US07722597B2
A catheter includes a tubular body having a channel having its ends opening out respectively at the ends of the tubular body, injector element for injecting fluid into the channel, a tubular endpiece having a channel with ends opening out respectively at the ends of the tubular endpiece, and element for connecting the endpiece and the body together so that the end of the channel and the end of the channel are in alignment on an axis, the connection element being constituted essentially by a ring that partially covers the body and the endpiece, and being also arranged in such a manner that the connection can be broken by exerting a force couple of predetermined value respectively on the endpiece and on the body. The invention is applicable to safety catheters for performing endovascular treatments by injecting embolic fluid, for example for treating arteriovenous malfunctions.
US07722595B2
The invention pertains to methods and devices for controlling the pharmacokinetics of administered substances, particularly therapeutic substances by combining advantages of delivery to two or more compartments within the skin. The invention provides methods and devices for delivering substances to subcutaneous and intradermal compartments of the skin to achieve a hybrid pharmacokinetic profile that has a portion similar to that achieved by intradermal delivery, e.g., rapid and high peak onset levels of the substance, and a portion similar to that achieved by subcutaneous delivery, e.g., longer circulating levels of the substance.
US07722584B2
An automatic urine collection apparatus includes a collection container for accumulating urine transferred from a urine receiver through a tube and a main body for supporting the collection container, wherein the main body includes a suction pump for sucking the urine received by the urine receiver and carrying the urine to the collection container, a mass sensor for measuring the urine accumulated in the collection container, a control board for calculating a volume of the urine based on the measured mass of the urine, and an indicator for indicating the calculated volume of the urine.
US07722583B2
A bowel management system includes a waste collection catheter having at least two distinct sections. The first section is patient proximal when disposed in the patient's rectum and has durometer hardness in the range of about 50 A to about 90 A. The second catheter section is connected to the first section and has durometer hardness in the range of about 5 A to about 49 A. A selectively collapsible, substantially spherical retention balloon is attached coaxially and exterior of the first catheter section such that the proximal-most end of the retention balloon is coincident to the proximal-most end of the first section of the waste collection catheter, the substantially spherical retention balloon having an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large enough to retain the patient proximal end of the catheter in the patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient.
US07722569B2
A tip shield of a catheter assembly has a resilient clip compartment, which may become blood-filled during use of the catheter assembly. The resilient clip inside the compartment is released upon withdrawal of the needle of the catheter assembly to disengage the catheter hub from the tip shield. The resilient clip also prevents re-exposure of the needle after being withdrawn into the tip shield. The blood-filled compartment may potentially leak or splash through an opening from the compartment when the resilient clip is released. A covering blocks the opening from the tip shield to minimize the risk of blood exposure. In addition, the covering minimizes the risk of premature release of the resilient clip and re-exposure of the needle.
US07722565B2
The invention provides systems and methods for providing access to a target site. Example systems may include a needle, a grid to guide the needle, a plate with an aperture, a member coupled to the plate and including a semispherical surface, and a hub slideably coupled to the plate by a guide. The system may also include a needle coupled to the hub, the needle including a magnetically trackable sensor positioned in a tip of the needle. The semispherical surface can be positioned against skin of a body and the hub slid relative to the plate along the guide to insert the needle through the aperture in the plate into the body until the tip reaches a target site. The hub can be locked by a lock mechanism when the tip of the needle reaches the target site, and an action performed on the target site through the needle.
US07722564B2
The needle guard is attached to the needle hub by a polyester film strip and the needle passes through longitudinally spaced apart apertures in the strip. The film strip is housed in the needle guard in corrugated manner. When the needle guard is pulled over the needle, the needle moves into the housing of the needle guard and into abutment with the housing while the strip is stretched between the hub and the housing to retain the housing connected to the hub under a biasing force.
US07722561B2
A peritoneal dialyzer including: a catheter capable of injecting and discharging peritoneal dialysate in an abdominal cavity of a patient; a peritoneal dialysate circuit connected to the catheter; and a dialyzer provided in the peritoneal dialysate circuit, the dialyzer including a hemodialysate circuit connected so that peritoneal dialysate passing through the inside can come into contact with a hemodialysate via a hollow fiber membrane, characterized in that means capable of measuring an osmotic agent concentration in the peritoneal dialysate is provided on the peritoneal dialysate circuit on the side of the end at which the catheter is connected with respect to the dialyzer, and a mechanism for dehydrating the peritoneal dialysate according to the osmotic agent concentration measured by the aforementioned means is provided on the hemodialysate circuit, and a method of peritoneal dialysis using the peritoneal dialyzer.
US07722559B2
A gas supply apparatus measures a first pressure inside a first body cavity of a specimen and a second pressure inside a second body cavity of the specimen. The gas supply apparatus regulates a pressure of a predetermined gas based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities so that the first and second pressures reach predetermined first and second pressure settings, respectively.
US07722552B2
A guide wire comprises a core member, and a coil covering at least a distal end side portion of the core member. The guide wire comprises a coil fixing member which is fixed to the distal end side portion of the core member and which is adapted to fix the coil concentrically with the core member at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the coil, with the coil being fixed to the coil fixing member. The coil can be disposed concentrically with the core member, with the distal end portion of the guide wire undergoing generally uniform favorable deformations at the time of insertion into a living body, thus providing relatively excellent operationality.
US07722550B2
A biopsy needle has a forward needle opening that can be closed off with a trap door. The trap door is pivotally mounted to a flat top surface inside the needle opening. As the needle is extracted, a forward blade of the trap door cuts into the biopsy tissue and the trap door pivots about a pivot axis extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the needle. The trap door is configured to match a contour of the top surface and an adjacent curve of the needle opening to maintain the needle substantially open when the trap door is in the open position and to close the forward needle opening when the trap door is in the closed position and the biopsy tissue specimen is entrapped inside the needle.
US07722543B2
A blood pressure monitor includes a cuff having an air bag, a main-unit casing in which an inflation/deflation mechanism for inflating/deflating the air bag is provided, a flexible air tube connecting the air bag and the inflation/deflation mechanism, and a retractor unit capable of drawing in the air tube that is drawn out from the main-unit casing into an air tube housing provided in the main-unit casing. With this structure, the blood pressure monitor can be made superior in housing of the air tube connecting the cuff and the main-unit casing.
US07722541B2
Multiple receive beams are formed for each transmission for rapid acquisition. The receive aperture is shifted as a function of the position of each receive beam. Multiple receive beams with differently positioned apertures are formed in response to a single transmit beam. Alternatively or additionally, the apodization varies as a function of the position of the receive beam relative to the transmit beam. Multiple receive beams with different apodization profiles are formed in response to a single transmission. The apodization and/or aperture variations in different receive beams may reduce geometric distortion and/or clutter levels for receiving multiple beams in response to a single transmission.
US07722536B2
A glucose meter module integrated into a holster device that can securely accommodate another device such as a portable server device or an insulin pump is described. The glucose measuring module and the health device communicate with each other by a short range wireless modality. In the case in which the accommodated device is a server, such as personal digital assistant or cell phone, the device stores data in a memory, displays data on a visual display, and can wirelessly transmit such data to other devices within a personal area network. In the case where the accommodated device is a cell phone, the phone can further transmit data to remote sites. In the case where the accommodated device is an insulin pump, wirelessly received data are stored in a memory, are available for visual display on the insulin pump, and can be incorporated into the electronic processes that regulate the performance of the pump.
US07722535B2
Apparatus and method for assisting in choosing a suitable site for a skin invasive action, such as drug injection, e.g. insulin for persons with diabetes, or collecting blood or tissue samples. Measures and processes parameters relating to a specific area part of the skin or subcutis and determines whether the area part is suitable for the skin invasive action based on the processed parameters. Suitable for assisting a person in choosing a site during an injection/sampling procedure, ensuring that skin invasive actions are performed at suitable sites only. Very useful for repetitive skin invasive actions, such as BG measurements and insulin injections. Helps in varying sites for the skin invasive action without the need for keeping a record of used sites manually. Helps in avoiding tissue infiltrations and lipodystrophy.
US07722511B2
This invention relates to a selectorized dumbbell having a handle that can be dropped down between nested left and right stacks of weight plates. The weight plates can comprise individual weights or a pair of weight plates, one from each stack, can be connected together to form a single weight. A selector is provided to allow the user to select a desired number of weight plates from each stack and couple such weight plates to the handle to provide an adjustable weight dumbbell. Each weight includes a weight frame having at least one carrier to which a commodity weight can be fastened. The dumbbell can be shipped by the manufacturer with empty weight frames to reduce shipping costs. When the dumbbell with empty weight frames reaches a destination, the dumbbell can be completed by securing commodity weights to the carriers on the respective weight frames.
US07722510B2
A two-section physical-exercise elastic cudgel comprises a first carbon-fiber rod and a second carbon-fiber rod. The first carbon-fiber rod has a rod body, a first joint end with a first handle structure, and a first balance-weight end with a balance weight. The first handle structure has a handlebar, a male connection block, a supporter and a sleeve ring. The second carbon-fiber rod has a rod body, a second joint end with a second handle structure, and a second balance-weight end with a balance weight. The second handle structure has a handlebar, a female connection block, a supporter and a sleeve ring. The first handle structure is connected with the second handle structure via engagement of the male connection block and the female connection block to form a complete handle, whereby the first carbon-fiber rod and the second carbon-fiber rod form an easy-to-assemble, easy-to-disassemble, easy-to-carry and easy-to-collect two-section physical-exercise elastic cudgel.
US07722507B2
The present invention provides a inclination controlling device of treadmill comprising a belt support frame, a first link member pivotally connected to the belt support frame, a second link member pivotally connected to the belt support frame, and a base frame pivotally connected to both the first link member and the second link member respectively thereby controlling an inclination angle of the belt support frame with wider range.
US07722501B2
The invention relates to an interactive gymnastics practice device which is used together with an image and sound system forming the gymnastics program to be followed by a user, comprising a first level of generally-pressure-sensitive surfaces, the surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises at least one second level of surfaces which are pressure sensitive or which can control an action in response to a pressure, the second level surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane.
US07722498B2
In hybrid electric vehicle control, when an engine is cranked by the torque of a first motor-generator to start the engine, the torque of the first motor-generator is corrected according to the crankshaft angle of the engine to prevent the amount of increase in engine rotation speed from fluctuating. Fluctuation in inertia torque is reduced through this control of the torque of the first motor-generator to reduce fluctuation in the cranking reaction force torque exerted on a drive axle. Further, the torque of a second motor-generator is so controlled to cancel out this cranking reaction force torque. Thus, the cranking reaction force torque exerted on the drive axle is accurately canceled out through control of the torque of the second motor-generator to suppress fluctuation in the torque of the drive axle.
US07722495B1
A differential carrier in accordance with the invention comprises a rotatable housing and permanent differential locking members installed within cavities of the housing. The locking members have locking holes with teeth that immovably link the locking members with the drive axle shafts. The locking members also include locking protrusions projecting from the locking members with the locking protrusions mechanically engaging the housing such that the locking members rotate simultaneously with rotation of the housing, whereby the locking members cause the axle shafts to rotate such that oppositely disposed wheels mounted on the axle shafts simultaneously and continuously rotate.
US07722490B2
Cones or cone assemblies with one or two oppositely positioned torque transmitting devices, such as torque transmitting arcs of constant pitch (formed by torque transmitting members) or teeth. The torque transmitting devices will be used for torque transmission between at least one means for coupling, such as transmission belt or chain, and a cone or cone assembly. The cones or cone assemblies can be used to construct CVT's for which significant circumferential sliding between the torque transmitting surfaces of the torque transmitting devices and the torque transmitting surfaces of the means for coupling engaged to them due to change in pitch diameter can be eliminated, as to reduce wear and frictional energy loses typical in similar devices of prior art and allow the usage of positive engagement devices, such as teeth, in coupling the torque transmitting devices with their means for coupling. CVT's that consist of at least one cone or one cone assembly of this invention that is coupled by a means for coupling to at least one means for conveying rotational energy, such as a pulley, a sprocket, a cone assembly of this invention, or a cone of this invention. Adjuster systems that can increase the performance of the CVT's of this invention and other CVT's that suffer from either or both transition flexing and a limited duration at which the transmission ratio can be changed, so that efficient non-friction dependent CVT's and efficient friction dependent CVT's that do not suffer from transition flexing and/or a limited duration at which the transmission ratio can be changed can be constructed.
US07722486B2
A top/bottom pull front derailleur includes a base member, inner and outer links, a chain guide and a top/low adjustment mechanism coupled to the base member. The links are pivotally coupled between the base member and the chain guide. The inner link has a wire fixing part that can be used in top and bottom pull arrangements. The chain guide is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base member. The adjustment mechanism includes top and low adjusting bolts with longitudinal bolt axes angled more than zero degrees relative to a plane of the bicycle frame. The adjustment mechanism is mounted rearwardly of single attachment portion of the outer link or between a pair of attachment portions of the outer link. The bolt axes are preferably angled about 45 degrees or about 90 degrees relative to the plane of the frame.
US07722485B2
This invention, called Serve Assist, is an electro-mechanical ball machine for practicing the tennis serve. It helps a tennis student to practice serves by consistently dropping the ball in the desired location. It operates in one of two modes, an Auto-feed mode in which it drops the balls in the magazine via an overhead ball release canister at regular intervals or in an Auto-sense mode where the ball is released by the detection of the student's rising tossing arm. The invention also marks the desired height of contact on the dropping ball with a laser and provides visual feedback if the ball is being struck lower than optimum. It aids the student by developing a kinetic and visual memory of the correct ball toss position and point of contact.
US07722474B2
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US07722473B1
A golf training device, comprising a wearable wedge shaped body for receiving a user's trailing foot and restricting lateral movement of a user's hip, at least one foot strap assembly connected to the wedge shaped body, a guide rod system connected to the wedge shaped body comprising, a base portion connected to the wedge shaped body, a collar disposed in the base portion, and, a guide rod engaging the collar and extending upwardly from the collar toward the user's hip, the guide rod system indicating a swing error when the user's hip contacts the guide rod.
US07722472B2
This invention relates generally to billiards, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing a billiards stroke training device. In one embodiment, the invention includes a harness, a sleeve, a guide, the guide being coupled to the sleeve; and a post, the post being coupled to the harness, the post being configurable to limit motion of the guide, wherein the harness is configurable to being worn on an upper torso of a billiards player, wherein the sleeve is configurable to being worn on an arm of the billiards player, and wherein motion of the arm of the billiards player is limited to that provided for by the guide.
US07722468B2
Gaming machines and systems having MRAM and MROM are disclosed. MROMs for storing boot programs and other Read Only code are formed by cutting write connections or not providing PCB socket leads to MRAM write pins, or by using memory hubs to prevent writing to MRAMs. A tale-tale board or other logging device monitoring activities at various components while primary machine power is down records to MRAM, which can be dual ported to the logging device and MGC. Various components can each have dedicated logging devices and MRAMs. One MRAM associated with the brain box replaces both DRAM and NVRAM of regular machine architectures, and is used for dual purposes of regular operational use and as safe storage to facilitate a state recovery. Prioritization of data during the storage process is rendered unnecessary. Another MRAM associated with the back plane board stores data associated with the exterior housing or terminal.
US07722463B2
A gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.
US07722457B1
The present invention includes a variety of methods to issue awards during free spins. In general, the present invention involves placing a wager, spinning the slot reels, triggering the free-spin bonus feature, and collecting awards based upon the cumulative numeric value(s) attained over the course of one or more free spins. In a preferred embodiment, a cumulative numeric value starts at zero and increases by the amount shown on “increase value” symbols, with each cumulative numeric value associated with an award. Upon completion of the free spins, the game issues the award associated with the final cumulative numeric value.
US07722454B2
A system for generating revenue includes a fee collection station. The fee collection station may include a controller and a fee receiver in communication with the controller for receiving a predetermined fee from a plurality of users. The fee receiver may also receive a predetermined participation fee from the plurality of users that selectively participate in a game. The fee collection station may also comprise an indicator in communication with the controller and adjacent to the fee receiver for indicating to participating users one of a winning indication or a losing indication. The participating users that receive the winning indication may receive a predetermined reward.
US07722453B2
A disclosed gaming machine may be customized for game play according to one or more preferences using preference information that is not correlated to an identity of a player. Therefore, the gaming machine may be configured to one or more player preferences without requiring the player to reveal their identity. The gaming machine may receive the preference information from at least one of a configuration instrument designed to store preference information, such as a cashless ticket voucher, ii) a display interface on the gaming machine, iii) a remote server, iv) a speech recognition interface on the gaming machine and v) combinations thereof. The preference information used to configure the gaming machine may be selected by the player, selected by a gaming establishment, generated by the gaming machine and combinations thereof.
US07722449B2
A security grill for a security institution has an air inlet face, an air outlet face, and zigzag channels extending from a point adjacent the inlet face toward the outlet face. The zigzag channels are defined by slats which are bent at least twice in alternating directions. The zigzag channels are divided into segments each having a cross-sectional width. The segments adjacent the air outlet face have a cross-sectional width less than any of the other segments along the channel. The slats are bent at certain angles which are larger than those of conventional security grills. Corners are created along each slat as a result of bending the slats in alternating directions. The corners are rounded.
US07722442B2
Two counter-rotating, intermeshing, toothed wheels grind opposite sides of an interposed blade to create or burrlessly sharpen a knife-edge on the blade. The wheels can be solid or comprised of a fixed stack of toothed disks, concentrically aligned, the teeth of each succeeding disk angularly offset in a common direction from the teeth of the next preceding disk to create a wheel having a plurality of uniform, elongated composite teeth around the circumference of the stack, the teeth being angled from the wheel's axis. Two such wheels, one with teeth angled in an opposite direction, can be counter-rotated and because of the oppositely angled teeth, are capable of intermeshing. The degree of intermeshing can be selectively varied to correspondingly vary the sharpening angle. The apex ridges of both the solid and composite teeth can be selectively profiled to sharpen non-uniformly, e.g. serrating a blade edge.
US07722441B2
Semiconductor processing and equipment are disclosed. The semiconductor equipment and processing provide semiconductor wafers with reduced defects.
US07722436B2
During planarization of wafers, the thickness of a layer of a wafer is measured at a number of locations, after the wafer has been planarized by chemical mechanical polishing. The thickness measurements are used to automatically determine, from a center to edge profile model to which the measurements are fit, a parameter that controls chemical mechanical polishing, called “backside pressure.” Backside pressure is determined in some embodiments by a logic test based on the center-to-edge profile model, coefficient of determination R-square of the model, and current value of backside pressure. Note that a “backside pressure” set point is adjusted only if the fit of the measurements to the model is good, e.g. as indicated by R-square being greater than a predetermined limit. Next, the backside pressure that has been determined from the model is used in planarizing a subsequent wafer.
US07722435B2
A sander can include a housing, an indicator disposed on the housing, and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member. A platen can be driven by the output member. A sensor assembly can be configured to sense a condition in which a pressing force in excess of a predetermined force is applied to the sander in a direction normal to the platen and generate a sensor signal in response thereto. A controller can receive the sensor signal from the sensor assembly and control operation of the indicator in response thereto. The sensor assembly can include a force sensing resistor. The force sensing resistor can be disposed adjacent to a gripping portion of the power sanding tool. The indicator can include at least one light source. The controller can illuminate the light source according to a schedule.
US07722434B2
Some problems related to processing workpieces are presented along with solutions to one or more of the problems. One embodiment of the invention comprises a sensor apparatus for collecting data representing one or more process conditions used for processing a workpiece. Another embodiment of the present invention is a combination comprising a sensor apparatus and a process tool for applications such as chemical mechanical planarization of workpieces and chemical mechanical polishing of workpieces.
US07722433B2
A garment includes a brassiere with a back part, in which back cloths are formed thin without concaves and convexs, and only head parts of male and female engaging devices appear on outer surfaces of the back cloths, thereby providing a stylish appearance, which is plane and neat, and providing a comfortable feeling without a feeling of discomfort when worn. The garment includes a back part of a brassiere or the like which can be freely put on and off by using the male and female engaging devices (12) and (16) provided to the back cloths (4) welded to an area from underarm parts toward a back of a wearer. The male and female engaging devices (12) and (16) are integrally attached onto inner surface portions of the back cloths (4). The head parts (12a) and (16a) of the male and female engaging devices (12) and (16) are exposed to an outside through slits (13).
US07722430B2
A toy vehicle having a plurality of play configurations, comprising a frame; a vehicle body moveably coupled to the frame with at least two degrees of freedom of movement, said two degrees of freedom of movement including a longitudinal translation of the body relative to the frame for selecting at least a first play configuration of the plurality of play configurations; and a rotation of the body relative to the frame for selecting at least a second of the plurality of play configurations.
US07722418B2
A method for configuring a hydraulic actuator to provide energy dissipation capabilities during low energy collisions while controlling energy dissipation during high energy collisions comprises biasing a valve member towards a closed position with a resilient member having a rigidity of between 600 and 1500 lbs/in, applying a low preload to the resilient member, and restricting the flow of fluid by using a stop to limit movement of the valve member away from the closed position.
US07722416B2
A connection mechanism includes a metal segment in mechanical and electrical communication with the remainder of the connection mechanism on at least one side. The segment includes at least one tab protruding from the segment on a first side and a central area of the segment with a plurality of metal deformations. When the metal deformations are pressed into aluminum, they are capable of piercing through corrosion on the surface of the aluminum in order to make electrical contact with the aluminum.
US07722409B2
Compatible mechanical and/or electrical connections to video game system accessories provide unique shape, design and dimensions that discourage or prevent non-compatible devices from being connected, connector configurations that allow connection only in a proper orientation to ensure electrical compatibility and eliminate the possibility of short-circuits, quick release locking arrangement firmly mechanically holds mating connectors together despite extensive movement of the game player's arms and hands, staged electrical contacting sequence provides proper signal application sequence, and wrist strap to tether handheld remote controller to hand is attached to a locking connector that mates with a connector of the remote controller.
US07722406B2
An output adapting device of a plug-in power system is used to connect an output terminal of the plug-in power system with an input terminal of an electronic device, so as to transmit the power from the plug-in power system to the electronic device. The adapting device includes an output adapting terminal and an input adapting terminal respectively corresponding to the output terminal and the input terminal, in which corresponding pins of the corresponding terminals have identical potential, and at least one corresponding pair of pins of the output adapting terminal and the input adapting terminal have different potential. Furthermore, the adapting device also includes an adapting unit for adapting and outputting the power from the output adapting terminal to another pin with identical potential of the input adapting terminal. Therefore, the output terminal of the plug-in power system can be standardized for widely applying in various electronic devices.
US07722404B2
The invention relates to a plug-in connector for printed circuit boards, comprising a plurality of contact elements, whereby said contact elements have two connecting faces each. The one connecting face is configured as an insulation displacement contact for connecting cores and the other connecting face is configured as a tuning fork contact for contacting contact surfaces on a printed circuit board. The insulation displacement contacts of the contact elements can be inserted into a plastic housing. The insulation displacement contact and the tuning fork contact are arranged in a rotational manner in relation to each other and the contact element is supported on the plastic housing by at least one edge, such that the contact elements are captivated in the plastic housing when connecting forces act upon the insulation displacement contacts. The plastic housing is embodied as a single piece and the part receiving the tuning fork contact is at least partially elastic.
US07722401B2
An electrical interconnection system with high speed, differential electrical connectors. The connector is assembled from wafers each containing a column of conductive elements, some of which form differential pairs. A housing for the wafer is formed with regions of higher and lower dielectric constant material. The regions of lower dielectric constant material are selectively positioned adjacent longer signal conductors of the differential pairs. The material may be preferentially placed along curved segments of the differential pair to reduce crosstalk in the connector while reducing skew.
US07722398B2
A shielded connector assembly for interconnecting a camera module (50) to a printed circuit board (not shown) via a flexible printed circuit board (70) comprises a shielded shell (10) having a receiving space (100), a spring plate (30) assembled in the shielded shell, a flexible printed circuit board secured in the receiving space and abutting against the top surface of the spring plate. The flexible printed circuit board includes a first section (701) received in the receiving space and second section (700) extending beyond the receiving space. The fist section at least defines a plurality of conductive pads (708) to contact with pads (not shown) formed on the bottom face of the camera module. A protecting element (702) is disposed on top surface of the first section and encloses the conductive pads and disconnects therewith so as to prevent the flexible printed circuit board from being scraped during production and assemble and the like.
US07722395B2
A rotation sensor 11 includes a sensor portion 12, a wire 13 connected to the sensor portion 12, and a resin housing 14. The wire 13 has a sheath 24 formed of a resin compatible with the resin forming the housing 14. The portion of the sheath 24 covered by the housing 14 includes two annular sealing projections 25 extending along the entire circumference of the sheath 24. When molten resin is poured into a housing formation mold to mold the housing 14, the heat of the molten resin is efficiently transferred to the sealing projections 25. This effectively melts the sealing projections 25 and ensures that the sealing projections 25 are fused with the housing 14.
US07722394B2
An electrical termination device includes an electrically conductive shield element, an insulator disposed within the shield element, and one or more electrical contacts supported within and electrically isolated from the shield element by the insulator. The insulator includes one or more first keying elements configured to orient and retain the one or more electrical contacts in the insulator. The one or more first keying elements may be configured to prevent the one or more electrical contacts from rotating in the insulator when the one or more electrical contacts and the insulator are in a correctly assembled configuration, and prevent assembly of the insulator into an electrically conductive shield element when the one or more electrical contacts are incorrectly oriented in the insulator. The electrical termination device may be included in an electrical connector.
US07722393B1
A battery connector adapted for being electrically connected with a printed circuit board includes an insulating housing defining a plurality of terminal passageways, a plurality of fixing members fastened in the insulating housing and stretching beyond a top surface of the insulating housing for being soldered to the printed circuit board, and a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the corresponding terminal passageways and each having a fixing board, a first contact portion stretching out of a bottom surface of the insulating housing and a substantially lying-V shaped second elastic portion extended from a top of the fixing board. A free end of the second elastic portion stretches out of the top surface of the insulating housing and is arched upward to form a second contact portion capable of elastically abutting against the printed circuit board.
US07722390B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors. Specifically, the methods and systems relate to isolation and compensation techniques for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors for use with high-speed data cabling. A frame can be configured to receive a number of connectors. Shield structures may be positioned to isolate at least a subset of the connectors from one another. The connectors can be positioned to move at least a subset of the connectors away from alignment with a common plane. A signal compensator may be configured to adjust a data signal to compensate for alien crosstalk. The connectors are configured to efficiently and accurately propagate high-speed data signals by, among other functions, minimizing alien crosstalk.
US07722388B1
A system provides a charging and a connection for a mobile unit. The system includes a housing of a mobile unit that couples to a latch. The housing comprises a loop and a panel. The loop is disposed on a top portion of the housing and receives a hook of the latch. The panel is disposed on a back portion of the housing and receives a corresponding panel of the latch. The panel includes a first set of electrical contacts that couple to a second set of electrical contacts of the corresponding panel to establish an electrical connection.
US07722384B2
A push-in wire connector has an enclosure made of left and right housings. Each housing has a wire entry port and a wire receptacle box aligned with a respective wire entry port and receptacle box of the other housing. The wire entry ports face in opposite directions. A terminal is disposed within the enclosure and includes a busbar which is positioned between the wire ports. A spring member has spring fingers for biasing inserted conductors into engagement with the busbar.
US07722373B2
A connector which makes it possible to positively maintain a locked state of an actuator, even if a flat cable is pulled. The actuator is mounted on a housing in a manner pivotally movable between an open position for accommodating a front end of an FPC in an accommodating space and a closed position for pressing the front end of the FPC against contact portions of contacts. Locking members are mounted on the housing in a manner slidable between a locked position for inhibiting the actuator in the closed position from opening and an unlocked position for allowing the actuator to open, along a direction of arrangement of the contacts.
US07722362B2
A sensor adaptor circuit housing assembly and method of manufacturing includes a circuit board, a housing, an input wire, and a connector. The circuit board includes an electrical circuit configured for receiving a sensor signal and generating a sensor characteristic in response to the received sensor signal. The housing includes a body and a cavity defined by inner surfaces of the body and adapted for receiving the circuit board, the circuit board being positioned within the cavity. The input wire is configured for receiving the signal from a sensor and can be formed with an insulated solid or stranded conductor. The connector includes a unitary body, a first end of the unitary body attached directly to an end of the input wire, a second end of the unitary body positioned within the cavity and attached directly to the circuit board and making a first electrical connection with the electrical circuit.
US07722353B2
This invention pertains to pliers for increasing the interproximal retention of thermoplastic appliances by denting the appliances in the interproximal areas between the teeth, especially denting the thermoplastic material at the interproximal gingival area.
US07722339B2
There is provided a high performance compressor that causes no possibility of mixing foreign materials or of leaking refrigerant, that reduces strain otherwise generated in a compressor mechanism section and that is highly reliable even for a long-term use. The compressor mechanism section in which pairs of prepared holes are formed at a plurality of points on an outer peripheral face thereof is disposed within the closed container. Caulking punches are positioned to positions corresponding to those of the prepared holes and a region including the corresponding positions is heated. Then, when the punches are driven by pressing machines, portions of the container wall of the closed container plastically deform as the convex portions and enter the prepared holes. When the container wall cools down, the pair of convex portions of the container clamps a part between the prepared holes.
US07722336B2
An exemplary compressor wheel includes a proximate end, a distal end, an axis of rotation, a z-plane positioned between the proximate end and the distal end and a proximate end extension wherein the extension includes one or more pilot diameters and an engagement mechanism for engagement with an operational shaft of a turbocharger.
US07722331B2
An air-compressing apparatus has four compressors individually supplying compressed air to a tank having a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is connected to control circuits of the compressors. The control circuits compute times needed for the tank pressure to reach minimum and maximum pressures, respectively, of the tank by using the detected tank pressure and also using a tank pressure change value. The computed time values correspond to the consumption of compressed air. Thus, the control circuits can control the number of compressors to be operated according to the consumption of compressed air.
US07722327B1
A turbine airfoil having a thin wall construction in at least a portion of the airfoil spanwise direction, the airfoil including a leading edge cooling supply channel and a plurality of individual vortex cooling channels connected to the cooling air supply channel and extending substantially in the airfoil chordwise direction, ending at the trailing edge region and discharging the cooling air through exit holes or ducts positioned along the trailing edge region. The vortex cooling channels each include a series of metering holes leading into a vortex chamber such that the cooling air flows into the vortex chamber and around the surfaces before passing through the next metering hole and vortex chamber. The vortex cooling channels extend from the pressure side to the suction side of the airfoil walls, and are cast into the airfoil during the airfoil casting process. the hot gas side pressure distribution of the vortex cooling channels can be regulated by varying the size of the individual metering holes in the cooling circuit.
US07722323B2
An axial flow turbine motor is provided which includes a rotor with a peripheral row of drive blades and a peripheral band-shaped wall element radially clamped against the tops of the drive blades, and a housing with at least one pressure medium inlet nozzle and an annular inner surface surrounding the rotor drive blades and the wall element, wherein the wall element is arranged to withstand centrifugal forces and uphold its clamping engagement with the drive blades at rotor speed levels up to a predetermined speed level, but to expand and loosen its clamping engagement with the drive blades at speed levels above the predetermined speed level, thereby moving into contact with the annular surface and interfering with the rotational movement of the rotor so as to prevent the rotor from reaching hazardous high speed levels.
