US07867335B2
GaN is grown by creating a Ga vapor from a powder, and using an inert purge gas from a source to transport the vapor to a growth site where the GaN growth takes place. In one embodiment, the inert gas is N2, and the powder source is GaN powder that is loaded into source chambers. The GaN powder is congruently evaporated into Ga and N2 vapors at temperatures between approximately 1000 and 1200° C. The formation of Ga liquid in the powder is suppressed by the purging of an inert gas through the powder. The poser may also be isolated from a nitride containing gas provided at the growth cite. In one embodiment, the inert gas is flowed through the powder.
US07867332B2
The invention concerns a method for producing a solid inorganic material comprising a step a) during which at least three formulations are mixed together, said mixture comprising at least (i) silicon, (ii) aluminum and (ii) calcium and/or magnesium, followed by a step b) of forming the paste thus obtained into shape, then a step b) of drying at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of under 99° C.
US07867325B2
A gas chromatographic device comprises an inlet system and a chromatography column. The inlet system includes a liner having pressure reducing means contained therein for reducing pressure between an inlet of the pressure reducing means and an outlet of the pressure reducing means. When the devise is in use, the chromatography column is positioned in the liner of the inlet system downstream from the pressure reducing means, and the chromatography column is under vacuum at its outlet.
US07867324B2
A fuel system includes a fuel deoxygenator for removing oxygen from a liquid fuel. A vaporizer is in fluid communication with the fuel deoxygenator. The vaporizer vaporizes at least a portion of the liquid fuel to produce vaporized fuel. At least a portion of the vaporized fuel pre-mixes with oxidizer to reduce formation of undesirable emissions.
US07867322B2
A gas cleaning system, which is operative for cleaning a process gas containing carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, comprises a combined cooling and cleaning system (16), and a CO2-absorber. The combined cooling and cleaning system (16) comprises a first gas-liquid contacting device (50) located upstream of the CO2-absorber and operative for cooling the process gas by means of a cooling liquid, and for absorbing into the cooling liquid sulphur dioxide of the process gas, such that a cooling liquid containing sulphate is obtained. The combined cooling and cleaning system (16) further comprises a second gas-liquid contacting device (94) located downstream of the CO2-absorber and operative for removing ammonia from the process gas, which has been treated in the CO2-absorber, by means of bringing the process gas containing ammonia into contact with the cooling liquid containing sulphate.
US07867318B2
Process of treating filter dust (3) of the type produced in aluminium recycling processes in a recycling system for recycling the metal (1) of salt slag recycling (2), including at least a pyrolysis step (31) in which the filter dust (30) enter a rotating auger where it is heated to a temperature of not less than 500° C. and not more than 600° C.; and in which the organic and toxic substances breakdown in this heating and part of the carbon and other combustibles burn in the controlled presence of air, this air being mixed with the dust by the movement of the rotating auger (310); in which organic materials are oxidized due to the oxygen provided; and in which the solid result of the pyrolysis step (31) is added to the general salt slag recycling process (2).
US07867303B2
A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m.2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600° C. to 900° C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
US07867300B2
The present disclosure provides teachings relating to ammonia-based hydrogen generation apparatus and associated methods of use. Exemplary methods and apparatus comprise a thermocatalytic hydrogen generation reactor which includes a reaction chamber containing a catalyst-coated substrate, and a combustion chamber containing a catalyst-coated substrate. Exemplary catalyst-coated substrates include, but are not limited to, metal foam, monolith, mesh, ceramic foam or ceramic monolith.
US07867277B1
A spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction to be introduced into any variety of spinal target sites. The spinal fusion implant of the present invention includes a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second lateral sides, a proximal (posterior) end and a distal (anterior) end. The spinal fusion implant of the present invention may be used to provide temporary or permanent fixation within an orthopedic target site. To do so, the spinal fusion implant may be introduced into a disc space while locked to a surgical insertion instrument and thereafter employed in the proper orientation and released. Once deposited in the disc space, the spinal fusion implant of the present invention effects spinal fusion over time as the natural healing process integrates and binds the implant.
US07867273B2
An endoprostheses for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen includes a plurality of elongate strut members spaced apart and extending along a longitudinal axis, each elongate strut member having a plurality of alternating peaks and valley. At least one flexible connecting link connects each elongate strut member to an adjacent elongate strut member. The elongate strut members and connecting links forming a generally tubular stent body having a first delivery diameter and a second implanted diameter. The positioning of the connecting links along the stent body produces desired stent performance characteristics.
US07867272B2
This invention relates generally to an expandable intraluminal medical device for use within a body passageway or duct, and more particularly to a stent having a plurality of hoop sections. Each hoop section comprises a tubular configuration of structural elements having proximal and distal open end, and defining a longitudinal axis extending there between. A set of flex connectors connects each adjacent hoop section. Each set of flex connectors comprises one or more flex connector members arranged in the same geometric orientation. Adjacent sets of flex connectors comprise one or more flex connector members arranged in an opposite geometric orientation.
US07867264B2
Apparatuses for attaching tissue to bone are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes an expandable body defining a bore, an expander pin having a shaft sized to be received in the bore of the expandable body, and an insertion shaft slidingly disposed in the bore of the expandable body and in a bore of the expander pin. The body is configured to expand laterally into and attach to bone when the expander pin is driven into the expandable body. The body includes a proximal main member having a distally extending threaded projection and a harder, distal tip member having a threaded recess in a proximal surface thereof such that the projection is threadedly interengageable with the recess. The expansion of the body by way of the expander pin can occur when the proximal main member and distal tip member are threadedly engaged. The insertion shaft is releasably secured to the expandable body and extends distally beyond the expandable body.
US07867263B2
A system for performing surgical repair of the spine includes a distractor and a permanently implanted bone plate system. A surgical repair methodology is also disclosed that employs an implanted bone plate system with a substantially void internal volume which is attached to adjacent vertebrae subsequent to the distraction and/or adjustment of curvature of the vertebrae and prior to the excision of disc and/or end plate tissue through the bone plate. The device further facilitates the subsequent delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization, such as by disc arthroplasty. The plate may be permanently implanted, such as when a fusion between the attached vertebral bodies is desired, but it need not be permanently implanted.
US07867254B2
A surgical clip having a sliding state and a crimped state is adapted for use in a surgical procedure initially to slide along suture ends to an operative position and ultimately to crimp the suture ends at the operative position. A substrate, bendable between the sliding state and the crimped state carries at least one coating having either lubricious or traction enhancing properties. A second coating can be added to form a coating laminate with the outer coating having lubricious properties facilitating the sliding state and the inner coating having traction enhancing properties facilitating the crimped state.
US07867249B2
An apparatus for delivering a closure element into an opening formed in a blood vessel or other body lumen and methods for manufacturing and using same. The apparatus is configured to retain the closure element such that the closure element is disposed substantially within the apparatus. The apparatus also can engage, and position the closure element substantially adjacent to, the blood vessel wall adjacent to the opening. During deployment of the closure element, the apparatus expands the closure element beyond a natural cross-section of the closure element such that the closure element, when deployed, is configured to engage a significant amount of the blood vessel wall and/or tissue. Engaging the blood vessel wall and/or tissue, the closure element is further configured to return to the natural cross-section, thereby drawing the engaged blood vessel wall and/or tissue substantially closed and/or sealed, such that hemostasis within the opening is enhanced.
US07867239B2
A vertebral plating system includes a bone screw and a vertebral plate. The bone screw includes a screw head and a shaft. The screw head includes at least three segments flexibly attached to the shaft and has a spherical outside surface. The plate includes holes to receive the screw and that have a spherical inside surface. A driver tool has pins that are inserted into a pin hole on each segment, and that causes the segments to move towards each other when downward pressure is applied.
US07867238B2
A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space.
US07867235B2
A system and method for joint restoration by extracapsular means includes an actuator operable to apply a force to a portion of a bone to effect a change in the joint space geometry. One embodiment of the system includes an actuator operable to apply a cyclic loading to subchondral bone of a femur, wherein loads of a predetermined magnitude are alternately applied and released. Between periods of cyclic loading, rest periods are provided where no load is applied. Over time, the femoral joint surface is remodeled in accordance with the location, direction, magnitude, and frequency of the loading.
US07867222B1
An endoscopic instrument includes an inner elongated instrument member that fits the bore of an outer elongated instrument member. The outer elongated instrument member includes a slot through which a surgical sheet material can be pulled so as to furl the material within the instrument. The slot can vary in length and width accommodating various surgical sheet material sizes. The slot can also be open ended or closed and its length and width can be varied accommodating different sizes and thicknesses of sheet material. The inner instrument member can include a flag that can be furled about the distal end portion of the inner instrument member and for attachment to the sheet of surgical material. The outer instrument member includes an articulating end portion that can be moved to deflect the end portion of the inner instrument member such as when the flag is unfurled inside a patient's body cavity.
US07867214B2
In a peritoneal dialysis embodiment of the present invention, spent dialysate from the patient's peritoneal cavity passes, along a patient loop, through a dialyzer having a membrane that separates waste components from the spent dialysate, wherein the patient loop returns fresh dialysate to the patient's peritoneal cavity. The waste components are carried away in a second regeneration loop to a regeneration unit or sorbent cartridge, which absorbs the waste components. The regeneration unit removes undesirable components in the dialysate that were removed from the patient loop by the dialyzer, for example, excess water (ultrafiltrate or UF), toxins and metabolic wastes. Desirable components can be added to the dialysate by the system, such as glucose and electrolytes. The additives assist in maintaining the proper osmotic gradients in the patient to perform dialysis and provide the necessary compounds to the patient.
US07867208B2
An absorbent article (10) includes an absorbent core (12) disposed between an inner coversheet (14) and an outer coversheet (16). The article further includes at least one disposal fastener (18) which is directly or indirectly joined to the outer coversheet (16). The disposal fastener (18) includes a fastening element (20) which allows the article to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal after the article has been used. The disposal fastener (18) is covered by a material layer (22) having a surface area such that it extends beyond the disposal fastener (18). The material layer (22) is attached to or forms an integral part of the outer coversheet (16) so as to keep the disposal fastener (18) hidden when not in use. The material layer (22) is releasable from the outer coversheet (16) so as to expose the disposal fastener (18) for use.
US07867206B2
A bandage for use with a vacuum source includes a wound dressing member to be placed in contact with a wound surface and a suction port associated with the wound dressing member. The member is configured with spacers contacting the wound surface to define suction space between the member and the wound surface. The member also includes holes in communication with the suction space. Passageways of the bandage are provided between the suction port and the holes.
US07867204B2
Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves having a stretchable or flexible band. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the band is held in between a flange section of an inlet connector assembly and a shoulder section of the valve body. A plunger integrally formed with the band is movable inside a nozzle to control fluid flow through the inlet of the valve. When the plunger is urged by a medical implement to open the valve inlet, the band flexes to accommodate the moving plunger.
US07867198B2
An object is to provide a medical liquid infusion apparatus suitable for a portable use and capable of suppressing an abrupt change in flow rate even when the environmental temperature rises. A medical liquid infusion apparatus 1 is provided with a driving portion 2 and configured to infuse a medical liquid inside a medical liquid container 3 to a patient by applying a pressure to the medical liquid container 3 using a driving force of the driving portion. The driving portion 2 includes a compressed gas cylinder 4 filled with a compressed gas, and it is configured in such a manner that the driving force is generated by the pressure inside the compressed gas cylinder 4.
US07867197B2
Various methods and devices for driving fluid from a syringe are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a syringe driver is provided having a frame that is adapted to seat a syringe, a driver that is slidably disposed within the frame and that is adapted to seat a plunger of a syringe, and a puller that is slidably disposed within the frame and that has a latch formed thereon for mating to an engagement element on the frame. The device can also include a force-delivery element, such as a constant force spring, that is coupled to and extends between the driver and the puller. In use, the puller is movable between a first position, in which the force-delivery element is in a resting position, and a second position, in which the latch on the puller mates to the engagement element on the frame to expand the force-delivery element thereby causing the force-delivery element to pull the driver and drive a plunger into a barrel of a syringe seated within the frame to deliver fluid from the syringe to a patient at a constant rate.
US07867191B2
To provide an irrigation/aspiration apparatus by which a trouble for an operator is reduced and handling is facilitated and which is capable of preventing a sharp decrease of pressure of an anterior chamber with a simple constitution.The apparatus has a chamber storing an irrigation liquid, a vent tube for making the liquid flow into an aspiration tube, a leading vent leading the liquid into the chamber from an irrigation tube, an outflow pipe extended in an up-and-down direction, an opening formed on a wall of the outflow pipe, of which a width is narrow and set such that an opening is closed by the liquid under surface tension when a liquid level of the liquid inside the chamber rises, an outflow vent to which the irrigation tube or a vent tube is connected, and an air chamber which is a space provided above an inflow hole of the outflow pipe.
US07867189B2
A dialysis machine includes: a hardware unit including at least one pump actuator, at least one valve actuator and a cassette interface, the cassette interface including: (i) a plate that abuts the cassette; (ii) at least one pump aperture defined by the plate; (iii) at least one pump head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to operate a pumping portion of the cassette; (iv) at least one valve aperture defined by the plate; (v) at least one valve apparatus moveable out of and retractable into the at least one valve aperture to operate a valve portion of the cassette; (vi) at least one sensor aperture defined by the plate; and (vii) at least one sensor located in the least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor operable with a sensor portion of the cassette.
US07867187B2
Various methods and devices are provided for cutting tissue using a high pressure fluid jet. In one exemplary embodiment, a high pressure fluid jet delivery device is provided having a nozzle adapted to direct fluid to a tissue site. A heating element is disposed on the nozzle and is adapted to heat fluid surrounding a high pressure fluid jet flowing from the nozzle to form at least one vapor bubble. The vapor bubble can reduce the interaction between the high pressure fluid jet and the fluid surrounding the high pressure fluid jet.
US07867185B2
A method of applying therapeutic compression to a patient's body limb, by: (a) measuring the dimensions of a patient's body limb; (b) determining a desired compression profile for the patient's body limb; and (c) forming a compression device comprising a plurality of tension bands dimensioned to be wrapped around the patient's limb, wherein different tension bands have different widths such that applying an equal tension to the bands results in different compressions being applied along the length of the patient's limb such that the desired compression profile is applied to the patient's limb.
US07867184B2
A system and method for comfortably restraining a child's feet undergoing the Ponseti method for treatment of clubfeet, using a foot and ankle abduction orthosis, where the improvement includes a shoe with a single piece sole and quick release slot with an adjustable hinged heel support member, as well as having a soft pliable area around the feet and ankle support with lateral support bands to limit foot plantar flexion.
US07867165B2
Method for treating a medical condition in a human patient comprising choosing a psychological strategy for treating the medical condition, encoding electronic instructions for an interactive video game in such a way that the interactive video game implements the psychological strategy, loading the electronic instructions into a microprocessor-based unit equipped with a display for displaying the interactive video game and with an patient input device for receiving responses to the interactive video game from the human patient, and instructing the human patient how and when to use the microprocessor-based unit to play the interactive video game. The interactive video game contains instructions for a scoring procedure for quantitatively analyzing the medical condition of the human patient, and/or counseling instructions or self-care instructions. The video game can be used in conjunction with a physical parameter measuring device connected to the microprocessor-based unit.
US07867151B2
An apparatus and control system for establishing and maintaining a user selected magnitude and direction of pneumatic resistance provided by exercise equipment includes at least one electrically controlled regulator for admitting air to and releasing air from the pneumatic system, transducer for measuring air pressure within the system and providing a corresponding signal, potentiometer for setting and monitoring system pressure in response to signal input from the transducer, air accumulator tank, and pneumatic piston cylinder assembly. The apparatus may also include at least one user controlled electrically switchable four way valve for providing bi-directional resistance. The apparatus is adaptable for providing unilateral or bilateral exercise movements, with or without bi-directional resistance, and can be used to provide range of motion exercise without resistance.
US07867145B2
A hand exercise device 100 and method for exercising human hands 102 and digits 104 comprising a plurality of separate digit sleeves 110 wherein the diameter and length are such that the separate digit sleeves 110 slide over the finger and thumb digits 105, 106 of the human hand 102; a magnetic element 120 is attached with the separate digit sleeve 110 near a distal end 116 of the separate digit sleeve 110, wherein the magnetic element 120 will facilitate a desired exercise in multidirectional movements when the magnetic element 120 is approximated near another magnetic 129 or ferrous metal surface 150.
US07867144B2
Apparatus for exercising muscles of the chest and back includes a frame, parallel bars and overhead bars attached to the frame. A seat supports a user during exercise and a weight stack can be adjusted to suit the user. The seat is vertically movable relative to the frame as exercises are being performed by the user.
US07867139B2
A control system for an exercise apparatus has an input mechanism for setting a goal for exercise in measurable units, a display for displaying the goal in the measurable units, and an initiation mechanism. Upon setting the goal, the goal in measurable units is displayed in the display, upon activating the initiation mechanism the display begins to decrement in the measurable units, and upon reaching zero, the original goal is displayed and then increments in the measurable units.
US07867129B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US07867124B2
An electrically-variable transmission is provided with input member and output member, first and second motor/generators, a first planetary gear set and a final drive gearset. Two or three torque-transmitting mechanisms that are selectively engagable alone or in different combinations to establish at least one forward electric-only operating mode including a series mode, an output split mode, and at least one neutral mode including a purely neutral mode and a neutral battery charge mode. The transmission optionally includes a one-way clutch selected from the group of friction clutch and dog clutch, or is a lockable one-way clutch, for enabling low loss forward operation, regenerative braking functionality, and/or reverse vehicle operation.
US07867122B2
The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for continuous speed variation of an output member with respect to a primary input member. In particular, the present invention provides a device having an output that rotates at reduced speed and increased torque relative to its prime input through the low friction, rolling engagement of its members, or alternatively, at increased speed and reduced torque for overdrive applications. Furthermore, the speed of the output member may be varied continuously and infinitely between the apparatus's lowest and highest ratio via a secondary input member and its low friction, rolling engagement with the device's members.
US07867121B2
A metal V-belt includes a plurality of metal elements supported by a metal ring. The metal ring includes front and rear main surfaces, a pair of left and right slots that receive the metal ring therein, the slots being defined between a saddle surface and an ear-part bottom surface. A protrusion is provided on one of the front and rear main surfaces, and a concavity is provided in the other of the front and rear main surfaces. A clearance defined between an outermost peripheral surface of the metal ring and the ear-part bottom surface of the metal element is set to a value that at an exit of a driven pulley, contact of the innermost peripheral surface of the metal ring with the saddle surface of the metal element, and contact of the protrusion of a succeeding metal element and the concavity of a preceding metal element is avoided.
US07867120B2
A linear unit having a main module unit and a drive unit in which the main module unit has a housing with a table part that a drive belt is able to move in the longitudinal direction; the drive belt is wound around a drive roller, which is connected to a drive unit, and around a freewheeling roller; and the drive belt is connected to the table part and is divided into an upper span and a lower span, and a guide element is situated on the base leg of the housing and is able to separate the upper span from the lower span.
US07867113B2
A system is disclosed for detection of whether a movable object, such as a sports object, e.g. a football or an ice hockey puck, has passed a flat plane in space, such as a goal plane defined e.g. as a vertical plane extending from a goal line or a horizontal plane defined by the upper rim of the basketball basket. The system comprises a plurality of pairs of antennas arranged along the periphery of the flat target plane, the two antennas of each of said pairs being arranged with a mutual displacement in the direction perpendicularly to the flat target plane, radio wave emitter means arranged in the movable object and/or each antenna, and means for receiving the radio waves from the radio wave emitter means and provide an output accordingly arranged in each antenna and/or in the movable object, the system further comprising processing means to receive and process said output together with a predetermined set of conditions and providing a resulting output if the set of conditions are fulfilled so as to determine whether the movable object passes the flat target plane.
US07867108B2
The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a saturated polyurethane composition. The polyurethane is the product of a reaction between an H12MDI/PTMEG-based prepolymer and a polycaprolactone curing agent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, multi-layer, and wound golf balls. The composition may be present in any one or more of a core layer, a cover layer, or an intermediate layer.
US07867107B2
Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer.
US07867101B2
A family combined ball pool structure is provided. The ball pool structure is formed by stacking a fence frame, an inflatable pad and an inflatable wall. The fence frame is an enclosed cloth screen frame having a bottom layer and a circumference side. The bottom and circumference side inside the fence frame are formed by the inflatable pad and the inflatable wall, respectively. Therefore, a child is placed in a safe space formed by the inflatable pad and the inflatable wall, which form a safe and fall-proof family ball pool with the enclosure of the fence frame.
US07867096B2
A joint is configured for use with a rotary-wing aircraft having at least one engine. A driver is coupled to an output shaft of the engine, the driver being rotatable about an axis. A yoke is at least partially rotatable relative to the driver about a first center of rotation, the center of rotation being located on the axis. A plurality of upright links couple the yoke to the driver, each link being translatable relative to the yoke, the driver, or both. Each link is also rotatable relative to the yoke, the driver, or both, about a second center of rotation.
US07867093B2
A video game that provides a player game play experience that simulates an evolution process is disclosed. In each stage of the evolution process, the player can create game content that is uploaded to a server. Other players' game content can also be downloaded into the player's game. In an embodiment of the present invention, the player-defined content can be automatically uploaded to a server, where it can be automatically downloaded to players' games in accordance with criteria such as heuristics that are relevant to the game, player preferences, rankings, community preferences and combinations thereof.
US07867082B2
A game and prize method includes a prize awarded to a winner of a game, and the prize must be spent by the winner within a certain set time limit. However, in order to obtain the prize a player must participate in a game, preferably a tournament style game, with other people, and win the prize. The game may be against the other contestants in a knock-out style game, or may alternatively be against a computer, with a selection of one of the contestants being made based on random or deterministic criteria. However the winner is determined, the winner receives a money prize which must then be spent by the winner within a set time limit.
US07867072B2
A rotor tine construction for a rotary element of a crop residue treatment system for effecting improved transport of crop residue along a material flow path and, if a counter knife assembly is spaced from the rotary element across the material flow path, for also effecting improved shear cutting of such crop residue by the knife elements of the counter knife assembly and more efficient operation of the crop residue treatment system, which rotor tine construction includes a base portion generally mountable to the rotary member of the rotary element, at least one rotor tine extending outwardly from such base portion and including three distinct blade edges, one of which forms a trailing edge and the other two of which are upper and lower edge portions forming a leading edge, with the lower and upper edge portions configured and intersecting with one another to form a notch-like indentation along the leading edge at an intersection point P defined to be the point of cut contact position, such that, as the rotary member rotates forwardly the rotor tine is rotated through the material flow path to engage and concentrate engaged lengths of crop residue near intersection point P for an improved cut as such material is moved past the knife elements of the counter knife assembly.
US07867069B2
A method of cutting a beef chuck roll to provide a plurality of higher value beef products includes the steps of: cutting the chuck roll along at least three cut lines to separate the chuck roll into four primary muscles, a first or eye muscle, a second or rhomboideus muscle, a third or splenius muscle and a fourth or serratus ventralis muscle; and trimming each of the four primary muscles to remove excess fat, seams, silver and other undesirable components. Some of the primary muscles are tenderized and marketed as boneless chuck roast products. Some of the primary muscles are cut across the grain into boneless chuck steaks.
US07867060B2
Disclosed is a polishing method for polishing a surface of a structure for magnetic-head manufacture by CMP in the process of manufacturing a magnetic head using a ceramic substrate made of a ceramic material containing AlTiC, the structure including the ceramic substrate and one or more layers formed thereon, and having the surface to be polished. The polishing method uses a retainer ring made of a ceramic material containing AlTiC.
US07867058B2
A sports bra having an integral storage integral pouch disposed within the cleavage portion is disclosed. The integral integral pouch is formed by a top opening between two ply of the multi-ply material that the sports bra is comprised of and first and second edges that are formed within the multi-ply material. The multi-ply material is laminated together and has universal elasticity to provide support for the wearer as well as the necessary tension to hold an object stored in the integral pouch in place. The first and second edges are formed by sewing and the distance between the first and second edges is selected to be slightly less than the width of an object to be stored within the integral pouch. In addition, the top opening may be such that the length of the top opening is slightly less than the distance between the first and second edges.
US07867055B2
In order to provide a never boring toy which moves to the singing voice or accompaniment music and which people can enjoy karaoke, the present invention provides a sounding toy having a driving mechanism which has a sound synthesizing device and loudspeakers which are integrated with the toy in the interior thereof and a sound mixing circuit provided in the sound synthesizing device, the loudspeaker and a handy microphone are connectable to the sound synthesizing device, wherein in the sound mixing circuit, an analog signal inputted from a microphone terminal and an analog signal inputted from the audio terminal are superimposed in a mixer circuit and are amplified from the loudspeaker put into foot parts of the toy through a main amplifier, and then a driver applies a voltage to a power source of the driving mechanism and the toy is operated by the driving mechanism.
US07867052B2
A method of high precisely manufacturing, for an electron beam displaying apparatus, a support member which is equipped with an electrode on the surface thereof is provided. In this method, an electrode region is formed on the surface of a base material, the surface of the base material is ground by using a grinding stone having a convex portion, and at the same time a fringe portion of the electrode region is ground to form an electrode.
US07867047B2
An outboard motor intake port system includes an internal cover mounted, from the inside, on an engine cover to form an intake chamber between the internal cover and the engine cover. The internal cover is integrally provided with a bottom plate portion facing the inner face of an upper part of the engine cover, a front wall portion extending upward from a front edge of the bottom plate portion and connected to the inner face of the upper part of the engine cover, and a pair of tubular portions extending upward from the bottom plate portion. The pair of tubular portions are arranged side by side so water that has entered the intake chamber via an intake port passes through the tubular portions. A pair of drain holes for discharging water are formed in the engine cover and communicate with the left and right front parts of the intake chamber.
US07867045B2
An electrical connector is provided and includes a housing that has a mating face configured to engage a mating connector. The electrical connector also includes a plurality of conductors that extend through the housing and a plurality of socket members that project from the mating face. Each socket member is electrically coupled to one of the conductors and includes a shaft that is configured to be inserted into a cavity of the mating connector. The shaft forms a passage that is configured to receive an associated mating contact held within the cavity for establishing an electrical connection.
US07867043B2
An electrical contact (20) for using in a CPU (central processing unit) socket, includes a planar base portion (201), a pair of flexible arms (203) extending from the planar base portion, a pair of contact portions (204) being orthogonal to the flexible arms, a pair of stopper portions (205) coplanarly formed on the flexible arms and a solder portion (206) being orthogonal to the planar base portion and extending parallel to the contact portions.
