waving
A card for presenting visual information while being waved. The card is flexible and has a sensor detecting or quantifying the bending of the card. The card has, preferably at an edge thereof, light emitters for presenting the information. A controller determines the position of the edge and forwards information so that a user watching the edge sees an emulated 2D information provider. |
| US08607483B2 |
Iron with external water reservoir
The present invention proposes a domestic appliance and specifically an ironing appliance having an external water reservoir connected to the appliance through a feeding tube. Water conveyed to the ironing unit is directly subjected to an independently heated inner plate where steam is directly produced and conveyed to the soleplate whose temperature being independently adjusted. The independently heated inner plate comprises a pair of covers set one above the other. The first cover receives water through its openings and channels and the second cover lying just below the first one to define an inner space allows conveyance of the water to the steam producing plate. The steam then reaches the soleplate to be applied to the cloth item being ironed. |
| US08607479B2 |
Pair of golf shoes
The invention relates to a pair of golf shoes with a rolling surface supporting the swing, wherein an external rolling surface is provided along a shoe outer edge and in the big toe region to the tip region of the other shoe an inner rolling surface is provided along the shoe inner edge. |
| US08607477B2 |
Spike device for an anti-slid shoe
Various embodiments provide a spike device for a sole of an anti-slid shoe. The device comprises at least a spike and a resilient member comprising an elastic diaphragm hving an inner portion and an outer portion. A spike unit comprising the spike is arranged in an opening in the inner portion of the elastic diaphragm such that the spike protrudes in an axial direction from the elastic diaphragm. The spike unit is movable in an axial direction and fixed in relation to the opening so as to allow the spike unit to move together with the inner portion of the elastic diaphragm. The spike device further comprises a guiding and supporting means for guiding the axial movement of the spike unit when the inner poriton moves in relation to the outer portion. A shoe comprising the spike device is also provided, having respective lower and upper sole members. |
| US08607475B2 |
Shock absorbing footwear construction
A footwear sole includes shock absorbing elements that extend from upper and lower plates. In one embodiment, the shock absorbing elements include a bridge defining a plurality of receptacles extending from the lower plate and a plurality of protrusions extending from the upper plate. Each protrusion is associated with one receptacle, and a portion of each protrusion extends into the receptacle. |
| US08607473B2 |
Dryer door and dryer comprising the same
Disclosed are a door for a dryer and a dryer having the same, the door for the dryer having a concave portion or an inclined portion formed at an end surface of a door glass, such that an inner volume of the dryer can be enlarged without increasing the size of the dryer, under consideration of the dryer having the same capacity, resulting in allowing a large quantity of clothes to be dried at once. |
| US08607470B2 |
Hair styler
A hair styling and drying apparatus has a pair of pivotally connected arms, styling surfaces on the arms, air suction and discharge orifices in the styling surfaces, and a blower for blowing air through the air orifices and recycling air between the arms. At least some suction orifices of one styling surface can align with at least some discharge orifices of the other styling surface. The blowers blow air out the discharge orifices and suck air into the suction orifices, thereby recycling much of the blown air. The apparatus can include heaters for heating the blown air and for heating the styling surfaces. |
| US08607469B2 |
Cement burning apparatus and method of drying high-water-content organic waste
Provided is cement burning apparatus 1 comprising a dryer 6 for drying high-water-content organic waste of which water content is 40 mass percent or more, in which combustion gas extracted from outlet portions or ceiling, portions of preheater cyclones 3A to 3D of a cement kiln 2 is fed to the dryer 6. As the dryer 6, a grinding-type flash dryer, which directly contacts the combustion gas G with the high-water-content organic waste W while grinding it, can be used. In addition, the apparatus 1 further comprises a coarse powder separator 12 for separating coarse powder from the combustion gas extracted from the range described above, and the combustion gas G from which dust is separated by the coarse powder separator 12 can be fed to the dryer 6, and the dust concentration of the gas fed to the dryer 6 may be adjusted to 0.05kg/Nm3 or more and 0.35kg/Nm3 or less. |
| US08607464B2 |
Hand saw
A hand saw that includes a saw blade and a handle assembly having a clamp member movable between a clamped position and a released position. In the clamped position the clamp member exerts a clamping force on a top edge of the saw blade within a slot of the handle assembly to couple the saw blade to the handle assembly and to retain a tang of the saw blade within the slot. In the released position the tang is removable from the slot. A first interior wall and a second interior wall of the handle assembly that define the slot are flat such that the tang of the saw blade can be removed from the slot without moving the saw blade in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the saw blade when the clamp member is in the released position. |
| US08607463B1 |
Woodworking plane using utility knife
A block plane uses a standard utility knife blade mounted at about a 40° angle so the edge of the blade runs parallel to the side of the main body. The blade is set angled to the longitudinal axis of the plane. A snap on plastic grip holds extra blades inside. Cuts of ten thousands of an inch are made, and buying different thicknesses of the disposable blades varies the cut slightly. Most utility knife blades are about 0.025 inches thick. |
| US08607460B1 |
Single spring arm assisted knife
A single spring arm assisted knife includes a base frame and a blade. A spring arm is formed as an integral portion of the base frame. A frame lock is also formed as an integral portion of the base frame. One end of the blade is pivotally retained by one end of the base frame at a blade pivot point. A thumb stud is secured to the blade. A stop pin is pressed into the base frame, adjacent the blade pivot point. A roller is pivotally retained on one end of the spring arm. An assist cam surface is formed on the one end of the blade to receive the roller. A second embodiment of the single spring arm assisted knife includes a spring arm which is not an integral portion of the base frame, but is attached to the base frame. |
| US08607453B2 |
Method of manufacture by superplastic forming and by fishplating of a rib for an aerodynamic fairing of an aircraft engine mounting pylon
The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of a group of transverse internal stiffening ribs (46) for an aerodynamic fairing of an engine mounting device, including: production, for each rib (46), of a given rib preform (46a) by superplastic forming; and in respect of at least one of the ribs (46) of the group having a smaller size than that of the preform (46a), division of the latter into four preform parts (56a-56d) each incorporating one of the four corners of the quadrilateral formed by the preform, followed by the joining of the four parts to one another so as to obtain the rib. |
| US08607452B2 |
Method for reducing sound output at the back of a turbo engine and turbo engine improved by this method
Disclosed is a method for producing a modified aircraft bypass turbojet engine having reduced sound output, in which the method is based on modifying an initial configuration of a rear portion of the turbojet engine to produce a modified rear portion of the turbojet engine. The modified rear portion includes a modified outer convex rear part shaped with a modified concave inner rear part that delimits an intermediate space beyond an initial cold stream outlet orifice. The intermediate space has a thickness at least equal to the thickness (E) of a sound deadening coating, which is placed in the intermediate space. |
| US08607440B2 |
Method of manufacturing a thermistor element
Disclosed is a manufacturing method for a thermistor element having a step wherein a thermistor raw material powder formed from a metal oxide, an organic binder powder, and a solvent are mixed and kneaded to form a clay, a step wherein the clay is extrusion-molded by means of a molding die to form a rod-shaped, green molded body having multiple through-holes, a step wherein the rod-shaped green molded body is dried to form a rod-shaped dried molded body, a step wherein the rod-shaped dried formed body is cut to a prescribed length to form a cut molded body having through-holes, and a step wherein lead wires are introduced into the through-holes of the cut molded body and firing is then performed to form a metal oxide sintered body for thermistor use from the cut molded body. |
| US08607437B2 |
Method of generating electrical current with free moving inner magnetic core
An energy harvesting device (EHD) and method including a hollow outer envelope (201) having an inner wall (200) with a first predetermined magnetic field distributed on an inner surface of the inner wall, at least one inner core (202), free to move in the hollow envelope (200) characterized by a second predetermined magnetic field distributed on an inner surface of the at least inner core, the inner core being characterized by one or more convex projections of magnetically active material, at least one conducting loop (203) disposed at locations selected from the group consisting of the outer envelope and the at least inner core, so as to be suffused with magnetic flux due to the magnetic field distributions of the at least one inner core and the at least one outer envelope and generating an alternating current due to movement of the inner core within the outer envelope and a rectifying circuit in electrical connection with the at least one conducting loop (203) rectifying the alternating current into a current having a DC component. |
| US08607436B2 |
Method for winding and terminating dynamo electric machine cores
A method for terminating and winding coils of a core (20) of a dynamo electric machine. The coils being formed from at least an electric wire (W) and the core (20) having a longitudinal axis (20′). The coils (19) are wound by relatively moving a wire dispenser (21) with respect to a core with relative motions of translation and rotation; at least a stretch of wire extends from the coil and the stretch of wire is provided with a portion (W4) for a termination connection to a termination structure (22) of the core (20) such as a tang. The method avoids waste cut wire in the apparatus. The core is provided with a groove (120) at an end to receive at least a wire in the path of the wire for the termination of the coils. The apparatus comprises a wire deflector positioned adjacent the end of the core, where the groove (120) is located, in order to intercept and align the wire with the groove (120). The apparatus can comprise a device for applying torques in two directions on a pulley wheel for feeding wire as a function of the position of the dispenser in the translation and the position of the core in the rotations. |
| US08607432B2 |
Methods for making a connection
A method of making a sterile connection comprises mating a first fitting having an aperture and a second fitting having an aperture, removing first and second strip out layers from between the end surfaces of sealed first and second resilient sealing members, and contacting the end surfaces of the resilient sealing members to provide fluid communication between the aperture of the first fitting and the aperture of the second fitting. A connector assembly comprises first and second fittings, a stem mounted for axial movement through the first fitting into the second fitting, and a deformable locking device which selectively prevents axial movement of the stem in the first fitting. |
| US08607430B1 |
Method for providing removable GPS device in rear-view car mirror
An interior rear-view mirror for cars is so designed that a portable GPS device may be readily mounted on. Depending on implementation, a portable GPS device may be slid in or clipped onto a rear-view mirror. |
| US08607424B1 |
Reverse MIM capacitor
A method and apparatus for a reverse metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The apparatus includes a lower metal layer, a bottom electrode, and an upper metal layer. The lower metal layer is disposed above a substrate layer. The bottom electrode is disposed above the lower metal layer and coupled to the lower metal layer. The upper metal layer is disposed above the bottom electrode. The upper metal layer comprises a top electrode of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. |
| US08607423B2 |
Casket insert roller system
A casket system includes a casket container and a movable platform. The casket container has a bottom, and includes a plurality of rollers supported by said bottom. The movable platform is disposed within the casket container. The movable platform including slots extending through the platform and aligned horizontally with the plurality of rollers, the movable platform having a raised position and a lowered position, wherein at least a portion of a first number of the plurality of rollers extend through the slots and stand proud the movable platform in the lowered position, and a portion of fewer than the first number of the plurality of rulers stand proud the movable platform in the raised position. |
| US08607419B2 |
Buckle for securing goods
A buckle for securing a strap for goods, comprising a body having two side walls and bars extending between these side walls, which bar or bars provided with a peripheral roughening, wherein at least one tensioning side of the body of the bar or bars are provided with a profile which allows the strap to pass through, and that the lease strain on the strap causes the profile to bite into the strap. |
| US08607418B2 |
Latch for boat bow
A latching mechanism for use in securing a boat that is afloat, includes a main body having a channel for accepting a line that will hold the boat. A latching member is pivotally secured within the main body and is movable between a position that closes off the channel and movable to a position which opens the channel, the latching member being pivotable about a pivot point on the main body. A spring force holds the latching member in a closed position and a cable attached to the latching member at a location on an opposite side of the pivot point pivots the latching member to an open position. |
| US08607416B2 |
Decklid hinge counterbalance system with a combination torque rod and torque tube assembly
A decklid hinge assembly for a vehicle includes a counterbalance torque system having a torque storing assembly. The torque storing assembly includes a torque rod having a first axial end and a second axial end, and a torque tube having a first axial end and a second axial end. The first axial end of the torque rod is attached to a linkage system in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween, the second axial end of the torque rod is attached to the second axial end of the torque tube in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween, and the first axial end of the torque tube is attached to a hinge box in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween. The torque storing assembly is pre-loaded with a moment to generate a torque for assisting movement of the support member from a closed position into an open position. |
| US08607415B2 |
Hinge apparatus for a foldable electronic device
An apparatus (10) for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising a first housing (12) having a first face (14) and a second housing (11) having a first face (13), the apparatus comprising a hinge (15) arranged towards the edge of the first faces to allow the first faces to be folded towards and away from one another between respective closed and open configurations of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a biasing mechanism (17) arranged to bias the apparatus between the open and closed configurations, the biasing mechanism comprised with the first and/or second housings and not with the hinge. |
| US08607413B2 |
Furniture glide having interchangeable base
A furniture glide for use with a tubular furniture leg. The glide comprises a furniture leg engagement assembly adapted to be mounted to the furniture leg and a base assembly mounted to the furniture leg engagement assembly. The base assembly includes a receiver member and a base member removably mounted to the receiver member. The base member has a pad portion with a bottom surface adapted for contacting a floor. |
| US08607412B2 |
Cleaning appliance
There is provided a portable cleaning appliance (100) comprising a main body (102), a nozzle (104) and a graspable handle (106), the nozzle (104) and handle (106) each being movable relative to the main body (102) between a first, storage, position adjacent the main body (102) and a second, in-use, position in which the nozzle (104) and handle (106) extend from the main body (102), wherein the nozzle (104) and handle (106) are connected by a linkage member (128) arranged such that, in use, movement of one of the nozzle (104) and the handle (106) between the first and second positions causes a corresponding coupled movement of the other of the nozzle (104) and handle (106) between the first and second positions. |
| US08607411B2 |
Combination of carpet-cleaning machine and platform for transporting the machine
In a platform-carried carpet-cleaning machine for facilitating transport of the machine, the platform including a machine-supporting base having upper surface extending between an open entry-end and a closed back-end, the upper surface having an entry portion sloping at no more than about 5° with respect to horizontal such that the machine can be driven on and off the platform with application of about the same amount of user force as during carpet-cleaning operations. Inner surfaces of first and second platform sidewalls both include protrusions frictionally engaging the machine side panels and configured to sandwich the machine therebetween to prevent lateral movement of the machine on the platform. A pair of wheels is mounted with respect to the base for rolling the machine on the platform across a floor, each wheel being secured to its corresponding sidewall by an axle which extends therethrough and is molded in place through the sidewalls to facilitate assembly of the platform. At least one skid-resisting projection extends from the lower surface to hold the platform from unintended backward rolling when the machine is driven onto the platform. |
| US08607408B2 |
Vacuum cleaner
In a vacuum cleaner (1) particulate matter (32) accumulates on a counter-weighted flap (4). When the weight of the particulate matter (32) exceeds the effect of the counterweight (15) and the effect of any air-pressure differential across the flap (4), the flap opens and voids particulate matter (32) from within the vacuum cleaner (1). |
| US08607404B2 |
Steam cleaning apparatus
A surface cleaning apparatus, and in particular a steam/vacuum mop, comprises a steam delivery system for generating and distributing steam onto a surface to be cleaned and a vacuum source mounted to at least one of the foot assembly and the handle assembly and in communication with multiple suction inlets, where one of the suction inlets are intermittently blocked. |
| US08607400B2 |
Disposable liquid absorbing cleaning pad for a hand held cleaning implement having an elongated handle