US07722322B2
The computer programmable system and program product include first program instructions for actively driving a first imbalance mass concentration rotor and a second imbalance mass concentration rotor at a vibration canceling rotation frequency while controlling the rotational position of the first imbalance mass concentration and the second imbalance mass concentration to produce a rotating net force vector to inhibit periodic vibrations. The program product includes second program instructions to opposingly orient the first imbalance mass concentration relative to the second imbalance mass concentration during a starting stopping rotation speed less than the vibration canceling rotation frequency. The system includes a fault mode control protocol for controlling a rotation of the rotors during a sensed failure of the rotating assembly vibration control system.
US07722309B2
An exemplary apparatus capable of picking and placing a workpiece into a container includes a suction device and a hollow body. The suction device is configured for providing a suction force for picking up the workpiece. The hollow body has a picking portion configured for picking and placing the workpiece into the container under the suction force, wherein a plurality of air slots are defined in an outer wall of the hollow body, the air slots are configured for providing an air passage between an interior of the container and an exterior thereof so as to facilitate movement of the hollow body into and out of the container, whereby the workpiece can be steadily placed in the container.
US07722308B2
On the laterally opposite side of an upper frame constructing an upper rotating body to a cabin, are installed devices in a state that a pin insertion and removal space sufficient for inserting and removing a boom foot pin in the axial direction is ensured, and in a bracket provided in the pin insertion and removal space, is provided a pin guide in a square tube shape for guiding the boom foot pin in the insertion and removal direction.
US07722304B2
A thread locking fastener assembly comprising a nut anchor defining an internal thread having a longitudinal axis, a leading face and a trailing face, the internal thread, in axial section, having a profile which is symmetric about a first imaginary line extending radially out from the axis, and a fastener shank having an external thread with a longitudinal axis, a leading face and trailing face, the external thread being received in said internal thread so that said axes are substantially coincident. The external thread, in axial section, has a profile with a radially inner base zone which is symmetric about a second imaginary line extending radially from the shank axis and a radially outer deflectable addendum which is not symmetric about that line so that the addendum prevents axial centralization of the external thread profile in the internal thread profile unless a sufficient axial force is applied to the shank to deflect the addendum.
US07722301B2
A headgear device for assisting a user in performing bridge exercises to strengthen the muscles of the neck, and exercises performed using the device. The headgear outer surface has an area of low-friction material to allow the headgear to slide on an exercise surface while the user's head supports a portion of his body weight in the bridge position. This allows the user to introduce dynamic resistance into the exercise by moving around on the surface. One or more straps connectable to the user's arms and/or legs can be used to provide stability and/or resistance during the exercise. A friction pad adapted to be removably attached to the outer surface of the headgear can be used to provide resistance to the headgear sliding.
US07722295B2
An expansion shell assembly for mine roof bolts includes an expansion member threaded onto an associated mine roof bolt. A support device is annularly disposed around the associated roof bolt. An expansion shell is annularly disposed around the associated roof bolt between the expansion member and the support device. The expansion shell has a base ring for engaging the support device and fingers for engaging a peripheral edge of the expansion member. The engagement between the base ring and the support device permits axial traverse movement of the support device relative to the expansion shell for tensioning the roof bolt.
US07722294B2
The present invention relates to a method for laying a pipeline using a vessel (1) comprising a crane (2) comprising the following steps lifting a new pipe section (8) using the crane, placing a new pipe section on an existing pipeline (9), lining up the new pipe section with respect to the existing pipeline, welding the new section to the existing section, lowering the joined new section and the existing pipe, supporting the joined new section so that the crane is free to lift another new section. The invention further relates to a pipe-laying vessel for carrying out such method.
US07722290B2
A transportable module for use in generating waves in a body of water, having a tubular chamber with a predetermined length and width equal to or less than the maximum length permitted for transportation on a predetermined type of road. The chamber includes a rear valve located at the rear end to permit flow into the chamber and substantially block flow out of the chamber and a gas port proximate to the rear end for the admission of compressed gas into the chamber. The module includes an anchoring system, such as an integrated ballast tank, a connecting system mounted on the outer surface of the module by which the module may be detachably connected in parallel with other such modules in a side to side manner to form a barge or scalable wave generator. Individually, the modules are is capable of being transported by road to a desired body of water for use.
US07722286B2
A delineator mounting system has a coupler for mating a delineator having a cylindrical tubular lower end in a mount having square cross-sections.
US07722285B2
A bollard assembly having a post and a sleeve. The post has a cylindrical post wall forming a cavity and a passage in the post wall. The passage has a first section that extends longitudinally along the post wall and a second section that intersects the first section and extends crosswise to the first section. The sleeve has a cylindrical sleeve wall forming a cavity and a latch pin that is attached to the sleeve wall and extends into the cavity. The sleeve is adapted to receive the post such that the latch pin travels through the passage in the post wall.
US07722284B1
A Freeway Impact Attenuator is a traffic control or traffic accident impact absorbing device that will be deployed and replaced the conventional sand filled plastic buckets on the highway exits, junctions and temporary highway constructions. The rear support bracket for the temporary deployment to be replaced with concrete block to keep the unit from sliding.The bumper and sliding tube move backwards and simultaneously the water in the cylinder get compressed while piston also moves backwards once impact force exerted to the bumper. The sliding tube and piston is interfaced through the clamp.When the water pressure increases to the level that cylinder piston reaction force overcome the impact, sliding tube will stop prior to the end of cylinder full stroke.Water level inside the tank will also increase and may over flow in some case is depending on the piston traveling in the cylinder.
US07722271B1
A finger attachable writing apparatus includes a housing with a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends between the top and bottom walls. The housing has a first end and a second end. A conduit is coupled to and is angled downwardly from the bottom wall. An aperture extends into a free end of the conduit and into an interior of the housing. A finger engaging member is attached to the housing and is configured to releasably attach the housing to a finger. An ink dispensing assembly is mounted in the housing. The ink dispensing assembly is positionable in a deployed position extending outwardly of the conduit or in a stored position. The ink dispensing assembly is configured to dispense ink from the conduit when in the deployed position.
US07722263B2
An imager apparatus is provided. The imager apparatus includes: a housing that stores a lens device with an imaging lens exposed to the front surface facing a subject; and a lens cover attached to the housing, being movable between a first position covering the imaging lens and a second position opening the same. The lens device includes a lens barrel supporting a lens system including the imaging lens in a fixed and/or movable manner, whose forefront part protrudes forward compared with the imaging lens. A stepped portion corresponding to a level difference between the forefront part of the lens barrel and the imaging lens is provided at part of the front surface of the housing, where the lens device is stored. A peaked portion protruding into the stepped portion to eliminate a gap between the lens cover and the housing is provided on the lens cover.
US07722262B2
A fiber optic stub fiber connector for reversibly and nondestructively terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof. The connector includes a housing and a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through the ferrule. The ferrule is generally at least partially disposed within and supported by the housing. The connector further includes a reversible actuator for reversibly and nondestructively terminating the inserted field fiber to the stub fiber. The reversible actuator includes a buffer clamp for engaging with the buffer to simultaneously provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief to the terminated field fiber.
US07722256B2
An air bearing assembly includes: an upper portion having a plurality of air supply and vacuum holes therethrough; a lower portion; and a plurality of spacers disposed between and maintaining the upper and lower portions in spaced relation, wherein a density of the air supply and vacuum holes is high enough to provide an air bearing for a substrate, but low enough such that at least one of: (i) a sufficient number of the spacers are employed, and (ii) the spacers are located in close enough proximity, to maintain a substantially uniform flatness of the upper portion relative to the lower portion.
US07722233B2
An optical module for a motor vehicle lighting device, capable of emitting at least one type of light beam having a cut-off and comprising: a light source disposed in a reflector; a dioptric element, in particular a convergent lens, disposed in front of the reflector; a shield disposed between said light source and said dioptric element; and an additional optical element is disposed between the light source and the shield.
US07722231B2
A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider's legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider's safety. At least one safety light fixture is mounted to lower portions of bicycle seat stays or rear portions of the bicycle chain stays. The light fixture includes light sources generating light beams directed forward onto rear surfaces of the rider's legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. Additional light beams may be directed inward and upward toward the bicycle frame and/or the rider's buttocks to provide additional visibility to the rider and to allow the motor vehicle operators to more easily identify the bicycle and rider. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct light beams onto the front of the rider's moving legs.
US07722212B2
A nightlight provides therapeutic effects on the body and mind including promoting relaxation, sleep and wakefulness. The nightlight includes a light source, a central processor, one or more controls, and a power supply. The light source produces at least three illumination modes including a sleep readiness mode, a sleep help mode and a wake-up mode. The sleep readiness mode produces monochromatic light of various selectable colors at about 40 lumens which may undulate in luminosity. Meanwhile, the wake-up mode produces substantially full spectrum light at higher luminosity. The controls allow a person to control the various light modes including selecting colors, time periods for activation, and transitions between colors during the sleep help mode. Moreover, the nightlight may include biological sensors for measuring physiological activity of the body. The nightlight may be incorporated into a bedside alarm clock which includes numerous features found in a traditional alarm clock.
US07722208B1
An recessed luminaire trim assembly, comprises an outer trim, an inner reflector portion having a polygon shaped cross-section defined by a plurality of reflectors and a plurality of seams defined between each of the plurality of reflectors, a flange extending outwardly from a peripheral edge of the inner reflector, a spring connected to the outer trim, the spring having at least one leg engaging the inner reflector portion and tightening the plurality of seams.
US07722201B2
A device for controlling projected light beam from an electronic flash, this invention consists of a tube of elastic material such as neoprene or polyurethane (4), with a light side (6) and a dark side (5). The shape and elasticity of this device allow its configuration to change by rolling the snoot over on itself. Rolling the snoot partially upon itself, changing its length, will thereby change the size of the projected light beam. Rolling the snoot inside out will select a different interior reflectivity, thus a different quality of projected light.
US07722196B2
A moulding process to manufacture a moulded piece having multiple individual optical elements with the same or different dimensions. This is achieved by using a multicolour injection process as well as a multidrop injection manifold. In the first step, the optical elements are moulded without any junction between them. In the second step, a layer of plastic is moulded in order to join together all the optical elements to create a single piece. The moulded piece thus consists of two plastic injections with optical elements which is more easily adaptable to a variety of different designs for lights having two or more colors. New styles of optical elements, along with varied and original geometric arrangements can thus be imagined. Furthermore, signaling functions having by their regulations different colors can heretofore be placed within a same zone of glass.
US07722184B2
An indicator structure for mounting an indicator representative of desired information to the body of an apparatus, wherein the indicator is made up of a sheet marked with the information in such a manner as to be visible from the outside of the indicator and a single transparent cover covering at least the information such that the information is visible from the outside. The sheet and cover are removably mounted to the body of the apparatus.
US07722171B2
The ink jet printer comprises a printhead (22) movable in front of a printing medium (30) and provided with an ink cartridge (25) integral with it; the cartridge is filled with ink from a main, high capacity tank (35), which is connected at intervals to the cartridge (25) by means of a capillary element. During each connection, the capillary element (101) is brought into contact with the sponge (41) inside the cartridge, while a peristaltic pump (134) mounted integral upon the main tank provides a pressure suitable for generating a sufficient flow of ink to refill the cartridge (25) in a short time frame. To perform the refilling, the cartridge is brought at the end of its stroke into a service station (5) mounted on the body of the main tank (35), which is moved against the cartridge by means of a motor-driven linkage, controlled by a refilling management programme, in response to the signals of a cartridge ink level sensor.
US07722169B2
An inkjet printhead that has an elongate chassis with a first set of apertures, an ink distribution unit for connection to an ink supply, and a plurality of printhead modules supported along the elongate chassis. The ink distribution unit has a plurality of ink distribution passages for connecting the ink supply to a second set of apertures and is supported on the chassis such that the plurality of printhead modules are supplied with ink from the second set of apertures via the first set of apertures.
US07722164B2
A piezoelectric actuator that includes plural individual electrodes each of which includes a driving electrode and a connection terminal disposed at one end of the driving electrode. A maximum difference in height between the connection terminals is 4 μm or less.
US07722163B2
A printhead IC for an inkjet printer, the inkjet printer having a print engine controller (PEC) for sending print data to the printhead IC, the printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto a media substrate; and, drive circuitry for driving the array of nozzles, the drive circuitry being configured to extract a clock signal from the data transmission from the PEC.
US07722162B2
An ink-jet printing assembly includes an elongate U-channel member assembly. An elongate ink delivery member is positioned on a floor of the U-channel member assembly and defines longitudinally extending ink delivery channels and a series of holes in fluid communication with each respective ink delivery channel. A plurality of micro-electromechanical inkjet printing modules with ink inlets and printhead integrated circuits are mounted in the U-channel member assembly such that the ink inlets are in fluid communication with respective holes.
US07722156B2
An ink supply system for purging an inkjet printhead is provided. The ink supply system comprises: (a) a first ink reservoir for supplying printing ink to the printhead; (b) a second ink reservoir for supplying purging ink to the printhead; and (c) a valve having a plurality of configurations, wherein: in a first configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the first ink reservoir via a first ink conduit, and in a second configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the second ink reservoir via a second ink conduit.
US07722153B2
A method of cleaning an ink ejection face of an inkjet printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) supplying cleaning liquid to the printhead via an ink conduit in fluid communication with nozzles in the printhead; and (ii) purging the cleaning liquid from the printhead, thereby flooding the face with cleaning liquid.
US07722146B2
Printing system is provided which has a plurality of printhead integrated circuits of different lengths and a controller configured to supply print data to the printhead integrated circuits. The printhead integrated circuits are arranged to define a pagewidth printhead having rows of nozzles formed by adjacent nozzle rows of the adjacent printhead integrated circuits. The nozzle rows of the printhead are configured so that there is at least one row for printing each ink color of a plurality of ink colors. The controller supplies the print data at a rate which is proportional to a ratio of the different lengths of the printhead integrated circuits.
US07722145B2
An ink jet head driving apparatus for driving an ink jet head having plural nozzles to discharge supplied ink includes actuators provided correspondingly to the respective nozzles and to cause corresponding amounts of ink to be discharged from the nozzles by drive signals, a storage unit to store correction data for equalizing the ink discharge amounts from the respective nozzles, a selection unit to select one drive signal from the plural drive signals based on the correction data, and a drive unit to output the selected drive signal to the actuator at a specified timing, in which the nozzles of the ink jet head are classified into plural groups correspondingly to ink discharge amount characteristics of the nozzles, and the correction data is determined for each of the plural classified groups of the nozzles.
US07722143B2
A content (an amount of ink to be suctioned, or the number of times ink is preliminarily ejected) of the maintenance process to be performed after the ink tank replacement is made different depending on the amount of ink so far consumed from a tank which is replaced. This makes it possible to check the color mixture which would otherwise occur after the new ink tank is attached to the printing apparatus, and to concurrently manage an amount of waste ink in order that ink should not be consumed more than necessary in a case where the color mixture is less likely to occur.
US07722142B2
An ink-jet printer including: an ink-jet head in which are disposed a plurality of nozzles that are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups; a plurality of actuators which are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of nozzles and which are divided into a plurality of actuator groups respectively corresponding to the plurality of nozzle groups; a plurality of drive circuits which are provided respectively for the plurality of nozzle groups and each of which outputs a drive signal used for ejecting an ink, to the plurality of actuators of a corresponding one of the plurality of actuator groups; a controller which controls the ink-jet printer to perform printing such that, by driving any of the plurality of actuators which are determined on the basis of print data, the ink is ejected, toward a recording medium, from any of the plurality of nozzles that correspond to said any of the plurality of actuators; and an adjusting portion which adjusts the drive signal to be outputted from each of the plurality of drive circuits to reduce variation in an ink-ejection property among the plurality of nozzle groups.
US07722137B2
A computer bezel includes a main body (10), and a cover (30) movably attached to the main body. The cover includes a pair of slideways (31) formed thereon, and a hook (33) defining a slot (335) therein. The main body includes a plurality of shafts (19) extending from sidewalls (12) thereof to engage in the slideways, a channel (151) defined in the main body to slidably receive the hook therein, and a pair of locating members (153) formed in two ends of the channel to selectively engage in the slot of the hooks.
US07722136B2
A computer front bezel assembly includes a panel (10) and an access door (30). The panel defines an opening (12) therein. A securing tab (14) protrudes from the panel. The access door is slidably attached to the panel. The access door includes a shielding board (31) and an extending board (32). The access door moves up to cover the opening. A resilient engaging portion (326) is formed on the extending board for engaging with the securing tab. An expansion slot (321) is defined adjacent to the engaging portion for providing resiliency to the engaging portion. When the sliding board slides on the panel, the securing portion urges the engaging portion to deform for engagement/disengagement.
US07722127B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a degradation assembly comprises a holder attached to a driving mechanism and comprises a longitudinal central bore. The bore comprises an opening at a distal end from the driving mechanism. A pick comprising a body intermediate a shank and an impact tip is connected to the holder, the shank being disposed in the central bore of the holder and the body extending from the opening of the bore. A tensioning mechanism is disposed within the bore and is adapted to put the shank in axial tension.
US07722122B2
A portable support for supporting the head of a seated individual including an elongated pillow and a flexible retention member having fasteners enabling the flexible retention member to assume different loop configurations enabling the portable support to alternatively be connected to an upper seat corner or be supported by the individual.
US07722116B2
In a seat, a bass acoustic vibration transmission section and a treble acoustic vibration transmission section are arranged distinctively with respect to a seat occupant, such that those two acoustic vibration transmission sections are disposed independently of each other, thereby achieving both of the following two effects: an acoustic performance worthy of acoustic seat; and a seating comfort essentially required as a seat.A vibration conduction unit is provided, which comprises a combination of: one bass speaker; a support plate to which that one bass speaker is secured; and a network cushion member of three-dimensional structure arranged on an anterior surface of the support plate. Such vibration conduction unit is disposed and accommodated in a cut-out region defined in a seat padding to a predetermined extent of covering an area of seat back which corresponds to a lumbar part of seat occupant, whereas on the other hand, a pair of treble speakers are respectively provided in a pair of local areas of the seat padding which correspond respectively to left-side and right-side shoulder portions of seat back, such that each of those two local areas of seat padding has an opening defined therein, wherein the opening lies anteriorly of an output side of each of the two treble speakers.
US07722114B2
A zero gravity wall hugger recliner having a motor drive, seat and backrest assembly that move back and forth on a trolley mounted on the chair base when the seat and backrest assembly move forward with the trolley on the chair base. A bracket attached between the base and seat moves the assembly from an upright to a reclined position. The recliner has a leg rest driven by a control bar attached between the leg rest and bracket for elevation the leg rest when the trolley moves forward and retracts the leg rest when the trolley moves to the rear.
US07722113B2
An interior part for a vehicle including a first rib(s) extending on the side that faces a vehicle body at a time of mounting the interior part to the vehicle body, and a second rib(s) extending to cross the first rib, in which an inserting portion(s) that is inserted into an opening(s) provided in the vehicle body is formed at portion(s) where the first rib and the second rib cross each other and projects toward the vehicle body, and this inserting portion(s) is provided with a third rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the first rib and a fourth rib(s) that extends toward the vehicle body from the second rib.
US07722103B2
A cabriolet motor vehicle is provided, which comprises a roof constructed from at least two roof segments, which may be brought into an open position, rear roof columns stiffened by an upper roof cross member (“Targa part”), and a rollbar (“Targa bar”) situated in the area between a front frame and the Targa part, and is distinguished in that the at least two roof segments are stackable using a movement mechanism into a roof segment stack situated between the Targa bar and the target part, and the roof segment stack is pivotable into the passenger compartment using at least one connecting rod attached to the upper roof cross member of the Targa part.
US07722102B2
A console housing has a top wall formed with an opening that receives an upwardly extending handle of a parking brake. A gap hider includes a close out insert for closing the gap between the opening and the handle. The close out insert is supported on the top wall for limited floating movement so that it will not interfere with the operation of the parking brake handle.
US07722099B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for hygienic disposal of a sanitary product. The apparatus comprises a biodegradable bag for disposal of the sanitary product. The biodegradable bag comprises a catch clip, a pull stick, and an adhesive strip. The catch clip, affixed at the closed end of the biodegradable bag, seizes the sanitary product into the biodegradable bag. The pull stick holds the biodegradable bag in a predefined position over the seized sanitary product during inversion of the biodegradable bag over the seized sanitary product. The inverted biodegradable bag with the seized sanitary product is then twisted and sealed airtight using the adhesive strip affixed towards the open end of the biodegradable bag. The biodegradable bag prevents the user from coming in contact with the sanitary product, thereby providing hygienic disposal of the sanitary product.
US07722097B2
An electric rim strike including a housing having a cavity defined therein; a pivotally rotatable keeper having a front blocking face; a pivotally rotatable locking bar having a rear blocking face; and an actuating mechanism that selectively pivots the locking bar. The keeper, locking bar, and actuating mechanism are disposed within the cavity of the housing. The actuating mechanism being operationally connected to the locking bar and driving the locking bar and the keeper from a first state to a second state. The rear blocking face of the locking bar opposes the front blocking face of the keeper to prevent the locking bar and keeper from freely rotating relative to each other.
US07722080B2
An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes at least one closeable flap vent for re-directing gas out of the cushion when an obstruction is encountered. The airbag cushion also includes a tether for controlling the closeable flap vent.
US07722074B2
An effective technology is provided to intend an improvement of a deploying capability of an airbag apparatus. In one form, a retainer for housing an airbag of an airbag apparatus upon being folded back is constructed with a retainer body whose upper surface and an entire front surface other than left and right supporting portions at a lower portion are open, and a plastic plate serving as a plate having low rigidity closing an opening portion of the retainer body, and the plastic plate is fixed to an inside of the supporting portions of the retainer body, and a front portion of the retainer is formed to be a bending portion capable of being bent forward around a lower portion thereof as a fulcrum by the plastic plate.
US07722069B2
A bicycle suspension system is provided with a damping unit and a damping control unit to control movement of upper and lower telescopically connected tubes. A damping force adjustment valve selectively adjusts a fluid flow rate of fluid passed a damping piston. The damping piston has a fluid flow port that is axially spaced with respect to a fluid flow passage of a damping lockout mechanism such that a flow path is formed in an axial direction by the fluid flow port of the damping piston and the fluid flow passage of the damping lockout mechanism when the damping lockout mechanism is in a non-lockout mode. A first actuating member operates the damping force adjustment valve and a second actuating member operates the damping lockout mechanism such that the damping force adjustment valve remains in a set position when the second actuating member is being operated.
US07722067B2
A vehicle running step formed of an elongate tube, the tube having an opening therethrough with a plurality of spaced apart tread plates mounted within the opening. The spaced apart tread plates form a non-slip self-cleaning step area along the tube. Dirt, debris, snow and ice can pass between the spaced apart tread plates to increase overall safety of the device. Furthermore, the spaced apart tread plates are aesthetically pleasing and relatively simple to manufacture.
US07722060B1
A truck assembly is used in a wheeled recreational device including a base plate and hanger. The base plate defines a plurality of mounting holes adapted for receiving respective threaded bolts, and further defines a corresponding plurality of fastener retention regions surrounding respective mounting holes. Each fastener retention region includes point-engaging structure adapted for engaging at least two points of a multi-point threaded nut, such that the point-engaging structure substantially prevents rotation of the threaded nut upon mating attachment of a corresponding threaded bolt. The hanger resides adjacent to the base plate, and includes a wheel axle adapted for carrying at least one wheel of the recreational device.
US07722051B2
A seal ring for sealing an annular clearance between two members, which are made rotatable relative to each other. The seal ring is provided with a relief 5 throughout the circumference of a sliding face side to confront the side wall face 72 of an annular groove 71. This relief 5 is set to have a radially smaller width in the vicinity of a separate portion 2 and a radially larger width at a position apart from the separate portion 2, and the portion of the relief 5 to transit from the narrower portion to the wider portion is set to have a gradually changing width.
US07722048B2
A playing card wagering game has a player hand compete against another player hand according to three-card poker rank or a player hand compete against a dealer hand. At least one or two players place a first wager on the card wagering game and an optional second side bet wager. The player hand begins with two respective hole cards and all player hands are completed with community playing cards dealt in sets of cards. Relative rank of the players' hands is determined. The first wager is resolved based upon the determined relative rank by determining which player hand(s) wins. The second wager is resolved according to rules that comprise comparing rank of each player's hand to a paytable.
US07722046B2
A game apparatus having a roulette wheel with a plurality of wheel sections, a pointer for randomly selecting one of the wheel sections, and a playing surface adapted for placing wagers concerning the randomly selected wheel section. Each of the wheel sections has two separate number representations, such as the faces of a pair of dice, which are summed to represent a summation for the wheel section. The playing surface has a plurality of wager sections corresponding to the summations of the wheel sections on the roulette wheel. The roulette wheel can further include a second plurality of wheel sections having representations of the suits of a deck of playing cards thereon and the playing surface can further include one or more wager sections corresponding to the second plurality of wheel sections.
US07722036B2
A sheet conveying device connected between image forming device and post-processing device of which sheet conveying speed is higher than that of image forming device. The sheet conveying device includes: feed-in roller for feeding in a sheet ejected from image forming device; conveying roller for conveying the sheet; ejection roller for ejecting the sheet to post-processing device; conveying path from feed-in roller to ejection roller; and controller for controlling sheet conveying speeds of the rollers, wherein the controller performs control such that: when sheet conveying device feeds in the sheet ejected from image forming device, the conveying speeds of the rollers are the same as conveying speed at which image forming device ejects the sheet; and when image forming device has completed ejection of a trailing edge of the sheet, the conveying speeds of the rollers are the same as conveying speed at which post-processing device feeds in the sheet.
US07722029B2
A method for use in a sheet feeder having a sheet stacking unit with a bottom plate to support a sheet bundle in which air is blown against a side edge of the sheet bundle near the topmost sheets of the bundle, thereby lifting these sheets from the bundle, and separating the uppermost sheet from the bundle, and conveying this sheet away from the bundle, wherein the lifting of the sheets when the bundle is nearly depleted is assisted by forcing an element situated underneath the bundle to push against the bundle solely when air is blown against the side edge of the bundle. A sheet feeder suitable for applying the present method and an imaging apparatus for incorporating the sheet feeder is also provided.
US07722028B2
A bottom friction feeder comprises a material magazine assembly, a gate assembly including a guide subassembly and a singulation gate subassembly, a back wedge assembly, and a bottom friction belt assembly.
US07722014B2
A surface mount includes a base for receiving a hollow object that is to be secured with the mount to another surface. The interior area includes a movable anchor than can be advanced toward the wall that defines a hollow object receiving area, so that a hollow object is pinched or compressed between the anchor and its respective wall.
US07722011B1
A jack extension system includes a mechanical jack that has a vertical support and a foot mounted on the vertical support. The foot is moved upwardly or downwardly on the vertical support. The vertical support has an upper end. A bracket is removably attached to the upper end of the jack. The bracket has an opening extending therethrough. A post has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end comprises a coupler that is removably attached to the foot. The top end comprises a plate. The post extends through the bracket and the plate is abuttable against an object to be lifted.
US07722001B2
A bar clamp assembly configured to be secured to a structure through a fastener includes a bar clamp, a securing base, and a fastener retention member. The securing base may be integrally formed with the bar clamp, and is configured to receive and retain the fastener. The fastener retention member is within or on the securing base, and is configured to secure the fastener in the securing base. The bar clamp assembly may also include a plurality of braces, clips and other support structures between the bar clamp and the securing base in order to provide a more robust assembly.
US07722000B2
A movable support post is attached to a vessel, such as a large planter's pot. Two or more fasteners are employed to attach the post to the vessel. The fasteners extend through the post and extend into the interior of the vessel. A ballast material, such as concrete, is disposed in the vessel and encases the bolts therein. The ballast material acts as an anchor to stabilize the vessel and the attached post. A removable lid or tray is positioned at the top of the vessel. The tray or lid can function as a birdbath or flowerpot, adding a decorative adjunct to the structure.
US07721999B2
Aerospace vehicle fairing systems and associated methods, including fairings that house flap surface drive mechanisms on aircraft, are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with one embodiment, for example, can include adjusting lift distribution across an airfoil. The airfoil includes a first inboard portion and a second outboard portion. The method can include locating a point of maximum curvature of a first fairing at least approximately forward of a trailing edge of the airfoil proximate to the first inboard portion. The method can also include locating a point of maximum curvature of a second fairing at least approximately aft of a trailing edge of the airfoil proximate to the second outboard portion. The locations of the points of maximum curvature for the first and second fairings are based, at least in part, on a target lift distribution.
US07721998B2
A system and method are provided for operating a control moment gyro (CMG) in a spacecraft. The CMG includes a spin motor, and a CMG rotor that is coupled to the spin motor and is configured to rotate about a spin axis. Electrical power from a power source is supplied to the spin motor to rotate the CMG rotor about the spin axis. A determination is made as to whether the power source can supply sufficient electrical power to the spin motor. If the power source cannot supply sufficient electrical power to the spin motor, the spin motor is rotated by the CMG rotor to generate and supply electrical power to the power source.
US07721997B1
A system for reducing plasma induced communication disruption utilizes an electrophilic gas injectant, bent reentry vehicle nose shaping and a number of flaps configured to provide 3-axis steering capability. Injecting electrophilic gas injectant into plasma accomplishes reduction of plasma induced communication disruption by removing free electrons in the plasma which causes the communication disruption. For reentry vehicles, a bent biconic nose also reduces plasma effect during reentry. By combining electrophilic gas injection and bent nose shaping, the system reduces and/or eliminates plasma induced communication disruption, such as, GPS communication blackout, for a reentry vehicle during reentry. Furthermore, the 3-axis steering capability renders the reentry vehicle more maneuverable. Performance of the reentry vehicle during reentry, such as, target accuracy, is thus improved.
US07721993B2
A wire-strike system (1) including; a wire cutter with at least one pair of electrodes (5, 6), electrically insulated from each other and mounted to an outer surface of an aircraft (2). The electrodes (5, 6) being connectable to a power source (11) capable of generating an electrical potential difference between the electrodes (5, 6) and in the event of a wire-strike, supplying a short-circuit current flow through a portion of the wire connecting both electrodes (5, 6).
US07721991B2
A passenger seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back operably coupled to the seat bottom. The passenger seat is translatable fore-and-aft and side-to-side in a horizontal direction, and is rotatable about a vertical axis so as to be oriented in any desired horizontal direction. The passenger seat is movable between an upright seating position and a reclined sleeping position. A passenger seating arrangement consists of a plurality of passenger seats arranged in a column with adjacent passenger seats separated by a privacy divider. A tray table carried by the privacy divider is mounted so as to be selectively raised and lowered and to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. Each passenger seat may include a leg rest operably coupled to the seat bottom and movable between a lowered position and a raised position for use in the upright seating position and the reclined sleeping position, respectively.
US07721988B2
The invention relates to an unmanned helicopter comprising an internal combustion engine and an associated fuel tank. The unit (1) formed by the internal combustion engine and the gearbox is arranged essentially in a self-supporting housing (2) which is at least partially closed all the way round, and preferably consists of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFK), a nose body (3) being connected to the front of said housing. In this way, a compact structure can be achieved.
