| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08973930B2 |
Vehicles, systems for vehicles, and methods for vehicles all to improve cornering capability
A land vehicle, according to various aspects of the present invention allows the driver to lean with a frame that supports the driver and that pivots on a base. Motion of the frame is coupled to the wheels to adjust a camber of the wheels. The wheels are coupled to the base that provides a reference for independent wheel suspension mechanisms. As a result, banking of the vehicle does not affect the suspension of the wheels. Hydraulic assistance to counteract the forces of the suspension systems is unnecessary. |
| US08973919B2 |
Double-feed detection apparatus and image forming apparatus
A double-feed detection apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect double feed of transfer materials conveyed along a conveying path, and a control unit configured to execute detection of the transfer material under conveyance plural times with the sensor, and to determine the double feed of the transfer materials based on detection results. The control unit determines a detection timing based on both a distance along the conveying path from the sensor to an image forming unit which forms an image on the transfer material and a length of the transfer material in the feed direction. |
| US08973918B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying apparatus including: a skew feeding correcting portion configured to correct skew feeding of a sheet, the skew feeding correcting portion including: a rotary member pair configured to convey the sheet; a shutter member configured to abut against a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed, and having a home position; and a moving member arranged with a gap formed between the moving member and the shutter member positioned in the home position, such that the shutter member is moveable independently from the home position up to a point of engagement with the moving member, when the gap is closed, and such that the moving member is movable integrally with the shutter member while the gap is closed, wherein the rotary member pair is arranged to nip a sheet during a period in which the shutter member is configured to move integrally with the moving member. |
| US08973915B2 |
Quality control system for the qualitative assessment of sheets
The invention relates to a sheet guide element for use in an apparatus for transporting sheets by means of a gripper system having at least two grippers spaced apart from each other and a sheet guide surface defined by the sheet guide element. Here, the sheet guide element is provided with depressions in the sheet guide surface, running parallel to the transport direction, at least in some sections, in order at least partially to accommodate the grippers, so that the sheet guide surface described by the sheet guide element in the transport direction runs, at least in some sections, at the same height as the movement path of the sheet leading edge fixed in the gripper system. |
| US08973911B2 |
Movable jaw quick release apparatus of a vice
A movable jaw quick release apparatus of a vice comprises a tooth base, a movable jaw and two restriction elements. The tooth base is formed with two inclined guide grooves, each of which has a first inclined surface, a second inclined surface and a bottom surface. The left and the right side surfaces of the movable jaw are formed with a through hole respectively. Each restriction element penetrates one of the through holes and moves between a first position and a second position along one of the inclined guide groove As the movable jaw generates vibration forces, each restriction element transfers the vibration forces to the tooth base, therefore, the movable jaw do not move upwardly and shake toward a work piece and reduce its clamping force for the work piece. |
| US08973910B2 |
Positioning apparatus
A positioning apparatus includes a base plate and a deflection mechanism mounted upon the base plate. The deflection mechanism includes a stationary platform, a rocker assembly and a deflection platform. The stationary platform is mounted over the base plate for placing and positioning a workpiece. The deflection platform is tiltably mounted over the stationary platform via the rocker assembly and the height of the stationary platform itself is adjustable. The rocker assembly comprises a first rocker and a second rocker of different lengths. |
| US08973905B2 |
Venturi insert for a carburetor, and carburetor, system and apparatus incorporating the same
A venturi insert for a carburetor, and a carburetor, system and apparatus incorporating the same. In one embodiment, the invention is a carburetor for an internal combustion engine comprising: a carburetor body comprising a plurality of throttle bores extending through the carburetor body, and for each of the throttle bores a fuel delivery passage terminating at a sidewall of the throttle bore; an insert comprising a plurality of venturi tubes and a linking member connecting the venturi tubes together, each of the venturi tubes comprising a venturi passage and a fuel port for introducing fuel into the venturi passage; and the insert secured to the carburetor body so that the venturi tubes extend into the throttle bores and the fuel ports are in fluid communication with the fuel delivery passages, and the linking member is in contact with the carburetor body. |
| US08973902B2 |
Power winch horizontal-pull clutch device
A power winch horizontal-pull clutch device provides dynamic forces from a power source and uses a deceleration device to retard the force transmission to a cable pulley for releasing and rewinding a steel cable on the cable pulley. A connecting slot is formed on a casing of the deceleration device. The deceleration device includes an outer ring body and at least one insert slot formed on an external surface. The power winch includes a clutch device for selectively fixing the connecting slot to the insert slot to transmit the dynamic force from the deceleration device to the cable pulley. The clutch device is a sealed assembly and a control handle is provided for making a horizontal movement to achieve the clutching effect and prevent water, dust or other foreign matters from entering into the clutch device, damaging components, causing failure or malfunction, or clamping an operator's hand or foreign matters. |
| US08973901B2 |
Double drum traction winch
A double drum traction winch supporting a first and second rotatable drum is provided. The circumferential surface of each drum is provided with circumferential grooves perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum. The grooves of each drum are subdivided in a first set of grooves for guiding a first wire and a second set of grooves for guiding a second wire. The grooves of the first set alternate with grooves of the second set such that the circumferential surface of each drum is provided with multiple grooves of the first group, each interpositioned between two grooves of the second group. Therefore the traction winch is capable of cooperating with a first wire in the first set of grooves or with a second wire in the second set of grooves, wherein both wires differ in type of material and/or cross section and/or maximum tensile strength. |
| US08973900B2 |
Lighted tip for flexible rods
In one aspect, a lighted tip for attachment to a flexible rod comprises a tip body having proximal and distal ends, a mechanical connector at the proximal end, a lens connected to the distal end, a light source that emits light through the lens, and a holder coupled to the light source and the lens. A circuit is completed or interrupted as the holder moves in relation to the tip body, thereby switching the light source on or off. In another aspect, a lighted tip for attachment to a flexible rod comprises a lens forming a distal end of the lighted tip. The lens is cylindrical over at least some of its length, and the tip further includes a light source at least partially within the cylindrical lens portion and a mechanical connector at a proximal end if the lighted tip, for connecting the tip to the flexible rod. |
| US08973899B2 |
Jacking pole
A jacking pole apparatus is disclosed. A jacking pole may include two tubular members, slidably engaged with one another in such a manner that they may extend or expand. A jacking pole may engage two surfaces or objects and extend therebetween in order to provide support. Further, a jacking pole may vertically displace an object or surface. A jacking pole utilizes locking mechanisms to remain in certain positions and provide continuous support for surface and objects. The locking mechanisms may also be utilized during vertical displacement in order to facilitate such motion. |
| US08973889B2 |
Tube clamp
Embodiments of a clamp for compressing a flexible tube are disclosed herein. In one such embodiment, the clamp includes a first member, a second member moveably coupled to the first member to move into and out of a clamping position to apply a compressive force to the tube, a locking member to hold the first and second members in the clamping position, a third member moveably retained between a pair of sidewalls of one of the first member and the second member, and a fourth member moveably coupled to one of the first member and the second member and engageable with the third member to apply an additional compressive force to the tube. |
| US08973888B2 |
Polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and method for producing same, and silicon nitride powder for mold release material for polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and slurry containing same
Provided are a polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and a method for producing a polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold, with which high-quality silicon ingots can be obtained at high yields by minimizing sticking with the surfaces of the silicon ingot casting mold, and losses and damages that occur when solidified silicon ingot is released from the mold. The method for producing a polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold having a release layer, including: forming a slurry by mixing a silicon nitride powder with water, coating the surface of the mold with the slurry, and heating the mold at 400 to 800° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen, after coating the slurry. |
| US08973886B2 |
Actuator including mechanism for converting rotary motion to linear motion
An active vibration control device is provided that is configured to control the position of a body relative to a reference frame. The control device includes sensors that provide input signals corresponding to movement of the body in at least one direction, a rotary rotary actuator configured to control the position of the body, and four-bar linkage connecting the rotary rotary actuator to the body. The linkage converts the rotary motion output from the rotary actuator into a linear motion of the body. The controller, based on the input signals from the reference frame sensors, provides control signals to the rotary rotary actuator which acts through the linkage to position the body in the at least one direction relative to the position of the reference frame. |
| US08973884B1 |
Belt tensioning apparatus for securing a child safety seat in a vehicle
An improved lower anchor strap tension adjusting mechanism for varying tension in a restraint connected to a vehicle. The mechanism comprises first and second adjuster ends and a length of web spanning therebetween. One end of the web is attached to one of the adjuster ends. A guide is provided on one or both adjuster ends enabling the web to be looped around the guide(s) and between the ends in multiple passes. A web lock device is connected one of the ends to engage the web and allow the length of the web spanning between the first and second adjuster portions to be fixed. The number of loops of web spanning between the adjuster ends determines the mechanical advantage in the tension force applied to the anchor strap by the adjuster compared to the tension applied to the free end, improving ease and security of safety seat installation. |
| US08973882B2 |
Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements
A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder. |
| US08973878B2 |
Surface mount systems and methods
Herein are disclosed systems and methods and assemblies for mounting an accessory base to a surface (e.g., a wall surface). The systems comprise a mounting bracket which can be attached to the surface by a double-faced adhesive such as a stretch-releasing adhesive. The accessory base can be attached to the mounting bracket. |
| US08973876B1 |
Adjustable bracket assembly
A bracket assembly for adjustably and releasably affixing bracket elements to an adjustable elongated support member includes a cylindrical base, at least one cylindrical core having an orthogonal arm, and a cylindrical cap. The bracket assembly provides adjustable vertical bracket positioning by the adjustable elongated support member. Abutting bracket assembly cylindrical cores provide a range of orthogonal arm positions 180 degrees or less, one to the other. The orthogonal arm provides additional 360 degree adjustable positioning for any element attached to the arm outward end. |
| US08973872B2 |
Fuel line in an aircraft
A line segment of a fuel line in an aircraft for connecting at least three lines is provided. In order to provide fuel channeling in an aircraft, having, for example, better damage or leakage features, a line segment is provided that has a wall structure forming a continuous cavity. The wall structure has at least three adapter openings for connecting the continuous cavity with respectively one line. The wall structure is designed double walled between the adapter openings in such a way that an intermediate cavity is formed, which encases the continuous cavity. |
| US08973868B2 |
Airborne cooling system
An aircraft having a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system can be used to cool a heat emitting component. In one form the cooling system is a refrigerant system and includes a relatively high temperature device such as, but not limited to, a condenser. The relatively high temperature component is placed in thermal communication with a passing air flow. In one embodiment the aircraft includes a pod in which at least a portion of the cooling system is disposed. For example, a condenser of a vapor cycle refrigerant system can be located in the pod and in thermal communication with the air flow. The cooling system can also include a device capable of delivering a cooling fluid into the air flow and/or to the relatively high temperature component. The cooling fluid can be evaporated to provided additional cooling. |
| US08973860B2 |
Aerial recovery of small and micro air vehicles
A method, apparatus, system, and computer system to facilitate aerial recovery of an air vehicle are disclosed. In various embodiments, a drogue is established in a drogue recovery orbit and an air vehicle is recovered with the drogue. Establishment of the drogue in a drogue recovery orbit may include establishment of a mothership in a mothership recovery orbit or actuating control surfaces on the drogue. Recovering the air vehicle may include maneuvering the drogue and the air vehicle in a cooperative manner to facilitate recovery of the air vehicle or utilizing a homing device on the drogue to guide the air vehicle. The various techniques disclosed may be modified to compensate for wind. |
| US08973856B2 |
Handling apparatus and methods for handling a roller of a roller crusher
The invention relates to a handling apparatus for handling a roller of a roller crusher. The handling apparatus comprises a movable base, a carrier pivotably attached to said base and adapted to carry the roller, at least one carrier pivoting device pivotably attached to said base and attached to said carrier, said carrier pivoting device being extendable, and at least one roller pivoting device pivotably connected to said base, said roller pivoting device being adapted to releasably engage said roller. The invention also relates to a method for mounting a roller to a roller crusher and a method for dismounting a roller to a roller crusher. |
| US08973853B2 |
Process for dry-grinding a polysaccharide derivative
In a process for producing a particulate polysaccharide derivative by dry-grinding a moist polysaccharide derivative, one or more of the properties selected from median diameter, median length, bulk density and dissolution rate is controlled by controlling the temperature of the polysaccharide derivative prior to dry-grinding. Advantageously one or more of the properties selected from median diameter, median length, bulk density and dissolution rate of the particles after dry-grinding is adjusted to a first value by a first temperature of the polysaccharide derivative prior to dry-grinding and is adjusted to a second value by a second temperature. |
| US08973852B2 |
Method for preparing a cathode material for lithium secondary battery
Disclose is a method for preparing a cathode material for a lithium secondary battery, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an amorphous silicon oxide; using the prepared silicon oxide as a starting material; and milling the amorphous silicon oxide, a lithium silicon oxide and a transition metal silicon oxide at a predetermined ratio, drying the milled material, and heat-treating the dried material in an atmosphere of inert gas, thereby preparing a lithium transition metal silicon oxide. |
| US08973849B1 |
Attachment for a pressure washer
Embodiments of the invention relate to an attachment for a pressure washer to facilitate cleaning of secondary surfaces. The attachment includes a body with three walls, two of the walls are in a parallel relationship and a third wall is substantially perpendicular to the two parallel walls. A single rolling element is in communication with the two parallel walls and spaced apart from the third wall. The single rolling element may be applied to a secondary surface so that the attachment rolls along the surface thereof while liquid is ejected from the pressure washer to clean the secondary surface. |
| US08973846B2 |
Rail fastening system
A system for fastening a rail to a substrate has an anchor in the substrate, a fastener having a shank secured in the anchor and a head above the substrate, an angle guide plate vertically traversed by the shank, an annular part between the head of the fastener and the guide plate, and a spring clip engaged between the head and the part and shiftable transversely of the rail and of the shank between a preinstallation position horizontally offset from and not engaging the rail and a final installation position bearing vertically downward on the rail. A seal ring engages in both the preinstallation position and the final installation position around the shank and compressed between the part, the angle plate, and the shank so as to prevent water from traveling down the shank into the anchor. |
| US08973843B2 |
System for generating an incrementally completed security mark
A system (10) for generating an incrementally completed security mark (20′″) includes a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program. The computer program includes computer readable code for selecting a carrier object (20, 20′, 20″, 20′″); computer readable code for selecting a number of steps in a workflow associated with the carrier object (20, 20′, 20″, 20′″) and a security level for each step in the workflow; computer readable code for determining available carrier object candidate areas (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) to which to write information at each step in the workflow; and computer readable code for determining a number of bits to be input at each step in the workflow based upon the respective security levels and the available candidate areas (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5). The system further includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and to the computer-readable medium. |
| US08973840B2 |
Integrated circuit
There is disclosed an integrated circuit comprising a management unit for managing the occurrence of predetermined events in the integrated circuit. The management unit comprises: a processing unit adapted to determine the occurrence of a predetermined event in the integrated circuit; a data storage unit adapted to store information regarding the determined event occurrence; an output interface adapted to output a signal based on the stored information regarding the determined event occurrence; and an output generating unit adapted to analize the stored information and to generate a signal to be output by the output interface based on results of the analysis. |
| US08973838B2 |
Small detection plate
A small detection plate has a chip module and an antenna module. A chip of the chip module is coupled to an antenna conductor of the antenna module via a coupling loop. The antenna conductor is an antenna loop and comprises a wire arranged in at least one winding. The antenna loop is mechanically connected to the second carrier by textile embroidering technology or by wire laying technology. Adjacent windings and the ends of the wire are insulated from one another. |
| US08973837B2 |
Electronic card
An electronic card including a first substrate, a control unit, a display unit and a driving circuit is provided. The control unit is disposed on the first substrate, receives an external voltage so as to convert the external voltage into an operation voltage, and selectively receives or provides display data. The driving circuit is disposed on the first substrate, coupled to the control unit and the display unit, and outputs a driving signal to the display unit to drive the display unit according the operation voltage and the display data. |
| US08973832B2 |
RFID tag and RFID system
An RFID tag includes: a base sheet in which a plurality of first slits are formed to extend alternately from two opposite sides from an end of the base sheet; an antenna pattern provided on the base sheet by folding the antennal pattern to avoid the first slits; an RFID chip provided over the base sheet and electrically connected to the antenna pattern; an elastic sheet provided over any one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the base sheet; and a protective sheet provided on a surface of the elastic sheet opposite to the surface that is in contact with the base sheet and including second slits formed to correspond in position to the first slits of the base sheet. |
| US08973830B2 |
PET-C based security laminates and documents
A method of preparing a security laminate including the steps of: a) providing a polyethylene terephthalate substrate (1); b) stretching the polyethylene terephthalate substrate in either a longitudinal or a transversal direction; c) coating and drying a first coating composition (2) on the stretched polyethylene terephthalate substrate; d) stretching the coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate in the longitudinal or transversal direction not selected in step b) in order to obtain a coated biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate substrate having a layer of the first coating composition with a dry thickness between 50 nm and 400 nm; e) coating and drying a second coating composition (3) on top of the dry layer on the biaxially stretched substrate, wherein the first coating composition contains a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl—functional, partially-hydrolyzed vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer and a polyester-urethane copolymer; and wherein the second coating composition contains a hydroxyl—functional, partially-hydrolyzed vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer. Security laminates and security documents containing them are also disclosed. |
| US08973828B2 |
Coupon system and method with synthetic barcode module
A coupon management system includes a synthetic barcode module. The synthetic barcode module comprises light management components and a controller. The light management components include an LED operating as both an optical receiver and an optical emitter. The LED receives light pulses and emits light pulses. The controller interfaces with a compatible electronic device such as a cell phone, receives codes corresponding to coupon barcodes, generates signals corresponding to light received by light management components via the LED, determines if the received light pulses correspond to scanner output, and outputs driver signals to cause the light management module to emit light pulses that emulate light reflected from a scanned barcode to communicate the coupon barcode optically. The controller determines if the received light pulses correspond to barcode scanner by checking stimulus timing (e.g., by determining if the timing of received light pulses corresponds to light pulses emitted from a barcode scanner). A signal conditioning circuit operably coupled to the LED and the controller improves a signal to noise ratio and supplies a logic level signal to the controller module corresponding to light received by the LED. The light management module includes an LED driver configured to regulate electrical power supplied to the LED. |
| US08973827B2 |
Adapter system for a portable electronic device
An adapter system including an adapter unit is described herein. The adapter unit includes receptacles shaped for removably receiving at least a portion of a portable electronic device therewithin. The adapter unit further includes at least one of an image capture device and a data capture device controllable by operating at least one user interface of the portable electronic device. |
| US08973825B2 |
Method and system for safe use of magnetic strip cards
This invention relates to a method and system to ensure the safe use of magnetic strip cards in order to prevent the theft of information contained in the magnetic strip of a industry standard magnetic strip card. Security system enabling the safe use of magnetic strip cards that implements the method, composed of a half-cylinder, equipped with a special slot of a thickness almost similar to the magnetic strip card and wide of one card length, a mechanical card loading and rotating device, card presence and position sensors, electrical motors for the mechanical system, an overall electronic command and control module and the physical security box containing all parts of the system. |
| US08973824B2 |
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. |
| US08973823B2 |
Security apparatus
Disclosed is apparatus for use with an RFID proximity card and with a steel door and frame assembly. The door is of the type having a magnet and the frame is of the type having a bore, which, when the door is closed in the frame, presents towards the magnet. The bore is of the type provided to permit the mounting of a magnetic door contact in the frame. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly which: in use, is received by the bore and grippingly engages said frame; produces a first signal when the card is operatively presented thereto; and produces a second signal when the door is closed to bring the magnet adjacent the sensor assembly and into alignment with the bore. |
| US08973821B1 |
Conversion/transfer of non-negotiable credits to entity independent funds
In one embodiment, an account is established for non-negotiable credits provided by an entity to one or more users. Interactions that earn a quantity of non-negotiable credits are detected. The quantity of non-negotiable credits from the interactions is added to the account. The non-negotiable credits have redemption restrictions imposed by the entity. In absence of a conversion operation that converts the non-negotiable credits to entity independent funds, a commerce partner does not accept the non-negotiable credits for goods/services that it provides. A quantity of the non-negotiable credits is subtracted from the account. The subtracted quantity of non-negotiable credits corresponds to a quantity of entity independent funds resulting from the conversion operation that converts the non-negotiable credits to a quantity of the entity independent funds in accordance with agreement terms mutually established by the commerce partner and the entity. The commerce partner is compensated by the entity. |
| US08973807B2 |
Bonding tool, electronic component mounting apparatus, and manufacturing method of bonding tool
In some cases, it is difficult to carry out ultrasonic joining of high quality with a conventional bonding tool. A bonding tool includes: a horn that transmits an ultrasonic vibration; an ultrasonic vibrator that is provided at one end of the horn, and generates the ultrasonic vibration; and an electronic component holding part that holds an electronic component, wherein the electronic component holding part has a male fitting part in a shape of a tapering-off, and an electronic component holding face that holds the electronic component on an opposite side to the male fitting part, a female fitting part in a shape according to a shape of the male fitting part is formed in a predetermined face of the horn, and the male fitting part is fitted into the female fitting part via an adhesion layer. |
| US08973805B2 |
Surgical fastener applying apparatus including a knife guard
A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a cartridge-receiving assembly and a cartridge assembly releasably engagable therewith. The cartridge assembly includes a housing and a knife assembly having a knife translatable from an initial position to a deployed position and a knife guard pivotable between a storage position, wherein the knife guard substantially encloses the knife member, and a use position, wherein the knife member is exposed for translation through the housing. The knife guard engages to the knife member such that translation of the knife member rotates the guard to the use position. |
| US08973804B2 |
Cartridge assembly having a buttressing member
A staple cartridge assembly includes a cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a deck and a plurality of staples deployable into tissue. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a buttressing member removably attached to the deck and a firing member movable relative to the cartridge body during a firing stroke to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue, wherein the buttressing member is completely removed from the deck as a result of the firing stroke. |
| US08973803B2 |
Surgical stapling apparatus with control features operable with one hand
A surgical stapling apparatus may comprise a handle assembly, a shaft, an end effector, an articulation joint, and an articulation actuator. The handle assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion moveable relative to the first portion. The end effector, connected to the shaft by the articulation joint, is configured to perform an end effector function when the second portion is actuated. The articulation actuator, which is configured to move the end effector relative to the shaft, and the second portion may be moveable in an actuation plane. |
| US08973802B2 |
Wire-processing machine with length-compensating unit
A wire-processing machine or apparatus includes a wire-feeding apparatus for guiding a wire, wherein the wire-processing machine or apparatus contains a wire drive for forward movement of the wire and a guide pipe with an entry opening and an exit opening. The wire-processing machine or apparatus contains a swivel unit with drive and a wire-gripping apparatus which is arranged on a swivel arm, wherein an exit side end of the guide pipe is fastened to the swivel arm. The wire drive and the guide pipe are arranged in such manner that the wire can be shot-in through the guide pipe. The wire-feed apparatus further contains a length-compensating unit which is arranged in the area of the guide pipe and which, in a first state, shortens an effective length of the guide pipe and, in a second state, lengthens the effective length of the guide pipe. |
| US08973795B2 |
Multifunctional strap system for handheld portable electronic devices
A multifunctional strap system for portable electronic devices having a case and a strap on the back of the case. The case securely holds a protective electronic device while allowing access to all necessary features of the device. The strap securely couples a user's hand or other personal effects to the device. The strap may also be attached to a clip that removably attaches the strap to the bottom of the device. The detachable clip of the strap allows the strap system to loop around and be secured onto an object. The case may have an insert that can be used as a kickstand or a protective cover of a card held into place by the strap. |
| US08973791B2 |
Frame for a device for holding and replacing casting plates and assembly
A frame, for a device for holding and replacing plates for transferring molten metal contained in a metallurgical vessel having a casting channel, defines a housing for receiving and holding a plate, when the device is assembled, in the operating position in the vicinity of the casting channel of the metallurgical vessel. The frame is arranged to enable the introduction of the plate into the housing, and the extraction of the plate from the housing, by translation along a plate insertion direction. The housing is formed so as to have an overall planar symmetry in relation to a central longitudinal plane parallel with the plate insertion direction. The frame comprises slots for receiving thrusters intended, when the device is assembled, to apply a force, in the direction of the metallurgical vessel, on a plate inserted in the housing. |
| US08973789B2 |
Closure valve assembly for a container
A closure assembly for a container having a housing with a fluid passage, a retaining ring attached to an inner surface of a wall of the housing and having a sloping centering flange, and a valve positioned in the housing and sealing the fluid passage. |
| US08973788B1 |
Portable hand sanitizer dispenser
A portable hand sanitizer dispenser which contains hand sanitizer within an internal cavity, and which includes a dispensing body having tapered left and right sides and a U-shaped opening on a top end thereof, a pivotally attached metal clip across the opening by which user clips the dispenser onto an item, such as a belt loop, and also including a grip pad member on a front side having rows of spaced apart protuberances thereon thereby enhancing the ability to grip the dispenser during use. |
| US08973787B2 |
Portable beverage-dispensing device for use by groups
The dispensing device (1) has a beverage receptacle (2) with holes (200) in the base thereof, said holes being stopped with valves (3); a supporting base (4) that supports the receptacle; serving mechanisms (5) for opening the valves; and a cooling element mounted between the receptacle and the stand. The base (20) of the receptacle has, within, a convex central portion (201) and a peripheral portion (202) with the emptying holes, and the outer part thereof has a concave central portion (203) and a peripheral zone (204) with housings (205) for mounting a respective valve. The stand has an upper portion (40) in which the receptacle fits, and supporting legs (41). The serving mechanisms (5) are mounted in the upper portion of the stand, operationally facing the respective valve. The cooling element (6) is designed to be fitted inside the upper portion of the stand, with the base of the receptacle located above said element. |
| US08973784B2 |
Dispensing device
A system of medicament dispensers includes a plurality of dispenser housings each having a unique first indicia and a plurality of containers each having a unique second indicia. The unique second indicia of each of the containers corresponds to one of the unique first indicia of a corresponding one of the dispenser housings. Methods for associating various containers and dispensers is also provided. |
| US08973782B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing elongated articles
An apparatus for dispensing elongated articles such as straws, including: a container for holding the elongated articles; a hopper to receive some of the elongated articles, where the hopper is reversibly movable between a closed state and an open state; and a manipulator for performing a cycle to release a single elongated article by isolating a single article and then moving the hopper from the closed state to the open state, thereby releasing only the single elongated article. |
| US08973780B2 |
Can end with reinforcing bead
A can end for a two-piece beverage can is described. The can end has a center panel positioned about a vertical center axis. The center panel has a means for opening the can end located on a public side. A circumferential strengthening member is located about the center panel. A wall extends upwardly from the circumferential strengthening member. A curl is joined to an upper end of the wall. The curl defines an outer perimeter of the can end. A reinforcing bead is located on the wall between an uppermost portion of the wall and a lowermost portion of the wall. |
| US08973778B2 |
Self-adjusting connector
A self-adjusting connector for attaching a fuel tank accessory component to a wall of a fuel tank includes a mounting portion, a flange portion and a load-accommodating portion. The mounting portion is adapted to be attached to a wall of a fuel tank at an attachment site The flange portion is adapted to be attached to a fuel tank accessory component. And the load-accommodating portion is situated between the mounting portion and the flange portion and permits the mounting portion and the flange portion to move relative to one another. In at least some implementations, the relative movement permits loads applied by the fuel tank wall, such as due to temperature or other changes in the wall, to be accommodated without undue stress on the accessory component or undue reaction forces on the tank wall. |
| US08973777B2 |
Beverage can with disc
A beverage can (1) having a base (10) defining a re-entrant bead (17) in which a resilient disc (50) is held captive. The maximum dimension of the disc (50) is designed to be larger than the internal diameter of the re-entrant bead (17) and thus, when the resilient disc (50) is fitted into the re-entrant bead (17), the disc (50) adopts a concave, domed shape. The degree of doming can accommodate any variance between the dimensions of the disc (50) and that of the reformed base (10) of the can (1). One or more drainage ports may be provided on the periphery of the resilient disc (50) so that any liquid trapped between the surfaces of the base (10) and the resilient disc (50) may drain. |
| US08973775B2 |
Disposable beverage container adapted to dispense an item through the side of the container
Provided is a disposable beverage container adapted to dispense an item through the side of the container. The open space in the downward-facing cavity at the bottom of many typical cups is utilized by providing therein one or more deflectable storage members, such as a blister-pack-type storage member, with an item sealed inside such as gum, a mint; candy; a pharmaceutical; a prize; a toy; or any other item. The item can be dispensed by pushing radially outward on the deflectable storage member and causing the item to break through a breakable member on the outside of the cup, such as aluminum foil. Various example embodiments, materials, and methods are described. |
| US08973774B1 |
Waste container with actuatable, internal bag obstruction member
Waste container including a base defining a waste-receiving compartment, a lid movably attached to the base and movable between a first position covering a waste insertion opening and a second position in which it does not obstruct the waste insertion opening and a support portion including an aperture through which a bag is placed into the compartment. An obstruction mechanism includes an actuator and an obstruction member having at least one part that selectively engages with the bag at a location below the support portion. The actuator is manually and/or automatically rotatable to cause rotation of the obstruction member between a first position in which the obstruction member is in a first plane not obstructing insertion of waste into the bag and a second position in which the obstruction member is in a second plane obstructing insertion of waste into the bag. |
| US08973773B2 |
Seals
The invention provides a seal that forms part of a container for storing and dispensing consumer products. The container can be used in place of conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets or capsules or multi-cavity containers for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen. The container includes a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products. The seal includes a cover film (1) having a pattern of electrically conductive tracks (14) that defines a circuit per cavity. Pre-formed lines of separation (4) define a removable portion (2) per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed along its line of separation. Each removable portion (2) is attached to the remainder of the cover film (1) by a frangible bridge region defined by a gap in the associated pre-formed line of separation (4) and which provides a pathway for the associated circuit (22). The frangible bridge region is torn to break the associated circuit (22) when the removable portion (2) is released or removed so that the contents of the underlying cavity can be dispensed. |
| US08973770B2 |
Cover for pressure cooker with locking pieces
A pressure cooker cover comprises a cover (1) and a float valve (2), wherein a seal ring (7) is installed in the inner edge of the cover while hooks (8) are installed in the two side edges of the cover. A push-pull device (9) which can move the hooks back and forth is mounted in the ends of the hooks. The push-pull device comprises a rotating base (9-1) arranged in the middle portion of the cover, a rotating shaft (9-2) and a locking piece (9-3) which is coupled with the rotating shaft (9-2). Sliding chutes (9-31) are provided at the two sides of the locking piece. Guide columns (8-1) which are slidingly matched with the sliding chutes are set at two ends of the hooks (8). |
| US08973767B1 |
Indoor firewood rack
A sturdy, wall mounted indoor firewood rack which includes a detachable tray capable of catching and retaining dirt, wood chips, residue, snow, and water. |
| US08973766B2 |
Rack for storing chain ratchet binders
A rack and method for storing tie-down chain ratchet binders on a surface. The rack includes a base that preferably is mounted on a truck wall. A first finger is provided on the base and a first recess is defined therein. The first recess is configured so that the shaft of a chain ratchet binder is receivable therein. The rack further includes a second finger spaced laterally from the first finger and defining a second recess therein that is aligned with the first recess. The shaft of the binder is received in the first and second recesses and is supported by the first and second fingers. A plurality of similarly aligned pairs of first and second fingers with associated first and second recesses is provided on the base, vertically spaced from each other. Thus, rack is able to store a plurality of chain ratchet binders vertically spaced from each other. |
| US08973764B2 |
Sample display holder
A sample display holder is configured to present a fabric covering. The sample display holder includes a backer board, mechanically coupled to a plurality of joined cellular material sample sections further including a rear cellular material sample section mechanically coupled to the backer board and a front cellular material sample section mechanically coupled to a label. Each cellular material sample section further includes a cell mechanically coupled to and surrounded by the fabric covering. Each cell and each fabric covering further includes a front hole and a rear hole wherein all holes are aligned. A magnetic unit is attached to the backer board and further including a mounting mechanically coupled to a magnet. A magnetic plate is mechanically coupled to the front cellular material sample section. The plurality of joined cellular material sample sections can be compressed by magnetically coupling the magnet to the magnetic plate. |
| US08973759B2 |
Sieving device, sieving device for developing device, and powder-charging device
A sieving device including a hollow cylindrical body, a filter disposed at a bottom portion of the hollow cylindrical body, and a blade configured to rotate in close proximity to the filter around a rotation axis thereof crossing the filter to thereby stir powder supplied to the hollow cylindrical body. |
| US08973758B2 |
Metal basket fitting inside kamado grills for removing charcoal
An ash basket can act as a sieve or strainer, allowing a user to lift out the charcoal from a kamado grill, clean out the ash, and place the ash basket back into the grill for future use. The ash basket retains larger pieces of charcoal that can be reused, while allowing the ash to pass through to a bottom plate of the grill. The bottom plate has openings to permit the ash to fall to an ash collection chamber. Without the ash basket, pieces of charcoal can block the openings in the bottom plate, making ash collection difficult. Moreover, with the openings blocked, proper air flow through the openings. Finally, the ash basket creates and additional air space that covers the entire surface of the interior walls by separating the ash from the wall, improving air flow, which is critical to the kamado grill design. |
| US08973755B2 |
Compliance aid labeling for medication containers
The present application is directed to patient compliance aids for a medicine container. A base label may be adhered to the medication container, and one or more indicia disposed on the base label. A top label may cover at least a portion of the base label. |
| US08973751B2 |
Protective case for a wildlife surveillance system
A protective case that resists fractures, punctures, deformations, and other failures for use with a wildlife surveillance system is provided. The protective case includes a cooperating base and cover. The base and cover define a cavity therebetween, which houses the wildlife surveillance system. The base and cover interlock with each other, providing multi-dimensional stability of the entire assemblage. In addition, the protective case is made from a material that can endure manipulations, handling, or attacks from various wildlife animals, including, e.g., bears and others. |
| US08973747B2 |
Package for dental implant
Package (1) for an implant (2), in particular for a dental implant, comprising a housing (5) with a compartment (51) that can be closed by way of a pivotable and/or slidable cover (4) so as to be essentially liquid-tight, said compartment being intended for a first section (2′) of the implant (2), and an area (19) for a second section (3) of the implant (2), said area being separated rated from the compartment (51) by way of a housing wall (8), wherein a passage (35) connecting the compartment (51) and said area (19) is provided in the housing wall (8) for a transition section (3′) between the first section (2′) and the second section (3) of the implant (2), and wherein the housing wall (8) comprises a removal slot (9, 36) for removal of the implant when the cover (4) is open without separating the sections (2, 3). The package (1) comprises at least one fluid cartridge (12) and an associated release element (18) and the fluid cartridge (12) can be opened by way of the release element (18) when the cover (4) is closed such that fluid located in the fluid cartridge (12) can flow out into the compartment (51). |