A disposable liquid absorbing cleaning pad for a hand held cleaning implement having an elongated handle includes a layer of sponge material, a layer of flexible open cell foam material made from melamine resin fixedly attached to the layer of sponge material and attachment structure fixedly secured to the layer of sponge material for removably attaching the cleaning pad to the cleaning implement. In one embodiment of the invention the attachment structure includes a backing plate which is fixedly mounted onto the layer of sponge material and a pair of wing screw assemblies which are removably and slidably mounted on the backing plate for removably attaching the cleaning pad to the cleaning implement. In using the hand held cleaning implement the layer of flexible open cell foam material made from melamine resin is the layer that contacts the surface to be cleaned. |
| US08607396B2 |
Implement washing apparatus and method
An implement washing apparatus is disclosed. A portable, rigid housing defines at least a first basin and a second basin. The first basin has an open top and closed side walls and bottom for containing liquid to soak the implement. The second basin has side walls that include a plurality of bristles in an arrangement directed generally inwardly to a center of the second basin to scrub the implement. |
| US08607390B2 |
Structure for suspended bedding
A bedding apparatus may include a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and a frame. The first fabric layer may allow passage of fluid therethrough. The second fabric layer may also allow passage of fluid therethrough. The second fabric layer may be connected to the first fabric layer to form a gap therebetween. The frame may engage at least one of the first and second fabric layers and retain the first and second fabric layers in a taut condition. |
| US08607387B2 |
Multi-walled gelastic mattress system
The present invention is directed to a gelastic cushion. The gelastic cushion is made from a conventional gelastic composition. The gelastic cushion has a structure having a first wall that defines an opening area and buckles when a force is applied to the first wall. When the first wall buckles a predetermined amount, a second wall, interconnected to the first wall, also buckles. The second wall decreases the chance that the first wall bottoms out. Bottoming out increases the pressure on the patient (a.k.a., the force) overlying the gelastic cushion. That increased pressure is undesirable. |
| US08607385B2 |
External immobilizer
An external immobilizer for cancer treatment has a plurality of inflatable bladders that are independent finable depending on computer instruction based on patient position data provided from integrated or separate position determining means, such as external cameras or sensors, optionally with internal and/or external markers. In preferred embodiments, the immobilizer is fully integrated with an imaging means as well as the external beam radiation source, thus allowing both real time, independent anatomical compensation or correction for patient movement and fine control of beam shape and position to accurately target the tumor, even if the patient moves. |
| US08607384B2 |
Bed frame assembly with a lift system having a translatable carriage
A bed frame assembly includes a base frame 32, an elevatable frame 40 and a lift system 80. The lift system includes a carriage 82 longitudinally translatably mounted on the base frame and a lift arm 84 having a crank end 86 and a remote end 88. The crank end of the lift arm is mounted to the carriage at a pivotable joint A for pivoting about a laterally extending crank axis 100. The remote end of the lift arm is connected to the elevatable frame by a lift arm connector 102, which may take various forms. The lift system also includes an actuator 120 mounted on the carriage at a juncture B and connected to the lift arm such that operation of the actuator rotates the lift arm about the crank axis. The lift system also includes a part span connector 130 pivotably connected to the lift arm at a joint D and pivotably connected to the base frame at a joint C. In one embodiment the lift arm connector is a single link 132. In another embodiment the lift arm connector comprises multiple links such as first and second links 144, 146. |
| US08607377B2 |
Water collection and distribution monitoring system and methods
The invention relates to a grey water reclamation system and methods therefor. Grey water is captured from a source, such as a sink, and stored in a main body containing a pump. The grey water is transported to a flush tank for use with a toilet. The system provides for use of a mixture of fresh water and grey water without interrupting the service to the user. Usage of grey water is maximized without completely eliminating the fresh water as a component that ensures service when grey water is unavailable. |
| US08607376B2 |
Cover and method for covering the flange of a waste water strainer
A waste water insert has a wall surrounding a vertical bore. A horizontal flange extends outwardly from the upper end of the wall and has a lip formed on its outer periphery. The horizontal flange of the waste water insert is super-imposed over the horizontal flange of a waste water strainer located in a bathtub, sink or the like. The wall of the insert extends downwardly through the cylindrical wall of the waste water strainer with the two walls being spaced from each other by virtue of the cylindrical wall of the insert having a smaller diameter than that of the strainer. |
| US08607368B2 |
Connection device between toilet and drainpipe
This is a type of connection device between a toilet and a drainpipe, including a trap with an inlet connected to a toilet flush port and an outlet connected to the drainpipe. The trap has a bend part and a horizontal lower pipe connected to it. Upper and lower inner pipe walls of the horizontal lower pipe have different declination angles. There is a containing part in the inlet; and in the containing part there is a sealing part forming a sealing structure between the flush port and the inlet. This simplifies the complex structure of existing toilet drainage parts for on-site installation and for reliable use. The separated trap design includes structure that can generate a siphon phenomenon. At the time of sale, wash-down drainage can be easily transformed to siphon wash-down drainage just by changing parts, such as the trap of the toilet, thus improving the drainage effect. |
| US08607364B2 |
Ergonomic swaddling garment
Ergonomic garment for swaddling an infant garment with an elongate retractable fabric shell having an outer surface and inner surface defining an interior volume for receiving the arms, legs and trunk of an infant therein. Garments have a head end for receiving the arms of said infant, a foot end for receiving the legs of said infant, and a mid section for receiving the trunk of said infant that is narrower than said head end and said foot end, and a neck opening at the head end for receiving a neck of said infant. Garments have an ergonomic peanut-like shape. Garments have a reversible closure means accessing said interior volume of said fabric shell extending longitudinally along the central axis of said fabric shell from said head end to said foot end, a chin protector closure means and optionally a means for accepting an automotive seat belt. Detachable arms and/or leggings and attached retractable arms and/or leggings garments are shown. Porous light-permeable and antimicrobial fabric embodiments are described. |
| US08613106B2 |
Reducing the value of a browser fingerprint
A method, operable on a processing device, for reducing the value of a browser fingerprint may include receiving, by the processing device, a request to provide a list of plugins installed on a browser. The method may also include generating, by the processing device, a fake list of plugins installed on the browser. The method may additionally include communicating, by the processing device, the fake list of plugins installed on the browser in response to the received request to provide a list of plugins installed on the browser. |
| US08613105B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing confidential information
Techniques for securely storing confidential information associated with a transaction are disclosed. A method for securely storing confidential information may include storing a data set related to a first transaction in a first server, the data set configured to be searchable by an authorized administrator, storing a plurality of encrypted files that include confidential information related to a plurality of transactions in a second server, including a first encrypted file that includes confidential information related to the first transaction, storing an identifier for the first encrypted file, where the identifier is configured to include at least one key required to access the confidential information related to the first transaction, linking the data set to the identifier, and limiting the access to the plurality of encrypted files by the administrator. |
| US08613104B2 |
Protected and virtual interfaces for COM aggregation
An outer COM object can be provided with privileged access to protected functionality in an inner COM object. An inner COM object can offer a custom protected interface to an outer COM object by creating a new inner internals COM object that is not available to a calling application or by creating a new extension IUnknown interface that can be used to access the protected content. An outer COM object can override behavior in an inner COM object. An inner COM object can offer access to custom behavior to an outer COM object by creating a new inner internals COM object that is not available to a calling application. The new inner internals COM object can implement a new interface that provides access to the customized (override) content or can create a new extension IUnknown interface that can be used to provide access to the customized (override) content. |
| US08613102B2 |
Method and system for providing document retention using cryptography
Techniques for utilizing security criteria to implement document retention for electronic documents are disclosed. The security criteria can also limit when, how and where access to the electronic documents is permitted. The security criteria can pertain to keys (or ciphers) used to secure (e.g., encrypt) electronic files (namely, electronic documents), or to unsecure (e.g., decrypt) electronic files already secured. At least a portion of the security criteria can be used to implement document retention, namely, a document retention policy. After a secured electronic document has been retained for the duration of the document retention policy, the associated security criteria becomes no longer available, thus preventing subsequent access to the secured electronic document. In other words, access restrictions on electronic documents can be used to prevent access to electronic documents which are no longer to be retained. |
| US08613095B2 |
Smart distribution of a malware countermeasure
Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An embodiment provides a network device. The network device includes a network analyzer module operable to monitor a plurality of networked nodes for an indicium of an activity at each respective node. The network device also includes a dissemination module operable to facilitate distribution of a malware countermeasure to a first set of networked nodes of the plurality of networked nodes in a manner responsive to an indicium of an activity associated with the first set of networked nodes of the plurality of networked nodes. The network device may include a computerized networking device. |
| US08613093B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for comparing an object with object enumeration results to identify an anomaly that at least potentially indicates unwanted activity
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for comparing an object with object enumeration results to identify at least potentially unwanted activity. In use, a change in a state of an object is identified. Additionally, the object is compared with results of an object enumeration. Further, at least potentially unwanted activity is identified based on the comparison. |
| US08613092B2 |
System, method and computer program product for updating a security system definition database based on prioritized instances of known unwanted data
A prioritized update system, method, and computer program product are provided. In use, a priority is assigned to a plurality of instances of known unwanted data. In addition, information associated with at least one of the instances of known unwanted data is communicated over a network for updating a system, based on the priority. In one embodiment, the prioritized update system may be provided for updating a security system definition database, based on prioritized instances of known unwanted data. |
| US08613090B1 |
Method for processing a secure system manager
Method and apparatus for secure processing. The method includes detecting communication among secure and non-secure data entities, prohibiting execution of non-secure executable instructions on secure data entities unless the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in a permitted instruction record, and prohibiting execution of non-secure executable instructions if the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in a prohibited instruction record. The apparatus includes a processor, at least one non-secure data entity, and secure data entities including: a communication monitor adapted to detect communication among secure and non-secure data entities; a permitted instruction record; a first prohibitor adapted to prohibit execution of non-secure executable instructions on secure data entities unless the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in the permitted instruction record; a prohibited instruction record; and a second prohibitor adapted to prohibit execution of non-secure executable instructions if the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in the prohibited instruction record. |
| US08613089B1 |
Identifying a denial-of-service attack in a cloud-based proxy service
A cloud-based proxy service identifies a denial-of-service (DoS) attack including determining that there is a potential DoS attack being directed to an IP address of the cloud-based proxy service; and responsive to determining that there are a plurality of domains that resolve to that IP address, identifying the one of the plurality of domains that is the target of the DoS attack. The domain that is under attack is identified by scattering the plurality of domains to resolve to different IP addresses, where a result of the scattering is that each of those domains resolves to a different IP address, and identifying one of those plurality of domains as the target of the DoS attack by determining that there is an abnormally high amount of traffic being directed to the IP address in which that domain resolves. |
| US08613088B2 |
Methods and systems to detect an evasion attack
A method and system to detect an evasion attack are provided. The system may include a repository to store signature fragments that together constitute an attack signature, an interceptor to intercept a data packet associated with a network connection, a string-matching module to determine whether the payload of the data packet includes any of the stored signature fragments thereby identifying a match, a responder to perform a prevention action in response to the match, and a detector to detect that a size of the data packet is less than a size threshold. The system may further include a state machine to commence maintaining a state for the network connection in response to the detector determining that the size of the data packet is less than the size threshold. |
| US08613087B2 |
Computing system
Disclosed is a computing system which comprises a data processing device exchanging communication data with the external and processing the communication data; and a security integrated circuit (IC) monitoring the communication data. |
| US08613086B2 |
Ping and scan of computer systems
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for identifying computer systems that pose a threat for potential dissemination of confidential information, and thereafter, scanning the computer systems for unauthorized activity related to potential dissemination of confidential information. Embodiments of the invention comprise compiling a list of user computer systems that are at risk of accessing, using, or disseminating confidential information; determining whether the computer systems on the list are available for scanning; and scanning the computer systems on the list to identify an incident related to potential or actual threats or breaches of confidential information. |
| US08613075B2 |
Selective item access provision in response to active item ascertainment upon device transfer
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user; ascertaining, in response to said determining, which of one or more items that are at least conditionally accessible through the computing device are active; and providing one or more selective levels of access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on said ascertaining. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08613074B2 |
Security protection for memory content of processor main memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to memory devices and security of same. |
| US08613073B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing diameter signaling router with firewall functionality
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a system for Diameter routing and firewall filtering. The system includes a Diameter signaling router comprising a network interface for receiving, from a first Diameter node, a first Diameter message having Diameter information. The Diameter signaling router also includes a firewall module for determining whether the first Diameter message satisfies a firewall policy. The firewall policy is based on at least a portion of the Diameter information in the first Diameter message. The Diameter signaling router further includes a routing module for forwarding at least a portion of the first Diameter message towards a second Diameter node in response to the first Diameter message satisfying the firewall policy. |
| US08613072B2 |
Redirection of secure data connection requests
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for processing a secure data connection request. A particular method receives, at a first gateway, a secure data connection request from a client identifying a server to connect to. The first gateway sends the client device a redirect message instructing the client device to attempt alternate connection via a second gateway. The client sends a secure data connection request to the second gateway and the second gateway facilitates the secure data connection between the client and the server. |
| US08613068B2 |
Cross-domain session refresh
Various embodiments utilize redirection techniques to refresh an authenticated session for a web-based executable operated across multiple domains. In at least some embodiments, the redirection techniques utilize a hidden inline frame (“i-frame”) to refresh an authenticated session. In some embodiments, polling is utilized to detect the end of a redirection sequence and a refreshed authenticated session while in other embodiments, an authenticated session is assumed to be refreshed after the expiration of a predetermined period of time. |
| US08613065B2 |
Method and system for multiple passcode generation
This invention relates to a method and a system for generating user passcodes for each of a plurality of transaction providers from a mobile user device. A method and system for activating a plurality of passcode generators on a user device configured with a passcode application installed on the user device is provided. Each of the passcode generators may correspond to a different user account or transaction provider, such that each passcode generator provides a user passcode configured for the corresponding account or transaction provider. One or more of the passcode generators may include a passcode generating algorithm and a passcode key. Access to one or more of the passcode generators may require providing a PIN or a challenge. |
| US08613061B2 |
Methods and apparatus to implement electronic book viewers