US07721987B2
A roller clutch arranged to transmit rotation in only one direction includes an outer ring, an inner ring, a plurality of rollers, a retainer, a cam surface, and a plurality of spring members. The inner ring is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. The rollers are disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring in a circumferential direction and are allowed to frictionally engage the outer and inner rings. The retainer includes a plurality of holding portions disposed among the rollers, and shaft portions that protrude from the holding portions toward the rollers. The cam surface is an oblique surface on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and arranged to contact the outer peripheral surface of the rollers. The spring members are disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shaft portions and urge the rollers to frictionally engage the cam surface.
US07721986B2
A fishing spinning reel of the invention includes a spool wound with a fish line, a rotor rotatable through a pinion gear brought in mesh with a drive gear rotated by a winding operation of a handle, a switch mechanism including a switch lever capable of operating to switch a restricting state of restricting rotation of the spool and a free state of making the spool free, and a return mechanism for returning the switch mechanism brought into the spool free state to the restricting state by the winding operation of the handle. The return mechanism includes a connecting gear brought in mesh with a gear driven by the drive gear, and a kick member rotatably supported centering on the connecting gear, and a center of a mesh portion of the gear and the connecting gear is arranged on a side of the drive gear relative to an axis center of the pinion gear.
US07721980B1
A method and apparatus for vacuum cooling heated viscous and/or high solids mixtures employs at least one cooling tank (1) having inwardly sloping side walls (15) from a top (14) to an opening that is attached to a outlet pump or valve (7) located at the tank bottom, a rotational spreader (8) near the top and at least one vacuum pump (5, 6) to maintain the predetermined vacuum in the tank, and input and output pumps (20, 21). The rotational spreader (8) breaks up the heated viscous and/or high solids mixture (9) and distributes it onto the side walls of the tank to form a film (10) which is cooled as it travels to and slides down the sides to the bottom where the viscous and/or high solids mixture is outputted from the tank by a pump or valve (7, 21, 26). Multiple stages of the apparatus may be employed preferably with progressively greater vacuum pressure in each stage to accomplish even further cooling of the viscous and/or high solids mixtures.
US07721977B2
A pad for handle grips of hand held paint spray guns. Frequent prolonged use of paint spray guns can result in the fatiguing and stressing of operator hands. Fatigue and stress can be aggravated by requiring the operator to hold his or her hand in essentially one position on the handle grip. The pad reduces such fatigue and stress. The pad fits within a recessed region that is molded into the paint spray gun handle where the operator's palm meets the grip. Alternatively, the pad could be attached to existing paint spray gun handle grips that are lacking the recessed region. The pad is made of a material that is less dense than the synthetic resinous material of the spray gun handle grip. Preferably, the material is plastic foam or gel and is attached to the spray gun handle using an acrylic glue. The pad is designed to absorb some of the vibrational energy that is transmitted to the operator's hand in current spray gun handles. This reduction in vibrational energy transmission decreases operator fatigue and stress. The pad is deformable which provides the operator with added comfort by improving the fit between the operator's palm and the spray gun handle grip, thus reducing fatigue and stress. The material of the pad allows for a better grip by the operator on the spray gun handle. In addition, the material of the pad combined with its positioning against the operator's palm acts to distribute heat away from the hand of the operator. The pad is designed to accommodate different hand sizes and shapes without the need to remove and replace hand grip covers or sleeves. The deformability of the pad also allows the operator to modify his or her hand positions during operation which reduces operator fatigue and stress.
US07721974B2
A thermostat device includes a valve housing with a cooling water passage of an internal combustion engine, a built-in thermally expansive body thermally expanded or contracted by temperature change of cooling water, a piston rod slid by thermal expansion/contraction of the expansive body, and a valve body subjected to opening/closing operation by the piston rod in accordance with volume change of the expansive body. A valve seat shape on downstream side than the valve seat, which is an internal wall face forming the passage is formed in a shape that in valve open condition the cross-sectional area of the passage between an inlet seal of the valve seat and the top face of the valve body gradually decreases with reference to the maximum passage cross-sectional area on upstream side and that the cross-sectional area of the passage at the face perpendicular to the top face gradually increases.
US07721971B2
In an image processing system, in which code data is transmitted between at least one client and a server, the client includes a selecting unit to select a processing function to execute; and a notifying unit to notify the selected processing function to the server. The server includes a selecting unit to select a type of a stream of code data transmitted between the server and the client, based on the notified processing function; and a notifying unit to notify the client of the selected type of stream.
US07721955B2
A secure transaction method is provided for publicly-accessible transaction terminals. The method uses quantum key distribution (QKD) between a hand-portable QKD device and a complimentary QKD apparatus incorporated the transaction terminal. After the QKD device has been brought up to the transaction terminal, the QKD device and the complimentary QKD apparatus of the terminal are is used to provide the device and terminal with new secret shared random material. The new secret shared random material is then used to establish a secure classical communication channel between the device and transaction terminal for conducting a transaction. An ATM terminal and POS terminal that use quantum key distribution are also disclosed.
US07721953B1
An automated banking machine (10) operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. A controller (72) in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices (118, 126) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices (128) adjacent a card reader slot (28) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices. Servicing the machine is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article (98) which enables the controller to access diagnostic data stored in memory and which provides data indicative of the significance of the diagnostic data.
US07721949B2
An automated banking machine system and methods includes ATMs which accepts checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host.
US07721944B2
A whip comprising a shaft having a first and second end, the shaft being arranged to provide a handle at the first end and a flapper located at the second end. The shaft comprises at least one planar fin located at the second end of the shaft, the fin being at least partially sheathed with the flapper.
US07721942B2
Packets of cigarettes (2) sold in multiples are wrapped in a rigid carton (1) with a predominating longitudinal axis (L) that extends parallel to the longitudinal axes (7) of the single packets (2) and presents a prismatic shape of polygonal section.
US07721932B2
Described herein are endoscopic staplers used to apply one or more fasteners to body tissue. In one embodiment, a fastener-applying device, which is preferably a stapler, is passed transorally into the stomach and used to plicate stomach tissue by engaging tissue from inside of the stomach and drawing it inwardly. In the disclosed embodiments, the tissue is drawn inwardly into a vacuum chamber, causing sections of serosal tissue on the exterior of the stomach to be positioned facing one another. The disclosed staplers allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver staples for maintaining contact between the tissue sections at least until serosal bonds form between them. Each of these steps may be performed wholly from the inside of the stomach and thus can eliminate the need for any surgical or laparoscopic intervention. After one or more plications are formed, medical devices may optionally be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.
US07721920B2
A cap is provided for coupling with a pressure-resistant container to form an aerosol spray bottle. The cap includes a spray trigger for controlling a valve. The cap can have an outward slant from the cap bottom where the cap couples with the container. The top profile of the cap from a side view can have a convex shape. The cap can have a front side where the substance is expelled that is higher than the back side where the base of a user's finger would be when the user actuates the trigger with a fingertip.
US07721919B2
A system for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package. The system comprises a pressure package configured to hold a content to be delivered, a high-pressure chamber configured to hold a propellant, a pressure controller connected to the high pressure chamber by a feed-through and configured to control the working pressure on the content of the pressure package with the aid of the propellant on the basis of a predetermined reference pressure, and a movable member positionable in at least a control position and a neutral position. The movable member, in the control position, clears the feed-through to enable control of the working pressure. The movable member, in the neutral position, blocks the feed-through, so that control of the working pressure is then impossible. The movable member has a handle for positioning the movable member in the neutral position or in the control position.
US07721915B2
A dual stage hybrid inflation device includes a first stage gas source including a liquefied gas stored in a first stage pressure vessel and a second stage gas source including a gas generator having a gas output directed into the first stage pressure vessel. The gas generator is isolated from the first stage pressure vessel by a frangible diaphragm that ruptures when the pressure in the gas generator exceeds the pressure in the first stage pressure vessel by a predetermined amount. The gas generator is also isolated from the first stage pressure vessel by an eroding nozzle that temporarily restricts the flow of gas from the gas generator to the first stage pressure vessel after the frangible diaphragm ruptures. The eroding nozzle initially restricts the flow of gas from the gas generator to the first stage pressure vessel to prevent a sudden pressure drop in the gas generator that would cause the pyrotechnic gas generating material to self extinguish. The nozzle then erodes away to allow an unrestricted flow of combustion products from the gas generator to the first stage pressure vessel.
US07721903B2
A drain cover assembly for sealing a drain pipe that extends vertically from the top surface of the deck of a floating roof on a liquid storage tank includes a circular cover and at least two buoyant members, or pontoons, secured to the underside of the cover for imparting a buoyant force to raise the cover upon the accumulation of excess water on the deck. The pontoons are spaced apart from each other to allow water to pass between them and into the drainpipe.
US07721886B2
A sharps container for safe storage of used pen needles comprises a housing within which is rotatably mounted a used pen needle receiving and ejecting means. Used pen needles are inserted into the receiving means. The receiving and ejecting means is rotated; during the rotation, cam follower means connected to the ejecting means engages cam means within the housing to cause the ejection of the used pen needle into the housing.
US07721885B2
Portable dispensers for coiled roofing nails, nail strips, roof staples, sheathing staples, welding rods, welding tools, framing nails and the like. The dispenser has an open top container which may be fastened to the belt of the user.
US07721880B2
A dispenser comprises a container having a first aperture therein and a first closure element for sealingly closing the first aperture wherein the container has a second aperture and a second closure element for closing said second aperture, the second closure element including a pressing element operable to press inwardly towards the second aperture, a blister pack, locating element locating the blister pack to span across the second aperture and sealing element sufficient to ensure the second aperture is sealingly closable against leakage of the intended contents of the dispenser. The construction and arrangement is such that in end use the container holds a first substance and the blister pack holds a second substance and when the pressing element is pushed the blister pack is ruptured enabling the mixing of the contents thereof with those of the container.
US07721879B2
A method and apparatus for blocking a bar code in a package includes a carrier with a plurality of apertures. The carrier is formed with a plastic material containing an absorbing dye and a fluorescing dye so that a bar code on each container is not readable by a bar code scanner.
US07721870B2
The invention relates to an apparatus by which finished products or semifinished products, after being processed in a production facility (11), are dischargeable from a processing station of the relevant production facility for removal or other kind of transfer.The discharge apparatus is essentially composed of a work platform (1) and a run-off surface (2) formed on this platform, wherein the work platform (1) is held in an elevated frame (4) of the discharge apparatus, or outer frame enclosing at least parts of a pit. Discharge of the finished products or semifinished products is effected by their movement over the run-off surface (2), the movement being assisted by conveying means (5) disposed on the work platform (1). According to the invention, the work platform (1) is rotatable without changing its position within the outer frame (4) relative to a horizontal axis (1) by 180° between two operating positions, and is lockable in these positions. In the first operating position, the run-off surface (2) faces upward, while in the second position a surface of the work platform opposite the run-off surface (2) faces upward, the surface forming a secure standing surface (3) for a person.
US07721868B2
The invention relates to a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes.The invention starts out from a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes, wherebya number of bank notes is processed by means of the bank note processing machine and data of at least one sensor are stored,the condition of the bank notes is recognized by means of the stored data and at least one threshold value,a relation between the recognized condition of the bank notes and the at least one threshold value is determined and displayed,at least one threshold value is changed on the basis of the displayed relation, and at least the condition and the relation are determined again and the relation is displayed again.
US07721867B2
The present invention has an object of providing a rotation output device, including a lock mechanism employing a movable lock member so as to define the lock position, which is capable of, when the operator operates an output shaft to pivot, preventing the movable lock member from being concomitantly rotated with the output shaft and thus providing a locking function with certainty. The rotation output device according to the present invention includes, between the lock gears 35 and the lock ring 33, a carry plate 37 for retaining the positions of the lock gears 35 in the rotation direction when receiving a rotation force from the center ring 32. Thus, the lock ring 33 which is rotational-fixed is used as a member for preventing the concomitant rotation of the lock gears 35.
US07721864B2
A fluid actuated rotational coupling device is provided with improved sealing of fluid passages. The device includes a fluid actuated rotational coupling that is disposed on a rotatable shaft. The coupling defines a fluid port. A key is received within a keyway in the coupling and/or shaft and defines a fluid passage extending therethrough having fluid ports at either end aligned with the fluid port in the coupling and a fluid port in the shaft. The key also defines grooves formed in surfaces of the key and surrounding the fluid ports. Seals are disposed within the grooves in the key. By locating the fluid passage and seals in the key, the seals may be removed and replaced without removing the coupling from the shaft. Further, the seals are less likely to be damaged during installation of the coupling device on the shaft.
US07721859B2
A rotary force controlling apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same are provided. The rotary force controlling apparatus includes a clutch device having a shaft, and a rotary body mounted at one end of the shaft. A housing receives and rotates together with the shaft. A power transferring member is rotatably mounted in the housing and selectively rotates the housing by a clutch inserted between the housing and the power transferring member. A positioning unit protrudes from the periphery of the housing and positions a stop location of the rotary body. A solenoid unit is spaced apart from the clutch device and is selectively turned on and off. The positioning unit includes a first positioning unit that positions an initial location of the rotary body when the solenoid unit is turned on; and a plurality of second positioning units that are separated from the first positioning unit and stop the rotary body at a predetermined location when the solenoid unit is turned off. Since the solenoid unit is turned off when the rotary body is stopped, the solenoid unit is prevented from being overheated.
US07721857B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement and to a method relating to a swing damper (1) for carrying a tool (5) that hands from a crane arm (2) or the like. The swing damper (1) includes an upper part (11) that is connected to the crane arm (2), and a lower part (12) that carries a working implement (5) or the like either directly or via a rotator (4), for instance. The upper part (11) and the lower part (12) are pivotally connected to one another via a pivot joint (13). The swing damper (1) also includes a brake arrangement (50). The brake arrangement (50) includes a brake unit (60) that has discs (70, 80) which are pivotal about the pivot shaft (14) of the swing joint (13), wherein at least one (70) of said discs is secured against rotation relative to the upper part (11), and wherein at least (80) of said discs is secured against rotation relative to said lower part (12). The arrangement also includes a tensioning element (90; 110; 130) which functions to press the discs (70, 80) together in a braking operation. The brake unit (60) is situated in a space (200) between two pivot hearings (46) between the upper part (11) and the lower part (12).
US07721854B1
A brake mechanism fixed to a member allowing limited reciprocal motion and providing a restorative force to the movable member in one direction of movement thereof. A brake mechanism includes a rotor fixed to and wheel about an axle axis has a caliper assembly spanning the rotor with inboard and outboard friction members supported on either side of the rotor for selectively engaging the rotor and braking the wheel. A piston is fixed to the caliper of the inboard friction member for moving the inboard friction member toward the rotor and including a piston seal which, upon removal of fluidic pressure from the cylinder, resiliently urges the inboard friction member away from the rotor. A bracket is fixed to the vehicle supports the caliper on a pair of generally cylindrical guide pins fixed to one of the anchor bracket and caliper assembly and is movable within a pair of generally cylindrical guide pin bores of the anchor bracket and caliper assembly. A pair of central cylindrical shells and an end engaging a pin shoulder to provide the restorative force and a radially outer portion of reduced rigidity such as a plurality of fins frictionally engaging the aperture.
US07721848B1
The present invention provides a safety shield for installation in an aerial bucket. The safety shield provides an adjustable panel which may be extended to a variety of positions to protect a user from unintentional contact with harmful surfaces such as electrical wires.
US07721842B2
A steering system is provided for a work vehicle comprising articulated first and second vehicle sections. The steering system comprises a controller adapted to: determine from a speed-request signal if a requested steering speed requested for the first vehicle section relative to the second vehicle section about an articulation axis toward an end of an end region of a position range of the first vehicle section is at least a predetermined steering speed; determine from a position signal if the first vehicle section is positioned in the end region of the position range; and, if the requested steering speed is at least the predetermined steering speed and the first vehicle section is positioned in the end region, signal that an actual steering speed of the first vehicle section be lower than the requested steering speed. An associated method is disclosed.
US07721840B2
A creep steering control system for a utility vehicle is operable from a rearward-facing position. The creep steering control system includes a pivotable actuator alongside a rearward-facing seat that provides electronic output based on the position of the actuator. A linkage is provided between the pivotable actuator and steering wheel behind the seat.
US07721834B2
A method for controlling operation of a transfer case in a motor vehicle driveline that includes by an engine controlled by a throttle having a variable position, and a transmission driveably connected to the engine for producing multiple ratios of the speed of a transmission input relative to the speed of a transmission output. The transfer case transmitting rotating power in response to an electric signal applied to a clutch. The method includes determining that the engine throttle position is less than a first reference throttle position during a period of predetermined length; determining that a speed of the vehicle speed is in a predetermined range; determining that the transmission is operating in a speed ratio greater than a reference speed ratio; determining that the engine throttle position is greater than a first reference throttle position; and increasing the torque capacity of the clutch for a predetermined period.
US07721832B2
The invention relates to a vehicle suspension system. There is a need for a stable walking beam suspension system where the beam can oscillate and move vertically. Such a suspension system includes a support fixed to the vehicle frame and having first and second ends. A swing arm has a first end pivotally coupled to the first end of the support via a pair of spaced apart pivot pins. Air bags are coupled between the frame and the second end of the swing arm. A walking beam has opposite ends coupled to left and right wheel support assemblies. The walking beam is pivotally coupled to the swing arm. A damping cylinder is coupled between the frame and the second end of the swing arm. Resilient bumper members are engagable with the walking beam and are mounted on an end of the swing arm and fixed to an end of the support.
US07721827B2
A drill bit includes a bit head and a rotating bit cone. A sealing system for the drill bit includes a seal gland and a seal retained within the seal gland. The seal gland is defined by a radial cone surface, a head sealing surface and an opposed cone sealing surface. At least one of the head sealing surface and opposed cone sealing surface is not cylindrical (i.e., the surface is conical and not parallel to an axis of rotation for the cone). Additionally, the radial cone surface may be conical (i.e., the surface does not extend perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cone). The seal is radially compressed between the head sealing surface and the opposed cone sealing surface. The use of one or more conical surfaces in the gland is provided to bias the compressed seal into a preferred dynamic sealing zone.
US07721820B2
A buffering device for use in conjunction with a downhole tool string, wherein the tool string includes a ballistics device. The buffering device includes a mandrel attached within a tool string and proximate to the ballistics device. An anchor is disposed on the mandrel and a disk plate is coaxially placed on the mandrel that is slideable thereon. The disk plate is proximate to the ballistic device. A resilient member, such as a spring, is coaxially placed on the mandrel between the disk plate and the anchor. The pressure wave produced by activation of the ballistic device pushes the disk plate toward the anchor and compresses the spring there between. Since the disk plate extends outward into sealing contact with casing lining the wellbore, compression of the spring dissipates energy waves produced by activation of the ballistic device.
US07721798B2
A wireline entry sub includes a body for connection with a wellbore string of tubulars. An opening on the body extends a depth from a body outer surface to at least the longitudinal center axis. A wireline passage extends though the body from the opening to a lower end. A wireline pulling device is mounted on the sub body to apply pulling force to a wireline. The wireline pulling device ma be driven by a motor mounted on the wireline cut sub or by a to drive of a drilling rig.
US07721796B2
A heat exchanger, including first and second collecting tanks with an inlet, an outlet, and an opening through a wall of the first tank. At least one row of tubes extends between the collecting tanks, and the tubes and tanks carry a first medium and a second medium flows through the spaces between the tubes. A first partition divides the first collecting tank and defines an opening therethrough, and a second partition divides the second collecting tank, with the first and second partitions defining separate loops for the first medium when the first partition opening is closed. A discharge device selectively either simultaneously opens both the first collecting tank opening and the first partition opening for emptying or simultaneously closes both the first collecting tank opening and the first partition opening for operation.
US07721791B2
A heat exchanger that can prevent damage to joints of tubes and side plates at core plates and is easy to produce which has side plates enabling stable brazing of the tubes and fins with the side plates, that is, a heat exchanger provided with a plurality of tubes through a heat exchange medium passes, a plurality of fins alternately stacked with the tubes and increasing the heat transfer of the heat exchange medium, core plates to which the two ends of the tubes are connected, and side plates arranged at the outsides in the stacking direction from the end fins arranged at the outermost sides in the stacking direction of the fins and connected to the core plates, wherein at least one of the side plates has a plurality of bridge portions at intermediate locations in the longitudinal direction, and at least one location of the bridge portions has a slit provided by cutting after the brazing of the tubes and the fins.
US07721788B2
A cooling jacket for cooling a heat-generating element through transmitting heat-generation into a coolant flowing within an inside of the cooling jacket, which is mounted within an electronic apparatus, and includes a base portion, and a cover portion. The base portion includes a heat-transfer surface in proximity to a surface of the heat-generating element, and a plurality of wall portions. Each wall portion is defined to extend into a direction perpendicular to the heat-transfer surface, thereby defining flow passages for the fluid coolant between the wall portions. The cover portion is attached on the base portion surrounding a periphery of the base portion, thereby defining a passage for guiding the fluid coolant into the base portion. The base portion builds up the sector-shaped flow passages and a summit portion at a central portion of the base, and has a configuration that is thermally isotropic to the heat-generating element.
US07721787B2
A drying device includes an air/air heat exchanger and an air/refrigerant heat exchanger. The air refrigerant heat exchanger includes a phase change material.
US07721772B2
Protective devices are provided subjacent to the filler port within an aircraft's wing fuel tank so as to protect the lower wing skin from being struck by a nozzle associated with refueling equipment. When inserted into the filler port, the nozzle is brought into contact with the protective device which serves to deflect the nozzle in laterally (e.g., in an inboard direction) to thereby prevent the nozzle from striking the lower wing skin. Thus, when initially inserted into the filler port in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to a horizontal plane, the terminal end of the nozzle will contact with the arcuately concave inner surface of the device such that continued insertion of the nozzle into the filler port will cause the nozzle to assume an angularly canted condition in an inboard direction (i.e., a direction toward the aircraft's fuselage).
US07721765B2
A frequency suppressor for a hydraulic system is shown and described. The frequency suppressor comprises a housing that contains a substantially fixed mass of a compressible substance. The volume of the compressible substance is varied to dampen frequency disturbances in the hydraulic system.
US07721760B2
In a device for reversing the flow of flowing media including two multi-way valves (21) which are fluidically interconnected and mounted on an adapter plate (32), the two valves are identical and are fluidically connected with one another by being pushed one into the other via rotationally symmetrical sealing members that seal in the radial direction.
US07721758B2
A valve (1) comprises: a body (2); a bushing (3) slidably mounted on said body; a valve spool (4) slidably mounted on said bushing; said bushing and spool having respective control edges (5) that are adapted to cooperate with one another as a function of the relative position between said bushing and spool to vary the size of a control opening therebetween; a first drive (11) operatively arranged to controllably move one of said bushing and spool relative to said body; and a second drive (12) operatively arranged to controllably move the other of said bushing and spool relative to said body; whereby said first and second drives may be selectively operated to move said bushing and spool simultaneously in opposite directions to increase the dynamic response of said valve.
US07721755B2
A valve assembly to dispense fluid from fluid containers including a member that is rotatably slideable in a tube between open and closed positions. The valve assembly utilizes sealing beads to provide seals so that fluid cannot be dispensed from the assembly when the assembly is in the closed position. The valve assembly also includes a tamper evident indicator to show a user whether or not the valve assembly has been previously actuated. The tamper evident indicator may include a tab that is broken when the valve assembly is first actuated. The tamper evident indicator may also include a skirt that either detaches from a knob or fractures when the valve assembly is first actuated.
US07721754B2
A tapping tee assembly and method for tapping a conduit and fluidly connecting to the conduit include a body defining a conduit recess for receiving the conduit and further defining a main passage with a cover disposed therein. The main passage has a first end adjacent the conduit recess and a second, open end spaced apart from the first end. The second end is closed by a cap. The body of the tapping tee assembly is secured to the conduit with the conduit received in the conduit recess. The cutter is advanced along the main passage toward the conduit without removal of the cap from the body to tap the conduit and fluidly connect the conduit and the main passage.
US07721752B2
The invention relates to a pressure relief valve, comprising a base body, which is covered by a valve membrane. The base body which is located on the inner face of a packaging container, permits the escape of excess pressure from the packaging container into the atmosphere by means of passages and perforations that are configured in the wall of the packaging material. The inventive pressure relief valve thus responds particularly well. i.e. allowing particularly low opening pressures, by means of the special configuration of its base area.
US07721750B2
A heat pipe is disclosed, the heat pipe capable of transferring heat to actuate a pressure relief device by heat transfer through either capillary action involving a wicking material and a working fluid, or by a consumable fuse in the case of leakage of the working fluid from the heat pipe.
US07721749B2
A prefabricated shell for forming a shelter (14) has a groundsheet (30) and a cover (32) having a gas impermeable inner layer (24) and at least one outer layer. The outer layers are each formed by a layer of cloth that has been impregnated with a water-settable material, e.g. cement. The shell is steeped in water to wet the cement and then the cover is pneumatically inflated to form a space between the cover and the groundsheet. The shelter is then left until the cement has set and is able to support the cover. The shelter can easily be constructed to provide a durable shelter, especially in emergency areas.
US07721748B2
A pole brace and ballasting device having at least one or more releasably connecting weight containers adapted to retain and discharge a dry or fluid load bearing material therein of adequate length and sufficiently ridged to brace a pole. A hand activated clamp or clamps for attachment to a variety of pole dimensions both angular and round, while allowing for the closing of the tent's outer protective cover; with the capacity to selectively suspend the ballasting load to prevent it from coming at rest with the ground for an increase in its effectiveness.
US07721732B2
A heat exchange module comprising a number of substantially parallel and spaced apart heat exchange elements is provided. One or more surfaces of the heat exchange elements may be coated with a dessicant. The module can be manufactured so that first and second surfaces of the module are curved. The module may be used as part of a face mask or other garment that positions the module within the respiratory air stream of a user. The module may be inserted in a mesh sleeve provided as part of the garment. The module may also be used as part of other forms of clothing that protect the face and in protective helmets, or as part of outdoor or survival equipment.
US07721730B2
An ejection apparatus for ejecting droplets of liquid includes a loading portion, a reader, and a judging unit. The loading portion detachably loads therein a liquid cartridge container for containing liquid, and a liquid ejection cartridge having an ejecting portion for ejecting liquid separately, or as a combined kit. The reader reads information attached to at least one of the liquid cartridge container and the liquid ejection cartridge. The judging unit judges, based on the information read by the reader, whether each of the liquid cartridge container and the liquid ejection cartridge loaded in the loading portion is appropriate, or whether a combination of the liquid cartridge container and the liquid ejection cartridge is a predetermined combination. The ejection apparatus allows a user to relatively readily and accurately carry out ejection of appropriate liquid by an appropriate ejection unit.
US07721728B2
An oven, effectively and rapidly cooling a door by passing a sufficient quantity of cooling air through the door, is disclosed. The oven includes an outer case, an inner case, a door opening and closing the inner case, and a blower chamber having a cooling fan and provided at the upper side of the inner case. The door includes an inner plate and a frame to form an opened lower end. The frame has holes formed in the upper side to flowing air discharged by the cooling fan between the inner plate and an outer plate. A vent hole communicating with the blower chamber is provided in the upper end of the cooking chamber to pass hot air of the cooking chamber through the vent hole. Around the vent hole, a partition member is provided for preventing the hot air from being mixed with air discharged by cooling fan.
US07721722B1
A toy gun is operated by water under pressure, supplied from a conveniently available source of water under pressure, such as a garden hose connected to a municipal water supply, a household water supply, or a similar source of water under pressure, to launch a projectile, such as a water-filled balloon, along, and preferably through, the barrel of the gun. The projectile is coupled with a firing chamber, preferably by being placed in the firing chamber, adjacent the barrel, and water under pressure is admitted to an actuator for actuating an air compressor which, in turn, creates compressed air that is accumulated in an air chamber and then selectively released to the firing chamber to launch the projectile from the barrel.
US07721711B2
An engine control system includes an fuel injector for each cylinder of the engine, an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold and an electronic control unit to which signals from various sensors are fed. Operation of the engine is controlled by the electronic control unit. An air-fuel ratio deviation among cylinders is calculated based on output signals of the air-fuel ratio sensor, and injection amount errors of each injector are calculated from the deviation of air-fuel ratio among cylinders. An injection characteristic of each injector is learned from the injection amount errors, and a right amount of fuel is supplied to each cylinder based on the learned injection characteristic. In this manner, the injection amount errors are effectively adjusted, and the air-fuel ratio deviation among cylinders due to external disturbances is surely adjusted.
US07721709B2
A fuel injection control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine are provided for appropriately controlling the amounts of fuel supplied from an in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a port fuel injection valve to a cylinder in a simple control approach while satisfactorily reflecting a fuel transport behavior as a whole cylinder. An ECU calculates a required in-cylinder injection amount and a required port injection amount, calculates an in-cylinder injected fuel behavior parameter of a fuel from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a port injected fuel behavior parameter of the fuel from the port fuel injection valve, a net in-cylinder injection amount in accordance with the in-cylinder and port injected fuel behavior parameters based on the required in-cylinder injection amount, and a net port injection amount in accordance with the in-cylinder and port injected fuel behavior parameters based on the required port injection amount.
US07721708B2
In a system for controlling a general-purpose air-cooled internal combustion engine having two cylinders each equipped with a throttle valve and a fuel injector, and a cooling fan that selectively directs air onto the cylinders, a throttle driver selectively drives the respective throttle valve of each cylinder to open or close. The system also includes an injector driver that selectively drives the respective injector of each cylinder to open, and a controller that controls operation of the throttle driver and injector driver in such a way that the throttle opening and an amount of fuel to be injected are different for each cylinder, such that an engine speed becomes substantially constant, thereby enabling the engine to obtain desired output characteristics.
US07721702B2
A spark plug arrangement for an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The spark plug arrangement may have a body, and a center electrode extending from an end of the body. The spark plug arrangement may further have a mounting member with a bore configured to receive the body, and a grounded electrode extending proximal the center electrode.
US07721691B2
A worm gear is connected to an actuator and a worm wheel is connected to a control shaft. The worm wheel has teeth formed only on a predetermined angular range thereof. The above-referenced angular range includes a required rotational range of the control shaft. The worm wheel is formed to be brought out of mesh with the worm gear outside the predetermined angular range.
US07721680B2
A link-type seismic tie is provided between a steel structural support and a buckstay, and includes two horizontally arranged, parallel, and spaced apart link members, which are connected at their ends to large vertical pins. Each of the link members includes two horizontally arranged and parallel longitudinal outboard stringers and a horizontally arranged and parallel longitudinal center stringer centered between the two outboard stringers. Each link member further includes finger plates standing upright and spaced apart from each other relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal stringers. The finger plates are held between each of the outboard stringers and the longitudinal center stringer. A gusset plate connects the outboard stringers to a pin plate, which is connected to a large pin at the buckstay. The other end of the link members is connected to a large pin at the steel structural support via the ends of the outboard stringers.