US07867041B1
The present disclosure provides a mounting base, a buss bar with slots and a slotted extension therebetween, and a terminal lug coupled to the buss bar, the terminal lug being adapted to couple directly a conductor to the buss bar at the slotted extension without intermediate interfaces between the conductor and the buss bar. The terminal lug includes a bottom dimensioned to fit on the underside of the slotted extension, and sides dimensioned to fit inside the slots. The terminal lug is restrained from sliding off the slotted extension by being disposed in a lug clearance recess formed in the mounting base that is at a lower elevation than a buss bar support surface. Thus, the system and method provides a direct connection between the conductor and the buss bar, while retaining the terminal lug to the buss bar before the terminal lug is tightened to the buss bar.
US07867040B2
A cable assembly comprises an insulative housing defining a first receiving room extending rearwardly from a front surface of the insulative housing. A first electrical connector is received into the first receiving room. A first cable is electrically connected with the first electrical connector and extends rearwardly out of the insulative housing. And a retainer is received into the first receiving room and engaged with the insulative housing, the first electrical connector is held by the retainer.
US07867037B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) and a plurality of contacts exposed and retained to external faces of the housing. The housing defines a front face (11), a receiving cavity (10) opening through the front face for receiving a mating connector and a plurality of retaining holes disposed on external faces thereof. Each of the contacts defines a base portion (211), a contacting portion (2121) extending from one edge of the base portion and projecting into the receiving cavity, at least one retaining portion (213) extending from the base portion and a soldering portion (214). The plurality of contacts are retained to the housing by the at least one retaining portion interfering with the corresponding retaining holes, and all the base portions abut against external faces of the housing.
US07867035B2
In conjunction with a wiring in a house carrying data network signal, a modular outlet (100) includes a base module (100a) and interface module (100b). The base module connects to the wiring and is attached to the surface of a building. The interface module provides a data unit connection. The interface module is mechanically attached to the base module and electrically connected thereto. The wiring may also carry basic service signal such as telephone, electrical power and cable television (CATV). In such a case, the outlet provides the relevant connectivity either as part of the base module or as part of the interface module. Both proprietary and industry standard interfaces can be used to interconnect the module. Furthermore, a standard computer expansion card (such as PCI, PCMCIA and alike) may be used as interface module.
US07867014B2
An aluminum wire press-clamping terminal is press-clamped to an aluminum wire having a conductor portion in which a plurality of aluminum- or aluminum alloy-made strands are twisted. The aluminum wire press-clamping terminal includes: a bottom plate portion for placing the conductor portion thereon; a pair of caulking piece portions which are extended from the bottom plate portion and adapted to be caulked to the conductor portion on the bottom plate portion to hold the conductor portion therebetween; and at least one groove and at least one convex portion which are formed on contact surfaces of the bottom plate portion and the pair of caulking piece portions, the contact surfaces being adapted to contact the conductor portion. The convex portion extends in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the conductor portion.
US07867009B2
A socket with a plug retention structure which includes an upper housing, a lower housing, at least two flexible pieces, and a control unit. The lower housing includes at least two insertion holes. The interior of the lower housing defines an accommodating space. Two flexible pieces are placed in the accommodating space associated with the lower housing. Each of the two flexible pieces has a fulcrum and at least one flexible plate. One end of the flexible plate is connected to the fulcrum, and the other end of the flexible plate forms an abutting portion. The abutting portions of the two flexible pieces correspond to the two insertion holes. The control unit is movably placed in the accommodating space associated with the upper housing. The control unit is configured to selectively press the flexible plates.
US07867002B1
A wire connector includes first and second connecting members that are adapted to hold respectively at least one wire to be connected separably to each other, a waterproof ring, and a locking unit. The waterproof ring is sleeved on a first connecting segment of the first connecting member. The second connecting member includes a second connecting segment sleeved releasably on the first connecting segment, and a receiving segment surrounding the waterproof ring for watertight contact with the waterproof ring. The locking unit includes two engaging components disposed on the second connecting member, and two hook components disposed on the first connecting member and engaging respectively and detachably the engaging components for pulling the receiving segment toward a shoulder of the first connecting segment to cooperate with the shoulder to clamp tightly the waterproof ring therebetween, thereby securing firmly the second connecting member to the first connecting member.
US07866995B1
A connector includes a housing, a pair of headers, a pair of crank levers, a pair of ejectors, and a pair of clip arms. When a printed substrate is inserted into the housing, the pair of crank levers is caused to pivot so as to raise the pair of ejectors. Then, by moving the pair of clip arms from a third groove to a second groove at which the width is narrower, a pair of projections fits a pair of locking holes so as to sandwich both sides of the printed substrate. The connector can securely lock the printed substrate since the header prevents widening of the distance of the pair of projections even in a case in which a force aimed to detach the printed substrate from the housing works is acting thereon.
US07866994B1
The card connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals received by the insulating housing, an ejector mechanism having a slider disposed at a side of the insulating housing, a lock member fixed on the slider, having a retention arm, a free end of the retention arm formed a projection for inserting into the gap of the inserted electronic card, a top side of the retention arm having a portion adjacent to the hook projecting upwards to form a lock piece and a shielding shell. The shielding shell has a guide groove which includes a slot extending frontward and rearward, a front end of an outer side of the slot being enlarged outwards to form a trough, wherein the lock piece is restrained in a rear end of the slot opposite to the trough and can move outwards in the trough of the guiding groove.
US07866990B2
An socket assembly mounted on a printed circuit board for receiving a IC package, comprises an insulative housing defining a plurality of passageways, a plurality of contacts received in the passageways and a pick-up cap covering the insulative housing. The insulative housing has four sidewalls surrounding the passageways. The pick-up cap has three steps, a first step covering the passageways of the housing, a second step seated on top faces of the sidewalls, and a third step set against the printed circuit board. The three steps of the pick-up cap can efficiently protect the insulative housing and the contacts.
US07866985B2
A CPU socket assembly includes a CPU socket and a pick up cap mounted to the CPU socket. The CPU socket has an insulative housing with a receiving space, a number of electrical contacts secured to the insulative housing with contact portions disposed in the receiving space; and a retention piece attached to the insulative housing. The retention piece has a pressing section covering part of the receiving space to retaining a package in the CPU socket.
US07866984B1
An anesthesia administration instructional aid comprises a pipe, a penetrable material in the pipe, and a reservoir located at a predefined distance from the penetrable material. A method for learning administration of epidural and combined spinal epidural anesthesia comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining an anesthesia administration instructional aid, wherein the instructional aid comprises a pipe, a penetrable material in the pipe, and a reservoir located at a predefined distance from the penetrable material; (b) filling a fluid into the reservoir; (c) inserting a larger needle having a lumen and a tip through the penetrable material such that the tip of the larger needle rests between the reservoir and the penetrable material; and (d) inserting a smaller needle having a tip through the lumen of the larger needle such that the tip of the smaller needle pierces and rests inside the reservoir.
US07866982B1
An aircraft crosswind training simulator has a fixed-pitch cockpit rotatably mounted atop a platform. Rotation of the cockpit is controlled by motor controllers that are responsive to movement of the cockpit's steering control. A rotation sensor detects rotation of the cockpit and communicates with a motor controller that controls the direction and speed of a motor mounted to the platform. The motor is engaged with a drive wheel that drives the platform laterally across the floor in response to rotation of the cockpit that is detected by the rotation sensor. An instructor input switch manipulates the motor controllers to introduce additional forces to the rotation of the cockpit and/or additional forces to the lateral movement of the platform, simulating external forces present during crosswind conditions.
US07866969B2
The present invention generally relates to a mold assembly (32, 34) and a method of using the mold for the manufacture of composite parts which, more particularly, are generated from a strengthener in a generally solid phase and a matrix in a generally liquid phase. Various types of molds and processes may be used in order to impregnate a strengthener with a matrix such that a composite part may be manufactured, but the efficiency rate and the duration of the manufacturing process significantly varies depending on the chosen type of mold and process. The present invention relates to a mold assembly and to the manufacture of composites by using the mold assembly which includes the injection of the matrix in the mold assembly containing the strengthener and a deformable member (36) which favors the impregnation of the matrix toward the strengthener.
US07866966B2
A method of designing rotors for a Roots blower comprising a housing having cylindrical chambers, the housing defining an outlet port (19). The blower includes meshed, lobed rotors (37,39) disposed in the chambers, each rotor including a plurality N of lobes (47,49), each lobe having first (47a,49a) and second (47b,49b) axially facing end surfaces. Each lobe has its axially facing surfaces defining a twist angle (TA), and each lobe defines a helix angle (HA). The method of designing the rotor comprises determining a maximum ideal twist angle (TAM) for the lobe as a function of the number N of lobes on the rotor, and then determining a helix angle (HA) for each lobe as a function of the maximum ideal twist angle (TAM) and an axial length (L) between the end surfaces of the lobe. A rotor designed in accordance with this method is also provided.
US07866964B2
A hermetic scroll compressor includes a hermetic shell through which the pressure within the shell is monitored. In one embodiment, a housing is resistance welded into an aperture extending through the shell. An oil filled pressure sensor or a dry type pressure sensor is associated with the housing. The oil filled pressure sensor extends through an aperture in the shell. The dry type pressure sensor is located on the housing outside of the shell. In another embodiment, the shell forms the diaphragm portion of the pressure sensor.
US07866961B2
A fixing bolt is inserted into a through hole of an end-face member and screwed with a screw hole of a valve holding member, by which a discharge valve is sandwiched by the end-face member and the valve holding member. Thus, since a thickness of the end-face member can be provided thinner, a capacity of a discharge hole of the end-face member is made smaller so that degradation of operating efficiency as well as increase of operating noise are prevented.
US07866960B2
A hose compressed peristaltic pump is provided. The pump includes a base, a sidewall structure mounted on the base, and forming a containing space therein, a rotor having a center in the space and further having plural integral protrusions, and a hose disposed between the protrusions and the sidewall structure.
US07866955B2
A suction muffler for a small refrigeration system, the muffler including an enclosed equalizing chamber acting upon a tubular connector and a fluid communication between the equalizing chamber and an acoustic chamber. The assembly simultaneously minimizes the noises of gas pulses inside the suction muffler and the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the tubular connector.
US07866945B2
The present invention provides an axial flow fan capable of increasing an air volume and static pressure more than conventional axial flow fans. A plurality of rotary blades 5 are disposed in a circumferential direction of a rotary shaft 8 at equidistant intervals. A plurality of stationary blades 11 are disposed in the vicinity of a discharge opening 16 of an air channel portion 19 of a housing 3. The stationary blades are disposed in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft 8 at equidistant intervals. The number of the rotary blades is seven (7) and the number of the stationary blades 11 is eight (8).
US07866943B2
Device for attaching ring sectors (20) to a turbine casing (16) in a turbomachine, comprising, at the upstream ends of the ring sectors (20), circumferential coupling means (70, 72) engaged on a casing rail (50) and clamped axially onto the casing rail by a C-section annular locking member (80) engaged axially on the casing rail and on the ring sector coupling means.
US07866936B2
A system and method for transferring mail between containers in an orderly and secure manner. The system and method utilize ejection rods to lift mail from an input tray into a transfer box assembly that deposits the mail into an output tray in an orderly, stable and secure manner, ensuring that mail is not shuffled or lost during the transfer process.
US07866932B1
A container loader includes a loading ram and a side wall protector device for protecting side walls of a container, such as a trailer or a shipping container. The side wall protector device includes a pair of spaced-apart movable side plates with at least one actuator connected to the side plates. The side plates are selectively extendable into spaces adjacent the container side walls by the actuator and are retractable therefrom, such that the side wall protector device substantially contains a loading pressure within the container and substantially prevents the pressure from exerting force upon the container side walls.
US07866930B2
In a bolt of the present invention, a guide portion having a small diameter is formed at the distal end of a shaft portion and ridge having an inverted direction screw configuration relative to the ridge formed on a constant diameter portion is formed. When the bolt is inserted obliquely into a nut and the ridge gets into engagement with a female screw portion of the nut, an effect of floating the bolt is generated, and the bolt cannot be driven into the nut unless it is set in an appropriate tightening posture. Consequently, biting and seizing of the bolt to the nut can be prevented securely. If the ridge is formed into a double threaded screw having an inverted direction screw configuration, the effect can be further intensified.
US07866927B1
A pole installation system includes a pole base and pole member releasably connected to the pole base. A mobile pole caddy is employable to transport the pole member to and from the pole base and to raise or lower the pole member while it is pivotally connected to the pole base to install or disintall the pole member.
US07866925B1
An assembly for securing cargo, the assembly incorporating a load bed having oppositely positioned paired sides; at least a first pair of arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end; arm attaching joints interconnecting the load bed and the proximal ends of the arms, the arm attachments oppositely positioning the arms at one of the load bed's oppositely positioned paired sides; a tie having a pair of ends; tie attaching connections interconnecting the tie's ends and the arms' distal ends so that the load bed, the arms, and the tie border a first cargo securing space; and telescoping quill and shaft combinations connected operatively to the arms, the telescoping quill and shaft combinations being adapted for alternatively distally expanding and proximally contracting the first cargo securing space.
US07866924B2
A clamping mechanism for a cutting insert that clamps the cutting insert in an insert mounting seat having a pair of contacting surfaces facing each other. Contacting surfaces of the insert mounting seat are provided with a pair of inclined planes inclined so as to be formed in a convex V-shape in the cross-section along the contacting direction, and the contact surfaces of the cutting insert are formed in a concave V-shape which has a pair of convex surfaces with roundness to be concave toward the inclined planes, and the pair of inclined planes and the pair of convex surfaces come in contact with each other at a pair of contacting positions, which have an interval therebetween in the width direction orthogonal to the contacting direction.
US07866922B2
An equipment for constructing micropiles in soil, includes a drilling rod with a bit with at least one nozzle jetting fluid forward, and at least one nozzle jetting fluid substantially orthogonal; an element pulling a protective tube, not adhering to the rod. A corresponding method includes drilling with a drilling rod jetting liquid in front of the bit until reaching stable soil strata; drilling and injecting high-pressure grout with one or more lateral nozzles, while the drilling rod rotates; pulling the protective tube, the tube being inserted to the area of grout injection; when the required depth is reached, the proximal end of the drilling rod is anchored to a plate; when the grout is consolidated, traction is applied to the drilling rod if necessary. Grout is injected into the protective tube.
US07866921B2
An apparatus and method to internally provide apertures inside PVC, HDPE, or plastic pipe-riser (blank casing) in existing methane gas recovery wells (extraction wells) that have been installed at Municipal Solid Waste Facilities are described. Apertures in methane well risers allow methane gas, LFG derived from the decomposition of waste, to enter the existing riser and extraction system. This process saves time and cost associated with drilling additional wells to retrieve methane gas from subsequent layers of the waste body. The process assists in maintaining regulatory compliance by capturing LFG and preventing it from being emitted into the atmosphere.
US07866920B2
A system and method for remediation of contaminated soil are provided. The system comprises a soil remediation cell of contaminated soil and a plurality of multi-functional conduits located within the contaminated soil. Each multi-functional conduit defines a reaction housing. The multi-functional conduits includes heating elements for introducing heat into the contaminated soil for volatilizing the contaminants located within the contaminated soil, without utilizing mechanically driven forced air. This produces a contaminated vapor. The system and allows for re-circulation of vapors generated during breakdown of contaminants allowing for use of the re-circulated vapor for heat production and energy use. The system may be utilized for remote access and portability to disparate locations whereby the system does not require use of a container or receptacle. A substantial portion of the contaminants in the contaminated vapor are destroyed in the reaction housing. A substantially non-contaminated vapor is produced in which at least about 80% by weight of the contaminants have been destroyed.
US07866918B2
A soil stabilization and irrigation arrangement is proposed, comprising a useable area (10) and a water compensating device (22) disposed outside the useable area (10). The useable area (10) is formed from a basin (14) which is constructed as watertight and in which a drainage device (18) is arranged near the bottom, and which contains a footing (20); the water compensating device (22) is formed from a water receiving space (23) which is provided with a water inlet (24) and a water outlet (26) and which is in communication with the drainage device (18) of the useable area (10); and the useable area (10) further comprises an arrangement of soil stabilizing mats (32) in the footing (20) above the drainage device (18), wherein the soil stabilizing mats (32) are embodied as permeable to water.
US07866917B2
A device and method for marking pavement surfaces are provided. A trailer comprising an enclosure is adapted to mount a first guide bar supporting an electric motor. Multiple holding brackets are attached to the electric motor for keeping the electric motor on track of the first guide bar though multiple rollers. A metal block housing is supported on a second guide bar attached parallel to the first guide bar. A printer is mounted on the metal block housing and adapted for marking pavement surfaces. The printer comprises a primary reservoir for storing paint, multiple printing heads positioned at multiple openings on the metal block housing for marking the pavement surfaces, and a secondary reservoir for delivering paint to the printing heads through hoses. Multiple gears comprising a rack and a pinion allow the electric motor to control movement of the metal block housing with respect to the second guide bar.
US07866912B2
An energy absorbing system. The energy absorbing system includes a supporting member, a barrier pivotable between a first angular position and a second angular position, where the barrier becomes mechanically coupled to the supporting member when arranged at a predetermined angular position, and an energy absorber mechanically coupled to the supporting member, where the energy absorber absorbs energy when the supporting member travels from a first position to a second position.
US07866904B2
An indent printing apparatus that is capable of indent printing on both sides of a document. A desktop card printer that uses the indent printing apparatus, a method of personalizing a document in the printer, and a ribbon cartridge used with the indent printing apparatus are also disclosed. The indent printing apparatus has first and second indenting mechanisms and uses first and second indent printing ribbon cartridges to enable indent printing on both side surfaces of the document.
US07866891B2
A rolling bearing apparatus is provided that rotatably supports a cam shaft in a cylinder head of an engine. The rolling bearing apparatus includes a plurality of rolling elements; a cage that positions the rolling elements so as to be spaced at regular intervals from each other in a circumferential direction and that retains the rolling elements in a freely rotatable manner; a shell-type outer ring configured to receive the rolling elements and the cage and having a raceway surface of the rolling elements at an inner side thereof; and an outer ring fastening member formed of a material having almost the same thermal expansion coefficient as the shell-type outer ring and having a press-fit portion press-fitted to the shell-type outer ring.
US07866886B2
In the pouch of the present invention in which a pouring spout is formed by means of a heat-sealed part and a non-heat-sealed part by heat sealing plastic films, the inside surfaces of the films that form the portion of the boundary area between the heat-sealed part and non-heat-sealed part of the pouring spout passage on the side of the non-heat-sealed part contact each other so that no gaps are left in a closed state. Accordingly, even if the pouch is suspended with the pouring spout down following the opening of the pouring spout, the leakage of the contents such as a liquid or the like accommodated in the interior of the pouch from the pouring spout a small amount at a time can be securely prevented.
US07866881B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for preparing wellbore viscous treatment gels from dry polymer and water. The apparatus includes an eductor which slurries dry polymer with water, at least two input tubes, wherein one input tube is connected with the eductor, and another to a water source. The apparatus also includes a mixing chimney connected to the input tubes. The mixing chimney includes a lower input section with inlets connected to the input tubes wherein a jet of metered dilution water is applied at high pressure to the incoming polymer-water slurry stream. This mixture is then accelerated in a circular, and preferably upward, motion where it is sheared against the wall of a central section of the chimney, without the use of an impeller. The chimney further includes an output section that comprising holes circumferentially located, through which the mixture passes from the central section and into a hydration tank. The mixture exiting the chimney is polymer-water gel which is essentially fully mixed and de-aerated, and at least partially hydrated.
US07866880B1
A hopper for measuring a predetermined amount of aggregate. The hopper has a body having an open top and plurality of walls, at least one guide extending between at least two of the plurality of walls, and an indicator to provide indication that the hopper contains a first and a second predetermined volume of aggregate.
US07866878B2
A method for mixing fluids and/or solids in a manner that can be varied from maintaining the integrity of fragile molecular and biological materials in the mixing vessel to homogenizing heavy aggregate material by supplying large amounts of energy. Variation in the manner of mixing is accomplished using an electronic controller to generate signals to control the frequency and amplitude of the motor(s), which drive an unbalanced shaft assembly to produce a linear vibratory motion. The motor may be a stepper motor, a linear motor or a DC continuous motor. By placing a sensor on the mixing vessel platform to provide feedback control of the mixing motor, the characteristics of agitation in the fluid or solid can be adjusted to optimize the degree of mixing and produce a high quality mixant.
US07866876B2
The invention relates to a device for the extrusion of thermoplastic synthetic material featuring an extruder screw (2) which is mounted on a housing (1) including a plasticizing section (P) at the inlet side, a degassing section which is mounted upstream on a discharge section (A) and a conveying outlet (3) operating in the opposite direction which is located between the plasticizing section (P) and the degassing section (E). A flow channel (5) that contains a melt filter (4) is bridged over by at least one of the conveying outlets (3) in the opposite direction. To create favorable production conditions, the extruder screw (2) forms a similar conveying outlet (7) operating in the same direction between the conveying outlet (3) in the opposite direction and the downstream port (6) of the flow channel (5). The housing (1) has at least one degassing vent (8) at the transition area of the conveying outlet (3) operating in the opposite direction and the conveying outlet (7) operating in the same direction.
US07866873B2
A planar illumination device comprises a light guide plate, a point-like light source arranged on an incoming-light face of the light guide plate, an inner frame formed substantially in a U-shape on a top view, and an outer frame having a seat portion and side walls wherein the light guide plate is accommodated in the inner frame and mounted on the seat portion of the outer frame, while the point-like light source is arranged along the incoming-light face of the light guide plate and held between the incoming-light face and the side wall of the outer frame. At the inner frame, an elastic action portion which is elastically deformed so as to make a partial contact with the outer frame and energizes the light guide plate toward the point-like light source is provided.
US07866868B2
An optical film has a light incident side and a light emitting side above the light incident side. V shape protrusions disposed side by side are disposed at the light incident side. Collimating units disposed side by side are disposed at the light emitting side. Each of the V shape protrusions and each of the collimating units extend along a predetermined direction. The collimating units are respectively corresponded to the V shape protrusions. Two inclined surfaces of each of the V shape protrusions are respectively a light incident surface and a reflection surface. In each corresponding pair of the V shape protrusion and the collimating unit, a central axis of the collimating unit parallel to the predetermined direction is right above the reflection surface of the V shape protrusion. A backlight module using the optical film is provided to provide a plane light source having high luminance.
US07866863B2
A vehicle headlamp has a segment light source, and a reflector configured to forward reflect light from the segment light source. The segment light source is arranged such that a first predetermined point located at a front end edge of the segment light source is located on a first reference axis. A reflecting surface of the reflector is split into a plurality of reflection regions. At least one of the plurality of reflection regions is constituted as a fan-like reflection region surrounded by a first straight line extending obliquely downward from the first reference axis, and a second straight line extending immediately downward from the first reference axis. The fan-like reflection region is constituted with a curved surface that deflects, diffuses, or reflects the light from the segment light source in a direction orthogonal to the first straight line.
US07866860B2
A handle assembly includes a bezel having a handle cavity defined by a cavity wall and an open front providing access to the handle cavity. The bezel has a slot through the cavity wall and a lamp assembly is mounted to the bezel proximate the slot. The lamp assembly includes a housing and a light pipe held by the housing, where the light pipe includes a first leg extending along a primary axis and a second leg extending along a secondary axis generally perpendicular with respect to the primary axis. The second leg has a lens along an inner surface of the second leg, wherein light is directed through the light pipe along the primary axis to a primary reflective surface provided at the intersection of the first and second legs. The primary reflective surface directs light along the second leg toward the lens.
US07866855B2
A reflector (14) for a luminaire comprises a generally parabolic wall (28) having series of main right-angled prisms (16) and an interleaved series of transition prisms (18). The main and transition prisms have essentially the same shapes and follow the same overall curvature to control the illumination. The transition prisms transition into the main prisms by merging a peak of a transition prism into the valley between adjacent main prisms in a short transition zone (20). Thus, the transition zone has only a small effect on the overall lighting pattern.
US07866853B2
The present invention provides a light-emitting element mounting substrate which includes: a core metal provided with a reflective cup which reflects light emitted from a mounted light-emitting element in a prescribed direction; and an enamel layer having a thickness within a range of 50 μm to 200 μm, and provided on a surface of the core metal. The present invention also provides a light-emitting element module in which a light-emitting element is provided on this light-emitting element mounting substrate, and in which the light-emitting element is sealed with a transparent sealing resin.
US07866852B2
According to certain embodiments, an apparatus for cooling light emitting diodes (LEDs) in projectors includes one or more first LEDs, one or more first heat sinks, one or more second LEDs, and one or more second heat sinks. The first LEDs are configured to generate light, and each first LED has a first desired junction temperature. The first heat sinks are configured to dissipate heat generated by the first LEDs. The second LEDs are configured to generate light, and each second LED has a second desired junction temperature that is higher than the first desired junction temperature. The second heat sinks are configured to dissipate heat generated by the one or more second LEDs. A cooling fan directs air flow over the first heat sinks and the second heat sinks, and an exhaust vent enables the air flow over the first heat sinks and the second heat sinks.
US07866851B2
An LED heat sink having an LED unit and a pipe. The LED unit has a base having a top and an LED chip attached to the top of the base. The pipe has a inlet end, a outlet end, a body, multiple inlets, multiple partitioning walls and multiple partitions. The inlet end is attached to the base of the LED unit. The inlets are defined near the base. The partitioning walls are formed inside the body. The partitions are defined within the body by the partitioning walls and communicate with the inlet end.
US07866839B2
A hand tool with illuminating device includes a hollow handle with a battery unit and an illuminating unit received therein. A transparent seat is fixedly connected to a first end of the handle and includes a ratchet mechanism received therein and a tubular member is fixed to the transparent seat. A driver bit is removably inserted in the tubular member. A switch unit is connected to the second end of the handle and includes a switch member and an end cap is connected to the handle to avoid the switch member from dropping from the handle. A control device is located between the switch member and the end cap so as to control the operation of the illuminating unit.
US07866837B2
A skew light illumination lens body mainly directs the light from a illuminant device to diffuse to a predetermined direction. The lens body includes a base with a receiving slot having a downwards opening for receiving the illuminant device. A top side of the receiving slot is covered by a concaved arc as a light incident side. An convex curved surface is formed deviated from the center axis on the top of the base with a predetermined angle. The dense light of the illuminant device will be refracted and gathered by the concaved arc to the highest point of the convex curved surface and being projected.
US07866836B2
This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the optical elements (mirrors and lenses) of a Fresnel solar concentrator tracking array which approximately eliminates gravitational torque by use of a central universal pivot or gimbals. Linkage torque is produced by induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid to produce angular deflection, and rotational motion that is enhanced by the presence of highly polarizable material. This system is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by the array onto a receiver. Since there are no mechanical linkages, the instant invention is applicable for fabrication from the mini- to the nano-technology realm. The elimination of gravitational torque by balancing the optical elements on a universal pivot or gimbals greatly reduces the power required for the optical elements to track the sun and focus sunlight onto a receiver.