| US08973746B2 |
Hydrogen storage apparatus with heat-dissipating structure
A hydrogen storage apparatus includes a canister and at least one hydrogen storage unit. The canister has at least a hollow rod. The hydrogen storage unit is disposed in the canister. The hydrogen storage unit includes a housing, a heat-dissipating channel and a plurality of heat-dissipating partitions. The periphery of the housing is configured with a plurality of grooves, and each groove has a plurality of first holes. The heat-dissipating channel is located within the housing. Each heat-dissipating partition has a plurality of second holes and connects to the housing and heat-dissipating channel. The heat-dissipating partitions divide the space inside the housing. The first holes and the second holes connect to the inner space of the housing. |
| US08973743B2 |
Woven wire conveyor belt and a method of forming the same
A woven wire conveyor belt having a plurality of spiral wires and a plurality of connecting wires operably associated with the plurality of spiral wires to form a conveying surface with a plurality of openings formed therein. Each of the plurality of spiral wires has a first side wall and a second side wall that are substantially flat. The connecting wires can be crimped or straight wires. The spiral wires can be left spiral wires, right spiral wires or a combination of left and right spiral wires. The spiral wires and the connecting wires are preferably formed from round wire. Preferably, the woven wire conveyor belt is an endless belt. The conveyor belt can be a balanced weave wire belt, a double weave wire belt, a rod reinforced weave wire belt, a chevron weave wire belt, a double balance weave wire belt, and a single weave wire belt. |
| US08973741B2 |
Transporting apparatus
An apparatus for transporting objects includes a guide arrangement for supporting and guiding along a movement path at least one carriage supporting a support element suitable for receiving at least one object. A movement arrangement moves the carriage along the movement path. The carriage is provided with rolling elements and the guide arrangement includes at least three guides that are parallel to one another, each of which is arranged for supporting and guiding a respective rolling element in an operative configuration of the carriage. The guides define respective movement profiles conjugated and shaped so that each rolling element abuts on the respective guide at each point of the latter along the movement path. The rolling elements are arranged at the vertices of a triangle with respect to a plane that is parallel to the guides. |
| US08973735B2 |
Mechanisms for transferring items
A transfer mechanism for transferring items between one or more input streams and one or more output streams is disclosed. The transfer mechanism comprises a turret, an arm extending from the turret, and a carrier mechanism engaged with the arm. The carrier mechanism comprises a base and a plurality of rods extending from the base. At least one of the rods is movable relative to at least one other rod. The rods are configured to engage void areas in the items. |
| US08973733B2 |
Article orienter and attendant orientation operations
An article inspection and orientation adjustment assembly is generally provided. The assembly is generally characterized by a primary subassembly operatively linked for travel with a secondary subassembly. The primary subassembly includes a vision system for visually inspecting conveyed articles, and an array of actuators, actuators thereof responsive to detections of the vision system and selectively energizable for conveyed article engagement in furtherance of altering an orientation of the conveyed article. The secondary subassembly includes a friction bar extending along a travel path for the conveyed articles, energization of an actuator of the array of actuators resulting in frictional engagement of an actuated article with the friction bar so as to rotatingly orient the actuated article. |
| US08973729B2 |
Coupling device
A coupling device including at least one torque transmitting device, which can be engaged and/or disengaged in the axial direction by a lever element and which is frictionally engaged in the engaged state, and including at least one wear compensation device, which has at least one rotatable ramp ring that can be clamped by the lever element at least temporarily and which has at least one rotatably mounted spindle drive with a spindle shaft, the spindle drive acting on the ramp ring. The wear compensation device has at least two continuously variable free running units which act in different rotational directions, a first free running unit being designed to rotate the spindle shaft when a wear state of the torque transmitting device is sensed and a second free running unit being designed to prevent a reverse rotation of the spindle shaft. |
| US08973716B2 |
Brake mechanism for a non-motorized wheeled vehicle
Brake mechanisms for a wheel of non-motorized wheeled vehicle such as, e.g., a shopping cart, are described. In various embodiments, the brake mechanism can provide a variable amount of braking force or torque between zero and an amount sufficient to lock the wheel. In some embodiments, the brake mechanism includes a brake plate that is movable toward and away from a surface of the wheel hub along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. The brake plate is configured not to rotate when the wheel and hub are rotating. Frictional engagement between the brake plate and the surface of the wheel hub provides the braking force. The brake plate and/or the surface of the wheel hub can include engagement features such as, e.g., protrusions and slots. In some embodiments, the brake mechanism fits entirely within the wheel. |
| US08973714B2 |
Door engagement device for elevator
A door engagement device for an elevator according to the present invention is configured in such a manner that biasing-force applying/changing means applies a turning preventing force for preventing turning of a lever main body and changes a direction of a biasing force to a direction of an anti-turning preventing force to the lever main body by action of turning guiding means with movement of a car door. Accordingly, an engagement-mechanism driving device can be driven with a reduced space at low cost. |
| US08973711B2 |
Intermediate scaffold joint
An improved intermediate scaffold joint comprising a frame, a first mounting member, a second mounting member, and a vertical stub. The frame has an interior side, an exterior side, and a top side. Both the first mounting member and the second mounting member are attached to the frame's exterior side for securing the frame to an existing scaffold structure. A vertical stub is attached to the frame's top side for attaching an intermediate vertical scaffold member to the frame. |
| US08973709B2 |
Brake module and lift having the same
A lift includes a mast and a brake module. The mast is for disposing on a working surface and has at least one track. The brake module is connected to a lift module mounted on the mast and includes at least one friction member and at least one forcing member. The friction member has a pressing portion and an axle oppositely arranged. The pressing portion is substantially shaped to engage the track. The forcing member is rotatably disposed on the axle for pivoting axially between a first position and a second position. At the first position, the pressing portion can be moved along the track and stopped by the lift module. At the second position, the forcing member displaces the friction member to force the pressing portion tightly against the track. Thus, the brake module is held in position relative to the mast. |
| US08973707B2 |
Toe board for scaffolding and a method for producing a toe board
A toe board of a scaffold system and a method of producing the toe board, the toe board configured to be attached to a working or walking surface of the scaffold in order to limit lateral movement upon the surface, the toe board made from a steel board unit having a hollow profile enclosed by covers and mounting units inserted at each end with multiple types of fastenings. |
| US08973704B2 |
Vibration absorbing mounting device
A vibration absorbing mounting device may include an outer housing, a mounting shaft, a core, a first nozzle valve spaced apart from and disposed below the core, an inner housing spaced apart from one side and the other side of the core, with the first nozzle valve being mounted to the inner housing, and a chamber separator fixed to the core and brought into close contact with and sliding on the first nozzle valve, wherein the chamber separator forms a first chamber and a second chamber, and an elastic member formed between the core and the inner housing and between the inner housing and the outer housing, wherein fluid is filled in the first chamber and the second chamber, and a first nozzle fluidly-connecting the first and second chambers is formed in the first nozzle valve. |
| US08973702B2 |
Volumetric piezoelectric seismic wave source and related methods
Seismic wave sources and related methods are provided. A seismic wave source includes a housing, plural pillars and an excitation system. The housing is split in two halves along a plane including a longitudinal axis of the housing. The plural pillars are made of piezoelectric elements and are positioned inside the housing to have one end in contact with a semi-cylindrical middle portion of one half of the housing and another end in contact with a semi-cylindrical middle portion of the other half of the housing. The excitation system connected by wires to the plural pillars and is configured to provide electrical signals to the piezoelectric elements. Upon receiving the electrical signals from the excitation system, the pillars generate forces on the housing thereby generating seismic waves. |
| US08973700B2 |
Exhaust system component
The present invention relates to an exhaust system component (1) for an exhaust system of a combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, with a housing (2) having at least one housing wall (4), which separates an interior space (5) of the housing (2) exposed to an internal pressure (Pi) during the operation of the exhaust system from a surroundings (6) surrounding the housing (2) and having an ambient pressure (Pu).In order to improve the durability of the component (1) even with small wall thicknesses, at least one stiffening element (3) can be provided, which is fastened to and arranged on the housing (2) such that it counteracts an internal pressure (Pi) that is above the ambient pressure (Pu) induced by the deformation of the housing wall (4). |
| US08973695B2 |
Vehicle wheeled device
A vehicle wheeled device has a drive wheel, two foot pads and two support wheels. The drive wheel is adapted to drive the device along a longitudinal drive path with the foot pads being located at opposing longitudinal sides of the drive wheel. The two support wheels of the device are adapted to engage the ground face at one of the longitudinal sides of the drive wheel with the drive path being located therebetween. |
| US08973691B2 |
Electric off-road wheeled vehicle
An off-road vehicle has four wheels and side-by-side driver and passenger seats. At least two of the wheels are driven by an electric motor powered by batteries disposed in the vehicle. |
| US08973685B2 |
Turbine driven reaming bit with stability and cutting efficiency features
A reaming bit designed to operate with low torque fluctuation when driven with a turbine at speeds in the order of 300-600 RPM and above features a profile that is arcuate from the gauge dimension to the nose area or alternatively has a blunt straight taper section but with a ratio of profile length (PL) to bit size (BS) of under 0.75. The blades extend into a concave cone and the cutting structure continues along the blades towards the center. The blades have a step near the gauge section to increase the exposure of the blade cutting structure. An array of protrusions are disposed parallel to and behind the cutting structure to increase high speed stability and adjacent the blade step transition to protect outer casing on run in. |
| US08973680B2 |
Lockable reamer
A downhole tool comprises a body, an extendable cutting member operable to cooperate with a hydraulically actuated cam member, and a cam member lock. The lock is configurable to be activated downhole to restrict movement of the cam member relative to the body and prevent extension of the cutting member. |
| US08973678B1 |
Misspelled word analysis for undesirable message classification
Misspelled words are identified in incoming email messages. The presence of misspelled words in emails is used to help determine which the emails are spam. Various statistical information concerning the number, prevalence, distribution, etc. of misspelled words in email messages is analyzed to detect spam or other forms of undesirable email, such as phishing emails. In some embodiments, the language in which an email is written is identified in order to aid in the identification of misspelled words. In some embodiments, the analysis of the misspelling information is combined with other techniques used to identify undesirable email. |
| US08973675B2 |
Flasked pressure housing
A system for containing electronics positioned in a downhole tubular. The system includes a pressure housing, a rigid end piece, a compliant end piece, an inner tubular member, one or more annular standoffs, and a chassis. The pressure housing is supported within the downhole tubular. The rigid end piece and the compliant end piece are fixedly coupled within opposing ends of the pressure housing. The inner tubular member is disposed within the pressure housing and has opposing ends. One of the opposing ends is coupled to the rigid end piece, and the other of the opposing ends is free to move relative to the compliant end piece. The chassis is disposed within the inner tubular member and houses the electronics. Each standoff is disposed between the inner tubular member and the pressure housing and includes at least one radially extending portion compressed therebetween. |
| US08973674B2 |
Drilling system and method of operating a drilling system
A drilling system (10) including a drill string (13) which extends from a floating drilling rig to a well bore, and a tubular riser (12) which surrounds at least part of the portion of the drill string (13) between the well bore and drilling rig, the riser (12) having a telescopic joint (20) between a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion of the riser, the first tubular portion extending down to a well head at the top of the well bore and the second tubular portion extending up towards the drilling rig, the telescopic joint (20) comprising an inner tube part (20b) which is mounted within an outer tube part (20a), the drilling system (10) further including a riser closure device (26) which is mounted in the second tubular portion of the riser (12) and which is operable to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between the riser (12) and the drill string (13) whilst permitting the drill string (13) to rotate relative to the riser (12). |
| US08973672B2 |
Device for triggering a fire extinguishing system by means of a sprinkler
A device is provided for triggering a fire extinguishing system by a sprinkler, the device being arranged between the pipe for the extinguishing agent and the sprinkler and including a multiple-armed toggle-lever joint acting between a load axis of the triggering element and a sealing element that is arranged at an angle of 80 to 120° thereto. The device has the advantage that dry pipe sprinklers whose glass bulbs can only absorb low mechanical forces can also be arranged for use with pipes that exhibit large entry cross-sections, large volume flows and high pressures as the forces from the pipe that arise have to be absorbed only in part by the sprinkler glass bulb. It is further advantageous that the sealing force of the sealing element can be adjusted by means of an actuator. |
| US08973671B2 |
Smart compact indoor firefighting robot for extinguishing a fire at an early stage
The proposed invention is an indoor firefighting robot which has the capability to climb stairs and negotiate several types of floor materials inside buildings. it can withstand very high temperature up to 700 Celsius for as long as 60 minutes using multiple thermal insulation technique. It can communicate with trapped and injured persons inside the fire scene and can send back video and audio information describing the fire environment inside the building to the controller. It has also an insulated container at the rear with oxygen masks to help victims to breathe safely in the smoke environment in the early stage of the firefighting process. Several of these compact firefighting robots can be launched and can work together inside the room or multiple rooms under fire with assistance of remote control unit. The fire robot can avoid obstacles while trying to rescue injured victims. |
| US08973666B2 |
Running adapter
A plug for sealing a conduit comprises a body having a first section and a second section, and at least one seal element for creating a seal between the plug and the conduit. The at least one seal element is adapted to be energized by movement in a setting direction of the first body section relative to the second body section. The plug further comprises seal locking means comprising a first portion and a second portion wherein as the at least one seal is energized, the seal locking means first portion is rotatable unidirectionally relative to the seal locking means second portion to take up the movement of the first body section relative to the second body section in the setting direction and prevent movement of the first body section relative to the second body section in a releasing direction, opposite the setting direction. In one embodiment the seal locking means first portion is a locking nut. |
| US08973665B2 |
System and method for performing intervention operations with a compliant guide
A technique for subsea intervention operations incorporates use of a compliant guide that extends between a surface location and a subsea installation. The technique facilitates deployment of tool strings into a subsea well. For example, a portion of the compliant guide can be used as a subsea lubricator during pressure deployment of tool strings. In some applications, a tool entry guide can be connected into the subsea installation to facilitate deployment of tool strings into the subsea well. |
| US08973662B2 |
Downhole debris removal tool capable of providing a hydraulic barrier and methods of using same
A downhole tool for removing debris from a wellbore comprises a body having a bore, a collection member, and a means for creating a hydraulic barrier within a wellbore annulus. The hydraulic barrier within the wellbore annulus restricts upward movement of a debris laden fluid within the wellbore annulus causing the debris laden fluid to be directed toward the collection member. Thus, the hydraulic barrier facilitates removal of debris from the wellbore. |
| US08973659B2 |
Degradable polymer and legume particulates for well treatment
A method of treating a treatment zone in a well is provided, the method including the steps of: (A) forming a treatment fluid comprising: (i) a degradable polymer particulate; (ii) a legume particulate; and (iii) a continuous liquid phase; and (B) introducing the treatment fluid into the treatment zone of the well. The invention can be used, for example, for leak-off control or fluid diversion purposes. |
| US08973657B2 |
Gas generator for pressurizing downhole samples
An apparatus for obtaining fluid samples in a subterranean wellbore comprises a carrier assembly configured to be disposed in a subterranean wellbore; a sampling chamber operably associated with the carrier assembly; a pressure assembly coupled to the sampling chamber and configured to pressurize a fluid sample obtained in the sampling chamber, wherein the pressure assembly is configured to contain a pressure generating agent; an activation mechanism configured to activate the pressure generating agent; and a power device operably associated with the carrier assembly and configured to provide an impulse for activating the activation mechanism, wherein the power device is not disposed on the pressure assembly. |
| US08973656B2 |
Wellbore operations, systems, and methods with McNano devices
Systems and methods for using very small devices, “McNano devices,” to facilitate and enhance operations in the oilpatch. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). |
| US08973654B2 |
System and method for anchoring an expandable tubular to a borehole wall
A system for anchoring an expandable tubular to a borehole wall comprises a support member having a first end fixed relative to the outside of the tubular and a second end comprising a ramping surface. An anchor member has a first end fixed relative to the outside of the tubular and a second end extending toward the support member, the second end being movable relative to the outside of the tubular. The support member includes a ramp surface that tapers in the direction of the anchor member. Expansion of the portion of the expandable tubular between the first support end and the first anchor end causes the axial device length to shorten, wherein the difference in length is sufficient to cause the second anchor end to move radially outward and engage the borehole wall as a result of engagement with the ramping surface. |
| US08973653B2 |
Running tool
A running tool (10) for inserting and setting an assembly into a bore in a well, the tool comprising a main body (11) having a hydraulic cylinder (12) for actuating one or more locking elements (60, 61) on the main body for, in use, reaction with the bore, an outer sleeve (40) rotatably mounted on the main body, a rotatable mandrel (13) to which, in use, torque is applied and means (42, 43, 44) for transmitting the torque from the mandrel to the outer sleeve. |
| US08973651B2 |
Modular anchoring sub for use with a cutting tool
A cutting tool that inserts into a tubular for cutting the tubular from within. The cutting tool includes a motor, a cutting head, permanent anchor between the motor and cutting head, an electronics portion, and a modular anchoring sub that can be between the motor and electronics portion or on the upper end of the cutting tool. The modular anchoring sub provides flexibility in where anchoring elements are positioned so that depending on the application, the modular anchoring sub can be positioned so that it provides its maximum anchoring force for stabilizing the cutting tool during use. |
| US08973647B2 |
Heat exchanger and air conditioner having the same
A heat exchange fin in a heat exchanger is disposed between two refrigerant pipes spaced apart from each other includes a guide protrusion including first inclined planes inclined upward along opposite sides of a center line of a refrigerant pipe row in a symmetric fashion and second inclined planes inclined downward from upper ends of the first inclined planes, and the first inclined planes and the second inclined planes are provided with louver members, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency. |
| US08973640B1 |
Demount tool assembly and methods for automated tire changer machine
A tire changer machine and tire demounting methodology includes a demount tool assembly having a demount tool selectively positionable relative to a support and configured to extract a bead of the tire from the wheel rim. A guide element is mounted to the support, and the guide element is operable to provide a limited degree of freedom of the distal end from a predetermined path of motion in a tire demount procedure, thereby allowing the distal end to reliably grip the tire bead while the support arm is maintained in a stationary position relative to the wheel rim. |
| US08973639B2 |
System and method for processing a tire-wheel assembly
An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed. |
| US08973633B2 |
Tire inflation system with discrete deflation circuit
A vehicle tire inflation system includes an air supply source in fluid communication with multiple tires of the vehicle. A pneumatic conduit extends between and is in fluid communication with the air supply source and the tires. Means are fluidly connected to the pneumatic conduit for enabling selective inflation and deflation of the tires. The means include a first pneumatic circuit for inflation of the tires, and a second pneumatic circuit for deflation of the tires. The second pneumatic circuit is discrete from the first pneumatic circuit and is common to more than one of the tires. The means provides controlled deflation of the tires in the second pneumatic circuit based upon a predetermined condition, preventing deflation of the tires until the vehicle is parked, or limiting the deflation of the tires, which in turn enables the tire inflation system to accommodate a desirable increased pressure in the tires. |
| US08973632B2 |
Wheel for vehicles
A wheel including a tire and a rim wherein the tire includes: a pair of beads, each of the beads being provided with a base, wherein the rim includes a pair of axially outer flanges defining respective bead housing seats, each of the bead housing seats including a base portion, and wherein the base of at least one of the beads and the base portion of the respective bead housing seat are mutually coupled by means of at least one mechanical coupling element, wherein the mechanical coupling element is provided with parts and has a length greater than its width, the length being lower than the circumference of the tire measured at the base of the bead and the width being lower than the axial width of the base of the bead and of the base portion of the respective bead housing seat. |
| US08973631B2 |
Pneumatic tire
In a pneumatic tire in which the sipe extending in a direction crossing a tire circumferential direction is provided on a land portion (block) of a tread portion, a wide part having a wide groove width is provided at three or more places in a length direction of the sipe, and the wide part and a narrow part are formed alternately on a tread surface along the sipe length direction. A plurality of the wide parts are extended in a sipe depth direction from the tread surface, and are provided by changing extended lengths in the sipe depth direction. |
| US08973630B2 |
Tire including concave recesses in a circumferential tread
A tire having an equatorial plane and a circumferential tread is provided. The tread includes at least one recess defined by at least one concave surface having a plurality of sipes formed therein. Optionally, the at least one concave surface can include one or more channel disposed therein. |
| US08973628B2 |
Portable purse strap hook
The portable purse strap hook is slidably and removably mounted on a purse strap. The portable purse strap hook includes a flexible sheet having at least one releasable fastener attached thereto for releasably fastening laterally opposed ends thereof to form a sleeve slidably disposed on the purse strap. A hook is pivotally secured to the inner surface of the flexible sheet. The hook is pivotal between a stored position within the sleeve and a position extending from the sleeve so that the hook may be used to hang the purse from a stationary support. |
| US08973625B2 |
Structure of oil filling device
An oil filling device includes an oil filling funnel, an extendable tube assembly, a direction adjustment assembly, and a coupling assembly. The oil filling funnel is mounted to a first end of the extendable tube assembly. The extendable tube assembly has a second end mounted to the direction adjustment assembly. The direction adjustment assembly is mounted to the coupling assembly that is attachable to an oil filling hole of an engine. The direction adjustment assembly enables adjustment of the direction of the extendable tube assembly and the oil filling funnel with respect to the engine, while the extendable tube assembly allows the oil filling funnel to be selectively moved toward or away from the oil filling hole. Thus, the oil filling device may accommodate various heights and angles of oil filling hole of engine and allows filling of oil into the engine to be conducted in a smoother manner. |
| US08973616B2 |
Modified pipe inlet
A pipe, such as a liner for repairing a failing culvert, comprises a continuous wall defining an inner wall surface and an exterior wall surface. The pipe further defines a central fluid passageway extending from an inlet end to an outlet end. The inner wall surface of the pipe defines a waveform-like geometry near the inlet end, said waveform-like geometry including an initial curvature beginning at the inlet end of the pipe and continuing until reaching a predetermined location where an inner diameter of the pipe is minimized, the curvature then continuing with the inner diameter increasing again to a second predetermined location, before the inner diameter again decreases to a third predetermined location and then remains substantially constant along the remaining length of the pipe, thus creating an annular recess in the inner wall surface of the pipe. |
| US08973614B2 |
Outlet switch device and an outlet switch method
The outlet switch device includes a fixed unit, an outlet switch mechanism, an inlet switch mechanism and a driving mechanism. The outlet function switch is realized through the relative rotation between the outlet switch mechanism and the fixed unit; the fixed unit includes a control cavity and an inlet waterway connected to the external water resource; the outlet switch mechanism includes a switch plate, which is movable connected inside the control cavity and divides the control cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity; the inlet switch mechanism controls the inlet waterway to control the water turning into the upper cavity or the lower cavity, making the switch plate move up and down with the effect of the water; the driving mechanism is disposed between the switch plate and the fixed unit to transform the action up and down to rotation. |
| US08973608B2 |
Adjustable fluid pressure amplifier
The amplifier includes a housing containing a chamber with a delivery outlet containing a non-return delivery valve. An inlet pipe projects into the chamber and a resilient obturator ring is engaged with and located about the pipe to be resiliently-movable in the chamber. An annular exhaust aperture surrounding the pipe can be sealed by the obturator ring, the obturator ring being responsive to fluid flow in the inlet pipe such that fluid flow causes the obturator ring to oscillate between conditions which alternately permit and prevent fluid from leaving the chamber through the exhaust aperture thereby causing a pulsed pressure increase in the fluid flowing through the delivery outlet. An adjuster is provided for adjusting the distance by which the fluid inlet pipe projects into the chamber and moves the pipe using co-operably inclined faces. The obturator ring and the delivery valve are shaped to create a venturi effect. |
| US08973602B2 |
Gas shutoff device
The present invention provides a gas shutoff device that prevents tampering procurement of gas or tamper due to stealing of the gas shutoff device.When an event, in which a gas pressure value of a pressure measuring unit 32 after a predetermined operation performed by a provider in installation is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for a first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than a second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer, happens at a predetermined number of times, the gas is shut off by a shutoff unit 39, communication with the outside is performed by an external communication unit 34, restoration is permitted by a restoring unit 38 while when there is a predetermined operation by the provider after the shutoff, the restoration permission state implemented by communicating with the outside by the predetermined operation by the provider and inputting communication of a response from the outside. |
| US08973598B2 |
Priming valve device for water circuit of a beverage machine
A priming valve device for a beverage machine. The device includes a casing assembly including a water inlet, a water outlet, and a drain and venting portion for discharging water or air during priming and a valve assembly associated with the casing assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve member which is moveable to a closed position which closes the water outlet by elastic return when the pressure in the water inlet decreases under the elastic return pressure of the valve member. |
| US08973595B2 |
Battery-powered control valve and operation thereof
The present disclosure describes, among other things, a method. The method may include receiving, by a wireless communication device, an instruction to actuate a valve. The method may also include receiving a period of time. The method may also include applying energy from a battery to the valve for the period of time. |
| US08973591B2 |
Dishwasher with a motor driven filter backflush system and associated backflush method
A dishwasher has a wash chamber and sump disposed below the wash chamber, wherein wash fluid supplied to the wash chamber collects in the sump. A main pump is configured to drawn wash fluid from the sump and supply the wash fluid to the wash chamber, for example via spray arm assemblies. A filter is operably disposed to filter the wash fluid recirculated by the main pump. A backflush line has an outlet disposed downstream of the filter, and a backflush pump is configured to supply backflush fluid through the backflush line against the filter. A reservoir separate from the sump is provided and sized to hold a measured amount of fluid. The backflush pump draws the backflush fluid from the reservoir at a defined time. |
| US08973590B2 |
Holder for a concealed tooth cleaning implement
The present invention is a disguised holder or case that appears to be a lipstick application dispenser but has there within a dental scaler concealed in a faux lipstick tube. The device is designed to fool an observer into believing that the user is applying lipstick rather than picking at or removing food between teeth and therefore can be used by a person in public places. |
| US08973589B2 |
Embossing techniques
An embossing apparatus for applying an embossing pattern to a wrapper for a smoking article, the embossing apparatus configured so as to act to at least partially minimize the reduction, in at least one direction, in the tensile strength of the wrapper resulting from the application of said embossing pattern. |
| US08973588B2 |
Plasticizer composition for degradable polyester filter tow
A filter material adapted for use as a filter element of a smoking article is provided, the filter material being in the form of a fibrous tow that includes a plurality of filaments of a degradable polyester and a plasticizer composition applied thereto, the plasticizer composition and the degradable polyester having a Relative Energy Difference calculated using Hansen Solubility Parameters of less than about 1.3. Exemplary degradable polyesters include polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate adipate and copolymers or blends thereof. Exemplary plasticizer compositions include one or more of dimethylisosorbide, propylene carbonate, methylbenzyl alcohol, glycerol carbonate acetate, glycerol carbonate ethyl ether, and mixtures thereof, optionally in combination with triacetin. Filter elements and smoking articles, such as cigarettes, that contain the filter material are also provided. |
| US08973586B2 |
Disposable smoking pipe
A disposable smoking pipe may comprise a shaft having a mouthpiece end and a bowl end, a recess being formed in the bowl end, a mouth opening formed in the mouthpiece end, and a passage extending from the mouth opening to the recess to put the recess in fluid communication with the mouth opening. The shaft has an exterior surface with a generally cylindrical in shape between the mouthpiece end and the bowl end, and the shaft is formed from a corncob. |
| US08973583B2 |
Wound retractor
An incrementally adjustable wound retractor (500), having a first ring (504) with a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, a flexible second ring (502), having a lumen and a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, and a flexible sleeve (506), disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the first and second rings (502, 504), where the second ring may be rolled over itself to provide a sleeve with a radical retraction force sufficient to stretch the incision to the desired diameter. |
| US08973579B2 |
Self-contained modular deployment system
An apparatus for deploying oxygen masks that includes a pre-packaged modular system that does not require manual repacking of oxygen masks by aircraft technicians. The cartridge is for use with a manifold having a passageway in fluid communication with a source of breathable gas. The cartridge includes an end wall, a sidewall extending from the end wall and terminating at a distal end adjacent to an opening. A flexible member defines a chamber inside the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the passageway when the cartridge is coupled to the manifold. The flexible member has an outlet. A mask assembly is disposed inside the cartridge. The mask assembly has a hose coupled to the outlet of the flexible member. A cover is removably attached to the distal end of the at least one side wall. |
| US08973578B2 |
Apparatus for respiratory support and non-invasive detection of alveolar derecruitment for patients suffering from respiratory failure
Apparatus for respiratory support and non-invasive detection of alveolar recruitment/derecruitment provides air supply to a patient at a base pressure and an additional pressure which can be varied at a frequency of from 5 to 10 Hz and transducers applied to the conduits supplying air to the patient to send electric signals to a computer to obtain a variable positive end-expiratory pressure and a to obtain an end expiratory resistance at varying values of positive end expiratory pressure and defining the state of pulmonary recruitment as the value of the positive end-expiratory pressure which corresponds to a point of maximum expiratory resistance. |
| US08973576B2 |
Blower
A blower includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a stationary component provided to the housing, an impeller positioned between the inlet of the housing and the stationary component, and a motor adapted to drive the impeller. The housing and the stationary component cooperate to define a volute that directs air towards the outlet. The housing includes a separating wall constructed and arranged to divide the volute into a high speed airpath region and a low speed airpath region. |
| US08973564B1 |
Recreational throwing apparatus and corresponding objects therefor
A recreational throwing apparatus comprises, in the exemplary embodiment, a handle portion and an engagement portion engaged with the handle portion and configured for selective frictional engagement with an engagement aperture of an object. Additionally, the engagement portion provides a means for substantially preventing rotation of the object about the engagement portion when engaged therewith. Thus, with the object frictionally engaged with the engagement portion in a desired orientation, the apparatus may be swung in a desired direction, causing the object to disengage and travel in the desired direction. |
| US08973563B2 |
Internal combustion engine control apparatus
An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes means that detects an inlet temperature that is a temperature in a vicinity of an inlet of a purification catalyst disposed in an exhaust path and means that detects a turbine temperature that is a temperature in a vicinity of an exhaust turbine of a turbo-supercharger disposed in the exhaust path, and also includes means that controls a valve overlap that is a state in which an intake valve and an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine are open simultaneously. When the inlet temperature is lower than an inlet high temperature reference value, and the turbine temperature is higher than a turbine high temperature reference value that is higher than the inlet high temperature reference value, the valve overlap amount is increased so as to be greater than a turbine high temperature time reference amount. |
| US08973558B2 |
Method and system for fuel vapor control
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a fuel vapor recovery system including a fuel tank isolation valve coupled between a fuel tank and a canister. During selected conditions, the valve is modulated and pressure pulsations in the fuel vapor recovery system are monitored. Valve degradation is identified based on correlations between the valve modulation and the resultant pressure pulsations. |
| US08973554B2 |
Two solenoid valve relay two-stage fuel injection valve for diesel engines
The present invention provides a two solenoid valve relay with a two-phase fuel injection valve for a diesel engine, which is installed on a valve itself to enable injection at pressure greater than opening pressure, at which the fuel enters into a fuel valve, thereby improving fuel injection performance, and which is configured to enable adjustment of an injection timing at the opening pressure within the valve, wherein injection timings through a solenoid valve is provided for low load and high load, respectively, such that a distinct difference exists between the injection timings to open the nozzle hole of the nozzle in a differential manner at pressure higher than the pressure, at which the fuel enters to the fuel valve and internal spring opening pressure, thereby injecting fuel at high pressure even at low load to facilitate vaporization, and wherein, in case of a high speed operation or high load, low pressure/high pressure needle valves are opened at the same time to quickly inject fuel of a high volume through a plurality of nozzle holes, thereby improving combustion performance of an engine, and wherein a space between the needle valve and the nozzle hole which are closed after the injection is minimized because the nozzle hole is opened differentially and sequentially according to pressure, thereby avoiding waste of fuel and reducing harmful gas (smoke, Nox). |
| US08973553B2 |
Multi-sensing fuel injection system and method for making the same
A multi-sensing fuel injection system for internal combustion engines. The system includes a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the internal combustion chamber. The fuel injector is electrically insulated from an engine body of the internal combustion engine by way of a first electrically insulated member. A second electrically insulated member is provided for fixedly disposing the fuel injector within the combustion chamber. The electrical insulation of the fuel injector, in conjunction with the integration of an ion sensing circuit including a resistor and a power source for supplying voltage to the fuel injector, allows for a full measurement of the ionization current. |
| US08973552B2 |
Integral oil system
An oil management system includes an engine housing assembly which defines a first rotor volume and a second rotor volume. An oil cooler assembly arranged between the first rotor volume and the second rotor volume. |
| US08973550B2 |
Oil supply device for an internal combustion engine
An oil supply device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine feeds oil from a reservoir to a main oil duct of the crankcase. A filter switching device allows a selection from a plurality of oil filter units in the flow path of the oil to be selectively connected into the oil flow path, to set a proportion of the oil filter units to active and a proportion of the oil filter units to passive. A switching unit switches between the active and passive states and opens up a pressurized oil flow path to the active oil filter unit(s) and also a drainage flow path between the passive oil filter unit(s) and a drainage duct. An evacuation device drains or evacuates oil from the drainage duct which has accumulated at the passive oil filter unit(s). |
| US08973549B2 |
Radiator frame for a cooling module, and cooling module or cooling device for an internal combustion engine
A radiator frame (10) for a cooling module of an internal combustion engine, having a fastening element (100) for fastening the cooling module to/on/in a radiator of the internal combustion engine, the fastening element (100) having a retaining face (123), by which the cooling module (1) can be locked in a translational and optionally a rotational direction, and an individual fastening element (100) has at least two retaining faces (123) in such a way that said fastening element (100) can be seated on mating faces at/on/in the radiator. |
| US08973548B2 |
Piston upper part of an assembled or welded piston with extended cooling spaces
A liquid cooled piston of an internal combustion engine includes a piston lower part and piston upper part which has a combustion chamber recess. These piston components are supported via joining lands which are spaced apart radially and together form a dividing plane, and are joined together with a material-to-material fit. In order to receive piston rings, the piston upper part has a ring area and includes an annular cooling channel which extends into the piston lower part and is connected to an inner cooling space via connecting channels. The cooling channel is adjoined by recesses which are oriented in the direction of a piston head, are configured as a blind hole and widen conically starting from the cooling channel as far as a recess bottom. The recess bottom can be of a pronounced undulating enlarged surface or a finely undulating configuration. |
| US08973545B2 |
Valve-timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A valve-timing control apparatus includes a drive rotating member; a driven rotating member fixed to a cam shaft; an electric motor configured to rotate the driven rotating member relative to the drive rotating member; a motor housing connected integrally with the drive rotating member; a cover member located to face a front portion of the housing; a tubular motor output shaft provided inside the housing to be rotatable relative to the housing; and a plug member fixed to an inner circumferential surface of a tip portion of the tubular motor output shaft and configured to inhibit lubricating oil supplied into the tubular motor output shaft from leaking to an external. The plug member includes a core member formed in a bottomed tubular shape and formed with a through-hole in its bottom portion, and an elastic body coating at least the through-hole and an outer circumferential surface of the core member. |
| US08973543B2 |
Valve timing controller and assembling method of the same