US07721664B2
The purpose of this invention is to change the direction of the feed so that the user/operator can now use the free arm of the sewing machine to the optimum advantage. The conventional domestic free arm sewing machine has, heretofore, been limited to sewing in a lateral direction across the free arm. The use of this invention allows the machine to be used so that tubular shaped garments can travel along and around the free arm of the sewing machine this sewing can be accomplished with any outside seams, something, heretofore, impossible with a conventional free arm sewing machine.
US07721662B2
The applicator system is designed to distribute agriculturally beneficial matter across a field. The system includes a supply reservoir and an agitator assembly that grates and abrades matter in the supply reservoir until the abraded matter precipitates out of the supply reservoir and onto a supply conveyor. The supply conveyor conveys the matter to a distribution device. The distribution device meters the matter onto at least two lateral distribution conveyors. At the end of each of the distribution conveyors the matter is funneled downwardly into an open trench created by a trenching device associated with each distribution conveyor. After the matter is deposited into the trench, a trench closing assembly directs soil back into the trench and compresses the soil surface.
US07721657B2
A pivotable table has a lower housing and a table top which can be moved from a storage position, in which the table top is arranged substantially perpendicularly in the lower housing, into a use position, in which the table top is arranged substantially horizontally above the lower housing and is carried by the lower housing. The table includes at least one carrying arm that has an end region which is connected pivotably to the table top and a remote end region which is connected to the lower housing via a carrying arm guide. The table also includes at least one supporting arm, the two end regions of which are connected in each case to the table top and to the carrying arm, at least one of these two connections being of displaceable configuration via at least one supporting arm guide.
US07721656B2
A monorail vehicle includes a cabin for housing a driver, passengers and/or load and also includes one or more driving assemblies, the driving assemblies being suitable for running within a guiding duct on the ground, the cabin being connected to at least one driving assembly by an elongated elevation structure. The elongated elevation structure is actuated in order to vary the elevation of the cabin with respect to the ground during regular travel of the vehicle.
US07721653B1
A combined wall and door assembly includes a static wall assembly including a segmented support frame with a rectilinear shape. The static wall assembly further includes a plurality of transparent fiberglass panels directly coupled to the support frame and spaced along an entire longitudinal length of the support frame. The assembly further includes a mechanism for automatically biasing the access doors between open and closed positions when the subway train arrives and leaves a train terminal respectively such that passengers are prohibited from premature ingress and egress of the subway train during a schedule stop.
US07721645B2
Device for keeping a mold plate square, perpendicular and driving for a food product molding machine
A belt drive system for a reciprocating mold plate in a food product molding machine. The invention relates to a belt drive system having a belt tensioning device configured to tension a drive belt of an indexing motion food product molding machine. The invention provides ease of service and/or replacement of components of the drive system. The invention provides a manifold configuration to balance the flow and pressure of the food product over a wide fill area.
US07721642B2
To provide a sliding member that exhibits excellent durability and is free of lead. A swash plate for a compressor as the sliding member of the invention contains a base material having on the surface thereof a sliding layer constituting at least a sliding surface, on which shoes slide. The sliding layer contains a first layer that contains an amorphous hard carbon (diamond-like carbon) film containing Si (DLC-Si film) and is formed on the base material, and a second layer that is formed on the first layer and contains polyamideimide (PAI) containing a solid lubricant such as MoS2.
US07721638B2
An ergonomically designed food slicing machine including a rotatable blade for slicing bulk food product, a motor operably connected to the rotating blade, and a base portion located below the rotatable blade which defines a food slice receiving area. The machine may be provided with a sliced food receptacle operably connected to a scale, a visible indicia correlating to the distance between the gauge plate and rotatable blade, a blade sharpening assembly, a sled for securing the food product and an operator adjusted optimum stroke setting system for automatic operation of the slicing machine.
US07721637B2
A cutting wheel using knives with slice thickness gauging surfaces defining, with the knife cutting edges, a thickness dimension of sliced food products and a throat dimension measured perpendicular to the wheel cutting plane between each knife cutting edge and the terminal edge of the adjacent gauging surface, wherein the knives each have a single primary bevel extending practically tangent to the cutting plane on the side of the knife facing towards the cutting plane and a smooth transition area on the opposite side of the knife, and the ratio of throat dimension to slice thickness dimension is 1 to 1.7.
US07721636B2
A hole puncher has a base, multiple cutter brackets, multiple cutters, multiple springs, a linkage, an activating member and a handle. The base has two ends. The cutter brackets are mounted on the base. The cutters are mounted slidably through the cutter brackets. The linkage connects pivotally to one end of the base. The activating member connects pivotally to the linkage. The handle connects pivotally to the other end of the base and selectively pivots the linkage down. With the linkage and the activating member, the hole punch is effort-saving.
US07721624B2
An automatic transmission that includes a case; and a range shift device that includes: a housing with an opening portion on one side, a motor that produces a driving force based on a signal from a manually operated shift operating device, and a mechanical transmission that transmits the driving force of the motor to a manual valve, wherein the range shift device shifts a running range in accordance with a shift position of the manual valve, and the case has a joining portion that closes the opening portion of the housing.
US07721617B2
A method of heat-treating a rack bar includes a step of continuously conveying a rack bar provided with a rack teeth portion and a ball screw portion by a quenching means, and a step of sequentially applying a quenching treatment to each circumferential surface of the rack teeth portion and the ball screw portion. The quenching treatment is preferably and sequentially applied to each entire circumferential surface of the rack teeth portion and the ball screw portion.
US07721611B2
An integrity monitoring system for monitoring degradation in a composite riser string. The system includes composite riser structures incorporating strain and vibration sensors to measure changes in the stiffness strain on a first orientation and on a second orientation. The system can also include monitoring modules attached to each individual riser and devices to transfer the data from the monitoring module to the surface controller. Additionally, the monitor system can provide for an alarm when predetermined warning limits are exceeded.
US07721608B2
The problems inherent with connecting a DUT to a test station have been solved by the use of a tray designed to allow a wide variety of different DUTs to be physically connected individually to a test station using a universal test station connector. The tray allows for the association therewith of a personality module which serves to provide the proper physical connections and to electrically condition the test station to the electrical characteristics of the DUT. The tray allows for sealed environmental testing of the DUT without impacting any physical connections between the DUT and the test station. The tray also allows for the DUT to be vibrated from externally applied motion without interfering with either the sealed environment around the DUT and without imparting motion to the physical connection between the DUT and the test station.
US07721605B2
The present invention is a mechanical oscillator for detection and measurement of corrosive foreign materials. The elements include a mechanical oscillator that is mechanically excited, wherein the mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. A fuse fixed to the oscillator to change oscillator amplitude to and from essentially zero to resonance amplitude. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork where one region is compatible with the service fluid and the other region is incompatible with the service fluid or other contaminant. The sensor alarms when a measured amount of the incompatible material has been removed or the physical strength of the material has been compromised.
US07721604B2
A micromechanical inertial sensor having at least one seismic mass which may be deflected relative to a substrate, and at least one electrode surface which in terms of circuitry, together with at least portions of the seismic mass forms at least one capacitor having a capacitance which is dependent on the deflection of the seismic mass. At least one additional auxiliary electrode is included which is located outside the region which forms the capacitor and which may be set at a potential that deviates from the potential of the seismic mass.
US07721602B2
In the case of a filling level sensor (1) for detecting a fuel filling level in a fuel tank (2), a lever arm (7) which secures a float (6) has a guide part (14). The guide part (14) interacts with an installation opening (3) in the fuel tank (2) and deflects the lever arm (7) in a designated direction. This avoids the filling level sensor (1) being damaged during installation in the fuel tank (2).
US07721601B2
A hydrogen storage tank for containing solid-state hydrogen storage media, and method for determining the hydrogen fill level in the tank. The tank has at least one compartment for storing the storage media, passages for transporting hydrogen gas to and from the compartment, and a heat distribution system for establishing a substantially uniform temperature in the storage media. A look-up table is generated for the tank that relates hydrogen pressure changes in the tank versus hydrogen fill levels in the tank as a function of temperature. The tank is filled to full capacity by adsorbing hydrogen on the storage media. Thereafter, hydrogen is released from the storage media for a time period during which there is a substantially constant demand on the tank, the change in pressure of the released hydrogen gas is measured, and the look-up table is applied to determine the hydrogen fill level in the tank.
US07721599B2
Conventional thermal flow measurement devices lack consideration for automobiles in severe environments. A detection element of the thermal flow measurement device according to the present invention is structured by the provision of a planar substrate made of a material having good thermal conductivity, such as silicon or ceramic, with a thin-walled portion (diaphragm). On the surface of the thin-walled portion, the detection element comprises a heat element as a heater heated to a temperature being different to a predetermined extent from the temperature of the air flow to be measured, temperature-detecting resistors as temperature-detecting means on both sides of the heat element, wiring portions formed of electrical conductors that draw signal lines from the heat element and the temperature-detecting resistors and that have a melting point of 2000° C. or higher, and pads.
US07721594B2
A method to inject a slurry into a subterranean formation includes measuring characteristic data from a well in communication with the subterranean formation, estimating downhole properties of the slurry using the measured characteristic data, measuring surface properties of the slurry with a measurement apparatus, determining optimal surface properties for the slurry from the estimated downhole properties, comparing the measured surface properties with the determined optimal surface properties, modifying the slurry until the measured surface properties are within tolerance values of the determined optimal surface properties, and injecting the modified slurry into the subterranean formation through the well.
US07721585B2
An integrated forming, assembly and inspection system includes a plurality of robotic material conveyors. The integrated system also includes a forming subsystem including sheet metal drawing apparatus, a roller hemming subsystem, and an inspection subsystem. The plurality of robotic material conveyors are operable to convey assembly workpieces to and from the subsystems.
US07721583B1
A pipe bending shoe including a support frame, a pipe channel defined by a first bending frame connected with the support frame and by a second bending frame connected with the support frame, and a plurality of flexible straps spaced along the pipe channel and spanning the pipe channel transversely between the first bending frame and the second bending frame in order to provide a transversely segmented pipe sling, wherein the pipe sling maintains a constant convex longitudinal sling profile during bending of a pipe using the pipe bending shoe.
US07721579B2
A cold roll forming mill for the manufacture of hollow flange seam welded beams from a single strip of metal comprises a forming station (1), a seam guide and welding station (2) and a shaping station (3). Either or both of the forming and shaping stations (1, 3) comprise independently supported side engaging roll combinations (7, 12) adapted, in use, to roll either or both of opposite sides of the strip. Adjacent transverse pairs of side engaging roll (7, 12) combinations are selectively movable relative to each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to a direction of travel of said strip through said mill. At least some of the side engaging roll combinations (7, 12) are driven. Drive rolls (6) spaced within the forming and shaping stations (1, 3) engage the strip between opposite edges thereof.
US07721576B2
A lock cylinder opening system comprising: a lock cylinder body housing with a direction of elongation defining an axial direction for the system, having a first and a second end, and having a first and a second axial bores; a rotatable first cylindrical plug in the first bore, the first plug having an axially extending key slot from the first end of the lock cylinder; a rotatable second cylindrical plug in the first bore, the second plug extending to the second end; a rotatable opening shaft in the second bore, the opening shaft extending at the first and second ends of the lock cylinder; and a selector unit positioned at the second end, having a mechanical connection with the second plug and receiving the opening shaft, the selector unit adapted to selectively enable and disable rotation of the second plug by rotation of the opening shaft.
US07721575B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a sock which offers a fit, and does not cause fatigue, blood congestion, or the like if worn for a long period of time. The sock has a length from a toe to at least an ankle, and is knitted from a knitting yarn. The sock has a base knit structure knitted at an inside half region of an arch part of the sole from an upper thread and under thread, and has an auxiliary thread further inserted together with the upper thread, so as to form a knitted part which is contracted and reduced in extensibility.
US07721571B2
The clothing jewelry is formed from a plurality of short chains removably attached to an article of clothing to form a plurality of vertically extending retainer loops, and an elongated decorative member supported by the retainer loops and encircling a portion of the clothing, e.g., a pant leg, a jacket or blouse adjacent the cuff, a skirt adjacent the hemline, and similar clothing articles. The elongated member may be a jewelry chain formed into a continuous or endless loop, a ribbon formed into an endless loop, or other decorative loops. The short chains have fasteners, e.g., a pin and back fastener, at both ends for removable attachment to the article of clothing.
US07721566B1
An apparatus having a plurality of phase change material-containing wall panels. The wall panels have a thickness and sides. The wall panels define an inner major surface and an outer major surface. The sides of the wall panels are hingedly interconnected to define a closed structure. Two diametrically opposed hinge interconnections are proximate the inner major surface. The remaining hinge interconnections are proximate the outer major surface.
US07721559B2
Multi-type air conditioner including a plurality of compressors, a plurality of temperature sensors mounted in the plurality of compressors for sensing temperatures in the compressors respectively, and an equalizing pipe in communication with the plurality of compressors, for uniform distribution of oil among the plurality of compressors according to the temperatures sensed at the plurality of temperature sensors respectively, thereby distributing oil among the compressors uniformly at an exact time point at which the oil is distributed among the compressors non-uniformly, not only to permit improvement of the performance of the compressors, but also to permit improvement performance of the air conditioner having the compressors.
US07721558B2
Disclosed herein are a multi-air conditioner and a group-unit control method thereof, wherein a plurality of indoor units can be controlled on a group basis. The method comprises the step of grouping the indoor units into a plurality of groups, the step of if an air conditioning operation condition of a specific one of the indoor units is changed, sending, by the specific indoor unit, the changed operation condition to all the other indoor units according to a predefined communication protocol, and the step of by each of the indoor units, receiving an air conditioning operation condition sent from a different one of the indoor units in the same group and performing an air conditioning operation based on the received operation condition. According to the invention, the plurality of indoor units can be more efficiently controlled on a group basis through inter-indoor unit data communication. Further, the group-unit control is not restricted by whether a controller is used or not. Moreover, it is easy to add or change an object to which the group-unit control is to be applied.
US07721550B2
An aircraft engine nozzle assembly includes an adjustable flap portion that is movable about a pivot for changing the size of an exhaust exit area. A bracket having a curved slot establishes a range of possible movement of the flap portion. A link includes a guide member portion that is received in the curved slot for guiding the movement of the flap portion. The link is connected to a static engine structure and the bracket is movable with the flap portion. The curved slot establishes a range of possible movement of the flap portion along a direction of the curved slot.
US07721538B2
A hydraulic circuit for a construction machine is disclosed, which can prevent an energy loss of a hydraulic system by automatically reducing revolution of an engine when a working device such as a boom is not driven. The hydraulic circuit includes first to third hydraulic pumps, a first switching valve, a second switching valve, a third switching valve, a confluence switching valve, a first shuttle valve selecting any one of a pressure of a first signal line in which a signal pressure is formed when the third switching valve for working devices connected to the third hydraulic pump is shifted and a pressure of a second signal line in which a signal pressure is formed when a switching valve for traveling devices is shifted, and a second shuttle valve selecting any one of the pressure selected by the first shuttle valve and a pressure of a third signal line in which a signal pressure is formed when switching valves for the working devices connected to the first and second hydraulic pumps are shifted.
US07721532B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a method and system for regeneration of a catalyst. The system includes an engine that creates an exhaust stream and a fuel supply adapted to supply a fuel stream to the engine. A reactor includes a catalyst and is in fluid communication with the engine to receive the exhaust stream. A sensor senses a system parameter and produces a signal corresponding to the system parameter. A controller receives the signal and directs at least a portion of the exhaust stream or at least a portion of the fuel stream to the catalyst to control a regeneration operation based on a value of the system parameter sensed by the sensor.
US07721512B2
A fully automated pharmaceutical product packaging machine is capable of selectively depositing one or more different solid pharmaceutical products into an individual cavity for each of a plurality of individual patient product package cavities. The system employs a plurality of solid pharmaceutical product dispensing canisters which are capable of selectively dispensing a pre-designated number of solid pharmaceutical products. The machine fills a template containing temporary storage cavities and the template is automatically positioned over a sheet of clear plastic material containing a plurality of cavities corresponding to the cavities in the template. A barrier between the cavities in the template and the sheet of clear plastic material is moved and the pharmaceuticals in the template cavities drop into the corresponding cavities in the clear plastic sheet of material. The clear plastic sheet of material is then maneuvered into subsequent product packaging stations and the template is returned to beneath the canister region.
US07721494B2
Provided is a strengthening device to increase the strength of a grout layer. In the strengthening device, clamp members are interconnected and clamped to surround a grout layer on a concrete base, on which an upper structure is installed, so as to increase the strength of the grout layer. Connection members are provided to edges of the clamp members to connect the clamp members. Fastening means is fastened between the connection members in order to enable the clamp members to clamp the grout layer. This strengthening device acts as a mold to facilitate easy construction when grout is placed, and surrounds the grout layer to increase the strength of the grout layer after grout is cured, thereby effectively preventing and minimizing failure of the grout layer caused by loads transferred from an upper structure such as a column member or a bridge bearing.
US07721491B2
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system to conserve resources, particularly rain water, by providing for water storage within building walls and other structural components. The building water storage allows reuse of water at that location that in the past has generally flowed to storm drains as runoff. Besides allowing reuse, another advantageous effect is that the structure may become a well insulated unit.
US07721488B1
A flashing apparatus for external use on structures is described. The flashing apparatus essentially serves as an accessory for fiber cement siding and is designed to provide a certain level of water resistance in the seams between the ends of the sections of the siding. The flashing apparatus has a forward projecting flange and comes in various heights to accommodate different sizes of fiber cement siding that may be used in constructing a structure.
US07721485B2
A leech trap consisting of a location marking float and an enclosure having a removable lid and a first plurality of holes through the surface of the enclosure to allow entry of leeches into the enclosure. The lower end of the enclosure is weighted and contains a second plurality of smaller holes for rapid drainage of water without loss of the trapped leeches.
US07721476B2
A breakaway sign support system that is useful for supporting ground mounted signs located within zones that are vulnerable to vehicular impacts. A bracket assembly containing a combination of mounting plates and reinforcement plates bolted together is used to attach a sign post to a sign stub. The sign support system can be fabricated in the field without having to send measurements to a fabricator. The bracket assembly keeps the sign post stable but also allows for a clean break away upon impact.
US07721466B2
A shoe sole and insole structure is disclosed. The sole comprises an upper sole and a lower sole; the lower sole has a plurality of through-holes thereon and includes a plurality of lock plugs inserted respectively inside the through-holes; the upper sole has the same number of lock bars on its undersurface. The upper sole directly laminates over the lower sole by inserting the lock bars into the through-holes and then securing the lock bars with lock plugs by inserting the lock plugs into the through-holes. The insole has a plurality of groove rings on its undersurface, each groove ring being disposed with a small through-hole, and further comprises a plurality of ladle discs respectively glued in the groove ring to form an insole with a plurality of air pockets.
US07721465B2
An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane or polyester film attached together to form an airtight seal. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air in the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The article of footwear may also include an assembly for connecting several tubes to one under foot inflation mechanism. The article of footwear may also include inflatable laces that are inflated by an underfoot inflation mechanism.
US07721463B2
An oven includes a conveying interior for moving produce through the oven and a gas fired heat source for cooking the produce conveyed through the oven. The conveying interior preferably comprises a rotating drum with a conveying spiral extending inwardly from an inner wall of the rotating drum. The rotating drum may further be sloped downward to facilitate progress of the produce through the oven, and the time spent in the oven may be controlled by controlling the rotating rate of the drum. The gas fired heat source may comprise a thermostatically controlled burner residing under the drum.
US07721458B2
A level adjusting device for a cutter head of a jointer/planer machine, includes a front support frame for supporting a front anti-friction bearing unit that holds a front journal segment of the cutter head, a rear support frame including left and right base abutments, a height-adjustable carrier for receiving a rear anti-friction bearing member that holds a rear journal segment of the cutter head, left and right lugs respectively having inner tubular threaded surfaces, and left and right adjusting screws respectively having threaded segments which are threadedly and respectively engaged with the inner tubular threaded surfaces, and abutting ends which are in frictional engagement with the base abutments, respectively, and which are turnable to move the respective lugs relative to the adjusting screws so as to raise or lower the carrier, thereby enabling level adjustment of the cutter head.
US07721451B2
A razor that includes a handle having an axis, at least a first and a second shaving head, and a drum that includes the first and second shaving head. The drum is pivotally mounted onto the handle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the edges of the blades, the pivoting of the drum allowing at least a first configuration in which the first shaving head projects at a front end of the handle to allow shaving while the second shaving head is at least partly covered by the handle. In a second configuration, the positions of the first shaving head and second shaving head are reversed.
US07721443B2
Method and apparatus for providing a hollow, elongated construction element, for example for use as a vehicle front axle. The method includes (1) directing a first blank through a furnace (2) for heating the blank to a working temperature. The blank is directed between a pair of rollers (3, 4) having profiled surfaces, the blank being preformed in one or more steps to form an intermediate product having a predetermined profile along its longitudinal extent. The blank is fed to a forging press having a number of cooperating die pads, the blank being worked in a plurality of steps (5, 8, 11) to form a substantially finished product, having a cross section substantially in the form of a hat profile of predetermined varying height, width and material thickness along its length. A second blank (14), having essentially the same profile as the hat profile of the first blank in the dividing plane of the cooperating die pads, is placed in connection with the hat profile. In a later step (15), the first (1) and the second blank (14) are joined together, at least along their respective edges, to form a composite hollow construction element (18). One embodiment of the disclosed invention is also the construction element that is produced according to the above-described method.
US07721441B2
A method of fabricating a film for attachment of one or more printhead integrated circuits to an ink supply manifold is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an adhesive polymeric film having a protective liner; (b) depositing photoresist onto the protective liner; (c) photopatterning the photoresist to define a plurality of openings positioned for etching supply holes through the film; (d) etching the plurality of ink supply holes through the film, the photoresist acting as a mask for the etch; and (e) removing the protective liner having the photoresist deposited thereon.
US07721438B2
An assembling method for an assembly is provided: the assembly comprising a cell structure (1) housed and held in a metal vessel (5) via a compressible material having a cushioning property (7) by arranging it between outer periphery of the structure (1) and the vessel (5) in a compressed state with applying a mounting pressure to the structure (1) via the material (7) to hold the structure (1) in the vessel (5). Information regarding outside dimension of the structure (1) and/or inside dimension of the vessel (5) being marked on their surfaces prior to the start of assembly, and the information is read, and a cell structure (1) and a metal vessel (5) are selected based on read information in assembly to achieve a proper holding condition therebetween. Regardless of variations in external dimension of the structure, etc. constituting the assembly, the minimization thereof, and proper holding state may be achieved easily without causing a fracture of the structure, etc.
US07721436B2
A combustor swirler for a gas turbine engine and method of manufacturing by metal injection molding an inner component and an outer cylindrical component. Indentations are molded in one of the inner and outer components and sealed by the engagement of the components together to form a series of fluid flow passages. The inner and outer components are molded with interlocking features for ensuring proper alignment of the components during assembly.
US07721434B2
An apparatus for stabilizing a shaft in an essentially horizontal position while an anchoring object at one end of the shaft is replaced without removal of an object at the opposite end of the shaft that would otherwise tend to destabilize the shaft from its essentially horizontal position includes a half-spool member configured to clamp above and around the shaft to resist torque around the rotor, under supports configured to attach to the half-spool member and clamp an underside of the shaft below the half-spool member, and a hydraulic or mechanical brake configured to resist torque on the shaft when the brake is engaged.
US07721431B2
An engine piston is manufactured by assembling an outer shell, comprising a crown and tubular side wall in which a ring groove region and skirt are defined, with a plate-like mounting member and bonding them together by brazing or welding. The mounting member is located within the tubular side wall displaced axially from the crown and is bonded near, but displaced radially from, its centre to the crown and at its periphery to the side wall at the end of the ring groove region. The mounting member carries gudgeon pin boss means facing away from the crown. The outer shell is formed by extrusion or the like that permits minimal wall thickness and the bonded structure is of light weight but great strength and stiffness, particularly in the ring groove region. A combustion bowl formed in the crown facilitates bonding to the mounting member and defines with the mounting member an annular cooling chamber adjacent the ring groove region and crown.
US07721428B2
An electrode assembly for use in a vacuum interrupter is made by joining a first side of a substantially disk-shaped structure to an end of a substantially cylindrical coil segment, and joining an electrical contact to a second side of the disk-shaped structure. The disk-shaped structure has a higher resistivity than a resistivity of the coil segment.
US07721419B2
A full complement taper roller bearing consists of an inner ring or cone having an inner track on its radially outer conical surface, and an outer ring or cup having an outer track on its radially inward conical surface and one or more rows of taper rollers having a contact angle of less than 30 degrees freely disposed between the inner and outer rings and guided between said tracks. Each row of rollers is axially located within a recess on the inner track defined by a shoulder abutment disposed at least at the edge of the inner track having the greatest diameter and each of the rollers is in contact with the inner track over the entire length of the taper roller in the axial direction of the bearing. A method of assembly is also enclosed.
US07721416B2
A magnet valve is installed by a method in which the fully machined valve member is locked in a receptacle of a fixed installation device. A magnet plate and a spacer plate are mounted on a receiving mandrel. The magnet plate, spacer plate and valve member are pressed against the receptacle, then the magnet plate and the spacer plate are displaced relative to the valve member, and the armature is secured to the receiving mandrel of the valve member in such a way that the armature then rests on the magnet plate.
US07721414B2
A method of manufacturing a 3-D spiral stacked inductor is provided having a substrate with a plurality of turns in a plurality of levels wherein the number of levels increases from an inner turn to the outer turn of the inductor. First and second connecting portions are respectively connected to an inner turn and an outermost turn, and a dielectric material contains the first and second connecting portions and the plurality of turns over the substrate.
US07721409B2
A method for making a differential housing having a ring gear integrally formed therein includes the steps of providing a differential housing having an annular rim integrally preformed therein; supporting the differential housing between upper and lower halves of a rotatable holding tool such that the annular rim extends radially outwardly from the holding tool for movement therewith; providing a thickening tool having a tool surface engagable with the annular rim during rotation of the holding tool to form a thickened lip; and providing a gear forming tool engagable with the thickened lip during rotation of the holding tool, whereby a plurality of teeth are formed along the lip to form the ring gear.
US07721405B2
In a method for joining at least two plate-shaped workpieces by a fastening tool and a device for operating the fastening tool, the fastening tool comprises a punch for exerting a punch force to perform a joining operation and a clamp for exerting a clamping force upon the workpieces at the joining area. During the joining operation the punch exerts a high punch force to perform the joining operation and the clamp exerts substantially no clamping force to allow for free material deformation in the joining area. After the joining operation both the punch and the clamp exert high forces at the same time to reduce any material deformations of the workpieces and to provide for compression of the workpieces in the joining area. Preferably the invention is used in a riveting tool for setting self-piercing rivets; as an alternative it may be used in a clinching tool.
US07721395B2
An automatic container coupling tool is disclosed, such coupling tool includes a coupling platform, a bottom engager and a top guiding protrusion oppositely extended from the coupling platform, the bottom engager has an engager neck, a pair of projecting lug extended from the engager neck to form a pair of holding cavity between the coupling platform and the projecting lugs, once the bottom engager is inserted into a corner fitting housing of a lower container, the bottom engager is rotated allowing the ceiling wall inserted into the holding cavity. The top guiding protrusion has a front guiding slope and a rear retaining shoulder, such that after the bottom engager is interlocked with the lower container, an upper container is perched onto the coupling tool, the opening edge of the bottom corner housing of the upper container will bias against the front guiding slop thus rearwardly shift the top guiding protrusion to snap onto the corner housing so as to couple the upper container onto the coupling tool as well.
US07721388B2
Provided is a door hinge. The door hinge includes a fixing member, an activating member, a guide pin, and a guide frame. The fixing member is installed at a door frame. The activating member is installed at a door, and connects with the fixing member by a hinge, and opens and closes the door. The guide pin is fitted into guide holes provided at both sides of the activating member, and elastically moves up/down along the guide hole by a tension force of a spring installed inside the activating member. A guide frame is combined to the guide pin, and connects at its lower end with the fixing member by a pin, and rotates about the pin depending on an operation of the activating member. The guide hole is round (R) shaped at its center, and has a curved shape in entirety.
US07721387B1
A track assembly for an overhead door (10) includes a generally vertically positionable track segment (14) and a generally horizontally positionable track segment (15). The track segment (14) includes a curvilinear portion (17) at one end thereof which telescopically receives a curvilinear portion (21) of the track segment (15). The curvilinear portion (17) of the track segment (14) has a smaller radius of curvature than the curvilinear portion (21) of the track segment (15). In one embodiment, a bracket (30) has tabs (40) which are received in a slot aperture (42) in the curvilinear portion (17) to attach it to the bracket (30), and the bracket (30) has a lug (41) which is received in a slot (44) in the curvilinear portion (21) to attach it to the bracket (30). In another embodiment, the track segment (14) is carried by a bracket (51), and the track segment (15) is carried by a bracket (52) with the telescopic relationship being the only connection between the track segments (14, 15).
US07721383B2
A disinfecting device is presented having a UV light source for radiation of a cleaning medium to eradicate the medium of infestation agents such as molds, viuses, bacteria and dust mites. The device enhances the disinfection of the medium by providing mechanisms for enhanced penetration of the UV light into the cleaning medium. The device also offers enhanced heat dissipation to promote effective use of the device. Also provided are safety mechanisms to promote the safe and advantageous use of the UV device.
US07721381B2
A cleaning pad is adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement which includes on its cleaning head either multiple strips of pile-type fastener material or a plurality of attachment structures. The cleaning pad includes a top layer constructed of polyethylene and a bottom layer constructed of rayon. The top and bottom layers are affixed together along their peripheries by a bond line so as to define an enclosed pocket therebetween which is sized and shaped to receive a middle layer constructed of wood pulp paper. Multiple strips of hook-type fastener material are secured on the top layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary strips of pile-type fastener material on the cleaning implement. One or more mounting tabs are secured on the bottom layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary attachment structures on the cleaning implement. Each mounting tab can be disposed between a retracted, or folded, position and an extended, or unfolded, position.
US07721378B2
A combined extendable pole and counterbalance system for washing the windows of a building includes an elongated pole including a handle portion adjacent the lower end thereof and a window cleaning utensil adjacent the upper end. The handle portion is adapted to be grasped by a workman while standing on the ground. An elongated flexible line is suspended from the roof or some other an upper part of the building above the windows to be washed. The line extends downwardly toward the ground and is connected to the pole. A spring driven drum biases the line upwardly thereby lifting part of the weight of the pole. The line is preferably connected to the pole adjacent the handle portion thereof but passes around and is guided by a pulley located adjacent the upper end of the pole so as to stabilize the upper end of the pole to prevent it from falling from side to side.
US07721375B2
A tool for cleaning a drainage structure comprises a rod having a center longitudinal axis, a barrel housing having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the barrel housing having a center longitudinal axis and coupled coaxially to the rod, the barrel housing having an outside dimension that can be accommodated within the drainage structure, the distal opening of the barrel housing having a sinusoidal tearing contour. The tool further comprises a plurality of cutting implements radially coupled to and between the rod and the barrel housing, the cutting implements having a distal cutting edge and being angularly oriented to facilitate sweeping debris in a selected direction, and the barrel housing and cutting implements operable to rotate about the center longitudinal axis of the rod to dislodge and loosen debris inside the drainage structure.