Example methods and apparatus to implement electronic book viewers are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves presenting content on a display panel removably attachable to a binding element. The binding element is configured to receive one or more other display panels in a removably attached configuration to form an electronic book. The example method also involves enforcing a content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel based on an attachment status of the display panel. The attachment status is associated with the removable attachability of the display panel relative to the binding element. |
| US08613058B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for providing additional authentication beyond user equipment authentication in an IMS network
A communication network provides access to a network service by providing an additional level of authentication beyond device level authentication. Operations include receiving a message at a Bootstrapping Server Function (BSF) from User Equipment (UE) that additional authentication beyond UE authentication is required for UE access to a network service, and performing an authentication protocol between the BSF and a Home Subscriber System (HSS) to authenticate an identity associated with the UE responsive to receiving the message. |
| US08613055B1 |
Methods and apparatus for selecting an authentication mode at time of issuance of an access token
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an authorization module implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. The authorization module can receive from an application a request for an access token associated with the application that includes a scope identifier associated with a level of access to a resource module. The authorization module can select based on the scope identifier at least one authentication mode from a set of predefined authentication modes. The authorization module can also receive at least one credential assigned to at least one authentication mode. Additionally, the authorization module can send the access token to the application in response to authenticating a user of the application based on the at least one credential. |
| US08613053B2 |
System and method for authorizing a portable communication device
Systems and methods of authorizing a portable communication device to access a network resource. In an embodiment, a request to access a network resource is received from a portable communication device via a network. A processor is used to dynamically and selectively determine whether the portable communication device is authorized to access the requested network resource. The determination may be based on a unique identifying attribute associated with the portable communication device without the unique identifying attribute being predefined in a user profile database and without querying the portable communication device or its user for information. If the portable communication device is authorized, it may be allowed to access the network resource. Otherwise, it may be redirected to an authentication system where it may be enabled to submit authentication-related information so that it may be authorized to access the requested network resource. |
| US08613050B2 |
License authentication system and authentication method
A license authentication system and method enabling authentication of an application to be installed in a client PC which is being incapable of communicating with the server which authenticates the application. A portable terminal performs license authentication of an application to be installed in a client PC in place of the server and gives the client PC a temporary right of use (step 1101 to step 1108). During the temporary use, the portable terminal performs regular license authentication in place of the client PC to obtain the regular right of use and gives the information relating to the right of use to the client PC (step 1109 to step 1116). |
| US08613047B2 |
Interacting with internet servers without keyboard
A system and method which may allow users to interact with Internet servers with graphical mouse movements. The invention is especially useful to enhance online transaction security. A user may use a mouse to draw a pattern and store the pattern as his password to an online account, and draw the pattern with a mouse to log in the online account. The password may include a drawing, one or more letters, one or more numbers, or one or more characters.In an embodiment, a computer program product may include a computer-readable medium having instructions which, when performed by a computer, perform a user authentication method. The user authentication method may include receiving at an Internet server a username; receiving at the Internet server a password which is drawn with graphical movements of a graphical drawing input device; determining whether the password drawn matches a password previously stored with the username; and authenticating a user accordingly. |
| US08613046B2 |
Far-end control method with security mechanism
The present invention relates to a far-end control method with a security mechanism including a host transmitting an identification code through the PSTN (Public switched telephone network) to the I/O control device of the far-end. The I/O control device has a CPU to receive the identification code and judge whether the identification code matches with the predetermined value stored therein; if the identification code matches with the predetermined value, the mobile internet connection between the host and the I/O control device is activated to enable the host to mutually transmit information or signals with a far-end control device from the I/O control device through the mobile internet, and the connection will be disabled after the information or signal transmission is completed. Thus not only the damage caused by line occupied from the hacker invasion or error signal transmission is reduced, but also the cost and power consumption without connecting the mobile internet between these two ends all the time is reduced. |
| US08613045B1 |
Generating secure roaming user profiles over a network
Embodiments are directed to providing access to a resource over a network. A client device may request access to a server. An application may be provided to the client device. The application may cause control of the client device to be switched from a first desktop to a secure desktop. The secure desktop may be configured to restrict applications access to within the secure desktop. An indication of the resource on the server to map to may be received at the client device. The indicated resource may be mapped onto a file system on the client device. Mapping may comprise using a remote file access protocol, using DLL injection, or adding a kernel module to an operating system on the client device. The mapped resource may be constrained to be accessed through the secure desktop. |
| US08613041B2 |
Creating rules for routing resource access requests
Techniques for determining which resource access requests are handled locally at a remote computer, and which resource access requests are routed or “redirected” through a virtual private network. One or more routing or “redirection” rules are downloaded from a redirection rule server to a remote computer. When the node of the virtual private network running on the remote computer receives a resource access request, it compares the identified resource with the rules. Based upon how the identified resource matches one or more rules, the node will determine whether the resource access request is redirected through the virtual private network or handled locally (e.g., retrieved locally from another network). A single set of redirection rules can be distributed to and employed by a variety of different virtual private network communication techniques. |
| US08613039B2 |
Automated correction and reporting for dynamic web applications
Changes to dynamic web content are monitored for compliance with web content compliance rules. A noncompliant element associated with a change to the dynamic web content is identified based upon the web content compliance rules. Automated correction of the noncompliant element is performed based upon the web content compliance rules. The noncompliant element is reported to a server associated with the change to the dynamic web content. |
| US08613036B2 |
Device for connection to a television set and method of transmitting additional information for the television signal
A method of obtaining, preparing and visually displaying additional information on a continuous reproduction of electronic media, picture reproduction, or sound reproduction on an ongoing television program, comprises first analyzing program information from the ongoing program or of highlighted additional data to the ongoing program. Then additional information obtained from databases, from a public data network or from other sources of information subject to the program information is made available and optically prepared. This the prepared and obtained data for the additional information is then linked with manually or automatically related metadata. Finally, search criteria are linked with metadata related to individual search criteria, terms, partial entries in search criteria, or a combination thereof. |
| US08613034B1 |
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. |
| US08613031B2 |
Method for transferring video and sound data directly between distinct digital video recorders
A method for transferring video and sound data from a first digital video recorder situated in a first local area network to a second digital video recorder situated in a second local area network comprising the steps of recording video and sound data with the first digital video recorder in the first local area network, providing a distinct address of the second digital video recorder in the second local area network, identifying the second digital video recorder in the second local area network by the address, establishing a direct and secure connection between the first digital video recorder in the first local area network and the second digital video recorder in the second local area network and sending the video and sound data from the first digital video recorder through a communications network to the second digital video recorder. |
| US08613030B2 |
Transmission of uncompressed video for 3-D and multiview HDTV
A wireless video camera system including a single or dual HDTV digital camera; a system for the wireless transmission of uncompressed single or multiple SMPTE 292M, HDSDI data streams over an RF band; and automatic self-pointing transmitting and receiving antennas. |
| US08613023B2 |
Information processor, information processing method and computer program
Disclosed is a content-view supporting system to recommend to a user a clear result of searched contents, based on a group of similar users' favorite programs, through a user-basis collaborative filtering process. The system selects similar users whose program view history is similar to that of a recommended user, maps the program view history in a collaborative filtering matrix registers, in the collaborative filtering matrix, a virtual user whose program view history includes a group of hit programs obtained based on a search condition served for realizing a predetermined search topic. The system also counts the numbers of reservations or views achieved by each user according to program content based on the program view history, in the collaborative filtering matrix, which counted numbers are set as matching numbers, and outputs a search result representing a recommendation list of the contents arrayed in the descending order of matching number. |
| US08613020B2 |
Program guide system with flip and browse advertisements
An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed in program listings display regions on program guide screens. The program listings display regions may be browse displays or flip displays. The program guide screens contain video for the current channel to which the user is tuned. The program listings display regions containing the advertisements may be overlaid on top of the current channel. Alternatively, the video for the current channel may be provided in a reduced-size video window. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. Advertisements may be selectable. When a user selects an advertisement, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to order products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or take other such actions. |
| US08613019B2 |
Providing a viewer incentive with video content
Video content may be transmitted with enhanced content or ancillary information that includes viewer loyalty incentives. The viewer loyalty incentives may be in the form of incentives, certificates or other information which may accumulate depending on viewing time. The more the viewer watches, the more incentives the viewer may receive. |
| US08613016B2 |
Apparatus for receiving adaptive broadcast signal and method thereof
An apparatus for receiving an adaptive broadcast signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes linking an IP network, sending supported codec information for a receiver to a service provider via the linked IP network, receiving an available service information list provided by the service provider based on the supported codec information for the receiver, and if at least one service is selected from the received available service information list by a user, providing the selected service to the receiver. |
| US08613007B2 |
Server independent deployment of plug-ins
Disclosed are methods and systems for deploying one or more plug-ins. The method and systems involve receiving a request for generating a graphical user interface at a client computing device, the request includes a configuration for flash content of the graphical user interface, identifying a one or more plug-ins associated with the request and at least one extension of the identified one or more plug-ins, the one or more plug-ins having been deployed at a plurality of content servers across plurality of platform types and stored in a plug-in repository, retrieving the identified one or more plug-ins based on the extension of the identified one or more plug-ins and generating the requested graphical user interface based on the retrieved one or more plug-ins. |
| US08613006B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for terminating a hidden kernel process
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for terminating a hidden kernel process. In use, a hidden kernel process structure associated with a hidden kernel process is identified. In addition, the hidden kernel process structure is inserted into an active process list. Further, the hidden kernel process is terminated. |
| US08613005B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a service-oriented user interface integration bus
Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for providing a service-oriented user interface integration bus. According to one embodiment, a system can be provided having a memory for storing computer executable instructions and a processor in communication with the memory via a computer interface. The processor can be adapted to execute computer executable instructions and configured to receive a user interface service request from an application module associated with a first platform. The processor can also be adapted to transform the user interface service request from the application module to a user interface service request for a host platform. The processor can also be adapted to match the transformed user interface service request to a platform service to provide a visual interface with the application module to a user on the host platform. |
| US08613002B2 |
System, method and apparatus for controlling multiple applications and services on a digital electronic device
A services and application controller (“SAC”) is provided for digital electronic devices. The SAC includes four interfaces which respectively interact with four different environments, namely an application interface that interacts with application environments and applications, an extension interface that interacts with engines and enablers, a platform interface that interacts with device platform environments, and a service and network interface that interacts with services and service infrastructures and with networks. The SAC provides a set of core functions and abstracts the environments from each other, which enable interactions between these environments without requiring that the environments be aware of specific aspects of the other environments for the interactions. |
| US08612997B2 |
Event-driven component integration framework for implementing distributed systems
An event driven component, in a distributed system of software components, utilizes a buffered port. Within the distributed system of software components are the event-driven component; accepting means for accepting input events arriving at an input gateway; a coarse-grained component for providing a coarse-grained function that provides a set of services; decision means, in the input port, for creating a buffered port that provides a queue for each of the services according to a configurable policy; an event registry in which the event driven component registers its interest in accepting a subset of the events and its interest in generating output when executing the set of services, wherein each service in the set of services is associated with one or more events; distributing means for distributing the events to the input port; and an output gateway for dispatching a generated output event to an output port. |
| US08612994B1 |
Methods and systems for activating and deactivating virtualization layers
A computer-implemented method may include identifying an action associated with a software program. The computer-implemented method may also include determining that the software program is located in a virtualization layer. The computer-implemented method may further include changing an activation state of the virtualization layer in response to the action. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08612993B2 |
Identity persistence via executable scripts
Computing devices, computer-readable media, and methods are provided for generating and persisting a user identity associated with a client in a client-server network. A request for an identity script, the identity script comprising computer-executable instructions for creating one or more cookies, is sent from a client to a server. A dynamically generated identity script is returned to the client. User identities are persisted by utilizing cache validation to determine whether a new identity script should be generated. |
| US08612989B1 |
Assigning resources among multiple groups of workloads in a database system
A computer running a database system receives a query. The database system services a plurality of collections. Each collection includes a plurality of workload groups. Each collection is assigned a percentage of a resource for its use. A donor collection, Cdonor, is not using its assigned percentage of the resource during a time slice tJ. The length in time of time slice tJ is less than a time in which the query is expected to execute. The query is assigned to a workload group. The assignment is determined by the computer applying a workload classification and an exception criteria to parameters of the query. The workload group is part of a donee collection, Cdonee, different from the donor collection. The donor collection donates, through the computer, use of a boost percentage of the resource to the donee collection during the time slice tJ. The boost percentage is proportional to the percentage of the resource assigned to the donee collection, the percentage of the resource assigned to the donor collection, and a Greediness Value related to the amount of the donor collection's allocated percentage of the resource available to be donated. The query is executed by the computer during time slice tJ, with the donee collection using its allocated percentage of the resource plus the boost percentage of the resource to execute the query. |