A valve timing controller includes a reed valve interposed between an end surface of a vane rotor and an end surface of a driven shaft. The reed valve has a fixed part, a first reed part and a second reed part. Each of the first reed part and the second reed part has each lower limit pressure for allowing working oil to flow from a first supply passage to a second supply passage. The lower limit pressure of the first reed part is different from the lower limit pressure of the second reed part. |
| US08973542B2 |
Centering slot for internal combustion engine
A valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine. The valve timing control device includes a rotor connected to a camshaft and having a plurality of vanes. A stator is engaged with the rotor, and includes a plurality of webs. Pressure chambers are provided between each of the webs and vanes. A centering slot is provided on the stator and/or the rotor. A pressure medium control valve is disposed in one of the vanes of the rotor, and is configured to not only selectively lock and unlock the position of the rotor relative to the stator, but is also configured such that pressure medium in the pressure chambers is veritable through the centering slot and thereafter through the pressure medium control valve. |
| US08973541B2 |
Pressure pulse generator
A pressure pulse generator includes a cylinder (2), a body (9) connected to the cylinder (2), a first channel (15) extending from the cylinder (2) to a pressure sink LP, a pressure fluid circuit having a second channel (4) extending to the cylinder (2) from a pressure source HP, an actuator piston (3) being displaceable arranged, a controllable first valve body (5) arranged in the second channel (4) to open or close a pressure fluid flow in the second channel (4), an electro element (7) to control the valve body (5), a second valve body (8) arranged at or to the second channel (4) for opening or closing of the channel (4). The second valve body (8) is an element rigidly connected to the actuator piston (3). |
| US08973538B2 |
Inline engine having side-mounted heat exchangers
An engine is disclosed. The engine may have an engine block with a front end, a back end opposite the front end in a length direction, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top, and a bottom opposite the top. The engine may also have at least one cylinder head connected to the top of the engine block, and a first heat exchanger mounted at the first side of the engine block and configured to receive a flow of raw coolant and a flow of fresh coolant. The engine may further have a second heat exchanger mounted at the first side of the engine block, between the first heat exchanger and the top. The second heat exchanger may be configured to receive a flow of fresh coolant from the first heat exchanger and a flow of combustion air. |
| US08973537B2 |
Engine having thermostat and system thereof
An engine system may include a thermostat casing connected to a first, second, third, and fourth flow channels, a valve guide in which a main valve that opens and closes the first flow channel is formed at one side, a closing valve that opens and closes the second flow channel is formed at the other side, and a bypass valve is formed adjacent to the closing valve, an elastic member that elastically supports the valve guide to enable the main valve to block the first flow channel and the closing valve to block the second flow channel, a driver that moves the valve guide so that the main valve opens the first flow channel and the closing valve opens the second flow channel according to a temperature of a coolant, and a control unit that controls the temperature and a flow of the coolant by controlling the driver. |
| US08973535B2 |
Steam-generator temperature control and optimization
A control method for boiler outlet temperatures includes predictive control of SH and RH desuperheater systems. The control method also includes control and optimization of steam generation conditions, for a boiler system, such as burner tilt and intensity, flue-gas recirculation, boiler fouling, and other conditions for the boiler. The control method assures a proportional-valve control action in the desuperheater system, that affects the boiler system. |
| US08973534B2 |
Pop up tennis ball pet toy
The invention relates to a pet toy wherein a two-piece molded plastic encasement contains apertures that allow a ball or balls to protrude and extrude as a result of rotation of the top of the toy and fixed raised protrusions which naturally cause a ball to essentially “appear” and “disappear” and an animal must solve by attempting to retrieve the moving ball or balls. |
| US08973527B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus, plasma processing method, method for cleaning plasma processing apparatus and pressure control valve for plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing apparatus is provided with a first exhaust path which extends downward from an exhaust hole; a second exhaust path which is connected to a downstream end portion of the first exhaust path in the exhausting direction and extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first exhaust path extends, and whose cross-section, which orthogonally intersects with the exhausting direction, is horizontally long such that a widthwise length is greater than a vertical length in the cross-section; a third exhaust path which is connected to a downstream end portion of the second exhaust path in the exhausting direction and extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the second exhaust path extends; a pump which is connected to a downstream end portion of the third exhaust path in the exhausting direction and depressurizes an inside of a processing container; a pressure control valve which is provided in the second exhaust path, and comprises a pressure control valve plate which is capable of closing the second exhaust path and controls a pressure at upstream and downstream sides in the exhausting direction; and a shut-off valve which is provided in the third exhaust path and comprises a shut-off valve plate which opens and closes the third exhaust path. |
| US08973525B2 |
Thin film deposition apparatus
A thin film deposition apparatus includes: a deposition source that discharges a deposition material; a deposition source nozzle unit disposed at a side of the deposition source and including a plurality of deposition source nozzles arranged in a first direction; a patterning slit sheet disposed opposite to the deposition source nozzle unit and including a plurality of patterning slits arranged in the first direction; a position detection member that detects a relative position of the substrate to the patterning slit sheet; and an alignment control member that controls a relative position of the patterning slit sheet to the substrate by using the relative position of the substrate detected by the position detection member, wherein the thin film deposition apparatus and the substrate are separated from each other, and the thin film deposition apparatus and the substrate are moved relative to each other. |
| US08973522B2 |
Dual feeding spray device and use thereof
This invention is directed to a spray device for spraying two or more components. The two or more components are maintained separated in the spray device and are mixed post atomization. This invention is also directed to a gravity fed spray gun and a dual feeding device for spraying two or more components. |
| US08973506B2 |
Transporting system
The invention relates to an in-house track-bound transporting system with self-propelling carriages that move on rails. The system has stoppers to prevent said carriages from crossing over open rail ends or track borders, and the system is provided with stops. The stoppers collide with the stops in order to prevent a crossing-over, said stops having first and second fixed stop elements. The stoppers can be moved between a first crossing-over position and a second crossing-over position such that the first stop elements can be crossed over in the first crossing-over position of the stoppers, and the second stop elements can be crossed over in the second crossing-over position of the stoppers, wherein the first stop elements cannot be crossed over in the second crossing-over position of the stoppers, and the second stop elements cannot be crossed over in the first crossing-over position of the stoppers. |
| US08973504B2 |
Bullet including an air-guiding recess
The present invention relates to a bullet including an air-guiding recess, comprising: a head 20; and a tail 30 disposed behind the head 20, and including an odd number of air-guiding recesses 32 formed so as to be curved in the bottom and outer circumferential surfaces thereof. The air-guiding recess 32 is characterized by having a sloped bottom that increases in depth while progressing to the bottom surface of the tail 30. Accordingly, vortex is prevented from being generated at the rear side of the bullet, so as to significantly increase the effective range thereof and simultaneously improve accuracy when shooting same. |
| US08973502B2 |
Simultaneous nonelectric priming assembly and method
A priming assembly and a method are provided for coupling a plurality of detonators to at least one explosive through a plurality of transmission lines. The priming assembly may include a housing that receives the plurality of detonators and the plurality of transmission lines. In use, the plurality of transmission lines may communicate with the plurality of detonators within the housing to transmit explosive charges from the plurality of detonators to the at least one explosive. |
| US08973501B2 |
Printing layers of ceramic ink in substantially exact registration differential ink medium thermal expulsion
A method of partially imaging a substrate, for example glass, with a print pattern comprising layers of ceramic ink in substantially exact registration. The method relies on a mask ink layer defining the print pattern and differential thermal expulsion of ceramic ink medium during a heat fusing process between the areas outside the print pattern and within the print pattern. This results in pigment and glass frit forming a durable image material adhered to the substrate within the print pattern and non durable material outside the print pattern, enabling its removal outside the print pattern to leave the desired layers of ceramic ink within the print pattern in substantially exact registration. |
| US08973500B2 |
Method for controlling the amount of dampening solution in a printing unit of a printing press
A method for controlling an amount of dampening solution in a printing unit of a printing press using a computer and a measuring device, includes setting an amount of dampening solution in the printing unit based on data of a current print job, reducing the amount of dampening solution towards a smearing threshold with the computer, recording color measurement values with the measuring device in at least one full tone area with low area coverage and in at least one halftone area with high area coverage on a printing material of the current print job, and stopping the reduction of the amount of dampening solution with the computer when a dot gain of the halftone in areas with high area coverage increases significantly and a density of the full tone in areas with low area coverage increases significantly. |
| US08973499B2 |
Apparatus for operating a printing press with a plurality of operating zones, printing press and machine having the apparatus and method for safely operating a machine
An apparatus includes a mobile control device for safe operation of machines for processing printing materials. The machine is divided into a plurality of spatially delimited zones and the position of the control device can be detected in relation to the plurality of zones. It is possible to determine the zone in which the control device is located by using the position of the control device. Certain functions of the machine are enabled or disabled depending on the determined zone. A printing press having the device and a method for safely operating a machine for processing printing materials, are also provided. |
| US08973490B2 |
Cooking apparatus with detachable support and method for using the same
A cooking apparatus including a pan and a detachable support and a method for using the same to cook and flavor food are provided. The pan includes a bottom and a plurality of perforations arranged therein. The detachable cylinder includes a bottom surface, a generally circular sidewall extending upward from the bottom surface, and a plurality of fasteners formed on the bottom surface. The plurality of fasteners are sized and arranged to correspond with a sizing and arrangement of a subset of the perforations. The detachable cylinder is optionally secured to the pan by coupling the fasteners to the subset of perforations and by rotating the detachable cylinder in a first direction to move the fasteners into a locked position. The detachable cylinder is optionally disengaged from the pan by rotating the detachable cylinder in a second direction to move the fasteners into an unlocked position. |
| US08973487B2 |
Beverage machine
A beverage machine (1), in particular to a coffee machine, has a main flow path (3), that leads through a heating device (2), and a bypass flow path (4) that circumvents the heating device (2). The bypass flow path (4) branches off from the main flow path (3) upstream of the heating device (2). The main flow path (3) is connected to a water tank (5) at the input side and to a dispensing location (6) at the output side. A main flow pump (7) is arranged in the main flow path (3) between the water tank (5) and the heating device (2). Thus a bypass pump (8) is arranged in the bypass flow path (4) to provide a cost-efficient and accurate admixing of cold water. |
| US08973485B2 |
Modular manufacturing of beverage production machines
A modular method of manufacturing a set of beverage production machines with different beverage-related functions. The machines are designed for producing a beverage on the basis of pre-portioned ingredient packages. The method includes providing a plurality of identical core units having control circuitry and a beverage production module for housing an ingredient package and feeding a liquid to the interior of the ingredient package, providing a plurality of different base platforms that differ as to beverage production functions, and manufacturing a set of different beverage production machines by mounting respectively at least one of the core units on a top surface of one of the differing base platforms while also mounting water reservoirs on the base platforms. |
| US08973480B2 |
Missile canister
The invention covers a missile canister (10) for accommodating a missile (20) along a longitudinal axis (L) of the canister. The canister comprises a plurality of generally planar longitudinal wall portions (14) connected together to form a tubular vessel having a polygonal cross-section. The interconnecting portions (16) between wall sections (14) are generally flexible so that when a missile (20) is launched the bending moment at the interconnecting portions (16) generated by the increase of pressure in the vessel is substantially less than the bending moment (10) generated at the wall portions (14). The interconnecting portions (16) allow relative angular deflection between adjacent wall portions (14) at respective interconnecting portions (16) when said missile (20) is launched. |
| US08973476B2 |
Ratcheting torque wrench
A new ratchet wrench has a slide gear that is laterally enclosed within the head. Shoulders on the slide gear are curved and outwardly flanked by a single recess. The distance from the top of the shoulder to the base of the recess is no more than half the difference between the outside diameter and the root diameter of the teeth on the ratchet. Those teeth have essentially planar faces, top lands that traverse at least one quarter of the pitch, and bottom lands that extend continuously from the faces, have essentially constant radius, and traverse at least one quarter of the pitch. A pin projects out the back and enables a user to shift the wrench between clockwise and counterclockwise ratcheting. All cavities for the ratcheting assembly are recessed from the face in an arrangement that can be machined in a single set-up on a computer-controlled vertical mill. |
| US08973474B2 |
Screwdriver bit structure having auxiliary positioning function
A screwdriver bit structure having auxiliary positioning function includes a screwdriver bit of which one end is a circular cylinder and having a driving portion that is any one of a slotted type, a cross type and a polygon type. Another end of the circular cylinder is a fitting portion that is buckled to the screwdriver bar. The features of the invention are that the circular cylinder has a concave ring groove near the front of the driving portion. An auxiliary sheath is a long tube body that has a tube hole. The internal diameter of the tube hole is slightly larger than the periphery of the circular cylinder. A protruding ring is disposed to an internal wall of the tube hole. Accordingly, the tube hole of the auxiliary sheath can cover the periphery of the circular cylinder to allow the screwdriver bit to achieve the absolute positioning. |
| US08973471B2 |
Three-protuberance open-end wrench
A three-protuberance open-end wrench includes a head section. The head section has a first jaw and a second jaw. Two first protuberances are front and rear, side by side, formed on a holding face of the first jaw. A second protuberance is formed on a holding face of the second jaw. A throat is formed between the holding faces of the first and second jaws for receiving a threaded member therein. The protuberances of the first and second jaws serve to hold the threaded member. The protuberances form a non-isosceles triangle. |
| US08973470B1 |
Wrap-around wrench head
A wrench head includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a third jaw member. The first jaw member includes a first prong and a second prong. The second jaw member includes a third prong and a fourth prong. The second jaw member is pivotally coupled to the first jaw member at a first hinge. The third jaw member includes a fifth prong and a sixth prong. The third jaw member is pivotally coupled to the first jaw member at a second hinge. |
| US08973469B2 |
Rachet wrench
A ratchet wrench mainly includes a main body installed with a driving gear and a driven gear respectively having teeth formed spirally and engaged with each other. A confining chamber in the main body has an inner wall formed with ratchet teeth able to restrictively lock with ratchet teeth formed on the teeth of the driven gear. An interactive member is installed in an insert hole of the driven gear, with one end connected with the orientating member and another end positioned on the cover. A pressing piece is fixed on the interactive member, confined in the insert hole of the driven gear. A spring is located between the pressing piece and the driven gear. By switching the orientating member, the driving gear can easily change rotating direction, with a strong locking effect. |
| US08973462B2 |
Pedal assembly having a pedal arm release
The pedal assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle having a mounting bracket and a stationary cross member. The pedal assembly includes a swing bracket, a striker plate, and a pedal arm. The swing bracket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket about a pedal pivot axis. The striker plate is pivotally connected to the swing bracket. The pedal arm includes a primary pivotal connection to the swing bracket at a first pivot axis. The pedal arm includes a secondary connection to at least one of the striker plate and the swing bracket, to allow the entire pedal assembly to pivot about the pedal pivot axis upon depression of the pedal pad. During a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude, the cross member collides against and forcibly rotates the striker plate which disengages the secondary connection to allow the pedal arm to freely pivot about the first pivot axis. |
| US08973460B2 |
Linear actuator
A linear actuator suitable for mobilizing a load comprises: a leg linked to the load by one of its ends with a ball joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation; a plate that is mobile in translation along an axis belonging to a plane of a support of the actuator, said mobile plate being mechanically linked to the leg by its other end. The linear actuator also comprises at least one first elastic cable, fixed by one of its ends to the mobile plate, and fixed by its other end to the support, being engaged in a first pulley fixed to the support. The actuator can notably be used to mobilize a simulation platform mounted on a hexapod. |
| US08973459B2 |
Parallel link robot
A parallel link robot includes a first arm including a first joint portion; a second arm including a second joint portion swingably engaging with the first joint portion, the second arm being connected to the first arm to make up a link mechanism; and a biasing mechanism unit which biases the second joint portion toward the first joint portion. The biasing mechanism unit includes a connection member attached to the second arm and the connection member includes a locking portion configured to lock the connection member to the second arm. |
| US08973458B2 |
Gear unit
A gear unit having at least one shaft supported by a bearing in the gear unit housing, the spatial region of a bearing of a shaft situated in a cutout of the gear unit housing being limited at least partially towards the interior of the gear unit by a limiting device, in particular one that has a cutout for a shaft supported in the bearing, the lowest point of the cutout effecting a minimum oil level in the spatial region of the bearing. |
| US08973457B2 |
Gear mechanism and geared motor
A gear mechanism may include a first gear, a second gear engaged with the first gear, and a stopper part formed in the second gear. The stopper part may be engaged with the first gear to prevent turning of the first gear. The stopper part is a part where a tooth is not formed in an outer peripheral part of the second gear. The stopper part includes a protruded part protruded to an outer side in a radial direction with respect to a tooth tip circle of a tooth part of the second gear, and a recessed part recessed to an inner side in the radial direction with respect to the protruded part and adjacent to the protruded part in a circumferential direction and, when turning of the first gear is stopped, a tip end side of the tooth part of the first gear is abutted with the recessed part. |
| US08973455B2 |
Electric drill forward and reverse rotation automatic switching apparatus
An electric drill forward and reverse rotation automatic switching apparatus includes: a gearbox, a first-stage gear, a first-stage gear shaft, a second-stage gear, a second-stage gear shaft, a transition gear, a transition shaft, a third-stage gear, and an output shaft. The first-stage gear is fixed on the first-stage gear shaft. The second-stage gear is fixed on the second-stage gear shaft. The first-stage and second-stage gear shafts are disposed on the gearbox housing. The transition gear is disposed on the transition shaft which is fixed on the gearbox housing. The output shaft is disposed on the gearbox housing. The third-stage gear is sleeved on the output shaft and disposed on the gearbox housing. The first-stage gear shaft engages with the second-stage gear and the transition gear simultaneously. The transition gear engages with the third-stage gear. The second-stage gear shaft and the output shaft are on the same axis. |
| US08973454B2 |
Power transmitting apparatuses
A power transmitting apparatus with improved power transmitting efficiency and reduced lag time for shifting speeds can comprise a starting clutch mechanism configured to selectively transmit and cut off driving power of engine to wheels of a vehicle, a plurality of gear-stage clutch devices operatively positioned to transmit power between the starting clutch mechanism and the wheels, an input and an output of the plurality of gear-stage clutch devices configured at predetermined gear ratios, and a gear-stage selecting device configured to select any one of the gear-stage clutch devices in accordance with a vehicle operating condition and selectively set a gear ratio for power transmission from the engine to the wheels. The gear-stage clutch devices can comprise alternately arranged driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs, and hydraulic pistons. The hydraulic pistons can be configured to selectively engage or disengage the driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs such that driving power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels at a corresponding predetermined gear ratio when the driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs are engaged. |
| US08973452B2 |
Electric actuator
In a body of an electric actuator, dust collecting pipes are disposed as a pair along an axial direction of a hole portion of the body. The dust collecting pipes are connected respectively to negative pressure supply ports provided in an end block, and include plural first through fifth suction holes separated mutually along an axial direction of the dust collecting pipes. Distances between the first through fifth suction holes are formed so as to become smaller stepwise from one end side of the dust collection pipes, on the side of the negative pressure supply ports, to the other end side thereof. |
| US08973450B2 |
Attitude control device
The present invention controls rolling motion of a vehicle by eliminating the detrimental influence of gyro moment on the motion of the vehicle and actively using gyro moment generated by a flywheel constituting an energy storing device. The invention relates to an attitude control device for a vehicle mounted with a flywheel as an energy storage device, the flywheel being pivotally supported about first and second axes mutually orthogonal with each other, the flywheel being mounted on a body of the vehicle such that the first axis extends in a front-rear direction of the body, the attitude control device comprising locking means for locking movement of the flywheel about the first axis, wherein a rolling motion of the vehicle is controlled by locking the movement of the flywheel about the first axis using said locking means. |
| US08973449B2 |
Device for an endoscope washing machine
The invention relates to a test device for testing the inspection device of a washing machine for endoscopes, the inspection device including a connection that can be sealingly connected to an opening of an endoscope and feeding a fluid under pressure, said connector having a flow meter and/or a pressure transducer and the test device comprising at least one test chamber that can be sealingly connected to the connector by means of a test opening, wherein the test chamber is designed to be adjustable. |
| US08973448B2 |
Device for sampling working liquids of industrial machines
A device for sampling working liquids of industrial machines, comprising a container (2) having an aperture (3) and a closing member (4) engaged to said aperture (3) for fluid-tight sealing same aperture. The pressure inside said container (2) is below 101000 Pa. |
| US08973447B2 |
Thermophoretic sampler
A thermophoretic sampler includes a sample assembly into which a removable sample cartridge can be inserted. The sample cartridge holds a substrate that, upon insertion, is exposed to a sample chamber. Thermophoresis is induced in the sample chamber, causing nanoparticles to be deposited on the substrate. |
| US08973442B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor
An ultrasonic sensor, including a diaphragm cup, a housing and a decoupling element, the diaphragm cup and housing having a lateral surface, the decoupling element being at least partially made from an elastic material and having a continuous recess bounded by an inner wall of the decoupling element, the diaphragm cup and/or the housing being at least partially situated in the recess. To prevent sound being transmitted through a gap between the diaphragm cup and the decoupling element and/or between the housing and the decoupling element, the inner wall of the decoupling element is tautened by the contraction of elastic material at least around an area of the lateral surface of the diaphragm cup, circumferentially surrounding the diaphragm cup and/or the housing, and/or a lacquer layer applied on the lateral surface of the diaphragm cup, and/or the lateral surface of the housing so that the inner wall in this area rests flush against the lateral surface of the diaphragm cup and/or the lacquer layer applied on the lateral surface of the diaphragm cup and/or the lateral surface of the housing. |
| US08973440B2 |
Piezoelectric resonator element, piezoelectric resonator, piezoelectric oscillator, resonator gyro element, resonator gyro sensor, and electronic apparatus
A piezoelectric substrate includes vibrating arms, a base portion to which one end portion of each vibrating arm is connected, spindle portions formed in the other end portion of each vibrating arm, formed to have a large width, and having first groove portions formed therein, and second groove portions that are formed along the resonator center line of each vibrating arm, and flexure-torsional combined resonator is excited. A piezoelectric resonator element has flexural resonator of flexure-torsional combined resonator that is excited as its principal resonator and sets the cutting angle of the piezoelectric substrate, the widths and the depths of the first groove portion and the second groove portion, and the thickness of the vibrating arm such that the frequency-temperature characteristics represent third-order characteristics with respect to the temperature. |
| US08973436B2 |
Method and apparatus for sensing levels of insoluble fluids
A method and apparatus for sensing levels of insoluble fluids within a storage vessel utilizing an array of main capacitive sensors having differing geometries. The array of main capacitive sensors gives the ability to measure the levels of insoluble liquids in a vessel. Each of the main capacitive sensors include at least one pair of conductive plates capable of submersion in the at least three insoluble fluids, and the geometries of the pair of conductive plates differ and are distinct, such as in distance or in width, in each of the main capacitive sensors. In addition, the apparatus and method may include at least one reference sensor placed intermittently along the height of the vessel to provide input as to the permittivities of the insoluble fluids. |
| US08973434B2 |
Monitoring system for well casing
A system for use in a wellbore, comprises a length of casing, a structure that is configured to deform with deformation of the casing, said structure being affixed to the length of casing at substantially the same radial position along the length of casing, and a sensing device that is configured to measure deformation of the structure, said device comprising a plurality of sensors that are distributed with respect to at least one of the length of said structure and the periphery of said structure. |
| US08973433B2 |
Dual differential pressure multiphase flow meter
A flow meter and method of determining a parameter of a downhole multiphase fluid is disclosed. Multiphase fluid flows through a downhole tubular member having first section, second section and third section, wherein the second section is disposed between the first section and the third section and an inner diameter of the second section is greater than an inner diameter of the first section and an inner diameter of the third section. Absolute pressure measurements of the multiphase fluid are obtained at each of the first section, second section and third section using absolute pressure gauges. The parameter of the downhole multiphase fluid is determined from the absolute pressure measurements. |
| US08973431B2 |
Apparatus for diagnosing causes of NOx conversion efficiency degradation
An apparatus for on-board diagnoses of causes of NOX conversion efficiency degradation including: a diagnosis exhaust-pipe fuel injection control unit; a NOX purification device failure specifying unit; and an oxidizing catalyst device failure specifying unit. |
| US08973430B2 |
Diesel particulate filter system
A diesel particulate filter (“DPF”) system is provided with temperature sensors at an entrance side and an exit side of a diesel oxidation catalyst, an SV ratio determining device that determines an exhaust gas SV ratio by measuring flow rate of exhaust gas during the DPF forcible regeneration, and an injector diagnosing device including a heat-generation region determining unit to which detection values of the temperature sensors and a determination value of the SV ratio determining device are input to determine whether or not these values are within a theoretical heat-generation region, and an actual injection amount diagnosing unit that diagnoses a decrease amount in an actual injection amount of an exhaust pipe injector, when the detection values of the temperature sensors and the determination value of the SV ratio determining device are within the theoretical heat-generation region. |
| US08973429B2 |
System and method for detecting stochastic pre-ignition
A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration intensity module and a stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) detection module. The vibration intensity module determines a vibration intensity of an engine over a first engine cycle and a second engine cycle. The first engine cycle and the second engine cycle each correspond to a predetermined amount of crankshaft rotation. The SPI detection module selectively detects stochastic pre-ignition when the vibration intensity of the first engine cycle is less than a first threshold and the vibration intensity of the second engine cycle is greater than a second threshold. |
| US08973428B2 |
Method and device for measuring a part in a turbine engine
A device for measuring a part in a turbine engine, including a rod including a portion with a profile that corresponds to a profile of a portion of a calibration part of a same type as a part under examination, the portion of the rod further including visible marks for remote measurement arranged along its length. |
| US08973427B2 |
Apparatus and methods for the measurement of mass related parameters
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to resonating detection devices in which the sample flows through a conduit having a section in which the conduit is grouped or concentrated with the point of maximum movement. An exemplary device includes a primary conduit, at least one first flex section, at least one second flex section and at least one analysis section. The primary conduit cooperates with an energizer for inducing vibration and a programmed calculator for determining a resonant frequency to calculate a mass related parameter of the solution carried therein. |
| US08973422B2 |
Underfill detection system for a biosensor
A biosensor has an underfill detection system that determines whether a sample of a biological fluid is large enough for an analysis of one or more analytes. The underfill detection system applies an excitation signal to the sample, which generates an output signal in response to the excitation signal. The underfill detection system switches the amplitude of the excitation signal. The transition of the excitation signal to a different amplitude changes the output signal when the sample is not large enough for an accurate and/or precise analysis. The underfill detection system measures and compares the output signal with one or more underfill thresholds to determine whether an underfill condition exists. |
| US08973421B2 |
Competence diagnosis system for urea water temperature sensor
A competence diagnosis system for a urea water temperature sensor that can prevent a misdiagnosis when urea water is replenished in a urea tank. The system includes a urea water level condition determination unit that stores a urea water level, which is measured by a level sensor provided in the urea tank, in a storage unit immediately before key-off, obtains a level difference between the urea water level stored in the storage unit and a current urea water level after key-on, and allows a diagnosis by the competence diagnosis unit through temperature comparison when the level difference is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08973419B2 |
Rolling mill and method of zero adjustment of rolling mill
The present invention discovers that a rolling direction force occurs even with conventional adjustment by the kiss roll state, pinpoints that the rolling direction force does not affect the roll thrust force, and thereby enables more precise initial roll gap position adjustment of a rolling mill (rolling zero adjustment).That is, this is based on the fact that high precision rolling zero adjustment becomes possible without being affected by any thrust force acting between rolls if performing differential asymmetrical roll gap zero point adjustment of the work side and the drive side so that the difference of the rolling direction forces acting on the roll chocks of the work side and the drive side of the work roll at the work side and the drive side (in practice, within ±5% of the sum of the rolling direction forces at the work side and the drive side). |
| US08973418B2 |
Mechanical combination lock
The present application includes a combination lock system having gears, cams, and an interference system. In one embodiment, the angular position of the cams is adjusted by a user interface through operation of the gears. When the cams are in a predetermined position, the interference system is movable with respect to the cams and the system is unlocked. The user interface may be a pushbutton keypad. |
| US08973416B2 |
Lock
A lock includes a bolt having latching and unlatching positions, and a locking component having a locking position in which the bolt is prevented from moving from the latching position to the unlatching position, and an unlocking position in which the locking component does not prevent the bolt from moving. A lock cylinder includes a cam having unlocking and deadlocking positions. A deadlocking component has a disengaging position in which the deadlocking component does not prevent the locking component from moving from its locking position to its unlocking position; and when the locking component is in its locking position, an engaging position in which the deadlocking component prevents the locking component from moving. When the cam is in its unlocking position, the locking component is in its unlocking position and a deadlocking component is in its disengaging position, and conversely when the cylinder cam is in its deadlocking position. |
| US08973414B2 |
Laundry treating apparatus
A laundry treating apparatus and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes a laundry receiving unit for receiving laundry, a steam generator for generating steam to be supplied to the laundry receiving unit, a water supply unit for supplying water to the steam generator, a water softening member for softening water to be supplied to the steam generator, and a control unit for controlling the replacement or regeneration time of the water softening member to be displayed on a display unit. According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent and/or remove wrinkles or rumples on laundry. Furthermore, it is possible to replace or regenerate a water softening member at an appropriate point of time, thereby increasing convenience in use. |
| US08973411B2 |
Knit sock with targeted compression zone
A knit sock includes a foot portion having an upper instep area and a lower sole area integrally knit of a body yarn in circumferential courses and axial wales. The lower sole area defines inner and outer arch regions. The inner arch region incorporates a targeted compression zone adapted to reside generally adjacent an inner arch of a wearer's foot. The compression zone includes axially extending compression ridges of variable length spaced apart from a top of the compression zone to a bottom of the compression zone. When the sock is worn, a compression force applied by the foot portion within the targeted compression zone is greater than the compression force in directly adjacent areas of said foot portion. |
| US08973410B1 |
Method of knitting a gusseted tongue for a knitted component
A knitted component including a knit element and a gusseted tongue is incorporated into an upper of an article of footwear. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The knit element and the gusseted tongue are formed together as a knitted component during a knitting process as a one-piece element. The gusseted tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and is joined with the knit element in an instep area of the upper. The knitting process includes steps of forming portions of the knitted component, transferring portions of the knitted component to opposite needle beds, shifting needle beds along a lateral direction to cause portions to overlap, and joining the overlapped portions by knitting to form the gusseted tongue. |
| US08973405B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for reducing foaming downstream of a submerged combustion melter producing molten glass
Apparatus including a flow channel defined by a floor, roof, and sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof. One or more combustion burners is positioned in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and transfer heat to a molten mass of glass containing bubbles having a bubble atmosphere flowing through the flow channel. The burners contribute to formation of a channel atmosphere above the molten glass. Apparatus includes a device, at least a portion of which is positionable under a level of the molten glass in the flow channel, configured to emit a composition into the molten glass under the level to intimately contact the composition with the molten glass and bubbles therein. The composition diffuses into the bubbles to form modified atmosphere bubbles sufficiently different from the channel atmosphere to increase diffusion of a species in the channel atmosphere into the modified atmosphere bubbles. |
| US08973401B2 |
Coated, antimicrobial, chemically strengthened glass and method of making
The disclosure is directed to a chemically strengthened glass having antimicrobial properties and to a method of making such glass. In particular, the disclosure is directed to a chemically strengthened glass with antimicrobial properties and with a low surface energy coating on the glass that does not interfere with the antimicrobial properties of the glass. The antimicrobial has an Ag ion concentration on the surface in the range of greater than zero to 0.047 μg/cm2. The glass has particular applications as antimicrobial shelving, table tops and other applications in hospitals, laboratories and other institutions handling biological substances, where color in the glass is not a consideration. |
| US08973395B2 |
Cold-storage heat exchanger
A cold storage heat exchanger includes multiple refrigerant tubes, a cold storage container that is bonded to the refrigerant tube and defines a compartment receiving a cold storage material, and an inner fin arranged inside of the cold storage container. The cold storage container has a portion that stops and fixes the inner fin, and the cold storage container has a space where air is sealed. The space of the cold storage container is located at an upper side of the member that stops and fixes the inner fin. Accordingly, a stress applied to the cold storage container in the expansion of the cold storage material can be reduced. |
| US08973393B2 |
System and method for improved cooling efficiency of an aircraft during both ground and flight operation
An aircraft system for improved cooling efficiency comprises at least one air conditioning pack, coupled to an aircraft, having at least one air compression device powered by at least one power source and having an air compression device inlet. The system further comprises at least one air flow path for redirecting a first portion of a first volume of aircraft interior outflow air from an aircraft interior to the air compression device inlet. The air flow path includes a shutoff valve to enable the air flow path during ground operation of the aircraft and to disable the air flow path for flight operation of the aircraft. The air compression inlet mixes the first volume of aircraft interior outflow air with a second volume of aircraft exterior inflow air to form an air mixture. The air conditioning pack conditions and circulates the air mixture into the aircraft interior. |
| US08973392B2 |
Refrigerator
A locking apparatus of an ice bucket of a refrigerator capable of simplifying the structure of the ice bucket while preventing the cool air of the ice making compartment from leaking and the ice bucket from being shaken, the refrigerator including a locking apparatus accommodating portion formed at a lower portion of the ice making compartment, a lever hingedly coupled to the locking apparatus accommodating portion, and an elastic member configured to elastically bias the lever, wherein the lever is configured to interfere with a locking projection of the ice bucket, and a button portion configured to adjust the position of the locking protrusion by rotating the lever, wherein a gasket mounting portion formed around an opening portion of the ice making compartment is formed to be extended to the inner side of the ice making compartment to make contact with the gasket mounting portion in a two-area contact manner. |
| US08973389B2 |
Mobile cooler with ice maker
A mobile cooler having an ice maker includes: a main body having first and second spaces which are thermally blocked; a cooling device positioned at a lower portion of the main body and providing cooling air to the first and second spaces; a plurality of shelves installed in the first space; an ice tray installed in the second space; an ice bank positioned on a lower surface of the ice tray and detachably mounted in the main body; and a cover that covers an opening in which the ice bank is inserted. |
| US08973388B2 |
Duct type air conditioner
Even in the case of drop accident occurring due to a certain cause during transport or the like, it is intended by the present invention that any deformation of a motor support or a fan panel will not occur. A fan mechanism includes fan units having fan panels disposed vertically, motor supports mounted inwardly of said fan panels, motors mounted on said motor supports so that output shafts of the motors are parallel to the surfaces of the fan panels, fans positioned inwardly of said fan panels and driven by the motors, and spacers mounted to the motor supports so as to be positioned between the motor supports and a top plate or a bottom plate that serves as a bottom during conveyance. |
| US08973387B2 |
Vehicular air conditioning system