US07721369B2
The invention provides a transition board apparatus for a passenger bridge and a spring leaf thereof. A transition board apparatus includes a transition board and a spring leaf, wherein the transition board comprises a hinged end, a free end and the transition portion between them. The hinged end hinges on the end of the first tunnel bottom plate. The spring leaf is provided with the holding portion, which is secured on the sidewall of the first tunnel, and the bearing portion, which is used to raise the transition board up. Thus, there is a clearance between the free end and the bottom plate ornament laid on the second tunnel bottom plate. Therefore, when the second tunnel is moving back and forth relative to the first tunnel, the friction between the transition board and the bottom ornament can be avoided in order to protect the bottom plate ornament.
US07721364B2
A remote indoor kitchen coupled to existing water and drainage resources where the water and drainage lines may be uncoupled utilizing quick-connect couplers and the remaining fast remove portion of the line is removed. Water leakage is prevented through shutoff valves upstream and downstream of the fast remove portion. Optionally, couplers containing integrally disposed, one-way valves in the female members, are located at either end of the fast remove portion of the line to prevent water leakage. Preferably, the supply tubing is resilient and predisposed to coil making removal simpler. Water drainage is accomplished through valveless couplers and preferably by assisted by pump. The kitchen assembly includes a frame with preferably collapsible lower legs, at least one sink, a planar surface, storage drawers, a faucet, a spray nozzle, a backsplash with an electrical outlet. Optionally the sink includes a garbage disposal, mounted oven, and a protective plastic overlay.
US07721362B2
A sink according to the present invention includes a sink basin having a bottom surface and a top surface with at least one side wall extending therebetween. The sink includes a divider that may be inserted into or removed from an interior area of the sink for selectively dividing the basin into multiple smaller compartments. An electromagnet is positioned beneath the bottom surface of the sink and is attracted to a ferrous material on the bottom of the divider for holding the divider securely when actuated. Channels defined by the sink side wall and other sealing components establish a watertight seal between compartments when the electromagnet is actuated. The electromagnet may be connected to the residential power source and may be activated by a user or, automatically, by a sensor. When the divider is removed, the larger single basin may be used for washing larger items.
US07725947B2
An electronic data structure comprises benchmark information and an authorizing section for access to said benchmark information. A method processes and stores data objects by means of one or more processes running in a computer system having one or more of the electronic data structures. A request for benchmark information is received from a second party, the request including identification information of the second party. The benchmark information is analyzed to determine whether it contains in its electronic data structures and whether the authorizing section of the electronic data structure includes the identification information. Based on the determination, the benchmark information is presented to the second party.
US07725946B2
An authenticating program, system and method for authenticating permission of a user to use a computer system, by storing inhibiting information, supervising input manipulation to a protected computer upon transition of the operating condition of the protected computer to the usable condition, acquiring input information to indicate contents of relevant input manipulations, and comparing the acquired input information with the inhibiting information stored in said inhibiting information storing means. Then, permission of the user is authenticated based on the result of the comparison. When the permission of the user is determined to be unauthentic, the operating condition of the computer is transitioned to a restricted condition.
US07725945B2
In one aspect of the invention is a method for discouraging unauthorized redistribution of protected content. Content is bound to a customer I.D. associated with a customer requesting the content, such that the customer I.D. is needed to access the content.
US07725944B2
A system for collecting data regarding network behaviors of users is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system combines session records of users with corresponding transaction records reflective of e-commerce transactions. The session records may, for example, be generated by one or more collection engines deployed by one or more Internet Service Providers. The transaction records may, for example, be obtained through interactions with one or more merchant web sites. By combining these two types of information, the system can, for example, identify a set of user actions that led to a particular purchase transaction.
US07725933B2
The present invention provides a technique for automatically establishing efficient, remote, secure client connections to one or more locations using a smart card enabled client driver and a smart card enabled network edge device (“Subnet Box”) capable of establishing an end-to-end hardware encrypted tunnel between itself and the client. In an embodiment of the invention, a method of establishing a secure communications tunnel comprises the steps of: authenticating a remote client to a subnet box on a private network, wherein the remote client is connected to the subnet box via a public network, establishing a tunnel between the remote client and the subnet box, and encapsulating all traffic in the tunnel, wherein the tunnel is established only when a unique physical token is coupled to the remote device. The unique physical token comprises a smartcard and is configured to be inserted into a communications port of the remote device. The step of authenticating comprises the steps of: receiving an authentication packet, wherein the first authentication packet comprises an identifier identifying the unique physical token and a first random number, and transmitting a response authentication packet, wherein the response authentication packet comprise a second random number. The step of establishing a secure communications tunnel comprises the step of generating a cryptographic key based on the first and second random numbers.
US07725923B2
Provides structured-document processing device for detecting a relationship of approximateness between structured documents effectively. State-transition-diagram information storing means stores information concerning a state transition diagram where source nodes of a source structured document transit in order of occurrence from the head thereof. Extracting means extracting, a pair consisting of a new node and a corresponding source node in accordance with order of occurrence. Matching means determining whether the source and new nodes in the selection pair have matchingness, on the basis of their descriptions. Node qualifying means qualifying the source node as a node to be used for the new node. Transition-history information generating means generates, as transition-history information, information concerning a transition history regarding the node to be used. Degree-of-approximateness detecting means detects a degree of approximateness between the source structured document and the new structured document on the basis of the transition-history information.
US07725916B2
A signal switching device including an interface having a video signal communicating unit, a DDC and an HPD, controlling connected device, or being controlled by connected device. A switcher (2) includes a switch (30) selecting video signal input, a DDC (26c) reading information from output destination device, a microcomputer (33) reading information indicating a physical address of switcher (2) and a status of the output destination device through DDC (26c), and a DDC (22a) and a DDC (22b) outputting information to a plurality of input source devices. The microcomputer (33) stores the physical address of the switcher (2) and above-mentioned information into an EDID memory (32) and reads the above-mentioned information out of the EDID memory (32) and outputs through the DDC (22a) and the DDC (22b).
US07725914B2
A broadcasting system which permits broadcast of high dignity by rationalized equipment is provided. In this broadcasting station, the N-th affiliated station forwards program material data, CM material data and organization information data to a central station via an ATM/LAN, and registration means registers and stores such data into a program bank, a CM bank and a data server. Automatic sending control means and automatic sending means for the N-th affiliated station take out materials from the program bank, the CM bank or a CM bank for different J-th affiliated station, etc. under real time management of time management means on the basis of organization information registered and stored in the data server to organize televising contents to send out the televising contents to the N-th affiliated station via a dedicated digital line. Thus, the N-th affiliated station carries out broadcast of high dignity from transmitting means in the state where reorganization and processing of televising contents are not carried out, and cut and/or residual of unnecessary portion of televising contents taking place resulting from deviation in timing are excluded.
US07725908B2
In an optical disk apparatus, an ejection lock mechanism includes three (3) arm portions; i.e., a lock arm for locking a tray, being engaged with a lock member provided on a housing, a drive arm, in contact with the lock arm, for moving the lock arm to a position of being engaged with or releasing from engagement with the lock member, a solenoid having a movable plunger to be engaged with the drive arm, and a reset arm for restoring the plunger of the solenoid, wherein the reset arm is made up with an arm portion and an elastic portion, which are formed in one (1) body (as a unit) from a plastic, and the arm portion has two (2) arm pieces, and wherein a first arm piece has a function for moving the drive arm to the position of releasing from engagement with the lock member, through rotation thereof while being in contact with the lock member, and a second arm piece has a function for restoring the drive arm to a plunger storing portion of the solenoid, with a biasing force of the elastic portion, and the elastic portion has the “U”-shaped portions, turning round to the reset arm through an upper portion of the drive arm, whereby rotation of the first arm piece in contact with the lock member makes a mutual distance between the “U”-shaped portions, so as to maintain stability on the spring biasing force thereof.
US07725906B2
The client obtains an interface of a data object from the server, selects a function to be applied to the data object from the obtained interface, determines types of different results that can be sent back from the server as a result of an execution of the function by the server, where the types of different results are determined from result type identification, encoded in the interface, selects at least one desired result type from the determined different result types, generates a message including the at least one selected desired result type for invoking the function; the server receives the message, extracts arguments of the function invoked by the message, extracts at least one desired result type from the message, executes the function, generates a function execution response containing the selected execution result desired by the client and sends the function execution response to the client.
US07725899B2
An apparatus for communicating between lock step is incorporated on two or more processors operating in a lock step mode. Each of the processors includes processor logic to execute a code sequence, and an identical code sequence is executed by the processor logic. The apparatus further includes a processor-specific resource referenced by the code sequence. A multiplexer is coupled to the processor-specific resource, and is controlled to read data based on the identification. Coupled to the processors is a lock step logic block operable to read and compare the output of each of the processors. The lock step logic determines if operation of the processors is in a lock step mode or in an independent processor mode. Such determination may be made by the lock step logic turning off, for example.
US07725894B2
A method is provided for recording a list of facilities available to a program executing on an information processing system. In such method a storage location and a length of data are defined for recording the list of facilities by a program being executed on the information processing system. An instruction is issued by the program for determining the available facilities and recording the list of available facilities in accordance with the defined storage location and data length. A processor executes the instruction to determine the available facilities and record the list of facilities in accordance with the defined storage location and defined data length. The recorded list of facilities can then be read by the first program.
US07725891B2
A method for effecting changes in a software system landscape with a plurality of logical software systems that are interconnected by logical transport paths, comprises: providing system role types, each system role being associated with one of a plurality of system role types; providing low level operational tasks associated to system role types; providing a transport track that defines a route through logical systems in a particular order and that specifies one source system, adjacent interconnected systems, and at least one target system; providing high level operational tasks in a software development system that define software changes; generating transport requests for transporting the software changes; and generating a low level operational task list for the logical systems affected by the changes to the software by: analyzing the transport track(s) and the system role types and selecting low level operational tasks associated with the system role types according to the high level operational tasks.
US07725889B2
A mobile handset in a mobile services network, with access to a plurality of services including a firmware/software update service, is also capable of updating its update agent using an appropriate update package. The update package is retrieved from an update package repository via a management server. In one embodiment, the existing update agent is copied to a backup section before the update agent itself is updated. On the subsequent reboot, the new update agent is employed unless it is determined that it is corrupted or ineffective, in which case the old update agent is reactivated.
US07725885B1
The present invention relates to a mechanism for adaptive run time compilation of traces of program code to achieve efficiency in compilation and overall execution. The mechanism uses a combination of interpretation and compilation in executing byte code. The mechanism selects code segments for compilation based upon frequency of execution and ease of compilation. The inventive mechanism is able to compile small code segments, which can be a subset of a method or subroutine, and comprising only single path execution. The mechanism thereby achieves efficiency in compilation by having less total code as well as having only straight line, or single path execution, code to compile.
US07725874B2
A combination structure node is provided by a graphical programming development environment for use in a graphical program, where the combination structure node is operable to perform two or more control flow functions. For example, the combination structure node may be operable to perform two or more of: iteration, looping, conditional branching, sequencing, timed execution, event-driven execution, or other control flow functions. A user may include the combination structure node in a graphical program and associate a graphical code portion with the combination structure node. During execution of the graphical program, the combination structure node is operable to cause the associated graphical code portion to execute according to the two or more control flow functions performed by the combination structure node.
US07725869B1
Method and apparatus for modeling multiple instances of an electronic circuit using an imperative programming language description is described. In one example, a program is defined using an imperative programming language. The program includes multiple calls to a function. The function includes a persistent variable associated with an internal state of the electronic circuit. The function is configured to initialize the persistent variable based on at least one call path to the function in the program.
US07725860B1
A technique for improved mapping of the contacts of a PLD to the contacts of one or more other electronic components are provided. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for mapping contacts of a programmable logic device (PLD) to an electronic component in a signal routing device having one or more layers. The method comprises assigning a set of one or more contacts of the PLD to one or more respective contacts of the electronic component based at least in part on a pattern of electrically conductive traces routed from respective contacts of the electronic component via one or more channels formed at one or more layers of the signal routing device.
US07725854B2
A characterized cell library for EDA tools includes receiver model data that provides two or more capacitance values for a given receiver modeling situation (signal type and operating conditions). The receiver model can then use different capacitance values to generate different portions of the model receiver signal, thereby enabling more accurate matching of actual receiver signal timing characteristics. For example, a two-capacitance receiver model can be generated by using the first capacitance value to match the delay characteristics of an actual receiver, and by using the second capacitance (in light of the use of the first capacitance) to match the slew characteristics of that actual receiver. Because typical EDA timing analyses focus mainly on delay and slew (and not the detailed profile of circuit signals), a two-capacitance receiver model can provide a high degree of accuracy without significantly increasing cell library size and computational complexity.
US07725851B2
Device, system and method of efficient automata-based implementation of liveness properties for formal verification. A system according to embodiments of the invention includes a property transformation module to receive an assume verification directive on a liveness property in a property specification language, and to translate the property a fairness statement that uses a deterministic automaton. The deterministic automaton is exponential in the size of the input property. The assume verification directive may be transformed into a strong suffix implication in the property specification language.
US07725844B2
A method and circuit for implementing Efuse sense amplifier verification, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A first predefined resistor value is sensed relative to a reference resistor. A second predefined resistor value is sensed relative to a reference resistor. Responsive to identifying a respective sense amplifier output resulting from the sensing steps of an unblown eFuse and a blown eFuse, valid operation of the sense amplifier is identified.
US07725840B2
An invention for customizing a web site by gathering information from a web site visitor's sessions while the user is using the web site. The visitor's session information is compared with expected visitor behavior, based on the present structure of the web site. Using pre-programmed basic comparison rules and computer based mathematical models, matrices are used to represent statistical information about the visitor's sessions on the web site. The statistical information is used to extract visitor behavior which was unexpected (anomalies). Anomalies are grouped into recommendations. These recommendations are used to automatically customize the web site. In the alternative, information is provided to the web site administrator to customize the web site to be more efficient and visitor friendly, maximizing the operation of the Web site and promoting more frequent visits.
US07725835B2
A method of forming a menu on a display of an electronic device is shown with at least two function elements (1) for selecting functions. At least three display areas (A, B, C) are defined substantially adjacent to each other in a first direction. At least a first identification part (2) and a second identification part (3) are defined as contained in the function elements (1) The first identification part (2) of a function element (1) in the first direction is displayed on the outermost display areas (A, C), and the second identification part (3) of the function elements (1) on at least one display area (B) between the outermost display areas (A, C) is displayed in such a manner that the second identification part of the first function element and the second identification part of the second function element are positioned at least substantially next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction. Also shown are a graphical user interface (GUI), a device, a system, a software program and to a storage medium.
US07725834B2
Systems and/or methods that enable addition of a designer-created aspect originating from one electronic form template into another electronic form template are described. The systems and/or methods may also, in one embodiment, enable a user to graphically package designer-created aspects of an existing electronic form template into a component capable of being added to another electronic form template. In another embodiment, these systems and/or methods may enable mapping of an existing non-structural designer-created aspect originating from one electronic form template onto a data structure of another electronic form template.
US07725827B2
A method and system for displaying one or more recorded media content instances. After a first recorded media content instance is displayed, one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) configured to allow a user to choose to delete or retain the first media content instance and transition to a second recorded media content instance may be displayed.
US07725826B2
A system may instantiate a control panel view that is useable to monitor and control an audio-related device operable in an audio system. A product plugin that corresponds to an audio-related device may receive and analyze the components of an audio node structure received from the audio-related device. The product plugin is configured to store one or more predefined control panel views that are associated with one or more of the components. The product plugin is also configured to instantiate the predefined control panel views that correspond to the components. If the product plugin determines that all of the components are not represented, one or more user interface aspects can be integrated into one or more of the control panel views prior to instantiation. Alternatively, a generic control panel view can be generated.
US07725823B2
In an information processing apparatus, even when a large volume of data is displayed in a limited display area in which the number of data items that can be displayed at once is restricted, rough searching for data and specific identification of data are facilitated. In the information processing apparatus, the number of data items to be displayed is determined. When the number of data items to be displayed is less than or equal to a predetermined number of data items that can be displayed in a display area, the data items are displayed in a first mode. If the number of data items to be displayed is greater than the predetermined number, the data items are displayed in a second mode.
US07725822B2
A computerized system and method of teaching spelling interfaces with an application that captures a user's misspelled words and adds them to a word database. A teacher or instructor may also add words to the word database based on a user's curriculum, cross-curriculum or words of interest. The words in the word database are utilized to automatically create an individualized spelling teaching assignment and spelling Journal for a user. The user corrects any spelling mistakes that he or she has made and performs assignments with new words including hearing the words pronounced, spelling the words and writing sentences using the words. Spelling tests are also assigned. The teacher or instructor monitors the completion of the various assignments by the students and also monitors how well the assignments are performed.
US07725821B2
A method for storing electronic documents can include associating a digital seal with at least one electronic document. An image within a user interface can be displayed, wherein the image is a user selectable representation for the digital seal. At least one metadata attribute can be stored as a characteristic related to the digital seal. A storage characteristic of at least one electronic document can be modified based on one or more of the metadata attributes.
US07725819B2
A method for non-repudiable translation of documents is disclosed, whereby a computer application determines a storage location for a first document, generates a first digital signature for the first document, determines a storage location for a plurality of translation instructions, generates a second digital signature for the plurality of translation instructions, translates the first document, assembles a second document including the storage location for the first document, the storage location for the plurality of translation instructions, the first digital signature, the second digital signature, the translation, and at least one encryption key associated with the first document and the plurality of translation instructions, and digitally signs the second document. The signed document includes sufficient information to demonstrate non-repudiable translation of the first document.
US07725817B2
A parser is generated for parsing a marked up document. A template of a sample marked up document chosen by a user is extracted. The template comprises elements of the structural markup of the sample document with their data contents removed. The parser for parsing a marked up document is generated. The parser is generated in the form of code based on the extracted template in such a manner that the parser is adapted to extract any elements and associated data content of the marked up document to be parsed corresponding to the elements of the extracted template.
US07725815B2
A method and system is provided for resizing columns in a table when a table width is changed from a current table width to a new table width. The table may contain data and may be displayed to a user. The table may be resized responsively to the user's inputs or other conditions. A new column width is determined for each column in the table based on a column minimum width and a column maximum width associated with each column. Column minimum widths and column maximum widths may be selected to enhance user comprehension of data displayed in the table. Each column may be associated with a variable representing an order, and the columns may be resized in ascending sequence based on the order variable.
US07725811B1
A reporting system that incorporates prompt objects in a report definition to enable a user to specify answers to questions to customize a report at execution time. A prompt object contains a single question to be answered, validation values for the answer, and attributes indicating how the prompt object is to be processed. A collection of answers is built up in a resolution object. A report is thus defined by selecting prompt objects in place of templates, filters, or any of the aspects of a template or filter. As a separate object, a single prompt may be issued once and the answer supplied to each reference to the prompt object in a report. A resolution object may be created and saved before the execution of a report. The saved resolution object can then be used to answer prompts at the time of the report execution. The resolution object may be created by third parties and transmitted as an XML resolution object, whereupon receipt by the reporting system, the XML resolution object is translated into a reporting system format.
US07725799B2
A wireless communication apparatus in a hierarchically coded modulation system can use error control mechanisms generated during decoding of base layer information to predict a probability of successful demodulation of enhancement layer information. Performance in the demodulation of the base layer correlates to performance in the demodulation of the enhancement layer. The receiver can determine whether to attempt demodulation of temporally correlated enhancement layer data based in part on the predicted probability of success. If the receiver determines not to demodulate the enhancement layer, the receiver can power down the enhancement layer demodulator, or otherwise minimize the power expended in the enhancement layer demodulator.
US07725789B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently loading values into scan and non-scan memory elements. First, the network used to distribute control signals to the memory elements is cleared. Second, the desired values are loaded into the scan memory elements. Third, the values from the scan memory elements are propagated to the non-scan memory elements.
US07725782B2
A method and apparatus is provided for detecting random access memory (RAM) failure for data with a plurality of addresses. The method comprises generating a plurality of RAM test patterns in a predetermined order, implementing a RAM test pattern on each data address in an initial testing pass, based on the predetermined order of the RAM test patterns, rotating the RAM test patterns sequentially to prepare for a new testing pass, and implementing the RAM test patterns on different data addresses in the new testing pass. The apparatus comprises means for generating a plurality of RAM test patterns in a predetermined order, means for implementing a RAM test pattern on each data address in an initial testing pass, based on the predetermined order of the RAM test patterns, means for rotating the RAM test patterns sequentially to prepare for a new testing pass, and means for implementing the RAM test patterns on different data addresses in the new testing pass.
US07725777B2
Method and apparatus for identifying a cause for a response time problem for a transaction in a distributed computing system that includes a central server and a plurality of subsystems. Data is stored at each subsystem relating to sub-transactions of transactions performed by the subsystems. When a problem is discovered in connection with the completion of a particular transaction, each subsystem of the plurality of subsystems that was involved in the particular transaction is identified, and both instance data relating to all of the sub-transactions of the particular transaction stored at each identified subsystem and current hourly aggregate data stored at each identified subsystem is forwarded to the central server. Root-Cause Analysis is then performed using the forwarded instance data and aggregate data to identify the particular subsystem that caused the transaction problem.
US07725772B2
Apparatus and methods allow users of software testing applications to obtain auto-generated reports. During use, one or more software test cases of a feature of a software target are identified for execution. A template, common to the software cases, autogenerate a first report in a first computing language, e.g., XML, based on test results obtained from the execution. A transformation into one or more second reports in a second computing language, e.g., HTML, occurs so that users can visually understand the report. Preferred aspects include utilizing an existing Java-based JUnit testing framework and an API of Apache Ant. Retrofitting existing software testing applications contemplates inserting executable code, in the form of a template, to obtain auto-generated reports. Executable code is available as a computer program product in the form of a download or on a computer-readable medium. Overall architecture in a virtual machine is another noteworthy aspect.
US07725771B2
A system and method are provided to provide an enhanced memory error message. In one embodiment, a first message is associated to a memory error occurring at a virtual machine, the first message indicating the memory error has occurred. A second message is associated to the memory error when the memory error has occurred, the second message explaining the memory error. The memory error having the first message and the second message is thrown.
US07725760B2
In a data storage system, a storage management device includes at least a target mode driver, a data classifier in communication with the target mode driver, a plurality of storage buffers in communication with the target mode driver, a plurality of I/O managers in communication with the data classifier, and a physical store interface in communication with the plurality of I/O managers and with the plurality of storage buffers.
US07725759B2
A method of controlling a clock frequency is disclosed and includes monitoring a plurality of master devices that are coupled to a bus within a system. The method also includes receiving an input from at least one of the plurality of master devices. The input can be a request an increase to the clock frequency of the bus. Further, the method includes selectively increasing the clock frequency of the bus in response to the request.
US07725755B1
Methods and apparatus for delaying a clock signal for a multiple-data-rate interface. An apparatus provides an integrated circuit including a frequency divider configured to receive a first clock signal and a first variable-delay block configured to receive an output from the frequency divider. Also included is a phase detector configured to receive the first clock signal and an output from the first variable-delay block, and an up/down counter configured to receive an output from the phase detector. A second variable-delay block is configured to receive a second clock signal and a plurality of flip-flops are configured to receive an output from the second variable-delay block. The first variable-delay block and the second variable-delay block are configured to receive an output from the up/down counter.
US07725754B1
A dual clock interface for an integrated circuit is described. An integrated circuit includes interface circuitry. The interface circuitry has a hardwired logic block. The hardwired logic block has a clock divider circuit coupled to receive a user clock signal and a core clock signal for dividing the core clock signal responsive to a frequency of the user clock signal to provide a divided clock signal with edges aligned to the core clock signal. The divided clock signal has the frequency of the user clock signal and a phase relationship of the user clock signal. User-side logic is coupled to receive the divided clock signal for the controlled passing of information responsive to the divided clock signal. Core-side logic is coupled to receive the core clock signal for the controlled passing of information responsive to the core clock signal.
US07725753B2
An identification apparatus for backup-type power supply systems aims to be used on a backup-type power supply system which includes real power supply devices and dummy power supply devices to form a N+1 architecture to output power. It has signal generation means located on the real power supply devices and dummy power supply devices to generate real identification signals and dummy identification signals of different potentials and a signal detection means to receive the identification signals to identify the real power supply devices and dummy power supply devices. Thereby operators can clearly understand coupling and installation conditions of the power supply devices of the backup-type power supply system to perform power risk management.
US07725750B2
A method of transitioning between an active mode and a power-down mode in a processor-based system includes saving a state of the active mode, detecting the occurrence of one or more interrupt events during a transition between the active mode and the power-down mode, and responding to the detected interrupt events.
US07725739B2
Sensitive data is stored in a secure buffer, and never in an unencrypted, accessible location at any time. The data is accessed only by low-level processor instructions that load only a portion of the data into processor registers. The portion of data can then be used before the next portion of data is transferred from the secure buffer into the processor registers. In some embodiments, only one portion is available at any time. In other embodiments, a number of portions may be available at one time. However, the entirety of the sensitive data is never present in the clear. Thus, the entirety of the sensitive data will never be available if an adversary gains access to the contents of memory.
US07725733B2
A biometrics authentication device uses biometrics information to perform individual authentication. Primary and secondary verification of biometrics characteristic data from an image capture device are performed by a control unit and IC card. The biometrics character data is scrambled and transmitted between devices. The second registration data which is more important to authentication is stored within the IC card, and first registration data is registered in the IC card in a scrambled state. Security is improved, and moreover the load on the CPU of the IC chip in the IC card is reduced.
US07725727B2
A user provides signature attributes to a computer system for generating a signature, such as content directories, a signature accuracy level, and whether an existing signature database exists. The computer system generates a signature and the user tests the signature against a test file system. Based on the test results, the user may refine the signature using a different file system or a different content installation. In one embodiment, a user may generate a parent signature from existing “child” signatures that correspond to different versions of particular content. For example, a user may wish to generate a “Program” parent signature using children signatures “program v.0,” “program v.1,” and “program v.2.” When the user is satisfied with the signature, the user may use the signature to detect content that is located in a computer device's file system.
US07725721B2
A method and system for transferring licenses between electronic devices supporting licensable features. Specifically, in a method a request is generated for transferring a license between first and second electronic devices. The request includes first information unique to the first electronic device, second information unique to the second electronic device. The request is sent to a license distributor to generate a master key. The master key includes a removal key including the first information and an add key including the second information. The removal key is used to remove the license from the first electronic device when the first information matches official versions of the first information. The add key is revealed from the master key when the license is successfully removed. The add key is used to add the license to the second electronic device when the second information matches official versions of the second information.
US07725718B2
Method 300 facilitates the authentication of images, for example on a web-site (380). The method includes encoding images (310). In one embodiment, a search request is received (330) from a terminal (340) and the Internet is searched (350) in accordance with the search request and one or more web-sites identified (if any). An image associated with the identified web-site is checked (360) to see if the image is authentic. This can be achieved by decoding the image to obtain embedded identification information. If the image is authenticated, the image is transmitted (390) as part of a search results list. If the image is not authenticated, the image is not transmitted (395) or a warning that the image has not been authenticated can be provided. A method which facilitates the authentication of an email or other type of electronic document is also disclosed.
US07725710B2
A system such as in a networked computer system comprising a user, an application server, a gatekeeper server and an authentication server. Communication within the system is managed by the gatekeeper server, wherein the user communicates with the authentication server and the application server through the gatekeeper server. Once the user has been initially authenticated by the authentication server, the user may request application services from a plurality of application servers within the networked computer system without having to be re-authenticated.
US07725706B2
An information processing apparatus has a multi-valued NAND nonvolatile memory including a plurality of word lines and a plurality of memory cells connected to the respective word lines. Each memory cell has a plurality of threshold voltages, and is divided into a first and a second storage area. A program code is stored in the first storage area, and user data is stored in the second storage area. The apparatus also includes a volatile memory to which the program code is transferred from the multi-valued NAND nonvolatile memory. The apparatus further includes a CPU connected to the volatile memory and configured to operate based on the program code transferred to the volatile memory.
US07725702B2
A single starting point configuration for a complex, configurable system, is determined by collecting machine-reported data from a configurable system; obtaining information regarding the configurable system from one or more document applications external to the configurable system; merging the machine-reported data and the external document application data to produce a proposed configuration starting point; creating a user-readable actual starting point configuration according to the merged data; receiving a system configuration change description; receiving a proposed final system configuration; and verifying that the system configuration changes applied to the actual starting point configuration yields the proposed final system configuration.
US07725701B2
A portable device comprise non-volatile storage. The non-volatile storage comprises a basic input/output system (BIOS) setting. The BIOS setting is applied from the portable device onto a system to which the portable device can be coupled.
US07725692B2
A method of representing instruction execution path history is provided. The method in one aspect may include gathering information associated with a current instruction, the information including at least a target address. Previously computed bits representing execution path history is modified and hashed based on the target address, to compute current execution path history.
US07725691B2
Accelerating processing of a non-sequential instruction stream on a processor with multiple compute units by broadcasting to a plurality of compute units a generic instruction stream derived from a sequence of instructions; the generic instruction stream including an index section and a compute section; applying the index section to localized data stored in each compute unit to select one of a plurality of stored local parameter sets; and applying in each compute unit the selected set of parameters to the local data according to the compute section to produce each compute unit's localized solution to the generic instruction.
US07725687B2
This invention makes each register bypass forwarding register explicitly addressable in software. Software chooses whether to access the forwarding register immediately eliminating the need for complex automatic detection. Each instruction executes and always writes its result into the forwarding register. Writing this data into the register file in the next cycle is optional as selected by the destination register file number. This invention separates registers storing predication data from the register file. This separation removes the speed problem by enabling scheduling of the predication computation out of the critical path.
US07725677B1
A method and apparatus for breaking complex X86 segment operations and segmented memory addressing into explicit sub-operations so that they may be exposed to compiler or translator-based optimizations.
US07725676B2
A method and storage system for increasing an amount of memory in a queuing area on. The storage system includes first and second storage subsystems connected to each other via a path. A primary volume in the first storage subsystem and a remote secondary volume in the second storage subsystem are mirrored and operated in the asynchronous mode. A queuing area having memory is provided in the second storage subsystem for temporarily storing data transferred to the second storage subsystem from the first storage subsystem in response to a write input/output (I/O) issued by a host to write data in the primary volume. Data temporarily stored in the memory is retrieved and stored in the remote secondary volume. An unused area of the queuing area is monitored and the memory increased if the unused area becomes less than a predetermined amount.
US07725675B2
Provided is a capacity monitoring method used for a computer system including one or more application computers, one or more storage systems, and a management computer. The storage system includes a physical disk and a disk controller. In the capacity monitoring method, a storage area of the physical disk belongs to a storage pool, the storage system provides a volume, and the management computer monitors a used capacity of the storage pool, judges whether or not a storage capacity required for operating the application computer for a predetermined time period is present in the storage pool based upon an increasing speed of the used capacity of the storage pool to be monitored, and executes a predetermined process operation when the storage capacity required for operating the application computer for the predetermined time period is not present in the storage pool. Accordingly, the storage pool is properly operated and managed.