US07866835B2
An auxiliary mirror assembly for the sideview mirror of a car includes an auxiliary sideview mirror, an elongate hollow support post mounted on the auxiliary sideview mirror, two mounting brackets mounted on the support post, and two locking members each pivotally mounted on the support post and each releasably locked onto a respective mounting bracket to releasably lock the respective mounting bracket onto the support post. Each of the mounting brackets includes an adjusting member adjustably mounted on the support post and a clamping member pivotally connected with the adjusting member. The adjusting member of each of the mounting brackets has a serrated portion. Each of the locking members has a toothed portion detachably engaged with the serrated portion of the respective mounting bracket.
US07866828B2
An image display apparatus has a first exhaust fan (13) for mainly exhausting air from a light source unit (9) and discharging the air to the outside of the image display apparatus and a second exhaust fan (14) for mainly exhausting air from a power supply unit (11) and discharging the air to the outside of said image display apparatus. The inspiration face of the second exhaust fan is arranged to partly overlap the expiration face of the first exhaust fan. Accordingly, the internal temperature of the image display apparatus, and hence the temperature of the exhaust air, can be efficiently reduced, and at the same time fan noise of the fans can be reduced. As a result, uprating of power of the light source unit and downsizing of an image display apparatus can be simultaneously achieved.
US07866827B2
An optical device according to an aspect of the invention includes: a plurality of optical elements; a base which supports the plurality of optical elements; and a plurality of element holders which holds the plurality of optical elements and each includes a holder side flow passage for cooling liquid to flow therein, the plurality of element holders holding the plurality of optical elements to connect the plurality of optical elements and the cooling liquid flowing in the holder side flow passage in a heat transferable manner. The base includes a plurality of plate members which are layered on each other to form at least one base side flow passage for the cooling liquid to flow therein. The plurality of element holders and the base can be connected to each other, so that the holder side flow passage and the at least one base side flow passage communicate with each other.
US07866808B2
An ink set for ink-jet recording includes a dye yellow ink, a dye magenta ink, a dye cyan ink, and a dye black ink, wherein regarding a reduction rate in OD value between before and after a predetermined lightfastness test of each patch in the case where a patch of each ink is subjected to the lightfastness test, the order of levels of reduction rates in OD values of a yellow component, a magenta component, and a cyan component in a dye black ink patch is reverse to the order of levels of reduction rates in OD values of a yellow component in the dye yellow ink patch, a magenta component in the dye magenta ink patch, and a cyan component in the dye cyan ink patch.
US07866802B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a sub-tank which stores a certain volume of liquid; a liquid ejecting head which ejects the liquid supplied from the sub-tank; a sheet feeding drum which feeds an ejection target medium to be ejected with the liquid by rotation; a liquid container which stores the liquid to be supplied to the sub-tank; and a supply passage which connects the sub-tank to the liquid container so that the liquid is supplied from the liquid container to the sub-tank. The sheet feeding drum includes a liquid container receiving chamber receiving the liquid container and the liquid container receiving chamber communicates with the supply passage.
US07866800B2
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a liquid droplet jetting head which jets liquid droplets when an actuator is driven; and a wiring member via which a drive signal is outputted to a surface electrode formed in the actuator. The wiring member includes a substrate, a wire provided on the substrate, and a covering member having an insulating property and covering the wire. The wire has an electrode land which is stacked on the surface electrode to be connected to the surface electrode, and the covering member has a first covering layer in which a first opening to expose the electrode land therein is formed and a second covering layer having a second opening communicating with the first opening and covering the first covering layer. The surface electrode and the electrode land are connected in a state that an electroconductive material is interposed therebetween through the first and second openings.
US07866791B2
A printhead is provided having at least first and second rows of print nozzles. Each nozzle has first circuitry of a first type arranged on an opposite side of the nozzle as second circuitry of a second type. The respective positions of the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the first row are rotated 180 degrees relative to the respective positions of the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the second row.
US07866787B2
A maintenance unit for a droplet ejecting device, includes a base frame, a sealing unit, a guiding mechanism, and a supporting part. The sealing unit is capable of sealing nozzles. The guiding mechanism is capable of moving the sealing unit, in association with a reciprocating motion of a carriage between a first position in which the sealing unit seals the nozzles and a second position in which the sealing unit separates from the nozzles. The guiding mechanism includes a first engaging part and a second engaging part that are coupled to the sealing unit. The second engaging part is provided at a side closer to a droplet ejecting region than the first engaging part. The supporting part supports the sealing unit and is in a position either just, below the first engaging part or at a side farther from the droplet ejecting region than the first engaging part when the sealing unit is in the second position.
US07866784B2
The invention provides for a diagnostic probe assembly for a tester which is used to diagnose printhead integrated circuits. The probe assembly includes a support assembly and a controller board mounted on the support assembly and having a processor configured to generate test signals for testing a printhead integrated circuit. A routing board is in operative signal communication with the controller board and is configured to multiplex the generated test signals for respective dies of the printhead integrated circuits. The probe assembly also includes a probe interface in signal communication with the routing board and configured for relaying the multiplexed test signals to and from the respective dies.
US07866774B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with a recording device for printing a recording medium, a conveyance unit arranged below the recording device to face the recording device and adapted to convey the recording medium, and an elevator for moving the conveyance unit upward and downward. The elevator includes an eccentric cam having an eccentrically located rotation axis line. The conveyance unit has a contact surface to be held in contact with the circumferential surface of the eccentric cam and is moved upward and downward by the rotation of the eccentric cam.
US07866757B2
A brush stuffing machine comprising a bristle magazine and a stuffing tool which is movable between a bundle take-over position and a stuffing position, the stuffing tool is pivotally mounted about an axis for movement on a circular arc between the take-over position and the stuffing position.
US07866756B2
A wall extension apparatus is movably positioned on the upper end of a side dump body to increase the carrying capacity thereof. The extension apparatus may be pivotally moved from a transport position to either a first side dumping position to a second side dumping position. When in its transport position, the extension apparatus extends upwardly from the upper ends of the side dump body. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
US07866755B2
An ottoman apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a driving shaft with an end which is tiltably connected to a front end of the seat, and includes a supporting frame connected to the driving shaft so as to be linearly movable over the driving shaft. The supporting frame is movable between a stowage position below the front end of the seat and a foot resting position in front of the seat. The supporting frame and the driving shaft are approximately vertically arranged when the supporting frame is stopped at the stowage position below the front end of the seat. The driving shaft is tilted to a substantially horizontal position by linearly moving the supporting frame over the driving shaft according to the movement of the supporting frame to the foot resting position in front of the seat.
US07866750B2
A permanent-contact mechanism for an office chair or the like is formed as a comparatively flat permanent-contact mechanism with a seat frame, which can be positioned on a chair upright, with a backrest support, which is arranged on the seat frame such that it can be pivoted about a transverse axis, and with at least one spring-activated or inherently resilient lever element, which interacts with the backrest support such that the backrest support is always pivoted counter to a spring force. The position of the point of rotation of the lever element differs from the position of the transverse axis.
US07866745B2
A head rest rear portion is supported to a seat back. A head rest front portion is movable forward and backward between a full-close position that is brought into contact with or close to the head rest rear portion and a full-open position that is a predetermined distance away from the head rest rear portion. A drive mechanism moves the head rest front portion. A detection sensor provided in the head rest front portion includes an electrode having a head portion detecting antenna electrode for detecting a head portion of an occupant at a time when the head rest front portion moves in the full-open position direction, and a finger detecting antenna electrode for detecting a finger of the occupant in a rear seat or the like at a time when the head rest front portion moves in the full-close position direction.
US07866731B2
A power operator assembly is provided for moving a sliding door between a sliding door of a motor vehicle between a closed position and an open position. The power operator assembly includes a guide rail fixedly secured to the motor vehicle and defining a rail length. A slide mechanism slidingly engages the guide rail. A drive is fixedly secured to the guide rail for selectively moving the slide mechanism along the guide rail in either direction. First and second cables each extend between the sliding door and the slide mechanism for moving the sliding door as the slide mechanism is driven along the guide rail. A compound pulley set is operatively connected to the drive and receives the first and second cables for powered movement of the sliding door a multiplied distance greater than the rail length as the slide mechanism is driven along the guide rail.
US07866729B2
An actuating device is provided for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof. The actuating device includes a telescopic arm having a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body. The first and second members are slidable relative to one another to move the actuating device between a retracted position corresponding with the closed position and an extended position corresponding with the open position. A screw is rotatable relative to the first member. The screw includes a cavity formed therewithin. A nut is secured to the second member and threadingly engages the screw such that rotation of the screw moves the second member towards and away from the first member to move the actuating device between the respective retracted and extended positions. A gas spring is at least partially disposed within the cavity of the screw for urging the actuating device into the extended position to move the closure panel into the open position.
US07866722B2
It is to provide a console box, in which a ventilation duct is integrated with the console box without using a slide core, thus suppressing the increase of costs and preventing dew formation in a box body. A vertical wall protrudes downwards from the lower plate of the box body in such a way as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the console box, and a horizontal wall is integrally provided on a lower end of the vertical wall in such a way as to protrude to at least one of left and right sides and extend in the longitudinal direction of the console box. A ventilation duct is defined by the lower plate, the vertical wall, the horizontal wall, and each of the side panels. The console box includes the box body and a pair of left and right side panels, thus allowing the ventilation duct to be easily integrated with the lower portion of the box body without using the slide core. Also, dew is not formed on a wall surface of a storage space.
US07866716B2
An energy absorber for a vehicle bumper system includes a plurality of crush boxes that are configured to absorb impact energy. Each of the plurality of crush boxes are generally hollow and have a front wall and a plurality of side walls integrally formed with and extending from the front wall to a rear of the energy absorber. A first crush box is separated from a second crush box by a distance such that an open space is defined between a side wall of the first crush box and a side wall of the second crush box. At least one rib extends between the side wall of the first crush box and the side wall of the second crush box in the open space to couple the first crush box to the second crush box. The at least one rib is integrally formed with the first crush box and the second crush box, and extends at least partially between the rear of the energy absorber and the front walls of the first and second crush boxes.
US07866710B2
A connector assembly having a male member, a female member and a retainer for releasably securing the male member and the female member. The retainer has inner retainer arms for engaging the male member and an interior portion of the female member, and an outer retainer flange for engaging an outer portion of the female member.
US07866703B2
A re-settable vehicle seat belt pre-tensioner apparatus is disclosed having a first member engagable with a second member that is moveable relative to the first member, and re-settable in response to various sensed driving conditions to pretension the seat belt around the operator and return to a non pre-tensioned status when the driving conditions have passed. The apparatus may be operated by positioning the belt for use; determining whether the seat belt buckle is in use; locking the pre-tensioner and lowering the seat belt buckle below the seat occupation plane; determining whether a threshold vehicle seat belt pre-tension load has been met; raising the belt buckle to a design position, unlocking the retractor; determining whether a threat event is imminent and locking the retractor; lowering the vehicle seat buckle relative to the plane of occupation, determining whether a crash event is occurring, and if yes, deploying a pyrotechnic deployment to secure the occupant in the seat.
US07866689B2
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing seat back frame, wherein a pair of side back frame portions are first provided. Also provided is a first upper back frame portion having an upper surface defining a first profile is provided, and a second upper back frame portion having an upper surface defining a second profile. The second profile is different from the first profile. A desired profile of a vehicle seat back frame is then determined. After the determination, one of the first and the second upper back frame portions is selected for attachment to the pair of side back frame portions corresponding to the desired vehicle seat back frame profile determined previously. The selected one of the first and the second upper back frame portions is secured to the pair of side back frame portions.
US07866685B2
A golf cart collapsible device includes a frame folding articulation, a linking mechanism, a four-bar linkages mechanism, a front wheel, two rear wheels and a locking mechanism. Thus, the front wheel and the rear wheels are folded and expanded simultaneously by driving the upper frame, so that the golf cart is folded and expanded easily, quickly and conveniently. In addition, the front wheel and the rear wheels can be folded and expanded simultaneously, so that the user needs not to hunker or bend his/her body to fold and expand the front wheel individually, thereby greatly facilitating the user folding and expanding the golf cart.
US07866684B2
A ski or ski-like device with an improved edging feature to assist skiers in edging during icy conditions. The edging feature includes a structure and method that provides a lateral edge on the inside of the ski that can extend into the snow surface beneath the bottom surface of the ski. When the ski is turned (i.e., rotated about its longitudinal axis) the extended inside edge of the downhill ski digs into the snow surface to provide improved gripping and control. The edge adapted to extend beneath the bottom surface of the ski is provided either by attaching an edge that extends below the bottom surface of the ski, or by providing a bottom surface of the ski in the region adjacent to the extended edge that is arranged to yield under pressure, to expose the extended edge when vertical force is applied to the bottom surface of the ski during a turn.
US07866673B2
An ice skate assembly for attachment to a boot has a skate blade and a blade heating arrangement mounted within a blade support. The blade is heated by a row of field-effect transistors carried on a circuit board or another type of heating element encapsulated on the top edge of the blade in an over-molded plastic strip which engages into a slot in the support as a wedged fit. The blade is attached by an inclined wedge member a screw for pulling the blade longitudinally of the blade and to draw the inclined wedge member into its receptacle. The battery pack is carried in the rear tower which is sealed against moisture penetration and includes two proximity switches for actuation.
US07866672B2
Skate propulsion mechanisms are provided. In some embodiments, skate propulsion mechanisms comprise: a base plate; a drive wheel couple to the base plate; a shoe plate to which a user's foot can be coupled, which shoe plate can be moved relative to the base plate in response to movements in the user's foot; and a drive mechanism, coupling the shoe plate, the base plate, and the drive wheel, that propels the drive wheel when the user's foot is moved in a first direction and that permits the drivel wheel to operate in a free wheel mode when the user's foot is stationary.
US07866649B2
A sheet aligning apparatus includes a tray device for piling and storing sheets from a sheet outlet, a sheet discharging and delivering device arranged above the tray device, and a shift device for moving the sheet discharging and delivering device between an operating position of pressing the uppermost sheet with predetermined pressing force and a non-operating position of lightening or releasing pressing force. The apparatus also includes a regulating stopper member for colliding the sheets sent by the sheet discharging and delivering device at the sheet front or back ends for regulating sheet position, an aligning device for regulating the sheets on the tray in a direction crossing the sheet discharging direction, and a control device for controlling the sheet discharging and delivering device, the shift device and the aligning device.
US07866636B1
A stanchion base shoe support for railings. The stanchions are set into a concrete slab or curb during the construction. Only the top surface of a mounting plate is exposed prior to mounting the base shoe extrusion. The stanchion is constructed from steel or a similar material. A flange plate at the top of the stanchion provides an easy place to mount a temporary support member when placing the stanchion into the concrete formwork. The stanchion system eliminates all field drilling of concrete. The stanchions have a top plate and cylindrical members that have a set of internal threads. After the concrete is cured, workers apply a base shoe, securing it to the stanchions. This makes drilling and securing the base shoe simpler, easier and more accurate. Once the base shoe is installed, the railing system is built up in the normal manner.
US07866631B2
An apparatus is disclosed for tensioning lines of a winch having a reel and three lines wound about the reel. The apparatus is used to position an object on a support. The first and second lines are wound about the reel in a first direction and the third line is wound about the reel in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first line extends around the first guide, the second line extends around the second guide, and the third line extends between the first and second guides. All three lines are connected to each other and to the object at their distal ends. An inner frame and an outer frame each contact the first and second lines. At least one of the inner frame and outer frame moves with respect to the other of the inner and outer frame to maintain tension in the first and second lines.
US07866627B2
A normally-closed electromagnetic valve has a body member having a receiving space, a fixed core, a valve seat, a moving core, a resilient member urging the moving core toward the valve seat, a valve element and a coil exciting the fixed core to produce an attracting force between the fixed core and the moving core, wherein the moving core has a through hole, the valve element is inserted into the through hole from the valve seat-side, at least a part of the resilient member is inserted into the through hole from the fixed core-side and the resilient member is compressed between a moving core-side end of the fixed core and a fixed core-side end of the valve seat.
US07866625B2
A solenoid valve for a brake system, which has a simplified configuration and can be easily manufactured with reduced manufacturing costs. The solenoid valve includes valve seat member integrally formed with a seat portion having a first orifice, an opening/closing member slidably installed in the valve seat member, the opening/closing member having an inner passage formed through the opening/closing member, an outer passage formed at an outer surface of the opening/closing member, a second orifice formed at one end of the opening/closing member, the second orifice having a smaller diameter than that of the first orifice, and a first opening/closing portion formed at the other end of the opening/closing member to open or close the first orifice, an opening spring to move the opening/closing member, for opening of the first orifice, a sleeve having a first end coupled to an outer surface of the valve seat member and a flange formed at the first end so as to be fixed to a modulator block, a valve core coupled to a second end of the sleeve, opposite to the first end of the sleeve, an armature slidably mounted in the sleeve, the armature having a second opening/closing portion to open or close the second orifice, and a restoring spring to press the armature toward the second orifice.
US07866622B2
An in-wall mount for supporting an electronic display from a wall. The in-wall mount includes a wall interface structure, a display interface structure, and an extensible arm assembly. The display interface structure is selectively outwardly shiftable relative to the wall interface structure between a first position wherein the display interface structure is proximate the wall interface structure and a second position wherein the display interface structure is spaced apart from the wall interface structure, the display interface structure rising vertically relative to the wall interface structure as the display interface structure is shifted from the first position to the second position.
US07866621B1
A system for mounting a flat panel television or display to a surface such as a wall. A base plate is configured to operatively connect to a surface, while an adapter plate is configured to operatively connect to a display device. A plurality of connecting arms are used to operatively connect the base plate to the adapter plate. Each of the plurality of connecting arms includes a base plate engagement portion slidably engageable with slots in the base plate and an adapter plate engagement portion operatively connected to the adapter plate. Movement of the base plate engagement portions within the base plate's slots results in a translational movement of the adapter plate relative to the base plate.
US07866618B2
An automated tilt head assembly for tilting of an electronic display screen from a vertical plane and for rotation of the tilt head assembly about a vertical axis of rotation. The automated tilt head assembly generally includes a mobile carrier surface to which an electronic display device is mounted, a guide system for defining a range of tilt motion about a tilt axis, and a power-driven unit having a motor and gear assembly for automatically and selectively controlling the tilt motion. The motor drives a worm member, which by means of a gear, mates with a toothed sector of the mobile carrier surface, to thereby control the tilt motion of the mobile carrier surface. The tilt head assembly further includes a second power-driven unit having a motor and gear assembly to control rotation of the head assembly about a vertical axis.
US07866613B2
The claimed invention provides an apparatus and system for mounting a wheelchair arm pad to a wheelchair that provides a high degree of support and adjustability such that it can be used with wheelchairs from a wide variety of different manufacturers. In order to provide this custom fit, the claimed invention provides for a single point mounting system having elevation, articulation, depth, and width adjustability.
US07866604B2
An aircraft recovers the energy of conditioned air as it passes from a conditioned zone to outside the aircraft and uses the recovered energy to air condition the aircraft.
US07866602B2
Device for sensing load relief by a secondary path of a flight control actuator having a primary path and a secondary path capable of relieving the load of the primary path in the event of a breakdown thereof, the primary path comprising a screw, the screw terminating in a fastener of the primary path, the secondary path comprising an emergency load relief rod passing through the screw, this rod terminating in a male shape which, when the primary path is carrying the load, is accommodated inside of a female shape of a fastener of the secondary path, characterized in that at least one sensing element is disposed on the male shape terminating the rod, on the female shape or between both of these two shapes, this sensing element being designed to wear down due to the friction between the male shape and the female shape, when the secondary path is loaded and is relieving the load, this sensing element being connected or capable of being connected to means capable of sensing wear on this sensing element and of triggering an alarm when such wear is sensed.
US07866598B2
Systems and methods are provided in which an electrical control system independently effects acceleration of both driven and driving elements of a clutch to engage each other. In preferred embodiments the clutch is not a friction clutch, but a dog clutch, and forms part of a drive drain of a rotorcraft. A second clutch can be used, along with a mechanical interlock to prevent simultaneous engagement of the clutches. Speeds of the driven and driving elements can be sensed, and altered using at least one of a rotor, a brake, a generator, an electric motor, and a combustion motor. In rotorcraft embodiments, the gearbox can have a neutral condition in which no power is transmitted from the engine to the rotor
US07866565B2
An apparatus for producing RFID labels includes a feeding roller drive shaft configured to feed a base tape provided with a plurality of types of RFID circuit elements having an IC circuit part storing information and a tag antenna and corresponding to each of a plurality of types of communication frequency, and an antenna configured to perform information transmission and reception using the plurality of types of communication frequencies with respect to the plurality of types of the RFID circuit elements of a tag label tape with print being fed, and when a RFID label production command for producing a RFID label is input from an operation terminal, a central control part control in coordination so that the plurality of types of RFID labels using the plurality of types of RFID circuit elements, respectively, corresponding to the command is produced in a lump sum.
US07866563B2
Token including a token body obtained by at least one injection of material around an insert including a contactless identification device attached to a rigid plate sandwiched between two layers of injected material, the rigid plate including at least one through-hole. The invention also concerns the method of manufacturing such a token, including placing the insert in a mold, injecting a plastic material around the insert to form at least a portion of the core of the token, and at least one injection of plastic material around the assembly formed by the insert and the portion of the core obtained after the first injection of plastic material.
US07866557B2
An imaging system for use in an bar code reader for imaging a target bar code. The imaging system includes a 2D sensor array generating a series of image frames and The sensor array can be selectively operated in a rolling shutter mode of operation or a pseudo global shutter mode of operation. The imaging system further includes an imaging lens assembly to focus light from the field of view onto the sensor array and an image analysis system for analyzing the series of image frames generated by the sensor array for image brightness and, based on image brightness, operating the sensor array in a selected one of the rolling shutter mode of operation and the pseudo-global shutter mode of operation.
US07866556B2
A payment terminal including a magnetic card reader, a decoder receiving analog signals from the magnetic card reader and providing a digital data output to utilization circuitry and data integrity assurance circuitry operative to eliminate spurious data due to Electromagnetic Field (EMF) interference.
US07866554B2
Systems and methods for event driven baggage management are disclosed. Readers are used to detect and monitor the location of tags attached to baggage as the baggage moves from the point at which a traveler drops of the baggage at the origin of a trip to the point at which the traveler picks up the baggage at a destination location. Methods and systems that are capable of detecting when a bag has been lost or misdirected and searching for the lost or misdirected bag are also disclosed. Notification may be sent directly to a traveler or the carrier when specified baggage events occur. Additionally, systems and methods for communicating a destination of an object to a wireless earphone device worn by an object handler are also disclosed.
US07866544B1
An ATM transaction request is authorized based on the determined location of an authorized user relative to the ATM. Identification of an authorized ATM user is linked to a remotely locatable item (e.g., a cell phone) of the authorized user. An ATM receiving the identification causes the location of the cell phone to be determined. A comparison is then made of the cell phone location and the ATM location. If the locations correspond, then the current ATM user is recognized as the authorized user and ATM transactions are permitted. If the locations do not correspond, then the current ATM user is denied ATM transactions. The security arrangement can prevent an unauthorized ATM user from using a fraudulent ATM card to access a financial account.
US07866540B2
A resilient device for absorbing at least one of shock and vibration includes a first portion, and a second portion which extends outwardly from the first portion and curves in a first direction away from the first portion and then recurves in a second direction towards the first portion. The method includes the step of securing the first portion to one of a first member and a second member disposed in spaced relationship to the first member and the step of abuttingly engaging the second portion to an opposed one of the first member and the second member wherein the second member is capable of withstanding application of at least one of shock and vibration and the resilient member temporarily changes its original shape for absorbing such at least one of shock and vibration.
US07866533B2
In a method of removing conductive balls that are left on a mask provided on a substrate having pads thereon, the method includes: (a) making a sheet member close to the mask using a contacting mechanism such that a gap between the sheet member and the mask is set small than a diameter of the conductive balls. The conductive balls are removed in such a manner that the conductive balls are adhered onto the sheet member.
US07866518B2
A tape feeder 1 includes a carrying sprocket 4 for carrying a carrier tape 3 at inside of a cabinet 2, a motor 5 for driving to rotate the carrying sprocket 4, a driven sprocket 6 driven to rotate by a movement of the carrier tape 3 carried at inside of the cabinet 2, and an exfoliating roller 7 rotated cooperatively with rotation of the driven sprocket 6 for reeling to exfoliate a cover tape 12 pasted onto the carrier tape 3 for sealing a part, in which driving of the motor 5 is transmitted as an operation of carrying the carrier tape 3 and is transmitted to the driven sprocket 6 by way of the carrier tape 3.
US07866515B1
A paddle for securing at least one holster or accessory carrier at a desired attitude, the paddle including an attachment plate, a first arcuate slot defined through the attachment plate, a second arcuate slot defined through the attachment plate, a compound slot defined through the attachment plate below the first and second slots, wherein fastening means are capable of engaging points of attachment defined on a holster or accessory carrier, and wherein a relative angle of the holster or accessory carrier to the attachment plate is adjustable by coordinated adjustment of the fastening means within each of the first arcuate slot, the second arcuate slot, and the compound slot.
US07866514B1
A container has a hollow receptacle element (10) for holding a medium to be dispensed, and a dispensing opening (12) communicating with a hollow chamber (14) of a sealing element (18). The sealing element (18) is detachable by a point of separation (20). To reduce the free volume of the hollow chamber (14), opposite wall components (22) of the sealing element (18) are displaced into the hollow chamber (14). The dispensing medium stored in the receptacle element (10) is prevented from being able to unintentionally penetrate into the hollow chamber (14) where it would no longer being available for a removal process. The invention also relates to a device for production of such a container.
US07866511B2
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a dispensing system for use in lavatories. The system may include a container, a mount, and optionally, a conversion module. The container may have an attached dispensing mechanism and a projection that is adapted to fit into a receiver on the mount or conversion module. The receiver may be adapted to engage the projection on the container. The assembled system secures the container into the mount and allows the container to be rotated to a proper orientation while it is secured to the mount.
US07866505B2
A portable and lockable storage container includes a lid, a base, a locking mechanism, and a securing cable. The lid defines a lid aperture therein proximate a front edge portion of the lid. The base is hingedly connected to the lid along at least part of rear edge portions of the base and the lid. The lid and the base define a chamber when the lid is closed. The locking mechanism is connected to the base proximate a front edge portion of the base. The front edge portion of the base substantially aligns with the front edge portion of the lid when the lid is closed. The securing cable is designed to allow at least part of a first end portion of the securing cable to pass through the lid aperture and cooperate with the locking mechanism to retain the lid in a closed position.