A vehicular air conditioning system capable of suppressing the power consumption of a refrigerating cycle is disclosed. The vehicular air conditioning system comprises a refrigerating cycle circuit comprising a compressor, an outside heat exchanger and an inside air conditioning heat exchanger annularly connected in order, and a device cooling circuit comprising a heating unit, an inside cooling heat exchanger, an intermediate heat exchanger and a pump being annularly connected, the intermediate heat exchanger being constructed such that one end of a piping of the cooling medium for air conditioning is connected to a liquid piping, the liquid piping providing connection between the outside heat exchanger and the inside air conditioning heat exchanger, and an opposite end of the piping of the cooling medium for air conditioning is connected to a suction port of the compressor. |
| US08973383B2 |
Humidity control apparatus, environment test apparatus, and temperature and humidity control apparatus
A humidity control apparatus has a humidity control apparatus having a humidifying part for humidifying air and a dehumidifying part for dehumidifying to control humidity of a humidity control space. The dehumidifying part has: a main body part that is configured to encapsulate a working fluid therein and to cause a heat-pipe phenomenon. A heat-insulating part fits externally to the main body part and a heat absorption part absorbs heat from a base side part located on one side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part and thereby condenses the working fluid that evaporated into gas in a front side part located on the other side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part. The dehumidifying part dehumidifies the air by means of the front side part of the main body part where the working fluid in liquid form evaporates. |
| US08973381B2 |
Vehicle air conditioning system
A vehicle air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor to manage operation of the compressor during a cooling operation that provides temperature reduction of air flowing across heat transferring portions of the evaporator. The controller further manages operation of the compressor in a moisture releasing operation in response to termination of the cooling operation. The moisture releasing operation includes, for example, finite operation of the compressor that retards release of moisture from the heat transferring portions of the evaporator. |
| US08973380B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting refrigerant leaks in cooling systems
A method of detecting loss of refrigerant within a cooling system of the type having a condenser, a refrigerant receiver in fluid communication with the condenser, a sensor configured to detect a level of refrigerant within the receiver, an evaporator in fluid communication with the receiver, and a pump or compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, includes establishing a baseline measurement of refrigerant mass contained in the receiver with the sensor during certain power loads applied to the cooling system, monitoring a mass of refrigerant in the receiver with the sensor at a certain power load applied to the cooling system, and identifying whether the monitored mass of refrigerant is less than the baseline measurement of refrigerant mass over a predetermined period of time. Systems for detecting loss of refrigerant are further disclosed. |
| US08973376B2 |
Interface between a combustor basket and a transition of a gas turbine engine
An interface (10) is provided between a combustor basket (12) and a transition (14) of a gas turbine engine (16). The interface (10) includes a tongue (18) formed in one of the combustor basket (12) and the transition (14), and a groove (20) formed in another of the combustor basket (12) and the transition (14). The tongue (18) is received within the groove (20) to define the interface (10). A sealing arrangement is also provided and includes an annular combustion outlet (12′″) and an annular transition inlet (14′″), with a labyrinth seal (72′″) positioned between an end (68′″) of the annular combustion outlet and an end (70′″) of the annular transition inlet to form a labyrinth path (34′″) there between. An inner diameter (24′″) of the annular combustion outlet (12′″) is axially aligned with an inner diameter (22′″) of the annular transition outlet (14′″). |
| US08973373B2 |
Active clearance control system and method for gas turbine
A method to provide clearance control for a gas turbine having a multi-stage compressor and a turbine having turbine buckets rotating within a turbine shell, the method includes: selecting a first compressor stage from which to extract compressed air; ducting the compressed air from the first compressor stage to the turbine shell; passing the compressed air from the first compressor stage to thermally contract the turbine shell; selecting a second compressor stage from which to extract compressed air and deselecting the first compressor stage; ducting the compressed air from the second compressor stage to the turbine shell, and passing the compressed air from the second compressor stage to thermal expand the turbine shell. |
| US08973368B2 |
Mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine
A mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided, including a main mixer with fuel injection holes located between at least one radial swirler and at least one axial swirler, wherein the fuel injected into the main mixer is atomized and dispersed by the air flowing through the radial swirler and the axial swirler. |
| US08973364B2 |
Gas turbine engine with noise attenuating variable area fan nozzle
A high-bypass gas turbine engine includes a variable area fan nozzle with an acoustic system having an acoustic impedance. |
| US08973359B2 |
Floating wave powered generator
A wave powered generating device includes a floating vessel with onboard pendulum mechanism, an anchor with a mooring chain connected with the vessel, a lever arm, an upstanding post having a tip connected with the lever arm and a foot coupled with a universal coupler, a pendulum moveably mounted on the lever arm being erected above a platform deck of the vessel by the upstanding post, a gear mechanism incorporating with a centrifugal flywheel coupled with the universal coupler via a transmission mechanism for delivery of momentum of the pendulum, and a power generating mechanism driven by the gear mechanism. Under undulating waves, the pendulum, being mounted on the lever arm, sways laterally around an axis of the upstanding post, causing the upstanding post to rotate hence delivering the momentum of the pendulum to drive the power generating mechanism via a transmission shaft and the gear mechanism. |
| US08973347B2 |
Pilot burner of a gas turbine engine, combustor, and gas turbine engine
A pilot burner of a gas turbine engine is provided. The pilot burner includes a front body with an axial expansion along a center axis of the pilot burner, the center axis having an axial direction towards a burning zone of the gas turbine engine. The front body includes a pilot burner face which is directed to the burning zone. A material is deposited in the front body progressing in the axial direction to form a high temperature resilient body in the axial direction of the front body and to form a high temperature resilient face of the pilot burner face. |
| US08973344B2 |
Automatic driveshaft coupler for auto header hookup
An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104). |
| US08973341B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for producing containers
The apparatus includes an operating unit, which can be a welding unit for welding a closing film to an edge zone of a containing element or a separating unit for separating containing elements from portions of sheet material. The apparatus includes a control unit programmed to enable the operating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containing elements or discrete groups of containing elements. |
| US08973339B2 |
Method for operating a brake system and a round baler with a brake system
A method for controlling a braking mechanism for a supply roll with wrapping material for a round baler that passes through a first phase wherein, after detection of sufficient crop material in the baling chamber, wrapping material is brought up to the baling chamber and introduced into the baling chamber. The braking mechanism provides a higher braking force during the wrapping operation than the first phase. The wrapping operation is started on detection of movement in the wrapping material. This prevents the braking mechanism from being activated prematurely and leaves sufficient time to deactivate the braking mechanism after the wrapping operation. |
| US08973337B2 |
Modular sheet metal building kit
A modular construction kit for erecting a building is provided. The kit comprises a plurality of base track sections, a plurality of roof receiving tracks, and a plurality of wall panels. The base track is a U-shaped channel that extends around the base of the building and maintains the lower edges of the wall panels in a linear alignment. Wall panels include male, female, and hybrid (male/female) varieties, each variety having a different tongue and groove configuration on laterally opposing ends of the panel. Each wall panel has an outer skin and an inner skin separated by two divider walls and a structural bridge, which provide structural support across two axes. The roof receiving track is affixed to the upper edges of the wall panels to provide a supporting shelf for a roof structure. Thus, the invention is an easy to assemble kit for rapidly erecting buildings. |
| US08973334B2 |
System and methods for thermal isolation of components used
An isolator system for preventing the conduction of thermal energy between the metal components of a wall assembly comprising isolator plates adapted to be placed between the metal components of a wall assembly and made of an insulating material. The isolator plates include at least one opening for receiving a fastener, said opening has an annular shoulder adapted to extend into an opening for receiving said fastener in a metal component of a wall assembly. Also disclosed herein is a thermal isolation washer and a girt for use with polymer panel construction. |
| US08973330B2 |
Expansion bracket, system, and method
An expansion bracket absorbs movement of a wall stud to prevent damage to a wall covering attached to the wall stud. The expansion bracket can include a main body having a main body flange, formed of a deformable material, and having a wall stud attachment end configured to attach to the wall stud via a wall stud attachment element. The main body can also have a furring attachment element configured to attach a furring to the main body. When the main body is attached to the wall stud and the furring, and the wall covering is attached to the furring via a wall covering attachment element, the main body flange is configured to absorb, via deformation, at least a portion of the movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud. |
| US08973328B2 |
Floor tile expansion joint
A floor tile expansion joint accommodates differential thermal expansion or contraction of modular floor tiles used in flooring applications. One or more rows of floor tile expansion joints may be connected to modular floor tiles for various floor tile applications. |
| US08973326B2 |
Modular floor system
A modular fitted flooring system includes a plurality of bearing plates (2) and a plurality of panel elements (3) designed to be hooked onto the bearing plates (2), the bearing plates including a plurality of supporting elements (7), a panel hooking element (13), and elements (14) for bearing the load of the panel elements, and being complete with jointing elements (20, 21) for connecting one bearing plate (2) to the next, the panel hooking element (13) consisting of a plurality of teeth designed to engage in grooves (17) provided on at least two edges of the panel element (3), the teeth (13) being arranged on the plate so as to create a gap between one panel element and the next in a direction (Y) crosswise to the direction of installation (X) of the panel elements. |
| US08973320B2 |
Post and panel construction
An assembly for integrating an elongate structural member such as a post or a beam, and one or more panels is provided. The elongate structural member includes a notch defined within the elongate structural member. The notch includes a base surface and two side surfaces at opposite ends of the base surface. At least one of the side surfaces is tiered, with the tiered side surface including an inner portion and an outer portion that are substantially parallel to each other. The inner portion is substantially perpendicular and is adjacent to the base surface. The outer portion is offset from the inner portion and is positioned further away from the other side surface compared to the inner portion. A first panel is positioned within the notch and in contact with at least the base surface and the inner portion of the tiered surface. A second panel may also be positioned within the notch. |
| US08973313B2 |
Building envelope member with internal water reservoir
Buildings which include rudimentary plumbing can be transported as a set of disassembled modular parts and then assembled on site. The assembled building includes a water reservoir in the roof and a sewage reservoir in the base, so as to enable gravity-based water supply and sewage disposal in the absence of traditional plumbing and sewage infrastructure. Building envelope elements having internal reservoirs, and methods for constructing such building envelope elements are also described. |
| US08973312B2 |
Self-centering damper
A self-centering damper has an elongated damping body and at least one returning device. The elongated damping body has at least one first wing plate and a supporting element connected to and extending from the first wing plate. The at least one returning device is connected to the damping body and has two holding rib plates respectively connected to the end segments of the damping body, a supporting rib plate securely connected to the damping body between the holding rib plates and at least one pre-stressed stay wire extending through the supporting rib plate and connected the holding rib plates in a tension condition. |
| US08973311B1 |
Mobile elevated building
A mobile elevated building assembly is configured to be compactly transportable in a transportation mode yet readily reconfigured to an installed mode after set-up with a building held many meters off of the ground by a tower supported off of the ground by outriggers. A flat-bed trailer is used to transport the assembly while in its transportation mode, and the trailer can optionally remain attached to the bottom of the tower in the installed mode. A foldable stairway and top-of-stairs platform can form a subassembly that can be pivotally attached where they connect to one-another, and this connection can be supported by a horizontal upper member of the tower. The platform can include one of at least two horizontal support members for holding the building on top of the tower. Methods are provided for reconfiguring the assembly and subassemblies between their transportation mode and their installed mode. |
| US08973308B1 |
Folding swivel seat and table
A seating system with a platform and a table mounted on the platform. Four folding swivel seats are mounted and arranged in an arcuate arrangement around the table wherein each folding swivel seat has a seat portion, a back and a center of the seat portion. Each folding swivel seat is a seat distance wherein the seat distance is at least 8 inches to no more than 24 inches. Adjacent folding swivel seats are separated by a distance from the center of adjacent folding swivel seats. Two folding swivel seats are separated from a projection of a table flat portion. |
| US08973306B2 |
Two-stage linked sliding door of machine tool
A two-stage linked sliding door of a machine tool is provided with a first door half and a second door half movable through different strokes. Pulleys are disposed individually at two opposite end portions of the second door half, and a wire is stretched between the pulleys. The opposite end portions of the wire are secured to the door frame or the first door half by two wire tensioning springs, individually, such that the opposite end portions face each other. These two springs are juxtaposed and offset with each other so that their respective central axes do not line on the same axis. |
| US08973305B2 |
Mitered shutter
A shutter panel and an installation including a shutter panel in an architectural opening. The shutter panel has mitered corners without exposed end grain. The shutter panel is connected directly to structures defining the architectural opening. |
| US08973303B2 |
Ambient light control
The invention relates to a control device (10) for use in an ambient light control system (20) for controlling ambient light entering a space (1) through an opening (2). An ambient light prediction unit (11) provides ambient light prediction values, which are predictions of an ambient light property at the opening (2). An ambient light adjusting unit (12) provides, at different ambient light adjusting time points, an ambient light adjusting signal depending on the ambient light prediction values for an upcoming ambient light prediction time period. The ambient light adjusting signal is adapted for use by an ambient light modifying element (22) for modifying the entering of ambient light into the space (1) through the opening (2). By taking the predicted ambient light conditions at the opening (2) into account, necessary adjustments can be made at temporally spaced ambient light adjusting time points, resulting in fewer disturbances of the users. |
| US08973301B2 |
Environment-friendly planting device with automatic percolation and irrigation of hermetic liquid
An environment-friendly planting device with automatic percolation and irrigation of hermetic liquid includes a planting container and draining and irrigating pipes. An inner part of the planting container is orderly provided with a first layer having ceramic aggregates and sand, a second layer having medical stones, sand and perlites, and an organic substrate layer from bottom to top. The first layer and the second layer are for storing water. The first layer has a first draining and irrigating pipe having a U-shaped inner cavity. The second layer has a second draining and irrigating pipe having a U-shaped inner cavity as a snorkel. The first draining and irrigating pipe and the second draining and irrigating pipe respectively have a first end connected to a vertical water inlet pipe, and a second end sealed. A bottom of the water inlet pipe is sealed. The organic substrate layer is for cultivating plants therein. |
| US08973298B2 |
Bladed fishing lure assembly
A fishing lure assembly is disclosed which comprises a blade free to oscillate, yaw and produce a trailing wake as the fishing lure assembly is displaced through water. A weight is affixed to the fishing lure assembly, but inferiorly disposed such that the blade is free to oscillate and have a yaw divergence which is substantially unaffected by inertia of the weight. The fishing lure may be variably constructed to include one or more hooks and soft bait and hard bait bodies which are disposed to follow behind in the trailing wake. In one embodiment, a float is added to the lure assembly. In another embodiment, a combination of a frame and blade is disclosed, the blade being flexible and resilient and affixed to the frame such that the blade is securably affixed but replaceable in a fishing environment. |
| US08973295B2 |
Trigger mechanism
This invention includes an adaptive mechanism for activating a firearm's trigger comprising a bite-activated trigger assembly, a cable assembly, an actuator assembly, lanyard, and a storage assembly. When properly assembled, the actuator is mated adjacent to the firearm's trigger in such a manner that the actuator is not exerting a force significant enough to activate the firearm's trigger. One end of the cable assembly is attached to a bite trigger assembly. The bite trigger assembly includes two bite plates that are pivotally joined together near the centerline of the bite plates. The bite trigger assembly also includes a feature to mount with the lanyard assembly. Finally the bite-activated trigger assembly includes a storage assembly that is used to stow the bite trigger assembly when the firearm is not in use. |
| US08973291B2 |
Motorized foam greeting card
A greeting card which contains a foam body covered by a front and rear surface material and one or more cavities contained therein for accommodating components of a sound and motor module. The greeting card contains a mobile object, which in a preferred embodiment includes a bundle of individual fiber strands. The bundle of fiber strands are attached to the motor module such that activation of the motor module cause the bundle of fiber strands to separate and spin or twirl. The bundle of fibers strands are attached to the motor through an opening in an upper perimeter surface of the foam body. The bundle of fibers together with the printed front and back surface material combine to resemble a character having a tuft of hair which spins upon activation of the motor module. The greeting card also contains a sound module which plays back audio upon activation. |
| US08973288B2 |
Footwear incorporating angled tensile strand elements
An article of footwear may include various first strands and second strands. The cutting and second strands may extend from an area proximal to lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to the sole structure. The first strands may have a substantially vertical orientation and the second strands may have a rearwardly-angled orientation. The first strands may be located in a midfoot region of the footwear and the second strands may be located in both the midfoot region and a heel region of the footwear. Angles between the first strands and the second strands may be at least 40 degrees. Additionally, the second strands may have at least fifty percent greater tensile strength than the first strands. |
| US08973287B2 |
Shoe midsole and footwear
A shoe midsole has a sole plate, a plurality of blades integrally standing on the sole plate, a cover bonded to the circumference of the sole plate, and a fluid sealed between the sole plate and the cover. A first concave part in a shape equivalent to a sole of a foot is formed on the surface of the sole plate, on which the plurality of blades stand, wherein the plurality of blades are accommodated within the first concave part. The plurality of blades are aligned at a predetermined interval in a direction nearly orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sole plate, and some of the plurality of blades are tilted toward the toe. |
| US08973285B2 |
Grain-drying facilities
The present invention provides grain-drying facilities which can effectively use the heat energy of a biomass combustion hot-air that has been generated in a biomass combustion furnace.The grain-drying facilities adopt technical means of providing the grain-drying facilities 1 which include: a biomass combustion furnace 3 provided with a heat exchanger 24 for generating hot air on the basis of a combustion heat of a biomass fuel and an outside air which has been taken in from the outside; and a circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 provided with a grain-drying portion 7 to which the hot air that has been generated in the biomass combustion furnace 3 is supplied through a pipe 15 for supplying the hot air, wherein the above described circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 has a grain-heating portion 6 which has a plurality of heating pipes 6a for heating the grains in the above described grain storing/circulating tank 5, and also has an air-exhaust fan 14 that is communicated with an exhaust side opening 6c that is located in one end side of each of the heating pipes 6a, and has a pipe 11 for supplying an exhaust hot-air, which communicates the exhaust hot-air sent from the above described biomass combustion furnace 3 with a supply side opening 6b that is located in the other end side of the heating pipe 6a. |
| US08973284B2 |
Hair dryer
A hair dryer apparatus and method for use in hair care. The apparatus preferably includes a nozzle, a housing, an ion generator disposed within the housing, and an ozone generator disposed within the housing. Further, disposed within the apparatus may be a circuit board, which is in electronic communication with at least three control buttons, a microprocessor, a liquid crystal display, and a voltage regulator. |
| US08973279B2 |
Coordinate measuring machine with support beam having springs
A coordinate measuring machine has 1) an anchor beam with a top end and a bottom end, 2) at least one support beam having a top end and a bottom end, and 3) a cross-beam supported on the top ends of both the anchor beam and the at least one support beam. In addition, the coordinate measuring machine also has 4) a base supporting the bottom ends of the anchor beam and the at least one support beam. At least one of the at least one support beams has a first spring and a second spring. In preferred embodiments, the first spring is adapted to allow movement and is spaced from the second spring in a direction that is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cross-beam. |
| US08973277B2 |
Multi-axis bow sight
A bow sight that decouples the shooter's bow cant from elevation adjustments. A segmented support assembly includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion is configured to attach to the bow. The distal portion is rotatably attached to the proximal portion and configured to rotate around a Y-axis relative to the proximal portion. A micro-adjust controls the rotational position around the Y-axis of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion. An elevation assembly is attached to the distal portion. A bezel assembly is attached to the elevation assembly. The elevation adjustment moves the bezel assembly along a substantially vertical axis while the bow is held at a bow cant greater than zero. The micro-adjust decouples the shooter's bow cant from operation of the elevation assembly. A windage assembly is optionally located between the elevation assembly and the distal portion. |
| US08973275B1 |
Portable saw, in particular a portable band saw
Portable saw includes a housing and a continuous saw blade provided in the housing. A throat in housing is shaped and sized for exposing a portion of a continuous saw blade so saw blade contacts and cuts an object brought into contact with the saw blade, in use. A power unit detachably attached to housing includes a drive for driving the saw blade. A side handle is provided on housing, and an end handle is detachably attached to the housing. The housing, saw blade, power unit, and handle are sized so user can carry and use the portable saw. Housing includes two halves detachably attached to each other so the user can take them off and replace them with a different housing having different handles and a different throat to provide a different throat having a different size and shape than the throat of the removed housing. |
| US08973273B2 |
Foldable chisel
A chisel includes a blade and a first handle and second handle that are each rotatably coupled to the blade. The first handle forms a first channel adapted to receive a first side of the blade and the second handle forms a second channel adapted to receive a second side of the blade opposite the first side. The two handles are rotatable between an open and a closed position. In some cases, the two handles comprise a rotatable coupling such that the first handle and the second handle rotate with one another in opposite directions between the closed and open positions. The chisel further can have an over-center structure configured to impede rotation of the two handles from the closed toward the open position. In some cases, the two handles each form an interlocking component adapted to releasably couple the two handles when they are rotated to the open position. |
| US08973272B2 |
Razor cartridge
The present invention relates to a razor cartridge capable of simultaneously shaving flat and sharply curved surfaces, said razor cartridge comprising: a blade housing, on which a plurality of razor blades are formed; and an upper housing coupled to the blade housing and defining a rectangular opening for outwardly exposing the edges of the razor blades to enable the latter to contact the skin, wherein the blade housing includes a first razor blade mounting portion and a second razor blade mounting portion that define a plurality of slots to which the razor blades are coupled, and a hinge portion connects the first razor blade mounting portion and the second razor blade mounting portion. |
| US08973270B2 |
Method for producing panels and panel produced according to the method
The invention relates to a method for producing floor panels, characterized by the following steps: a) scattering glued wood fibers or wood chips to form a wood material cake, b) pressing the wood material cake at elevated temperature to form a large-format substrate plate, which is provided press-finished and has a press skin that arose during the production of the substrate plate at least on the top of the substrate plate, c) applying a base coat made of a liquid melamine-based resin to the upper face of the substrate plate, wherein the resin at least partially diffuses into the top surface layer of the substrate plate and at least partially penetrates and improves the region of the press skin, d) drying the base coat, e) applying a primer to the base coat, f) drying the primer, g) applying at least one water-based paint enriched with pigments in order to produce a decoration, i) applying a seal made of at least one melamine-based resin enriched with wear-resistant particles and cellulose fibers, j) drying the seal, k) applying a base coast made of a liquid melamine-based resin to the lower face of the substrate plate, wherein the resin at least partially diffuses into the lower surface layer of the substrate plate, l) drying the base coat, m) applying a counteracting layer to the lower face of the substrate plate, n) pressing the layer structure under the effect of pressure and temperature, o) dividing the substrate plate into panels of the desired width and length, and p) attaching connecting means and locking elements to opposite side edges in order to connect and lock a plurality of panels without glue to form a floatingly laid floor composite. |
| US08973265B2 |
Installation method of water-chamber working apparatus
According to an installation method of a water-chamber working apparatus of the present invention, the water-chamber working apparatus includes a base that holds heat transfer tubes on a tube plate surface and is fixed to the tube plate surface, and a manipulator that is coupled with the base, suspended in a water chamber and arranged therein, and has a separable configuration. In this case, a base installing step of installing the base on the tube plate surface and a manipulator coupling step of carrying the separated manipulator (a front stage and a rear stage) into the water chamber sequentially and individually and coupling the manipulator with the base (a coupling link) are performed. |
| US08973264B2 |
Method of machining a turbine disk
A method of manufacturing a turbine disk involves machining to an initial form a slot in a turbine disk using a firm cutting tool. An intermediate form is then machined using a second cutting tool different from the first cutting tool. A final form using a third cutting tool different from the first cutting tool and the second cutting tool is then machined. |
| US08973259B2 |
Method for manufacturing a multilayered circuit board
A method for manufacturing a multilayered printed circuit board including forming a first insulating resin substrate having a metal layer substantially corresponding to dimensions of a semiconductor device, forming a second insulating resin substrate, forming a recess extending to the metal layer of the first insulating resin substrate such that a surface of the metal layer is exposed, accommodating the semiconductor device in the recess such that the semiconductor device is mounted on the surface of the metal layer, and forming a resin insulating layer on the first insulating resin substrate such that the semiconductor device accommodated in the recess is covered. |
| US08973255B2 |
Circuit-substrate-related-operation performing apparatus
A circuit-substrate-related-operation performing apparatus for performing a circuit-substrate-related operation which is an operation on a circuit substrate, including: a plurality of heads including at least one work head and at least one detection head; a head holding device configured to hold, at a holding portion thereof, one of the plurality of heads; a moving device configured to move the head holding device; a head stock device in which the plurality of heads are stocked; and a controller configured to control the circuit-substrate-related-operation performing apparatus, wherein the controller includes a head attachment control portion configured to control the moving device and the head holding device such that the head holding device is moved to a set position which is set with respect to the head stock device and such that an arbitrary one of the plurality of heads is held by the head holding device. |
| US08973252B2 |
Folded planar Litz wire and method of making same
Several embodiments of a circuit device using principles of planar Litz wire construction are disclosed using flexible printed circuit boards on which a given set of conductors is located on one surface only. The FPCBs are folded at strategic locations to effectively cause conductors in adjacent parallel planes to effectively cross one another to realize the advantages of braided Litz wire conductors, but without the use of vias or circuit interconnections between opposite sides of any given FPCB or between different sections of a continuous FPCB wherein each section defines its own coil or coil set. |
| US08973250B2 |
Methods of manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) structure
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The method of forming a MEMS structure includes forming a wiring layer on a substrate comprising actuator electrodes and a contact electrode. The method further includes forming a MEMS beam above the wiring layer. The method further includes forming at least one spring attached to at least one end of the MEMS beam. The method further includes forming an array of mini-bumps between the wiring layer and the MEMS beam. |
| US08973249B2 |
Test fixtures for automotive parts and methods of fabricating the same
Test fixtures for automotive parts, methods of fabricating test fixtures for automotive parts, and methods of heat testing automotive parts are disclosed. A method of fabricating a test fixture for supporting an automotive part may include forming a plurality of vertical support blades. Each of the plurality of vertical support blades comprises a support portion contoured to correspond to at least a portion of an underside of the automotive part. The method further includes assembling the plurality of vertical support blades such that each vertical support blade is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from an adjacent vertical support blade. The method further includes attaching the plurality of vertical support blades to a base such that the support portion of each of the plurality of vertical support blades is positioned to engage the corresponding portion of the underside of the automotive part. |
| US08973242B2 |
Dispenser lid and container including the same
A method of constructing a container, comprising disposing a primary lid over a storage cavity, the primary lid including a top surface that defines a dispenser portion through which items within the storage cavity may be dispensed, pivotally attaching a dispenser lid to the primary lid, the dispenser lid including a first biasing pin anchor and one of the dispenser lid and the primary lid having a second biasing pin anchor, connecting a first longitudinal end portion of a biasing pin to the first biasing pin anchor, and connecting a second longitudinal end portion of the biasing pin to the second biasing pin anchor, such that the biasing pin urges the dispenser lid towards an open position. |
| US08973241B1 |
Method and apparatus for joining composite structures
A method and apparatus for forming a joint between a first composite structure and a second composite structure. A number of tab sections may be formed at an end of the first composite structure. The first composite structure may comprise a first skin, a second skin, and a core located between the first skin and the second skin. A tab section in the number of tab sections may comprise a first skin section of the first skin, a second skin section of the second skin, and a core section of the core. A portion of the core section may be removed from each tab section to form a number of tabs at the end of the first composite structure. The first composite structure may be attached to the second composite structure using the number of tabs to form the joint between the first composite structure and the second composite structure. |
| US08973240B2 |
Disc brake pad mounting and retention system and method
A system and method are provided for mounting, removing and retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles, in a manner which does not require the use of separate brake pad retaining devices while providing positive retention of the brake pad. A preferred embodiment includes a brake caliper mount having brake pad abutment surfaces having radially-oriented and lateral grooves which permit a brake pad with corresponding projections on is lateral sides to be inserted through an opening of the brake caliper into the radially-oriented grooves until the backing plate projections are aligned with the lateral groove, and advancing the brake actuator behind the brake pad to place the brake pad in an operating position in which the actuator prevents the brake pad from realigning with the radially-oriented grooves until the actuator is retracted to permit brake pad extraction. |
| US08973237B2 |
Method of joining two portions of an underwater pipeline laid on the bed of a body of water to conduct fluid and/or gas
A method of joining two portions of an underwater pipeline laid on the bed of a body of water to conduct fluid and/or gas, the method including: joining a telescopic sleeve, having a first coupling head, to a first end of a first pipeline portion above the body of water; laying the first end, the telescopic sleeve, and the first coupling head on the bed of the body of water; joining a second coupling head to a second end of a second pipeline portion above the body of water; laying the second end and the second coupling head on the bed of the body of water, close to the first coupling head; roughly aligning the first and second coupling head in the body of water; and clamping the first and second coupling head to each other in the body of water. |
| US08973236B2 |
Method of manufacturing custom sized plastic tote having intermediate sleeve
A method of manufacturing a custom sized plastic tote lighter in weight than heretofore known custom sized plastic totes is provided. The method comprises separating an injection molded tote into upper and lower portions by cutting the injection molded tote. A sleeve or middle portion of plastic material is secured to the upper and lower portions of the injection molded tote to create a custom sized plastic tote of a desired height. Alternatively, portions of different injection molded totes may be used to create a custom sized plastic tote. The sleeve may be made from different materials and may be made of multiple pieces. |
| US08973231B1 |
Methods for forming electrically precise capacitors, and structures formed therefrom
High precision capacitors and methods for forming the same utilizing a precise and highly conformal deposition process for depositing an insulating layer on substrates of various roughness and composition are disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of depositing a first insulating layer on a metal substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD); (b) forming a first capacitor electrode on the first insulating layer; and (c) forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and on or adjacent to the first capacitor electrode. The methods provide an improved deposition process that produces a highly conformal insulating layer on a wide range of substrates, and thereby, an improved capacitor. |
| US08973228B2 |
Method for producing piezoelectric actuator and method for producing liquid transport apparatus
A vibration layer is formed by the AD method on a cavity plate before forming pressure chambers, a common electrode is formed on the vibration layer, and a piezoelectric layer is formed on the common electrode by the AD method. Subsequently, the pressure chambers are formed in the cavity plate by the etching. After that, individual electrodes are formed on the piezoelectric layer. Subsequently, the stack of the cavity plate, the vibration layer, the common electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the individual electrodes is heated at about 850° C. to simultaneously perform the annealing of the piezoelectric layer and the sintering of the individual electrodes and the common electrode. Accordingly, the atoms of the cavity plate are suppressed from being diffused into the driving portions of the piezoelectric layer. |
| US08973211B2 |
Detector cleaner and/or tester and method of using same
An apparatus for cleaning a detector comprising a housing and a bowl connected to the housing having a detector chamber adapted for enclosing a detector to be cleaned, a contacting surface positioned on the bowl, and one of more air nozzles positioned within the detector chamber for directing one or more bursts of compressed air at a detector to clean the detector, and a fan positioned within the housing operable to draw air within the detector chamber into a filter, and a dust collector for containing dirt and debris dislodged from a detector during the cleaning operation. |
| US08973210B2 |
Robot cleaner
Provided is a robot cleaner. In an embodiment, the robot cleaner for avoiding obstacles and sucking foreign materials using a plurality of sensors and a suction motor is characterized in that a drive suppression unit for detecting obstacles having a corresponding height is integrated with a base for forming a lower portion of a main body in order to not climb obstacles of a constant height during a driving period of the robot cleaner. The present disclosure according to the embodiment improves drive stability of the robot cleaner by sensing a threshold in erroneous state of the sensor for sensing the threshold. |
| US08973209B2 |
Connecting apparatus for hinging a joining element rigidly connected to a wiper arm
The invention relates to a connecting apparatus (24) for hinging a joining element (100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 122 166), which is rigidly connected to a wiper arm, by way of an adapter (62), which is held non-rotatably by the joining element (100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 166), to a connecting element (26) fastened to a wiper blade (10), wherein between the connecting element (26) and the adapter (62) a joint (52, 82) running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10) is provided, and the adapter (62) forms a frame of two side walls (64) of a front end wall (66) and a rear end wall (70), the frame being partially covered toward the top in the region of the front end wall (66) by a cover wall (68) such that an opening (74) remains toward the rear end wall (70). It is proposed that the adapter (62) has means (76, 78, 80, 86) which are suited for mounting and fixing three different joining elements (100, 102, 104). |
| US08973206B1 |
Trowel with depth adjustment
A trowel (1) having a rounded plate (6) slidably attached to a flat plate (5). The flat plate is preferably attached to an angled handle (10). Curved prongs (2) extend from the flat plate through apertures (7) located within the rounded plate. The prongs are used to obtain a desired depth of a bed of mortar (9) as the rounded plate is used to smooth out the mortar bed. An upper surface (11) of the rounded plate may be used as a scraper or scoop when the trowel is turned over. |
| US08973193B2 |
Methods of optimizing a pressure contour of a pressure adjustable platform system
The present invention provides a method of optimizing a pressure contour of a pressure adjustable platform system by (a) measuring pressure in a plurality of bladders in the pressure adjustable platform system; (b) assessing whether a change in pressure in one or more of the plurality of bladders occurs; (c) determining whether a subject on the pressure adjustable platform system has adjusted position, moved or tossed; (d) generating an adaptive sleep algorithm; and (e) adjusting the pressure in one or more bladders. |
| US08973191B1 |
Bi-elevation pillow system
A bi-elevation pillow system for allowing two users to lie side by side with each of their heads respectively positioned at a different elevation by using the pillow system has a base pillow member with a general shape of a rectangular prism. The base pillow member has a cavity with a cushion component located inside. A base pillow bottom surface has a linear channel located on it. The system has a secondary pillow member with a general shape of a rectangular prism with a cavity having a cushion component located inside. In a first position for storage, the base pillow bottom surface is rotated against and interfaces with a secondary pillow bottom surface. In a second position for use, the secondary pillow is rotated about a hinge 180 degrees in an open configuration and placed on a ground surface for use. |
| US08973190B2 |
Foam with green tea additive for foam mattresses, pillows and cushions
A method of making foam imparts antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities to the foam. Green tea powder is added to the polyol raw materials for making memory foam. The green tea memory foam is used to make pillows, cushions and mattresses. Green tea foam in the top layer of a mattress acts as an antiodorant such that less of the chemical smell of the memory foam is perceived by the user. In addition, the bacteria and mold that would otherwise develop in the moist warmer sleeping environment on memory foam are killed by the green tea additive to the foam. Measurable antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities in the green tea foam are achievable by adding green tea powder constituting less than 2% of the weight of the resulting green tea foam. A neck-support contour pillow is made using memory foam that contains green tea and a green dye. |
| US08973185B2 |
Support device which is adjustable by an electric motor
Support device, which is adjustable by an electric motor, for cushioning of a piece of furniture for sitting and/or lying on has a first support part, and a second support part pivotable about a pivot axis, between which a third support part is provided. Support device has an electric motor drive which has an adjusting element connected in a force-transmitting manner to the second support part by an actuating element for pivoting second support part. Actuating element has a rod-like configuration, by which the adjusting element is guided in a linearly displaceable manner in guide formed on third support part. Actuating element engages with second support part for pivoting the second support part eccentrically relative to pivot axis. |