US07725673B2
When a file server is to create data that does not permit falsification in an external storage, it is not possible to guarantee that the rewriting of this data can be prevented from a computer connected to the external storage without going through a file server. Provided is a storage system configured from a first storage having a file I/O processing unit and a second storage connected to this first storage, wherein the first storage includes a unit for requesting a change of access authority to the storage area in the own storage and in the second storage provided to the own storage. An access request to a storage area in a second storage from a computer connected to a second storage without going through a file I/O processing unit is restricted based on the change of access authority executed by the second storage upon receiving the request from the first storage.
US07725671B2
Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves.
US07725670B2
A memory module (e.g. a hard drive, an optical drive, a flash drive, etc.) associated with a computer system may be imaged without substantial interruption to the operation of the overall system. The imaging may include applying an image to the memory module while execution of one or more operations and/or algorithms that require at least intermittent access to information stored initially in the memory module is ongoing. This may enable a system associated with the memory module to continue with normal, or substantially normal, operation while the image is being applied to the memory module. The image applied to the memory module may, for example, update the system, restore the system to a previous state (e.g., to its state at a previous point in time), or otherwise modify the system with which it is associated.
US07725665B2
A data processor (1) has a central processing unit (3) and a memory controller (6) capable of controlling a memory (8) to be connected to an outside. The memory has a buffer capable of temporarily holding data within an address range corresponding to a predetermined bit number on a low order side of an address signal, and a burst operation for inputting/outputting data can be carried out by a data transfer between the buffer and the outside for an access request in which an access address is changed within the address range. When causing the memory to carry out the burst operation to give an access, the memory controller performs an access control for freely executing the burst operation of the memory continuously if it detects an access exceeding the address range. When causing the memory to carry out the burst access, the memory controller performs an access control for freely executing the burst operation of the memory continuously if it detects the access exceeding the address range. Therefore, it is not necessary to restrict the burst access exceeding the address range and to limit a burst frequency. Consequently, it is possible to enhance a data transfer performance through the burst access together with the memory.
US07725657B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for associating a first priority indicator with data stored in a first entry of a shared cache memory by a core to indicate a priority level of a first thread, and associating a second priority indicator with data stored in a second entry of the shared cache memory by a graphics engine to indicate a priority level of a second thread. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07725656B1
A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data in an N-way set associative cache with N data array banks is disclosed. On a cache fill corresponding to a particular way, a portion of each cache line (called a chunk) is placed in each data array bank. On a processor load seeking a requested chunk, a candidate chunk is retrieved from each data array bank and the requested chunk is selected from among the candidates.
US07725651B2
Proposed is a storage system and a data management method enabling the easy operation of the storage system and capable of alleviating the burden on a system administrator by managing the full backup and snapshot in the same storage extent. This storage system includes a creation unit for associating a part or the whole of a storage extent of the secondary volume and creating a pool volume to be supplied with a dynamic memory storage extent from the logical volume, a first storage unit for storing difference data corresponding to the primary volume as backup data in the pool volume in order to store, based on a write command of data from the host system in an arbitrary address in the primary volume, the data in the primary volume and update the primary volume, and a second storage unit for storing data that is not updated in the primary volume based on a snapshot command from the host system for acquiring a snapshot on a primary volume at a prescribed timing as difference data or a difference data group in the pool volume.
US07725648B2
In one aspect of the invention, a computer system comprises application logic executable to search an optical medium for at least one type of file system that may be resident on the optical medium. In response to identifying the presence of at least one type of file system resident on the optical medium, the system readies a media driver of an apparatus to make the at least one file system available for access.
US07725647B2
A memory arrangement includes an interface configured to transmit data in the form of data packets according to a predefined protocol. The memory arrangement includes at least two memory banks. Each memory bank includes at least one memory cell. The memory arrangement includes at least two memory bank access devices configured to facilitate accessing the data of the at least one memory cell of each of the at least two memory banks. The memory arrangement includes at least two data packet processing devices configured to encode and/or decode the data packets. The at least two data packet processing devices are assigned to different memory bank access devices.
US07725646B2
A method of using a FLASH memory for a circular buffer, and the FLASH memory for same, the method including one or more of the following steps in various exemplary embodiments: providing a circular buffer having a plurality of sectors; designating a byte of each of the plurality of sectors of the circular buffer as a binary state indicator; saving data sequentially in the circular buffer; and cycling through a plurality of sectors of the binary state indicators, such as empty or erase, last, middle and first, as the data is sequentially saved in the circular buffer.
US07725643B1
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide a optimization tool for avoiding an address dependency between tasks in a program. The tool determines whether two or more tasks of the program are dependent on at least one same address, which is associated with a first memory block. When it is determined that the two or more tasks of the program are dependant on the at least one same address, the tool allocates a second memory block and changes a read reference by at least one of the two or more tasks from the first memory block associated with the at least one same address to the second memory block.
US07725641B2
A memory may be configured to rearrange and store data to enable a conflict free mode for a memory access pattern required by a coder-decoder(codec) and configured to output a plurality of data from a plurality of banks of the memory in parallel. In addition, a data interconnection unit is configured to shift the plurality of data output from the memory and provide the shifted data to a plurality of operation units as input data. The operation result from each of the plurality of operation units is stored in a region of the memory.
US07725635B2
A method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework in which the communication device determines whether the request channel from which the received requests came have the priority right and whether there is any logical operation condition established, and then the communication device transmits the received external requests to the connected slave device as an ordinary request or priority request, preventing the slave device from receiving an important external request sent by the main control end or manager at a late time.
US07725630B2
A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol.
US07725618B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for creating memory barriers in a Direct Memory Access (DMA) device. A memory barrier command is received and a memory command is received. The memory command is executed based on the memory barrier command. A bus operation is initiated based on the memory barrier command. A bus operation acknowledgment is received based on the bus operation. The memory barrier command is executed based on the bus operation acknowledgment. In a particular aspect, memory barrier commands are direct memory access sync (dmasync) and direct memory access enforce in-order execution of input/output (dmaeieio) commands.
US07725616B2
One data processor is provided with an interface for realizing connection with the other data processor. This interface is provided with a function for connecting the other data processor as a bus master to an internal bus of the one data processor, and the relevant other data processor is capable of directly operating peripheral functions that are memory mapped to the internal bus from an external side via the interface. Accordingly, the data processor can utilize the peripheral functions of the other data processor without interruption of the program being executed. In short, one data processor can use in common the peripheral resources of the other data processor.
US07725612B2
A method for controlling a plurality of I/O devices being attached to a microprocessor by a special number and type of interfaces is provided. A generic configurable chip is connected to the I/O space of said microprocessor, said generic chip comprising a switch matrix being adapted to assign said special number and type of interfaces to each specific device when initializing said device.
US07725608B2
Device images, for example IDE mass storage device images, may be enabled and disabled without disrupting a host system. In one embodiment, the invention includes a memory device register to indicate the presence of a memory device to a computer system, a switch coupled to the memory device register to set the memory device register to indicate the presence of a memory device, and an external interface coupled to the switch to operate the switch.
US07725591B2
Methods, systems and apparatus for timer management of an element processing system wherein timer intervals related to elements to be processed can be handled in a time-efficient manner. An example method is a method for detecting a timeout of elements in an element processing system wherein a timer value, indicating a timeout interval with respect to a given time base, is assigned to each of the elements when processed. From a number of elements processed, the timer value indicating a minimum timeout interval to expire is determined out of the number of timer values assigned to the number of elements being processed.
US07725584B1
The present invention may be regarded as a method of operating a mobile terminal during a synchronization session. A plurality of data types, including a first data type and a second data type, are identified to synchronize with the mobile terminal. A rule base is applied to assign the first data type to a first communication channel and the second data type to a second communication channel. Synchronization data of the first data type is exchanged over the first communication channel, and synchronization data of the second data type is exchanged over the second communication channel.
US07725581B1
A method of prioritizing actions at a gateway (1) to a bearer network (3), the gateway comprising a Media Gateway (7) which is responsible for establishing call connections over said bearer network (3) and a Media Gateway Controller (4) coupled to the Media Gateway. A signalling message is received at the Media Gateway Controller (4), which determines the priority of the message. The signalling message is converted into a Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) message including a parameter indicating the priority of the associated signalling message. The MGCP is then transferred to the Media Gateway (7) which acts upon the message in accordance with the indicated priority.
US07725570B1
Method and apparatus for service level management, wherein business processes are composed of services. A state of the service is defined by one or more service parameters, and the service parameters depend upon performance of network components that support the service, e.g., component parameters. The state of the service may depend, for example, on a collection of service parameter values for availability, reliability, security, integrity and response time. A service level agreement is a contract between a supplier and a customer that identifies services supported by a network, service parameters for the services, and service levels (e.g., acceptable levels) for each service parameter.
US07725569B2
A method and system are provided for updating software configurations of line-replaceable unit (LRU) computers in a restricted architecture network such as an in-flight entertainment system (IFES). Operating in an efficient and parallel manner, each of the LRUs independently creates an individual configuration file that identifies current software components. Each of the LRUs transmits its respective configuration file to a configuration server either automatically upon startup or manually upon request. The configuration server updates a system configuration data file with the current configuration files received from the individual LRUs. In a downloading method, a download server sends a list of desired software components to the LRUs. Each of the LRUs independently and simultaneously transfer (download) the needed software from the download server. The LRU independently requests the download server to download the needed software components. The file transfers utilize standard protocols, such as FTP.
US07725567B2
A security infrastructure and methods are presented that inhibit the ability of a malicious node from disrupting the normal operations of a peer-to-peer network. The methods of the invention allow both secure and insecure identities to be used by nodes by making them self-verifying. When necessary or opportunistic, ID ownership is validated by piggybacking the validation on existing messages. The probability of connecting initially to a malicious node is reduced by randomly selecting to which node to connect. Further, information from malicious nodes is identified and can be disregarded by maintaining information about prior communications that will require a future response. Denial of service attacks are inhibited by allowing the node to disregard requests when its resource utilization exceeds a predetermined limit. The ability for a malicious node to remove a valid node is reduced by requiring that revocation certificates be signed by the node to be removed.
US07725561B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for requesting a page from a server across a network data processing system. The page is requested a first time from a client application in the data processing system in which the page is requested using a domain name. An Internet Protocol address for the domain name is looked up for the page on a remote domain name server. The Internet Protocol address is used to request the page. The Internet Protocol address is stored locally in the data processing system in a database of Internet Protocol translations in association with the domain name for the page and wherein the database is accessible only by the client application. As a result, subsequent requests for the page may be processed using this database. The database of Internet Protocol translations is referenced to determine whether an Internet Protocol address for a selected page is present in response to a request for the selected page. The selected page is requested using an Internet Protocol address returned from the database of Internet Protocol translations if the Internet Protocol address is present in the database of Internet Protocol translations. The remote domain name server is queried to determine the Internet Protocol address of the selected page if the Internet Protocol address for the selected page cannot be determined from referencing the database of Internet Protocol translations.
US07725552B2
A service system (1) comprises a service core (1(f)) and an interface (1(d)) for interfacing with instant messaging clients (10). The service core (1(f)) controls interfacing with an instant messaging client to provide an interactive service according to an application and involving routing of multimedia content to the client (10). The system (1) is modal, dynamically interacting with a client to provide a desired service in a current mode for a user, the mode being an application state and associated group of user interactions. A mode database manager 1(a) maintains a persistent record of the mode of a service for a user. The service core (1(f)) interfaces with the mode database manager (1(a)) to allow a mode to persist through at least two instant messaging sessions involving interaction. A directory manager (1(b)) manages registered instant messaging users, and the mode database manager (1(a)) maintains mode status only for registered users. The system also comprises a presence compositor (1(c)) for publishing modes of services as users of a presence network, and some users are avatars displayed on client display screens and representing modes. A mail store manager (1(e)) is instructed by the service core (1(f)) to perform messaging operations according to service mode changes.
US07725550B2
A system and method for message filtering are disclosed. A conversion target letter table is generated which stores information on letters that may be used to elude filtering, the table storing the hex code information of each letter that may be used for eluding filtering and the conversion letter information regarding the conversion letter to which each letter is to be converted. A hex code of a message text inputted by a user is compared with the hex codes of the table, and when a conversion target letter is included, it is converted to the conversion letter stored in the conversion target table associated with the letter. When the conversion is completed, it is determined whether or not pre-configured prohibited words are included in the converted message; and message filtering is performed.
US07725548B2
Disclosed are a computer-readable recording medium which records communication programs, communication method and communication apparatus capable of easily performing selection and execution of communication units according to communication units of communication partners. A profile management unit manages specific information including a combination of device type information and user identification information in each communication unit, and user IDs associated with the combined information. An application controller, when a session using any one of communication units is established between users, refers to specific information and associates user IDs with the combined information in the communication unit. A collection unit collects presence information where state information indicating whether communication units are available is associated with the combined information in each communication unit. A presence management unit, when a user ID is specified, refers to presence information and reports presence information to client terminals of users where the session is established.
US07725547B2
A gesture-enabled electronic communication system informs users of gestures made by other users participating in a communication session. The system captures a three-dimensional movement of a first user from among the multiple users participating in an electronic communication session, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined using at least one image capture device aimed at the first user. The system identifies a three-dimensional object properties stream using the captured movement and then identifies a particular electronic communication gesture representing the three-dimensional object properties stream by comparing the identified three-dimensional object properties stream with multiple electronic communication gesture definitions. In response to identifying the particular electronic communication gesture from among the multiple electronic communication gesture definitions, the system transmits, to the users participating in the electronic communication session, an electronic object corresponding to the identified electronic communication gesture.
US07725543B2
A network communication device is provided with e-mail message composing means and e-mail message transmitting/receiving means. The e-mail message composing means has functions of incorporating an MDN request and return transmission conditions into an e-mail message and of consolidating MDN responses for multiple received e-mail messages into a collective MDN response to compose a single e-mail message. The e-mail message transmitting/receiving means has a function of recognizing the MDN request and the return transmission conditions. The network communication device is further provided with: reception result monitoring means which monitors the reception of an e-mail message to see whether it is a success or failure and which composes an MDN response; and disposition notification controlling means which monitors return transmission conditions incorporated in a received e-mail message and which, if the return transmission conditions are met, instructs the e-mail message composing means to compose a collective MDN response and the e-mail message transmitting/receiving means to transmit the composed collective MDN response. Thus, the invention enables collective confirmation of MDN responses to multiple e-mail messages.
US07725524B2
A multi-tiered process automation system employing a novel property attachment mechanism is described. For example, a computer-implemented method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing one or more project objects, procedure objects, and step objects; generating attachment data attaching a plurality of properties to the project objects, procedure objects, and step objects, each of the properties having a value associated therewith, wherein at least some of the properties are generated and attached to the project objects, procedure objects, and step objects at runtime, during execution of the project objects, procedure objects, and step objects, respectively; storing the attached properties with the associated values and attachment data; receiving a request to execute one or more of the objects; interpreting the attachment data to identify the properties attached to each of the one or more objects; and executing the one or more of the objects within the process automation system using the values associated with the one or more properties.
US07725515B2
The present invention relates to a digital data filtering circuit. This digital data filtering circuit is able to implement the calculation steps of a discrete transform of a set of 8 original data (w), and calculating an inverse discrete transform of the set of transformed data thus obtained. For this purpose, it comprises a first filtering module (FILo1) intended to filter the odd transformed data or the 3 odd transformed data items having the highest frequencies in the set of transformed data, and a second filtering module (FILo2) connected to the first filtering module and intended to filter the 2 odd transformed data having the highest frequencies in the set of transformed data.
US07725511B2
A biometric keyboard or other input device, such as a keypad or touch screen, may be part of an input mechanism for inputting user information to a computing system. The mechanism may include biometric sensors associated with the buttons or keys of the input device. A mapping scheme may be used such that the input value forwarded to a processing resource when a user activates one or more of the buttons or keys varies depending on which digit (finger, toe, etc.) was used to activate the key(s) or button(s). Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US07725508B2
Systems and methods that identify and extract information from articles are described. In one embodiment, a search engine implements a method comprising capturing an event in real time upon the occurrence of the event, wherein the event comprises a user interaction with an article on a client device, wherein the article is capable of being associated with at least one of a plurality of client applications, determining if the event should be indexed, and if the event should be indexed, indexing the event and storing the event and at least a portion of content associated with the article.
US07725507B1
A system and method for creating and utilizing dynamic directories in a computing system. A computing system includes a file system and a dynamic directory mechanism. The dynamic directory mechanism is configured to enable a user to create dynamic directories which are identifiable as having special behaviors associated with them. The user may create executable instructions for performing the special behaviors in a user space of an operating system and associate the special behaviors with selected native file system operations which may be performed on the directory. In response to detecting an operation on a directory is initiated, the mechanism determines whether the directory is a dynamic directory. If the directory is a dynamic directory, the mechanism determines whether any predetermined special behaviors have been defined for the initiated operation and if so performs the special behaviors.
US07725504B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for helping a user form a structured diagram from an unstructured information source. Starting with one or more key information elements such as some special words, the requests of a customer contained in the information source can be obtained by performing interactive and iterative searching in the unstructured information source such as text, audio, video and etc., the artifacts representing them are drawn in the diagram, and linkages are established between the artifacts and the corresponding contents in the information source. The present invention also proposes that the distribution of established linkages can be used to check whether all the requests in the information source have been extracted in the diagram. Further, various levels of warnings can be shown according to the density of linkage distribution. Therefore the user can draw a structured diagram more conveniently and quickly, and can perform checking and reusing more easily.
US07725495B2
Generally described, embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to assign primary keys and foreign keys to lists of any number of sites that are maintained by a database hosting service. More specifically, a scalable table, like the master table described below, may continue to be used without specifying primary keys or foreign keys within the table by using two additional tables in which the keys are specified for each list of each site. Integrity may be maintained by confirming that all changes to either a primary key or foreign key are appropriate before applying the changes to the master table.
US07725485B1
A search engine receives a query from an end-user. The search engine executes the query on a content database and identifies a set of matching content. The search engine utilizes the matching content to generate a query vector describing the end-user query. The search engine searches a repository of other vectors, called “centroids,” to produce a ranked set of centroids matching the query vector. These centroids are converted into search queries and form a set of candidate queries. The search engine filters the candidate queries to identify ones that are likely to be meaningful to the end-user. The selected candidate queries are returned to the end-user as query suggestions.
US07725475B1
A classification system includes a signature-based duplicate detector and an inductive classifier that share attribute information. To perform the duplicate detection and the classification, the duplicate detector and inductive classifier are first initialized by generating a lexicon of attributes for the duplicate detector and a classification model for the classifier. To develop a classification model, a training set of documents of known class are used by the classifier to determine the attributes of the documents that are most useful in classifying an unknown document. The model is developed from these attributes. Attribute information containing the attributes determined by the classifier is then passed to the duplicate detector and the duplicate detector uses the attribute information to generate the lexicon of attributes.
US07725469B2
This invention relates to a service registry and repository system, method and computer program product for accessing objects in an object repository. There is provided a method of managing an object database for objects comprising: receiving an object query; querying the object database using the object query; receiving a hierarchical collection of objects including a root object; and returning only those objects that are within a specific depth of the root object and that do not represent user-defined relationships. The returning step maps the objects from a proprietary object format into a standard object format and optionally the standard object format is the Service Definition Object format (SDO).
US07725454B2
Embodiments are provided to manage information associated with a number of disparate information sources. In an embodiment, a system includes a data structure having a uniform metadata representation and a metadata handler for interacting with the data structure. The data structure can be associated with an underlying file or some other type of information source. In one embodiment, a number of handlers can be chained together to extract and return information according to a desired mode of operation. The embodiments provide extensibility and can be tailored according to a desired implementation. Other embodiments and implementations are available.
US07725453B1
A system includes an application programming interface, an indexer, a security unit and at least one search engine. The application programming interface uploads user-selected custom content from a first user. The indexer indexes the custom content to produce a first search index. The security unit authenticates a user and the at least one search engine receives a search query from the user, searches the first search index based on the search query, and searches a second search index based on the search query and based on results of the user authentication, where the second search index is different than the first search index.
US07725450B1
A search engine includes a pipelined arrangement of a plurality of search and tree maintenance sub-engines therein, which are configured to support the performance of search operations on exclusively valid multi-way trees of search prefixes concurrently with the performance of update operations on the multi-way trees as they are being searched.
US07725443B2
A system and method for allowing users to associate various e-mails within at least one of the user's mailboxes under a common discussion topic or “thread” for organizational purposes. This user-controlled organization may be carried out regardless if the e-mails which are desired to be associated are from different senders and/or have different subject headings. An e-mail message may be associated to/designated under a user-defined discussion topic or associated to another e-mail. At the user's discretion, information about the e-mail's associated discussion topic and/or associated e-mails may be stored and kept locally with the user's mailbox, or alternatively, information about the e-mail's associations may be transmitted when that e-mail is sent to a recipient user.
US07725439B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for managing database table schema evolution. It is detected whether any columns in a source table have been renamed since a previous archiving process. A set of table changes is generated for the renamed columns. It is detected whether any possible naming collisions exist in the set of table changes. If a possible naming collision is detected, a temporary rename is created for the renamed column. The set of table changes, including any created temporary renames, is sorted.
US07725433B1
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a transformation lineage model. Data stored on a data storage device connected to a computer is navigated. In response to receiving user input, a target object in an information catalog is selected. Then, information about a source from which the target object was derived is provided.
US07725430B2
This invention relates to information processing such as coordination of distributed information processing resources, and makes collaboration of distributed information processing resources easy and improves convenience of information processing. A high-speed information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a conversion processing section operable to model a plurality of distributed information processing resources through definition of the plurality of information processing resources by attributes thereof and to assign a collaborative relationship to modeled information processing resources obtained through the modeling.
US07725425B2
A method and system for storing and retrieving spatial data objects from a spatial database is discussed. The system stores multi-dimensional objects within the database by determining their position in a multi-tiered coordinate system. One each object has been assigned to a particular coordinate, the object is further assigned to one of many overlapping sections within the coordinate system. Each object is assigned to a particular section of the coordinate system depending on its overall size and position.
US07725420B2
A hand held or portable device (1) is configured to include a multitude of factors from which sporting success conditions such as applicable to fishing and hunting success may be predicted. In one embodiment, these may include: a lunar information element (2), a solar information element (3), a barometric information element (4), and a temperature information element (5) that provide input (directly or indirectly) to combination elements (6) and a sport success prediction element (7) that may provide a simplistic or other display (8) to a user. A composite barometric-lunar-solar-temperature effect may be calculated for the present or for a remote time and date through a future time forecast element (17).
US07725418B2
A system, apparatus and application for providing robots with the ability to intelligently respond to perceived situations are described. A knowledge database is assembled automatically, based on distributed knowledge capture. The knowledge base embodies the “common sense,” that is, the consensus, of the subjects who contribute the knowledge. Systems are provided to automatically preprocess, or “clean” the information to make it more useful. The knowledge thus refined is utilized to construct a multidimensional semantic network, or MSN. The MSN provides a compact and efficient semantic representation suitable for extraction of knowledge for inference purposes and serves as the basis for task and response selection. When the robot perceives a situation that warrants a response, an appropriate subset of the MSN is extracted into a Bayes network. The resultant network is refined, and used to derive a set of response probabilities, which the robot uses to formulate a response.
US07725408B2
An apparatus and method for efficiently constructing learning data required in statistical methodology used in information retrieval, information extraction, translation, natural language processing, etc. are provided. The method includes the steps of: generating learning models by performing machine learning with respect to learning data; attaching tags to a raw corpus automatically by using the generated learning models to thereby generate learning data candidates; calculating confidence scores of the generated learning data candidates, and then selecting a learning data candidate using the confidence scores; and allowing a user to correct an error in the selected learning data candidate through an interface and adding the error-corrected learning data candidate to the learning data, thereby adding new learning models incrementally.
US07725402B2
A system and method for booking a performance venue. The system comprises a booking engine enabling communication between at least two of a performer, a consumer, and a venue agent, the at least two of a performer, a consumer, and a venue agent using at least one client station connected to the booking engine over a communications link. The system also comprises a market module associated with the booking engine for selling performer endorsement entities to at least one consumer and for selecting a particular venue from a group of at least one venue.
US07725380B2
A commodity sales system includes at least one server computer including a memory system, a commodity price specification module for receiving a purchase request of a selected commodity from the user computer and for specifying a commodity price of the selected commodity. A storage module that stores a component price table and a maximum/minimum price determination module are also included. A deduction setting module and a tentative quote setting module for setting the minimum price determined by the maximum/minimum price determination module to a tentative quote of the used personal computer are also included.
US07725379B2
A method of settling trades includes the steps of obtaining an authenticated delivery instrument, wherein the authenticated delivery instrument is authenticated by a first exchange and may be used to settle a trade undertaken on the first exchange. An electronic proxy is issued for the delivery instrument, wherein the electronic proxy may be exchanged for the authenticated delivery instrument and where the electronic proxy is used to settle a trade undertaken on a second exchange.
US07725371B2
Systems and methods consistent with the invention relate to the processing of invoices. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for processing invoices associated with service contracts may comprise receiving data associated with a first service contract. The method may then analyze the first service contract data based on a processing rule. The method may then determine, based on the analyzed first contract data, whether the received first service contract data relates to an existing service contract. The method may then process an invoice associated with the first service contract based on the determination of whether the received first service contract data relates to an existing service contract.
US07725357B2
An initiation of a purchase is received from a user into a receiver. Receiver software is activated that causes the display of a purchase screen having at least one field. Purchase information is received from the user into the field. The purchase information identifies an initial television subscription service for an initial activation of the receiver and an initial television programming package for the receiver. A secure electronic connection is established with a vendor and the purchase information is transmitted from the receiver to the vendor. A confirmation number is received from the vendor that confirms that the purchase has been allowed. The receiver also receives authorization for the initial activation of the subscription television service, the receiver, and television programming package. The received authorization is then used to activate and configure the receiver to allow the display of the subscription television services.
US07725347B2
Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, such context involving a member of a first class of parties in a first role and a member of a second class of counterparties in a second role, are disclosed. The techniques involve supplying to at least one of the parties a series of forced choice questions so as to elicit party responses; supplying to at least one of the counterparties a series of forced choice questions so as to elicit counterparty responses; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty according to analysis of preference profiles determined using conjoint analysis of the party responses and the counterparty responses.
US07725343B2
A computer system, computer-readable medium and a method for performing activity based cost modeling. A cost object array has dimensions defined by weight arrays each corresponding to facets of the business by which one would assess profitability and efficiency, such as by products and customers. Each element of the weight arrays represents a user-definable classification, such as particular product families or geographic regions, and is assigned an allocation weight. A cost driver array has the same dimensions as the cost object array comprising metrics, such as the quantity sold or dollars of revenue. A weighted allocation factor for each cost object is a function of the allocation weights and the cost driver for that cost object, normalized over all the cost objects. Activity costs are allocated to a particular cost object in proportion to the weighted allocation factor associated with that cost object.
US07725338B1
A personal information manager or other software program, preferably residing within a palmtop computer, uses a time of day profile to establish a default data category. When the user wishes to enter or edit data or retrieve data, the personal information manager or other software program inspects a real-time clock to determine the time of day. The personal information manager or other software program then establishes a default category based upon the time of day profile established by the user. The user is given the opportunity to modify the default category at any time. In this manner, for example, the user can establish a default business category during business times in days and a personal category during personal times in days. This provides the advantage of correctly categorizing data in an automated manner under most circumstances.
US07725331B2
Separate computer systems may participate in a Health Data Network (HDN) such that the computer systems are linked so as to share various types of healthcare-related information. The shared information may include patient record information. The integration of the patient record information is accomplished by maintaining a Global Master Patient Index (GMPI). Such a GMPI may integrate patient record information used by multiple healthcare organizations, facilities, or businesses. Such a GMPI may also integrate patient record information for a single business having multiple sites or computer systems, e.g., a large hospital. The GMPI preferably provides for performing functions such as locating patient records, locating duplicate records for a selected patient, printing a selected patient record with all its duplicate patient records, reconciling potential duplicate patient records found while searching and retrieving a patient's record final reconciliation (certification) of suspected duplicate patients records, maintaining a persistent relationship between patient records in the GMPI, and maintaining a reconciliation audit trail.
US07725328B1
The present invention relates to a computer implemented system and method for generating and interacting with a multi-factoral patient simulation responsive to user queries and interventions.
US07725309B2
An application-specific dictionary is provided that includes a plurality of entries, where each entry matches to one or more items that comprise one or more records of a record store. For at least some of the plurality of entries, each entry has multiple phonetic representations, including one or more phonetic representations that are at least one of (i) an abbreviation of that entry, or (ii) a null use of the entry when that entry is combined with another entry.
US07725298B2
An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for generating trace data. In response to detecting a new trace event, a determination is made as to whether the new trace event occurred at an expected period of time with respect to a prior trace event. A time stamp in the trace data is placed in response to a determination that the new trace event did not occur at the expected period of time, wherein time stamps occurring at the expected period if time are eliminated from the trace data and wherein compression of the trace data occurs.
US07725287B2
A system and method for determining the rectangular coordinate position of a first object spaced apart from and opposing a second object by placing at least three three-dimensional structures at different known locations on the top surface of the first object and a corresponding number of pulse transceivers at known locations on the bottom surface of the second object, directing a series of pulses having a known speed from each of the transceivers along a path crossing the highest point of a corresponding one of the structures, determining the shortest and second shortest distances travelled by the transmitted pulses and using that data together with other known data to locate edges of the first object and calculate the rectangular coordinate position of the first object with respect to the second object.
US07725282B2
A method for providing a pattern forecast for an object from a number of objects that are associated with one another, in which the pattern forecast is provided by taking into account consumption series of these associated objects. A device for providing a pattern forecast for an object from a number of objects that are associated with one another, the device being designed to provide the pattern forecast by taking into account consumption series of these associated objects.
US07725276B2
A signal waveform analyzing device includes an extracting unit that extracts, from waveform information indicating temporal variation in signal level of a component of an electronic circuit, a signal level that satisfies a condition for a phenomenon to be observed, and outputs extracted signal level as an extraction result.
US07725271B2
A fuel dispenser including a fuel delivery path configured to deliver fuel to a vehicle, a display configured to display the total dispensed fuel volume, and a fuel meter configured to measure a fuel delivery rate. A data set having a plurality of fuel volume compensation values corresponding to a plurality of fuel delivery rate values, and a microprocessor configured to calculate a volume of fuel dispensed and retrieve a fuel volume compensation value. The fuel meter measures the fuel delivery rate at the time of the event, the microprocessor determines which fuel delivery rate value corresponds to the fuel delivery rate, retrieves the corresponding fuel volume compensation value, and adds the retrieved fuel volume compensation value to the calculated volume of fuel dispensed to obtain the total dispensed fuel volume.
US07725262B2
A climatic forecast system for generating an optimized forecast remotely acquires digital data via a digital network, the digital data including observations and at least one model digital forecast; and performs hybrid forecasting, including inputting the observations, the at least one model digital forecast, and first forecast data. The hybrid forecasting is adapted to process the observations, the at least one model digital forecast and the first forecast data, and to apply at least two of a statistical model, a simple general circulation model, and a multi-model synthesis algorithm to the first forecast data to produce at least one hybrid forecast as a probability density.