US07866468B2
A medical instrument sterilization pouch for efficiently bagging hinged instruments. The medical instrument sterilization pouch generally includes a pouch including a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer are comprised of a gas permeable material and wherein the first layer is attached to the second layer via an outer seal substantially surrounding an outer perimeter of the first layer and the second layer. The first layer and the second layer are further impermeable to micro-organisms or toxins. The pouch includes a first lower portion and a second lower portion, wherein the first lower portion is separated from the second lower portion and wherein the first lower portion and the second lower portion form a recessed portion between thereof. The pouch preferably receives a medical instrument (i.e. surgical pliers), wherein the medical instrument is sterilized within the pouch and is then positioned upon a respective tool rack (i.e. pliers rack).
US07866466B2
A slide and shell container, which finds particular application as a pack for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes, and which includes an outer shell having a first access opening; and an inner slide having a second access opening. The inner slide is mounted within the outer shell for slidable movement relative thereto between a closed position, in which the second access opening is occluded by the outer shell and the interior of the inner slide is inaccessible, and an open position, in which the second access opening is substantially aligned with the first access opening such that the interior of the inner slide is accessible through the first and second access openings.
US07866462B2
A conveyor apparatus for use with a conveyor belt includes an elongate conveyor support frame and a plurality of conveyor support devices mounted on this frame. These devices include a tail pulley mechanism having two tail pulley sections mounted on a pulley support for rotation about a common central axis of rotation. The pulley support includes a central support portion located at inner ends of the pulley sections and extending radially outwardly from these inner ends to a vertically extending pivot axis. An interconnecting support arrangement mounts the pulley support on the conveyor support frame and includes a pivot connector connecting the central support portion for pivotable movement about the pivot axis. An actuator can pivot the pulley support about the pivot axis to maintain the conveyor belt within a central region of the tail pulley.
US07866460B2
The transport device especially for transporting flat substrates through a coating installation comprises a plurality of transporting rolls, which are arranged transversely in relation to the transporting direction, and supporting rolls are also provided.
US07866446B2
A device for reducing the energy consumption is used in an elevator installation which can be alternatively brought into an operating mode and a standby mode wherein in the standby mode the elevator installation is separated from a main energy source and connected with an auxiliary energy source, by means of which basic functions of the elevator installation are maintained so as to enable later entry into the operating mode. The device includes a detecting unit in order to detect a use criterion describing the current use status of the elevator installation. Moreover, a power-saving unit with a microprocessor is provided in order to bring the elevator installation from the operating mode to the standby mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the use criterion and fulfillment of standby criteria and to bring it from the standby mode to the operating mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the standby criteria.
US07866440B2
The invention includes a joint assembly for connecting first and second longitudinal edges of portions of an acoustic barrel or panel having an open cell core, a perforated inner skin, and an outer skin. The joint assembly includes at least one strip covering a plurality of openings in walls of cells along the first and second longitudinal edges. The strip is separate from the inner and outer skins. A plate includes a first portion connected to the outer skin proximate to the first longitudinal edge, and a second portion connected to the outer skin proximate to the second longitudinal edge.
US07866436B2
A planet gear mechanism 19 interposed between a steering 2 and steerable wheels 4L and 4R is interposed. A torque controlling motor 25 for controlling a torque acting on the steering 2 and a transmission-rate varying motor 20 for driving the planet gear mechanism 19 are arranged coaxially (on an axial A) with the planet gear mechanism 19. This eliminates the need for arranging each motor 20 and 25 on the both ends of the axis A to face each other, and also reduces a space occupied by the motors 20 and 25 with respect to a radial direction of the axis A. As a result, reduction in the size of an apparatus can be achieved.
US07866433B2
A carrier assembly has a unique architecture which allows the carrier assembly to be defined by a very small packaging envelope. The carrier includes a main carrier housing with an internal cavity for receiving a differential and a carrier cover that closes the internal cavity once the differential has been installed. Examples of architectural features include a differential lock actuator that is mounted to the carrier cover, dowel pins that accommodate differential leg thrust loads and align the carrier cover relative to the main carrier housing, and bolt-in differential leg structures to facilitate pinion installation. Further, the carrier assembly can be utilized with an independent suspension to provide a increased jounce travel range.
US07866432B2
The present invention discloses an electric vehicle chassis applicable to the field of the electric vehicle technology. The object is to provide an electric vehicle with light weight and good driving stability. The electric vehicle chassis according the present invention comprises a frame and a power real axle, wherein the left and right rear wheels connected to the rear axle are driven by left and right motors, respectively, and a pendulum shaft is provided between the real axle and the frame for the swinging of the rear axle. Meanwhile, the rear wheels on both sides of the rear axle can also be directly driven by the respective full gear reduction motors, and the rear axle can be provided with a limiting swinging device thereon. The present invention includes characteristics such as light weight, low center of gravity, impossibility of turning over sideward during full speed steering, flexibility and automatic restoration, and is suitable for sports and recreation.
US07866430B2
A vehicle with two parallel wheels according to the invention has split steps (2L, 2R), a vehicle body, a pair of wheels (4L, 4R) coaxially parallelly arranged, a pair of wheel drive units for independently driving the wheels (4L, 4R), and a pair of step run-on assisting mechanisms (8L, 8R) arranged corresponding to the wheels (4L, 4R) and changing the degree of dependency of step run-on operation. The step run-on assisting mechanisms (8L, 8R) each have an assisting turning member (15) having a circular arc support surface with a curvature radius greater than the radius of the wheel (4L, 4R) and having its turning center in front, in the travel direction, of the rotation center of the wheel, a link member (16) rotatably supporting the assisting turning member (15), and a damper (25, 26) for changing, according to the speed at which the assisting turning member (15) collides with a step, force retaining one end of the link member (16).
US07866429B2
A coaxial two-wheeled vehicle includes a plurality of wheels disposed in parallel, a vehicle body, at least one of a step plate and a seat, an operating member, and a mechanism. The vehicle body supports plurality of wheels rotatably. The step plate is coupled to the vehicle body to carry a driver in an upright attitude. The seat is coupled to the vehicle body to seat the driver. The operating member is coupled to the vehicle body and operated by the driver for inputting driver's operation including an accelerating operation and a decelerating operation. The mechanism is configured to move at least one of the step plate and the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body in accordance with an operation of the operating member.
US07866421B2
A remote-controlled dynamoelectric machine maintenance vehicle that can fit and travel within the air gap between a stator and rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. The maintenance vehicle has an effectuator that can remotely attach to an adjustable wedge within a coil slot of the stator and tighten the wedge in position and then move on to repeat the process until all the wedges on the stator are secured.
US07866415B2
An exemplary device carried on a rotating drill string includes an actuator that moves force application members and an associated controller. The force application members are actuated by an eccentricity between a force application members housing and the actuator. The controller synchronizes the extension of the force application members with the rotation of the drill string such that a steering force applied by the force application members is applied in the same azimuthal direction. The controller may also control magnitude of the steering force by adjusting the eccentricity. Another exemplary device maintains a wellbore device, such as a sensor, in a substantially non-rotating condition relative to a reference frame. The device includes a sensor conveyed by a rotating wellbore tubular, a drive configured to rotate the sensor; and a processor that controls the drive to maintain the sensor in a substantially non-rotating condition relative to the reference frame.
US07866412B2
A vibration attenuated power drill. The drill includes a housing incorporating a motor for driving an output shaft. A drill bit is driven by the output shaft by means of cooperating ratchet plates contained in a gearbox. The motor has a stator and a rotor, and is provided with leaf springs which attenuate vibrations transmitted from the motor to the housing along the axis of rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.
US07866406B2
A method for plugging a downhole wellbore including, running an anchor and swellable seal disposed at a mandrel within the downhole wellbore, setting the anchor within the downhole wellbore, releasing the anchor and the swellable seal, and swelling the swellable seal into contact with another downhole structure.
US07866403B1
Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.
US07866401B2
The present invention provides for a valve to allow injection of fluids into a well or other subterranean facility. The valve comprises a housing and a flow tube assembly disposed in the housing. A restrictor is joined with the flow tube to restrict flow through the flow tube. A seal element also is positioned to selectively prevent production or upward flow of fluids through the valve upon halting injection operations.
US07866394B2
Methods of cementing in subterranean formations, cement compositions, and methods for making the compositions are provided. A cement slurry is passed into a subterranean formation, and a swelling agent is passed into the subterranean formation to reduce an amount of water flowing into the cement slurry. The swelling agent may be combined with a carrier fluid before being displaced into the subterranean formation. Alternatively, the swelling agent may be pre-mixed with the cement slurry to form a new cement composition, followed by displacing the cement composition into the subterranean formation. The swelling agent is present in an amount effective to, upon absorption of water and swelling to form a gel mass, substantially block the flow path of the water into the cement composition or reduce losses to low pore pressure intervals, thereby preventing the integrity of the cement composition from being compromised or lost to voidage, fractures, fissures, etc.
US07866391B2
This invention relates to a shoe for wellbore lining tubing and to a method of locating wellbore lining tubing in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a shoe (30) is disclosed which includes a tubular outer body (32) that is coupled to a wellbore lining tubing (28), and a tubular inner body (36) located within the outer body and coupled to fluid supply tubing (38). A generally annular flow area (44) is defined between the bodies which is in selective fluid communication with the well-bore (10), for the return flow of fluid from the wellbore through a flow port (62) in the outer body, along the shoe and into an annulus (46) defined between the wellbore lining tubing and the fluid supply tubing. A valve assembly (40) of the shoe has an actuating member (92) located within the inner body, and a flow controller (96) for selectively closing the flow port. A ball (98) is used to prevent further fluid flow through the inner body into the wellbore. Exposure of the actuating member to fluid at a first fluid pressure then causes the actuating member to move to an actuating position where the flow controller closes the flow port. Exposure to fluid at a second fluid pressure higher than said first pressure reopens fluid flow from the inner body into the wellbore.
US07866390B2
The apparatus of the present invention provides a top drive supported tool for making up and running casing strings into a borehole. The tool comprises a fill-up and circulation assembly and a launcher assembly that is adapted to cooperate with a connectable cement wiper plug assembly for launching wiper plugs that control cement placement in the annulus between a casing string and a borehole containing the casing string. The tool of the present invention shortens or eliminates delays in well operations, thereby improving integrity of cement liners formed by placing cement slurry in a targeted interval.
US07866385B2
Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one method includes treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method may include providing heat to the formation; producing heated fluid from the formation; and generating electricity from at least a portion of the heated fluid using a Kalina cycle.
US07866384B2
The invention relates to a downhole device for incorporation into a downhole string and movement in a wellbore. The device comprises a body member, at least one roller arranged on the device to engage the inner surface of the wellbore and means to orient the device in the wellbore. The means to orient the device are provided on the or each roller. Preferably the means to orient the device comprise a projecting portion provided on the or each roller which projects radially outwardly from the body member. The projecting portion can be an eccentrically-shaped portion of the or each roller.
US07866380B2
The present invention provides a system and method for producing hot water without a flame. The system and method heats water to at least a specified temperature without a flame by providing a source of water and a prime mover, pumping water from the source of water into one or more heat exchangers, pre-heating the water using the one or more heat exchangers, heating the pre-heated water to at least the specified temperature without a flame using a dynamic heat generator driven by the prime mover, using the heated water in the one or more heat exchangers to pre-heat the water and providing the heated water to an output.
US07866374B2
A heat pipe includes a cylinder-shaped casing (100) containing a working fluid therein and a capillary wick (200) arranged on an inner wall of the casing. The capillary wick encloses a vapor passage (300) in a center of the casing. The capillary wick includes a plurality of shaped foils stacked on the inner wall of the casing along a radial direction thereof. The foils are sintered to the inner wall of the casing and define a multi-channel structure for the working fluid to flow from a condensing section to an evaporating section of the heat pipe.
US07866373B2
A heat pipe includes a metal casing (10) filled with a working fluid therein, a capillary wick (20) provided inside of the metal casing and a tube (30) contacting with a surface of the capillary wick. The metal casing includes an evaporating section (40), a condensing section (60) and an adiabatic section (50) between the evaporating section and the condensing section. A vapor passage (70) is formed inside of the casing and a liquid channel (80) is defined by the capillary wick. The working fluid in vapor state flows from the evaporating section towards the condensing section along the vapor passage and the working fluid in liquid state returns to the evaporating section from the condensing section along the liquid channel. The tube separates the vapor from the liquid at a place where the tube is located.
US07866370B2
An article includes a blade casting core combination. The combination includes a ceramic feedcore and a metallic core. The ceramic feedcore has: a root end; a tip end; a leading end; a trailing end; a first side; a second side; and a plurality of legs extending between the root and tip ends and arrayed between the leading and trailing ends. The metallic core has: a first face; a second face; a first portion extending from the feedcore trailing end; and a second portion extending from the tip end. The article may be a pattern where the core is embedded in a wax or may be a shell formed from such a pattern. The article may be used in a method for forming the resultant blade.
US07866368B2
Adjacent panels of a folding door included opposed edges having a tongue and groove, pinch proof construction. The panels are formed of spaced sheet metal sections with an insulating form between the sections. The panels are hinged along their opposed side edges by hinges with attachable bracket and brace members for support of edge mounted rollers and reinforcing cross braces.
US07866367B2
A control device for blinds includes a transmission unit, a scrolling unit and a tilting unit, the transmission unit includes a case in which a coil spring and a gear unit are received. The coil spring is connected between the gear unit and the case. The scrolling unit includes two scrolling rods which are rotated with a transmission rod. Each scrolling rod has a lift cord wrapped thereon and extending through slats of the blinds. The tilting unit includes two tilt members connected to two respective end sections of the two scrolling rods. Two tilt cords have two respective positioning members which are clamped in two clamp grooves of the two tilt members and the tilt cords extend through the slats. The gears in the gear unit can be adjusted so as to cooperate with slats of different weights.
US07866352B2
Powder-particle material in compression molding is transferred using air suction power and filled thinly, evenly and rapidly in a female mold. An adsorption pad 21 which is held so as to be freely movable in the vertical direction is provided at a movable cylinder 7, which can move in the horizontal direction in a space between a metal supply hopper 2 and a female mold 34 and rotate 180°, and powder particle material is laid in a scraped manner at the adsorption pad 21, adsorbed by actuating a vacuum pump 14, transferred to the female mold 34 in this state, turned around and caused to fall into the mold by terminating adsorption.
US07866351B2
A tool for twisting of the bare ends of electrical wires or conductors or connectors while simultaneously restraining rotation of wires at a predetermined distance from their bare ends. The tool reduces repetitive motion of the user when making electrical connections and can also enables the user to make more secure electrical connections. The various embodiments illustrate the invention as a hand tool or in conjunction with a power tool.
US07866339B2
Disclosed is a pressure regulator for a fuel supply unit of a motor vehicle comprising a valve for joining a connection to an outlet above a designated pressure in the connection, a valve body and a valve seat, and a spring element for prestressing the valve body against the valve seat, characterized in that the valve body is designed as a sheet-metal part.
US07866336B1
A mechanical emergency liquid shut-off device which comprises a liquid sensing unit placed upon a floor of a room. A pair of pulley assemblies are mounted in a spaced apart relationship to a ceiling of the room. A liquid flow pipe having a shut-off valve is located within the ceiling of the room. A spool has a shaft rotatably connected to the shut-off valve in the liquid flow pipe. A first cable has a first end coupled to the liquid sensing unit, wherein the first cable extends through the pulley assemblies. A second cable has a first end wound upon the spool, wherein the second cable extends through the pulley assemblies. A ballast weight has a second end of the first cable and a second end of the second cable affixed thereto. When the liquid sensing unit detects liquid coming into the room from a leak in the liquid flow pipe, it will allow the first cable to move about the pulley assemblies making the ballast weight drop down and pull the second cable causing the first end of the second cable on the spool to unwind rotating the spool and the shaft, thereby closing the shut-off valve and stopping the liquid leak in the liquid flow pipe.
US07866332B1
An apparatus for shielding an elevated fixture, such as a chandelier, ceiling fan or other elevated fixture to create a work volume proximate the fixture adapted to contain, illustratively, fixture cleaning materials.
US07866329B2
A roller cleaning apparatus for cleaning and/or drying a roller such as a paint roller by directing jets of solvent against the surface of the roller—to spin the roller to expel liquid from the roller by centrifugal force. A jet spray manifold with a riser conduit connector for connection to a source of pressure fluid is mounted on the bottom side of a lid structure. A roller to be cleaned is also mounted to the bottom side of the lid structure in position for spinning and cleaning. The lid structure may be mounted on a standard paint bucket or other support.
US07866327B1
A packaging and applicator device comprises a receptacle for containing the substance to be applied, an applicator comprising a rod provided at one end with an applicator element, and a wiper member for wiping the rod and the applicator element while the applicator is being extracted from the receptacle. The applicator element forms an angle with the rod and has an elastically deformable body and/or core capable of deforming elastically to pass through the wiper member while the applicator is being withdrawn, the wiper member deforming substantially less than the applicator element while the applicator element is passing through the wiper member.
US07866326B2
A hair coloring apparatus comprises upper and lower hinged body parts closable about a lock of hair (58). Within the body parts is contained a drive mechanism and a color applicator (32) so that, when applied to a user's hair and closed, the apparatus moves progressively down a lock of hair (58) applying hair treatment material as it moves.
US07866325B2
The present invention relates to a smoking article comprising two layers of wrapper material, the outer wrapper having an air permeability of at least 200 C.U. and having a greater permeability than the inner wrapper. Encapsulated flavour is held between the inner and outer wrappers. The encapsulation technique is dependent upon the flavour to be encapsulated and the sidestream to mainstream flavour delivery ratio required. Sidestream smoke may be altered without altering the mainstream smoke, thereby altering room odors.
US07866321B2
The restraining apparatus includes a housing having an interior. A first end of a binding loop strap is attached to the interior of the housing and a second end is routed through the housing and connected to a handle for pulling with one hand. The binding loop is slideably movable in a first direction to reduce the overall dimension of the loop. The binding loop is slideably movable in a second direction to expand the overall dimension of the binding loop. A locking mechanism is disposed in the interior of the housing and connects to the binding loop. The locking mechanism includes both a lower cleat and an upper cleat for controlling the movement of the binding loop through a groove within the locking mechanism. When the lower cleat is engaged, the overall dimension of the binding loop decreases. When the upper cleat is engaged, the overall dimension of the binding loop increases.
US07866317B2
An inhalation device may include a control and an air pump that is connected to the control. The air pump is controlled by the control such that the air pump supplies an inhalation flow, or inhalation volume or both according to a predetermined time course to a nebulizer connected to the air pump. The inhalation flow, inhalation volume or both is controlled by controlling the air pump, rather than by using valves.
US07866316B2
A nebulizer and a method of breathing using the nebulizer is described. The nebulizer and breathing techniques are capable of delivering medicament into the sinus cavity of a user.
US07866300B2
In a device for the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, including at least one high-pressure accumulator (1), an injector (4), at least one high-pressure line (7) connecting the high-pressure accumulator (1) with the injector (4), and a resonator line (16) arranged in parallel with the high-pressure line (7) between the injector (4) and the high-pressure accumulator (1) and including a resonator throttle (17) on the side of the high-pressure accumulator, the resonator line (16) is formed by an insert piece (18) pressed into the bore of the high-pressure line and is, in particular, formed within the same.
US07866297B2
A rotary internal combustion engine has two opposing rotary discs. Each rotary disc has a half-cylindrical chamber located around its perimeter. An outer casing encompasses both rotary discs. Intake and exhaust ports and necessary engine controls are formed in said outer casing. Pistons formed in each said disc. Half of said piston is connected permanently to one said rotary disc the other half of said piston slides in the half cylindrical chamber of the opposing said rotary disc. The pistons and cylindrical chambers develop varying volumes in each chamber, depending on the position of each disc and respective piston. These varying volumes perform different cycles common to four stroke piston engines. Mechanical devises allow the discs to rotate in only one direction. Mechanical devises allow the disc to engage output shaft in only one direction. From output shaft work can be derived.
US07866295B2
An internal combustion engine is provided having a cylinder case with at least one cylinder bore wall defining at least one cylinder bore. At least one piston is reciprocally movable within the at least one cylinder bore. The at least one piston includes at least one skirt portion preferably having a barrel-shaped profile. The cylinder bore wall has an oleophobic characteristic, while the at least one skirt portion has an oleophilic characteristic. The oleophobic and oleophilic characteristic is produced by at least one of coating and machining the at least one cylinder bore wall and the at least one skirt portion, respectively.
US07866292B2
Apparatus and methods for shifting the phase between a driver gear and a driven gear in communication by a timing belt are provided as well as methods for configuring the apparatus. The apparatus may continuously vary the phase relationship between the driver gear and the driven gear.
US07866291B2
A camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine includes a driven hub attached to a camshaft, and a drive sprocket journaled to the driven hub. A locking device uses a pin receptacle having a locking bore and an engagement ramp which is contiguous with the locking bore to allow a locking pin to extend partially from its housing pin bore before the locking pin is registered with the locking bore.
US07866288B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for varying the control times of an internal combustion engine (100), having a driving wheel (12), a driven element (8) and a swashplate mechanism (2). The torque of a crankshaft (101) is transmitted by means of a primary drive to the driving wheel (12) and further by means of the swashplate mechanism (2) to the driven element (8) which is connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a camshaft (9).The swashplate mechanism (2) is composed of at least one bevel wheel (3) and a swashplate (5) which is mounted on an adjusting shaft (15).It is the aim of the invention to reduce the mass and the installation space of the device (1).
US07866286B2
Valve lift in an internal combustion engine is controlled by an electro-hydraulic actuation mechanism including a selectively actuable hydraulic feedback circuit.
US07866284B2
The invention relates to an oscillating piston engine comprising a housing that contains a first and at least a second piston, both of which can rotate about a fixed rotational axis in the housing and which when rotating about said axis execute counter-rotating displacements back and forth about a pivoting axis that runs perpendicular to the rotational axis through the centre of the housing. A working chamber is situated between opposing end faces of the first and at least second piston. The housing is provided with at least one gas exchange opening for admitting or discharging a gas into or from the working chamber. The pistons are arranged in such a way that the rotational axis runs through the working chamber. The pistons are mounted to slide in a piston cage, which is located in the housing, is concentric with the rotational axis, and rotates together with the pistons about said axis. The gas exchange opening is arranged eccentrically in relation to the rotational axis, on one end face of the housing.
US07866281B2
A treatball for storing and dispensing pet treats has an elastic body and is restorably compressible in response to an external force applied to the body and has a plurality of spaced-apart internal baffles. A method of making the treatball includes providing an internal mold, introducing an elastomeric material onto the internal mold, molding the elastomeric material into a shape that is representative of the treatball, and extracting the internal mold through an opening in the treatball. Therein, the elastomeric material has sufficient hot tear resistance to allow the internal mold to be extracted through the opening of the treatball without tearing the treatball.
US07866270B2
A tillage shank assembly has one or more substance delivery tubes supported along the back edge of the generally upright shank of the assembly. A pair of side plates on opposite sides of the shank have rear margins that project rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the shank to define a protective gap within which the tubes are disposed. Laterally extending projections on the tubes are received within selected ones of a vertical series of holes in the side plates, depending upon the desired depth for the tubes. By temporarily removing a bolt that attaches the tops of the side plates to the shank, the side plates may be separated sufficiently to permit the projections of the tubes to be withdrawn from their current holes and reinserted into other holes to change their vertical locations. Replacing the bolt and tightening it down returns the side plates to their working positions.
US07866269B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus to improve seed distribution to a plurality of seed or row units of an agricultural planter. Each row unit is fitted with a seed box having an air/seed inlet and an air outlet through which air is allowed to escape. The present invention effectively closes off or substantially reduces the flow of air out of one or more of the seed boxes to reduce the amount of seed that is fed to the seed boxes. Through the use of restrictor plates, which may be vented to allow some air flow or solid to prevent air flow, the delivery of seed to the seed boxes can be equalized to provide more uniform seed distribution to the row units.
US07866262B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure; a method of processing a substrate media having an image injected thereon is provided and includes the step of passing the substrate media through a nip defined between a heated fuser drum and a pressure roll. A fixer subsystem, for use in a system for printing on a substrate media, where the subsystem includes a rotatable, heatable fuser drum defining an axis of rotation; and a rotatable pressure roll operatively associated with the fuser drum and defining an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the fuser drum. The pressure roll is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the fuser drum to vary a length of contact of substrate media and image with fuser drum.
US07866261B2
Methods and apparatuses for attaching metal stencil foils to screen mesh using thermoplastic materials. Mechanical, rather than adhesive, attachment of metal stencil foils to screen mesh is accomplished by melting thermoplastic material so as to encapsulate portions of metal stencil foils and screen mesh resulting in faster, less expensive, and more durable bonding.
US07866256B2
A smoker attachment for heating and burning smoking particles for a gas grill includes a housing and end caps. The housing is an elongate hollow member with a triangular cross-section. The housing has open ends and a slot just below the apex. A cavity of the housing holds the smoking particles. End caps cover the open ends. For flavoring food on a gas grill, the smoker assembly, filled with smoking particles, is used in place of one sear bar located directly above one of the gas burner tubes. Heat released from the gas burner tube directly below the base of the smoker attachment causes the smoking particles to ignite and smolder. This smoke flows through the slot in the housing and fills the grill area. During this process, the food being cooked on the grill is flavored by the smoke.
US07866255B1
A hot beverage brewer (10) having a hot water dispense system (12), a brew basket assembly (18) for holding ingredient to be mixed with the hot water to make a freshly brewed hot beverage and a controller (16) for controlling the delivery of hot water from the hot water dispenser system to the brew basket (18) with a spray distribution assembly (14) having a spray head (20) having a generally vertical passageway (22) for receipt of hot water and a spray plate (38) with a an umbrella-like body (34) with a downwardly, outwardly tapered top with radiating, outwardly, downwardly directed, upwardly facing grooves and an upwardly standing central core (58) snuggly received within the passageway (22) joined to the top of the umbrella-like member (34) with a plurality of radially, outwardly facing grooves (68) extending from the top to the bottom to form a plurality of peripheral closed channels for passing hot water to upwardly facing grooves (74) of the umbrella-like body. The umbrella-like member (34) has a surrounding outer edge that varies in radial distance from the core around a periphery of the umbrella like body to form a plurality of radially extending pedals (80) separated by a plurality of slots (82). Tooless securing means (32, 60) permits relative rotation of the core within the passageway (22) scrape clean the core and passageway of residue.
US07866235B2
A multi-angle tool handle including a handle device, a connecting device and a locking unit adapted for connecting an interconnecting element to the handle device. The locking unit is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the locking unit is in the first position, the interconnecting element is able to pivot and slide with respect to the handle device. And when the locking unit is in the second position, the interconnecting element is fixed with respect to the handle device in position.