| US08973183B1 |
Sheet for a split-top adjustable bed
A sheet for covering at least a portion of a mattress that includes a movable first section and a movable second section adjacent to and proximate to the movable first section comprises a first sheet section for covering at least a portion of the movable first section, a second sheet section laterally adjacent to the first sheet section configured to cover at least a portion of the movable second section, wherein the first and second sheet sections are joined together at a sheet junction, a first member projecting laterally from the first sheet section toward the second sheet section and extending up to the sheet junction, and a second member projecting laterally from the second sheet section toward the first sheet section and extending up to the sheet junction, wherein a portion of the first member overlays a portion of the second member proximate the sheet junction. |
| US08973182B2 |
Devices and implements for deterring monsters, specters, demons, and the like
A devices and implements for staving off monsters, specters, demons and the like as imagined by a child at bedtime. A hand-held controller unit is provided having a user interface and which is capable of being used by the child under the bed covers of a bed. The hand-held controller unit may include any of a walkie-talkie capability, a flashlight capability, a nightlight capability, the capability to activate an external device, and other capabilities. At least one external device may be provided. The external device may be capable of being placed beneath the bed and is configured to be activated by the hand-held controller unit. At least one substantially hollow air-through member may be provided which is configured to facilitate airflow between underneath the bed covers of the bed and above the bed covers of the bed. A supplemental bed cover may be provided that is configured to be placed on the bed. |
| US08973180B2 |
Crib and reversible changing table thereof
A reversible changing table installed on a crib frame of a crib includes a bracket and a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting mechanism is disposed on at least one corner of the bracket and has a locking mechanism. The bracket is installed on the crib frame through the pivoting mechanism such that the bracket is capable of being rotated with respect to the crib frame, and the locking mechanism is used for preventing the bracket from being rotated with respect to the crib frame. |
| US08973179B2 |
Portable camping sink
The portable camping sink includes a hollow rectangular housing with top, bottom, left, right and rear walls and an open front. A basin is hinged to the front of the bottom wall and is movable between a closed position where it closes the front and an operative position lying at a right angle to the front where it can function as a sink. Locks and straps maintain the basin in its inoperative or operative positions. A water container has a size and shape allowing it to be inserted into the housing and includes a spout overlying the basin when the basin is in its operative position. Racks or shelves are hinged to the housing sides. Straps allow the portable sink to be suspended from the trunk of a tree during use. Shoulder straps allow a person to carry the camping sink on his back. |
| US08973178B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger for a shower tray can be arranged in the bottom of the shower tray for the heat recovery from wastewater so as to heat fresh water. To this end, the heat exchanger has a planar cover plate as the drain surface over which the wastewater drains. The cover plate forms the bottom of the shower tray, over which a lid that can be removed without the use of tools is arranged as a tread plate. The heat exchanger preferably includes a distributor element, which is arranged for distributing the wastewater over the drain surface. The distributor element is preferably a retaining element, which retains the wastewater at an upper edge of the drain surface and forms an overflow along the upper edge. |
| US08973172B2 |
Noise shield
An apparatus comprising: a mount plate and at least one noise reduction element connected the mount plate. An article of head wear comprising: a shell having an upper portion and a lower open portion, at least one aperture located near the lower portion, and a noise reduction plate obstructing the at least one aperture. An article of head wear comprising: a shell having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a noise reduction element connected to the shell. A noise reduction element comprising: a frame having a framework, and a soundproofing element covering the framework. An apparatus comprising: a mount plate, and at least one aperture in the mount plate, wherein the aperture is formed to accommodate a noise reduction element. |
| US08973169B2 |
Protective garment with modular storage system
Protective garments having a modular storage system that enables the wearer to move and customize the position of pockets and other storage features, and hence the location of tools and other apparatus or accessories. The protective garment, including the modular storage system, are fire resistant such that they are in compliance with National Fire Protection Association and European Norm standards for firefighting garments set by the European Committee for Standardization, which is also known as Comité Européen de Normalisation, and may be integral with the protective garment. |
| US08973168B2 |
Athletic pants
Athletic pants including a compression garment made of a stretchable fabric configured to substantially conform to the contours of a person wearing the compression garment. The compression garment includes a hollow torso section having an opening at its upper end and a pair of hollow legs extending in a direction away from the opening and terminating in a cuff. Cover portions are disposed over and surround at least a portion of each leg. Each of the cover portions having attached and free ends, with the cover portions being attached at their attached ends to the compression garment and otherwise being unattached to the compression garment such that the free ends are selectively positionable respectively along the length of the leg over which the cover portion is disposed. |
| US08973167B2 |
Invented face decoration mask
This invention provides a face decoration mask which makes two stand racks easy to extend, fold or stand still. The decoration mask includes the connection parts of first stand rack and second stand rack; this decoration mask is designed with strand space on the eyes of face, and there are ridges on two sides; the opposite side of ridges is corresponding grooves; on the one side of said first and second stand rack, there is a holding extend from connection part to users' ears and set on the face for decoration; on the other side of connection part, there is an end part, which extend from the connection part to make bowl-like shape and buckle into groove to make first and second rack stand still. |
| US08973166B1 |
Edging for brim of cap or visor
An attachment for the edge of an extending brim of a baseball type cap or visor is disclosed which is mounted on the edge of the extending brim to protect or repair the edge. The attachment easily mounts on the brim of a cap or visor and remains securely thereon. The brim is inserted into a slot through the side and along the full length of the attachment. The slot has flared edges that permit the attachment to be easily attached to the brim edge. As the edge attachment is mounted on the edge of a cap or visor the flared edges are deformed outward creating a spring force that firmly holds the edge attachment on the brim. The edge attachment may have an extension that extends over the top of a brim to provide additional space for the display of words, graphics, etc. that are larger than can be displayed on the much narrower front or top edge of the attachment. Barbs on the inside of the edging attachment near the slit bite into the top and bottom of the brim to further assist in holding the attachment on the brim. |
| US08973164B2 |
Fiber blends for garments with high thermal, abrasion resistance, and moisture management properties
Fiber blends useful for garments with a balance of high thermal, abrasion resistance, and moisture management properties are disclosed. The fiber blends comprise a hydrophobic fiber component, a hydrophilic fiber component, a structural fiber component, and an optional antistatic fiber. Yarns, fabrics, and garments comprising the fiber blends are also disclosed. Such garments are particularly useful for occupations requiring high thermal properties and abrasion resistance, such as fire fighters, utility workers, and military personnel, without compromising comfort of the wearers by maintaining breathability and moisture management properties of the fabric. |
| US08973162B1 |
Assistive and protective garments
A garment consists of a close-fitting sleeve body formed of a stretch textile, and which includes an open upper end, an open lower end, and a body-receiving volume extending through the sleeve body from the open upper end to the open lower end. Opposed, spaced-apart, surface-gripping parts are applied exteriorly to the sleeve body near the open upper end and the open lower end, respectively. The surface-gripping parts are each formed of a gripping material different from the stretch textile, and the gripping material is slightly sticky or adhesive so as to cause the surface-gripping parts to grip, and to resist slipping relative to, surfaces they come in direct contact with without leaving a resulting residue on touched surfaces. |
| US08978160B2 |
Method for selective software rollback
A system and method for validating a software file to be installed into a controller. The method includes preparing the software file including assigning a software version code to the software file, assigning a security version code to the software file, and signing the software file with the software file version code and the security version code. The signed software file is presented to the controller for installing on the controller and the controller verifies the software file signature to determine if the software file is valid and the security version code is valid. The controller allows the software file to be installed in the controller if both the signed software file is valid and the security version code is valid. |
| US08978155B2 |
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products providing dynamic provable data possession
In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: storing data for a file, organized as blocks, each having a portion of the file; and maintaining a skip list for the data. The skip list is an ordered tree structure having a root node, internal nodes and leaf nodes. Each leaf node corresponds to a block. Each node has a rank value corresponding to size of a subtree rooted at the node. The skip list employs a hashing scheme. The hash value of the root node and internal nodes is computed from a level of the node, the rank value and an interval between the node and another linked node to the right of or below the node. The hash value of the leaf nodes is computed from a level of the node, the rank value and an interval associated with the node. |
| US08978154B2 |
Method and apparatus for importing content having plurality of parts
A digital content protection apparatus and method for digital rights management (DRM) are provided in which a content file including a plurality of content parts is imported such that a header is included which stores location information required for decoding each of the content parts. Therefore, the number of content parts constituting the content file can be recognized, and a license that is required for the use of each of the content parts can be acquired by analyzing header information without necessitating the parsing of the transport packets of the content file. Accordingly, preparation time for using content can be reduced. |
| US08978151B1 |
Removable drive security monitoring method and system
A method of detecting the unauthorized use of removable storage drives to obtain data from a computer network. An automated software process periodically polls the various logical disks in a computer or computer network for removable data drives, determines which are high risk removable data drives, and monitors these removable drives every few seconds. The process checks for security problems by file name, or mismatch in privileges, or suspicious file write, copy or copy-delete patterns of usage. If a preset risk threshold is exceeded, the system then alerts system administrators. In a preferred embodiment, the method may be implemented on network administration systems such as Windows management instrumentation (WMI) using default scripting or process tools such as VBscript. |
| US08978150B1 |
Data recovery service with automated identification and response to compromised user credentials
A data recovery service protects against unauthorized use of a computer system. The service includes a data feed that contains data recovered from online repositories known to be used by malicious software or individuals, the recovered data identifying a compromised credential of an authorized user of the computer system. Based on this data, a protective action is automatically performed to limit or prevent use of the credential of the authorized user to access the computer system. Protective action may include disabling user account access privileges, etc. |
| US08978145B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling digital rights object in portable terminal
An apparatus and method for controlling a rights object in Digital Rights Management in a portable terminal are provided. In the method, a first time zone information of network is detected when the rights object for content is provided. A second time zone information of network is detected when the content is used. An absolute time difference between the time zone informations is computed when the first time zone information is not equal to the second time zone information. As such, use authority for the content is managed by controlling the rights object according to the absolute time difference. |
| US08978144B2 |
Automatic construction of human interaction proof engines
Human Interaction Proofs (“HIPs”, sometimes referred to as “captchas”), may be generated automatically. An captcha specification language may be defined, which allows a captcha scheme to be defined in terms of how symbols are to be chosen and drawn, and how those symbols are obscured. The language may provide mechanisms to specify the various ways in which to obscure symbols. New captcha schemes may be generated from existing specifications, by using genetic algorithms that combine features from existing captcha schemes that have been successful. Moreover, the likelihood that a captcha scheme has been broken by attackers may be estimated by collecting data on the time that it takes existing captcha schemes to be broken, and using regression to estimate the time to breakage as a function of either the captcha's features or its measured quality. |
| US08978142B2 |
System and method for detection of malware using behavior model scripts of security rating rules
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for detecting computer malware using security rating rules. In one example, the system identifies at least one problematic security rating rule that was activated during antivirus analysis of both safe and malicious programs. The system then selects a group of programs for which said problematic rule was activated. The system then identifies in the selected group of programs a plurality of only malicious programs or the plurality of only safe programs based on the problematic security rating rule and at least one different security rating rule. The system then generates a behavior model script based on the problematic security rating rule and the at least one different security rating rule and executes said behavior model script during antivirus analysis of said analyzed program to detect a computer malware in said analyzed program. |
| US08978139B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting malicious software activity based on an internet resource information database
A method and apparatus for detecting malicious software activity, using at least one processor, based on an Internet resource information database in memory is described. In one embodiment, a method for detecting malicious software activity, using at least one processor, based on an Internet resource information database in memory includes processing Internet activity to determine source and time information associated with at least one application download, comparing the Internet resource information database with the source and time information associated with the at least one application download to identify at least one suspicious application, and monitoring execution of the at least one suspicious application. |
| US08978136B2 |
Systems and methods for detection and suppression of abnormal conditions within a networked environment
Systems and methods are provided for handling a malicious computer-related security event that occurs at central network access points of the Internet involving networks of autonomous and different internet service providers. A system includes a non-signature based security event detection software system operating on a first computer connected to a first network of a first internet service provider, where the non-signature based security event detection software system detects the security event by examining runtime state of the first computer. A security event management software system operates on a processor-based platform and has access to security event detection results generated by the non-signature based security event detection software system. |
| US08978134B2 |
Security configuration verification device and method and network system employing the same
The invention discloses a security configuration verification device for performing a security configuration verification on a network device, which comprises: one or more preconfigured scanning policies; a scanning policy generator, which selects a scanning policy from the one or more preconfigured scanning policies to generate a new scanning policy corresponding to the network device; and a scanner, which performs the security scanning on the network device with the generated new scanning policy and thereby performs the security configuration verification. The invention also discloses a corresponding security configuration verification method and a network system employing the verification device. |
| US08978132B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing a microprocessor providing for a secure execution mode
An apparatus providing for a secure execution environment including a microprocessor and a secure non-volatile memory. The microprocessor executes non-secure application programs and a secure application program. The non-secure application programs are accessed from a system memory via a system bus. The secure application program executes in a secure execution mode. The microprocessor has secure execution mode logic that monitors conditions corresponding to the microprocessor associated with tampering, and causes the microprocessor to transition to a degraded operating mode from the secure execution mode following detection of a first one or more of the conditions. The degraded operating mode exclusively provides for execution of BIOS instructions. The secure non-volatile memory is coupled to the microprocessor via a private bus, stores the secure application program. Transactions over the private bus are isolated from the system bus and corresponding system bus resources within the microprocessor. |
| US08978126B2 |
Method and system for TCP turn operation behind a restrictive firewall
A method at a computing client located behind a NAT and restrictive-access firewall, including establishing a control connection with a TCP TURN server utilizing a port capable of traversing the restrictive-access firewall; requesting an allocation of an client service identity from the TCP TURN server; and receiving, from the TCP TURN server, a response containing the client service identity, the client service identity being independent of any port used to communicate with the TCP TURN server. Further a method at a TCP TURN server, including listening on a first port for communications from a computing client, the computing client being behind a restrictive access firewall and the first port capable of traversing the restrictive-access firewall; establishing a control connection with the client on the first port; receiving a request for an allocation of an client service identity from the computing client; and sending a response containing the client service identity. |
| US08978123B2 |
Web based system that allows users to log into websites without entering username and password information
Internet user passwords are securely managed. A formation component can enable a user to create a master account on a web server, the master account comprising a master username and password. An access component can enable the user to access a plurality of password protected websites from a web browser or non-browser software application resident on the user's computing device when the user logs into the master account by entering the valid master username and password. A selection component can log the user into a website of the plurality of password protected websites when the user selects a hyperlink associated with the website, selects a linked image associated with the website, or selects the website from a pulldown list contained in a toolbar of a web browser. A display component can open a web browser or tab associated with the website. |
| US08978118B2 |
Pseudonymized authentication
An OT or Oblivious Transfer protocol is used to output pseudonym tokens from a list of pseudonym tokens to user entities such that it is possible to obtain pseudonymized authentication by a preceding verification of proof of identity of the respective user entities and marking pseudonym tokens as used as soon as the same are used for authentication by means of the OT protocol after the output. |
| US08978115B2 |
Home realm discovery in mixed-mode federated realms
The authentication of identities within a realm in which some identities are authenticated using direct authentication, and some identities are authenticated using federated authentication. Requests for service from valid identities in the realm that are to be authenticated by direct authentication are responded to with a direct authentication interface. Requests for service from valid identities in the realm that are to be authenticated by federated authentication are responded to with a federated authentication interface. Requests for service from invalid identities are responded to pseudo-randomly with either the direct authentication interface or the federated authentication interface. |
| US08978112B2 |
Methods, devices, and systems for remotely controlling a plurality of communication devices
Systems and methods for controlling communication systems for the hearing impaired are disclosed. A portable communication device requests control over a plurality of communication devices. The portable communication device connects to and controls the plurality of communication devices. The portable communication device includes a user interface that enables a user to transfer a call from a first communication device to a second communication device. |
| US08978111B2 |
Method and apparatus for using sensors on a portable electronic device to verify transactions
The present disclosure involves a system. The system includes a computer memory storage module configured to store executable computer programming code. The system includes a computer processor module operatively coupled to the computer memory storage module. The computer processor module is configured to execute the computer programming code to perform the following operations: detecting, from a mobile electronic device, a request to engage in an activity electronically; receiving sensor data gathered by one or more sensors of the mobile electronic device; determining, based on the sensor data received from the mobile electronic device, whether the request to engage in the activity is authorized by a user of the mobile electronic device; and alerting the user if it has been determined that the request to engage in the activity is unauthorized. |
| US08978110B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling email access
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to identifying email resources associated with client devices, identifying resource rules, determining whether the email resources satisfy the resource rules, and modifying the email resources as well as the ability to access the email resources based on the resource rules if the resource rules are not satisfied by the email resources. |
| US08978106B2 |
Programming, verifying, visualizing, and deploying browser extensions with fine-grained security policies
An environment is described which enables the generation, analysis, and use of secure browser extensions. Each browser extension includes an extension body and a policy expressed in a logic-based specification language. The policy specifies the access control and dataflow privileges associated with the extension body in a fine-grained manner by leveraging the structure and content of resources that are accessible to the browser extension. A suite of analysis tools for testing the safety of the browser extension includes a visualization module identifies features of a resource that are accessible to the policy. A static analysis module uses a static analysis technique to determine whether the extension body satisfies the policy. The environment also includes a conversion module for converting the browser extension, once deemed safe, into a form for use by a particular type of browser. The browser can execute that extension without performing runtime safety checks. |
| US08978100B2 |
Policy-based authentication
A device receives a request to authenticate an end user of a user device based on a requested use of an application by the user device, and communicates with an authentication client, provided in the user device, to perform an authentication requested by the request. The device also generates a response to the request based on the communication with the authentication client, where the response indicates that the end user is or is not authenticated to use the application. The device further provides the response to an application server device hosting the application. |
| US08978098B2 |
Centralized user authentication system apparatus and method
An identification module receives a password request for a specified user and communicates an encrypted password field in response thereto, wherein the encrypted password field references a directory object corresponding to the specified user. The present invention also teaches an authentication module that communicates the password request to the identification module and receives the encrypted password field therefrom. Upon receiving the encrypted password field, the authentication module authenticates the specified user against the referenced directory object. In some embodiments, the encrypted password field is stored in an identification data store of an identification server and the directory object is stored in an authentication data store of an authentication server. |
| US08978097B2 |
Method and system for authentication based on wireless identification, wireless identification and server
The invention discloses a method and a system for authentication based on a wireless identification, and a wireless identification. The method comprises steps of: obtaining, by a mobile device, wireless tag information and connection configuration information from the wireless identification; establishing, by the mobile device, a connection with the server according to the connection configuration information, and transmitting, by the mobile device, the wireless tag information to the server; authenticating, by the server, the validity of the wireless tag information, and determining, by the server, an access right of the mobile device after the authentication is successful; generating, by the wireless identification, device signature information and forwarding it, by the mobile device, to the server; and authenticating, by the server, the validity of the device signature information, and canceling, by the server, the access right of the mobile device. The present invention provides an authentication system based on the wireless identification, wherein the server authenticates not only the wireless tag information, but also the device signature information generated by the wireless identification, thereby the system is of a higher security. |
| US08978096B2 |
System and method for facilitating the transfer of information relating to quality of an organization
A system and method transfers information relating to quality or standards of an organization from a server to a wireless handheld computing device and from the wireless handheld computing device to the server in real-time or near real-time. Each member of an organization can have the same policies and procedures as soon as any of the policies and procedures are updated. The inventive system can allow an organization to also measure compliance and conformance with the distributed policies and procedures. With the handheld computing devices, each member of an organization can complete tests that are closely tied to the distributed policies and procedures. The results of these tests can be transmitted in real-time or near real-time from the handheld computing devices to a central computer server so that an organization can track current performance of all its members relative to the policies and procedures and relative to each other. |
| US08978084B2 |
Presentation modes for various format bit streams
A system, method, and apparatus for processing media content for display on a monitor. A home media center (HMC), that includes a server receiver, acts as a central location for recording, distribution, and scheduling of tasks and system resources. The HMC receives a client request from a first client receiver and a legacy request or informs the receiver that the request cannot be fulfilled. Different coding technologies are used to provide video, audio, and data services to the client receiver and the legacy receiver. |
| US08978082B2 |
Method of switching digital TV application
A method of switching a digital TV application is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a channel changing event corresponding to a changing of a channel is used to minimize a time required for providing the digital TV application suitable for a changed channel. |
| US08978081B2 |
Testing apparatus and method
A test apparatus for testing a video processing apparatus comprises means for receiving from the video processing apparatus a video output representative of a test sequence, the test sequence comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising an image of a respective different one of a plurality of frame identifiers; means for obtaining a sequence of sets of frame data from the video output, each set of frame data representative of a frame; and means for processing each set of frame data to determine the frame identifier for that frame. |
| US08978077B2 |
Video content presentation
Systems and methods to present video content are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a method of processing video data is disclosed. The method includes receiving timing information associated with the video data. The received timing information is indicative of a start time to start presentation of video content corresponding to the video data. The method includes starting presentation of the video content at a time prior to the start time. The method also includes increasing a presentation rate of the video content. |
| US08978076B2 |
Methods and systems for content control
Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices. |
| US08978072B2 |
Method and system for the provision of packet mobile digital broadcast services
A method for enabling a broadcast/cellular device within a coverage area of a cellular network to access packet mobile digital broadcast services offered by a cellular operator of the cellular network, includes: a) obtaining a first identifier identifying the cellular operator; and b) accessing a storage area in order to retrieve a second identifier identifying and enabling access to the packet mobile digital broadcast services offered by the cellular operator, based on the first identifier obtained in a). |
| US08978071B2 |
Multi-purpose display device having a channel scan interface and method for controlling the same
A multi-functional display device having a channel scan interface and a method of controlling the same are disclosed herein. The method may include registering a first individual at the multi-functional display device to create an account that is associated with at least one first social network service (SNS) account for the first individual. A menu may be displayed for selecting among a plurality of channel scan modes for scanning channels of the multi-functional display device, including a channel scan mode for broadcast content and SNS content. For channel scan mode for SNS content, information for at least one second SNS account for a second individual associated with the at least one first SNS account may be retrieved, and a channel number assigned to the at least one second SNS account. |
| US08978068B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for providing multimedia data customized marketing
A method for providing customized marketing associated to multimedia broadcasting, comprising: receiving multimedia broadcast data at a multimedia broadcast receiver apparatus; determining user information of the multimedia broadcast receiver apparatus; transmitting the user information to a service server; defining customized marketing information associated to the received multimedia broadcast data based on the user information; transmitting the customized marketing information to a user apparatus; determining, by the user apparatus, marketing information presentation settings defined by a user; and providing the customized marketing information via a user interface of the user apparatus based on the marketing information presentation settings. |
| US08978067B2 |
System for adding or updating video content from internet sources to existing video-on-demand application of a digital TV services provider system
A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. The templates include those for higher-order displays which have one or more links to lower-order displays of specific content. The VOD Application Server, in response to viewer request, displays a high-order templatized display, and in response to viewer selection of a link, displays the lower-order display of specific content. The hierarchical templatized displays enable viewers to navigate to an end subject of interest while having a unique visual experience of moving through a series of displays to the end subject of interest. For example, the higher-order display may be a product ad and the lower-order display may be an ad for a local retailer of the product. Similarly, a viewer can navigate from national product to local product ad, or classified ad category to specific classified ad, or bulletin board topic category to specific posting. In another embodiment, the VOD content delivery system is used to deliver consumer-generated classified ads on TV. A web-based Content Management System receives consumer-generated content uploaded online in industry-standard file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer's TV indexed by title and topical area, and displays a requested classified ad in response to viewer selection. |
| US08978066B2 |
Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing communications with at least one media provider
Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses are provided for allowing a user to communicate with a set top box and a media content server through a mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone. The user may be able to request and receive a customer specific interactive programming guide through the mobile communication device. The interactive programming guide may allow the user to search and record media programs, including sending recording commands to a set top box to record a particular media program. The interactive programming guide may also allow the user to order and receive media programs to the mobile communication device. Embodiments may provide a personal video recorder proxy server as an interface between the mobile communication device and the set top box and the media content server. |
| US08978065B1 |
Method and system to combine broadcast television and internet television
Provided is a method and system for receiving and displaying video from both an Internet and a broadcast video source. Also provided is a frame controller for receiving video data from an Internet video stream and from a cable broadcast video stream, the frame controller further in communication with a television display and causing the Internet video stream and the cable broadcast video stream to each be displayed in a separate frame on the television display. |
| US08978058B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing interfaces in a placeshifting device
A placeshifting device handles content from a media source (e.g., a set-top box) that might incorporate a form of copy-protection such as HDCP. In one case, when a placeshifting mode is entered (as opposed to a pass-through mode), the copy-protection capability of the interface (e.g., an HDMI interface) is simply disabled. In another case in which the media source includes a copy protection “flag” or the like that can be interrogated by the placeshifting device, the placeshifting device determines whether the media source copy-protection is enabled, and only then disables the copy-protection capability of the interface. In another case in which selectable output control (SOC) is available in the media source, the placeshifting device determines whether alternate interfaces are available (e.g., component video, composite video, and the like), and if so, disables the interface having copy-protection capability. |
| US08978057B2 |
Interoperability of set top box through smart card
The concept of profiling the STB (01) through the Smart Cards (02) as per the service provider specific requirements makes towards interoperability. Smart cards (02) are embedded with greater operator specific intelligence. The scheme used in the present invention mainly focuses on downloading of profiling data from smart card (02) to the STB (01) and pushing CAS implementation fully from STB to Smart card (02). |
| US08978056B2 |
Video loading control
The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) for controlling loading (e.g., pre-filling) of video data to a user equipment by a wireless network (e.g., from internet) while the video is played by the user equipment using an additional pre-filling based on predicted degradation of connectivity of the user equipment with the wireless network to avoid interruption or deterioration of playing the video and/or to reduce video data loading cost. |
| US08978054B2 |
Cartridge for accomodating a disc-shaped recording medium
There is provided a cartridge including a running portion which causes both end portions of a disc-shaped recording medium to run, and a pressing portion which presses one end portion of the disc-shaped recording medium to press the other end portion against the running portion. Static friction coefficients of a portion of the pressing portion coming in contact with the one end portion and a portion of the running portion coming in contact with the other end portion are different. |
| US08978050B2 |
Program calling method, and mobile device
A program calling method is to be implemented by a control module, which uses a first channel during execution of a first Java applet, and includes creating a virtual channel that corresponds to a second channel when the first Java applet intends to call a second Java applet which is to be executed using the second channel, in response to a channel management instruction associated with the virtual channel, opening the second channel for allowing execution of the second Java applet, determining whether the virtual channel is still open, and receiving an output from the second Java applet for use by the first Java applet when it is determined that the virtual channel is still open. |
| US08978047B2 |
Method and system for invoking an application in response to a trigger event
A method for invoking a software application comprising: executing a first application on a user device; detecting a trigger event on the user device, the trigger event is non-specific and external to the first application and a second application; invoking the second application in response to the trigger event; sending metadata from the first application to the second application; and performing an action in the second application based at least partially on the metadata received from the first application, wherein, the first application and the second application are not operating system processes, and the second application is separate and independent from the first application. |
| US08978044B2 |
Storage-system-based driver distribution apparatus and method
A method for distributing drivers from a storage system to one or more host systems includes maintaining, in a storage system, a driver database containing drivers for different host systems. The drivers enable the different host systems to effectively communicate with the storage system. The method further determines whether a specific host system is configured with an appropriate driver. In the event the specific host system is not configured with the appropriate driver, the method retrieves the appropriate driver from the driver database. The method then transmits the appropriate driver from the storage system to the specific host system for installation thereon. By using the storage system as a central repository for the latest device drivers, the method ensures that connected host systems are always configured with the latest drivers. A corresponding apparatus, system, and computer program product are also disclosed herein. |
| US08978043B1 |
Balancing a load on a multiple consumer queue
Disclosed are various embodiments for balancing a load on a queue among multiple consumers. A target polling hit rate is derived for at least one queue from a consumer load. The consumer load dictates a read rate of the at least one queue. The consumer load on the at least one queue is adjusted responsive to a difference between the target polling hit rate and an observed polling hit rate for the at least one queue. |
| US08978041B2 |
Service virtualization container
Service virtualization containers to aggregate service functionality from a plurality of services into an apparent service exhibiting the aggregated functionality. A plurality of service implementations is assigned to a service virtualization container. The container selects some of the service operations from the service implementations. One or more message characteristics are assigned to the service operations in one or more routing tables. A message is received at a service endpoint different from the service endpoints of any of the service implementations. A determination is made of one or more message characteristics. The one or more routing tables are consulted to select a determined service operation based on the message characteristics. The message is routed to the selected service implementation. Embodiments may also include functionality for aggregating metadata from service implementations and providing metadata based on the aggregated metadata to clients requesting metadata from a service virtualization container. |
| US08978039B2 |
Communication device and method for coherent updating of collated message listings
A device, system and method are provided for presenting message threads in a device display where messages may have a persistent or intermediate status. A list of message threads is displayed, collated according to a given message thread attribute, is displayed. When a new message is detected belonging to one of the message threads, if the message has a persistent status it is added to the message thread and the collating message thread attribute for that thread is updated. If the message has an intermediate status, it may be added to the message thread but the collating message thread attribute for that message is deferred until the intermediate status is changed to a persistent status. The collated list of message threads is then updated. By deferring updates to the collating message thread attribute when a message has an intermediate status, disruption to the order of the collated list is mitigated. |
| US08978035B2 |
Scaling of application resources in a multi-tenant platform-as-a-service environment in a cloud computing system
A mechanism for automatic scaling of application resources in a multi-tenant Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) environment in a cloud computing system is disclosed. A method includes monitoring, by a load balancer executing on a computing device, an overall load measurement of containers associated with an application executed on virtual machines (VMs) in a multi-tenant Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) system, wherein the overall load measurement is a summation of individual current loads at the containers, comparing, by the load balancer, the overall load measurement to an overall load threshold for the containers, and when the overall load measurement exceeds the overall load threshold, causing resources to be added to execute functionality of the application in the VMs of the multi-tenant PaaS system. |
| US08978034B1 |
System for dynamic batching at varying granularities using micro-batching to achieve both near real-time and batch processing characteristics
This disclosure relates generally to automated workflow for data management, and specifically to efficient data manipulation and information extraction techniques used by a versatile data analytics platform. The information extraction techniques include micro-batching and provenance tracking, as well as integration of provenance-driven policies to improve the efficacy of the analytics. Embodiments disclosed here integrate the concept of real-time or near-real-time data stream processing and event/batch processing into one data processing layer, allowing a single processing definition to be applied at different granularities. |
| US08978032B2 |
Host naming application programming interface