US07725259B2
A method for calculating a trajectory of a satellite following a maneuver includes determining a first estimated trajectory of a satellite using a first sequential mode of operation; performing a thruster burn as a correction maneuver for the satellite; and providing a real-time assessment of the correction maneuver by utilizing a second sequential mode of operation. The second sequential mode of operation includes receiving a data point from an uplink/downlink facility, determining a second estimated trajectory and an estimated thruster performance of the satellite based upon the received data point, and determining a trajectory error of the satellite based upon the received data point. The method further includes repeating the second sequential mode of operation if the trajectory error is above a specified threshold level, and repeating the first sequential mode of operation if the trajectory error is below the specified threshold level.
US07725256B2
A Weather Information Network Enabled Mobile System for providing information to a user regarding an emergency event. The WINEMS system receives location data, such as from a GPS system, and correlates the location data with the emergency alert to display a map showing both a location of the WINEMS system and a location of the emergency event. Preferably, the locations are displayed on a digital map.
US07725250B2
The invention addresses the disadvantage of automated vehicle traffic management systems by providing a solution for predicting and avoiding traffic congestion before the congestion is experienced. The invention includes a decentralized mechanism for predicting congestion. An exemplary embodiment of the invention uses a system of sensors to determine current traffic flow; the sensors communicate their state to a network of servers and then an algorithm is applied to the collected data to predict traffic congestion; upon detection of congestion, signals are communicated to the system controllers to prevent the traffic congestion.
US07725247B2
A system extending from a fuel injection valve to an air-fuel ratio sensor is modeled by using a first order response delay element. Parameters of the first order response delay element T, k are identified based on an input u(t) based on an input air-fuel ratio that occurs when the input air-fuel ratio is relatively sharply changed in accordance with an engine operation requirement, and an output y(t) of the air-fuel ratio sensor that changes in response to a change in the input air-fuel ratio. Then, an abnormality of characteristics (response rate and output) of the air-fuel ratio sensor is determined based on the identified parameter.
US07725243B2
An object of the invention is to reduce an HC generated in a so-called fast idle period in which an engine and a catalyst are warmed up, stabilize a combustion and achieve an early activation of the catalyst, at a cold starting time of a cylinder injection type engine. In a control apparatus controlling a cylinder injection type internal combustion engine directly feeding a fuel into a combustion chamber by a fuel injection apparatus attached to a portion near an intake valve, the control apparatus controls the fuel injection apparatus so as to carry out an intake stroke injection, makes a lift amount of an intake valve smaller than a lift amount at a time of a high load, and controls such that an opening timing of the intake valve comes closer to an intake stroke side near an intake top dead center, in a fast idle period of the cylinder injection type internal combustion engine.
US07725240B2
A method is provided for determining whether an injection parameter correction for fuel quality is required in an internal combustion engine, the engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, each one of the cylinders comprising a combustion chamber into which fuel is injected by an associated fuel injector and within which, in use, combustion events repeatedly occur to define a combustion cycle of the cylinder between successive combustion events. The method comprises observing the speed of the combustion cycles of at least two of the cylinders and analysing the at least two speeds to determine if an injection parameter correction for fuel quality is required. The invention also extends to an injector control unit arranged to determine an injection parameter correction for fuel quality.
US07725238B2
A method and system for temperature and boost control of engine intake air by use of an active conditioner control unit, which regulates relative amounts of electric current to at least one active conditioning device and an electrically driven booster motor. In one preferred embodiment it controls valves which optimally direct the path of airflow through a plurality of thermal conditioner storage chambers in response to signals from engine load level, temperature, and other sensors in order to optimally provide temperature conditioned air to the engine. This embodiment of the invention features immediate and efficient provision of conditioned and pressurized airflow to an internal combustion engine and removes parasitic power drains during low demand situations. This invention enhances cold start performance and operation with a pre-start thermal conditioner with warming capabilities. System increases flexibility for stationary operation and traffic restraints by supplementing heat sink transfers. System sensor array with advanced sensors monitoring combustion parameters to safely facilitate additional power output from host engines.
US07725234B2
A system for controlling implement position including a method for controlling movement of an implement is disclosed. The method includes determining a first parameter configured to affect control of the implement with respect to a first timing. The method also includes determining a second parameter configured to affect control of the implement with respect to a second timing. The second timing is shorter than the first timing. The method also includes selectively establishing a third parameter as a function of the first and second parameters when the second parameter is greater than a predetermined value. The method further includes controlling a position of the implement as a function of the third parameter.
US07725233B2
A method for dividing a field into zones with similar crop attributes and developing a mission plan for steering the harvester to selectively harvest crops based on one or more of the attributes. The attributes include protein level, starch level, oil level, sugar content, moisture level, digestible nutrient level, or any other crop characteristic of interest. The method can be applied to selectively harvest and/or segregate according to attribute any crop, including grains such as wheat, corn, or beans, fruits such as grapes, and forage crops. Directed crop sampling provides absolute value and variance information for segregated batches of harvested crop.
US07725231B2
A device and a sliding roof system for displacing a movable part (16), in which the part (16) is displaceable in a setpoint displacement range (60) between two end positions (62, 64) with a motor-driven drive unit (24), and the displacement position of the part (16) can be sensed using an electronic unit (50) of the drive unit (24), and, in an emergency displacement mode, the part (16) is manually displaceable; an action range (68, 70) is located at least one end position (62, 64) outside of the setpoint displacement range (60), and the electronic unit (50) is used to monitor whether the part (16) enters the action range (68, 70) in order to subsequently initiate a calibration or recalibration of the drive unit (24) and/or to prevent further displacement in the action range (68, 70).
US07725203B2
The invention generally pertains to enhancing a sensory perception of media. More particularly, the invention pertains to creating a composition having at least one frequency in the ultrasonic or infrasonic range. By way of example, the composition is inaudible in its preferred embodiment, but audible components are contemplated. One aspect of the invention relates to selecting a root frequency and then, via a mathematical operation or algorithm, calculating a single component frequency or a plurality of frequencies that lie in the infrasonic or ultrasonic range. Typically, infrasonic and ultrasonic frequencies lie outside the range of hearing for the average human being. The ultrasonic or infrasonic component frequency is not heard, yet its presence and its tonal characteristics may enhance a perception of the sensory content of a media conveyed through a media device. Another aspect of the invention relates to encoding media with a composition having one or more calculated component frequencies such that, at least one of the component frequencies is less than 20 Hz or greater than 20 kHz.
US07725197B2
Medical electrical leads are provided including fixation features for acute and chronic fixation of a portion of the respective leads within the cardiac venous system. The medical electrical lead includes an elongate body having proximal and distal regions. Tissue contacting portions are selectively located in the distal region to contact an inner surface of the cardiac vessel when the lead is in an implanted position. The tissue contacting portion(s) include fixation features adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of the cardiac vessel and promote tissue in-growth for chronic fixation. In some embodiments, the fixation features are detachable from the lead such that the lead can be extracted from its implanted position after tissue in-growth occurs.
US07725192B2
The invention relates, in part, to methods of administering electrical or magnetic brain stimulation to increase learning rate.
US07725191B2
The present invention is an implantable electronic device formed within a biocompatible hermetic package. Preferably the implantable electronic device is used for a visual prosthesis for the restoration of sight in patients with lost or degraded visual function. The package may include a hard hermetic box, a thin film hermetic coating, or both.
US07725189B2
In a cardiac stimulation method, device and system, a capture verification condition is determined. For this purpose, a number of pacing pulses are delivered to a heart chamber and signals are sensed within a time window following each pacing pulse. The sensed signals are stored and categorized as representing capture or non-capture. Using the stored signals, a weight vector is determined, that assigns different weights for different parts of each sensed signal within the time window. The weight vector is used for calculating a weighted area within the time window. The capture verification condition is determined by identifying whether the weighted area, calculated with the weight vector, of a sensed signal within the time window is above or below a predetermined value.
US07725174B2
This disclosure provides a method of indicating a subject's reaction to different agents administered to induce anesthesia. In particular, the subject's reaction can be assessed by receiving electrical signals from first and second electrodes spatially distributed on different regions of a subject's head, and by processing the electrical signals from the electrodes to provide a first indicator of the subject's reaction to a first of the agents and a second indicator of the subject's reaction to a second agent.
US07725172B2
A method and system for detecting T-wave alternans for use in an implanted medical device uses wave transformation of QT intervals to obtain a reliable measure of TWA. In one embodiment, an array provides alternating sign multiplication factors which are applied respectively to n consecutive QT values. Each successive QT value is high pass filtered and moved sequentially through a queue so that each cycle each of the n QT values is multiplied by one of the factors; the products are summed and made absolute to provide an alternans match value. The alternans match is compared with a noise threshold signal, and alternans is declared when the match exceeds the threshold by a predetermined amount. The array is programmable and can be varied, providing a high degree of flexibility to optimize the test for the patient.
US07725165B2
Apparatus and method for producing a virtual road map of a patient's vascular anatomy comprising a virtual 3D model of the patient's vascular and bony structure in proper registration with one another, a fluoroscope for providing real-time images of the bony structure of the patient, registration apparatus for placing the virtual 3D model in proper registration with the patient space of the fluoroscope, bone mask subtraction apparatus for generating a bone mask of the bony structure, and subtracting the same from the real-time images, whereby to create modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, and image generating apparatus for generating the virtual road map comprising a composite image combining (i) images of the virtual 3D structure representing the vascular structure, and (ii) modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, wherein the images of the virtual 3D structure representing vascular structure are in proper registration with the modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure.
US07725159B2
The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a horizontal field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region.
US07725156B2
In a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus and method for determination of T2-weighted images of tissue with short T2 time, in the framework of a steady-state free precession sequence with non-slice-selective RF excitation pulses and projection-reconstruction methods, in each sequence repetition a first steady-state is read out in the form of a half echo and a second steady-state signal is read out in the form of a further half echo with very short echo times TE1 and TE2=2TR−TE1, and are combined by weighted addition such that an MRT image of tissue with very short T2 time is obtained with the sequence.
US07725147B2
A technique is provided for processing a physiological signal to compensate for artifacts. The technique includes identifying artifacts within the physiological signal. The technique also includes performing one or more multi-resolution decompositions, such as wavelet transformations, on the physiological signal and compensating for the identified artifacts in some or all of the respective decomposition components. The modified decomposition components may be reconstructed to generate an artifact-compensated signal which may be provided to a monitor or other device which is otherwise not configured to compensate for signal artifacts.
US07725135B2
A mobile terminal and sound pressure control method using sound saturation sensing are disclosed. The mobile terminal has a target digital value of an adequate output sound pressure level at a maximum volume level. The sound pressure control method includes: determining a digital value corresponding to a maximum output sound pressure level of an externally sourced audio material, wherein the externally sourced audio material is being replayed for the first time at a preset gain at the maximum volume level; comparing the determined digital value with the target digital value; adjusting, if the determined digital value is not equal to the target digital value, the gain so that a digital value corresponding to the adjusted gain is equal to the target digital value; and storing the adjusted gain as a gain value associated with the maximum volume level for the externally sourced audio material.
US07725124B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a transmitter-receiver RF-IC having a built-in regulator, which can reduce a minimum value of an input voltage of the regulator without increasing its area, the input voltage being supplied from a battery, the transmitter-receiver RF-IC being capable of normal operation with the input voltage, whereby the operating time of a mobile terminal can be improved as compared with the prior art.According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an output end of a regulator built into a RF-IC is first led to the outside of the RF-IC. Then, the output end is led to an area in proximity to the circuit block by use of wiring on a mobile terminal substrate whose resistance is low, or by use of wiring on a module whose resistance is low, thereby shortening the wiring length inside the RF-IC.
US07725123B2
Antenna characteristics of a folding cellphone are adjusted to appropriate values. The cellphone includes a first casing 10a containing a first circuit member 15a, and a second casing 10b containing a second circuit member 15b. The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are connected by a connection structure consisting of a first connecting conductor 23a extending from each lateral end of the first circuit member 15a downward (toward the second casing), and a second connecting conductor 25a extending from each lateral end of the second circuit member 15b upward (toward the first casing). The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are each comprised of shields, substrates, and so on. Antenna 111 is disposed at an upper edge of the first casing 10a. The effective casing length is affected by the length of the first casing 10a and the second casing 10b, which are both electrically conductive. The end of the first connecting conductor 23a is formed by a first circular portion 31a having a circular opening 31c. The second connecting conductor 25a has a second circular portion 31b and an opening 31d at the tip thereof, which are shaped similarly to those of the first connecting conductor 23a. A spacer 27a made of an insulator is inserted between the first and second connecting conductors.
US07725121B2
A mobile communication system includes wireless base stations, a mobile station communicating with the wireless base stations, and a radio network controller controlling the wireless base stations. The mobile communication system includes a power controller which controls a power of control bits in downlink based on the number of wireless base stations simultaneously communicating with the mobile station.
US07725119B2
A system and method that transmits and displays graphical images among wireless devices in a push-to-talk system. A predefined set of graphical images is stored in a wireless device, and when a user presses a push-to-talk button on the wireless device, the wireless device displays a list of predefined images to the user to select. After the user selects an image, the wireless device transmits an image code associated with the selected image to a server for relaying to every wireless device in a push-to-talk communication group. When a receiving wireless device receives the image code, it retrieves an image corresponding to the image code from the predefined set and displays the image to the user of the wireless device.
US07725117B2
In a network including a relay apparatus, a relay apparatus management part, a communication management server for controlling communication between communication terminals including a mobile communication terminal, and a messaging server, a communication support system that supports an establishment of connection between communication terminals includes a communication information acquiring part for, in a case where communication cannot be established between a mobile communication terminal and a partner-side terminal due to the congestion of communication, receiving terminal data thereof, a relay apparatus specifying part for specifying an alternative relay apparatus, and a message control part for causing a messaging server to perform processing of transmitting an inquiry message for inquiring about a possibility of movement to a coverage area of the alternative relay apparatus and processing of transmitting a content of a response message. The communication support system enables a rapid transition to a state in which communication between the mobile communication terminal and the partner-side terminal can be established, by allowing information to be exchanged between both the terminals, even in a case where the communication between the terminal and the relay apparatus is congested.
US07725113B2
A reference station produces correction signals for a differential position-finding device. The station utilizes a position-finding signal receiver for reception of signals from satellites in a position-finding system and an electronic processor, which is connected by a transmission unit to a radio antenna. The electronic processor is designed to receive position signals from the position-finding signal receiver and to derive correction data from these position signals. The correction data can be modulated by the transmission unit onto a radio frequency signal and can be transmitted via the radio antenna. The processor is connected to an inertial sensor to calculate any position change of the reference station, and to produce an error signal when the calculated magnitude of the position change exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US07725111B2
A method for determining the location of a mobile unit (MU) in a wireless communication system and presenting it to a remote party. The location of a remote MU is determined by comparing a snapshot of a predefined portion of the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum taken by the MU to a reference database containing multiple snapshots taken at various locations. The result of the comparison is used to determine if the MU is at a specific location. The comparison may be made in the MU, or at some other location situated remotely from the MU. In the latter case, sufficient information regarding the captured fingerprint is transmitted from the MU to the remote location. The database may be pre-compiled or generated on-line.
US07725109B2
A method for requesting a Base Station (BS) to assign sub-channels to a Subscriber Station (SS) in a communication system, The method includes determining a channel quality of sub-channels assigned using a normal sub-channel assignment scheme, transmitting, to the BS, a first codeword of a Channel Quality Indicator CHannel (CQICH) indicating a transition from the normal sub-channel assignment scheme to a band Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) sub-channel assignment scheme, during a sub-channel assignment scheme transition based on the determined channel quality, transmitting a second codeword of the CQICH and a report response message in response to a report request message received from the BS, and transmitting, to the BS, differential Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) of the selected bands.
US07725104B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that determine whether incoming calls are in a home local calling area (LCA) in a wireless network. One embodiment comprises an LCA determination system that includes a processing system and a mapping data structure. The mapping data structure includes a plurality of entries that map a switch/cell identifier (e.g., an MSC/cellsiteID) to a set of LCA identifiers. For a call in a wireless network, the processing system receives a switch/cell identifier, masks the sector identifier from the switch/cell identifier, and searches the mapping data structure based on the masked switch/cell identifier to identify an associated set of LCA identifiers. The processing system then compares the set of LCA identifiers to a subscriber profile to determine if an LCA identifier matches. If there is a match, then the processing system determines that the call is in a home LCA.
US07725098B1
Processing data messages is disclosed. A mobile data message is received. It is determined whether the mobile data message requires communication policy compliance handling. The mobile data message or a copy thereof is sent to a communication policy compliance destination if it is determined that the mobile data message requires communication policy compliance handling.
US07725096B2
Systems and methods for communicating over a power line are configured to substantially simultaneously communicate over a plurality of wideband frequency ranges. Signals may be communicated two or from a communication node at two different frequencies simultaneously. These signals may be exchanged with different nodes and/or include independent data. In some embodiments, some of the wideband frequency ranges are above 30 MHz.
US07725092B2
A dynamic current steering mixer. The dynamic current steering mixer comprises a Gilbert cell mixer core, a pair of load devices, a dynamic current steering cell, and a transconductor cell. The Gilbert cell mixer core has first and second nodes, receives a first differential input signal, and provides a differential output signal at the first nodes thereof. The load devices are respectively coupled between the first nodes of the Gilbert cell mixer core and a first fixed voltage. The dynamic current steering cell has third nodes coupled to the second nodes and fourth nodes. The transconductor cell is coupled between the fourth nodes and a second fixed voltage and receives a second differential input signal. The dynamic current steering cell alternately steers current of the transconductor cell to or away from the Gilbert cell mixer core.
US07725087B2
A feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter includes a baseband processor, a direct up-converter, an antenna, and an impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit. The baseband processor generates an in-phase (I) baseband signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) baseband signal. The direct up-converter is coupled to the baseband processor, and combines the I and Q baseband signals with an RF carrier signal to generate an RF output signal. The antenna is coupled to the direct up-converter, and transmits the RF output signal. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit is coupled to the RF output signal and the I and Q baseband signals. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit down-converts the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, measures at least one signal impairment in the IF signal, and pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals to compensate for the measured signal impairment.
US07725078B2
A service providing apparatus transmits, at a short distance, priority control data which indicates that the priority level of a short distance wireless communication of itself for providing service data is higher than the priority level of a short distance wireless communication among mobile game apparatuses. A mobile game apparatus transmits or receives a communication request to set another mobile game apparatus as a counterpart of the short distance wireless communication. The mobile game apparatus also receives service data from the service providing apparatus. The mobile game apparatus attempts to receive priority control data, and when receiving the priority control data, prohibits the short distance wireless communication with other mobile game apparatuses.
US07725073B2
A system and method providing content for access by a portable device at an event is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of sources and combining at least some of the plurality of signals for transmission to a plurality of broadcast systems, with the plurality of broadcast systems corresponding to a plurality of events. The method further includes determining the broadcast systems to which each of the combined signals is to be transmitted, transmitting the combined signals to at least one of the determined broadcast systems, and broadcasting the combined signals received by at least one of the broadcast systems corresponding to at least one event. The combined signals are configured to allow selection of content with a portable device, with the content defined by at least one of audio and video signals of the combined signals.
US07725067B2
A fixing apparatus according to the present invention includes a heat roller 2 which includes an elastic member 2b having an outer diameter which is different from another one in an axial direction, and a conductive layer 2c provided outside of the elastic member 2b, wherein a maximum outer diameter and a minimum outer diameter of the elastic member 2b has a difference therebetween ranging from 0.2 mm to 3.0 mm.
US07725062B2
A drive control unit for controlling speeds of driving parts based on a target speed, includes a detecting part to detect speed fluctuations of each of the driving parts when the speeds of the driving parts are controlled based on a common target speed, a storage part to store speed fluctuation profiles of each of the driving parts created based on the detected speed fluctuations, an extracting part to extract a speed fluctuation profile having a largest amplitude of the speed fluctuation profiles stores in the storage part, a calculating part to calculate difference profiles of the driving parts, corresponding to differences between the extracted speed fluctuation profile and the speed fluctuation profiles of each of the driving parts, a setting part to set the difference profiles of the driving parts as new target speeds of the driving parts, and a control part to control the speeds of the driving parts based on the new target speeds.
US07725061B2
A developing apparatus including a first development sleeve carrying a developer toward a first development area, a second development sleeve carrying the developer from the first sleeve toward a second development area, a first magnet roller disposed in the first sleeve and having a first magnetic pole, a second magnet roller disposed in the second sleeve and having a second magnetic pole, a first magnet member disposed in the vicinity of an axial end of the first sleeve without facing the first magnetic pole, and a second magnet member disposed in the vicinity of an axial end of the second sleeve without facing the second magnetic pole. A surface facing the second sleeve in an end area downstream of the second magnet member in a rotating direction of the second developer carrying member is identical in polarity with the second magnetic pole.
US07725058B2
A developing unit capable of dispersing a pressure of developer used therein includes a developer housing to contain the developer and a blocking member to divide the developer housing into a first section and a second section, the second section including a developing member disposed therein to transfer the developer onto a photosensitive medium and to store the developer, the blocking member being detachably mounted in the developing unit. When the blocking member is detached from the developing unit, the first section is connected to the second section, so that the pressure of developer inside the developer housing can be spread evenly.
US07725055B2
A roller for a printer includes an outer tube and at least one inner tube. The inner tube is position within the outer tube. The outer tube extends in an axial direction from a first to a second end and the inner tube extends substantially parallel to the outer tube, defining an inter tubular space between the outer and the inner tube and an intra tubular space within the inner tube. The roller also includes a blocking element dividing the inter tubular space and the intra tubular space into a first part extending substantially from the first end to the blocking element and a second part extending substantially from the blocking element to the second end. A first and a second duct connects the first and second part of the inter tubular space with the second and first part, respectively, of the intra tubular space via the blocking element.
US07725053B2
A fixing unit of an image-forming device having a heating roller, a pressure roller disposed in confrontation with the heating roller, and a case that rotatably supports the heating roller on both longitudinal ends thereof and covers the heating roller from the side opposite the pressure roller, while leaving the pressure roller exposed. A pair of pressure roller support plates, one end of which is supported on the case, rotatably supports both ends of the pressure roller. With this construction, a more compact fixing unit can be achieved than when the case is configured to cover the heating roller and pressure roller entirely. The fixing unit includes a temperature fuse for restraining abnormal temperature rises in the heating roller, and a temperature fuse cover that extends from an inner wall of the case to provide insulation between the temperature fuse and the heating roller. By integrally forming the temperature fuse cover with the case, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of the fixing unit. Support members may also be provided between a bottom surface of the case and the temperature fuse cover to restrain deformation of the temperature fuse cover.
US07725052B2
An ion generating device provided in an image forming apparatus of the present invention as a charging device for charging before a first transfer, a charging device for charging before a second transfer, or a charge device for charging an electrostatic latent image is arranged such that a discharge electrode can move with respect to a dielectric material and the relative positions of the discharge electrode and the dielectric material can be changed. This makes it possible to provide: a long-life ion generating device whose life has been extended by making effective use of a dielectric material; and an image forming apparatus including the ion generating device.
US07725049B2
An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording sheet includes a housing having an exhaust outlet and an image forming unit disposed in the housing and configured to form an image on a recording sheet. A duct in the housing may have an inlet at a first end in the housing, and communicate with the exhaust outlet at a second end in the housing. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan disposed between the exhaust outlet and the duct, and being configured to cause air entering the duct from the inlet to go toward the exhaust outlet; a first filter disposed in the duct to cover the inlet and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air, and a second filter disposed in the duct downstream from the first filter in a direction of airflow and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air.
US07725043B2
A laser transmitter with a feedback control loop for minimizing noise. The novel laser transmitter includes a laser, an external reflector adapted to form an extended cavity to the laser, and a feedback control loop adapted to detect noise in the laser and in accordance therewith, adjust the optical phase of the extended cavity such that the noise is at a desired level. The optical phase of the extended cavity is adjusted by adjusting an operating parameter of the laser, such as its bias current. In an illustrative embodiment, the feedback control loop is adapted to compute the rate of change of the noise with respect to bias current and in accordance therewith, adjust the bias current of the laser such that relative intensity noise and interferometric intermodulation distortion are simultaneously minimized.
US07725039B2
To automatically discover the port connections for all nodes in a network, a master node generates a predetermined optical signal and transmits the predetermined optical signal to a neighboring node, which signal identifies the port on which the master node transmitted the predetermined signal. The recipient transmits a reply signal to the predecessor node and to the master node via a control channel, which identifies a port on which the predetermined optical signal was received by the neighboring node. By successively repeating this process in a methodical manner, the master node can discover all of the port interconnections in the optical network. Also each node can discover all its port interconnections to its neighbors. Moreover, by selecting controlling the state (e.g., terminate, open) of the ports of the non-master nodes in the network, the master node can control which nodes receive the predetermined signal, thereby ensuring proper port discovery.
US07725036B2
An efficient means for transmitting digitized return path signals over a cable television return path is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the cable television return path includes a node that receives an analog return signal from a subtree of the cable television system and generates a digital transport signal representative of the analog return path signal. The digital transport signal, however, is not a digitized form of the analog return signal. Rather, the digital transport signal is encoded such that fewer bits are used to represent the analog return signal without substantially impacting the accuracy and dynamic range of the signal. At the hub, the digital transport signal is decoded and converted to produce an analog signal that is a close approximation of the analog return signal.
US07725034B2
An optical transmission apparatus comprising a first detector for detecting the power of the supervisory signal light separated from received wavelength-division multiplexed signal lights; a second detector for detecting the power of the wavelength-division multiplexed signal lights after the separation of the supervisory signal light; a gain-controlled type optical amplifier for amplifying the wavelength-division multiplexed signal lights; an optical attenuator coupled to the amplifier; and a control unit for controlling the optical amplifier and the optical attenuator so as to keep the output level of the wavelength-division multiplexed signal lights to a predetermined target value, wherein the control unit restrains automatic output level control by the optical attenuator when the supervisory signal light power fluctuates within its permissible range and fluctuations in the signal light power have deviated from its permissible range.
US07725033B2
An optical wavelength controlling method and a system thereof for an optical wavelength division multiplexing transmission system, wherein a plurality of wavelengths of channels are multiplexed and transmitted by an optical transmitting unit, and the multiplexed wavelengths are divided into the wavelengths of the channels by an optical receiving unit, are disclosed.The optical wavelength controlling method includes:a step of reducing optical power of the wavelength of a target channel, and transmitting the wavelengths;a step of evaluating channel crosstalk based on a code error rate of a channel adjacent to the target channel, and detecting a shift of the wavelength of the target channel; anda step of compensating for the shift of the wavelength of the target channel.
US07725011B2
The invention thus relates to a radiation module incorporating a support, at least one heating and/or heat conducting element and a temperature exchanging element made by extrusion and constituted by a single-piece base with an internal face incorporating at least one means to integrate the heating and/or heat conducting element and an external face incorporating radiation fins wherein the module incorporate a diffuser receiving infrared radiation from the temperature exchanging element, said diffuser enabling infrared radiation to be emitted of a wavelength that is less than that of the radiation received.
US07725005B2
A signal processing apparatus capable of easily linking video data of a DVCR connected by an i-Link or the like and utilizing the same in a desired format is disclosed. Streaming data such as video data is defined, managed, and controlled in usage by an “optional-media” link tag linked to a “gpoi” tag defining a specific position in a position information file. The “optional-media” link can describe the five attributes of a format attribute for designating a connected apparatus and format information thereof, id attribute for further specifying the target in the connected apparatus designated by the format attribute, an “in” attribute and “out” attribute for designating a reproduction start position and ending position of the designated data, and a repeat attribute for designating a number of times of reproduction.
US07724998B2
The present invention relates to a novel coupling composition that is used within optical fiber cables to protect optical fibers and to couple the optical fibers and the surrounding buffer tube casing. The present invention also relates to optical fiber cables that use the novel coupling composition.
US07724990B2
A technique for monitoring optical power in a fiber array unit having a plurality of optical transmission waveguides terminating at an edge thereof for carrying optical signals to and/or from a PLC. A tapping filter is placed within a slit formed in the substrate and interrupting the transmission channels, thereby tapping at least some of the optical power from the channels and directing the tapped optical power toward respective photodetector channels for detection, while allowing other optical power to continue transmission in the at least one channel of the fiber array unit.
US07724980B1
Selective Sharpening May Involve Sharpening Only Certain Portions Of an Image Or a certain percentage of the pixels of an image while avoiding over-sharpening already sharp areas and the introduction of signal noise in naturally uniform color and/or sharpness areas. A selective sharpening tool may selectively sharpen the image based on a user-indicated sharpening limit. For example, the user may select a particular portion of an image and specify that the least sharp 30% of the pixels in the selected image portion should be sharpened. In response, the selective sharpening tool may determine a sharpness value for each pixel in the image, rank each pixel based on its sharpness value and sharpen only the least sharp 30% of the pixels. Thus, a user may selectively sharpen a certain portion of an image (such as based on percentage of the pixels) while avoiding overly sharpening already sharp areas.
US07724977B2
A method and system for providing, in accordance with a standard format, formatted information to an image-processor, especially software and/or components. The formatted information is related to defects of a chain of appliances including an image-capture appliance and/or an image-restitution appliance. The image-processor uses the formatted data to modify the quality of at least one image derived from or addressed to the chain of appliances. The formatted information includes data characterizing defects of the image-capture appliance, especially distortion characteristics, and/or data characterizing defects of the image-restitution appliance, especially distortion characteristics. The method fills in at least one field of the standard format with the formatted information. This field is designated by a field name and contains at least one field value.
US07724974B2
An image compression algorithm (10) and complementary decompression algorithm (20) are disclosed. The compression algorithm (10) maintains a set of reference points (610, 611, 612 and 613), each reference point having a predetermined spatial relationship with a current pixel (600). An adjustment along scanlines of the reference points is determined. Each of the reference points (611, 612 and 613) is then adjusted by the determined adjustment. A search for a match between one of the strings of consecutive previously scanned pixels including one of the adjusted reference pixels and the string of consecutive pixels including the current pixel is then conducted, and if a match is found, then an identifier for the reference pixel included in the match and the length of the matching string of consecutive pixels are encoded to an output stream.
US07724971B2
Image compression, decompression and motion detection methods are described. Two temporally adjacent frame images, a previous time frame and a current time frame, are compressed in round-off and averaging techniques. Next, according to the compressed data of two corresponding pixels of the two frame images, whether or not the pixel of the current time frame image is of a motion picture is detected. If the pixel is of a motion picture, the compressed pixel data of the previous time frame image is decompressed, and an overdrive process is performed on the decompressed pixel data and the original pixel data of the current time frame image to produce an overdrive output. If the pixel is not of a motion picture, an overdrive process is not performed.
US07724970B2
A system and method for encoding dynamic image information for an image generated by a computer application executing on a processor. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining a first set of information describing a reference image. A second set of information may be determined for describing an image, wherein the second set of information comprises information indicative of movement between the image and the reference image. For example, a set of primary movement directions may be determined based at least in part on the computer application generating the image. Such set of primary movement directions may be utilized for analyzing the image relative to the reference images. The difference between the image and the reference image may, for example, be analyzed using at least one of the set of primary movement directions. A movement direction may, for example, be utilized to describe the image.