US07866229B2
An automatic length compensating device (30) for a flexible cable transmission (8) having a core (12) sliding inside a sheath (10). The device (30) has a first and a second member (31, 32) inserted at least partly one inside the other in a predetermined direction (B) and defining, in that direction (B), respective through seats (33, 34) fitted through with the core (12) of the transmission (8); elastic means (35) interposed between the first and second member (31, 32), and which provide for increasing mutual withdrawal of the first and second member (31, 32); and releasable locking means (50) defining a number of mutually engaged positions of the first and second member (31, 32) corresponding to different extensions of the device (30) in the aforementioned direction (B). The second member (32) has two arms (40) engaged between two corresponding arms (38) of the first member (31), and the locking means are defined by toothed coupling means (50) between each arm (38) of the first member (31) and a corresponding arm (40) of the second member (32). (FIG. 4)
US07866228B2
The invention relates to a device (20) for moving at least one moveable element (19) in a gas turbine engine (1) between a first and a second position. The device includes a linkage (21) that connects a pivotable annular member (18) with the moveable element (19) in such a way that the movement of the moveable element (19) between the two positions is accomplished when the annular member (18) is pivoted. The linkage (21) has a link member (22) connected to the moveable element (19) via a first articulation joint (23). The device also has a support member (24) that supports the link member (22) at a distance from the first articulation joint.
US07866218B2
An electromagnetic flow meter is described having a pressure containing vessel or conduit through which the fluid to be metered is passed. The pressure containing vessel is formed of first and second sections which are made of respective materials having first and second magnetic permeabilities, such as stainless steel and carbon steel. A single magnetic field generating coil is provided adjacent the first section for generating a magnetic field across the pressure containing vessel.
US07866217B2
A device and method for measuring snap member detaching force, the snap member detaching force measurement device includes a cloth holding unit for holding cloth on the periphery of the snap member attached to the cloth; a snap chucking unit for chucking the snap member from its side portion by a plurality of chucking portions of the unit; a torque gauge for applying torque to the snap member chucked by the chucking portions; a tension unit for relatively pulling the snap member from the cloth; and a tensile force gauge for measuring tensile force provided by the tension unit. The snap chucking unit includes turning arms which can lock, with constant chucking force, the state of the snap member chucked by the chucking portions.
US07866215B2
There is disclosed a redundant pressure sensing chip which includes first and second redundant devices. Each pressure sensing device produces an output proportional to applied pressure irrespective of vibration/acceleration of the device. Each device also provides an output proportional to pressure and because of the nature of the devices, thermal effects as well as acceleration and the vibration are canceled. Based on chip operation and subtracting the signals from the two diaphragms, acceleration/vibration is canceled but also the effects of absolute pressure and differential pressure is also canceled. Therefore the chip can be used as a redundant absolute pressure sensor as well as a differential pressure sensor.
US07866214B2
A pressure gauge, or transducer, for high-temperature applications, comprising a sensor module with a sensor body having a measuring cell chamber containing a pressure measuring cell. The pressure measuring cell can be subjected to the action of a pressure via a first hydraulic path filled with a transmission liquid. The pressure gauge also comprises a transmission module for transmitting a pressure to the first hydraulic path. The transmission module has a second hydraulic path, which is filled with a transmission liquid and extends from a process diaphragm, through a transmission body and to a transmission diaphragm. The transmission diaphragm is attached to the transmission body in a pressure-tight manner, and the sensor body is joined to the transmission body in a pressure-tight manner, whereby the transmission diaphragm communicates with the first hydraulic path so that the pressure of the second hydraulic path can be transmitted via the transmission diaphragm to the first hydraulic path.
US07866206B2
Method and system for determination of wheel position of wheels on vehicles with which Coriolis forces (Chl, Chr, Cvl, Cvr) active for the wheels (Rhl, Rhr, Rvl, Rvr) of a vehicle are determined, the Coriolis forces (Chl, Chr, Cvl, Cvr) determined for the wheels (Rhl, Rhr, Rvl, Rvr) are compared with each other and the wheel positions of the wheels (Rhl, Rhr, Rvl, Rvr) of the vehicle are determined by means of the comparison.
US07866187B2
A press bending station includes an annular mold (5) and a full-face mold (6). Holes (10), selectively connected to a negative pressure source, are placed in portions of the full-face mold (6) that are determined by the configuration of the annular mold when the annular mold comes into contact with a heated glass sheet (2) during the press bending process. The sheet (2) is drawn by negative pressure through the holes (10) towards the full-face mold (6) and thus acquires its shape. Positive pressure may be selectively applied to the holes (10) to release the sheet (2). According to the invention, at least some of the holes (10) are arranged in at least one groove (11) formed in the mold face of the full-face mold. The grooves (11) according to the invention accelerate considerably the removal by negative pressure of the air between the molding face of the full-face mold (6) and the glass sheet (2) to be bent and thus improve the press bending process.
US07866184B2
A semi-closed loop system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) that combines certain advantages of closed-loop systems with certain advantages of open-loop systems to provide a more efficient and effective hybrid system. In the semi-closed loop system, the final methane refrigeration cycle provides significant cooling of the natural gas stream via indirect heat transfer, as opposed to expansion-type cooling. A minor portion of the LNG product from the methane refrigeration cycle is used as make-up refrigerant in the methane refrigeration cycle. A pressurized portion of the refrigerant from the methane refrigeration cycle is employed as fuel gas. Excess refrigerant from the methane refrigeration cycle can be recombined with the processed natural gas stream, rather than flared.
US07866181B2
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an ice-making unit wherein the coupling structure of a cover to open and close an ice-making compartment is improved such that a user can easily attach and detach the cover to and from the ice-making compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment defined therein, an ice-making compartment mounted at one side of the refrigerating compartment, the ice-making compartment having an opening formed at the front thereof, an ice-making compartment cover to open and close the opening of the ice-making compartment, a rotary lever mounted at the ice-making compartment cover, latching hooks rotatable along with the rotation of the rotary lever, and latching projections formed in a side wall of the ice-making compartment such that the latching hooks are coupled with the latching projections.
US07866178B2
A device and a method for vacuum-sealing cooling medium is to allow a work piece being vacuumed for the cooling medium being introduced into the work piece. The device provides a first passage, a second passage, a sucking unit, a cooling medium supply unit and a sealing passage. The first passage and the second passage each have an end being connected to the sucking unit and the cooling medium supply unit respectively. The sealing passage communicates with another end of the first passage and another end of the second passage respectively and provides a sealing component, wherein a conveying passage is provided at the sealing component for the work piece being vacuumed or introduced with the cooling medium via said first passage or said second passage.
US07866176B2
An autonomous water source for extracting water from ambient air and delivering it to a plant to support growth. The system is based on an adsorption-desorption-condensation cycle using a sorption material to extract moisture from ambient air and condensing the water vapor driven off from the sorption material by subsequent heating and followed by condensation. Liquid condensate produced in this process on the condenser is collected and delivered by gravity to a plant to reduce thermal stress and to support growth. The invention provides a sustainable source of irrigation water for agriculture and forestry, including areas where no water resources exist or are not economically viable. It can be tailored in size, and therefore, output capacity, reflecting the desired water requirements of a particular application, and can be used to replace most agricultural situations now reliant on surface water drip feed systems. The device is simple, rugged, invulnerable to rain, snow, and freezing conditions, and can be designed to last for many years without service as there are few moving parts and power required for operation is provided by sunlight.
US07866169B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle HVAC system to automatically defog a windshield glass and to prevent fogging or condensation of the windshield glass. The ambient air temperature and vehicle speed are measured and used to determine a windshield glass temperature. The in-cabin air temperature and relative humidity are measured and used to determine a dewpoint. An dewpoint margin is calculated to compensate for sensor accuracy and fog predictability. A fog margin, which is based upon calculated windshield glass temperature and dewpoint, is calculated and used, in conjunction with the dewpoint margin, to control the HVAC system to anticipate potential fogging conditions and to scale the intensity of the HVAC system response based upon the severity of fogging conditions.
US07866164B2
In one embodiment, a cooling and heating system includes a heat exchanger, a thermoelectric cooler coupled to the heat exchanger and operable to cool or heat a fluid within the heat exchanger, a heat transfer device, an input conduit coupled between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer device, a return conduit coupled between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer device, and a pump operable to transport the fluid through the input conduit, the heat exchanger, the return conduit, and the heat transfer device. Thermal energy existing within the fluid, while flowing through the heat transfer device, is utilized to heat or cool an environment adjacent the heat transfer device.
US07866160B2
A process and an installation produces electric power or cogenerates electric and thermal power. A hydrocarbon fuel is enriched through an endothermic reforming reaction on a mixture of the fuel with steam or water. The heat for the reforming reaction is supplied by the combustion of a material, preferably biomass, different from the hydrocarbon fuel. The process integrates this reforming reaction in a gas turbine installation, wherein up to 12% of the exhaust gases of the gas turbine are used as comburant air for the combustion of the material. The process is shown to have little or even no impact on the gas turbine cycle performance when no reforming is applied.
US07866159B2
One embodiment of the present application is a gas turbine engine with a compressor that includes a variable geometry mechanism to vary working fluid flow area. A desired state of this mechanism is selected different than a current state to change the amount of flow area. The mechanism has a hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing the flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing the flow area to reach the desired state. To control operation of the mechanism within this hysteresis band, a determination is made whether the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area or a lesser flow area relative to the current state.
US07866157B2
A waste heat recovery system for use with an engine. The waste heat recovery system receives heat input from both an exhaust gas recovery system and exhaust gas streams. The system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is configured to receive heat from both the exhaust gas recovery system and the exhaust system as necessary. The second loop receives heat from the first loop and the exhaust gas recovery system. The second loop converts the heat energy into electrical energy through the use of a turbine.
US07866155B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a master cylinder capable of controlling an increase in an intruding amount of a cup seal while relieving a stress concentration therein to thereby prevent the cup seal from being damaged. Provided is a master cylinder in which a piston is moved in slidable contact with an inner circumference of a cup seal held in a cylinder main body so as to pressurize a brake fluid in a pressure chamber formed of the piston and the cylinder main body, wherein an annular wall configured integrally with the cylinder main body is provided behind the cup seal. Further, a chamfered portion having a curved shape in a cross-section taken along a diameter direction of the cylinder main body is provided between the annular wall and a cylinder wall to which the piston is facing. One end of the chamfered portion is formed continuously so that a tangent thereto is in line with the annular wall, and the other end of the chamfered portion is formed to constitute a flexed portion in combination with the cylinder wall.
US07866154B2
An assembling apparatus (manufacturing apparatus) can assemble an actuator (product) in which a shape memory alloy (SMA) is stretched. In the assembly, the SMA is locked by a first holder, a guide is moved along predetermined movement directions while sending the SMA and, after that, the SMA is locked by a second holder. A switch is turned on to pass current from a current source to the SMA via an electrode. The SMA is fixed to two electrodes by caulking members and, after that, an unnecessary portion of the SMA is cut. In such a manner, the actuator is manufactured. Since the SMA is tensioned while current is passed to the SMA as described above, the stretch can be stably performed while suppressing elongation of the SMA. As a result, a product can be manufactured with high quality.
US07866150B2
A vehicle is disclosed having a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes a pressure regulator that maintains the output pressure from a hydraulic pump above a predetermined minimum pressure.
US07866147B2
A method of improving scavenging operation of a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The exhaust pressure of the engine is analyzed to determine if there is a pulsation frequency. Acoustic modeling is used to design an absorber. An appropriately designed side branch absorber may be attached to the exhaust manifold.
US07866145B1
Particulate emission reducing devices reduce particulate emissions from a vehicle. A housing is attached to a vehicle's exhaust pipe downstream of its muffler by an intake funnel having a desiccant bed and check valve. An ionizer is connected to the intake funnel. A collection unit is removably inserted into the housing through a collection unit opening with support bar notches in the housing's top downstream of the ionizer. Contacts in the bottom of the housing negatively charge collector plates, which collect positively charged particulates from the exhaust stream. Exhaust gases are emitted by an exhaust funnel attached to the housing downstream of the collection unit. A handle attached to the access panel of the collection unit facilitates removal of the collector plates for cleaning. The vehicle may include an indicator light to remind the user to clean the collector plates. The vehicle's trunk may include an access opening.
US07866144B2
In an arrangement for the dosed injection of a reducing agent into the exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine, comprising a pump for the pulsed pumping of the reducing agent and an atomizing injection nozzle disposed in the exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine, the injection nozzle includes a valve element which opens and closes the injection nozzle depending on the pressure generated by the pump and permits the injection of the reducing agent into the exhaust tract only when the pressure of the reducing agent is in excess of a certain value in order to ensure proper atomization of any reducing agent injected into the exhaust tract.
US07866133B2
The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.
US07866132B2
A harvesting head (104) for an agricultural combine (100) includes a hydraulic height control circuit for controlling the height of the reel (122). The hydraulic height control circuit includes at least two closed hydraulic circuits (124, 134 and 128, 138).
US07866120B2
Embodiments are described of devices for concealing and/or protecting a portion of a member, such as the base of a post, which devices can be easily applied to the member at any time. These embodiments include a plurality of components adjustably connected to one another so as to provide a snug fit of the device against the member to be protected, regardless of initial variations from the expected dimensions of the member. Further device embodiments are self-adjusting to provide a snug fit regardless of subsequent changes in the dimension of the member over time.
US07866113B2
A door security system serves to substantially improve the reliability of the entire door assemblies with non-standard door jamb thicknesses. The system may comprise up to four or more components. An adjustable door jamb shield may be mounted around a door jamb on the side of the door jamb corresponding to the door slab free swinging edge. Another adjustable door jamb shield may also be mounted on a door jamb on the hinge side of the door jamb. The adjustable shields comprise attachable sleeves that wrap on three sides around the door jamb to reinforce and stabilize the door system.
US07866106B2
A barrier comprising a body member. The body member has a first side, a second side, a front side, a rear side, and one or more cavities within the body member. The body member further has a first overlap portion and a second overlap portion. The first overlap portion extends from the first side adjacent to the front side and spaced apart from the rear side. The second overlap portion extends from the second side adjacent to the rear side and spaced apart from the second side. The second overlap portion is shaped to mate in an overlapping manner with the first overlap portion of an adjacent body member. A barrier wall comprising two or more barriers is also disclosed.
US07866105B2
A system provides insulation products for a plurality of insulation wall cavities in buildings, where a substantial portion of the insulation wall cavities have a known nominal width. The system includes providing flangeless insulation products having a blanket of fibrous insulation material and having a facing material with a width substantially equal to the width of the insulation blanket, with the width of the insulation blanket and the width of the facing material being greater than the nominal width of the plurality of insulation cavities. The increased width of the facing material to improves the seal of the facing material when the insulation product is placed within insulation wall cavities of the known nominal width in comparison to the seal provided by flanged insulation products applied with inset stapling to the same insulation wall cavities.
US07866104B2
A base structure for a ball court, and in particular a squash court, with a supporting structure resting on a base and a floor forming a playing surface resting on the supporting structure. The floor comprises a plurality of safety glass panes laid adjacent each other and which are freely vertically movable relative to one another and whose surface forming the playing surface is provided with a plurality of rough areas. The supporting structure has an elastic layer beneath the safety glass panes.
US07866103B2
Building wall panels having lightweight hollow core interiors include embodiments suitable for interior and exterior walls, for industrial, commercial or residential buildings, and for multi-story structures. Various methods for making these wall panels are disclosed, including the formation of cast gypsum firewall layers.
US07866097B1
The present invention 10 discloses a concrete form system for building foundations wherein two substantially parallel form walls 12 are constructed using a plurality of retainer sections that can mechanically interlock end-to-end 42, 44 when the retainer sections 14, 16, 18, 20 incorporate a throughbore 22 or butt-up end to end when there is no throughbore. Additionally the present invention provides a separator bar and reinforcement posts whereby the separator bar 24 serves as base for the retainer sections and as spacer between stacked retainer sections 14, 16, 18, 20 which can in cross-section have a circular, oval or polygonal shape and in one additional element a ribbed exterior portion 46, 48 for added strength and a substantially hollow interior 22 that forms a corrugated conduit retainer 20 that is conducive to providing ventilation for effective and efficient radon remediation from the structure being constructed. The aforementioned corrugated retainer 20 uses a combination of straps 50 and spreaders 40 to maintain the two form retainer wall 12 in place prior to and during the pouring of the concrete 36.
US07866091B2
A process for breeding plants which comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment. A process for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse environment is also provided. A process for breeding plants which comprises identifying trait leads.
US07866087B2
Plants are repotted by moving a rootball from a first rootball container to a second rootball container using a planting head. The planting head has legs with pins which may be in a first retracted position or in a second extended position. In a first step the planting head is brought above the rootball surface. In a second step the distance of the distal ends of the legs to the central axis of the planting head is reduced. In a third step the pins are inserted into the rootball. In a fourth step the distal ends of the legs are brought closer together. Then the rootball is taken out of the first rootball container and deposited into the second rootball container. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
US07866084B1
A fishing jig with a hook that has an oversized eye and a jig head that has a funnel-shaped lead-in area. The oversized eye makes it easy to insert the fishing line into the eye. The funnel-shaped lead-in area is used to guide the line directly into the eye of the hook.
US07866080B2
A loader for inserting an ammunition cartridge into a gun's magazine includes a body operable to hold two or more ammunition cartridges, a retainer to prevent a cartridge held by the body from leaving the body and operable to release a held cartridge from the body to position the cartridge for insertion into a gun's magazine, and an insertion component to exert pressure on a positioned cartridge to insert the cartridge into the gun's magazine. When the loader is used to insert a cartridge into a gun's magazine, the insertion component extends into the gun's carrier opening, a cartridge from the body is positioned on the insertion component, and the body is then moved relative to the gun's magazine. By holding the cartridges with the body and forcing a positioned cartridge into the gun's magazine with the insertion component, one can quickly and efficiently load a gun's magazine.
US07866071B1
A vehicle lock box with a weather-proof compartment and a license plate holder that mounts to the license plate bracket. An outer frame is comprised of a pair of hinged, rigid panels that is secured closed by the locking mechanism. Each panel has a raised lip that forms a hollow in the panel. The rear panel includes holes for mounting to the license plate bracket. The license plate is placed inside the front panel adjacent to a cutout that exposes the license plate face. The weather-proof compartment is composed of a pair of mirror image, resilient, water-impermeable sheets, each of which fits within the hollow of one of the panels. Both sheets have a raised rim that forms a depression in the sheet. The sheet in the front panel holds the license plate against the cutout. When the frame is closed, the sheet rims abut, forming a weather-tight compartment.
US07866067B2
A snow blower is provided that includes a muffler and a heater box that has a top wall. The heater box has a plurality of side walls that extend from the top wall. The top wall and side walls define an interior of the heater box. One of the side walls defines a muffler aperture for use in venting exhaust gases from the muffler. The muffler is at least partially located in the interior of the heater box so that the side walls of the heater box surround at least a portion of all of the sides of the muffler.
US07866061B2
A clothes dryer includes a water tub, a rotating container located in the tub, a drive unit rotating the container, an air circulation blower circulating air in the tub, and a heat pump formed by circularly connecting an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a discharge airflow path leading to the outside of the clothes dryer, an airflow path switching unit switched so as to open the portion between the container and the evaporator in an airflow path in the drying operation, and to open the discharge airflow path in cooling a place where the clothes dryer is placed, an air inlet located in an upper wall between the evaporator and the condenser in the airflow path, an air discharge blower introducing air outside the airflow path from the air inlet to be passed through the evaporator, and a cooling device that cools down the condenser.
US07866057B2
A domestic appliance for the care of washed articles having with a container for receiving washed articles; a process air supply which is operationally connected to the container in fluid communication therewith whereby process air flows through the container during appliance operation; and a first heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with the process air supply for dehumidifying the process air exiting the container, the domestic appliance comprising a supplementary heat exchanger for lint filtering operationally disposed in the process air supply in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the container.
US07866053B2
The apparatus (10) comprises a turret (50), rotatable about a first axis (B-B′), a slide (52) mounted on the turret (50) and a sensor (30) mounted for sliding in the slide (52) along a third axis (C-C′) substantially parallel to the first axis (B-B′). It comprises means (34) for displacement of the sensor for displacing a contact surface (42) of the sensor along the mount (14) during the sensing of the mount. The displacement means (34) comprise means (70) for driving the turret (50) in rotation about the first axis (B-B′). The apparatus comprises control means (82) for controlling means (72) for displacement of the turret in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (B-B′) and suitable for displacing the turret (50) in said plane when the turret is driven in rotation about the first axis (B-B′) during the sensing of the mount.
US07866044B2
A method of producing a metal tubular member that is composed of two or more tube forming bodies and has at least one portion at which the tube forming bodies are superposed on each other, wherein one open annular end section of one of the tube forming bodies, which one annular end section is positioned on the inner side in the superposed section, and the other open annular end section of the other tube forming body, which the other annular end section is positioned on the outer side, are integrally joined by welding. The one annular end section is inserted into the other annular end section with the outside diameter of the one annular end section pressed by a die so as to be smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the other annular end section, and then pressing force applied to the one annular end section on the inner side is released to cause it to be in tight contact with the inner surface of the other annular end section on the outer side.
US07866036B2
A micromirror device and a method of making the same are disclosed herein. The micromirror device comprises a mirror plate, hinge, and post each having an electrically conductive layer. One of the hinge, mirror plate, and post further comprises an electrically insulating layer. To enable the electrical connections between the conducting layers of the hinge, mirror plate, and post, the insulating layer is patterned.
US07866024B2
A method of manufacturing is disclosed for a motion transmitting cable assembly having a conduit and a core longitudinally movable within the conduit. The method includes the steps of securing a conduit abutment fitting to an end of the conduit, inserting the core through the conduit, placing an end of the core into a mold while the core is extending through the conduit, injection over-molding a core attachment onto the end of the core, removing the core attachment from the mold. Finally, at least a portion of a guide tube over the juncture of the core and the core attachment.
US07866023B2
An arrangement for fastening a support of a scale of a linear measuring device on a mounting surface of an object to be measured. The arrangement includes a clamping jaw and a force-exerting element urging the clamping jaw against the support. The clamping jaw acts together with the support in such a way that the clamping jaw urges said support with a clamping force that includes 1) a first force component against the mounting surface by the force-exerting element and 2) a second force component that urges the support against an attachment face extending transversely to the mounting surface. The attachment face is directly constituted by an attachment body, which can be fixed positively and free of play in a receptacle on the object to be measured.
US07866022B2
Cable is installed into a duct, by increasing cross-sectional areas of subducting provided in the duct, so as to allow the cable to be received into the subducting, and then decreasing the cross-sectional area of the subducting containing the cable so as to reduce the volume occupied by the subducting in the duct. Cables may be inserted into the subducting, for example, by forcing compressed gas through the subducting, which simultaneously inflates the subducting.
US07866011B2
A zipper assembly for a reclosable package or bag is disclosed. The zipper assembly includes two profiles with flanges and internal interlocking elements on the interior of the flanges. The exterior of one of the flanges includes two exterior parallel press-to-close profile-like interlocking elements which are brought into engagement with each other by folding the flanges of the zipper assembly. This increases the burst handling capability of the zipper assembly and the package or bag to which it is attached. Alternatives include substituting a peel seal for the exterior interlocking element as well as an exterior label or sticker to maintain the flanges in a folded configuration.
US07866007B2
A cable tie is disclosed. The cable tie includes a strap with an extended tab and a locking head secured to the strap. The locking head has a top and a bottom. The bottom of the locking head includes at least one relief slot that enables the locking head to deform when the cable tie is installed around a bundle of objects. The bottom of the locking head also includes at least one tab that extends away from the locking head. The extended tab of the strap, the at least one front tab of the locking head and the at least one relief slot in the bottom of the deforming locking head enable the cable tie to provide a 360 degree seal around the bundle of objects.
US07865998B2
Disclosed are a bearing housing, and a motor assembly and a vacuum cleaner having the same. The motor assembly includes: a motor housing; a motor installed in the motor housing, for supplying suction force; an impeller rotatably installed on a rotation shaft of the motor; an impeller cover coupled to the motor housing, for covering the impeller; a guide vane installed between the motor and the impeller, and composed of a plurality of diffuser vanes for converting some of dynamic pressure of the air passing through the impeller into static pressure, and a plurality of return vanes formed on the bottom surfaces of the diffuser vanes, for forming passages for guiding the air with its pressure raised by the diffuser vanes to the motor side; and a bearing housing including a passage formation unit for forming passages by contacting the bottom ends of the return vanes, and a shaft support unit for supporting the rotation shaft of the motor. The motor assembly and the vacuum cleaner having the same solve incomplete passage formation of the return vanes due to miniaturization of the fan-motor, and provide the passages with an optimum area.
US07865992B1
A loading dock leveler having: a base with an inward end; a deck with a top platform, the deck having an inward end hingedly mounted to the inward end of the base for movement between an upper position and a lower position; a bellows assembly spaced a distance below the deck, the bellows assembly including an inflatable air bag with a bottom surface engaging the base and a top surface engaging a lever arm hingedly mounted to the base, the lever arm and air bag moving between an inflated position and a deflated position, the air bag having an internal chamber in communication with a source of pressurized air and an air vent; a support strut having an upper end engaging the deck and a lower end engaging the base, the support strut being moveable with the deck between: the lower position; and the upper position wherein the support strut supports the deck, and; a mechanical motion transfer device engaging the lever arm of the bellows assembly and engaging the base, the motion transfer device transferring relative motion between the base and the lever arm to the support strut, wherein the motion of the lever arm from the deflated to the inflated position moves the support strut from one of: the lower position to the upper position; and the upper position to the lower position.
US07865990B2
A washing machine and an operating method thereof are provided. The washing machine detects an input voltage, and increases or reduces a wash time according to the input voltage. Thus, the washing machine can precisely calculate a wash time by reflecting a heating time that varies according to the input voltage. In addition, the washing machine can improve user convenience by enabling a user to easily determine the progress of a washing operation and the end time of the washing operation.
US07865989B2
A spring element unit for a padding element, especially a mattress, comprises a plurality of spring elements. The spring element consists of an open-cell polyurethane flexible foam material and comprises at least one recess. Such a spring element unit is used in a padding element, especially a mattress, which comprises a base body for receiving the spring element unit. Such a spring element unit prevents a build-up of heat and humidity between the body and the supporting padding element.
US07865986B2
A field stretcher comprising a subject transporting portion, the subject transporting portion comprising a region capable of forming a subject retaining compartment for retaining a subject positioned within the subject transporting portion, is disclosed and described. A method of transporting a subject generally horizontally, is provided, the method comprising providing a field stretcher comprising a subject transporting portion, positioning a subject in the subject transporting portion, and drawing at least a portion of the subject transporting portion about at least a portion of the subject.
US07865977B2
A sports goggle includes double lens goggles having inner and outer lenses joined at their perimeter by an adhesive, such as silicone, to form an air cavity. A vent is formed on the outer lens to permit equalization of the air cavity with the environment. The vent includes a plug formed of a water impermeable and gas permeable material. An expansion member may insert within the plug to maintain the plug within the vent. In an alternative embodiment, a rivet having air channels formed therein secures a ring of permeable material to the lens.