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing a unique naming framework for a plurality of virtual machines attached to a network. The invention may include receiving a service request for a platform build from a requester and receiving a plurality of build parameters associated with the platform build from the requester. Then, the invention may apply a set of naming rules to one or more attributes (that may be based on the received build parameters) associated with one or more virtual machines, assign a unique name to each individual virtual machine based on the set of naming rules and publish at least one of the assigned unique names over the network, thereby providing access to the virtual machine associated with the unique assigned name in response to an internet protocol network request or request to resolve a host name. |
| US08978029B2 |
Automated template deployment to computing platforms
Various embodiments include at least one of systems, methods, and software for automated deployment of a deployment template to computing systems. Some embodiments include receiving a selection of a deployment template from an entity via a network, identifying platforms of the entity compatible with the compatibility information, receiving a selection of a target platform, validating the selected deployment template for deployment to the selected platform, and deploying the selected deployment template to the selected platform. The validation of the selected deployment template for deployment to the selected platform may include transmitting a validation data request to an agent that executes on the selected platform to obtain validation data related to at least one validation rule, receiving validation data in response to the validation data request, and applying the at least one validation rule to the received validation data to determine validation success or failure. |
| US08978024B2 |
Federated system automatic update communication to enable selective update of critical firmware elements
A method for firmware update coordination in a federated computing system can include receiving in a host one of different computers coupled to one another in a federated computing system, different version levels of firmware versions in peer ones of the different computers. The method additionally can include recording in a compatibility list in the host computer, different version levels of firmware versions for respectively different peer ones of the computers. The method yet further can include selecting a firmware update to be applied to the host computer and comparing a version level of the selected firmware update to the different version levels in the compatibility list. Finally, the firmware update can be applied to the host computer only if the version level of the selected firmware update is present in the compatibility list, but otherwise rejecting the firmware update. |
| US08978022B2 |
Reducing instruction miss penalties in applications
Embodiments include systems and methods for reducing instruction cache miss penalties during application execution. Application code is profiled to determine “hot” code regions likely to experience instruction cache miss penalties. The application code can be linearized into a set of traces that include the hot code regions. Embodiments traverse the traces in reverse, keeping track of instruction scheduling information, to determine where an accumulated instruction latency covered by the code blocks exceeds an amount of latency that can be covered by prefetching. Each time the accumulated latency exceeds the amount of latency that can be covered by prefetching, a prefetch instruction can be scheduled in the application code. Some embodiments insert additional prefetches, merge prefetches, and/or adjust placement of prefetches to account for scenarios, such as loops, merging or forking branches, edge confidence values, etc. |
| US08978016B2 |
Error list and bug report analysis for configuring an application tracer
Error logs, bug reports, and other databases identifying problems with a tracer system may be mined to determine how a tracer may interact with a given function, module, or other group of functions. Based on such reports, a tracer may be configured to avoid certain functions or to trace such functions in a specific manner. In some cases, tracer may be configured to limit tracing to certain parameters or with other limitations to avoid any known conditions under which errors occur. |
| US08978006B2 |
Systems and methods for a mobile business application development and deployment platform
Systems and methods for developing, customizing, and deploying mobile device business applications are provided through a mobile application development and deployment platform. Preferably, these systems and methods are implemented in an Internet based environment that allows non-technical users to build highly-customizable cross-platform mobile applications. The platform allows users to select, input, create, customize, and combine various content, design characteristics, database structure, and application components, such as modules, some of which allow an end user to store and access data in an end user database for business applications. In certain embodiments, the platform allows users to compile and generate a configuration file for the mobile application that can be distributed to end users for execution on various mobile devices and mobile operating systems. When the mobile application is installed on, or executed by the mobile device, the configuration file may enable the retrieval of data associated with the mobile application. |
| US08978002B1 |
Rapid expression coverage
This application discloses simulating a circuit design with a test bench and determining an expression coverage in the circuit design by the test bench with a rapid expression coverage process. The rapid expression coverage process can include dividing an expression in the circuit design into multiple sub-expressions, and separately evaluating each of the multiple sub-expressions during simulation of the circuit design to detect whether first operands in the corresponding sub-expressions receive each available input state, while second operands in the corresponding sub-expressions are in a non-masking state. The rapid expression coverage can generate an expression coverage metric to indicate whether expressions in the circuit design were covered by the test bench during the simulation of the circuit, for example, without having to generate truth-tables that include each possible input vector for each expression. |
| US08977998B1 |
Timing analysis with end-of-life pessimism removal
A method for using computing equipment to perform timing analysis on an integrated circuit design includes identifying a timing arc of the integrated circuit design. The timing arc may be a clock path or a data path in the integrated circuit design. A probability of the timing arc may be obtained and an aging effect for the timing arc may be calculated. The aging effect of the timing arc is calculated based on the probability. The timing arc may include maximum and minimum delays that are adjusted based at least partly on the calculated aging effect on the timing arc. |
| US08977996B2 |
Method, design apparatus, and program product for incremental design space exploration
A design apparatus generates an optimal design condition by design space exploration. The apparatus including a source code parsing (301) which parses source code and generates a parse tree, a cluster generation task (302) which generates clusters based on the parse tree, each of the clusters including a group of source codes which can operate independently, a log file task (303) which generates a log file based on a structure of the cluster, and a comparison task (304) which compares a first log file of a previous cluster with a second log file of a current cluster and re-uses previous exploration result based on a comparison result, the first log file being obtained from a previous design space exploration, the second log file being generated from a current operation. |
| US08977990B2 |
Exposure monitoring key to determine misalignment between blind and reticle
A reticle including exposure monitoring keys. The reticle includes an exposure region that is to be exposed to light during an exposure process, and a non-exposure region surrounding the exposure region and not to be exposed to the light. The exposure monitoring keys are disposed across a boundary between the exposure region and the non-exposure region. |
| US08977985B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having activation control program stored therein and activation control apparatus
A system is disclosed including a first display control section 218 for selectively displaying, in a first display area, a second predetermined number of first objects among first objects, corresponding to a first predetermined number of game programs, for which an order is set, a second display control section for displaying a position designation image at a position corresponding to a position, of subject software, in an order set for the first predetermined number of pieces of software; a display change section for designating a first object to be displayed in the first display area, based on an operation input received by using the position designation image; and an activation execution section for activating software corresponding to one first object which is selected from among the second predetermined number of first objects displayed in the first display area, based on the operation input. |
| US08977979B2 |
Social network relationship mapping
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for social network relationship mapping. In an embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes identifying one or more terms within content displayed to a user; for each identified term: transmitting the identified term to one or more social networking servers supporting a social networking application, in response to transmitting the identified term to the social networking servers, receiving from the social networking servers a list of people that correspond with the identified term, directing a display device to display the list of people that correspond with the identified term, and in response to user input, adding an identification of a person from the list of people to a mapping clipboard; directing the display device to display a relationship graph that indicates how people identified in the mapping clipboard are connected to each other in the social networking application. |
| US08977978B2 |
Outline view
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums for creating and presenting an outline view, the outline view including a first user navigable graphical panel, the first panel displaying first organizational elements corresponding to a first outline level of an electronic content work; a second user navigable graphical panel, the second panel displaying one or more child organizational elements of a selected first organizational element, the child organizational elements corresponding to a second outline level of the electronic content work; and one or more content previews of content within the electronic content work in the first or second panel, the content previews corresponding to the first or second outline levels of the electronic content work, respectively. |
| US08977964B2 |
Media content device, system and method
Access is provided for different types of media content provided by disparate publishers, and in formats corresponding to operating characteristics of respective user devices. As consistent with one or more example embodiments herein, media content access is filtered for users requesting access via different user devices, based upon characteristics of the device to which the access is provided, user subscription data and publisher-specific criteria. A user-specific storefront interface is generated for each of a multitude of users, based upon the filtering. Each storefront interface indicates media content that can be displayed at the device to which access is requested, and identifies media content to which the user does and does not have subscription access. The user-specific storefront interfaces are presented at respective user devices, and media content is delivered to each device in response to selections made via the user-specific storefront interfaces. |
| US08977962B2 |
Reference waveforms
A method for displaying reference waveforms to facilitate visual identification of different points such as maximum points and minimum points of an audio clip is provided. The reference waveform includes points that correspond to points on the original audio waveform, except that some or all points on the reference waveform are accentuated to easily identify the positions of the corresponding points on the audio waveform. The reference waveforms are especially useful when an audio waveform (or at least a portion of the clip) has low volume which makes the visual identification of the maximums and minimums of the waveform difficult. Displaying the reference waveform which accentuates the peaks and valleys of the original waveform facilitates the identification of these maximums and minimums. |
| US08977959B2 |
Visualization of medical conditions in a virtual universe
This disclosure provides a system and method to enable the diagnosis, prognosis and emulation of medical conditions using virtual world environments. The system and method combines probabilistic and pattern recognition mechanisms for both real and virtual world applications to increase health care reach and presence within computational environments. The disclosure describes a system and method that uses physiological measurements and behaviors to diagnose a medical condition. Experimental data, either gathered or generated, provide points for emulation. An emulation algorithm increases the feeling of user presence within a virtual world. Avatar behaviors are mapped to scripts which describe the output of the medical diagnosis and prognosis algorithm. Based on proposed treatment plans, emulations can be run, and the appearance of the avatar altered based on the outcome (e.g., improvement, worsening, etc.). |
| US08977953B1 |
Customizing information by combining pair of annotations from at least two different documents
A system and method for obtaining information embedded in unstructured text is provided. The method comprising generating computer-readable annotations based on the unstructured text, at least one of the computer-readable annotations comprising an indication of a linguistic feature. A pair of the computer-readable annotations may be used to generate at least one computer-readable relation between the pair. The annotations and/or relations may be stored as characteristic data structures in a database. A query comprising at least one criterion may be received. In response to the query, an information result may be generated based on at least one of the characteristic data structures stored in the database. |
| US08977952B2 |
Electronic book version and annotation maintenance
Techniques are disclosed for maintaining multiple versions of electronic books on an access device and for carrying over annotations between the multiple versions. In one embodiment, an annotation to be carried over between multiple versions may include both a document file indicator and a surrounding text indicator associated with a document file in a version. The document file indicator may be used to determine whether a corresponding document file exists in a differing version. If the document file exists in the differing version, the surrounding text indicator may be used to determine whether the surrounding text exists within the differing version. If the surrounding text exists, the annotation may be inserted at the corresponding location in the differing version. Differing versions may be maintained on the access device based on whether each of the differing versions is a major or minor version. Versions of the electronic book and related annotations may be stored on or off-device. |
| US08977950B2 |
Techniques for selection and manipulation of table boarders
Techniques to select and manipulate table borders as discrete objects are described. In particular, a table border may be selected without having to select a cell that includes the desired border. In one embodiment, for example, a technique may include detecting a selector in proximity to a border in a table. The border in proximity to the selector may be highlighted visually on a display to show which part of the table border may be selected. A selection may cause the highlighted border to be selected. The now-selected border may then be manipulated. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08977949B2 |
Electronic document equivalence determination system and equivalence determination method
An equivalence determination system (10) according to this invention includes a specifying means (11) and determination means (12). The specifying means (11) specifies parts of respective electronic documents in a document database that are rarely modified manually. The determination means (12) determines whether the parts specified by the specifying means (11) match each other between a plurality of electronic documents, and when determining that the parts match each other, specifies that these documents are a plurality of similar electronic documents. An electronic document which cites part or all of another electronic document and is slightly modified can be quickly specified in the document database. |
| US08977948B1 |
System, method, and computer program for determining information associated with an extracted portion of content
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining information associated with an extracted portion of content. In use, a user is identified. Additionally, content generated by the user is identified. Additionally, a portion of the content is extracted. Further, information associated with the extracted portion of the content is determined. Further still, the determined information is added to a profile of the user. Also, an action is initiated, based on the profile of the user. |
| US08977946B2 |
Presentation apparatus and presentation control method
A presentation apparatus stores parts data that includes parts data that includes type, location, and size of component parts that are displayed within a selected screen area, together with a selection rule that depicts the type of the component part that is to change a drawing state when the presentation apparatus is running in a presentation mode. When executing a presentation process, the apparatus selects a component part from the parts data, according to the selection rule, processes the selected screen area by changing an image of the selected component part, and generates the image to be used in the presentation. |
| US08977938B2 |
Parallel decomposition of Reed Solomon umbrella codes
Systems, methods, apparatus, and techniques are presented for processing a codeword. A Reed-Solomon mother codeword n symbols in length and having k check symbols is received, and the n symbols of the received Reed-Solomon mother codeword are separated into v Reed-Solomon daughter codewords, where v is a decomposition factor associated with the Reed-Solomon mother codeword. The v Reed-Solomon daughter codewords are processed in a respective set of v parallel processes to output v decoded codewords. |
| US08977931B2 |
Method and apparatus for nested dispersed storage
A method begins by a DS processing module generating a plurality of encoded slices from a data segment using an error encoding function. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying a plurality of DS storage units for storing the plurality of encoded slices. The method continues with the DS processing module selecting an encoded slice of the plurality of encoded slices for sub-slicing using a sub-slicing encoding function to produce a selected encoded slice. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting the plurality of encoded slices to the plurality of DS storage units. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting a command to a DS storage unit of the plurality of DS storage units corresponding to the selected encoded slice, wherein the command includes an instruction to sub-slice the selected encoded slice. |
| US08977930B1 |
Memory architecture optimized for random access
In an embodiment, a plurality of memory dies is coupled as a memory block. The memory block has an access width defined as a system word length divided by a burst length associated with the plurality of memory dies. The burst length is greater than one. A single word having the system word length is written or read in a write operation or a read operation, respectively, through a write burst or a read burst, respectively, for random access memory operation with a granularity of the single word. |
| US08977927B2 |
Error-correction coding method, error-correction decoding method, error-correction coding apparatus, and error-correction decoding apparatus
An error-correction coding method that includes outer coding of performing a coding process for an outer code; and inner coding of performing a coding process for an inner code that has an error correction capability adjusted based on an error correction capability of the outer code. |
| US08977925B2 |
Efficient way to construct LDPC code by comparing error events using a voting based method
A method for ordering trapping sets to find one or more dominant trapping sets includes analyzing a trapping set and a random set of codewords to generate a distance value for each trapping set, and ordering the trapping sets by the distance value. Distance values may be determined for each trapping set by tracking a vote count wherein a correct decode at a certain noise level produces a “right” vote and an incorrect decode at a certain noise level produces a “left” vote. A certain threshold number of “left” votes terminates processing at that noise level. |
| US08977923B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting HARQ
A method of supporting Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) includes receiving an initial uplink grant on a downlink channel, transmitting uplink data on an uplink channel using the initial uplink grant, receiving a request for retransmission of the uplink data, determining at least one transmission parameter of a channel quality indicator (CQI) from the initial uplink grant, multiplexing retransmission data of the uplink data with the CQI, and transmitting the multiplexed data on the uplink channel. Amount of resources for transmission of the CQI is determined based on the at least one transmission parameter. |
| US08977920B2 |
DDR circuitry data and control buses connected to test circuitry
A device test architecture and a reduced device test interface are provided to enable efficient testing of embedded cores and other circuits within devices. The reduced device test interface is achieved using a double data rate (DDR) signaling technique between the tester and the device. The DDR test interface allows the tester to interface to test circuits within the device, such as IEEE 1500 and/or IEEE 1149.1 test circuits, to provide high test data bandwidth to the test circuits using a minimum of test interface signals. The test architecture includes compare circuits that allow for comparison of test response data to be performed within the device. The test architecture further includes a memory for storing the results of the test response comparisons. The test architecture includes a programmable test controller to allow for various test control operations by simply inputting an instruction to the programmable test controller from the external tester. Additional features and embodiments of the device test architecture and reduced test interface are also disclosed. |
| US08977919B2 |
Scan, test, and control circuits coupled to IC surfaces contacts
A test control port (TCP) includes a state machine SM, an instruction register IR, data registers DRs, a gating circuit and a TDO MX. The SM inputs TCI signals and outputs control signals to the IR and to the DR. During instruction or data scans, the IR or DRs are enabled to input data from TDI and output data to the TDO MX and the top surface TDO signal. The bottom surface TCI inputs may be coupled to the top surface TCO signals via the gating circuit. The top surface TDI signal may be coupled to the bottom surface TDO signal via TDO MX. This allows concatenating or daisy-chaining the IR and DR of a TCP of a lower die with an IR and DR of a TCP of a die stacked on top of the lower die. |
| US08977917B2 |
Highly secure and extensive scan testing of integrated circuits
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit chip has an input/output (I/O) interface and programmable fabric. The I/O interface restricts access to scan testing of the chip by requiring (1) a specific scan-testing instruction, (2) a specific manufacturing key, and (3) a specific fabric pattern value from a specific set of registers in the programmed fabric. In addition or alternatively, the I/O interface has circuitry that enables scan testing of most of the logic of the I/O interface itself, including the logic being driven by the JTAG TAP state register. |
| US08977916B2 |
Using data watchpoints to detect unitialized memory reads
A method of detecting uninitialized memory reads is shown where either all or a subset of a random access memory system is initialized to a know value. One or more watch points are implemented where after a memory read is detected the value read is compared to the value written during initialization. If the values match debug information is captured and appropriate corrective action is taken. |
| US08977915B2 |
pBIST engine with reduced SRAM testing bus width
A programmable Built In Self Test (pBIST) system used to test embedded memories where the memories under test are incorporated in a plurality of sub chips not integrated with the pBIST module. Test data comparison is performed in a distributed data logging architecture to minimize the number of interconnections between the distributed data loggers and the pBIST. |
| US08977914B2 |
Stress-based techniques for detecting an imminent read failure in a non-volatile memory array
A technique for detecting an imminent read failure in a non-volatile memory array includes applying a bulk read stress to a plurality of cells of the non-volatile memory array and determining whether the plurality of cells exhibit an uncorrectable error correcting code (ECC) read during an array integrity check at a margin read verify voltage level subsequent to the bulk read stress. The technique also includes providing an indication of an imminent read failure for the plurality of cells when the plurality of cells exhibit the uncorrectable ECC read during the array integrity check. In this case, the margin read verify voltage level is different from a normal read verify voltage level. |
| US08977910B2 |
Leveraging chip variability
Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc. |
| US08977908B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a suspect memory leak
A method for determining a suspect memory leak, including: sampling the throughput and memory usage of an application server; based on the sampled throughput, monitoring whether the throughput decrease continually, and based on the sampled memory usage, monitoring whether the memory usage remains stable within a predefined range; in response to a continual decrease of the throughput and the memory usage remaining stable within the predetermined range, determining that the application server is suspected of having a memory leak. Using the solution of the present invention can free an administrator of the burden of artificially identifying suspect servers, can identify a suspect server during runtime and further determine whether it actually has a memory leak. |
| US08977906B2 |
Checkpoint debugging using mirrored virtual machines
A computer-implemented method of debugging computer code includes: obtaining state information corresponding to a first machine at a checkpoint initiated during execution of the computer code on the first machine; and configuring the second machine to a same operating state as the first machine at the checkpoint to create a mirrored version of the first machine. The method also includes receiving a notification that execution of the program on a first machine has failed, and in response to receiving the notification: triggering a processor of the second machine to initiate execution of a copy of the code from a specific code execution point at which the checkpoint was; activating a debugger module to run concurrently with the execution of the program on the second machine and collect and store the debug data as corresponding to execution failure of the computer code at the first machine. |
| US08977905B2 |
Method and system for detecting abnormality of network processor
The disclosure discloses a method and a system for detecting an abnormality of a network processor. The method comprises the following steps: an abnormality detection operation code is added into an execution flow of each thread in a network processor, and the network processor sets a flag bit corresponding to a current thread in an abnormality protection flag data area in a shared memory to a first flag when executing the abnormality detection operation code in the current thread; and when a period of a timer is expire, a coprocessor detects all the flag bits in the abnormality protection flag data area in the shared memory, determines that a thread corresponding to a flag bit which is not the first flag is abnormal when detecting that not all the flag bits are the first flag, and sets all the flag bits to a second flag when detecting that all the flag bits are the first flag. Through the disclosure, the abnormality of a thread can be detected timely and efficiently, so that the failure detection capability of the network device using the network processor as a core unit at run time is improved without influencing the forwarding performance and service processing flow of the network processor. |
| US08977903B1 |
Scalable testing in a production system with autoshutdown
A network-based production service is configured to process client requests for the production service via a network, capture production request data defining the requests and store the production request data in a data store. A test system comprising one or more controllers creates test jobs according to a test plan for testing the production service. The test plan creates a test profile for using specified production request data to simulate a load on the production service. Each job created by the test plan specifies a portion of production request data. A job queue receives and queues test jobs from one or more controllers configured to add test jobs to the job queue according to the test plan. Workers access jobs from the job queue and the production request data from the data store as specified in each job and replay the production request data to the production service. |
| US08977902B2 |
Integrity checking including side channel monitoring
A method for integrity checking for a cryptographic engine in a computing system includes monitoring a state of a side channel of the cryptographic engine during operation of the cryptographic engine by a side channel monitor; comparing the state of the side channel to a side channel model of the cryptographic engine to determine whether a mismatch exists between the state of the side channel and the side channel model; and based on a mismatch between the state of the side channel and the model of the side channel, indicating an error in the cryptographic engine. |
| US08977897B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium, data management method, and storage device
An internode put requesting unit detects a time-out with respect to a put request issued to the next node in the order of a multiplexing chain and notifies a put/get executing unit of the time-out. The put/get executing unit sends an error to the previous node in the order of the multiplexing chain or a client and instructs a put-failed-data synchronizing unit to synchronize data failed to be put, and the put-failed-data synchronizing unit performs a synchronization process. A primary makes other put requests wait until completion of the synchronization process. Furthermore, when having received the error, the client issues a get request to the tail end of the multiplexing chain. |
| US08977891B2 |
Optimized recovery
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restoring data. In some embodiments, this includes determining an object to be recovered, determining a representation of the object, and requesting the representation of the object from a data resource system. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a hash value of the object. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a segment of the object. |
| US08977890B2 |
Memory system and control method
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a first memory, a second memory, and a control unit. The first memory includes a volatile first register retaining a first operation parameter. The control unit performs a first operation of retaining the first operation parameter in the second memory. Then, the control unit turns OFF the first memory while retaining the first operation parameter in the second memory when an operation mode is switched from a first mode to a power saving second mode. Then, the control unit performs a second operation of turning on the first memory, and transferring the first operation parameter retained in the second memory to the first register when the operation mode is switched from the second mode to the first mode. |
| US08977884B2 |
Shared-PLL audio clock recovery in multimedia interfaces
A bit stream includes playback data having an associated clock rate and a variable reference clock that is synchronized to the bit stream. A playback clock recovery signal and a data recovery signal are generated in response to the received reference clock. A playback clock frequency signal is generated in response to the playback clock recovery signal. A recovered playback clock is generated by using a divide by M divider, wherein the value of M used by the divide by M divider is determined in response to a programmable multiple of the clock rate associated with the playback information. |
| US08977881B2 |
Controller core time base synchronization
A system and method for efficiently synchronizing multiple processing cores on a system-on-a-chip (SOC). A SOC includes an interrupt controller and multiple processing cores. The interrupt controller includes a main time base counter. The SOC includes multiple local time base counters, each coupled to a respective one of the processing cores. Synchronization logic blocks are used to update the local counters. These blocks receive a subset of bits from the interrupt controller. The subset of bits represents a number of least significant bits of the main counter less than a total number of bits for the main counter. The logic blocks update an associated local counter according to changes to the received subset of bits. A difference may exist between values of the main counter in the interrupt controller and the local counter in the processing core. However, this difference may be a constant value. |
| US08977880B2 |
Method for managing power supply of multi-core processor system involves powering off main and slave cores when master bus is in idle state
A multi-core processor system, a dynamic power management method thereof and a control apparatus thereof are provided. In the method, a workload of a multi-core processor during a runtime stage is obtained. Next, a hot-plug operation is respectively performed on a plurality of slave cores according to the workload and a working state of each slave core. Then, a bus master status and the working state of a boot core are monitored to determine whether to power off the boot core, in which the bus master status is generated by combining a plurality of device statuses reflected by a plurality of peripheral devices. Finally, when the bus master status is determined as idle, the boot core is powered off. |
| US08977879B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing a multi-stage hibernate and resume process
Before hibernating a computing device (102), system software components (116) are notified of an upcoming hibernation process. The notifications are conveyed through an application program interface (API) (114). At least a portion of the system software components (116) can perform one or more pre-hibernation activities to place that system software component (116) in a ready-to-resume state. Each system software component indicates when it is ready for hibernation. Responsive to receiving the indication from each of the system software components (116), the hibernation process can complete. The completed hibernation process creates a snapshot (122) in nonvolatile memory. The snapshot (122) saves state information (124) for each of the system software components (116). The state information (124) is for the ready-to-resume state of the system software components (116). The computing device (102) can be restored after hibernation using a resume process (130), which reads the state (124) information from the snapshot (122). |
| US08977877B2 |
Image processing apparatus, communication method therefor, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus being configured to support a power-saving mode which allows achieving low power consumption while keeping an idle connection without communication between the image processing apparatus and a communication device in a network environment, comprises: a first judgment portion which judges whether or not the communication device supports the power-saving mode; and a communicator which establishes a connection to the communication device at a first communication rate if the first judgment portion judges that the communication device does not support the power-saving mode, at a second communication rate which is faster than the first communication rate if the first judgment portion judges that the communication device supports the power-saving mode. |
| US08977871B2 |
System and method for power management using a basic input output system
A system comprises a plurality of processor cores. The processor cores may comprise one or more application processor (AP) cores and a boot strap processor (BSP) core. A basic input/output system (BIOS) comprises an I/O device module to call a stall function in response to an I/O operation, a power management module that couples to the I/O device and a timer module that couples to the power management module. The power management module is to adjust a timer period of the timer module based on a stall delay of the stall function. The power management module may hook the stall function and compare the stall delay with a predetermined threshold and set the timer period to the stall delay in response to determining that the stall delay is longer. The power management module may put the BSP in a sleep mode during the timer period to save power. |
| US08977867B2 |
Corralling virtual machines with encryption keys
A virtual machine comprises a unique identifier that is associated with one or more encryption keys. A management server encrypts the virtual machine's virtual hard disk(s) using the one or more associated encryption keys. The management server further provides the one or more encryption keys to a limited number of one or more servers in a system. Only those one or more servers that have been provided the one or more encryption keys can be used to load, access, and/or operate the virtual machine. The management server can thus differentiate which virtual machines can be operated on which servers by differentiating which servers can receive which encryption keys. In one implementation, a management server encrypts all virtual machines in the system, but encrypts virtual machines with sensitive data with a limited set of encryption keys, and further provides those encryption keys to a limited set of trusted servers. |
| US08977863B1 |
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for dynamic protection of intellectual property in electronic circuit designs
Various embodiments describe methods and systems for dynamic IP protection in electronic circuit designs. The methods or systems determine one or more levels of access or encryption and identify design data that should be made available for each level. For each level, a pcell instance is created to hide actual design data, and the design data that should be made available are moved to an instance of the corresponding sub-master in memory. The design data in this instance are encrypted in memory and are persisted in a side file in a non-volatile computer accessible storage medium. An authorized user is provided with a key, the side file, and a decrypting scheme to retrieve the actual design data with an appropriate level of details from the side file during a pcell evaluation process. |
| US08977861B2 |
Method and system for biometric authentication
A method of authentication is provided that includes capturing biometric data for a desired biometric type from an individual, determining an algorithm for converting the biometric data into authentication words, converting the captured biometric data into authentication words in accordance with the determined algorithm, including the authentication words in a probe, and comparing the probe against identity records stored in a server system. Each of the identity records includes enrollment biometric words of an individual obtained during enrollment. Moreover, the method includes identifying at least one of the identity records as a potential matching identity record when at least one of the authentication words included in the probe matches at least one of the enrollment biometric words included in the at least one identity record, and generating a list of potential matching identity records. |
| US08977852B2 |
Security for software defined radio terminals
A module (2) for integrity protection of messages transmitted from a mobile software defined radio (SDR) terminal (1), the module provided with a confined cryptographic key K and arranged to receive loaded SDR-code. The module derives an integrity protecting key Rk from at least said cryptographic key K, and provides a periodic integrity protection on-line of generated messages using said key integrity protecting key Rk, and the integrity of said messages is verified by an integrity checking node (10) of the access network. |
| US08977850B2 |
Content data, transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus and decoding method
A transmitting apparatus comprises an initialization vector generating unit for generating an initialization vector, an encryption unit for initializing a stream encryption module using the generated initialization vector and performing stream encryption on stream data using the initialized stream encryption module, an encryption packet generating unit for generating an encryption packet containing encrypted stream-encrypted data, an initialization packet generating unit for generating an initialization packet containing an initialization vector and time information indicating when a next initialization vector subsequent to the initialization vector will be sent, and a transmission unit for transmitting the initialization packet and the encryption packet by broadcast/multicast. |
| US08977849B1 |
Systems and methods for creating a rights management system (RMS) with superior layers and subordinate layers
A computer-implemented method for creating a rights management system (RMS) with superior layers and subordinate layers is described. A separate trust network for one or more layers of the RMS is established. The trust network includes one or more computing nodes within the one or more layers. A data object is created on a computing node that is a member of trust network in a superior layer. The data object is encrypted to a ciphertext data object. A publishing license is created for each of the one or more layers of the RMS. Access rights and attributes associated with the ciphertext data object are controlled within each layer based on the publishing license of each of the one or more layers of the RMS. |
| US08977848B1 |
Method and system for reconciling safety-critical and high assurance security functional requirements between safety and security domains
Systems and methods for providing safety and security functions are disclosed. The system includes a computing device that provides at least a first partition and a second partition. The computing device implements time and space partitioning to isolate resources available to the first partition and the second partition. The system also includes a safety module that operates in the first partition for providing safety functions for the system. The system further includes a security module that operates in the second partition for providing security functions for the system. A predefined communication interface is utilized to facilitate communications between the safety module and the security module. The communication interface defines a set of communications allowable between the safety module and the security module, wherein information sharing between the safety module and the security module is restricted to only the set of communications allowed through the communication interface. |
| US08977847B1 |
Distributed challenge-response authentication
A distributed challenge-response protocol is carried out between a verifier and a prover. The verifier comprises servers storing respective shares of a set of challenge-response pairs. A particular challenge of one of the challenge-response pairs is sent to the prover, and a response to the challenge is received from the prover. The received response is authenticated as an appropriate response to the particular challenge based on indications from respective ones of at least a subset of the servers as to whether or not the received response matches respective reconstructed responses computed by those servers. A given one of the servers may be configured to reconstruct the particular challenge using information associated with the share stored in the given server and information associated with at least one other share stored in at least one other server, with the reconstructed challenge being to be sent to the prover as the particular challenge. |
| US08977846B2 |
Method and device for the secure transfer of data
A method for the secure transfer of a digital file from a first computerized system to one second computerized system, the method comprising the following steps: writing the digital file on a first file-management module of a secure transfer device, transferring the digital file to an internal verification module of the secure transfer device, verifying one portion of the transferred digital file in the verification module, and transferring the partially verified digital file to a second file-management module of the secure transfer device according to the result of the verification, in order to allow the file to be read by the one second computerized system according to the result of the verification. |
| US08977845B2 |
Methods and apparatus for access control in service-oriented computing environments