US07724968B2
A recording medium having recorded thereon information related to coded data of an image sequence; wherein the information related to coded data of an image sequence is a set of coded frame information of a plurality of frames of an image sequence; wherein the coded frame information includes: information related to a difference image between an image of a current frame and a prediction image of the current frame, the prediction image being synthesized by performing motion compensation, information related to motion vectors estimated in performing the motion compensation, and rounding method information specifying either a positive rounding method or a negative rounding method for interpolating intensity values of pixels in performing the motion compensation when the input image is coded as a P frame, wherein no rounding method information is included in the coded frame information when the input image is coded as an I frame.
US07724965B2
A system and method are disclosed which include providing a first layer of an image, the first layer including features of the image having locations within the first layer; and providing a second layer of the image, the second layer including data blocks corresponding to respective ones of the features; each data block being in a location in the second layer substantially corresponding to a location in the first layer of the feature corresponding to each data block, wherein a size and shape of the second layer substantially correspond to a size and shape of said first layer.
US07724963B2
A method and apparatus for determining a closest match of N input patterns relative to R reference patterns using K processing units. Each of a set of input patterns are loaded into the K processing units. One of the Reference patterns is sequentially loaded into each of the processing units and a distance defining the similarity between the reference pattern and each of the input patterns is calculated. A present calculated distance replaces its corresponding stored present minimum distance if it is has a smaller value. After the R reference patterns have been processed the minimum distance and its corresponding identification for all N input patterns is determined without merging outputs. The minimum distances and the identifications may be read either in parallel or serially. The apparatus is easily scalable by adding processors. The number of reference patterns may be easily increased without altering system configuration.
US07724961B2
A computer implemented method constructs a classifier for classifying test data. High-level features are generated from low-level features extracted from training data. The high level features are positive definite matrices in a form of an analytical manifold. A subset of the high-level features is selected. An intrinsic mean matrix is determined from the subset of the selected high-level features. Each high-level feature is mapped to a feature vector onto a tangent space of the analytical manifold using the intrinsic mean matrix. Then, an untrained classifier model can be trained with the feature vectors to obtain a trained classifier. Subsequently, the trained classifier can classify unknown test data.
US07724955B2
Methods and apparatus for segmenting image data into windows and rendering a best-estimate outline delineating document windows may include adjusting a background white threshold differently than adjusting a white threshold normally used to classify pixels as white for video processing purposes. Such an independently arrived at threshold may be more suitable for the different task of differentiating between document background and document content.
US07724954B2
A method for segmentation of an image interactively with a user utilizes level set segmentation and includes selecting by user input respective areas of object and of background; initializing an embedding function implementing a segmentation boundary according to the selecting; computing intensity distributions and for the respective areas of object and of background; and performing repeatedly the steps below until convergence is reached: (a) evolving the embedding function, (b) recomputing the intensity distributions, and (c) checking for new user input and, if so: (d) updating labeling of the areas of object and background.
US07724953B2
Methods and apparatus for processing a captured image of a medium, content on the medium, and a background surrounding the medium are provided. A captured image is processed by 1) improving the visibility of the content by recovering the original appearance of the medium and enhancing the appearance of the content image, 2) removing the background by determining the boundary of the medium, and/or 3) correcting geometric distortion in the content to improve readability. Any of the three processing steps may be used alone or any combination of the three processing steps may be used to process the image. The image processing may operate on the image after it is captured and stored to a memory and may be implemented on an image-capturing device that captures the image. In other embodiments, the image processing is implemented on another device that receives the image from the image-capturing device.
US07724947B2
Methods and apparatus for removing a background image from a captured image are provided. The background is removed by computing a set of representative values (e.g., median values) based on component values of pixels within a portion of interest of the captured image. The captured image is divided into a plurality of sub-blocks. For each sub-block, it is determined whether a predetermined minimum number of similar pixels are found, a similar pixel having component values within a predetermined threshold of the representative values. If the minimum number of similar pixels is found, it is assumed that the sub-block does not comprise part of the background and is retained. If the minimum number of similar pixels is not found, it is assumed that the sub-block comprises part of the background and component values of pixels of the sub-block are set to predetermined values.
US07724935B2
A method for processing polychromatic attenuation values, wherein the polychromatic attenuation values are acquired by means of a polychromatic source of radiation generating a cone beam and radiation detector array with a plurality of detector rows, wherein the plurality of detector rows are arranged adjacent to each other in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction, wherein the second direction is parallel to the plurality of detector rows, the method comprising the step of: assigning the monochromatic attenuation values to polychromatic attenuation values, wherein the polychromatic attenuation values depend on the first direction and a three-dimensional look-up table is used for assigning the monochromatic attenuation values to the polychromatic attenuation values.
US07724933B2
Retinal images can be classified by selecting a classifier and a figure of merit for quantifying classification quality; selecting a transform to generate features from input data; using a recursive process of functional dissipation to generate dissipative features from the features generated according to the transform; computing the figure of merit for all of the dissipative features generated; searching for at least one of the dissipative features that maximize the figure of merit on a training set; and classifying a test set with the classifier by using the “at least one of the dissipative features.”
US07724931B2
In a method for automated evaluation of a three-dimensional map of a laterally-symmetric organ system as well as medical image acquisition system and a computer program for this purpose, a three-dimensional image of the organ system is segmented, and the segmented organ system is deformed such that the deformed organ system has two mirror-symmetric halves with regard to its external shape. The differences between both mirror-symmetrical halves of the deformed organ system are determined by a comparison of one half with the other half. Alternatively, instead of the deformation of the segmented organ system a mirror-symmetric normal model of the organ system can be deformed, relative to the organ system, or vice versa, such that differences of corresponding regions of both halves of the organ system can be determined using the normal model. The determined differences are presented to a user.
US07724928B2
A device, system and method for motility measurement and analysis. For example, a system includes a processor to determine contractile activity within a body lumen based on an analysis of data received from an autonomous in-vivo device.
US07724923B2
A removable swipe-imaging device and a method for identifying the device are disclosed. The removable swipe-imaging device is for limiting access to protected area to authorized individuals. The removable swipe-imaging device comprises a sensing pad with an integrated processor for processing sensed biometric image data; the processor comprising an encoding circuit for encoding the sensed biometric image data in response to a challenge received from a host processor, the encoded sensed image data for being transmitted to the host processor and decoded based on the challenge. The method for identifying the device comprises the steps of: providing a biometric sample to the sensor; capturing a biometric image indicative of the biometric sample for generating biometric image data; generating a challenge, the challenge stored in a storage medium in communication with a host processor; providing the generated challenge to the imaging sensor; encoding the biometric image data within the sensor in dependence upon the challenge; and, transmitting the encoded biometric image data to the host processor.
US07724921B2
A vehicle-onboard driving lane recognizing apparatus of a small scale includes an image pick-up unit (1) mounted on a motor vehicle for picking up images of scenes making appearance in front of the motor vehicle, an image data selecting unit (2) for selecting image data only of a predetermined region from the image picked up by the image pick-up unit (1), an image data storing unit (3) for storing the image data, and a driving lane recognizing unit (4) for detecting lane markings (21) on the road from the image data stored in the image data storing unit (3) to thereby recognize a driving lane extending along the lane markings (21). The image data selecting unit (2), the image data storing unit (3) and the driving lane recognizing unit (4) are all implemented in a single chip.
US07724920B2
The present claim relate generally to steganographic encoding and decoding. For example, one claim recites a method including: using a programmed electronic processor, generating authentication information corresponding to semantic information to be carried on or in a document; and incorporating the authentication information on or in the document, in which incorporated authentication information is to be later obtainable from the document for comparison with the semantic information, and in which the authentication information is steganographically incorporated on or in the document so as to be machine-readable from the document with visible light scanning. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.
US07724911B2
Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.
US07724899B2
A method for controlling a security channel for reducing system load by extending the use period of a security association key is provided. In this method, an upper bit initial value of an initialization vector of an encryption algorithm and a using range thereof are shared between a transmitting side and a receiving side when a security channel is created. Then, a secure association is created between a transmitting side and a receiving side by setting an association number, a next packet number which is a lower bit value of an initialization vector, and a secure association key. Afterward, a packet number is modified whenever a frame is transmitted until all of packet numbers are used. When all packet numbers are used, the upper bit value of the initialization vector changes.
US07724890B1
A method, program product and system for retrieving customer data in a call center environment, includes completing a connection between a customer and a call agent. It also includes searching a database for a customer account or a business agreement based on information provided by the customer to the call agent. It further includes searching the database optionally for a premises that is either dependent of the customer account or business agreement or that is independent of the customer account or business agreement. It still further includes determining a contract corresponding to the premises and the customer account or business agreement. It also includes a search process that is completely flexible regarding search criteria and sequence. It finally includes dealing with the customer to resolve an issue related to the contract.
US07724889B2
A call routing system prompts a caller for information and receives a response from the caller. Based on the caller's response, a confidence value is assigned to the call. The confidence value can be assigned based on the likelihood that the received information is consistent with the prompt and other criteria. Additional prompts are provided to the caller based on the confidence value, and additional caller's responses are used to modify the confidence value. At least one threshold confidence level is set and when the confidence value of the call meets or exceeds the threshold (because of low confidence), the call is immediately routed to a human operator.
US07724887B2
Techniques for using call history for voice data over a packet-switched network includes receiving call history data that indicates a redirected network identity that served as a target of a particular voice data session from a particular calling party. The redirected network identity is different from both a caller network identity that identifies the particular calling party, and a current target network identity that identifies a current target party of the particular voice data session. A call history display composition is formed that indicates at least that the redirected network identity exists. The call history display composition is presented for viewing by at least one of the particular calling party and the current target party. These technique allow a party to redirected communications to easily call or save the network address of a former target of the call.
US07724884B1
A method and apparatus for providing email notification for called and/or calling parties of a call placement are disclosed. The method enables a packet network service provider, e.g., a VoIP or SoIP service provider, to register customers for email notification service, to obtain the disposition of calls from Call Detail Records (CDRs), call control elements or application servers that have access to call signaling information in real time, to identify calls that resulted in ringing without an answer or busy disposition, and to determine whether or not the called and/or calling party subscribed to the email notification service. If the calling and/or called party subscribe to the notification service, the service provider sends an email notification to the calling and/or called party containing the caller and called party information, the time of the call, the disposition of the call and the like.
US07724867B2
One aspect relates to detecting at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon fluoresced from substantially within an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an at least one individual at least partially as a result of receiving at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon generated at least partially within at least one X-ray fluorescence event within the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual which has been generated responsive to an at least some input energy resulting from a single input energy event, wherein the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon that has passed through the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual is at a level to substantially limit interference between the at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon with an at least one other induced X-ray fluorescing photon that travel for distances greater than a prescribed limit through the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual, wherein the at least one other induced X-ray fluorescing photon attenuates by a prescribed percentage after passing through the prescribed distance through the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual.
US07724866B2
A method of and a system for variable pitch CT scanning for baggage screening and variable pitch image reconstruction are disclosed. The method comprises decelerating conveyor belt speed when additional time is needed to render a decision on a complex bag; accelerating conveyor belt speed to its normal speed when decisions are reached on undecided bags; generating cone-beam projection data at variable scanning pitch corresponding to variable conveyor belt speed; computing a tilt angle and a distance offset for each tilted slice using the pitch values at which the cone-beam projection data is acquired for that tilted slice; generating fan-beam projection data for each tilted slice using the tilted angle and the distance offset; generating correction projection data to compensate for the error between the source trajectory and the tilted reconstruction plane; generating the corrected fan-beam projection data by adding the correction projection data to the fan-beam projection data; reconstructing tilted slices using the corrected fan-beam projection data; and interpolating the reconstructed tilted slices into axial slices.
US07724862B2
The phase locked loop (PLL) with adjustable phase shift is described. The PLL includes a voltage controlled oscillator which is capable of generating multiple phase shifted output signals, and multiple phase detectors capable of determining the phase differences between the output signals and a reference clock. The PLL further includes a weighting device capable of weighting the phase differences and generating a control signal for the voltage controlled oscillator.
US07724861B2
A system and method for determining a clock rate of a digital phase lock loop is disclosed. The system includes a first input to receive a first clock signal, an output to provide a second clock signal, and a dividerless initial clock rate determination module to calculate an initial clock rate value based on an reciprocal of a pulse length of the first clock signal. In a particular embodiment, the dividerless initial clock rate determination module performs a piecewise linear operation to calculate the initial clock rate value.
US07724856B2
A clock recovery circuit capable of fast and accurate clock phase locking even in the presence of frequency shift and noise. The input signal includes, in order, a preamble with an alternating bit sequence pattern, a unique word and data. A detection unit detects zero crossings and measures the time interval therebetween. A 1-interval judgment unit judges whether an interval signal is within a predetermined range, and a 2-interval judgment unit sums two adjacent interval signals and judges whether the 2-interval signal is within a predetermined range. A control unit controls a zero-crossing signal based on the judgment result and outputs a valid zero-crossing signal if judged in the affirmative. A switching unit switches between outputting the zero-crossing signal and the valid zero-crossing signal as valid phase error information based on a frame reception signal input from a frame detection unit. A clock generation unit uses the valid phase error information in generating a symbol clock.
US07724855B2
The present invention provides an event edge synchronization system and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the event edge synchronization system includes: (1) a first clock zone device configured to generate an event signal based upon a first clock rate, (2) a second clock zone device configured to operate at a second clock rate, which is asynchronous with the first clock rate and (3) a synchronous notification subsystem configured to receive the event signal, synchronize the event signal to the second clock rate based upon an edge transition of the event signal and the second clock rate, and generate a synchronous notification signal therefrom.
US07724853B2
The claimed subject matter relates to enabling antenna switching in a wireless terminal that has multiple receive antennas per receive chain via soft-demodulation and interleaving of concatenated code received in a strip channel. A coherent demodulation protocol may be performed to estimate an SNR for a first antenna during a first time period, and a non-coherent demodulation protocol may be utilized on the strip channel to estimate an SNR for at least one other antenna during a second time period. SNRs may be compared and the terminal may select the antenna with the highest SNR for a next transmission superslot.
US07724850B2
A method is provided for coherently tracking a radio signal including a plurality of digitally modulated reference subcarriers. The method comprises the steps of receiving symbols transmitted on the reference subcarriers, combining the reference subcarrier symbols with a known reference sequence conjugate to produce a plurality of samples, median filtering the samples to produce filtered samples, and smoothing the samples for each of the reference subcarriers over the plurality of reference subcarriers to produce a coherent reference signal estimate for each of the subcarriers. A receiver for coherently tracking a radio signal including at least one digitally modulated reference carrier is also provided.
US07724846B2
A method and apparatus for mitigating interference in a satellite signal receiver is described. The satellite signal receiver receives satellite signals from a plurality of satellites. In one example, data transmission of a wireless transceiver operating in proximity to the satellite signal receiver is monitored. A control signal is transmitted to the satellite signal receiver upon occurrence of data transmission from the wireless transceiver. Signal integration within the satellite signal receiver is then gated is response to the control signal. In another example, one or more values of satellite signal samples are selected from a plurality of possible values. A percentage of satellite signal samples having the one or more selected values is monitored over a predefined period. Signal integration within the satellite signal receiver is gated in response to the percentage exceeding a predefined threshold. In yet another example, a gain setting of an automatic gain control circuit within the satellite signal receiver is adjusted in response to detection of interference.
US07724838B2
Techniques are provided for performing hierarchical coding in a multi-antenna communication system (e.g., a SIMO, MISO, or MIMO system). At a transmitter, a base stream and an enhancement stream are coded and modulated separately to obtain first and second data symbol streams, respectively. The first data symbol stream is processed in accordance with a first spatial processing scheme (e.g., a transmit diversity or a spatial multiplexing scheme) to obtain a first set of symbol substreams. The second data symbol stream is processed in accordance with a second spatial processing scheme (e.g., transmit diversity or spatial multiplexing) to obtain a second set of symbol substreams. The first set of symbol substreams is combined (e.g., using time division multiplexing or superposition) with the second set of symbol substreams to obtain multiple transmit symbol streams for transmission from multiple transmit antennas. A receiver performs complementary processing to recover the base stream and enhancement stream.
US07724830B2
A decoding-processing apparatus that decodes bitstreams using an intermediate format. The apparatus includes a context-calculating unit (2) calculating the probability of symbols contained in incoming bitstreams, a parameter-generating unit (3) generating parameters for use in the context-calculating unit (2), and an arithmetic decoding-calculating unit (4) decoding the incoming bitstreams in accordance with the probability, thereby providing decoded data. The apparatus also includes a stream-converting unit (5) converting the decoded data into intermediate bitstreams, a storage unit (6) storing the intermediate bitstreams, a synchronization-detecting unit (7) detecting calculation start timing from the intermediate bitstreams fed out of the storage unit (6), thereby providing detected calculation start timing, and a multivalued calculating unit (8) permitting the intermediate bitstreams fed out of the storage unit (6) to be multivalued in synchronism with the detected calculation start timing from the synchronization-detecting unit (7).
US07724824B2
A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.
US07724820B2
An apparatus and method is described for performing texture-decoding within a video decoder processing a series of macroblocks within a video bit-stream. The inventive texture decoding is particularly well suited for implementation within decoders incorporating multiple processors. The method separates data independent operations from data dependent (sequential) operations wherein multiprocessing may be efficiently utilized for processing data independent macroblocks. The method preferably makes an assumption as to prediction direction within the set of data dependent operations. A prediction determination is then made and the assumption corrected if necessary with a transposition within the data independent operations operating on the macroblocks. The method reduces the computational overhead and provides for efficiently segmenting operations within a multiprocessing decoder.
US07724813B2
According to method and apparatus embodiments taught herein, power control feedback is generated for a control channel signal that is received in conjunction with a reference channel signal based on the reference channel's signal strength or quality, and an estimate of a gain factor relating the control and reference channel signals. By way of non-limiting example set in a Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) context, the reference channel signal comprises a Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) signal and the control channel signal comprises a Fractional Dedicated Physical Channel (F-DPCH) signal that is transmitted at an (unknown) power gain relative to the CPICH signal.
US07724801B2
An improved resonator and optical cavity is adapted for use with a chemical laser that has a nozzle upstream of the resonator that emits a gain medium in a flow direction, and a pressure-recovery system downstream of the resonator. The optical resonator comprises first and second optical elements that are spaced apart from one another along an optical axis. Each of the optical elements has a selected geometry and a selected optical transmissivity to permit transmissive outcoupling of a beam of laser radiation from the resonator, the outcoupled beam being transmitted about the optical axis. The transmissivity and geometry of each optical element is selected to define an unstable region between the optical elements and around the optical axis, and a stable region in a region surrounding the unstable region and spaced apart from the optical axis.
US07724796B2
A device comprising an organic light emitting layer may be optically pumped to create excited states within the layer. When an electric field is applied across the layer, the excited states may dissociate into geminate polaron pairs within the organic layer. The dissociated states may change back to excitons when the electric field is rapidly reduced or removed. The organic light emitting layer may be optically pumped by an adjacent OLED, allowing for an electrically-driven device.
US07724792B2
Various systems and methods are provided to achieve laser power control. In one embodiment, a system is provided that comprises a counter that holds a digital value. An digital-to-analog converter is employed to convert the digital value to an analog current. A data threshold current is generated by a laser driver based upon the analog current. The data threshold current is employed to represent a data value in a data signal employed to drive a laser diode. Also, circuitry is employed to adjust the digital value based upon a comparison between a target threshold current and a feedback current generated from a laser output of the laser diode.
US07724791B2
A laser diode package according to the present invention is composed of CTE mismatched components soldered together. The laser diode package includes a laser diode bar, at least one heat sink, and at least one exothermic layer. Solder layers are adjacent the heat sink(s) and laser diode bar, respectively. The exothermic layer(s) are positioned between the solder layers. The exothermic layer(s) are exposed to an energy source which causes an exothermic reaction to propagate through the exothermic layer thereby melting the solder layers and solder layers. The exothermic layer(s) may be designed to provide sufficient heat to melt the solder layers and solder layers but provide only minimal heat to the laser diode bar and heat sink(s). Several packages can be stacked together to form a laser diode array.
US07724789B2
According to methods and apparatus described herein, multimode laser source capable of emitting a diffraction-limited beam of various shapes (including single-lobe shape) can be realized. An optical apparatus for generating a such diffraction-limited beam comprises a spatial phase modulator for spatially modulating a spectrally dispersed optical signal emitted from a semiconductor laser into a combined-mode optical signal, wherein the lateral modes of the optical signal from the laser are combined into a diffraction-limited beam. Also, a coupling optical system is provided for wavelength-demultiplexing the multimode optical signal before the multimode optical signal is spatially modulated by the spatial phase modulator, and also for wavelength-multiplexing the combined-mode optical signal.
US07724783B2
A method is provided for receiving a data frame in an ultrawide bandwidth network. In this method, a device receives an ultrawide bandwidth signal containing a data frame. The device then performs an acquisition operation during a first preamble in the data frame, and identifies a marker after the first preamble that indicates that the first preamble has ended. After this, the device performs a signal processing operation during a second preamble in the data frame. After the training, the device then receives a header in the data frame, and then receives a payload in the data frame. By having a marker between the two preambles, this method provides a receiving device with critical information regarding the timing of the preamble section of a frame.
US07724780B2
In one embodiment, a method includes synchronizing to a common reference timeframe between a sender node and a plurality of receiver nodes connected over a packet-based network. The sender node sends Real-Time Protocol (RTP) frames to the receiver nodes, and also sends a RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) sender report to each receiver node that contains a rendering offset value, each receiver node rendering the RTP frames at a render time equal to a sampling time in units of the common reference timeframe plus the rendering offset value. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US07724774B2
Radio protocol for a next generation mobile communication system is disclosed including a radio link control layer for connecting to an upper layer through a service access point provided in advance and for connecting to a lower layer through a plurality of logic channels provided in advance. The radio link control layer includes at least one radio link control entity for transmission/reception of data to/from up-link or down-link according to a form of a data transmission mode.
US07724772B2
A method and apparatus for switching data in communication system which comprises of mainly a conversion circuit to receive source data possessing real coding dimension and covert it to converted data possessing tolerable coding dimension; judgment bit is set in the converted data to designate the data as source data or not. Later on, shift circuit is used to shift the converted data in certain amount so as to generate a shifted data; meanwhile, the lowest bit and highest bit of shifted data are used to start acquiring real coding dimension to be used respectively as a first data and a second data, or by changing the pattern of acquiring the first data, then the highest bit minus the real coding dimension bit as the starting bit of the first data, and acquiring the real coding dimension from the side of the lowest bit. Finally, a comparison and selection circuit is used to compare the corresponding judgment bit in the first and the second data and to output an output data, wherein output data is source data with the above-mentioned amount of shift.
US07724771B2
An application device includes a network communication unit and an application system unit. The application system unit executes application communication utilizing one of a first TCP/IP protocol processing performed by the network communication unit and a second TCP/IP protocol processing performed by the application system unit. The network communication unit switches the process with which the application communication is processed to one of the first TCP/IP protocol processing and the second TCP/IP protocol processing based on a communication condition of the application communication.
US07724770B2
A method and apparatus for switching data in communication system which comprises of mainly a conversion circuit to receive the source data possessing in a real coding dimension and covert it to converted the data possessing in a tolerable coding dimension; the judgment bits are set in the converted data to designate the data as source data or not. Later on, shifter circuit is used to shift the converted data in certain amount and generates a shifted data; meanwhile, the right side and left side of shifted data are used to start acquiring the real coding dimension to be used respectively as a first data and a second data. Finally, a comparison and selection circuit is used to compare the corresponding judgment bits in the first and the second data and to output an output data, wherein output data is source data with the above-mentioned amount of shift.
US07724766B2
A data communication system includes an access point and a plurality of stations each for exchanging wireless data communication messages with the access point. At least some of the messages are in a format that includes at least one message header and a plurality of data units. Each of the data units includes a respective data unit header and a respective data frame. Each data unit header identifies a respective one of the stations as a recipient to receive the respective data frame of the data unit.
US07724765B2
A method and apparatus for providing quality of service over a contention access period of a wireless personal area network is provided herein. Particularly, the layers above the MAC are allowed to reserve portions of a contention access period (CAP) in order to schedule their QoS actions cooperatively thereby avoiding the dependence on the MAC for QoS performance. By using cooperative scheduling, a node can send a QoS packet from the QoS_Layer to the MAC, and know that it will be transmitted according to the specified QoS requirement. As a result, whenever a node sends a QoS packet in the reserved portion of the CAP, the channel will be guaranteed to be free from competing nodes' packets because those competing nodes will delay their transmissions based on the shared schedule.
US07724763B2
A wireless communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The wireless communication system includes a first group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with a base station in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with the base station in accordance with a second protocol. The base station includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of subscriber stations and routes transmissions from the first group of subscriber stations to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and routes transmissions from the second group of subscriber stations to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.
US07724760B2
A method for selecting a queue for service across a shared link. The method includes classifying each queue from a group of queues within a plurality of ingresses into one tier of a number “N” of tiers. The number “N” is greater than or equal to 2. Information about allocated bandwidth is used to classify at least some of the queues into the tiers. Each tier is assigned a different priority. The method also includes matching queues to available egresses by matching queues classified within tiers with higher priorities before matching queues classified within tiers with lower priorities.
US07724759B2
A method of transferring data over a plurality of optical channels. Bus access is requested. A bus grant is issued and received by the bus requester. The bus requester places data and a clock on an optical bus with the data synchronized to the clock.
US07724749B2
A medium access control (MAC) architecture reduces transmission latency for data block retransmissions. A plurality of data blocks are received and temporarily stored in a first memory (e.g., queue, buffer). The plurality of data blocks are then transmitted. A determination is made as to whether each of the transmitted data blocks was received successfully or needs to be retransmitted because the data block was not received successfully. Each of the transmitted data blocks that needs to be retransmitted is marked and temporarily stored in a second memory having a higher priority than the first memory. The marked data blocks are retransmitted before data blocks stored in the first memory.
US07724746B2
Method and system for providing load balancing in Infiniband-to-Ethernet networks including detecting a data traffic request, determining a network interface port information associated with the detected data traffic request, and selecting a network gateway based on the network interface port information is disclosed.
US07724741B2
When a command packet for an image forming apparatus is received, the image forming apparatus extracts information for specifying a source from the received packet, specifies the user who sends the command from the information, and decides the presence of the right to execute the command. When the user has the right, the command is received. When the user does not have the right, the command is not received. Thereby, an unintentional access from an outsider is rejected so that confidential information can be prevented from leaking.
US07724732B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing secure multipoint Internet Protocol Virtual Private Networks (IPVPNs) is presented. A packet lookup is performed in order to determine a next hop. A VPN label is pushed on the packet, as is an IP tunnel header. Group encryption through the use of DGVPN is further utilized. In such a manner secure connectivity and network partitioning are provided in a single solution.
US07724717B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for wireless network security. In one embodiment, a method for securing a wireless computing network includes receiving a communication from an unidentified transmitter, identifying the transmitter in accordance with a fingerprint generated from one or more radio frequency signal characteristics extracted from the communication, and taking action in response to an identity of the transmitter.
US07724715B2
A communication system in which multiple protocols and proxy services are executed by an access point. In one embodiment of the invention, GVRP and GMRP registrations are combined in a single packet when a wireless device roams to a different VLAN. In addition, outbound GVRP and GMRP multicast messages are handled by an access point (also referred to as a GVRP and GMRP “gateway”) such that the wireless device is not burdened with the associated computational overhead. In a further embodiment, a wireless device may dynamically switch between a VLAN-aware state and a VLAN-unaware state depending on the nature of a detected access point. For example, if a relevant access point supports GVRP, the wireless device may operate as a VLAN terminal. If a wireless device is not attached to an access point with a matching VLAN ID, the wireless device sends and receives VLAN tagged frames. If a wireless device configured with a VLAN ID is attached to an access point with a matching VLAN ID, or if the wireless device is attached to a non-VLAN access point, then the wireless device may send and receive raw/untagged frames. In addition to the gateways described below, the ability of a wireless device to detect when it can send untagged frames is considered novel. In another embodiment of the invention, a special ID that is different than the native VLAN ID for a switch port is used for VLAN-unaware devices. This allows such devices that do not issue tagged frames to belong to a single VLAN ID.
US07724714B2
During the transmission of data packets received on a wired connection via a first interface via a second interface designed for the wireless transmission of data, the problem exists that between receiving the data and transmitting the data via the second interface a relatively large delay time can arise which must be bridged by means of a suitably dimensioned buffer memory. To enable the maximum delay time to be further reduced, the necessary processing of the received IEEE 1394 bus packets is already performed section by section immediately after a received data packet has arrived. After the complete number of bus packets falling within a transmission frame has been received, there is therefore no longer any lengthy processing time required and the probability of missing the time slots reserved in the next transmission frame is significantly reduced. The buffer memory for bridging the delay time period can therefore be correspondingly smaller.
US07724708B2
The present invention provides a channel switching method for use with a wireless mouse by intelligently switching the communication channels with a wireless signal receiver. Firstly, the packet error rate is detected to discriminate whether the number of continuous failed packets is greater than a threshold value. Subsequently, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is detected to discriminate whether the wireless transmitter needs to switch the current communication channel with the wireless signal receiver.
US07724704B2
This specification describes a system and method that can offer, among other advantages, a technique for resource assignment that involves obtaining a group of resources, repeatedly selecting a resource from the group of resources until a resource that is available is selected, and associating a client or process with that resource. An example of a method according to the technique includes obtaining a group of VLANs for assignment to a client based on client identity, selecting a first choice from the group of VLANs, selecting a next choice from the group of VLANs if the first choice is unavailable, and connecting the client to the selected VLAN. The client identity may include, by way of example but not limitation, a MAC address, an SSID, or some other known or convenient way to identify the client. A system constructed according to the technique may include, by way of example but not limitation, memory, a resource group name decoder, a value calculator, an index calculator, and a selector. The memory may include, for example, a resource name buffer, an identity buffer, a result buffer, a resource count buffer, a resource name array, and a selected resource buffer.
US07724702B2
Multiple-configuration communication apparatus includes: a communication device (130) simultaneously maintaining at least a first and a second channel; a storage device (114, 116, 118) storing a plurality of communication configurations; and a configuration controller (120) determining a first time frame and during the first time frame, selecting a first communication configuration of the plurality of communication configurations and controlling the communication device to configure itself to the first communication configuration to at least one of transmit and receive information over the first channel, and determining a second time frame that is different from the first time frame and during the second time frame, selecting a second communication configuration of the plurality of communication configurations, and controlling the communication device to configure itself to the second communication configuration to at least one of transmit and receive information over the second channel.
US07724700B1
An application server-centric approach for managing quality of service in network communications involves an application server causing the modification of an existing communications session with a device, via a layer-2 change to a communications link used by the session, so that the session supports a different quality of service level for the device. The process starts when a request to initiate a communications session is received from a device. A session is initiated with the device, wherein the session supports a first quality of service level. In response to detecting the occurrence of an event, an application server determines that a second quality of service level is to be supported based upon the detected event and service criteria data. The application server then causes the existing session to be modified, via a layer-2 change to the communications link, so that the existing session supports the second quality of service level for the device.