US07865975B2
A wearable device to comfortably and ergonomically transfer substantially all of the weight of a heavy protective garment from a wearer's shoulders, neck and back to the wearer's waist, in a manner that does not interfere with the normal and necessary movement and range of motion of the wearer. The device transfers the weight of the protective garment from the shoulder area of the wearer to a belt at the waist/hip area of the wearer via a vertical support member(s) that incorporate(s) articulating and adjustable elements which permit the device to accommodate the natural movement of the wearer's body at the waist, back, neck and shoulders while transferring the weight of the protective garment to the waist/hip area of the wearer. The subject device may also be incorporated into or made part of a protective garment.
US07865974B1
An ear covering method includes providing a covering comprised of a flexible and water impermeable material. The covering has an outer wall, an inner wall and a perimeter wall extending between the outer and inner walls. The inner wall has an aperture extending therethrough to access an interior of the covering. An adhesive is mounted on an outer surface of the inner wall. A person's ear is extended through the aperture and the adhesive secures the inner wall to skin adjacent to the ear.
US07870616B2
A probe arrangement with a probe for local electrophysiological analysis of cells (4) such as patch-clamp techniques for use with atomic force microscopy, has a probe with a cantilever arm (2) connected to a probe holder (3). The probe has a probe tip (4) at a probing end (5) of the cantilever arm (2) and a fluid channel (6) in the cantilever arm (2) connecting a probe tip aperture (7) with a fluid reservoir (8) via a duct (9). The fluid channel (6), the duct (9) and the fluid reservoir (8) are adapted to be filled with a fluid solution (10) enabling ion transport for electrophysiological analysis. A first electrode (15) for electrophysiological analysis is placed in the fluid reservoir (8) and/or in the duct (9) and/or in the fluid channel (6).
US07870612B2
The example embodiments herein relate to an antivirus protection system and method for computers based on program behavior analysis. The antivirus protection system may comprise: a Process Behavior-Evaluating Unit for identifying the programs existing in the user's computers and classifying them into normal programs and suspect programs; a Program-Monitoring Unit for monitoring and recording the actions and/or behaviors of programs; a Correlation-Analyzing Unit for creating correlative trees and analyzing the correlations of actions and/or behaviors of programs, the correlative trees comprising a process tree and a file tree; a Virus-Identifying Knowledge Base, comprising a Program-Behavior Knowledge Base and a Database of Attack-Identifying Rules; a Virus-Identifying Unit for comparing captured actions and/or behaviors to the information in the Virus-Identifying Knowledge Base to determine whether the program is a virus program. With the techniques of certain example embodiments, it may be possible to increase efficiency and reduce the need to upgrade virus codes after viruses become active, while also effectively blocking unknown viruses, Trojans, etc.
US07870611B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a detection system, method and apparatus that identifies and eradicates fraudulent requests on a network. Embodiments of the detection system comprise at least one router, a server, and an activity monitoring system. The activity monitoring system comprises a route arbiter and a traffic analyzer, wherein the route arbiter monitors the activity on the router. The route arbiter continuously monitors the router and firewall device to determine if abnormal activity or traffic patterns are emerging. If a determination is made that abnormal activity or abnormal traffic patterns exist, the activity monitoring system responds by blocking the activity or redirecting the traffic.
US07870599B2
A multichannel security system is disclosed, which system is for granting and denying access to a host computer in response to a demand from an access-seeking individual and computer. The access-seeker has a peripheral device operative within an authentication channel to communicate with the security system. The access-seeker initially presents identification and password data over an access channel which is intercepted and transmitted to the security computer. The security computer then communicates with the access-seeker. A biometric analyzer—a voice or fingerprint recognition device—operates upon instructions from the authentication program to analyze the monitored parameter of the individual. In the security computer, a comparator matches the biometric sample with stored data, and, upon obtaining a match, provides authentication. The security computer instructs the host computer to grant access and communicates the same to the access-seeker, whereupon access is initiated over the access channel.
US07870588B2
This invention discloses a communication system incorporating a video broadcast network and a mobile communication network in which a plurality of base stations constitutes at least one cell cluster, said communication system comprising: a central control node which allocates time slots for broadcast video data to a broadcast transmission tower based on a predetermined schedule algorithm and allocates time slots and/or frequency for communication to said base stations; a plurality of base stations each of which communicates with terminals within the time slots for communication allocated by the central control node and at a predetermined frequency or the frequency allocated by the central control node; and a broadcast transmission tower which transmits signals to said terminals within the time slots for broadcast video data allocated by the central control node.
US07870587B2
An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.
US07870582B2
Herein described are at least a method and a system for providing an extended forecast of scheduled video programming information provided by a multimedia provider. The extended forecast processes electronic program data (EPG) provided by the multimedia provider, such that a long term program guide (LTPG) may be developed. The LTPG provides a forecast of programs to be broadcasted that extends beyond what the EPG may provide. The method generates the LTPG by utilizing algorithms that compare newly received EPG data against historically processed EPG data. The system comprises a controller, a processor used for extracting EPG data from a signal, a memory that stores software, and a remote sensor capable of receiving signals transmitted by a remote control. When executed by the controller, the software implements the algorithms that generate the LTPG.
US07870579B2
In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to customize, assemble, distribute, and track one or more versions of media content based on semantic criteria is provided.
US07870575B2
A method and apparatus for distributing different versions of media programs is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of segmenting media program data collectively describing different versions of the media program into a plurality of media segments wherein each media segment is includes at least one component associated with one or more attributes having one or more attributes values; generating a mapping of each attribute value with a pointer to the component of the segment of the media program data having the attribute associated with the attribute value; generating a manifest from the mapping and from data describing an authorized media program version authorized for display at the display entity; and transmitting the media program data and the manifest to the display entity.
US07870573B2
An optical recording medium in which interference patterns formed from interference between signal light and reference light are recorded as data and a recording/reproducing method and apparatus for the optical recording medium. The optical recording medium including at least a recording layer in which predetermined data is recorded, wherein a thickness of a portion of the recording layer is larger than a thickness of another portion of the recording layer, wherein data is recorded in the thicker region, and the additional information of a recording condition and/or a reproducing condition is recorded in the thinner region.
US07870565B2
Systems and methods are described herein to provide for secure host resource management on a computing device. Other embodiments include apparatus and system for management of one or more host device drivers from an isolated execution environment. Further embodiments include methods for querying and receiving event data from manageable resources on a host device. Further embodiments include data structures for the reporting of event data from one or more host device drivers to one or more capability modules.
US07870562B1
To process media data from one or more sources, a hierarchy of media components are formed. Each media component receives as input one or more streams of media data and manipulates the media data to produce an output media stream. The media components conform to a uniform plug-in structure. The plug-in structure defines an abstraction that facilitates the hierarchical organization of the media components and that allows the media components to interact, in a decoupled manner, with each other and with processors that perform specific types of media data manipulations. The hierarchy can be reorganized dynamically.
US07870559B2
A method, system, and computer program product for continuous availability of non-persistence messages in a distributed platform are provided. The method includes providing a first client application independently in operative communication with at least two servers via a first client abstraction layer, generating a critical message by the first client application, duplicating the critical message at the first client abstraction layer for each of the servers, and transmitting the duplicate critical messages independently to each of the servers. The method further includes providing a second client application independently in operative communication with each of the servers via a second client abstraction layer, receiving one or more of the duplicate critical messages at the second client abstraction layer, selecting a critical message from the one or more duplicate critical messages, and delivering the selected critical message to the second client application.
US07870558B2
Sharing access to resources using an inter-process communication (“IPC”) provides a connection in which references to resources are passed from a sender to a receiver in a trusted third party environment. A sender in possession of a reference to a resource, such as a handle to an object, may initiate the connection with the receiver. In turn, the receiver may accept or refuse the connection, and may further specify the types of resources in which the receiver is interested when accepting through the connection. Sharing access to resources in this manner advantageously insures that only a process that already has access to a resource is able to share that access with another process, and further that only processes that wish to do so will accept such access.
US07870556B2
Executing graph-based computations includes: accepting a specification of a computation graph in which data processing elements are joined by linking elements; dividing the data processing elements into sets, at least one of the sets including multiple of the data processing elements; assigning to each set a different computing resource; and processing data according to the computation graph, including performing computations corresponding to the data processing elements using the assigned computing resources.
US07870554B2
A system includes a processor, one or more memory storage units, and software code stored in the memory storage units. The software code is executable by the processor to generate a plurality of adaptive partitions that are each associated with one or more process threads. Each of adaptive partition has one or more corresponding assigned scheduling attributes. The software code includes a scheduling system for selectively allocating the processor to run process threads based on a comparison between ordering function values for each adaptive partition. Ordering function values are calculated based on scheduling attributes of the corresponding adaptive partition. A critical ordering function value also may be calculated and used to determine the proper manner of billing an associated adaptive partition for the processor allocation used to run its associated critical threads. Methods of implementing various aspects of such a system are also set forth.
US07870551B2
A mechanism is provided for biasing placement of a software thread on a currently idle and dispatched processor. The operating system starts with the last logical processor on which the software thread ran and determines whether that processor is idle and dispatched and considers each logical processor until a currently dispatched and idle logical processor is found. If a currently dispatched and idle logical processor is not found, then the operating system biases placing the software thread on an idle logical processor.
US07870547B2
A method or corresponding apparatus manages deployment of a software patch (“patch”) by creating a given patch comprising at least one file and associating information with the given patch that prevents other patches from being installed over the given patch. In one some embodiments, patches are no longer delivered directly from a software engineer to a customer. Instead, the software engineer works with a patch manager that, among other tasks, may track a state of software on the customer's machine, allowing for installing another patch without producing adverse effects that may be caused by installing over the given patch. To install another patch, software on the customer's machine is set into a known state by uninstalling the given patch. Once in the known state, the other patch may be installed.
US07870546B2
Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for searching for a class in a data processing system having classloaders organized in both a classloader hierarchy and a classloader network. A computer implemented method for searching for a class in a data processing system having classloaders organized in both a classloader hierarchy and a classloader network includes receiving a request to load a class at a request receiving classloader in the classloader hierarchy. The request to load a class is forwarded to a gateway classloader in the classloader network, wherein the gateway classloader is also in the classloader hierarchy. The requested class is then searched for in the classloader network.
US07870541B1
A computer implemented method or computer readable code for determining function call history for a system, which runs both code with a frame pointer and a stack pointer and code with a stack pointer and without a frame pointer. Execution is frozen on at least one CPU. A function of plurality of functions that were executing on the at least one CPU is stepped through, where some of the plurality of functions have a frame pointer and a stack pointer and some of the plurality of functions have a stack pointer but do not have a frame pointer. The stack offset to the stack memory location, where the return address in parent function is stored, is calculated to find the return address in parent function, which called the function being stepped through.
US07870534B2
Method and apparatus for creating wiring model, computer product, and method of manufacturing device
A wiring-model creating apparatus creates a three-dimensional model of a wiring pattern on a printed board based on printed-board information created by an electrical computer-aided design, as a wiring model for a mechanical computer-aided design. A three-dimensional-model creating unit creates the three-dimensional model including holes on the printed board in addition to the wiring pattern, based on the printed-board information.
US07870521B2
A plurality of sequential nodes in a design file for an electronic device are identified and an effective switching capacitance is determined for a first sequential node of the plurality of sequential nodes based upon statically predicted operation of a first device downstream from the first sequential node. The effective switching capacitance for the first sequential node is stored, and the process is repeated for the other identified sequential nodes in the design file.
US07870506B2
A digital consumer product having a menu system includes an audit trail system having an audit trail management system that removes screens from an audit trail triggered by the addition of a new screen to the audit trail. Menu screens and/or video screens are added to the audit trail as navigated by the user and, accordingly, certain screens are removed from the audit trail. The audit trail management system also provides the ability to store two or more instances of full-screen video and all intervening screens, the ability to provide all data and temporary state information for all screens stored in the audit trail and the ability to restore and refresh them, the ability to retain partial screens and screen objects and the ability to restore and refresh them, and the ability to remove any or all stored screens.
US07870501B2
An improved approach to highlighting a graphical object in a graphical user interface is disclosed. A body of a highlighted graphical object may, upon selection or highlighting, be changed to a transparent color, and a graphical outline, or “halo,” is added surrounding the original graphical object's body. The halo may be in the same color as the graphical object originally was, preserving any meaning attributed to the color of the graphical object and simplifying the user's ability to identify the selected object(s), as well as the ability to select the highlighted object for further processing. The highlighted graphical object may also be displayed with a bounding box to further identify the selected object(s). A moving version of the highlighted graphical object may be drawn during a moving process, in which the moving version has an appearance distinct from the original object.
US07870498B2
A method for visual programming an automated transaction machine (12). The method includes the creation of terminal directors (225) that generally correspond to transactions performed by the automated transaction machine. The terminal directors are programmed by visually creating associations (238) between a plurality of ATM objects (230, 232) in a work space (224). Exemplary ATM objects include an authorization object (260), a back stage control object (262), a card reader object (264), a customer profile object (266), a depositor object (268), a dispenser object (270), keypad object (272), a logic object (274), a OCS object (276), a presenter object (278), a PIN entry object (280), a printer object (282), a sync object (284), and a transaction data object (286). A portion of the exemplary ATM objects are operative to interface with a device interface layer (728) for communicating with physical hardware devices (724, 726).
US07870497B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating, editing, sharing and distributing high-quality, media-rich web-based communications. The communications are created in a layered fashion that integrates user-selected text, colors, background patterns, images, sound, music, video, or other media. The systems and methods are used to generate, edit, broadcast, and track electronic presentations, brochures, advertisements (such as banner advertisements on highly trafficked media websites), announcements, and interactive web pages, without the need for the user to understand complex programming languages.
US07870494B2
An apparatus, system and method of providing feedback to a presenter in an e-meeting in which visual information is being presented are provided. During presentation, the computer system of each participant is monitored to ensure that the window in which the visual information is being presented (i.e., the e-meeting window) is the window in focus. If the e-meeting window is not the window in focus, the presenter is notified. Generally, to notify the presenter, a status message is sent from the computer system on which the e-meeting window is not the window in focus to a server. There, status messages from different computer systems are combined together. The combined status message is then periodically sent to the presenter.
US07870490B2
Translators are provided that enable automated and remote device configurations in an efficient and abstract manner. In one aspect, a device configuration system is provided. A configuration component stores one or more remote configuration trees for various devices. A translator component maps the remote configuration trees to at least one device configuration tree associated with the respective devices to enable device configuration in an automated manner.
US07870489B2
A interface unit, which while displaying a current content, receives input of reference information specifying a target content that will be switched to and viewed from the current content. A content sequence creation unit creates a content sequence in which one or more intermediate contents, which have been identified as related to at least one of the current content and the target content, are inserted between the current content and the target content. A display control unit controls content display by passing data to a display apparatus so that a content display is made in accordance with the created content sequence starting from the current content, proceeding through the intermediate contents which are inserted in order, and finally ending with the target content.
US07870483B2
The encoding and distribution of schema for multimedia content descriptions are described. Before the schema is sent to a system for use, it is encoded by assigning a first token for each component in the schema and a second token for each attribute of each component. In one aspect, a signifier is sent first to signal that the schema is to be sent in a particular format. In one aspect, the schema is sent as a whole entity first. In another aspect, some of the components of the schema are sent first, followed by the schema that refers to these components. In another aspect, the schema is sent first, followed by a set of component types. When the decoder receives the signifier and encoded schema, it looks up values for the first and second tokens in a look up table for all components and attributes to decode the schema.
US07870476B2
A system and method for creating graphical presentations is disclosed. A pre-existing graphical presentation is scanned. Data points are extracted from the pre-existing graphical presentation. Corresponding data points are extracted from tabulated data. These corresponding data points are then inserted into the pre-existing graphical presentation to create a new graphical presentation. 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. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07870472B2
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for employing redundant arrays to configure non-volatile memory. The present invention may include a substrate including a plurality of memory arrays, wherein the memory arrays include a data array and at least three redundant configuration arrays. The configuration arrays may each be adapted to be programmed with identical configuration information associated with operation of the data array. Majority voting logic with an output coupled to configuration inputs of the data array and inputs coupled to each of the redundant configuration arrays may be employed. The majority voting logic may be adapted to determine a configuration for the data array based upon an outcome of a majority vote function applied to the configuration information stored in the configuration arrays. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
US07870471B2
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for employing redundant arrays to configure non-volatile memory. The present invention may include a substrate including a plurality of memory arrays, wherein the memory arrays include a data array and at least three redundant configuration arrays. The configuration arrays may each be adapted to be programmed with identical configuration information associated with operation of the data array. Majority voting logic with an output coupled to configuration inputs of the data array and inputs coupled to each of the redundant configuration arrays may be employed. The majority voting logic may be adapted to determine a configuration for the data array based upon an outcome of a majority vote function applied to the configuration information stored in the configuration arrays. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
US07870469B1
Error and erasure decoding is performed by obtaining a syndrome polynomial. Erasure locations, if any, are obtained. The syndrome polynomial and the erasure locations are associated with Reed-Solomon encoded information to be error and erasure decoded. A complementary error evaluator polynomial and an error locator polynomial are simultaneously generated using the syndrome polynomial and erasure locations.
US07870468B1
A Reed Solomon decoder utilizes re-configurable and re-usable components in a granular configuration which provides an upper array and a lower array of repeated Reconfigurable Elementary Units (REU) which in conjunction with a FIFO can be loaded with syndromes and correction terms to decode Reed Solomon codewords. The upper array of REUs and lower array of REUs handle the Reed Solomon decoding steps in a pipelined manner using systolic REU structures. The repeated REU includes the two registers, two Galois Field adders, a Galois Field multiplier, and multiplexers to interconnect the elements. The REU is then able to perform each of the steps required for Reed-Solomon decoder through reconfiguration for each step using the multiplexers to reconfigure the functions. In this manner, a reconfigurable computational element may be used for each step of the Reed-Solomon decoding process.
US07870467B2
A data converter includes: an input module to which a first data series is input, the first data series having a first data sequence and a first error detection code corresponding to a remainder of division of the first data sequence by a predetermined polynomial; a conversion module converting the first data sequence into a second data sequence by processing including one of insertion, exchange, and inversion of a bit or a bit sequence, and exclusive-OR with a predetermined bit or bit sequence; a processing bit sequence generation module generating a processing bit sequence corresponding to the processing; and a code generation module generating a second error detection code corresponding to the second data sequence based on an exclusive-OR of the generated processing bit sequence and the first error detection code.
US07870464B2
A system (and method) for a recovery of data from a lost sector in a storage system, which includes a set of readable and lost sectors in a plurality of disks in the storage system, includes identifying a lost sector of at least one disk of the storage system, determining whether the data from the lost sector is capable of being recovered, and, if the data from the lost sector is capable of being recovered, generating a recovery formula for the lost sector and recovering the data from the lost sector based on the recovery formula.
US07870463B2
A DSP of a DVD recorder includes: a gain setting portion determining appropriate values of a first gain α and a second gain β when playback of an optical disc is performed, recording the first gain α and the second gain β thus determined in a gain storing portion, and setting them in a main differential amplifier and a sub differential amplifier, respectively; and a correction performing portion reading, when recording on the optical disc is performed, the first gain α and the second gain β stored in the gain storing portion, correcting at least one of them, and setting them in the main differential amplifier and the sub differential amplifier, respectively.
US07870462B2
Error bursts are randomized by an interleaver which makes use of “set leaders” to generate permutation indices. The permutation indices are used to route bits from initial positions in an input bit stream to re-arranged or randomized positions in an output bit stream. When the output bit stream is then transmitted and subsequently received by a de-interleaver which returns the received bits to their initial, pre-randomized positions, the resulting received signal has an acceptable bit error rate.
US07870456B2
An apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing data on a disc are provided using padding information, and a corresponding information storage medium. The recording method includes recording a recording unit block in which invalid data is padded in part of the block and recording padding information indicating that the invalid data is included. According to the method, a disc drive becomes able to distinguish valid data from invalid data in an error correction block such that reliability of reproduction increases and stability of the system is improved.
US07870455B2
A System-on-Chip (SOC) integrated circuit (IC) debugging system includes a plurality of SOC ICs connected to a shared debug bus. One of the plurality of SOC ICs is a master SOC IC having a master/slave debug interface and a user interface. The master/slave debug interface on the master SOC IC is a bidirectional debug interface operable to send and receive debug data between the SOC ICs and an external host system. The host system is connected to the at least one of the plurality of SOC ICs via the user interface.
US07870452B2
A method of testing an integrated circuit, comprises providing a test vector to a shift register arrangement by providing test vector bits in series into the shift register arrangement (20) timed with a first, scan, clock signal (42). The test vector bits are passed between adjacent portions of the shift register arrangement timed with the first clock signal (42) and an output response of the integrated circuit to the test vector is provided and analyzed. The output response of the integrated circuit to the test vector is provided under the control of a second clock signal (56) which is slower than the first clock signal. This testing method speeds up the process by increasing the speed of shifting test vectors and results into and out of the shift register, but without comprising the stability of the testing process. Furthermore, the method can be implemented without requiring additional complexity of the testing circuitry to be integrated onto the circuit substrate.
US07870447B2
System and method for carrying out a process on an integrated circuit. The method includes reading a data key including subkeys, determining a process parameter set using a parameter directory in a manner dependent on the data key read in, and setting the parameters required for the process in accordance with the process parameter set determined. The parameter directory includes rule keys each having subkeys, which are each assigned predeterminable values from a plurality of values, and at least one subkey is assigned a wildcard, and a plurality of process parameter sets each respectively assigned at least one rule key. The step of determining a parameter set includes comparing the data key read in with the rule keys stored in the parameter directory, determining the rule key(s) whose subkeys match those of the data key read in, and outputting the process parameter set(s) assigned to the rule key(s) determined.
US07870439B2
A fault tolerant computing system comprises a plurality of processing nodes interconnected by a communication medium for parallel-running identical application programs. A fault detector is connected to the processing nodes via the communication medium for periodically collecting configuration status data from the processing nodes and mutually verifying the collected configuration status data for detecting an abnormal node. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the system operates in a version diversity mode in which the processing nodes are configured in a substantially equal configuration and the application programs are identical programs of uniquely different software versions. In a second preferred embodiment, the system operates in a configuration diversity mode in which the processing nodes are respectively configured in uniquely different configurations. The configurations of the processing nodes are sufficiently different from each other that a software fault is not simultaneously activated by the processing nodes.
US07870436B2
A system and method for tracing acceleration in an embedded device. Various embedded devices that generate debug trace output for which the usage of the processor can benefit from optimization include mobile phones, TV set-top-boxes, and networking equipment. Tracing acceleration is accomplished using a logic unit that is implemented in hardware, which thereby enables the processing of tracing data to be handled in parallel to the operation of the processor.
US07870424B2
A parallel computer system automatically detects various troubles that may occur during computations using the parallel computer system so as to automatically cope with those troubles in such environment as in a design optimization using an evolutionary optimization in which a long time is required for one computation. A parallel computer system, includes a plurality of computing nodes for executing a calculation program and a master node connected to the computing nodes through networks, for performing a parallel computation process in an environment where a long time is required for one time computation as in a design optimization using an evolutionary algorithm. The system includes abnormality handling unit for automatically performing a series of processes of monitoring, periodically or on the basis of process unit, crash or hang-up of the calculation program, suspending the execution of the calculation program in the computing node in which abnormality has been detected and making another computing node execute the relevant calculation program.
US07870423B2
The invention is a copy processing technique in a data processing system, which can simultaneously achieve long-distance communication and no data loss when disaster occurs. Among a production site, a local site, and a remote site, long-distance remote copying from a disk array device at the production site to a disk array device at the remote site without data loss is achieved via a disk array device at the local site in combination with synchronous remote copying and asynchronous remote copying. Also, in the disk array devices at the local site and the remote site, copying is performed through a replica function. Even if the production site is affected by disaster, tasks can be continued at the local site having the same data as that of the production site and at the remote site a long distance away from the production site.
US07870409B2
A storage system includes a first de-duplication scope comprising a first volume, a first table of hash values corresponding to first chunks of data stored on the first volume, and a first table of logical block addresses of where the chunks of data are stored on the first volume. A second de-duplication scope includes similar information for a second volume. The first scope is used for de-duplicating and storing first data from a first data source and the second scope is used for de-duplicating and storing second data from a second data source. First storage mediums that make up the first volume remain powered off while de-duplication and storage of the second data on the second volume takes place, and second storage mediums that make up the second volume remain powered off while de-duplication and storage of the first data takes place, thereby enabling data de-duplication while saving power.
US07870408B2
A circuit is attached in parallel to a universal serial bus interface of a data processing system. A capacitor in the circuit is charged by receiving power from a power pin of the universal serial bus interface while the data processing system is not in a reduced power state. A vibration sensor is unpowered while the data processing system is not in a reduced power state. The vibration sensor is disconnected from a data pin of the universal serial bus interface while the data processing system is not in a reduced power state. When the data processing system enters a reduced power state, the capacitor provides power to the vibration sensor. When a vibration is detected by the vibration sensor, a switch connects the vibration sensor to the data pin of the universal serial bus interface, providing a wake up signal to the data processing system.
US07870405B2
There is provided a method of controlling power consumption of a memory, which is executed in a computer system including operation server and a management server. The operation server includes one or more memory chips which are units to control the power consumption of the memory, a power control module for controlling power consumption of the memory chips, and a virtualization module for operating one or more virtual servers. The management server manages the mapping between the one or more virtual servers and the one or more memory chips. The method comprises the steps of instructing the operation server to change the power consumption of the one or more memory chips based on whether the obtained access information is capable of achieving predetermined target performance and the mapping information, and changing the power consumption of the one or more memory chips based on the instruction from the management server.
US07870402B2
When power to a storage device is turned on and the storage device can accept a data input and output request being transmitted from an information processing device, the storage device transmits a power-on request for turning on power to the information processing device. The storage device, when it accepts a stop-power instruction, transmits a stop-power request for stopping power to the information processing device.
US07870401B2
A system and method for power over Ethernet (PoE) provisioning for a computing device using a network profile. Various types of power management information can be used in a process for determining a power request/priority. Power management information such as user information or device information can be stored in a profile in a network database. This network database can be accessed by a switch in determining a power request/priority for a computing device.
US07870400B2
A system and method saves power in a system memory of a processing system. A peripheral, a processor, an arbiter and a system memory are coupled to a system communication bus for communicating via the system communication bus. In one form a voltage controller is coupled to the system memory for varying the operating voltage of the system memory based upon whether the data processor or the peripheral is accessing the system memory. In another form a storage buffer is coupled to the memory for receiving and storing data from the memory. The buffer provides at least one signal that is used for either determining a rate at which the storage buffer is being emptied of data or a measure of fullness of the storage buffer. In one form the voltage controller varies the operating voltage of the memory based upon either the rate at which the storage buffer is being emptied of data or the measure of fullness.