Improved access control techniques for use in a service-oriented computing environment are disclosed. For example, one method for authenticating a client in a service-oriented environment, wherein the service-oriented environment includes a plurality of services, includes the following steps. At least one service of the plurality of services is invoked. State information is associated with the at least one service invoked. The state information is used to authenticate a client with at least one service. Further, a method for access control in a service-oriented environment, wherein the service-oriented environment includes a plurality of services, includes the following steps. A rule specification language is provided. At least one rule is specified using the rule specification language. A verification is performed to determine whether or not the client satisfies the at least one rule. The client is granted access to a service when the client satisfies the at least one rule. |
| US08977840B2 |
Failover to a standby system calculator in the loss of communication between currently-used system calculator and standby system calculator
A standby system calculator communicates with a currently-used system calculator for retaining data about a service, providing the service by using the data, and updating the data along with provision of the service. The standby system calculator includes a retainer that retains a copy of the data and a provider that provides the service by using the copy of the data while restricting an updating operation for updating the copy of the data in the retainer when a predetermined signal that indicates that the currently-used system calculator is operating and that has been transmitted from the currently-used system calculator to the standby system calculator, cannot be received for a predetermined period of time. |
| US08977835B2 |
Reversing processing order in half-pumped SIMD execution units to achieve K cycle issue-to-issue latency
Techniques for reducing issue-to-issue latency by reversing processing order in half-pumped single instruction multiple data (SIMD) execution units are described. In one embodiment a processor functional unit is provided comprising a frontend unit, and execution core unit, a backend unit, an execution order control signal unit, a first interconnect coupled between and output and an input of the execution core unit and a second interconnect coupled between an output of the backend unit and an input of the frontend unit. In operation, the execution order control signal unit generates a forwarding order control signal based on the parity of an applied clock signal on reception of a first vector instruction. This control signal is in turn used to selectively forward first and second portions of an execution result of the first vector instruction via the interconnects for use in the execution of a dependent second vector instruction. |
| US08977827B1 |
System, method and computer program product for recovering stub files
A read cache may include portions of files stored on media of a media library. Embodiments described herein may include systems and methods for restoring a read cache, including restoring stub files to a read cache on an ad hoc basis. |
| US08977826B1 |
Extent commands in replication
A method, system, and computer program product for ordering a plurality of data IO captured at a primary site to be applied at a secondary site, comprising removing the one or more extent level portions from the captured data IO, determining if the one or more extent level portions are time sequenced to overwrite a portion of data of the data IO, based on a determination that the portion data is to be overwritten, removing the overwritten portion of data from the plurality of the data IO and ordering the one or more extent level portions to be applied at the secondary site before the captured data IO. |
| US08977823B2 |
Store buffer for transactional memory
Provided are techniques for handling a store buffer in conjunction with a processor, the store buffer comprising a free list; a merge window; and an evict list; and logic, for, upon receipt of a T_STORE operation, comparing a first address associated with the T_STORE operation with a plurality of addresses associated with previous T_STORE operations, wherein the previous T_STORE operations are part of the same transaction as the T_STORE operation and the entries corresponding to the previous T_STORE operations are stored in the merge window; in response to a match between the first address and a second address, associated with a second T_STORE operation, of the plurality of addresses, merging a first entry corresponding to the first T_STORE operation with a second entry corresponding to the second T_STORE operation; and consolidating results associated with the first T_STORE operation with results associated with the second T_STORE operation. |
| US08977820B2 |
Handling of hard errors in a cache of a data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for handling hard errors occurring in a cache of the data processing apparatus. Cache location avoid storage is provided having at least one record, with each record being used to store a cache line identifier identifying a specific cache line. On detection of an error condition, one of the records in the cache location avoid storage is allocated to store the cache line identifier for the specific cache line associated with the entry for which the error condition was detected. A clean and invalidate operation is performed in respect of the specific cache line, and the access request is then re-performed. Cache access circuitry is arranged to exclude any specific cache line identified in the cache location avoid storage from a lookup procedure. |
| US08977818B2 |
Combined transparent/non-transparent cache
In one embodiment, a memory that is delineated into transparent and non-transparent portions. The transparent portion may be controlled by a control unit coupled to the memory, along with a corresponding tag memory. The non-transparent portion may be software controlled by directly accessing the non-transparent portion via an input address. In an embodiment, the memory may include a decoder configured to decode the address and select a location in either the transparent or non-transparent portion. Each request may include a non-transparent attribute identifying the request as either transparent or non-transparent. In an embodiment, the size of the transparent portion may be programmable. Based on the non-transparent attribute indicating transparent, the decoder may selectively mask bits of the address based on the size to ensure that the decoder only selects a location in the transparent portion. |
| US08977811B2 |
Scalable schedulers for memory controllers
Methods and apparatus to improve throughput and efficiency in memory devices are described. In one embodiment, a memory controller may include scheduler logic to issue read or write requests to a memory device in an optimal fashion, e.g., to maximize bandwidth and/or reduce latency. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08977810B2 |
Systems and methods for using memory commands
Systems and methods for using memory commands are described. The systems include a memory controller. The memory controller receives a plurality of user transactions. The memory controller converts each user transaction into one or more row and column memory commands. The memory controller reorders the memory commands associated with the plurality of user transactions before sending the memory commands to a memory device. |
| US08977808B2 |
Mapping between program states and data patterns
The present disclosure includes methods and apparatuses for mapping between program states and data patterns. One method includes: programming a group of G memory cells such that a combination of respective program states of the group maps to a constellation point corresponding to a received N unit data pattern, the group used to store N/G units of data per memory cell; wherein the constellation point is one of a number of constellation points of a constellation associated with mapping respective program state combinations of the group of memory cells to N unit data patterns; and wherein the constellation comprises a first mapping shell and a second mapping shell, the constellation points corresponding to the respective first and second mapping shells determined, at least partially, based on a polynomial expression of order equal to G. |
| US08977804B1 |
Varying data redundancy in storage systems
A disk drive is disclosed that varies its data redundancy policy for caching data in non-volatile solid-state memory as the memory degrades. As the non-volatile memory degrades, the redundancy of data stored in the non-volatile memory can be increased to counteract the effects of such degradation. Redundant data can be used to recover data stored in the non-volatile memory in case of a data corruption. Performance improvements and reduced costs of disk drives can thereby be attained. |
| US08977803B2 |
Disk drive data caching using a multi-tiered memory
A disk drive is disclosed that utilizes multi-tiered solid state memory for caching data received from a host. Data can be stored in a memory tier that can provide the required performance at a low cost. For example, multi-level cell (MLC) memory can be used to store data that is frequently read but infrequently written. As another example, single-level cell (SLC) memory can be used to store data that is frequently written. Improved performance, reduced costs, and improved power consumption can thereby be attained. |
| US08977799B2 |
Storage caching/tiering acceleration through staggered asymmetric caching
A multi-tiered system of data storage includes a plurality of data storage solutions. The data storage solutions are organized such that the each progressively faster, more expensive solution serves as a cache for the previous solution, and each solution includes a dedicated data block to store individual data sets, newly written in a plurality of write operations, for later migration to slower data storage solutions in a single write operation. |
| US08977798B2 |
Integrated electronic system mounted on aircraft
The present invention provides an electronic system mounted on an aircraft which can effectively reduce electronic devices and wires by integration of control systems. Specifically, a fuselage (80) of an aircraft (100) is divided into a nose part (80a), a center part (80b), and an aft part (80c), and two IMAs (integrated modular avionics units) (50a to 50c) are provided in each of these parts. The IMA units (50a to 50c) are interconnected via an integrated data bus (53) to construct an integrated electronic system mounted on the aircraft. The system is suitably used for integrating utility systems except for avionics systems, among a plurality of control systems mounted on the aircraft, and is also applicable to integration of the avionics systems. |
| US08977797B2 |
Method of improving peripheral component interface communications utilizing a low voltage differential signal channel
A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system. |
| US08977794B2 |
Communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network
The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a first subnet controller and a system device. The first subnet controller is coupled to a data bus and configured to arbitrate with a second subnet controller for control of the subnet. The system device is configured to transition from a reset state to a first state that includes pre-startup tasks, and transition from the first state to a second state that includes waiting for the subnet controller to provide configuration parameters to the system device. |
| US08977790B2 |
Peripheral module register access methods and apparatus
An embodiment of an electronic system includes a processing element, a bus controller, and a peripheral module. The processing element executes machine readable code for performing a data transfer of an x-bit wide data value between the processing element and the peripheral module. Performing the data transfer includes providing a processing element-provided address corresponding to a y-bit wide data register of the peripheral module, where y is less than x. The bus controller receives the processing element-provided address, and in response, performs a series of multiple data transfers with the peripheral module. This includes providing a first peripheral address for a first data transfer of the series, and providing at least one different peripheral address for at least one other data transfer of the series. The peripheral module maps the first peripheral address and the at least one different peripheral address to the y-bit wide data register. |
| US08977787B1 |
Management of path operating mode transitions in multipathing host computer
A host computer accesses a storage volume via multiple paths and maintains path mode information identifying either an active or standby operating mode. An active-mode path is generally usable, and a standby-mode path is usable under exceptional conditions such as non-availability of an active-mode path. A reason identifier identifies a first operating condition causing the path to be placed in the standby mode. Upon a path-activating event for a standby-mode path, if there is a second operating condition indicating that the path should be maintained in the standby operating mode, then the path is maintained in the standby operating mode and the path mode information is set to identify the second operating condition, and otherwise the operating mode is set to active. A path-activating event can be a manual action by a user or automatic action such as expiration of an aging timer to re-attempt use of a standby path. |
| US08977782B2 |
Electronic device and control method thereof
An electronic device is connectable to an external device. An interface substrate is detachably connected to a main substrate. A first interface is installed on the interface substrate, and the first interface is connectable to the external device. A second interface is installed on the main substrate, and the second interface is connectable to the external device. A selection unit selects one interface of the first interface on the interface substrate and the second interface on the main substrate. A communication unit communicates information with the external device through the interface selected by the selection unit. At least one of the first interface and the second interface is configured to detect a connection state to the external device. The selection unit selects an interface which is designated or preferentially selects an interface which detects a connection to the external device. |
| US08977781B1 |
Computer system
A computer system includes a first storage control module and at least one server module. The first storage control module includes plural storage processors. Each server module includes a server processor and a server I/F connected to the server processor and at least two of the plurality of storage processors. The sever I/F of an issuance server which is any one of the at least one server module specifies the storage processor by referring to sorting information in which identification information of the issuance server of an I/O request issued by the server processor of the issuance server, identification information of a destination storage area of the I/O request, and identification information of the storage processor in charge of the destination storage area are correlated with each other, and sends a command based on the I/O request to the specified storage processor. |
| US08977775B2 |
Techniques for identity and policy based routing
Techniques for identity and policy based routing are presented. A resource is initiated on a device with a resource identity and role assignments along with policies are obtained for the resource. A customized network is created for the resource using a device address for the device, the resource identity, the role assignments, and the policies. |
| US08977773B2 |
System and method for a rate control technique for a lightweight directory access protocol over MQSeries (LoM) server
A system and method for controlling rates for a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) over MQSeries (LoM) server. The system includes a health metrics engine that calculates an actual delay value, a LoM server that asynchronously obtains the actual delay value from the health metrics engine and place the delay value between one or more requests, and a LDAP master that accepts the one or more requests and send information in the one or more requests to a LDAP replica. |
| US08977772B2 |
Method and system for facilitating one-to-many data transmissions with reduced network overhead
A method and system for facilitating one-to-many data transmissions with reduced network overhead includes conducting a round of data transmissions from a source computing device to a plurality of sink computing devices. Each of the sink computing devices generates a bucket list of lost data blocks for the round of data transmissions and transmits the bucket list to the source computing device. The source computing device conducts a subsequent round of data transmissions based on the bucket lists. One or more additional subsequent rounds may be conducted until the bucket list of each sink computing device is empty. |
| US08977767B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for affecting programming of content for transmission over a multicast network
Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be implemented in various electronic devices to identify at least one current interest topic associated with message content transmitted over a wireless communication network, and affect programming of at least a portion of content for transmission over a multicast network based, at least in part, on the current interest topic. |
| US08977764B1 |
Profiling application usage from application streaming
Application usage is profiled based on application streaming. Code pages of multiple applications are streamed from a server to multiple client computers (endpoints) for execution. The streaming of the code pages is monitored, and usage data is collected such as which pages are streamed to which endpoints, under what circumstances and when. By referencing the streamed code pages and the underlying source code, the code pages are mapped (at least approximately) to corresponding application features. The collected usage data usage and the relevant mapping are analyzed, to create application usage profile data for streamed applications. The application usage profile data can include such information as how often, when, where and by whom application components are being executed, as well as which components cause errors, are most popular, confuse users, etc. |
| US08977760B2 |
System and method for routing SUPL proxy-mode traffice when multiple nodes are deployed in a network
A system and method for connecting a mobile device to a node in a wireless network. A query may be received for a mobile device from a location based application. In response to the query a first message may be transmitted to the mobile device from a first node, the first message being populated with at least one predetermined parameter. At a second node, it may then be determined whether to forward a second message from the mobile device to the first node via the second node as a function of the availability of the first node or the at least one predetermined parameter. |
| US08977758B2 |
Service bus system, service bus device, and method for assuring connection uniqueness
A service bus system includes: a plurality of first devices each coupled with a client; a plurality of second devices each to perform a service; a first service bus device through which sequences of a session between the first and second devices are communicated, including: a prediction unit to predict one or more other service bus devices through which connection between the first and second devices in a second or later sequence of the session is established; and a transmission unit to transmit information indicating the connection in the first sequence of the session to the one or more other service bus devices predicted; and a second service bus device including: a storage unit to hold the information transmitted from the first service bus device; and a connection unit to establish the connection in the second or later sequence of the session by using the connection information held. |
| US08977755B2 |
Mobile device and method to utilize the failover mechanism for fault tolerance provided for mobile traffic management and network/device resource conservation
A mobile device and method to utilize the failover mechanism for fault tolerance provided for mobile traffic management are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method, which may be implemented on a system or a mobile device which responsive to detecting a failed attempt to connect to a proxy server, determines whether the proxy server is reachable. In one embodiment, in response to determining that the proxy server is reachable, initiates a failover process by reconfiguring DNS routing rules. |
| US08977754B2 |
Composite public cloud, method and system
A composite public cloud enables an automated marketplace system for, selling and trading of computational resources by aggregating available compute resources so that buyers are automatically matched with sellers. A listing of compute resources available on a prospective seller's system and bids by prospective buyers for resources offered is maintained. A seller uses a series of attributes to characterize an available resource for prospective buyers. Compute resources are presented in a form which can be easily quantified or compartmentalized. Prospective buyers search the marketplace system based on desired resource criteria. The marketplace continually evaluates the attributes of resources available for sale and the desired criteria of prospective buyers. The system attempts to match buyers and sellers, optimizing for the needs of both parties. If a desirable match is found, the marketplace system facilitates a transaction between both parties, making the purchased resource available to the buyer. |
| US08977753B1 |
System and method for router keep-alive control
The real-time aspects of keep-alive generation are removed from the dynamic routing protocol (DRP) application and are embedded within a Unix-based operating system, which is programmed by DRP. A keep-alive control provides the ability to create a keep-alive message and a timeout interval on a TCP socket. Each socket can have an independent keep-alive message and timeout interval. A keep-alive message is sent whenever the TCP socket sends no normal user output for a duration exceeding the timeout interval. A timeout interval is normally specific in seconds and a keep-alive message is user definable and must not exceed a predetermined length in bytes. System calls are used to set the timeout interval and keep-alive message independently. Both a timeout and a keep-alive message must be set before the timeout becomes active. |
| US08977751B2 |
Network usage throttling systems and methods
Systems and methods for throttling network usage are disclosed. An exemplary method includes an access device maintaining throttling command interpretation data, receiving a throttling command broadcast over a wide area network, interpreting the throttling command based on the throttling command interpretation data, and conforming at least one operation of the access device to a network usage throttling level in accordance with the interpretation of the throttling command. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08977750B2 |
Extending security platforms to cloud-based networks
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for extending a network security platform to a cloud-based network. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or servers, can be managed by a network security engine. The network security engine can govern access to and operation of the set of managed machines through a set of security policies. According to embodiments, the set of security policies can be sub-divided into a partitioned security class corresponding to a subset of the managed network which is intended to be deployed as a cloud-accessible subset of the overall managed network. The partitioned security class can specify access restrictions for the cloud-accessible subset to receive resources from or provide resources to the external cloud environment. A corporate campus network or other managed network can therefore permit access of the cloud to some or all of its machines, while still maintaining desired local security conditions. |
| US08977749B1 |
Allocating buffer for TCP proxy session based on dynamic network conditions
Allocation of buffers for a TCP proxy session between a client and a server by a service gateway includes: monitoring dynamic network behaviors for server and client side sessions of the TCP proxy session; and allocating capacity for a server side buffer and capacity for a client side buffer in a memory buffer based on the dynamic server side network behaviors, the dynamic client side network behaviors, and a weighted average of a capacity of the memory buffer. In one approach to the allocation, the gateway determines whether an available capacity of the server or client side buffer is sufficient to store a data packet. If not sufficient, the allocated capacity of the server or client side buffer is increased based on measurements of the dynamic network behaviors and the weighted average, and the available capacity of the server or client side buffer is adjusted accordingly. |
| US08977748B1 |
System and method for providing location reporting services
A method and system for reporting a user location are described. Aspects of the invention minimize the need to report a current location of a user device to a remote server by attempting to predict a most likely location or most likely destination of the user device. As long as the user device does not leave a certain area defined in relation to the predetermined location or destination, the user device refrains from reporting to the remote server. The likely location or likely destination may be determined using a schedule generated from heat map information stored on the remote server. The schedule is used to determine where the user is likely to be traveling based upon the user's current location and/or the time of day. |
| US08977741B1 |
Method and system for cloud computing service transparency
A cloud computing service stores customer data on a server that is located outside of a network security system of the customer. The cloud computing service automatically monitors the customer data to identify one or more access events that originate from a resource within the cloud computing service. For each access event, the service identifies a resource and a data set. The resource may include an identifier associated with a human operator or a software application that performed the access event, and the data set may include customer data that the resource accessed during the access event. The service may create a report of each access event and the information corresponding to the data set for each access event, and it may cause the report to be transmitted to the customer. |
| US08977738B2 |
Automated discovery of monitoring devices on a network
A system and method are disclosed for the automated discovery of devices on a network, such as a TCP/IP network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”) and Domain Name System (“DNS”) servers. Devices on the network may be discovered, identified, and tracked by a monitoring server. Communications with the monitoring server may include identification information for each device. The identification information may be stored in DHCP option fields, transmitted with DHCP messages, and used to identify whether the device is new to the network. |
| US08977737B2 |
Detecting legacy bridges in an audio video bridging network
In a network having one or more Audio Video Bridging (AVB) devices, non-AVB bridges are detected by transmitting a maintenance message, such as a unicast linktrace message, from one AVB device such as a residential gateway to another AVB device such as a set-top box or IPTV. AVB devices in the path provide replies indicating whether the port on which the linktrace message was received is connected to a non-AVB bridge. The disclosure has utility in diagnostics problems with IPTV in a network. |
| US08977731B2 |
Low cost and flexible energy management system providing user control arrangement in a plurality of modes
An energy data management control system is configured to allow a user to control operation of the data management among a plurality of modes. |
| US08977729B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling error reporting and resolution
Various system and method embodiments are disclosed that include using a first node to receive messages including error information from a plurality of client computers via a computer network. Recommendations for resolving errors associated with the error information are made available to the client computers via the computer network. |
| US08977727B2 |
Remote configuration and selective distribution of product content to medical devices
A distribution server for distributing updates for medical devices is disclosed. The distribution server can provide an update to a configuration device which configures a device to be updated. The distribution server includes a portal that allows an update provider to provide an update package including an update file and update package data relating to the update file. The update package data includes dependency data indicating a condition that must be satisfied by the configuration device or a second device so that the update file can be installed on the device to be updated. The distribution server further includes a database that is configured to store package data of a plurality of update packages and locations of update files of the plurality of update packages. The server further includes a distribution module that receives an inquiry on behalf of a medical device and provides a list of available update packages. |
| US08977724B2 |
Method and system for automated operating system image loading
A method, system, and article for dynamic management of two or more operating system images for at least two client machines operating in a computer system sub-network. Different physical areas of the sub-network support separate image of the operating system images. As the client machines may be individually subject to movement within the sub-network, an appropriate operating system image is dynamically selected and uploaded to one or more of the individual client machines based upon the physical location thereof. |
| US08977723B2 |
Cloud based application fragmentation
Technology is disclosed for decomposing an application into fragments and streaming the application fragments for execution on a mobile computing device. A fragment presents a user interface of the application and needs a set of resources, e.g., images, icons, etc. to be executed. A server determines a set of fragments for the application and streams them to the device as and when the device needs a particular fragment. The server determines the set of fragments in various ways. For example, the server executes an emulator that simulates the execution of the application by the user and determines fragment data including the set of fragments, resources needed by each of the fragments, and various possible navigations between the fragments. In another example, the server receives such fragment data from various users executing the application on various devices, and aggregates them based on aggregating policy to obtain an aggregated fragment data. |
| US08977722B2 |
Method and apparatus for information exchange over a web based environment
Exchanging information via web is a way of life in modern society. Present invention utilizes dynamic workspace technology to allow people much efficiently and flexibly to exchanging information across global environment. |
| US08977720B2 |
Internet based hosted system and computer readable medium for modeling analysis
A Internet based system and computer readable medium comprising code for determining multiple modeling analysis tasks associated with a received data set, wherein the received data set is received via Internet, receiving a specification of multiple modeling analysis tasks, collecting a specification of the modeling analysis tasks via Internet, conducting a modeling analysis the received data set based on the determined multiple modeling analysis tasks and the received specification of the modeling analysis tasks and delivering a result of the modeling analysis via Internet. |
| US08977718B2 |
Website redevelopment wrapper
Existing network-based services can be reused by a new network service providing an updated interface to the existing services. A client request directed to the new network service triggers a back-end request from the new network service to the existing network service. The back-end request comprises aspects of the client's request and additional formatting rules and other information to override specific aspects of the existing network service. The existing network service generates a back-end response with its existing functionality that is being reused, and applies the specified overrides. Additional information to be utilized by the new network service in responding to the client can be added to the back-end response. The new network service can then form and transmit a response to the client by utilizing the central portion of the back-end response and appending additional information to it, including the information specified by the existing network-service. |
| US08977717B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing applications with shared scalable caching
An approach is provided for initiating sending a request message indicating a parameter for an application to an index of parameter values stored in a database for a plurality of related applications. A value for the parameter is received in response to sending the request. Performing a function of the application based on the value received for the parameter is initiated. The value for the parameter is used by a different mobile application of the plurality of related applications. |
| US08977715B2 |
Method for communicating data between locally networked heterogeneous processing systems and communication system using said method
A method for communicating data in an aircraft between at least a first data processing system and a second data processing system locally networked, each processing system being capable of executing at least one application, wherein the data to be exchanged are organized in messages, the aforementioned messages as well as the processing systems and the applications being defined in files stored in a backup unit connected to the network and accessible by the data processing systems. |
| US08977711B2 |
System and method for implementing application functionality within a network infrastructure including wirelessly coupled devices
A system and method for implementing functionality within a network on behalf of first and second devices communicating with each other through the network. A front-end device is provided within the network that communicates data traffic with the first device. A back-end device is also implemented within the network and communicates data traffic with the second device. A communication channel couples the front-end device and the back-end device. Data traffic may be encoded into a different type or protocol for transport through the communication channel by the front-end device and back-end device. The front-end device and back-end device exchange quality of service information and may alter characteristics of the data traffic through the communication channel according to the quality of service information. |
| US08977709B2 |
Using an interactivity object to facilitate web-based aggregation
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that uses an interactivity object to facilitate interactivity during automated web site accesses. During operation, the system examines a web page on the web site to determine a data type for an interactivity request associated with the web page. Next, the system creates an interactivity object, which includes the interactivity request along with the determined data type for the interactivity request. Finally, the system sends the interactivity object to the user to solicit a response from the user. |
| US08977705B2 |
Method and system for data logging and analysis
A method of logging internet requests includes defining a plurality of field types of interest and receiving a request from the internet including one or more fields. The method also includes determining that a first field type of a first field of the one or more fields matches one of the plurality of field types of interest and caching at least a portion of the first field in a cache. The method further includes determining that a second field type of a second field of the one or more fields matches one of the plurality of field types of interest caching at least a portion of the second field in the cache. The method includes transmitting the cache to a server, determining, a number of occurrences of a field value of at least one of the first field type or the second field type, and providing a report including the number of occurrences of the field value. |
| US08977702B2 |
Selecting a master node using a suitability value
Selecting a master node in a group of computing nodes. Computing nodes exchange suitability messages, candidate messages, and master messages to indicate the state of each node. A deterministic algorithm based on scores and timings is executed by each computing node to encourage each node to select the same master node. |
| US08977700B2 |
System and method for e-mail notification
A method includes receiving, from a set-top box device, an e-mail notification request including a set-top box identifier associated with the set-top box device and linked to an internet protocol television account identifier. The method includes accessing stored information that includes a plurality of set-top box identifiers and that links respective set-top box identifiers with corresponding e-mail accounts. The method further includes determining, based on the stored information and the set-top box identifier, an e-mail account of a first user maintained at a mail server, where the determination includes associating the internet protocol television account identifier with the e-mail account. The method further includes determining whether an e-mail has been received for the e-mail account at the mail server. When the e-mail has been received, the method includes generating an e-mail delivery notification and transmitting the e-mail delivery notification to the set-top box device associated with the e-mail notification request. |
| US08977697B2 |
Methods and systems for removing metadata from an electronic document attached to a message sent from a mobile electronic device
A method and system for removing metadata from email attachments sent from mobile devices includes receiving an email with an attached document. The attached document has metadata removed to create a cleansed version of the attached document. The attached document is replaced by the cleansed version of the attached document, and the email is sent according to the address or addresses included in the email. |
| US08977693B2 |
Browser based application development framework
A system, method, and/or machine readable medium including a set of stored instructions that, if executed by a processor, may cause one or more computers to receive user input via a platform independent web-based interface, wherein the user input is to identify application logic and one or more data repositories. The instructions can also cause one or more computers to generate a reusable web service based at least in part on the user input, and construct an application workflow based at least in part on the reusable web service. As a result of usage of such a web-based application development platform, users can create/assemble/generate both traditional & non-traditional software applications/services to perform a specific business functions or operations. Moreover, non-traditional software components are sharable web services, which can be used to create/generate a composite application. |
| US08977690B2 |
Distribution of XML documents/messages to XML appliances/routers
XML appliances/routers may be organized to implement one or more XML distribution rings to enable XML documents/messages to be distributed efficiently. The rings may be logical or physical. The XML distribution rings enable the XML documents/messages to be exchanged without requiring the XML appliances/routers to run a routing protocol to determine how XML documents/messages should be distributed through the network. Documents may be transmitted in one way on the ring or may be transmitted in both directions around the ring to enable the ring to tolerate failure of an XML appliance/router. Each XML appliance/router will receive all XML documents/messages and will make routing decisions for those clients that have provided the XML appliance/router with XML subscriptions. The subscriptions may be formed according to the XPath standard or in another manner. |
| US08977689B2 |
Managing collaborative activity
A system facilitates collaborative communications and information sharing in a network defined by a model. The model and a portion of the system are stored on a storage component coupled to a terminal. The system captures context information and user-defined data, the user-defined data provided during user interaction of the user in a first domain of the network, and dynamically stores the context information as metadata associated with the user-defined data, the user-defined data and the metadata stored on the storage component; a tracking component for tracking a change of the user from the first domain to a second domain of the network and dynamically updating the stored metadata based on the change, where the user accesses the user-defined data from the second domain; and an interface to the system that permits the user to create and view the user-defined data according to the model of the network. |
| US08977688B2 |
Methods and systems for pausing and resuming a meeting session
Presented are systems and methods for presenting, creating, and pausing a meeting session. The systems and methods create meeting-session data based at least in pan on one or more applications running on one or more devices connected to a meeting session. The systems and methods store muting-session data in a database. The systems and methods pause a meeting session such that the one or more devices are disconnected from the meeting session. The systems and methods resume a meeting session by configuring devices to run at least one of the one or more applications using the meeting-session data and joining configured devices to the resumed meeting session. |
| US08977682B2 |
Rebuild system for a storage network
One rebuild system includes a client device including an event handler and an indication listener associated with the event handler and a server device in communication with the client device. The server device includes an indication subscription associated with the event handler and a self-registration trigger (SRT) module in communication with the indication subscription for rebuilding the event handler and the indication listener. Also provided are physical computer storage mediums including a computer program product rebuild method for a network. |
| US08977681B2 |
Pre-fetching data
A pre-fetching request is received by a server from a client. The pre-fetching request is performed to pre-fetch data from a data source connected to the server according to an indication of the pre-fetching request. The pre-fetched data is sent from the server to the client upon receiving an actual request for the pre-fetched data. As such, an integrated capability of a server and a client can be employed to perform data pre-fetch, to improve overall performance of the server and the client. |
| US08977677B2 |
Throttling usage of resources
A computing device provides a first server. The first server receives a primary request associated with a client. In response to receiving the primary request, the first server processes the primary request to generate a response message. As part of processing the primary request, the first server sends a secondary request to a second server after a delay period expires. The second server accesses a resource as part of processing of the secondary request. The duration of the delay period depends at least in part on a recent latency level of the client with regard to the resource. In this way, the first server throttles access to the resource. |
| US08977676B2 |
Numerical value management system and method for managing numerical value
There is provided a numerical value management system which includes a server device and a plurality of user terminals. Each user terminal generates title data to send to the server device when the title name is inputted, the server counts a number of users who create the title data for each title name based on the title data group to generate title compilation data indicating a relationship between the title name and a number of creating users. Further, a high-order title screen data is generated and sent to the user terminal when the server device obtains the high-order title reference request and the high-order title screen data is displayed on a screen in the user terminal. |
| US08977672B2 |
Intelligent scheduling for remote computers
A method of protecting data on a mobile computing device using a storage network by deploying to the mobile computing device, a synchronization agent and then associating a synchronization policy with the synchronization agent. The mobile computing device is monitored for at least one threshold event. Its determined that the threshold event has occurred which causes a request to initiate a data synchronization event to be transmitted. The response to the request is synchronizing the mobile computing device with the storage network. |
| US08977664B2 |
System for storing and transmitting compressed integer data
A method is disclosed for encoding and decoding integer values ranging over a known gamut of values used by a data system. By noting that a data system may store and/or transmit integer values over a predefined gamut having a minimum and a maximum limit, integer values at or near the maximum may be compressed to a greater degree than in conventional systems without any loss of data resolution. |
| US08977663B2 |
Converting binary values into binary-coded-centimal values
The disclosed embodiments facilitate converting binary values into the BCC format. One technique facilitates the direct conversion of binary numbers into BCC. A second variation first converts a binary number into an intermediate BCD value, and then converts that BCD value into a BCC value. Look-ahead comparators can further improve conversion performance by decreasing the latency of the conversion operation. By speeding up the conversion of binary values to decimal-format values, the disclosed techniques facilitate leveraging dedicated binary-format hardware for decimal-format operations, and thus improve the performance of decimal-format operations. |
| US08977662B1 |
Storing data objects from a flat namespace in a hierarchical directory structured file system