| US08612983B2 |
Scheduling event streams depending on content information data
Apparatus and method for scheduling event streams. The apparatus includes (i) an interface for receiving event streams which are placed in queues and (ii) a scheduler which selects at least one event stream for dispatch depending on sketched content information data of the received event streams. The scheduler includes a sketching engine for sketching the received event streams to determine content information data and a selection engine for selecting at least one received event stream for dispatch depending on the determined content information data of the received event streams. The method includes the steps of (i) determining content information data about the content of event streams and (ii) selecting at least one event stream from the event streams for dispatch depending on the content information data. A computer program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of the above method. |
| US08612981B2 |
Task distribution method
A method for distributing a task to plural processors is provided. A distribution rule of distributing plural tasks to sub processors or the main processor, respectively, is previously written in a program code of an application configured to include plural tasks. At the time of executing the application, the main processor reads out the distribution rule, and distributes plural tasks to the sub processors or the main processor, respectively, in accordance with the distribution rule. |
| US08612980B2 |
Distribution of job in a portable format in distributed computing environments
A method, system and computer program product is disclosed for providing a distributed computing environment in which an arbitrary job manager or scheduler is able to be employed. In the distributed computing environment, a job is created in a host or client to include one or more technical computing tasks and submitted to the arbitrary scheduler in a portable format. Since the portable format of the job is independent of the platform structure of the scheduler, the schedule can handle the job regardless of the platform structure of the scheduler. The scheduler then transfers the job in the portable format to one or more remote workers. The present invention utilizes a portable format to submit the job to a scheduler and to distribute the job to remote workers so that any scheduler can receive and distribute the job to the remote workers. |
| US08612979B2 |
Information processing apparatus to process a processing target, information method, and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes: a reliability determination unit that determines reliability required for processing a processing target based on the processing target; a processing determination unit that makes a comparison between the reliability determined by the reliability determination unit and reliability of a processing main body and determines whether or not the processing main body can be caused to process the processing target; a processing target change unit that changes the processing target so as to change the reliability of the processing target if the processing determination unit determines that the processing main body cannot be caused to process the processing target; and a processing request unit that requests the processing main body to process the processing target changed by the processing target change unit. |
| US08612978B2 |
Code execution utilizing single or multiple threads
A program is executed utilizing a main hardware thread. During execution, an instruction specifies to execute a portion utilizing a worker hardware thread. If a processor state indicator is set to multi-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the worker hardware thread. However, if the processor state indicator is set to single-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the main hardware thread as a subroutine. The main hardware thread may pass parameter data to the worker hardware thread by copying the parameter data register or memory location for the main hardware thread to an equivalent parameter data register or memory location for the worker hardware thread. Similarly, the worker hardware thread may pass return values to the main hardware thread by copying a return value register or memory location for the worker hardware thread to an equivalent return value register or memory location for the main hardware thread. |
| US08612975B2 |
World switch between virtual machines with selective storage of state information
A data processing device includes one or more state registers to store state information associated with an execution core of the device. Each state register includes an associated “dirty” bit. When a guest program is executed at the execution core, a dirty bit is set in response to a change in the state information at the associated state register. In response to a world switch from the guest program to a VMM, the state information at each state register is stored to memory only if the associated dirty bit is set. In addition, if the VMM changes any stored state information, it clears a “clean” bit associated with the changed information. In response to a world switch from the VMM to a guest, the state information associated with cleared clean bits is retrieved from memory. |
| US08612973B2 |
Method and system for handling interrupts within computer system during hardware resource migration
A method and system for handling interrupts within a computer system during hardware resource migration are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) programming an address conversion component so that incoming interrupt signals are directed to a control component rather than to a source processing resource, and (b) accumulating the incoming interrupt signals at the control component. Additionally the method also includes, subsequent to the migration of the partition from the source processing resource to a destination processing resource, (c) sending the accumulated incoming interrupt signals to the destination processing resource, and (d) reprogramming the address conversion component so that further incoming interrupt signals are directed to the destination processing resource. |
| US08612968B2 |
Methods and systems for managing network connections associated with provisioning objects in a software provisioning environment
A provisioning server can manage and configure the network parameters for target machines and systems residing in the networks associated with the provisioning server. The provisioning server can associate provisioning objects with the network configurations stored in the network record. The provisioning server can maintain an object record that associates the network configurations with different provisioning object. The provisioning server can utilize the object record to determine network parameters for target machines requesting provisioning processes, such as target machine installs, and virtualization. |
| US08612967B1 |
Loading branded media outside system partition
A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device comprises a processor, a memory, and an installation application stored in the memory, that, when executed by the processor, detects stored information outside a system partition of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device also identifies a set of files stored outside of the system partition, the set of files associated with a replacement branding and containing a first instruction. The portable electronic device also installs, in response to executing the first instruction, the set of files to a first partition of the portable electronic device wherein the set of files overwrite an initial set of files associated with an initial branding. |
| US08612956B2 |
Efficient object profiling for optimizing object locality
A computer-implementable method, system and apparatus. The frequency of reference to an object, also known as “hotness,” can be collected as a part of a profiling phase during a runtime operation of data-processing system by permitting each reference to the object during the runtime operation to randomly guess a predetermined value associated with the object, such that a correct guess thereof implies that the object is referenced frequently. Thereafter, the frequency of reference to the object can be validated by identifying a particular value in a header associated with the object, in response to collecting the frequency of reference to the object during the profiling phase, thereby increasing the scalability and efficiency of the runtime operation while permitting data associated with the frequency of reference to the object to other applications for immediate use. |
| US08612955B2 |
Wavescalar architecture having a wave order memory
A dataflow instruction set architecture and execution model, referred to as WaveScalar, which is designed for scalable, low-complexity/high-performance processors, while efficiently providing traditional memory semantics through a mechanism called wave-ordered memory. Wave-ordered memory enables “real-world” programs, written in any language, to be run on the WaveScalar architecture, as well as any out-of-order execution unit. Because it is software-controlled, wave-ordered memory can be disabled to obtain greater parallelism. Wavescalar also includes a software-controlled tag management system. |
| US08612954B2 |
Fine slicing: generating an executable bounded slice for program
A method for generating a fine slice for a program is provided. The method comprises receiving a set of slicing criteria, wherein the set of slicing criteria comprises one or more variable occurrences or control dependences; receiving a set of cut points, wherein the set of cut points comprises one or more variable occurrences or control dependences; and generating a slice according to the set of slicing criteria and the set of cut points. The generated slice includes statements related to computation of values for the set of slicing criteria and excludes statements related to computation of values for the set of cut points. Missing information is added to the slice so that the slice is executable. |
| US08612953B2 |
Compiler driven mechanism for registration and deregistration of memory pages
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for registering and deregistering memory pages in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of hoisting register and deregister calls in a given routine where temporal locality is present to overlap computation and communication; using software pipelined registration and deregistration where spatial locality is observed; and using intra-procedural and inter-procedural analysis by a compiler of the computer system to deregister dynamically allocated buffers. The preferred embodiment of the invention is based on an optimizing compiler. The compiler is used to extract information such as addresses of buffers which are being reused repeatedly (temporal locality), preferably in a loop. The compiler may also find information about spatial locality, such as arrays whose indexes are used in a well-defined manner in a series of messages, for example, array pages being accessed in a pre-defined pattern in a loop. |
| US08612946B2 |
Cross-building support using dependency information
A mechanism for cross-building support using dependency information is disclosed. A method of the invention includes parsing a source code package received for compilation into a binary source code package for a target machine, the parsing to determine a list of dependency packages needed to compile the source code package, for each dependency package in the list of dependency packages determining a type of the dependency package and associating an architecture of at least one of a build machine compiling the source code package or the target machine with the dependency package based on a determined type of the dependency package, downloading each dependency package in the list of dependency packages in a binary form of the build architecture format, and downloading each dependency package that is associated with the target machine in a binary form of the target architecture format. |
| US08612936B2 |
System and method for recommending software artifacts
A system and method are discussed that relate to recommending one or more software artifacts to an artifact user. Characteristic information about the artifact user and about a desired artifact is obtained. First metadata about each of one or more candidate artifacts is retrieved. A score is assigned to each of the one or more candidate artifacts, based on a first evaluation of one or more predetermined criteria applied to the retrieved first metadata. The scored artifacts are scaled based on a second evaluation of each of the one or more scored artifacts, the scaling being in view of the characteristic information about the artifact user and the characteristic information about the desired artifact. Finally, one or more scaled artifacts are recommended to the artifact user based on the second evaluation applied to each of the one or more scored artifacts, that is based on the scaled scores. |
| US08612927B2 |
Bulk access to metadata in a service-oriented business framework
A bulk service interface can be instantiated for each of at least one service provider providing a plurality of business objects using a stored definition of a plurality of metadata properties relating to generation of a user interface that incorporates content of a plurality of business objects. The bulk service interface can query the stored definition and access, in a bulk metadata access process, dynamic metadata required for instantiation of the plurality of business objects. If the stored definition has not previously been received, a default bulk services access process that queries an existing dynamic metadata access interface of each of the plurality of business objects can be initiated to retrieve the dynamic metadata from each of the plurality of business objects. An instance of the user interface can be generated using dynamic metadata accessed by the bulk service interface and/or the retrieved by the default bulk services access process. |
| US08612926B2 |
System and method for software development
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for developing software. In one embodiment, a method for facilitating the distributed development of software components includes providing a skill rating for software developers, communicating specifications for a software component to a subset of the developers, receiving submissions from the developers, scoring the submissions, and selecting one submission to be included in a software repository. In another embodiment, a method for compensating a software developer includes soliciting software developers for the submission of computer software components, receiving software components in response to the solicitation from the developers, evaluating the received software components, selecting one or more of the submissions for potential distribution to the public, and allotting the proceeds from the distribution to the developers. |
| US08612924B2 |
Support program, support apparatus, and support method to change a display attribute of a component in a displayed circuit
A computer-readable medium storing a support program that causes a computer to execute operations, the operations including reading out, from a memory that stores arrangement information on a component on a circuit and analysis information indicating a result of an analysis on the component, the arrangement information on the component and generating image information, reading out the analysis information that is information related to whether or not an examination is to be carried out with respect to the component from the memory, and changing a display attribute of the component which is included in the image information in accordance with the analysis information. |
| US08612922B2 |
Generalized constraint collection management method
Techniques are provided to allow users of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to define constraint template types for efficiently associating constraints with design objects to specify design intent. Processes for creating and validating the constraints are provided by user-defined plug-ins, thereby allowing users to annotate circuit designs with constraints for proprietary layout and fabrication processes without exposing the constraints to tool vendors or competitors. The constraints are re-created from the template types whenever the circuit design is loaded into the EDA tool, so that the constraints are based upon the latest version of the template type. The constraints are also re-created when validation fails. Constraint groups are reusable in different designs, technology nodes, and processes because they automatically expand to provide the specific constraints to achieve a goal. The specific constraints in a template type can be modified as technology changes, and the modification will automatically be applied to the design objects. |
| US08612921B1 |
Technique for modeling parasitics from layout during circuit design and for parasitic aware circuit design using modes of varying accuracy
A user is presented with a simulation environment within which the user is provided a choice to select between parasitic simulation modes of varying accuracy, the modes including a mode without parasitics and a plurality of modes including parasitics with a varying degree of accuracy. A selection from among the modes is received from the user and simulation test are performed at the selected degree of accuracy. |
| US08612916B1 |
System and method for import and export of design constraints
A method is provided for exporting design constraints from a circuit design. In response to a first user command indicating a design constraint and a pattern, the design constraint is assigned to each object in the circuit design that matches the pattern, and the pattern is stored in a database. In response to a second user command to export design constraints of the circuit design, for each design constraint assigned to a respective set of objects of the circuit design, a pattern stored in the database that matches the respective set of the objects is determined and the design constraint is added to an export file in a format that uses the determined pattern. Design constraints on individual ones of the set of the objects indicated by the determined pattern are omitted from the export file. |
| US08612915B1 |
Reducing leakage in standard cells
Embodiments of systems and methods for leakage reduction of a cell are presented herein. According to one embodiment, a path module can identify each rail-to-rail path in a cell. In the embodiment, a transistor set module can select one or more transistors that are coupled to a rail of the cell and, if removed, no rail-to-rail path would exist in the cell. A layout modification module can transform the cell by upsizing a gate length of each transistor of the selected transistors to create a low-leakage version of the cell. |
| US08612914B2 |
Pin routing in standard cells
Cells designed to accommodate metal routing tracks having a pitch that is an odd multiple of a manufacturing grid. The cells includes cell pins that are located within the cell based on the offsets of the routing tracks relative to the cell boundaries. The cell pins are wider than wires that are routed along the metal routing tracks. The standard cell may be placed in a layout in either a normal orientation or in a flipped orientation. In both orientations, the cell pins are aligned with the wires that are routed along the metal routing tracks. |
| US08612911B2 |
Estimating power consumption of an electronic circuit
A method comprises estimating power consumption of an electronic circuit. The estimating includes assigning a first gate of the at least one gate into a priority queue based on a levelized result of the electronic circuit for a full circuit calculation and assigning a second gate of the at least one gate into the priority queue which fan-out gate is directly connected to a fan-in gate of a resized gate for an incremental circuit calculation. The estimating includes, for each gate from the priority queue, performing the following operations. Latest and earliest signal arrival times at an output net of the gate are determined by static timing analysis and calculating a glitch window as difference, and a transition metric is calculated for the output net based on the glitch window. The operations include determining an upper bound of signal transitions, and estimating the power consumption based on the upper bound. |