US07870396B2
A storage medium readable by a computer is provided. The storage medium stores a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for protecting a target function. The function includes generating an inserted function, having a function name identical to the function name of the target function, that includes code for a process relating to protection of the target function and a call instruction for calling the target function after this process, and generating a protected executable code on the basis of an object code, in which the function name of a function definition of the target function has been changed to a second function name, and the inserted function.
US07870388B2
Text containing files are encrypted by first formatting the files for display. The display-formatted files are then run length coded to form files indicating the information. The files are encrypted.
US07870384B2
Improvements in security processing are disclosed which enable security processing to be transparent to the application. Security processing (such as Secure Sockets Layer, or “SSL”, or Transport Layer Security, or “TLS”) is performed in (or controlled by) the stack. A decision to enable security processing on a connection can be based on configuration data or security policy, and can also be controlled using explicit enablement directives. Directives may also be provided for allowing applications to communicate with the security processing in the stack for other purposes. Functions within the protocol stack that need access to clear text can now be supported without loss of security processing capability. No modifications to application code, or in some cases only minor modifications (such as inclusion of code to invoke directives), are required to provide this security processing. Improved offloading of security processing is also disclosed, which provides processing efficiencies over prior art offloading techniques. Offload components can be controlled from the kernel, an SSL layer or an application.
US07870382B2
An auditable and track-able key distribution and installation method and system for wireless networks. The method includes registering an installation device and writing a one time use key to the installation device. When an installer installs nodes onto a network, with each installation of a node, the one time use key is read by the node using the installation device to enable the node to be authenticated onto the network and the one time use key on the installation device is overwritten with another one time use key for installing the next node onto the network. After the nodes have been installed, an installation closeout and audit process is performed to make sure that none of the one time use keys have been stolen or copied.
US07870377B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to identifying a bootstrap electronic service guide (“ESG”), determining how many ESGs that use a selected specification/standard are declared in the bootstrap ESG; and if the bootstrap ESG declares more than 1 ESG that uses the selected specification/standard, selecting, from the bootstrap ESG, based on a specification/standard priority-selection scheme, at least one of the ESGs that use the selected specification/standard. Embodiments of the invention are directed to determining how many ESGs that use a selected service operator are declared in the bootstrap ESG, and if the bootstrap ESG declares more than 1 ESG that uses the selected service operator, selecting, from the bootstrap ESG, based on a service-operator priority-selection scheme, at least one of the ESGs that use the selected service operator. One or more ESGs may be selected from the ESGs declared in the bootstrap ESG based on user input.
US07870372B2
A system, apparatus and method for interrupt handling on a multi-thread processing device are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-thread processing device for interrupt handling including an interrupt block to provide interrupt signals to a fetch block, including a first interrupt signal line corresponding to a first instruction execution thread and a second interrupt signal line corresponding to a second instruction execution thread. In embodiments, the multi-thread processing device may handle interrupts by providing a shared interrupt service routine for multiple threads or by providing each thread its own unique interrupt service routine.
US07870365B1
In some embodiments, control and data messages are transmitted non-contentiously over corresponding control and data channels of inter-processor links in a matrix of mesh-interconnected matrix processors. A data stream instruction executed by a user thread of an instruction processing pipeline of a matrix processor may initiate a data stream transfer by a hardware data switch of the matrix processor over multiple consecutive cycles over a data channel. While the data stream is being transferred, the corresponding control channel may transfer control messages non-contentiously with respect to the data stream. The control messages may be messages received from other matrix processors and/or control messages initiated by a kernel thread of the current matrix processor.
US07870354B2
Embodiments of the system described herein can be implemented in a software application that runs on a host device or is embedded in a logic or memory device such as a gate array, EEPROM, a control, or dynamical system. The system embodiment allows a set of similar or dissimilar intelligent devices or sensors, which may be interconnected with any type of network or bus, to replicate data between themselves for the purpose of remote backup, redundancy, content distribution, or measurements. The attributes of the data, which may be changed or created on one device or passed through the device, are tracked and journaled in volatile or non-volatile storage in a first phase. This occurs in real-time as the data changes or passes through the device. In a second phase, the attributes that match patterns pre-specified in a configuration are used to decide what changes or the content to replicate to one or more devices. In a third phase, the data is replicated. In practice, the techniques described herein are independent of hardware, operating systems, and applications. The example embodiment is designed to be transparent for system redundancy and error recovery processes such as error correction, retransmission on links, and raid reconfiguration.
US07870346B2
An embedded disk controller (“controller”) having a servo controller is provided. The controller also includes a servo controller interface with a speed matching module and a pipeline control module such that at least two processors share memory mapped registers without conflicts. The processors operate at different frequencies, while the servo-controller and the servo controller interface operate in same or different frequency domains. The pipeline control module resolves conflict between the first and second processor transaction. The speed matching module ensures communication without inserting wait states in a servo controller interface clock domain for write access to the servo controller and there is no read conflicts between the first and second processor. The controller also includes a hardware mechanism for indivisible register acess to the first or second processor. The hardware mechanisim includes a hard semaphore and/or soft semaphore.
US07870336B2
Unobservable memory regions, referred to as stealth memory regions, are allocated or otherwise provided to store data whose secrecy is to be protected. The stealth memory is prevented from exposing information about its usage pattern to an attacker or adversary. In particular, the usage patterns may not be deduced via the side-channels.
US07870334B2
A storage system, consisting of one or more data storage logical units (LUs) formed in physical media. The LUs are adapted to receive command and respond to the commands to store and recall data. The storage system further includes a plurality of ports, each port being adapted to maintain a respective LU command queue for each of the LUs, such that upon receiving a command directed to one of the LUs, the port places the received command in the respective LU command queue. The port converts the received command to one or more converted commands at least some of which are directed to the physical media of the one of the LUs. The port then conveys the commands directed to the physical media in an order determined by the respective LU command queue.
US07870332B2
Various aspects of the invention provide a system and method of operating a data storage drive using any one of one or more data storage devices. In a representative embodiment, a data storage device may be used in a data network and may be referred to as a network attached storage device. Aspects of the invention insure that a data storage drive that that is transferred from a first data storage device to a second data storage device retains the same operational functionality it had when its was operated from the first data storage device.
US07870326B2
A multiprocessor system and method thereof are provided. The example multiprocessor system may include first and second processors, a dynamic random access memory having a memory cell array, the memory cell array including a first memory bank coupled to the first processor through a first port, second and fourth memory banks coupled to the second processor through a second port, and a third memory bank shared and connected with the first and second processors through the first and second ports, and a bank address assigning unit for assigning bank addresses to select individually the first and second memory banks, as the same bank address through the first and second ports, so that starting addresses for the first and second memory banks become equal in booting, and assigning bank addresses to select the third memory bank, as different bank addresses through the first and second ports, and assigning, through the second port, bank addresses to select the fourth memory bank, as the same bank address as a bank address to select the third memory bank through the first port.
US07870324B2
A system and method for providing a serial communication bus is disclosed. A serial communication bus connects multiple footprint devices, such as electronic sensors in a process control sample system. The footprint devices can utilize various footprint device specific communication protocols. Multiple tophat devices act as general I/O ports for connecting with the footprint devices. Each tophat device identifies the footprint device specific communication protocol of a connected footprint device, converts outputs signals transmitted from the connected footprint device from the footprint device specific communication protocol of the footprint device to a standard bus communication protocol, and converts input signals directed to the connected footprint device from the standard bus communication protocol to the footprint device specific communication protocol of the footprint device. The serial communication bus connects the tophat devices and transmits input and output signals using the standard bus communication protocol.
US07870323B2
A bridge circuit includes a bus, a memory interface module, a memory control module, and an external storage control module. The memory interface module receives a memory address from a processor via a memory interface and outputs the memory address to the bus. The memory address corresponds to one of a plurality of address regions of an address space of the processor. The memory control module receives the memory address via the bus and communicates with a memory when the memory address corresponds to a first one of the plurality of address regions. The external storage control module receives the memory address via the bus and communicates with an external storage device when the memory address corresponds to a second one of the plurality of address regions.
US07870320B1
An interrupt controller for a disk controller includes an interrupt scanner module that receives a plurality of interrupt requests (IRQs) from a plurality of corresponding interrupt sources, performs a scan of respective vector values of the plurality of IRQs, and selectively outputs a priority based on the scan. An interrupt generation module receives the priority and generates at least one of a fast interrupt and a regular interrupt based on the priority.
US07870318B2
An asynchronous serial communication method and the apparatus including a sender transmitting a one bit of serial data by firstly making a signal transition on the data line, secondly putting the one bit of serial data on the data line after a predetermined time T1 yet before another predetermined time T1+T2, and a receiver receiving the one bit of serial data by firstly detecting the signal transition on the data line and secondly capturing the one bit of serial data after a predetermined time T3 (where T3>T1+T2).
US07870316B1
A computing system having an apparatus for providing an inline data conversion processor. The inline data conversion processor includes a host processor interface, a network interface, a peripheral interface, and a packer stream address for defining a data transformation applied to a block of data as it passes between the host processor interface and the peripheral and network interfaces.
US07870305B2
A first connection is established between a first device and a host, wherein the first device is host-capable. A second connection is established between a second device and the host. Proxy association is performed between the first device and the second device by the host to associate the first and second devices, wherein the first and second devices are unable to directly associate, wherein the host passes association information between the first and second devices.
US07870294B2
A method and apparatus for providing policy-based document control includes a client node, a collection agent, a policy engine, and a transformation server. The client node requests access to a resource. The collection agent gathers information about the client node. The policy engine receives the gathered information and makes an access control decision based on the received information. The transformation server transforms the contents of the file from a native format to a second format and presents the transformed contents of the file to the client node.
US07870286B1
A transaction-based application is adapted to process transactions over a network such as an internet or intranet. The transaction-based application is adapted by scanning the source code of the transaction-based application to identify a transaction and information related to the transaction; storing the related information in a database; extracting from the database parameter definitions describing communication of information by the transaction; identifying a parameter usage type for each parameter, said parameter usage type selectable from the parameter usage type set comprising input, output, input/output, and unreferenced; displaying the transaction and a subset of the related and extracted information; allowing a user to select the transaction; and using the identified and extracted information to package the user-selected transaction in a form compatible with a connector building tool.
US07870280B2
Embodiments include computing device readable mediums, computing devices, and methods for synchronized viewing of file manipulations. One method embodiment includes creating a synchronized session between computing devices. The method further includes distributing copies of a file from one computing device to another and allowing each computing device to locally manipulate the file. According to the method, manipulating the file on a first computing device initiates a data stream including executable instructions for manipulating the file on a second computing device. The method also includes forwarding the data stream to the second computing device and manipulating the file according to the data stream received. The method further includes restricting manipulation functionality on the second computing device to the file based on the forwarded data stream, where the restriction of the manipulation functionality does not interrupt functionality of each computing device outside the file.
US07870278B2
A wire-speed forwarding platform and method for supporting multifield classification of a packet fragmented into a plurality of fragments in the wire-speed forwarding platform, comprising: receiving a fragment of the fragmented packet at the forwarding platform and deriving a key from one or more fields of the received fragment; and performing multifield classification of the received fragment by matching the key to a rule out of a plurality of rules, the rule comprising a plurality of fields including at least one field for specifying whether the received fragment's fragmentation characteristics are to be applied when performing the multifield classification.
US07870274B1
First data is received from a network. The first data includes data stored by a mass storage device. The first data is sent to a first mobile communication device via a first wireless communication link. The first mobile communication device is enumerated by a first computer system as a first locally attached mass storage device. The first mobile communication device communicates the first data to the first computer system as data that was stored on the first locally attached mass storage device. The first data is sent to a second mobile communication device via a second wireless communication link. The second mobile communication device is enumerated by the second computer system as a second locally attached mass storage device. The second mobile communication device communicates the first data to the second computer system as data that was stored on the second locally attached mass storage device.
US07870273B2
A system and method is provided for identifying electronic devices belonging to the same authenticated user to allow access to shared media even if the electronic devices use incompatible digital rights management (DRM) schemes. By providing a method of registering electronic devices in a centralized rights server database, a user can acquire DRM licenses for the appropriate electronic device by simply registering the electronic devices. When the user later requests a DRM license, it only needs to provide cryptographic proof of a UID, or unique identifier, assigned to the device by the rights server. In this manner, media can he shared across devices Using incompatible DRM schemes.
US07870271B2
A storage device has partitions that are separately addressed by distinct IP addresses. This allows direct access of the partitions, on a peer-to-peer basis, by any other device that can communicate using IP. Preferred storage devices support spanning between or among partitions of the same device, as well as between or among different storage devices. Both multicast and proxy spanning are contemplated. Combinations of the inventive storage devices with each other, and with prior art storage devices are contemplated, in all manner of mirroring and other arrangements. In still other aspects of the invention, a given storage device can comprise one or more types of media, including any combination of rotating and non-rotating media, magnetic and optical, and so forth.
US07870247B2
A network node discovery method allows multiple enumerators to concurrently accept and interpret the same enumeration responses from responder nodes on a network. In this manner, the responder nodes do not have to issue individual responses for each enumerator. Each responder maintains a discovery state and one or more per-enumerator session states to manage when the responder should transmit enumeration responses. The enumeration, therefore, proceeds at a target network load, irrespective of the number of enumerators present, and completes in a short time by making efficient use of the network capacity available. Furthermore, an enumerator can determine that it need only wait for responses solicited by other enumerators, rather than requesting them, thereby reducing network traffic in the presence of many concurrently enumerating nodes.
US07870241B2
Power and redundancy management policies are applied individually to the tiers of redundant servers of an application service such that power is reduced while maintaining a high level of system availability. Servers which are determined to be relatively inactive are moved to a free pool. Certain servers of the free pool are maintained in a hot standby state, while others are powered-off or set to operate in a low power mode. During times of high load, the servers in the hot standby state can be provisioned quickly into the application service.
US07870240B1
A system and method for generating, managing and accessing a schema that facilitates maximizing utility of a managed communication is provided. The system provides a computer-based system for creating, accessing and/or managing a schema employed in utility-optimizing communication management. The system includes computer components for receiving communication related data and storing such communication related data, inferences concerning such data, probabilities and/or probability distributions associated with such data in an extensible, portable, data schema. The schema can facilitate making utility optimizing communication management decisions.
US07870237B2
The present invention provides a network configuration restoration method and system which can perform restoration by copying past configuration files in a short time. An updating judging unit 304 judges updating of each network device by comparing an acquired configuration file and a registered configuration file linked to a first identifier representing a copy timing. A new save unit 312 acquires an updated configuration file from a network device, and links the updated configuration file to a first identifier and a second identifier which sets the current timing as a new save timing and saves it in a configuration file database 301. A save unit 311 copies a registered configuration file of a network device whose configuration file has not been updated and links it to a first identifier representing the copy timing and a second identifier linked to this configuration file and saves it.
US07870235B2
A cluster system is treated as a set of resource groups, each resource group including a highly available application and the resources upon which it depends. A resource group may have between 2 and M data processing systems, where M is small relative to the cluster size N of the total cluster. Configuration and status information for the resource group is fully replicated only on those data processing systems which are members of the resource group. A configuration object/database record for the resource group has an associated owner list identifying the data processing systems which are members of the resource group and which may therefore manage the application. A data processing system may belong to more than one resource group, however, and configuration and status information for the data processing system is replicated to each data processing system which could be affected by failure of the subject data processing system—that is, any data processing system which belongs to at least one resource group also containing the subject data processing system. The partial replication scheme of the present invention allows resource groups to run in parallel, reduces the cost of data replication and access, is highly scalable and applicable to very large clusters, and provides better performance after a catastrophe such as a network partition.
US07870230B2
A system, method and computer program product for use in a server cluster having plural server nodes implementing a server tier in a client-server computing architecture in order to determine which of two or more partitioned server subgroups has a quorum. A determination is made of relative priorities of the subgroups and a quorum is awarded to the subgroup having a highest relative priority. The relative priorities are determined by policy rules that evaluate comparative server node application state information. The server node application state information may include one or more of client connectivity, application priority, resource connectivity, processing capability, memory availability, and input/output resource availability, etc. The policy rules evaluate the application state information for each subgroup and can assign different weights to different types of application state information. An interface may be provided for receiving policy rules specified by a cluster application.
US07870225B2
A network-attached disk (NAD) system is disclosed that includes an NAD device for receiving a disk access command from a host through a network, and a device driver at the host for controlling the NAD device through the network, where the device driver creates a virtual host bus adapter so that the host recognizes the NAD device as if it is a local device to the host. The host may run the UNIX or Windows family of operating systems. The NAD device includes a disk for storing data, a disk controller for controlling the disk, and a network adapter for receiving a disk access command from the host through a network port.
US07870224B1
A method includes receiving an upload request to retrieve a master image. The method further includes retrieving the master image in response to the upload request. The method also includes storing the retrieved master image. The method further includes generating a composite image file using the retrieved master image. The composite image file can be used to create a plurality of images derived from the master image.
US07870222B2
Disclosed herein is an information communication terminal including: a storage unit for storing contents; a communication unit for carrying out a communication with an external apparatus; a content reproduction unit for reproducing a content stored in the storage unit; and an accessible-content setting unit for classifying contents into first category contents accessible by an external apparatus and second category contents inaccessible by an external apparatus and changing a content being reproduced by the content reproduction unit to a first category content if the content being reproduced is a second category content. The terminal further includes a transmission control unit for controlling the communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus if a request for the first category content is received from the external apparatus through said communication unit.
US07870221B2
The invention features a method, system, and computer program product. User input defining a form that has one or more fields is received. User input defining a set of entries associated with the form is also received, the set of entries identifying available connections to data repositories and fields of the form that are associated with the connections. Each data repository is connected with the fields associated with the data repository using one or more declarative statements that enable one-to-many mappings from fields in the form to data repositories as defined by the set of entries.
US07870215B1
Instant messaging (IM) entities may be invited to an electronic calendar event using an instant message. Selecting the IM entities as invitees to the event may include dragging and dropping names of the IM entities from a buddy list of an IM application to an event from an electronic calendar application, or vice versa. A method of inviting an entity to a calendar event includes providing a calendar event from a calendar application and recognizing, by the calendar application, an IM entity as an invitee to the event.
US07870205B2
An e-mail system is disclosed that overcomes many deficiencies of, but is backward compatible with, existing e-mail systems. Embodiments of the system may include various features, including but not limited to: (1) secure transfer of e-mail messages, without the need for users to replace existing e-mail clients or to change e-mail addresses; (2) tracking of all actions performed in connection with an e-mail transmission; (3) the ability for a recipient to view information about an e-mail message, optionally including information about how other addressees have responded to it, before deciding whether to retrieve the e-mail message; (4) the aggregation of entire e-mail conversations into a single threaded view; (5) the ability to include both private and public messages in a single e-mail communication; (6) sender control over downstream actions performed in connection with an e-mail message; (7) flexible control over cryptographic methods used to encrypt emails messages for storage.
US07870192B2
A method and system for coordinating a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) teleconference. A teleconference operator drags the name of invited attendees into a hot window, which connects the invited attendees to a channel for the teleconference. Each invited attendee's name has a status icon associated with it, indicating if the invited attendee is active in the teleconference. Each invited attendee has access to a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that permits the attendee to toggle back and forth between different teleconferences.
US07870190B2
An information processing system is disclosed. The system includes: a client that executes information display processing; and a server that creates a display structure description file applied in the information display processing, wherein the client acquires image data reference information and transmits display structure description file creating data including the image data reference information to the server, the server creates the display structure description file and transmits the created display structure description file to the client, and the client executes processing for displaying a map on a display unit on the basis of the display structure description file received from the server and acquiring image data from a storage unit within the client on the basis of the image data reference information recorded in the display structure description file and then displaying the acquired image data on the display unit.
US07870187B2
Transport agnostic pull mode messaging service enables clients of diverse types to send and receive messages to one another while guaranteeing delivery of messages. Client specific adapters connect to a server and pull messages waiting for them in a queue. Clients may specify themselves as the recipients of the pulled messages, or specify another client as a recipient. This allows users of diverse types of clients to communicate and provides users with greater flexibility regarding how, when, and where they view their messages.
US07870183B1
A method for distributing electronic mail efficiently across a network of information processing units and intermediate nodes. The method on an information processing unit includes receiving a mail message created by a user with a list of destinations. Also, the method further includes sending a single copy of the mail message across the network via intermediate nodes to addresses corresponding to the list of destinations using a reliable multicast technique. Also, the invention includes receiving a packet on an intermediate node where the packet contains address information for a list of destinations. Also, the invention includes determining at an intermediate node the “next hop” or “next hops” that the packet should be forwarded to and forwarding a copy of the packet to each of those “next hops”.
US07870181B2
A Chinese abacus adder is disclosed. The Chinese abacus adder includes a B/A (binary to abacus) circuit, a P/A (parallel addition) circuit and a T/B (thermometric to binary) circuit. The Chinese abacus adder has a multiple radix calculating structure, which could reduce power consumption of the system and lower the calculation delay time.
US07870172B1
Embodiments of this invention disclose a file system having a hybrid file system format. The file system maintains certain data in two formats, thereby defining a hybrid file system format. In one exemplary application, the first format has properties favorable to write operations, e.g. a log-structured file system format, while the second format has properties favorable to read operations, e.g. an extent-based file system format. The data is stored in the first file system format and then asynchronously stored in the second file system format. The data stored in the second file system format are also updated asynchronously.
US07870156B2
A system including a centralized organizational information system in communication with a centralized organizational information database and an entitlement generator in communication with the centralized organizational information system, wherein the entitlement generator is configured to automatically generate at least one executable entitlement rule based on an input rule. The system also includes a federated set of entitlements engines in communication with the entitlement generator and a plurality of entitlement databases, wherein each of the entitlements engines is for determining whether a user is entitled to access secured resources requested by the user based on the executable entitlement rule.
US07870153B2
A method for executing, by a virtual machine, an application program requested by a client machine includes the step of receiving a file including access information for accessing a plurality of application files and for executing a first client capable of receiving an application stream. An identification of the plurality of application files is retrieved, responsive to the received file. At least one characteristic required for execution of the plurality of application files is retrieved, responsive to the file. A determination is made as to whether a client machine includes the at least one characteristic. A second client is executed, responsive to a determination that the client machine lacks the at least one characteristic, the second client requesting execution of the plurality of application files on a remote machine comprising a virtual machine providing a computing environment having the at least one characteristic.
US07870141B2
Method and apparatus for finding the focus of a document. A semantic network includes a plurality of nodes, each representing a concept, and links, connecting the nodes, representing relations between the concepts is used. The method including: providing a list of terms in an input document which match concepts represented by the semantic network, and a frequency value for each matched term indicating the number of times the term appears in the document; mapping each matched term to a referent node or to a plurality of possible referent nodes in the semantic network, and assigning weights to nodes.
US07870140B2
A system and method for incorporating relevance feedback into an image search. A multimedia database is first searched using a domain specific similarity matrix (DSM), resulting in a list of image results ranked by their similarity to a query key-image. The results are then reexamined using a personalized similarity matrix (PSM). The PSM includes image that have been selected by the user, either in previous searches or from lists of candidate images. Similarity scores are calculated between the domain relevant images in the PSM and the results images. The new similarity scores are combined with the original similarity scores and the images is re-ranked into a final results list. Any images selected by the user may then be used to update and/or expand the PSM.
US07870139B2
A method of consolidating genealogy records includes partitioning the records using at least one index file to form one or more partitions, sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records, comparing records within a sort range, based on the comparison, identifying same person records, consolidating information in the same person records, receiving a request from a user to view at least a portion of the consolidated information for a particular group of same person records, and sending a file that includes the portion to the user.
US07870135B1
A computer-implemented system for providing feedback to a user tagging an item includes a database and tag logic. The database is configured to store information associated with tags assigned to items. The tag logic is configured to receive one or more inputs from the user. The tag logic provides feedback to the user based on the input(s). The tag logic is also configured to assign a tag received from the user to the item, and store the tag in the database.
US07870132B2
The claimed subject matter is directed to constructing query hierarchies in response to a query request. To construct a query hierarchy, a list of related candidate queries is generated in response to the received query request. The list of related candidate queries is generated by determining the relative coverage of information shared by the candidate queries and the query request. Relationships between the submitted query request and the candidate queries in the list are determined based upon the extent of relative coverage of information shared by the candidate queries and the query request. A query hierarchy is then constructed to reflect the determined relationships between the query request and the candidate queries.
US07870131B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to mitigation of search engine hijacking. In one example implementation, a sentiment value associated with anchortext in a search engine result may be determined. Similarly, a sentiment value of one or more web pages referenced by the anchor text may also be determined. A divergence between sentiment values associated with the anchortext and a web page may then determined.
US07870130B2
A technique for facilitating identification of a matching search term in one or more images includes selecting at least a portion of an image and creating search enriched metadata for a document that includes the image. The search enriched metadata includes a text portion that provides one or more search terms that are associated with the selected portion of the image and a location portion that provides a location of the selected portion of the image.
US07870128B2
A method, system, and apparatus for improving performance when retrieving data from one or more storage media. Files to be stored on the one or more storage media are classified into a ranking of different sets. Differences in retrieval value of different regions of the one or more storage media are exploited by selecting which files to store in which regions. For example, files that have a higher classification are stored in regions with faster retrieval values. The files can be classified based on frequency of access. Thus, files that are more frequently accessed are stored in regions that have a faster retrieval value. The files can be classified by another measure such as priority. For example, the classification for some or all of the files can be based on user-assigned priority. The classification may be based on events or data grouping.
US07870127B2
A method and apparatus for calculating the surface distance between two geographical locations are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, values are stored in a square look-up table for determining the square of a value. Also, values are stored in a square of linear to surface distance look-up table for determining the surface distance of a linear value. Cartesian co-ordinates of the two geographic locations and the square look-up table are then used to calculate the square of the linear distance between the two geographical locations and the square of linear to surface distance look-up table is used to convert the calculated square of the linear distance to a surface distance.
US07870115B2
A viewing configuration is determined for a data portion of a first computer file according to a first view state. The viewing configuration has a parameter, and the first view state includes a first value corresponding to the parameter. The content of the first data portion of the first computer file is presented to a display device based on the viewing configuration. In response to a user request, the presenting is manipulated corresponding to another viewing configuration having the parameter. A second view state is captured from the another viewing configuration. The second view state includes a second value corresponding to the parameter of the another viewing configuration. A second header portion and a second data portion of a second computer file are created.