Storing and retrieving user data files includes, in a file storing operation, applying a first mapping (e.g. hash function) to a file identifier to originate a content address in a flat content address space; applying a second mapping (e.g., grouping of digits/characters) to the content address to originate a multi-level directory name usable in a file system; invoking the file system to store the user data file in the named directory. A file retrieving operation includes applying the first mapping to the file identifier to regenerate the content address; applying the second mapping to the regenerated content address to regenerate the directory name; invoking the file system using the regenerated directory name to retrieve the user data file. The method enables a general-purpose network attached storage (NAS) system to store files organized according to a legacy content-addressed storage (CAS) model of existing applications. |
| US08977661B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for file management
A method for file management, the method may include: calculating, by a management server that is located within a cloud computing environment, signatures of multiple files that are stored at multiple storage entities; and finding, by the management server, groups of similar files out of the multiple files, wherein the finding is in response to similarities between signatures of the multiple files; wherein the multiple storage entities comprise at least a first storage entity that is managed by a first management entity and a second storage entity that is managed by a second management entity that differs from the first management entity. |
| US08977660B1 |
Multi-level distributed hash table for data storage in a hierarchically arranged network
An improved technique for distributed data storage employs multiple DHT (distributed hash table) rings provided at different levels of a network hierarchy. A computing node is identified for data storage by performing multiple hashing operations, one for each DHT ring. The hashing operations for the different rings are distinct in that they are performed using different hashing functions and/or are performed on different data sources. In one example, a 2-level DHT is formed from a group of LANs forming a first DHT ring and a group of computing nodes, within each LAN, forming a second DHT ring. |
| US08977656B2 |
Inline tree data structure for high-speed searching and filtering of large datasets
A data structure comprises a clump header table and an inline tree data structure. The inline tree, representing filterable data fields of hierarchically organized data records, comprises an alternating sequence of first-level binary string segments, each followed by one or more corresponding second-level binary string segments. Each clump header record includes an indicator of a location in the inline tree of corresponding binary string segments. A dedicated, specifically adapted conversion program generates the clump header file and the inline tree for storage on any computer-readable medium, and the inline tree can be read entirely into RAM to be searched or filtered. A dedicated, specifically adapted search and filter program is employed to list or enumerate retrieved data records. Run-time computer code generation can reduce time required for searching and filtering. One example includes spatial searching and filtering of data records that include spatial coordinates as data fields. |
| US08977654B1 |
Assigning classes to users of an online community
This technology is directed to determining a character or personality characteristic for users of an online community, for example, a social network, and assigning a character or personality class to the users. In some instances, the systems and methods may determine the character or personality characteristic either implicitly from user data or actions etc., or explicitly, by providing users with a personality survey or questionnaire to solicit responses. The system and methods assign a suitable character or personality class to the users based on the character and personality characteristic determined for the users, and generate at least one of a class description, a career profile, and a relationship profile for the users, and provide data including the class description, career profile, and the relationship profile capable of being displayed on a user interface. |
| US08977652B2 |
Client-side API framework for uniform resource identifier (URI) manipulations
Techniques for manipulating URIs that have been rewritten for XmlHttpRequests (XHRs) and/or Web Services for Remote Portlets (WSRP). In one set of embodiments, a URI rewriter factory module is provided that is configured to determine and select a URI rewriter module based upon an input URI string. The input URI string may be, for example, in the form of a Javascript pseudo-protocol link, a remote proxy URI, or both. The selected URI rewriter module can then parse the input URI string to generate a URI object that has methods for manipulating the input URI string and for outputting the resulting manipulated URI as a string. |
| US08977648B2 |
Fast and robust classification algorithm for vein recognition using infrared images
A specific item within an item class is identified by defining sets of descriptor data from a training library. The collected descriptor data is grouped and organized into a hierarchical tree, where each leaf node is defined by relations between corresponding parts of the descriptor data. Registrable sets of descriptor data are then identified from a collection of registrable samples. The registrable sets of descriptors are sorted into the hierarchical tree. When an input sample to be identified is received, a test set of descriptor data is generated from the input sample. The test set is then sorted into the hierarchical tree. Each leaf node that receives a part of the test set provides a vote for the registered samples it contains. The registered sample with the most votes is deemed a match for the input sample. |
| US08977637B2 |
Facilitating field programmable gate array accelerations of database functions
Methods and arrangements for facilitating accelerations of database functions. A field programmable gate array is incorporated. At least one query control block is incorporated in the field programmable gate array, and database management system operations are accelerated via the field programmable gate array. The accelerating includes employing the at least one query control block to execute a query without reconfiguring the field programmable gate array. |
| US08977636B2 |
Synthesizing aggregate data of disparate data types into data of a uniform data type
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for synthesizing the aggregated data of disparate data types into data of a uniform data type which includes receiving aggregated data of disparate data types and translating each of the aggregated data of disparate data types into text content and markup associated with the text content. Synthesizing the aggregated data of disparate data types into data of a uniform data type may also include dynamically creating grammar sets for the text content and associating the grammar sets with the text content. Associating the grammar sets with the text content includes inserting markup in the translated data. |
| US08977634B2 |
Software method to create a music playlist and a video playlist from upcoming concerts
The present invention is a software application that is capable of producing a music playlist or a video playlist according to upcoming concerts and a plurality of narrowing criteria. The software application can be accessed through a web browser. A concert database is searched to find all related concerts according to inputted concert narrowing criteria. A music playlist is generated by retrieving all artist tracks within a music database matching a plurality of music narrowing criteria. A video playlist is generated by retrieving all artist videos within a video database matching a plurality of video narrowing criteria. Music playing software and video playing software are provided to play the music playlist and the video playlist. The music playlist and the video playlist can continuously update according to updating criteria. Comedy and other non-music related acts at a concert can also be implemented into the music playlist and the video playlist. |
| US08977633B2 |
System and method for generating a pool of matched content
A method of generating a pool of matched content pieces from an available pool of content pieces based on a selected sample, including providing at least one consumer database containing a plurality of consumer profiles with consumer preference identifying data stored on a data storage device, providing at least one brand database containing details of brand clients, each having one or more branding parameters stored on a data storage device, providing at least one content database containing a plurality of pieces of content provided by at least one content provider with each piece of content having one or more content profile identifiers stored on a data storage device, selecting a number of representative content pieces based on one or more branding parameters of a brand client to convey a brand identity, testing the representative content pieces against a set of constraints based on one or more content profile identifiers to establish that a minimum number of content piece identifiers are chosen using a data processor, and generating a pool of matched content pieces by selecting a plurality of content pieces from the available pool based on comparing the one or more content profile identifiers of the representative content pieces with one or more content profile identifiers of each content piece in the available pool of content pieces and including matches in the matched content pool using a data processor. |
| US08977629B2 |
Image-based popularity prediction
A machine may be configured to access an image of an item described by a description of the item. The machine may determine an image quality score of the image based on an analysis of the image. A request for search results that pertain to the description may be received by the machine, and the machine may present a search result that references the item's image, based on its image quality score. Also, the machine may access images of items and descriptions of items and generate a set of most frequent text tokens included in the item descriptions. The machine may identify an image feature exhibited by an item's image and determine that a text token from the corresponding item description matches one of the most frequent text tokens. A data structure may be generated by the machine to correlate the identified image feature with the text token. |
| US08977628B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for innovation farming
Systems, methods, and computer-readable code stored on a non-transitory media for assessing an entity's innovation level by one or more computing devices include gathering information relating to an entity's performance in plural disciplines; capturing strengths and opportunities of the entity based on the gathered information; generating an innovation score of the entity; analyzing the innovation score to generate an innovation report; and returning the innovation report to the entity. |
| US08977627B1 |
Filter based object detection using hash functions
This disclosure relates to filter based object detection using hash functions. A hashing component can compute respective hash values for a set of object windows that are associated with an image to be scanned. The hashing component can employ various hash functions in connection with computing the hash values, such as a winner takes all (WTA) hash function. A filter selection component can compare the respective hash values of the object windows against a hash table of object filters, and can select one or more object filters for recognizing or localizing at least one of an object within the image as a function of the comparison. |
| US08977626B2 |
Indexing and searching a data collection
A system searches a data collection using a bloom filter index to reduce the search scope to improve search efficiency, while at the same time allowing more flexible searches of the data collection using search terms containing any arbitrary string of data. |
| US08977624B2 |
Enhancing search-result relevance ranking using uniform resource locators for queries containing non-encoding characters
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices facilitate enhancing a web index with uniform resource locator (URL)/non-encoding character (NEC) word pairs to facilitate relevance ranking of search results provided in response to a search query that includes NEC words. URLs are received from web pages and substrings extracted therefrom. Additional elements are received from the web page, word-broken into sequences of NEC words, and the NEC words are converted into encoding-language representations which are matched against the URL substrings to identify candidate URL/NEC pairs for utilization in relevance ranking. |
| US08977622B1 |
Evaluation of nodes
Disclosed are various embodiments for assessing the quality of a node that comprises a collection of items containing textual data. The homogeneity of the node can be related to its quality. Highly ranked descriptive terms used in the node are identified and quality score is calculated that provides a measure of the quality of the node. Additionally, a node can be examined for outliers to improve node quality. |
| US08977619B2 |
Satellite scheduling system using crowd-sourced data
Examples of satellite scheduling systems are provided that use crowd-sourced data to generate image acquisition events for a network of imaging satellites. A crowd-sourcing system may utilize crowd-sourced data (e.g., messages generated by users of social network services) to determine events of interest and geographic locations of such events. Event data may then be used to create or update image acquisition tasks and/or task priorities which are automatically provided to a scheduling system to facilitate timely and responsive acquisition of overhead images of the geographic location of the event. The scheduling system can utilize a directed acyclic graph to increase or maximize a utilization function, which can lead to determination of optimal or near-optimal schedules in a relatively quick and efficient manner. |
| US08977618B2 |
Intelligent job matching system and method
A job searching and matching system and method is disclosed that gathers job seeker information in the form of job seeker parameters from one or more job seekers, gathers job information in the form of job parameters from prospective employers and/or recruiters, correlates the information with past job seeker behavior, parameters and behavior from other job seekers, and job parameters and, in response to a job seeker's query, provides matching job results based on common parameters between the job seeker and jobs along with suggested alternative jobs based on the co-relationships. In addition, the system correlates employer/recruiter behavior information with past employer/recruiter behavior, parameters and information concerning other job seekers, which are candidates to the employer, and resume parameters, and, in response to a Employer's query, provides matching job seeker results based on common parameters between the job seeker resumes and jobs along with suggested alternative job seeker candidates based on the identified co-relationships. |
| US08977612B1 |
Generating a related set of documents for an initial set of documents
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying one or more second documents related to one or more first documents. Strength of relationship scores between candidate documents in a group of candidate documents and each first document are determined by aggregating user selection data for users, the user selection data indicating, for each user, whether the user viewed the candidate document during a window of time after the first document is presented to the user on a search results web page in response to a query. An aggregate strength of relationship score is calculated for each candidate document from the strength of relationship scores for the candidate document. Second documents are selected from the candidate documents according to the aggregate strength of relationship scores for the candidate documents. |
| US08977611B2 |
Ranking objects by social relevance
In one embodiment, a system includes one or more computing systems that implement a social networking environment and are operable to access stored information including a plurality of nodes including a first set of user nodes that each correspond to a respective user and a second set of concept nodes that each correspond to a respective concept. The system may generate a match coefficient for the user and concept, representing the degree of relevance of a particular concept node to a particular user node. |
| US08977610B2 |
Automatic detection of patterns and inference in a dataset
Techniques allow automatic identification of statistically significant attribute combinations in a dataset, and provide users with an understanding thereof including starting points for further analysis. Statistically significant combinations may be obtained from large data sets by limiting combinations to four or fewer attributes. The combinations obtained may be ranked to differentiate patterns, e.g. according to factors such as error ratio, decision tree depth, occurrences, and number of attributes. Still further insights may be achieved by ranking attributes according to the number of statistically significant combinations in which they appear. For useful visualization of statistically significant information within the patterns, only those having at least one measure/numeric may analyzed for further insight (e.g. by an outlier algorithm) and presented as output in a chart (e.g. pie, bar) form. The decision tree approach of various embodiments may facilitate ‘What if’ analysis of the data, as well as obtaining the reverse inference. |
| US08977608B2 |
View life cycle management
The subject matter disclosed herein provides, methods and apparatus, including computer program products for the management of a view of a data structure. In one aspect, there is provided a method that may include generating a view of a data structure. The data structure and the view may include a plurality of nodes and at least one association. This method may further include determining, at run time, whether the generated view is invalid based on an indicator. The indicator may represent whether a change has occurred to a system including the view. This method may further include deleting, at run time, the view based on the results of the determining. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08977607B1 |
System and method for threading electronic messages
A system and method includes a network interface device to receive and retransmit electronic messages between a first user and a second user, an electronic data storage configured to store database entries related to electronic messages as received and retransmitted by the network interface device, at least some of the database entries including a latest message in thread flag identifying a latest electronic message in a thread of multiple electronic messages, and a processor. The processor may create a database entry corresponding to a first electronic message, the database entry including the latest message in thread flag indicating that the first electronic message is a latest electronic message of a thread, and change a status of a latest message in thread flag of a database entry corresponding to a second electronic message of the thread to indicate that the second electronic message is not a latest message in the thread. |
| US08977601B2 |
Disappearing index for more efficient processing of a database query
A disappearing index allows faster processing of a database query without the startup time of a prior art sparse index. The disappearing index starts as a full index but is trimmed of index values that point to a row in the table that is not selected by the query. Thus the traditional index disappears as it becomes a sparse index tailored to the query. The query is able to execute faster using the now sparse index since the target database table is not accessed for duplicate values in the base table of the query. The query optimizer may determine to use a disappearing index based on estimates of the number of duplicate values in the base table. When the query is complete, the created disappearing table may be discarded or used for other queries that match the selection of the query that created the disappearing index. |
| US08977596B2 |
Back up using locally distributed change detection
Systems and methods for replicating a client data set on a computer includes replicating the client data set using an application software on the computer; generating a manifest of a target data set during replication containing state of target data reflecting post-update state; and determining differences between the local data and manifest to determine required backup operations. |
| US08977586B2 |
System and method for prioritizing resumes based on a job description
A method for prioritizing one or more of resumes based on a job description is provided. The method includes (i) processing the job description to extract one or more keywords and a first period, (ii) extracting, from a first resume and a second resume of the one or more resumes, one or more section, one or more events, a first date range, and a second date range, (iii) obtaining a second period and a third period, (iv) comparing, is the first resume and the second resume, the one or more keywords with the one or more events and the first period with the third period to obtain a relevant event and a relevant section, (v) computing a first weight for the first resume and a second weight for the second resume, and (vi) prioritizing the first resume and the second resume based on the first weight and the second weight. |
| US08977585B2 |
Simulation system
A simulation system is proposed that makes use of historical and live data sensed for one or more objects (e.g., people, cars, balls, rackets, etc.). An event will include one or more decision points. A choice of an action to take at a decision point is made. That chosen action will be simulated based on the historical and live data. The simulation can be compared to the actual action taken in the event as a way to judge the choice. Although the choice of action to take at the decision point is simulated, the real event is not altered by the choice. |
| US08977578B1 |
Synaptic time multiplexing neuromorphic network that forms subsets of connections during different time slots
A synaptic time-multiplexed (STM) neuromorphic network includes a neural fabric that includes nodes and switches to define inter-nodal connections between selected nodes of the neural fabric. The STM neuromorphic network further includes a neuromorphic controller to form subsets of a set of the inter-nodal connections representing a fully connected neural network. Each subset is formed during a different time slot of a plurality of time slots of a time multiplexing cycle of the STM neuromorphic network. In combination, the inter-nodal connection subsets implement the fully connected neural network. A method of synaptic time multiplexing a neuromorphic network includes providing the neural fabric and forming the subsets of the set of inter-nodal connections. |
| US08977577B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for recommending applications based on user interaction patterns
A method for recommending an application includes obtaining an input model representing user interaction patterns during execution of a first application. The input model is compared to a reference model representing user interaction patterns during execution of a second application. A similarity is determined between the input model and the reference model. A recommendation of the second application is generated in response to the similarity. |
| US08977575B2 |
Confidence level generator for bayesian network
A system includes a computer implemented Bayesian diagnostic system. The diagnostic system includes an inferencing engine and a conditional probability table that forms the basis for Bayesian inferences once the diagnostic system is trained. Each inference includes a diagnosis and associated probability of the diagnosis. A confidence generator receives the inferences, and generates a confidence measure for each inference. |
| US08977574B2 |
System for providing graphical illustration of possible outcomes and side effects of the use of treatment parameters with respect to at least one body portion based on datasets associated with predictive bases
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that provide a graphical illustration of a first possible outcome of a use of a treatment parameter with respect to at least one body portion, based on a first dataset associated with a first predictive basis, and that modify the graphical illustration to illustrate a second possible outcome of the use of the treatment parameter, based on a second dataset associated with a second predictive basis. |
| US08977573B2 |
System and method for identifying customers in social media
A system and method for identifying an author of a social media interaction. A social media profile may be received for a user interacting in a social media interaction in a social media environment. The social media profile may include identification parameter(s) defining personal information registered to the user in the social media environment and content parameter(s) defining content of the user's social media interaction. For each of a plurality of customers registered in a contact center environment, a contact center profile may be received for the customer including identification parameter(s) defining personal information registered to the customer in the contact center environment and content parameter(s) defining content of the customer's past contact center interactions. The user's social media profile and customer's contact center profile may be compared to determine if the social media user and contact center customer have the same identity. |
| US08977569B2 |
System and method for providing smart electronic wallet and reconfigurable transaction card thereof
A smart electronic wallet with reconfigurable multiple-account transaction card is provided. The system and method provide measures for storing a plurality of account identifiers from a plurality of traditional single-use transaction cards into a storage memory in a smart wallet. The system and method also provide for storing a reconfigurable multiple-account transaction card within the smart electronic wallet and allowing for it to be dynamically and selectively reconfigured for any one of the plurality of account identifiers stored within the smart electronic wallet. Additionally, a consumer is able to initiate a transfer or trade of transaction cards across different smart electronic wallet devices. |
| US08977566B2 |
Virtual world reversion rights
A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in possible transfers and/or transfer revocations involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights. |
| US08977564B2 |
Billing account reject solution
Apparatus for coordinating a rule-based relationship between a bank, a vendor and a merchant is provided. The apparatus may include a first receiver configured to receive an employee identification number input into a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The apparatus may additionally include the first receiver being configured to receive a billing account number input into the GUI. The apparatus may also include a processor configured to determine if the billing account number includes a number of consecutive, identical digits. The processor may further be configured to determine if the number of consecutive, identical digits is equal to or greater than a threshold number of consecutive, identical digits. |
| US08977555B2 |
Identification of utterance subjects
Features are disclosed for generating markers for elements or other portions of an audio presentation so that a speech processing system may determine which portion of the audio presentation a user utterance refers to. For example, an utterance may include a pronoun with no explicit antecedent. The marker may be used to associate the utterance with the corresponding content portion for processing. The markers can be provided to a client device with a text-to-speech (“TTS”) presentation. The markers may then be provided to a speech processing system along with a user utterance captured by the client device. The speech processing system, which may include automatic speech recognition (“ASR”) modules and/or natural language understanding (“NLU”) modules, can generate hints based on the marker. The hints can be provided to the ASR and/or NLU modules in order to aid in processing the meaning or intent of a user utterance. |
| US08977554B1 |
Assisted shopping server
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session. |
| US08977552B2 |
Method and system for enhancing a speech database
A system, method and computer readable medium that enhances a speech database for speech synthesis is disclosed. The method may include labeling audio files in a primary speech database, identifying segments in the labeled audio files that have varying pronunciations based on language differences, identifying replacement segments in a secondary speech database, enhancing the primary speech database by substituting the identified secondary speech database segments for the corresponding identified segments in the primary speech database, and storing the enhanced primary speech database for use in speech synthesis. |
| US08977549B2 |
Natural language system and method based on unisolated performance metric
A natural language business system and method is developed to understand the underlying meaning of a person's speech, such as during a transaction with the business system. The system includes a speech recognition engine, and action classification engine, and a control module. The control module causes the system to execute an inventive method wherein the speech recognition and action classification models may be recursively optimized on an unisolated performance metric that is pertinent to the overall performance of the natural language business system, as opposed to the isolated model-specific criteria previously employed. |
| US08977540B2 |
Self-learning methods for automatically generating a summary of a document, knowledge extraction and contextual mapping
Advance Machine Learning or Unsupervized Machine Learning Techniques are provided that relate to Self-learning processes by which a machine generates a sensible automated summary, extracts knowledge, and extracts contextually related Topics along with the justification that explains “why they are related” automatically without any human intervention or guidance (backed ontology's) during the process. Such processes also relate to generating a 360-Degree Contextual Result (360-DCR) using Auto-summary, Knowledge Extraction and Contextual Mapping. |
| US08977539B2 |
Language analysis apparatus, language analysis method, and language analysis program
A language analysis apparatus of the invention includes division rules, each of which is classified into one of levels according to the degree of risk of causing analysis accuracy problems when applied; a division point candidate generation unit 21 which, when a character string whose length is greater than the predetermined maximum input length is input, generates division point candidates for the input character string by applying the division rules sequentially one by one in the ascending order of the level of risk of causing problems; a division point adjustment unit 22 which, when the length of a division unit candidate obtained by the division point candidate generated by the division point candidate generation unit 21 is less than the maximum input length, selects a combination of division points from among the division point candidates obtained by applying division rules of the same level while ensuring that each division unit is not greater in length than the maximum input length; and a division unit 23 which divides an input character string at the division point determined by the division point adjustment unit. |
| US08977534B2 |
Controller support apparatus, controller support program executed on the apparatus, storage medium storing the program, and method of estimating execution time of control program
A controller support program causes a processor to acquire a first control execution time which is an execution time of a first control program which is an object program generated from a control source program, which is a source program of a control program generated in accordance with an object of control of a user, and operating at the simulator, the first control execution time being measured at the simulator. The processor also calculates an estimated execution time which is an estimated value of an execution time, at the controller, of a second control program which is an object program generated from the control source program and operating at the controller, by converting the first control execution time using the calibration data. Data representing the estimated execution time is output. |
| US08977531B1 |
Apparatus and methods for importing hardware design and generating circuit interfaces
A system for designing a circuit, which includes a module, uses a computer. A user may program or adapt the computer to perform computer-aided design functions. The computer obtains a description of the module from the user. The computer parses the description of the module to identify a port of the module, and to obtain information about the port. The computer presents to the user the information that it has obtained about the port. |
| US08977529B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing on-board diagnostics
On-board diagnostics for fleet maintenance is improved by embedding a microprocessor programmed with a prognostication algorithm on a vehicle. |
| US08977527B2 |
System and method for autogenerating simulations for process control system checkout and operator training
A method and system for automatically generating simulations for a distributed control system is disclosed herein. A programmed process model generator automatically incorporates a variety of process model data from pre-defined model libraries into descriptions of process equipment including control devices to render simulation models of various degrees of fidelity. |
| US08977525B2 |
Non-variational changes in a variational system
Methods for product data management and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a three-dimensional CAD model in the data processing system, the CAD model including a plurality of features. The method includes receiving a selection of a non-variational function to be applied to the CAD model, including a selection of at least one feature to which the function is to be applied. The method includes creating a copy of the selected feature as a second body to produce a modified feature and adding the modified feature to a solver configuration of the CAD model. The method includes solving the CAD model according to the solver configuration to produce a modified CAD model, and storing the modified CAD model. |
| US08977524B2 |
Interior point method for reformulated optimal power flow model
A method for approximating an optimal power flow of a smart electric power grid includes providing a cost function that models a smart electric power grid having buses connected by branches, deriving a set of linear equations that minimize the cost function subject to constraints from an expression of an extremum of the cost function with respect to all arguments, reducing a dimension of the linear equations by solving for a subset of the linear equations, re-organizing the reduced dimension linear equations into primal and dual parts, and decomposing the re-organized reduced dimensional linear equations into two systems of block matrix equations which can be solved by a series of back substitutions. A solution of the two systems of block matrix equations yields conditions for a lowest cost per kilowatthour delivered through the smart electric power grid. |
| US08977523B2 |
Methods to estimate downhole drilling vibration amplitude from surface measurement
Method to estimate severity of downhole vibration for a drill tool assembly, including: identifying a dataset comprising selected drill tool assembly parameters; selecting a reference level of downhole vibration amplitude for the drill tool assembly; identifying a surface drilling parameter and calculating a reference surface vibration attribute for the selected reference level of downhole vibration amplitude; determining a surface parameter vibration attribute derived from at least one surface measurement or observation obtained in a drilling operation, the determined surface parameter vibration attribute corresponding to the identified surface drilling parameter; and estimating a downhole vibration severity indicator by evaluating the determined surface parameter vibration attribute with respect to the identified reference surface vibration attribute. |
| US08977520B2 |
Computer system for automatically classifying roof elements
A set of instructions stored on at least one computer readable medium for running on a computer system. The set of instructions includes instructions for identifying line segments of a roof that is preferably displayed within a geo-referenced image, instructions for determining three-dimensional information of the line segments including position, orientation and length of the line segments preferably utilizing the geo-referenced image, and instructions for classifying, automatically, at least one of the line segments as one of a plurality of predefined roof elements utilizing at least one of the relative position and orientation of the line segments. |
| US08977515B2 |
Alternative balanced drumstick system
A balanced drumstick system and method permanently reposition the longitudinal center of gravity of a plurality of wood drumsticks to common new specified location to create custom sets of balanced wood drumsticks. The system and method automate the repositioning of the longitudinal center of gravity of wood drumsticks to increase accuracy and to decrease time to create sets of custom wood drumsticks. |
| US08977513B2 |
Reliability test with monitoring of the results
An electronic device for executing a reliability test. Such an electronic device includes a circuit for implementing a functionality of the electronic device, and testing circuit for executing a test of the functional circuit including a plurality of test operations on the functional circuit. The testing circuit returns an indication of a result of each test operation. In an embodiment, the electronic device further includes control circuit for causing the testing circuit to reiterate the test, monitoring circuit for monitoring the result of each test operation to detect a failure of the test operation, and storage circuit for storing failure information indicative of temporal characteristics of each failure. |
| US08977512B1 |
Method and apparatus for alignment harmonization
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for performing alignment harmonization of a collection of electro-optical and/or gimbaled componentry that is to operate within a common coordinate frame. In some cases, the techniques and architecture can provide a cost- and time-efficient approach to achieving alignment harmonization that is compatible, for example, with field-test and/or operational environments. In some instances, the techniques and architecture can be used in concert with error calibration techniques to further improve the accuracy of the alignment harmonization. The techniques and architecture can be utilized with a wide range of components (e.g., sensors, armaments, targeting systems, weapons systems, countermeasure systems, navigational systems, surveillance systems, etc.) on a wide variety of platforms. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure. |
| US08977508B2 |
Method and system for determining a force acting on a body
The present invention provides a method and a system for determining forces which act on a body with a controlled volume which is provided inside the flow tunnel and in which the body is arranged. A first measuring means is used to measure a pressure distribution for each surface defining the controlled volume. A second measuring means measures a velocity field for each defining surface of the controlled volume. Furthermore, a calculation unit is provided for calculating the forces acting on the body as a function of the pressure distributions and velocity fields measured for the defining surfaces of the controlled volume. |
| US08977507B2 |
Event detection system user interface system coupled to multiple sensors including an impact detection system
A damage detection and remediation system includes a sensing device for detecting damage events related to a structure of interest. Such damage events may include impact from a ballistic object, a tamper event, a physical impact, or other events that may affect structural integrity or cause failure. Illustratively, the sensing device is in communication with a measurement system to determine damage criteria, and a processing system which is configured to use the damage criteria to determine, for example, a direction of the initiation point of a ballistic causing the damage event. |
| US08977502B2 |
Predicting steam assisted gravity drainage steam chamber front velocity and location
The invention relates to the development of an analytical model to predict the velocity of the continuously expanding front of the steam chamber in a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) hydrocarbon production system. The developed analytical model has advantages over reservoir simulation tool in that it is very fast and can be easily calibrated with field observation well data before making good prediction. One field study shows that the developed model can achieve excellent prediction for a field SAGD performance. A better understanding of the size of the steam chamber and the velocity of the front should provide better time, cost and energy efficiency for the production of high viscosity hydrocarbons. |
| US08977501B2 |
System and method for formation detection and evaluation
Provided are a system and method for identifying planned markers while drilling a borehole. In one example, the method includes obtaining a plan containing planned markers that each corresponds to a baseline marker from an existing well. Each of the baseline markers corresponds to a waveform from a log file obtained from the existing well and is associated with a waveform representation of the corresponding waveform. Each of the planned markers is associated with an estimated true vertical depth (TVD) value. A second log file corresponding to the borehole is obtained that contains waveforms representing formation information detected within the borehole. The second log file is scanned for a planned marker based on the estimated TVD value and the waveform representation of the baseline marker corresponding to the planned marker. At least one match may be identified and reported for the planned marker. |
| US08977494B2 |
Method and apparatus for identification of points of interest within a predefined area
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for identification of points of interest within a predefined area. Location estimates for substantially stationary mobile devices may be utilized to determine locations of one or more points of interest. Location estimates for mobile devices in motion may be utilized to determine locations of one or more corridors. |
| US08977491B1 |
System and method for verifying displayed terrain information
An apparatus for use with a weather radar system having a radar antenna, the apparatus for mounting to an aircraft and for verifying terrain features shown on an electronic display, the terrain features based on terrain data from a terrain database. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to receive radar return data from the weather radar system and configured to correlate the radar return data with the terrain data. The processing electronics using the correlation to provide an indication as to whether the terrain features displayed on the electronic display are correct or incorrect. |
| US08977490B2 |
Path information providing server, method of providing path information, and terminal
Provided are an apparatus and method of providing path information based on a status of a path and/or a purpose of the use of the path. A path information providing server collects environmental information from a sensing device. The path information providing server receives a path information request including a departure and a destination from a terminal device, and provides path information generated by mapping environmental data to a searched path. |
| US08977489B2 |
Turn by turn graphical navigation on full windshield head-up display
A system to display graphical images upon a windscreen of a vehicle including navigational aids includes the windscreen having a transparent windscreen head up display, an enhanced vision system manager monitoring a planned travel route, and generating display requirements based upon the planned travel route. The system further includes a graphics system generating the graphical images to be displayed based upon the display requirements, and a graphics projection system communicating with the graphics system and displaying the graphical images. |
| US08977488B2 |
Systems, methods and vehicles for providing route guidance
In one embodiment, a navigation system may include one or more processors, a display, a satellite antenna, one or more memory devices, and map data. A route distance icon can be presented on the display, automatically, when the current location is not coincident with the route and the start offset distance is less than a predetermined distance. The route distance icon can provide the on-the-route distance. A geodesic distance icon can be presented on the display, automatically, when the current location is not coincident with the route and the start offset distance is greater than the predetermined distance. The geodesic distance icon can provide a geodesic distance from the current location to the destination. |
| US08977487B2 |
Navigation device and guide route search method
A navigation device and a guide route search method prevents searching for a detour route, and shortens the time required for setting an eventual guide route. A first partial route is extracted from a first guide route found in accordance with map data divided into three hierarchical levels, based on information about a road network. The first guide route is the route from the current location to a destination. A second partial route is obtained by performing a route search between the nodes at opposite ends of the first partial route, based on the map data containing the lowest level. A second guide route is obtained by replacing the first partial route in the first guide route with the second partial route, and is set as the eventual guide route. |