| US08612908B2 |
Method and system for verification of electrical circuit designs at process, voltage, and temperature corners
A method for finding the process, voltage, temperature, parasitics, and power settings (PVTPP) corner at which an electrical circuit design has the worst-case optimum simulated output performance. The method uses a global optimization process in a series of iterations that aim to uncover the PVTPP corner at which the ECD has the worst-case output value. By using the present method, a designer does not have to simulate the ECD at each and every PVTPP corner, which can same considerable time or compute effort. Examples using Model-Building Optimization are provided. |
| US08612907B2 |
High-speed SRAM
A method includes a) receiving a design for a static random access memory (SRAM) array including an SRAM cell having a read port cell, the read port cell including first and second MOS transistors each having an initial threshold voltage (Vth); b) adjusting one of a gate channel width (Wg) or a gate channel length (Lg) of one of the first and second MOS transistors to modify the Vth of at least one of the first and second MOS transistors; c) simulating a response of the SRAM array, the simulation providing response data for the SRAM array including the Vth for the first and second MOS transistors; and d) iteratively repeating steps b) and c) until a desired Vth is achieved. |
| US08612906B2 |
Apparatus for aiding design of semiconductor device and method
An apparatus for aiding a design of a semiconductor device including a plurality of wirings, the apparatus has a display, a memory that stores information corresponding to the wirings, and a processor that obtains a power consumption value of each wiring in reference to the information about the wirings stored in the memory, and displays each of the wirings on the display in a manner that each wiring is distinguishable as to the obtained power consumption value of the each wiring. |
| US08612905B1 |
System method and apparatus for vacuity detection
A method and apparatus for producing a vacuity detection report to reduce false positive verification results for digital circuits provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a design description of the digital design is generated. From the design description, a vacuity detection problem is derived by introducing an assertion into the design description. By introducing an assertion into the design description, the vacuity detection problem is solvable by formal assertion based verification engines. A verification engine is then used to solve the vacuity detection problem and produce a vacuity detection report. 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. |
| US08612904B1 |
Use of polarization and composite illumination source for advanced optical lithography
Embodiments of the invention provide approaches for optimizing illumination and polarization for advanced optical lithography. Specifically, an illumination pupil plane of an illumination source is bisected into a plurality of elements. Preferred elements of the illumination pupil plane are selected for a set of integrated circuit (IC) design features. An imaging performance of the set of IC design features for the preferred elements is evaluated at different polarization states to determine an optimal illumination and polarization condition for each IC design feature. Imaging performance of the combined IC design features, evaluated at various optimal illumination and polarization outcomes synthesized at different intensity ratios, is reviewed against a set of design tolerance requirements to finalize optical illumination and polarization conditions for the entire IC design. An optimal illumination and polarization solution is identified for an off-contact pattern with a plurality of sub-resolution assisted features connecting line-line-end portions of main mask features. |
| US08612903B2 |
Technique for repairing a reflective photo-mask
During a calculation technique, a modification to a reflective photo-mask is calculated. In particular, using information associated with different types of analysis techniques a group of one or more potential defects in the reflective photo-mask is determined. Then, the modification to the reflective photo-mask is calculated based on at least a subset of the group of potential defects using an inverse optical calculation. In particular, during the inverse optical calculation, a cost function at an image plane in a model of the photolithographic process is used to determine the modification to the reflective photo-mask at an object plane in the model of the photolithographic process. |
| US08612902B1 |
Retargeting multiple patterned integrated circuit device designs
A mechanism is provided for performing retargeting in a multiple-pattern integrated circuit device design manufacturing process. For at least one element on at least one exposure of multiple-pattern integrated circuit device design after decomposition, a lithographic simulation analysis is performed for a width and first space combination to generate a two-dimensional width and first space representation of lithographic variation. The two-dimensional width and first space representation is combined with second space of the element to a nearest element on pre-decomposed layout of the multiple-pattern integrated circuit device design to generate a three-dimensional representation of retargeting bias values. Responsive to a determination that the element requires a retargeting bias, a retargeting bias is selected for the element based on the three-dimensional representation of retargeting bias values. The fabrication of the integrated circuit device design is then controlled based on the selected retargeting bias for the element. |
| US08612900B2 |
Rule optimization in lithographic imaging based on correlation of functions representing mask and predefined optical conditions
Methods, computer program products and apparatuses for optimizing design rules for producing a mask are disclosed, while keeping the optical conditions (including but not limited to illumination shape, projection optics numerical aperture (NA) etc.) fixed. A cross-correlation function is created by multiplying the diffraction order functions of the mask patterns with the eigenfunctions from singular value decomposition (SVD) of a TCC matrix. The diffraction order functions are calculated for the original design rule set, i.e., using the unperturbed condition. ILS is calculated at an edge of a calculated image of a critical polygon using the cross-correlation results and using translation properties of a Fourier transform. The use of the calculated cross-correlation of the mask and the optical system, and the translation property of the Fourier transform for perturbing the design reduces the computation time needed for determining required changes in the design rules. Once an optimum separation is calculated, it is incorporated into the design rule to optimize the mask layout for improved ILS throughout the mask, including critical and non-critical portions of the mask. |
| US08612894B2 |
Method for providing a user interface using three-dimensional gestures and an apparatus using the same
Provided is a method capable of making various modifications to widgets, graphic objects, or images, which are displayed on a display device, according to motions of a plurality of input units such as finger or stylus pen, with the use of a three-dimensional multi-sensor configured to detect the motions of the input units in a space, without touching the display device. |
| US08612889B2 |
Information processing device, method for controlling screen display and storage medium
A web application makes a registration request of a web top button to a web browser. The web application designates the title to be displayed on the button, the access URL to the web application, and the position of the icon which the web application has. The web browser makes the button registration request to a window manager in response to the button registration request. The title to be displayed on the button and the position of the icon which the web application has are designated. The window manager registers the button in response to the request and displays the button together with the icon. |
| US08612888B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing digital media content
A streamlined computer device can include Functionally provided to a user tailored to the type of content displayed, accessed and/or managed and can include a plurality selectable I/O profiles. According to some embodiments, the methods may include displaying a GUI on a device, wherein the GUI comprises at least a plurality of views of digital media content, providing for transition between the plurality of views in response to selection of an I/O profile and in response to activation of a view selector component by a user, executing an association with the at least one of the plurality of visual representations with digital media content in response to selection, transitioning a display on the computing device to a view of the digital media content, and providing for display of user digital media content and referenced digital media content in the view of the digital media content. |
| US08612887B2 |
Alignment technology
Correspondence is determined among i) groups in a first version of one or more groups of related tables and ii) groups in a second version of one or more groups of related tables. The tables have schema and table names and determining the correspondence includes matching groups that have matching tables, wherein the matching tables have matching schema and table names.A user interface is displayed, including first and second portions. A group name list is displayed for the one or more groups of the first version in the first user interface portion and of the second version in the second portion. A list of one or more tables within each respectively displayed group is displayed. Within each group of the first version the one or more table names are in visual alignment with respective corresponding one or more table names of the respective corresponding group of the second version. |
| US08612885B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including a touchscreen configured to display a keypad including a plurality of key buttons having assigned first alphabet characters, respectively; and a controller configured to receive a first key input of a first key button of the plurality of key buttons, to display a first alphabet character corresponding to the first key input on a display portion of the mobile terminal, to predict a word that starts with the first alphabet character, to receive a second key input of the first key button after the first key input, and to display a second alphabet character included in the predicted word on the display portion based on the second key input. |
| US08612882B1 |
Method and apparatus for creating collections using automatic suggestions
Method and apparatus for creating collections with automatic suggestions is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a user specification containing at least one unquantified constraint defining particular items contained in a library, where the library comprises a plurality of items and metadata associated with each item in the plurality of items; parsing and translating the at least one unquantified constraint into at least one quantified constraint to define at least one item of the plurality of items in the library; creating a suggested collection comprising at least one suggested item selected from the library having metadata conforming to at least one quantified constraint; and refining the suggested collection to form a final collection. |
| US08612875B2 |
Graphical user interface for displaying objects
First user-generated input is received that selects a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area. In response, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of objects associated with the work area are displayed in the graphical user interface. Thereafter, second user-generated input is received that selects a second element in the graphical user interface element. Once the second element is selected, a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element is displayed. The plurality of displayed primary objects are displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths in the first person perspective projection according to values of an attribute associated with the second element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08612874B2 |
Presenting an application change through a tile
This document describes techniques and apparatuses for presenting an application change through a tile. These techniques enable a user to see content associated with content changes to an application or other information about the application, such as a new article, new email, or a software update having become available since a user last visited the application. By so doing, the techniques enable a user to forgo visiting the application or permit the user to quickly and easily decide whether or not to visit the application. |
| US08612873B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating displayed area of electronic map and recording medium
A method and an apparatus for operating a displayed area of an electronic map and a recording medium are provided. In the method, a displayed area of an electronic map is displayed first. Then, an indicating object of a point of interest (POI) located outside the displayed area is displayed on an edge of the displayed area towards a direction of the POI with respect to the displayed area. When the indicating object of the POI is selected, the displayed area of the electronic map is changed to the displayed area comprising the POI. Accordingly, users are able to quickly change the displayed area and check a location and related information of each POI in a simple operation manner. |
| US08612872B2 |
Animated user interface control elements
A method for providing an animated transition effect between a first display state associated with a first control state of a control element rendered on a graphical user interface of a computer system, and a second display state associated with a second control state of said control element is provided. The method renders the control element in said first state and then receives at the graphic user interface, a user input event to invoke the second control state of the control element. The method evaluates a graph associated with the control element, the graph having entries each corresponding to a state of the control element, each entry comprising an event, an associated transition and a destination state, to identify a graph entry specifying a transition invoked by the input event from a current displayed first state to the destination state, being the second control state. An entry is identified corresponding to the second control state as the current state of the control element and a description of an animation associated with the specified transition is retrieved. The animation is then rendered. |
| US08612870B2 |
Graphically specifying and indicating targeted execution in a graphical program
System and method for distributed execution of a graphical program. A graphical program is displayed on a display of a computer system. Targeted execution of a first graphical program portion of the graphical program on an execution target is graphically specified. The graphical specification includes displaying a visual indication of the specified targeted execution on the display of the graphical program. During execution of the graphical program, the first graphical program portion executes on the specified execution target and a remainder of the graphical program executes on a default execution target. |
| US08612866B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program
An information processing apparatus for recommending content includes a recommending unit configured to perform a content recommendation process in which a content item is determined on the basis of each of a plurality of strategies, each planned on the basis of a relationship with short term interests, a long term preference, and knowledge of a user. |
| US08612862B2 |
Integrated client for access to remote resources
Techniques for discovering, connecting to, disconnecting from, reconnecting to, updating, and removing workspaces are described. In one embodiment, a list of discovered workspaces is maintained on a user device. Shortcuts for resources corresponding to each respective one of the discovered workspaces are integrated into a user interface of the user device. A request to access one of the resources contained in one of the discovered workspaces is received. Responsive to receiving the request, a connection from the user device to one or more resource hosts containing the resources corresponding to the indicated one of the discovered workspaces is opened. Access from the user device to the resources stored on the resource host(s) corresponding to the indicated one of the discovered workspaces is enabled by presenting shortcuts for resources corresponding to the discovered workspaces as though they were local resources. |
| US08612859B2 |
Methods and systems for effecting video transitions represented by bitmaps
Multi-media project editing methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, a project editing system comprises a multi-media editing application that is configured to enable a user to combine multiple different video clips into a video project. A bitmap processor coupled with the multi-media editing application receives a first bitmap that can be used to render a transition between video clips and automatically processes the first bitmap to provide a different transition between video clips. Processing of the first bitmap can include, without limitation, using the first bitmap to provide an entirely new and different second bitmap, or processing the first bitmap in a manner which renders a transition that is different from the transition defined by the first bitmap. In one embodiment, a user is able to enter one or more parameters, through a user interface (UI), with the parameters then being used to manipulate the first bitmap to provide the different transition. Processing of the first bitmap can include many different operations, among which can be included one or more of: stretching, shrinking, replication, and offsetting. In addition, the first bitmap can be processed to include, in the transition it defines, a border that is not otherwise defined by the first bitmap. |
| US08612856B2 |
Proximity detector in handheld device
Proximity based systems and methods that are implemented on an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device. The method also includes performing an action in the electronic device when an object is sensed. |
| US08612852B2 |
Omniportlet-declaratively publish data in a portal without code
Techniques for generating a page from a declarative specification are provided. An interface is provided that enables a user to declaratively specify a data source. Also, an interface is provided that allows a user to declaratively specify layout information for data from the data source. A page is then generated based on the declarative specification for the data source and the layout information. |
| US08612850B2 |
Information browsing method for partitioning contents of page and assigning identifiers to data partitions and related machine-readable medium thereof
An information browsing method includes: partitioning contents of a page into a plurality of first data partitions by analyzing the contents of the page; assigning a plurality of first identifiers to the first data partitions, respectively; driving a display screen according to at least the first data partitions; and when receiving a partition selection input, determining a selected first data partition according to a first identifier corresponding to the partition selection input, wherein the selected first data partition is assigned with the first identifier. |
| US08612847B2 |
Embedding rendering interface
Methods, computer program products and systems for accessing an electronic document, the electronic document including embedded content, where the file type of the electronic document differs from the file type of the embedded content. The embedded content is provided to a first rendering engine in accordance with the embedded content file type. Rendered embedded content is received from the first rendering engine. The rendered embedded content is blended with a rendering of a page of the electronic document. |
| US08612844B1 |
Sniffing hypertext content to determine type
Correct detection of embedded content type enables an operating system to launch the correct program to handle the embedded content. A page retrieval module retrieves an HTML page from a server, the contents of which are parsed by a parsing module. An embedded content analyzer gathers information from the parsed page about content embedded within the web page and proceeds to determine the type of content that is embedded. Content type is determined by analyzing various parameters such as a type specified by the web page, content type provided by an HTTP response, known file extensions present in a URL associated with the content or with the name of the file itself, and by sniffing the file. In one embodiment, the results of each analysis are weighted and a determination is made based upon the weighted total of results. |
| US08612842B2 |
Apparatus for generating a checksum
An apparatus generates a checksum for a payload having a number of payload symbols. The apparatus includes a coder for coding the payload. The coder is configured to combine a current payload symbol and a previous coding symbol or an initialization symbol to obtain a combined symbol, and map the combined symbol using a mapping rule to obtain a current coding symbol. The mapping rule is based on a power of two or more of a companion matrix of a characteristic polynomial of a linear feedback shift register. The apparatus is configured such that the checksum corresponds to the current coding symbol, when the number of payload symbols is processed by the coder, the number being one or greater than one. |
| US08612841B2 |
Error code pattern generation circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
An error code pattern generation circuit includes a first storage unit configured to store at least one bit of an error code, and output error data for a first time period; and a second storage unit configured to store at least one remaining bit of the error code and output the error data for a second time period which is different from the first time period. |
| US08612830B2 |
Method of correcting error of flash memory device, and, flash memory device and storage system using the same
According to this invention, a highly reliable memory device that uses up a life of a flash memory can be provided. The memory device is a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells, in which: each of the plurality of memory cells is an FET which includes a floating gate; the plurality of memory cells are divided into a plurality of deletion blocks; and the nonvolatile memory device reads data stored in a first deletion block, detects and corrects an error contained in the read data, stores, when the number of bits of the detected error exceeds a threshold, the corrected data in a second deletion block, sets a smaller value as the threshold as an error frequency detected in the first deletion block is higher, and sets a smaller value as the threshold as the number of deletion times executed in the first deletion block is larger. |
| US08612826B2 |
Systems and methods for non-binary LDPC encoding
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for data encoding. |
| US08612825B2 |
Data classification based on cyclic redundancy check and decoder metric
A method of data classification for use in a wireless communication system includes obtaining decoder metrics from a decoder. The decoder metrics correspond to data generated by the decoder. The decoder metrics include a symbol error rate (SER) and an energy metric (EM). The method also includes classifying the data into a first category if the data fails a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) check, into a second category if the data passes the CRC check and is determined to be unreliable, or into a third category if the data passes the CRC check and is determined to be reliable. A reliability of the data is determined based on the decoder metrics and an EM threshold. |
| US08612819B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for checking available bandwidth using forward error correction
Methods for checking available bandwidth using forward error correction are provided, the methods comprising: identifying data to be transmitted; determining an amount of forward error correction data to be sent to a receiver; creating the forward error correction data based on corresponding data in the data to be transmitted; transmitting to the receiver the forward error correction data and the corresponding data in the data to be transmitted; determining an error level in at least one of the corresponding data and the forward error correction data; and when the error level is below a value, increasing the amount of bandwidth used in a transmission to the receiver of other data in the data to be transmitted over the amount of bandwidth used in the transmission to the receiver of the corresponding data and decreasing the amount of bandwidth used for forward error correction data in the transmission of the other data. |
| US08612818B2 |
Hybrid automatic repeat request associations for downlink semi-persistent scheduling
Disclosed is a user equipment in a wireless communication system, configured to receive a first initial transmission associated with a first Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process; receive a second initial transmission associated with a second HARQ process; and receive at least one retransmission associated with the first HARQ process, wherein when the second initial transmission occurs before the at least one retransmission, the second HARQ process assigned an HARQ process ID that is different from an HARQ process ID assigned to the first HARQ, and wherein when the second initial transmission occurs after the at least one retransmission, the second HARQ process assigned an HARQ process ID that is the same as an HARQ process ID assigned to the first HARQ process. |
| US08612810B2 |
Sensor device provided with a circuit for detection of single or multiple events for generating corresponding interrupt signals
A sensor device for an electronic apparatus, including a sensing structure for generating a first detection signal, and a dedicated integrated circuit connected to the sensing structure for detecting a first event associated with the electronic apparatus and for generating a first interrupt signal upon detection of the first event. The dedicated integrated circuit detects the first event as a function of a temporal evolution of the first detection signal, and in particular as a function of values assumed by the first detection signal within one or more successive time windows, and of a relation between the values. |
| US08612808B2 |
Touch-sensitive user input device failure prediction
Detection of degradation of a touch-based user input device may allow for notifying a user of an impending failure of the touch-sensitive user input device so that the device may be taken out of service or repaired. Systems for detecting degradation of a touch-based user input device may carry out one or more operations including, but not limited to: determining that a signal indicative of a user touch is erroneous; providing a user notification indicative of a degradation of the touch-based user input device in response to determining that a signal indicative of a user touch is erroneous. |
| US08612803B2 |
Information processing apparatus and driver execution control method
An information processing apparatus includes a process monitor configured to monitor the status of processes executed in accordance with respective monitored driver programs which are to be monitored among driver programs associated with respective devices, an error processor configured to operate when a processing error is detected by the process monitor, to register, in a nonvolatile memory, driver information indicating the driver program with respect to which the error has been detected, and an execution controller configured to call and execute the driver programs, wherein when the information processing apparatus is started, the execution controller skips execution of the driver program indicated by the driver information registered in the nonvolatile memory. |
| US08612802B1 |
System and method for statistical application-agnostic fault detection
A system, method, and computer readable medium for statistical application-agnostic fault detection of multi-process applications. The computer readable medium includes computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system. A multi-process application runs on a host. Interceptors collect statistical events and sends said events to a statistical fault detector. The statistical fault detector creates one or more distributions and compares recent statistical event data to historical statistical event data and uses deviation from historical norm for fault detection. The present invention detects faults both within the application and within the environment wherein the application executes, if conditions within the environment cause impaired application performance. The invention also teaches consensus fault detection and elimination of cascading fault notifications based on a hierarchy of events and event groups. Interception and fault detection is transparent to the application, operating system, networking stack and libraries. |
| US08612800B2 |
Computing device with recovery mode
Methods and apparatus for implementing a recovery mode procedure for a computing device are disclosed. An example method includes determining, by a computing device, that a recovery mode procedure is to be executed on the computing device. The example method further includes, determining whether a trusted recovery image is accessible to the computing device and, in the event the trusted recovery image is accessible to the computing device, executing the recovery mode procedure to repair or replace a current image of the computing device using the trusted recovery image. In the event the trusted recovery image is not accessible to the computing device, the example method includes, providing instructions for obtaining the trusted recovery image, determining the obtained trusted recovery image is accessible to the computing device and executing the recovery mode procedure to repair or replace the current image of the computing device using the obtained trusted recovery image. |
| US08612797B2 |
Systems and methods of selectively managing errors in memory modules
System and methods of selectively managing errors in memory modules. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include monitoring for persistent errors in the memory modules. The methods may also include mapping at least a portion of the memory modules to a spare memory cache only to obviate persistent errors. The method may also include initiating memory erasure on at least a portion of the memory modules only if insufficient cache lines are available in the spare memory cache. |
| US08612796B2 |
Computing core application access utilizing dispersed storage
A computing core includes a processing module, main memory, and a memory controller. The memory controller receives a request to fetch an instruction from the processing module and determines whether the instruction is currently stored in the main memory. When the instruction is not currently stored in the main memory, the memory controller determines whether the instruction is stored in a distributed storage network (DSN) memory as one or more sets of encoded instruction slices; and, when it is, the memory controller addresses the DSN memory to retrieve the one or more sets of encoded instruction slices. When at least a threshold number of encoded instruction slices are retrieved for each of the one or more sets of encoded instruction slices, the one or more sets of encoded instruction slices are decoded using a dispersed storage error coding function to reconstruct the instruction, which is provided to the processing module. |
| US08612786B1 |
Deep idle mode
A deep idle mode for electronic devices is described, which provides significant power savings while allowing significantly shorter resumption times than experienced with a suspend mode. During deep idle mode, a root clock such as the microcontroller unit phase-locked loop (MPLL) is scaled or gated entirely and other clocks such as the processor, memory, and general purpose timer clocks may be scaled. To maintain functionality while these clocks are scaled or gated, an external clock source couples to the processor, memory, and a general purpose timer. |
| US08612779B2 |
Power management apparatus and methods
Power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and related methods. In one aspect a PMIC which is operable to provide a plurality of PMIC power states is arranged to provide a predetermined delay before a power state transition. The delay is applied after receipt by the PMIC control circuitry of a power state transition command. Applying a delay allows time for the system powered by the PMIC to perform any necessary shut-down procedures and terminate active processes before power is removed, preventing corruption of the system. The delay is preferably configurable. The PMIC may also be arranged to control power converters which are external to the PMIC. In another aspect the PMIC has translation circuitry for providing the control settings of one power block, e.g. power converter, with any necessary modifications to be used by another power block. This means that only one set of control settings needs to be updated to change the output of both power blocks simultaneously. |
| US08612776B2 |
Storage control apparatus to which thin provisioning is applied
A storage control apparatus stores a device attribute that indicates whether a physical storage device that is made to be a basis of a pool of a creation target is an encryption device (a physical storage device that is provided with an encryption function) or an unencryption device (a physical storage device that is not provided with an encryption function) as a pool attribute for the pool. In the case in which a pool attribute that has been stored for a pool with which a virtual volume that is a virtual logical volume of a creation target is associated indicates both of an encryption and an unencryption, the storage control apparatus associates the virtual volume of a creation target with a physical storage device that conforms to an attribute that has been specified as a volume attribute of the virtual volume of a creation target among an encryption device and an unencryption device that are a basis of a pool of the associated destination. The storage control apparatus stores a volume attribute of the virtual volume of a creation target. |
| US08612774B2 |
Secure OTP using external memory
A set-top-box has on-chip OTP memory emulated using an external flash memory and a series of on-chip fuses. The external memory is comprised of one or more regions, each having its own unique region identification. Each on-chip fuse corresponds to one of the memory regions and comprises a component which can be caused to change to a particular (blown) state irreversibly. When data first needs to be written to a region of the external memory, the identification of that region is appended to the data itself together with a parity field and a validity field. The resultant data packet is then encrypted by a cryptographic circuit using a secret key unique to the set-top-box and the encrypted data packet is written to the specified region of the external memory. Then, the on-chip fuse corresponding to the region that has been written to is irreversibly blown, effectively locking that region. |
| US08612773B2 |
Method and system for software installation
A network based installation management system that dynamically manages secure software installation on a client. The server is configured to determine the software required and prepare an appropriated response containing the list of software and an information file containing the respective attributes of the list of software. The server encoded this response and the encoded response is transmitted to the client. The client on receiving the response is configured to authenticate the response and install the encoded response after authentication. Highly accurate and reliable software installation using the network based installation management system may be achieved using a respective hardware element on the client and the server, which is configured to encode and decode a request and/or response suitably thereby providing a high level of security and trust in an un-trusted network environment. |
| US08612769B2 |
Electronic signature method and device
An electronic signature method uses a signature generation unit with a memory that is spatially separated from a data processing device. At least one biometric trait of a person who will electronically sign an electronic dataset is captured, and an electronic biometric dataset is generated based thereon. The biometric dataset is encrypted using a randomly generated value. Subsequently, the encrypted biometric dataset is transmitted to the data processing device, a first checksum is generated in the data processing device for the encrypted biometric dataset and the electronic dataset, and the first checksum is transmitted from the data processing device to the signature generation unit. The random value is encrypted using the first checksum, and the encryption result is further encrypted using the stored key. The result of this is then transmitted to the data processing device. |
| US08612761B2 |
Method of executing a cryptographic protocol between two electronic entities
Perfected cryptographic protocol making it possible to counter attacks based on the analysis of the current consumption during the execution of a DES or similar.According to the invention, a message (M) is processed by two entities (A and B) and the entity (B) subject to attack executes a chain of operations known as DES in which it is chosen to carry out a given operation (O1, O2, O3 . . . On) or the same operation complemented (Ō1, Ō2, Ō3 . . . Ōn), the choice being random. |
| US08612758B2 |
System and method for inherently secure identification over insecure data communications networks
A method for secure identification of stations connected over data communications networks during a transaction, comprising transmitting, on the part of a first station to a second station, an identification index of a reference cell in a sequence of codes known to both stations and a first code in the sequence and chosen according to a first criterion known to both stations; identifying, by the second station, a cell in the sequence through the received index; verifying the first code by the second station; transmitting, by the second station toward the first station, a second code, in the series of codes calculated according to a second criterion known to both stations; verifying by the first station, the correctness of the second code; marking, by the first station and preferably also by the second station, the indices related to the codes that have been used as unusable for subsequent transactions. |
| US08612757B2 |
Method and apparatus for securely providing identification information using translucent identification member
An apparatus and method for securely providing identification information generates one or more obscured identifiers for a recipient, such as one or more identifiers that are generated based on data unique to a recipient or other information as may be appropriate. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus generates a translucent identification member, such as a plastic card, sheet, film or other suitable member that has a translucent area that includes one or more obscured identifiers. When the translucent identification member is overlayed on a screen displaying a visual filtering pattern, one of one or more obscured identifiers is visually revealed for use during the particular transaction. The revealed identifier is entered into a recipient device and sent to an authenticator to be verified as an appropriate identifier for the transaction. |
| US08612754B2 |
Digital fingerprinting via SQL filestream with common text exclusion
A method provides data loss protection of sensitive data using digital fingerprinting. The method includes assigning a security level to each document of a plurality of documents associated with a data loss protection server, and storing the plurality of documents in a digital asset management server, wherein only a single copy of each document of plurality of documents is stored in the digital asset management server. The method also includes sending a query to the digital asset management server from the data loss protection server, and receiving a query response by the data loss protection server from the digital asset management server, the query response including at least one document file. The method further includes creating a digital fingerprint of the at least one document file by the data loss protection server. |
| US08612747B2 |
System and method for establishing historical usage-based hardware trust
Establishing trust according to historical usage of selected hardware involves providing a usage history for a selected client device; and extending trust to a selected user based on the user's usage history of the client device. The usage history is embodied as signed statements issued by a third party or an authentication server. The issued statement is stored either on the client device, or on an authentication server. The usage history is updated every time a user is authenticated from the selected client device. By combining the usage history with conventional user authentication, an enhanced trust level is readily established. The enhanced, hardware-based trust provided by logging on from a trusted client may eliminate the necessity of requiring secondary authentication for e-commerce and financial services transactions, and may also be used to facilitate password recovery and conflict resolution in the case of stolen passwords. |
| US08612745B2 |
Authentication ticket processing apparatus and method with improved performance for self-contained ticket
An authentication ticket processing apparatus includes a temporary data storage unit configured to keep user information upon receiving the user information from a user management database for managing user information, the temporary data storage unit allowing access thereto to be performed at higher speed than access to the user management database. The authentication ticket processing apparatus is configured such that, when there is a need to acquire user information in response to a decoding request from a server, a check is made whether user information corresponding to the decoding request is present in the temporary data storage unit, and the corresponding user information is acquired from the temporary data storage unit if the corresponding user information is present in the temporary data storage unit. |
| US08612741B2 |
System and method for configuring plural software profiles
A computer with multiple software applications has defined for it plural software profiles for selection of one of the profiles in response to a system and/or user signal. Each profile when selected enables a respective set of applications to run on the system. |
| US08612735B2 |
Resetting an LTE unit that is not in a readily accessible location
A system may include a device that is in a first location that is not readily accessible. The device may detect a powering up of the device a particular quantity of times during a particular time interval. Powering up of the device may be controlled from a second location that is readily accessible. The device may also be reset, in response to detecting the device being powered up the particular quantity of times during the particular time interval, to original factory settings. |
| US08612730B2 |
Hardware assist thread for dynamic performance profiling
A method and data processing system for managing running of instructions in a program. A processor of the data processing system receives a monitoring instruction of a monitoring unit. The processor determines if at least one secondary thread of a set of secondary threads is available for use as an assist thread. The processor selects the at least one secondary thread from the set of secondary threads to become the assist thread in response to a determination that the at least one secondary thread of the set of secondary threads is available for use as an assist thread. The processor changes profiling of running of instructions in the program from the main thread to the assist thread. |
| US08612729B2 |
Known good code for on-chip device management
In one embodiment, a processor comprises a programmable map and a circuit. The programmable map is configured to store data that identifies at least one instruction for which an architectural modification of an instruction set architecture implemented by the processor has been defined, wherein the processor does not implement the modification. The circuitry is configured to detect the instruction or its memory operands and cause a transition to Known Good Code (KGC), wherein the KGC is protected from unauthorized modification and is provided from an authenticated entity. The KGC comprises code that, when executed, emulates the modification. In another embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises at least one processor core; at least one other circuit; and a KGC source configured to supply KGC to the processor core for execution. The KGC comprises interface code for the other circuit whereby an application executing on the processor core interfaces to the other circuit through the KGC. |
| US08612728B2 |
Reducing data hazards in pipelined processors to provide high processor utilization
A pipelined computer processor is presented that reduces data hazards such that high processor utilization is attained. The processor restructures a set of instructions to operate concurrently on multiple pieces of data in multiple passes. One subset of instructions operates on one piece of data while different subsets of instructions operate concurrently on different pieces of data. A validity pipeline tracks the priming and draining of the pipeline processor to ensure that only valid data is written to registers or memory. Pass-dependent addressing is provided to correctly address registers and memory for different pieces of data. |
| US08612727B2 |
Apparatus and method for marking start and end bytes of instructions in a stream of instruction bytes in a microprocessor having an instruction set architecture in which instructions may include a length-modifying prefix
An apparatus in a microprocessor that has an instruction set architecture in which instructions may include a length-modifying prefix used to select an address/operand size other than a default address/operand size, wherein the apparatus marks the start byte and the end byte of each instruction in a stream of instruction bytes. Decode logic decodes each instruction byte of a predetermined number of instruction bytes to determine whether the instruction byte specifies a length-modifying prefix and generates a start mark and an end mark for each of the instruction bytes based on an address/operand size. Operand/address size logic provides the default operand/address size to the decode logic to use to generate the start and end marks during a first clock cycle during which the decode logic decodes the predetermined number of instruction bytes. If during the first clock cycle and any of N subsequent clock cycles the decode logic indicates that one of the predetermined number of instruction bytes specifies a length-modifying prefix, the operand/address size logic provides to the decode logic on the next clock cycle the address/operand size specified by the length-modifying prefix to use to generate the start and end marks. |
| US08612726B2 |
Multi-cycle programmable processor with FSM implemented controller selectively altering functional units datapaths based on instruction type
The multi-cycle programmable processor emulates the features of a conventional microprocessor. Processor hardware functional units include a program counter (instruction pointer), an arithmetic and logic unit, an accumulator, an instruction register, a 2×1 multiplexer, 2×4 decoder, 1×2 decoder, an AND gate and an OR gate. Additionally, a controller modeled by a finite state machine (FSM) is operably connected to the microprocessor functional units and has a plurality of states that defines the operation of the microprocessor functional units. Each control state of the FSM implements the transfer of information between the registers of the datapath. The execution sequences through three states: an instruction fetch; an instruction decode; and instruction execute. The controller issues the required signals to the various hardware components to execute the instruction needed in three clock cycles. |
| US08612712B2 |
Memory command delay balancing in a daisy-chained memory topology
A daisy-chained memory topology wherein, in addition to the prediction of the timing of receipt of a response from a memory module (DIMM), the memory controller can effectively predict when a command sent by it will be executed by the addressee DIMM. By programming DIMM-specific command delay in the DIMM's command delay unit, the command delay balancing methodology according to the present disclosure “normalizes” or “synchronizes” the execution of the command signal across all DIMMs in the memory channel. By predicting command execution timing, the memory controller can efficiently control power profile of all the DRAM devices (or memory modules) on a daisy-chained memory channel. A separate DIMM-specific response delay unit in the DIMM is programmable to provide DIMM-specific delay compensation in the response path, further allowing the memory controller to accurately ascertain the timing of receipt of a response. |
| US08612710B2 |
Permissions of objects in hosted storage
A data object is stored in a hosted storage system and includes an access control list specifying access permissions for data object stored in the hosted storage system. The hosted storage system provides hosted storage to a plurality of clients that are coupled to the hosted storage system. A request to store a second data object is received. The request includes an indicator that the first data object stored in the hosted storage system should be used as an access control list for the second data object. The second data object is stored in the hosted storage system. The first data object is assigned as an access control list for the second data object stored in the hosted storage system. |
| US08612709B2 |
Control of logical write protection of rewritable data storage cartridge
Write protection for data of a rewritable data storage cartridge having partitions is provided in certain circumstances by providing logical write protection; and in response to detection of an application issuing at least one partition-based command with respect to the rewritable data storage cartridge, the logical write protection is disabled with respect to the detected application. Thus, where the cartridge has a non-default index addressing location, in response to detection of an application issuing at least one command initially addressing a location other than the non-default index location, logical write protection is enabled with respect to the detected application; and if the non-default index location is addressed, the logical write protection is disabled. |
| US08612707B2 |
Continuous data protection over intermittent connections, such as continuous data backup for laptops or wireless devices
A portable data protection system is described for protecting, transferring or copying data using continuous data protection (CDP) over intermittent or occasional connections between a computer system or mobile device containing the data to be protected, transferred or copied, called a data source, and one or more computer systems that receive the data, called a data target. CDP can be broken down logically into two phases: 1) detecting changes to data on a data source and 2) replicating the changes to a data target. The portable data protection system uses a method that performs the first phase continuously or near continuously on the data source, and the second phase when a connection is available between the data source and the data target. |
| US08612706B1 |
Metadata recovery in a disk drive
A disk drive subsystem is disclosed that implements a process for metadata recovery. Certain embodiments relate to recovery of metadata containing information indicating the physical locations in the disk drive in which host data is stored. In an embodiment, the metadata to be recovered is disposed in sequence with, or in physical association with host data that it describes. Recovery is accomplished by identifying metadata that is valid, but is absent from one or more translation tables containing translation information. Metadata portion can include one or more identifiers that are sequentially related to identifiers included in one or more other metadata portions. Performance improvements can thereby be attained. |
| US08612696B2 |
Efficient data storage system
A system and method are disclosed for providing efficient data storage. A plurality of data segments is received in a data stream. The system preliminarily checks in a memory having a relatively low latency whether one of the plurality of data segments may have been stored previously in a data segment repository. The memory having the relatively low latency stores data segment information. In the event that the preliminary check determines that one of the plurality of data segments may have been stored in the data segment repository, a memory having a relatively higher latency is checked to determine whether the data segment has been stored previously in the data segment repository. |
| US08612695B2 |
Bit inversion in memory devices
Bit inversions occurring in memory systems and apparatus are provided. Data is acquired from a source destined for a target. As the data is acquired from the source, the set bits associated with data are tabulated. If the total number of set bits exceeds more than half of the total bits, then an inversion flag is set. When the data is transferred to the target, the bits are inverted during the transfer if the inversion flag is set.Alternatively, an acquired data stream includes an association with an inversion bit. The inversion bit is acquired and stored separately from the data stream. As the data stream is transferred, if the inversion bit is set then the stream is inverted during the transfer of the stream to a target. |
| US08612694B2 |
Protecting large objects within an advanced synchronization facility
A system and method are disclosed for allowing protection of larger areas than memory lines by monitoring accessed and dirty bits in page tables. More specifically, in some embodiments, a second associative structure with a different granularity is provided to filter out a large percentage of false positives. By providing the associative structure with sufficient size, the structure exactly specifies a region in which conflicting cache lines lie. If entries within this region are evicted from the structure, enabling the tracking for the entire index filters out a substantial number of false positives (depending on a granularity and a number of indices present). In some embodiments, this associative structure is similar to a translation look aside buffer (TLB) with 4 k, 2M entries. |
| US08612693B2 |
Optimized transfer of packets in a resource constrained operating environment
An apparatus includes first and second components, a memory, and an allocator configured to allocate a portion of the memory to the first component, wherein the first component is configured to access the allocated portion of the memory and to send information to the second component to provide the second component with access to the allocated portion of the memory. |
| US08612692B2 |
Variable write back timing to nonvolatile semiconductor memory
According to one embodiment, an information processing device includes a first determination section and a setting section. The first determination section determines inconsistency between first data and second data. The first data is stored in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The second data is corresponding to the first data and stored in a semiconductor memory. The setting section sets execution timing of write back based on access frequency information associated with the second data. |
| US08612691B2 |
Assigning memory to on-chip coherence domains
A mechanism for assigning memory to on-chip cache coherence domains assigns caches within a processing unit to coherence domains. The mechanism assigns chunks of memory to the coherence domains. The mechanism monitors applications running on cores within the processing unit to identify needs of the applications. The mechanism may then reassign memory chunks to the cache coherence domains based on the needs of the applications running in the coherence domains. When a memory controller receives the cache miss, the memory controller may look up the address in a lookup table that maps memory chunks to cache coherence domains. Snoop requests are sent to caches within the coherence domain. If a cache line is found in a cache within the coherence domain, the cache line is returned to the originating cache by the cache containing the cache line either directly or through the memory controller. |
| US08612689B2 |
Stable adaptive replacement cache processing
A process for caching data in a cache memory includes upon detecting that a first page is in a first or second list, the first page is moved to a most recently used (MRU) position in the second list. Upon detecting that the first page is in a first history list, a first target size is updated to a second target size for the first and second lists, the first page is moved from the first history list to the MRU position in the second list, and the first page is fetched to the cache memory. Upon detecting that the first page is in a second history list, the second target size is updated to a third target size for the first and second lists, and the first page is moved from the second history list to the MRU position in the second list. |
| US08612686B2 |
Resource pool managing system and signal processing method
A resource pool managing system and a signal processing method are provided in embodiments of the present disclosure. On the basis of the resource pool, all filters on links share one set of operation resources and cached resources. The embodiment can be adapted to support different application scenarios with unequal carrier rates while mixing modes are supported and the application scenarios with unequal carrier filter orders. The embodiment also supports each stage of filters of the supporting mode-mixing system to share one set of multiply-adding and cached resources to unify the dispatching of resources in one resource pool and maximize the utilization of resources, and supports the parameterized configuration of the links forward-backward stages, link parameter, carrier rate, and so on. |
| US08612685B2 |
Processor, information processing device and cache control method of processor
A processor having a cache memory provided therein controls use of the cache memory based on operation mode information which changeably designates use/no-use of a cache memory and on designation of cache memory use in an access instruction word in a program at the time of an access to a main storage memory from the program in operation. |
| US08612681B2 |
Storage system, storage apparatus and method of controlling storage system
A storage system enables a core storage apparatus to execute processing requiring securing of data consistency, while providing high write performance to a host computer.A storage system includes an edge storage apparatus 20 configured to communicate with a host computer 10 and including a cache memory 25, and a core storage apparatus 30 that communicates with the edge storage apparatus 20 and perform I/O processing on a storage device 39. When receiving a write request from the host computer 10, the edge storage apparatus 20 processes the write request by writeback. When about to execute storage function control processing, on condition that data consistency is be secured, such as pair split processing of a local copy function, the core storage apparatus 30 requests the edge storage apparatus 20 to perform forced destage of dirty data in the cache memory 25 and then executes the storage function control processing after the completion of the forced destage. |
| US08612679B2 |
Storage subsystem and storage system architecture performing storage virtualization and method thereof
A method for generating a virtual volume (VV) in a storage system architecture. The architecture comprises a host and one or more disk array subsystems. Each subsystem comprises a storage controller. One or more of the subsystems comprises a physical storage device (PSD) array. The method comprises the following steps: mapping the PSD array into a plurality of media extents (MEs), each of the MEs comprises a plurality of sections; providing a virtual pool (VP) to implement a section cross-referencing function, wherein a section index (SI) of each of the sections contained in the VP is defined by the VP to cross-reference VP sections to physical ME locations; providing a conversion method or procedure or function for mapping VP capacity into to a VV; and presenting the VV to the host. A storage subsystem and a storage system architecture performing the method are also provided. |
| US08612669B1 |
System and method for performing data retention in solid-state memory using copy commands and validity and usage data
Systems and methods for retaining data in non-volatile solid-state are disclosed in which refresh copy operations are performed on data stored in non-volatile solid-state memory. A controller can comprise a data retention module configured to issue copy commands within different periods of time, and to maintain usage data on a storage subsystem. A refresh copy operation helps ensure that data written to memory retain integrity by causing data to be programmed again onto the memory, which minimizes the risk of data error caused by electron leak in the non-volatile solid-state memory. One or more data structures may be used to determine memory blocks that require refresh copy operations. In one embodiment, a validity bit array is used to track blocks that contain valid data. In another embodiment, a least recently used list is used to track blocks that have been least recently written. |
| US08612666B2 |
Method and system for managing a NAND flash memory by paging segments of a logical to physical address map to a non-volatile memory
A method and system to facilitate paging of one or more segments of a logical-to-physical (LTP) address mapping structure, such as a table, to a non-volatile memory, such as a NAND flash memory. The LTP address mapping structure is part of an indirection system map associated with the non-volatile memory. By allowing one or more segments of the LTP address mapping structure to be paged to the non-volatile memory, the amount of volatile memory required to store the LTP address mapping structure is reduced while maintaining the benefits of the LTP address mapping structure. One or more segments of the logical to physical address mapping structure may be cached in volatile memory, and a size of each segment may be the same as or a multiple of a page size of the NAND flash memory. A lookup or segment table may be provided to indicate a location of each segment and may be optimized for sequential physical addresses. |
| US08612661B2 |
Interrupt-notification control unit, semiconductor integrated circuit and methods therefor
An interrupt-notification control unit that receives interrupt requests from a plurality of interrupt dispatchers and sends the received interrupt requests together to a processor, where the interrupt-notification control unit determines a correlation among the interrupt requests to control a time to send the interrupt requests together to the processor. |
| US08612660B2 |
Interrupt latency measurement
A system and method for setting a first indicator indicating that interrupts are virtually locked, receiving a first interrupt at a processor of a computing device, setting a second indicator indicating the receipt of the first interrupt and recording a first timestamp based on the receipt of the first interrupt. The system and method further adapted to virtually execute a routine for the first interrupt that includes determining if the second indicator is set, record a second timestamp based on the virtual execution of the routine and determine an interrupt latency based on the first and second timestamp. |
| US08612657B2 |
System and method for communicating on an electrical bus
Method and apparatus for communicating on an electrical bus by generating a master logical signal on the electrical bus in the form of a pulse-width modulation signal. Generating a slave logical signal on the electrical bus in the form of a current signal. Reading the slave logical signal by sampling the magnitude of the current signal on the electrical bus, wherein magnitude of the current on the electrical bus is sampled at a point in the bit time when the voltage on the electrical bus has remained constant for a period longer than the shortest time that the voltage remains at any level during the bit time. |
| US08612655B2 |
Small removable audio player that attaches to a host media player
A method for synchronizing a host media player and a removable audio player, when the removable audio player is attached to the host media player, including receiving a new media file via an external connector in the host media player, wherein the new media file may be a digital audio file or a digital media file of a media type that the removable audio player is unable to play but the host media player is able to play, storing the new media file in a storage unit within the host media player, and conditionally copying the new media file to a storage unit within the removable audio player when the removable audio player is attached to the host media player, if the new media file is an audio file. |
| US08612651B2 |
FIFO buffer
A FIFO memory circuit is for interfacing between circuits with different clock domains. The circuit has a FIFO memory (10), a write pointer circuit (16) clocked by the clock of a first clock domain and controlling the memory location to which data is written, and a read pointer circuit clocked by the clock of a second clock domain and controlling the memory location from which data is read. The read and write pointer circuits use gray coding. The memory circuit further comprises a duplicate write pointer circuit (30) which has its write pointer address incremented synchronously with the write pointer circuit (16), and which has a starting write address selected such that the duplicate write pointer address lags behind the write pointer address circuit by a number of address locations corresponding to the size of the FIFO memory (10). A comparator (34) compares the read pointer circuit address with the duplicate write pointer circuit address for determining a full status of the FIFO memory. |
| US08612650B1 |
Virtual extension of buffer to reduce buffer overflow during tracing
A system is disclosed comprising a processor, a trace module, a second buffer, and a bridge. The trace module has a first buffer configured to receive trace data from the processor at a first clock frequency. The second buffer is configured to receive trace data from the first buffer at a second clock frequency. The bridge is configured to receive trace data from the second buffer and output the trace data received from the second buffer at a third clock frequency. The second clock frequency is greater than the first clock frequency and the third clock frequency. |
| US08612645B2 |
Apparatus and managing method using a preset policy based on an invalidated I/O path by using configuration information acquired from storage system
To appropriately manage configuration information acquired from a storage system for the purpose of performance management, etc., an information processing apparatus managing the configuration information, i.e., information indicative of a configuration of resources making up the storage system in a database, detects a change in setting of an I/O path to extract resources making up an invalidated I/O path, which is the I/O path subject to the change, as monitoring object resources, acquires performance information that is information indicative of operation statuses of the monitoring object resources from the storage system, judges whether the performance information of the monitoring object resource matches a preset policy, determines a timing to make invalidated configuration information, which is the configuration information related to the invalidated I/O path, deletable from the storage device based on the result of the judgement, and deletes the invalidated configuration information from the database when the determined timing comes. |
| US08612644B2 |
Storage apparatus and a data management method employing the storage apparatus
A storage apparatus is provided that is capable of reducing data maintenance management costs with a performance that is both highly reliable and fast. The present invention is storage apparatus where an intermediary device is arranged between a controller and a plurality of disk devices of different performances arranged in a hierarchical manner. The controller unit carries out I/O accesses to and from the disk devices via the intermediary devices based on access requests sent from host apparatus. The intermediary device includes a power saving control function for the disk device and carries out operation control such as spin off and spin up of disk devices in accordance with conditions set in advance. |
| US08612642B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus includes an interface unit configured to electrically connect with a peripheral device capable of receiving a memory storage medium inserted into the peripheral device and electrically connected thereto, a connection detection unit configured to detect a temporary interruption in the electrical connection between the interface unit and the peripheral device, and a control unit configured to prevent the memory storage medium, once unmounted, from being mounted again after the connection detection unit detects the temporary interruption. |
| US08612639B1 |
Methods and systems for emulating failed aircraft units across multiple communications bus sources
A method for providing a backup capability for a plurality of units communicatively coupled to a communications bus, each unit assigned a unique address on the communications bus, is described. The method includes monitoring, with a monitoring unit, messages on the communications bus for an indication that at least one of the communicatively coupled units has failed, configuring the monitoring unit, upon receiving the indication of a unit failure, to assume the unique address associated with the failed unit, performing, within the monitoring unit, at least a portion of the functions of the failed unit in response to messages occurring on the communications bus that are addressed to the failed unit, and transmitting messages, from the monitoring unit to the communications bus, the messages including data generated by the performing of at least a portion of the functions of the failed unit by the monitoring unit. |
| US08612636B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating or using interaction activity information
A method of generating interaction activity information including connecting a second apparatus to a first apparatus capable of communicating with each other, receiving first information about a function that is capable of being performed in the first apparatus, from the first apparatus, and generating second information about a function that is used interactively between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, based on the first information. |
| US08612634B2 |
Terminal apparatus and method for controlling USB apparatus thereof
A terminal apparatus connected to an external apparatus controls a universal serial bus (USB) apparatus that is connected to the external apparatus through the external apparatus. The terminal apparatus is connected to the external apparatus through a communication interface including a data channel. The terminal apparatus requests the external apparatus to use the USB apparatus through the data channel. If the USB apparatus is connected to the external apparatus, a controller executes a driver program corresponding to the USB apparatus and accesses the USB apparatus through the data channel. Accordingly, the USB apparatus, which is connected to the external apparatus, is controlled by the terminal apparatus. |
| US08612621B2 |
Method for constructing network topology, and streaming delivery system
A method for constructing a network topology is applied in a streaming delivery system. The streaming delivery system includes: a center server (CS-P), an edge server (ES-P), a request scheduling server (RRS-P), and a client. The disclosed embodiments utilizes the upload capabilities of the client to transmit a part of streaming data, thus consuming fewer center server resources. By constructing the network topology, the disclosed embodiments enable the client to obtain a part of streaming data from other clients, reduces the load capability requirements for the server, and ensures that a streaming delivery network may provide streaming live services with higher bandwidths and better quality. |
| US08612619B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved multicast streaming in wireless networks
The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing multimedia content to a plurality of wireless terminals. The method includes transcoding an original media stream to form at least one companion media stream, each media stream having a different data rate, and advertising each media stream to each of the plurality of wireless terminals, each wireless terminal having an associated channel condition. The original media stream and at least one companion media stream are each adapted for being selected by each of the wireless terminals. For each wireless terminal selecting one of the media streams, the selected one of the media streams is selected using the data rates of the media streams and the channel condition of the wireless terminal. The transcoding of the media stream to form the at least one companion media stream may be performed using channel condition information. |
| US08612614B2 |
Method and system for establishing a dedicated session for a member of a common frame buffer group
A method for establishing a dedicated session for a member of a common frame buffer group includes the step of transmitting, by a server agent, via at least one frame buffer channel, a first frame buffer update to each generated by one of the plurality of associated clients. The method includes the step of detecting an event generated by one of the plurality of associated clients. The method includes the step of removing, by the server agent, the one of the plurality of associated clients, from the plurality of associated clients. The method includes the step of establishing, by the server agent, a second frame buffer channel between the removed one of the plurality of associated clients and the server agent. The method includes the step of transmitting a second frame buffer update, by the server agent, to the removed one of the plurality of associated clients via the second frame buffer channel. |
| US08612613B2 |
Method for setting plurality of sessions and node using same
Disclosed are a method for setting a plurality of sessions and a method for transmitting/receiving data using the same. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the data including attribute information of the data are received through initial sessions, the number of additional sessions for receiving the data is calculated by using the attribute information of the data, and the additional sessions are set as many as the calculated number of additional sessions. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various and complicated states of the communication network can be reflected to session setting as the configuration of the communication network becomes more and more complicated and the sessions depending on the state of the communication network can be set, thereby transmitting data more effectively. |
| US08612605B2 |
Communication of service information by appliance components
An appliance has at least two components and an internal communications network. A first component is in communication with the network and the second component is not. But the first component is configured to communicate service information related to the second component over the internal communications network. The service information will include one or more identifiers. |
| US08612602B2 |
Automatic generation of reusable network configuration objects
A method automatically captures network resources of each individual system of a networked system. The method defines a reusable object name for each class of network resources captured from the individual systems. Each class of network resources has at least one common feature. The method automatically maps each network resource having a particular class of each individual system to the reusable object name defined for that particular class. Embodiments enable individual system-specific resources, such as IP addresses, to be mapped to reusable objects. In some embodiments, reusable objects names may be combined to form higher-level configuration objects, such as network configuration rules. |
| US08612601B2 |
Management method and management device for network address translation
A management method for network address translation includes: obtaining a network resource section of a client and using state information of the network resource section; adjusting the network resource section according to the using state information of the network resource section, where the adjusted network resource section can provide a network resource for all connections of the client; establishing a network address translation entry for each connection of the client according to the adjusted network resource section; and establishing a corresponding log record for the network resource section. |
| US08612598B1 |
Method and system for ingesting content schedule data from an external source
A content ingestion system and method of operating the same includes a client module receiving a schedule data signal from an external service provider to a content ingestion module. The system also includes a first queue receiving the schedule data signal from the client module. The system further includes a switch module forming a plurality of objects from the schedule data signal and a second queue receiving the plurality of objects from the first switch module. A persistence module is also included in the system that reads the objects from the second queue and storing the objects in a database. |
| US08612596B1 |
Resource planning for computing
Disclosed are various embodiments for the planning of resources used in computing. Usage statistics regarding one or more machine instances executing in a plurality of networked computing devices are obtained. The usage statistics are grouped based at least in part on one or more customer usage classifications, thereby producing one or more usage groups. A corresponding demand forecast is generated for each of the usage groups. A projected demand for one or more physical components of the networked computing devices is calculated according to the demand forecasts. |