US07870108B2
A system for identifying a parameter in a version of a data entity created at a specific time, wherein at a first time the version is an active version and at a second time the version is a previous version, the system comprising: a database for storing the plurality of versions of the data entity as they are created; a cache for storing the first active version of the data entity; wherein when a new version of the data entity is created by updating at least one parameter of the data entity, a new active version replaces the first active version stored in a cache and the first active version becomes a previous version stored in the cache; and wherein the new active version includes a list of the or each previous version of the data entity with an associated time at which the version was an active version, such that by identifying the version of the data entity which was active at the specific time the parameter is determined.
US07870098B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to creating a new change pointer to indicate a change to be made to data on a database. For a receiver of the data, it may be determined whether the receiver requires historical data, and if so, an image of the data may be created before changing it. The historical data, in the form of an image or images, may be subsequently “pulled” (requested and received) by the receiver, or “pushed” (sent without being requested) to the receiver.
US07870096B2
A system and method facilitating asset composition based, at least in part, upon metadata (e.g., asset specification) describing compositional property(ies) of the asset(s) is provided. Asset specification(s) (e.g., metadata) that describe asset(s) to efficiently search and/or match asset(s) are employed. The system can facilitate matching (e.g., automatically) the particular software component to available server(s). Thus, the system can provide a flexible manner of describing asset(s) and an efficient way of locating matching description(s).
US07870094B2
In operation of continuous data protection, a continuous data protection method enables the user to easily select a copy data storage volume and an update request storage volume. A storage management server calculates selection conditions of candidates for a copy data storage volume and an update request storage volume based on a continuous data protection period to continuously protect a protection target volume and a disk capacity and an update access characteristic of the protection target volume to thereby select, according to the selection conditions, the candidates for the copy data and update request storage volumes. At occurrence of abnormality in data of the protection target volume, the continuous data protection system can restore data to a particular position (point of time) within the continuous data protection period.
US07870089B1
Systems and techniques for improving the performance of a network system having one or more sending systems and one or more receiving systems may include determining the digital signature of a received embedded digital resource, comparing the digital signature against stored digital signatures of digital resources accessible to the receiving system, and determining whether to store the received embedded digital resource and/or a location identifier for the stored version of the received embedded digital resource based on a result of the comparison.
US07870081B2
A master computing node directs parallel structure learning with intelligent computational task distribution. The master computing node may determine what families are to be used to score neighbors in a neighbor scoring process, and determine if the families have scores in a score cache. Families to be scored for the score cache may be marked and distributed for calculation among nodes in the computing cluster. The score cache may be updated to include the scored families, and the cluster synchronized with the score cache data.
US07870076B2
Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to provide interoperability between different digital content protection schemes have been presented. In one embodiment, a first copy of digital content encrypted using a first protection scheme is received from a user. In response to a request from the user, it is verified that the user is a rightful owner of the first copy without decrypting the first copy. A second copy of the digital content encrypted using a second protection scheme is sent to the user if the user is a rightful owner of the first copy.
US07870071B2
The present invention generally relates to a single transaction account identifier that can be used for in transactions with one of multiple transaction accounts. The method includes one or more of the following steps: establishing at least two transaction accounts, wherein the transaction accounts are respectively associated with transaction account identifiers; receiving, at a transaction processing system, a common account identifier; recognizing the common account identifier as being associated with more than one account; and determining, which of the at least two transaction accounts to access for processing the transaction. The determining step may be based on selection criteria and the selection criteria may be modified by a user. One of the first and second transaction account identifiers may be forwarded to the respective first and second transaction accounts based on the determining step; and the transaction may be processed via the selected transaction account.
US07870069B2
Techniques for switching a financial institution account for a debit account holder are provided. A request to convert a financial institution account is received from a customer. Information is obtained from the customer and used to identify a list of possible financial institution candidates. The list of possible financial institution candidates includes financial institutions that have an on-going relationship with an existing payment association and are interested in offering a new financial institution account to the customer. A new financial institution account is then established with a financial institution selected from a list of possible financial institution candidates. Then, the new financial institution account is linked to one or more additional accounts. The one or more additional accounts may be an account with the customer's existing payment association or accounts associated with any recurring transactions.
US07870059B2
A graphical user interface is used along with an automated algorithm selection function to enable market participants to initiate automated, multi-algorithm trading strategies through a single drag and drop motion. A symbol representing a security can be dragged and dropped onto an icon representing a tactical or strategic algorithm. Other features of the graphical user interface show information such as the progress of the algorithms.
US07870057B2
A method and system for the determination of optimal pricing and allocation of securities in an open, competitive environment. The method and system may also be used in developing pre-markets of other items that are difficult to price and allocate in a competitive manner, such as the underwriting/securitization of contracts for property; future revenue/earning streams from an asset and/or group of assets; underwritten insurance portfolios, intellectual property and other goods and services. The system of price optimization and allocation is accomplished by interactive feedback of information using a display and including competitive participation of individual members of the public (and/or their agents) or institutional buyers over a data network e.g., the Internet, uncovering the nature and identification of demand in a self-organizing fashion. Demand emerges through participants' interaction with the system and with each other, via a graphically-supported, interactive reservation process. The number of units available for allocation may be limited.
US07870053B1
Apparatus and methods for auctioning time and desktop space to product and service suppliers are provided. The apparatus and methods obtain bids from various product and service suppliers and determine which of the bids are the highest ranking bids. The particular product and service suppliers from which bids are obtained may be determined based on user preferences stored in a user profile, for example. Based on the ranking of the bids, commercial information from the product and/or service suppliers is presented to the user. Higher ranking bids are provided with larger display space on a user's client device display and are provided with a longer display time before cycling to the next lower ranking bid. In addition, multiple displays of commercial information may be provided at a same time with the size and duration of the displays being determined based on the ranking of the associated bid from the product/service supplier.
US07870050B2
The present invention implements an auction in which multiple types of goods may be auctioned in a dynamic process. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system and method for a computer implemented dynamic multi-unit auction in which the price paid or received by bidders tends to be independent of their own bids, in which participants may be provided with information concerning their competitors' bids as the auction progresses, and in which the confidentiality of high values may be maintained. Participants' quantities bid at a given time may be restricted to be less than or equal to the quantities bid at an earlier time. These features provide the advantage of improving economic efficiency of the auction design over the prior art.
US07870048B2
The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for displaying a flexible schedule for repayment of a loan. The method comprises computing an effective rate of interest on the basis of a nominal rate of interest and a compounding frequency and calculating installments to be paid based on a principal loan amount, a loan term, a disbursement date, the effective rate of interest and a predetermined set of parameters. Multiple installments of a fixed or variable amount can be paid in a particular period of time. The method facilitates entering user selected parameters such as accrual basis, bullet payment amount and period, payment holiday period and incrementing and/or decrementing installments in corresponding predefined period(s).
US07870045B2
A computer system includes one or more host computers, one or more hardware devices, and a management server for managing the assets in the system. The host computer includes an agent unit for notifying the management server of the data of the assets of the device to which it belongs based on a predetermined data structure. The hardware device includes an assets information notification unit for performing a similar process of the agent unit. The management server includes an information management unit for managing the data of the assets received from the agent unit and the information notification unit as associated with the predetermined data structure. Thus, the data of all assets in the system can be centralized using the predetermined data structure, and can be centrally managed corresponding to the structure.
US07870043B2
A multiply-integrated system for inventory, sales, and distribution of products comprises a supplier database, an order database, and a programmed order processor. The supplier database includes inventory/pricing information for multiple independent participating product suppliers, which may include: product manufacturers, distributors, and/or retailers. The order database includes order information received by the multiple participating product suppliers from multiple independent product purchasers. The multiple product purchasers may include any or all of: product manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and/or purchasers. The order processor is linked to the databases and programmed for implementing a multiply-integrated method comprising the steps of: a) receiving/entering pricing/inventory information for the supplier database; b/c) receiving/entering order information for multiple product purchasers into the order database; d) searching for ordered products available from a supplier; e) issuing instructions for delivery of each ordered and located product; f) updating the order database; and g) creating a financial accounting record for delivered products.
US07870039B1
Techniques are provided for automatic product categorization. In one aspect, the categorization is based on text and one or more other values associated with a product offering. In another aspect, a first categorization of a product offering is performed and, if the product category chosen is in a set of co-refinable product categories, then a second (or third, fourth and so on) categorization is performed among the set of co-refinable product categories. In a third aspect, products are categorized based on cost. In another aspect, after products are categorized, the products are flagged for further categorization processing if the cost for categorizing the product is beyond a predefined threshold.
US07870034B2
A method and apparatus for automatically updating the value of a bid variable or the total bid for a multi-variable bid in an online auction is disclosed. The method includes displaying an automatically adjustable mechanism interfaced to a bidder. Thereafter, the automatic bid adjustments are calculated using the mechanism.
US07870027B1
A credit facility for controlling financial transactions is arranged with the ability of users to establish self-imposed limits on a category by category basis. The processing system provides messages and other information to the user, both on-demand and at the point of sale, based upon the category of the transaction and the limit set for that category. In one embodiment, both the user and, if desired, third parties, can obtain or be notified, of account balances on a category by category basis. Also, the main user can assign category limits, or prohibitions, on subusers of the same account. In one embodiment, information pertaining to a specific transaction is communicated to a third party.
US07870019B2
A system, computer program product and method including delivering an initial promotion to a customer, determining a status of the initial promotion delivered, selecting a related promotion based on the status of the initial promotion determined, and delivering the related promotion to the customer. The related promotion is selected based on the status of the initial promotion determined by selecting a predetermined related promotion associated with the status of the initial promotion determined. Moreover, the initial and related promotions may be delivered through an electronic or hard delivery medium, and the status of the initial promotion delivered may be determined by determining a status of the initial promotion based on electronic feedback from the customer or based on predetermined status criteria assigned to the initial promotion. Promotions may be delivered primarily through an effective delivery medium for a particular customer which is determined by applying a predetermined effectiveness criteria which includes one of determining the number of occurrences of a predetermined status within a delivery medium and determining the frequency of the customer's use of the delivery medium.
US07870016B2
A report management system is provided for creating reports to be used by a business intelligence tool that generates instances of reports including information retrieved from one or more underlying data sources. The report management system has an interactive modeling user interface for receiving user inputs and presenting options for management of reports, a content group manager for manipulation of definition of content groups in response to user inputs through the modeling user interface, a measure assignment manager for managing assignment of measures to the content groups in response to user inputs through the modeling user interface, and a report assembler for assembling reports for the content groups based on information of the measures assigned to the content groups.
US07870012B2
A method for assisting a user with procurement decisions, sourcing decisions and strategic sourcing decisions in an enterprise is disclosed. The method implements a plurality of software modules in a logical workflow process based on the results of integrating and analyzing data. The workflow process provides a plurality of steps for discovering data, analyzing data, alerting the user about the data, recommending actions to the user based on the data, and executing those actions. The workflow process is based on a Value Chain Intelligence (VCI) system, which integrates and analyzes internal data from enterprises and external data from suppliers, catalogs, and marketplaces in real time for their impact on supply chains processes. Components for such a system may consist of internal data collection components, external data collection components, data integration components, and data application components. Various methods for searching, extracting, transforming, integrating, analyzing, and representing data internal to an enterprise and data external to an enterprise are also disclosed.
US07869992B2
Method and apparatus for using a waveform segment in place of a missing portion of an audio waveform
A method for using a waveform segment in place of a missing portion of an audio waveform generated in response to a packet stream encoding portions of the audio waveform, the method comprising: phase matching a trailing portion of the waveform segment with a trailing portion of the audio waveform that follows the missing portion; and adding the phase matched waveform segment to the audio waveform.
US07869991B2
A mobile terminal and method of eliminating a call sound noise thereof are disclosed, by which a user can have a call of a clear sound quality by removing a frame including a white noise from a voice frame received from an originator terminal. The present invention includes a communicating unit receiving a voice frame; a control unit deleting the voice frame, if a white noise is included in the voice frame; an audio processing unit decoding the voice frame under the control of the control unit.
US07869986B2
A system and method is provided for performing processing in a test system. A flexible platform may be provided for developing test programs for performing automated testing. In one such platform, the tester and its instruments are isolated from the tester operating system, permitting any tester operating system to be used. In another example implementation, a user layer of the platform is isolated from the physical layer of the architecture, permitting hardware-independent test programs that can be created and used among different testers having different test hardware and software. In yet another implementation, execution of a test program is isolated from a tester platform operating system, permitting the test program to function independent from the tester platform. In another embodiment, functionality is implemented on the platform such that functions are only added, and that existing links to functions are not broken, ensuring continued test system operation when new software, hardware and/or features are added to the platform. The test system may include a non-deterministic computer system. In one example test system, the system forces execution of one or more computer instructions performed by the non-deterministic computer system to execute within a constant execution time. A deterministic engine, if necessary, waits a variable amount of time to ensure that the execution of the computer instructions is performed over the constant execution time. Because the execution time is constant, the execution is deterministic and therefore may be used in applications requiring deterministic behavior. For example, such a deterministic engine may be used in automated test equipment (ATE) applications.
US07869980B2
Computation of variance or variance of the autocorrelation over a moving window of various sizes of a signal containing noise and possibly a small digital signal provides a sensitive, frequency independent indication of the likelihood of the presence of a small pulse, chirp or even spread spectrum digital signal possibly obscured by noise or larger signals in the signal to much lower signal-to-noise ratios than previously possible. Large signals in the signal which may also obscure any small signal are removed to a different signal path from the noise and small signals by subtraction after compression and reconstruction of the large signal. The compression noise thus added to the signal may also increase sensitivity of the variance of the autocorrelation to small signals obscured by the large signals. Controlling storage in response to the computed variance or variance of the autocorrelation allows substantial avoidance or limitation of storage of signals which contain only noise.
US07869956B2
A method and system in a computing environment for documenting mutation observations is provided. The method includes receiving mutation information, disassembling the mutation information into discrete elements and storing the discrete elements A method and system for presenting mutations is also provided. The method includes obtaining discrete elements for a mutation, obtaining a standard for presenting the mutation and assembling the mutation presentation utilizing the discrete elements and the standard of presentation.
US07869946B2
A routing system for efficiently determining a route between an origin and destination is provided. The routing system operates on route data that is organized into rectangular grids. The route data includes edges with their costs, and nodes that identify connecting edges. The route data is also organized according to a hierarchy, with higher level grids corresponding to at least one lower level grid. The lowest level grids contain all route data corresponding to the area covered by each low level grid. The higher level grids contain a copy of route data from their corresponding lower level grids for only those routes that are identified as important routes. A routing algorithm uses the hierarchy in a manner such that higher level grids are used whenever practical to efficiently find a route from the origin to the destination.
US07869944B2
Systems and methods for recording and reporting data collected from a remote location are disclosed. A work order, defining infrastructure to be inspected at a remote site and including an inspection plan for collecting inspection information, is generated on a first computer system and transferred to a portable computing system. Inspection data is collected pursuant to the inspection plan on the portable computing system. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver associated with the portable computing system provides location information related to inspected infrastructure during the inspection. After collection, inspection data is transferred from the portable computing system to the first and/or to a second computing system for storage and the generation of related reports. The location information obtained during the inspection can be used to determine dimensional measurements of the infrastructure and to generate visual depictions of infrastructure components and defects.
US07869929B2
Methods and systems for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. The method may include opening and closing an intake valve respectively at first opening and closing timings of a cylinder cycle during an engine start when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is below a predetermined temperature, and opening and closing the intake valve respectively at second opening and closing timings of a cylinder cycle during an engine start when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is above the predetermined temperature. The second closing timing may be later than the first closing timing and after a bottom dead center of an intake stroke of the cylinder cycle. The second opening timing may be earlier than the first opening timing, and a difference between the first and second closing timings may be greater than a difference between the first and second opening timings.
US07869926B2
A method of operating a hybrid transmission includes controlling the transmission according to a drive mode, which includes a continuously variable speed relationship, and controlling the transmission according to a fixed speed relationship mode, which includes a plurality of fixed speed relationships including mechanical gear ratios and virtual gear ratios.
US07869921B2
A system is provided for utilizing belt movement information in a motorized seat belt (MSB) control system algorithm to achieve better levels of comfort and safety. The MSB control system algorithm controls execution of multiple modes including a no friction mode, a stowage mode, a slack reduction mode, an out of position warning mode, a medium pull-back mode, and a high pull-back mode. The MSB control system algorithm also controls execution of a low power mode initiated after the other vehicle modules are put to sleep to provide the ability to stow the seat belt after the vehicle has been turned off for some period of time. The MSB control system algorithm also controls belt monitoring functions defined based on a buckle switch state that indicates the buckled or unbuckled state of the seat belt. Belt monitoring consists of belt movement being converted to counts based on a resolution provided by a belt movement sensor.
US07869916B2
A power management system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The power management system can track one or more usage parameters to insure that electrical accessories or resources do not fully drain a battery and leave enough battery life to conduct at least one cold start. In some cases, the power management system can track one or more of the following usage parameters: the amount of time of one or more hands free telephone systems are used, the number of attempts to contact a computer, and/or the amount of time used to conduct wireless communications with a computer that is physically separate from the motor vehicle.
US07869891B2
A method and apparatus for generating a bitstream of an audio signal, in which an audio signal can be easily extended to a multichannel audio signal, the processing speed of an audio signal can be improved, and channel signals of an audio signal can be processed simultaneously, and an audio encoding/decoding method and apparatus using the method and apparatus. The method for generating a bitstream of an audio signal using an encoded audio signal and encoding information includes generating a flag indicating whether the encoded audio signal is a multichannel audio signal, generating a bitstream header including the generated flag, and generating the bitstream using the generated bitstream header and the encoded audio signal.
US07869874B2
A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing vagal tone and secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by excitory pacing of the heart atria. Atrial pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in atrial contraction against closed AV valves, and atrial contraction rate that is higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing results in the increased atrial wall stress. An implantable device is used to monitor ECG and pace the atria in a nonphysiologic manner.
US07869872B2
An atrial based pacing protocol promotes intrinsic conduction. An entire cardiac cycle is monitored for ventricular activity and permitted to lapse with ventricular activity. Ventricular pacing is available in a cardiac cycle immediately subsequent to such a skipped beat. When monitoring for intrinsic ventricular events, an event is expected within a given window. If no such event is detected, the cardiac cycle is truncated, leading to a shorter cycle that is devoid of ventricular activity. The subsequent cycle has a high likelihood of a ventricular sensed event and a greater than normal AV interval is provided prior to pacing.
US07869870B1
A method and apparatus for using vagal stimulation to detect autonomic tone and assess a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) are presented. The method involves stimulating the patient's vagus nerve in order to induce a drop in arterial blood pressure, which simulates the patient's cardiovascular response to a premature ventricular contraction (PVC). Sinus rhythm data just before and immediately following the stimulation is recorded and analyzed for a degree of heart rate turbulence (HRT) in order to detect abnormalities in autonomic tone and assess the risk of SCD. In an embodiment, the method is implemented in an implantable cardiac device (ICD), which can deliver arrhythmia prevention therapy based on the risk of SCD. The method can assess the patient's vagal activity on-demand by measuring HRT without relying on naturally occurring PVCs and eliminates the risk of causing arrhythmia associated with artificially inducing PVCs in order to measure HRT.
US07869865B2
A method for position sensing includes inserting a probe comprising at least one electrode into a body of a subject, and passing electrical currents through the body between the at least one electrode and a plurality of locations on a surface of the body. Respective characteristics of the currents passing through the plurality of the locations are measured in order to determine position coordinates of the probe.
US07869863B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the fetal condition in an objective, quantitative, and non-invasive manner by enabling continuous and highly specific data collection during pre-natal development and the intra-partum period. In an embodiment, monitoring the fetal condition comprises monitoring a fetal heart rate, a fetal heart rate variability, and/or the fetal heart vector orientation of a fetus in a pregnant mother. Automated signal processing techniques are applied to a multiplicity of transducers to select an optimum signal vector to monitor at least one of a fetal heart rate, a fetal heart rate variability, and/or the fetal heart vector orientation of a fetus in a pregnant mother.
US07869862B2
A method of generating images of a portion of a body includes introducing a contrast agent into the body, generating a first set of image data using radiation at a first energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, generating a second set of image data using radiation at a second energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, and creating a volumetric composite image using the first and the second sets of image data.
US07869860B2
A method is disclosed for obtaining linear attenuation coefficients for interpreting a PET scan of a region. The method is suitable for use when high molecular weight materials are present in the region, such as contrast agents or metal objects. The method includes obtaining first and second x-ray CT data sets of the region of interest at two different energies or voltage potentials and differencing corresponding CT numbers. The difference values are used to distinguish portions of the region that are bone from portions of the region that are contrast agent or other high molecular weight material. The obtained CT data set is then used to obtain an attenuation coefficient map of the region at the PET energy of 511 keV, for example, using a linear scaling factor suited to the particular identified material. Difference values at or near zero may be used to identify soft tissue portions of the region.
US07869856B2
The present invention relates to an encapsulated medical imaging device (1) and method for imaging the gastroin-testinal tract in patients using optical scanning technologies.
US07869851B2
A method of computing an insulin bolus quantity when a measured glucose value in a current time interval exceeds a target glucose value for the current time interval and when a time duration of glucose lowering action of the bolus to be administered spans the current and a number of the next adjacent time intervals, may comprise determining a corresponding number of percentages of insulin action of the recommended bolus quantity that will each be used lowering the glucose level during a respective one of the number of time intervals, and computing the recommended bolus quantity as a function of the measured glucose value, the target blood glucose level for a last one of the number of next adjacent time intervals, the insulin sensitivities for the current and each of the number of next adjacent time intervals, and the corresponding number of percentages.
US07869836B2
In a power saving device and power saving method for a mobile access point, the power saving device sets a minimum power saving interval among power saving intervals of at least one first station coupled to the mobile access point as a power saving interval of the mobile access point. The power saving device prevents a power supply voltage from being supplied to at least one first wireless interface wirelessly communicating with the first station(s) during the power saving interval of the mobile access point when a minimum remaining power saving interval of at least one second station working in a power saving mode is longer than the power saving interval of the mobile access point.
US07869835B1
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for pre-loading and executing code within the cache. In one embodiment, an indication to operate an electronic device in a sleep state is received. At least one instance of code is loaded into a cache memory in response to receiving the indication. The at least one instance of code is for causing the electronic device to operate in said sleep state. In embodiments of the present invention, the at least one instance of code further comprises a registry setting for a memory controller. The at least one instance of code is then accessed from the cache memory.
US07869826B2
A method for relating a plurality of system identifications (SIDs) in a mobile device is provided. The method includes the steps of identifying a plurality of SIDs having a common spatial characteristic, storing the identified plurality of SIDs, comparing a SID received from a wireless service provider to the stored plurality of SIDs and, upon any one of the plurality of stored SIDs matching the received SID, declaring the wireless service provider as being a Home service provider. The common spatial characteristic can be postal zone, such as one identified by a ZIP code. In the preferred embodiment the steps of identifying, storing, comparing and declaring are executed only if the mobile station is classified as being in a Prepaid mode of operation. If none of the plurality of stored SIDs matches the received SID, the method further compares the received SID to other stored SIDs, including at least one of a Partner SID, a Favored SID and a Forbidden SID. Alternatively, or in conjunction with comparing received SIDs for the case where none of the plurality of stored SIDs matches the received SID, the method further compares a received System Operator Code (SOC) to stored SOCs, including at least one of a Home SOC, a Partner SOC, a Favored SOC and a Forbidden SOC.
US07869825B2
A communication assistance system includes a database having a plurality of listings therein, each of the listings includes a least one contact name and a contact information. A means is provided for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters seeking a listing. A table stores past requested listings of the requesters, where the system reviews the table for storing past requested listings and, based on contents contained in the past requested listing table, develops a list of requesters to target a promotion to, whereupon when a requester who is among the list of requesters contacts the system, they are provided with the promotion.
US07869823B2
A wireless intercom having a microcontroller that is programmed to place the intercom into a power saving sleep mode unless actively receiving or transmitting signals. The microcontroller of the intercom is interconnected to a transceiver for sending and receiving digital data packets, and to a codec for converting the digital packets to analog sound signals, and vice versa. The intercom receives digital transmission of data over a first channel and then corrects any errors in the digital data using a retransmission of the digital data over a second channel that is sufficiently spaced apart from the first channel to avoid the possibility of interference affecting both the first and second channels.
US07869820B2
Providing contact data in a wireless telecommunication system comprises receiving a contact data record from a first mobile device and storing the contact data records in a contact database remote from the mobile device. A selection can be received remotely for the contact data record from a second mobile device. The contact data record can be transmitted to the second mobile device for storage in its memory.
US07869803B2
The claimed subject matter relates to systems and methods for roaming in a wireless communications environment. A method for roaming between networks is provided in one aspect. This includes receiving a request for network access at a visited network and receiving a profile from a home network in response to the request. Upon receiving the profile, selectively offering services to one or more access terminals based at least in part on the profile.
US07869797B2
A communication system for providing data corresponding to a request from a user and charging the user for the data provided, when the user designates a result of a desired operation A usage management unit selects a processor, corresponding to the user's designation, which effect operations corresponding to a plurality of different algorithms, respectively. When the processor corresponding to the designation is selected, an algorithm processor makes an operation corresponding to the designation. A management center charges the user for the use of the algorithm.
US07869788B2
Access devices using billing agents and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing, at an access device, a communication to be transmitted from the access device. The method further comprises determining billing information about the communication and transmitting, from the wireless communications device, the billing information to a billing system.
US07869787B2
There is disclosed a method for charging for services in an IP based communication system, comprising: establishing an accounting session between a network element and a charging function for the session; and initiating a change in the accounting session at the charging function.
US07869776B2
A method and apparatus for regulating Tx power in a multi-rate mobile device transmitter containing signal dependent gain stages. A data rate and signal format indicator signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, and a desired reference power signal are fed to a mapper that outputs a calibration value based on the desired reference power level at the antenna. The calibration value controls the power amplifier gain characteristics in real time.
US07869763B2
The Zigbee device including: a memory storing the neighbor table for writing address information of a device; a controller acquiring the address information of the device present within electrical power enabling Zigbee communication according to a network connection type defined in a Zigbee alliance, writing the address information in the neighbor table, performing a connection to a network via the device, broadcasting the address information assigned through the network connection to the device, and controlling transmission of data to a destination device when address information of the destination device to which the data is to be transmitted is present in the neighbor table; and a transceiver performing the Zigbee communication according to control of the controller.
US07869749B2
A semiconductive rubber roller comprising a toner-transporting portion whose outermost layer is formed essentially of vulcanized rubber containing 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a phthalocyanine compound for 100 parts by mass of the vulcanized rubber. An electric resistance value of the semiconductive rubber roller which is measured at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 55% is in a range of 103 to 109Ω, when a voltage of 100V is applied thereto.
US07869746B2
In an image forming device including an image support object which supports an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device which turns the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image support object, into a visible image with toner, a powder storing unit stores powder for image formation which is either a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier or a toner. A powder supplying unit supplies the powder stored in the powder storing unit, to the developing device. The powder storing unit includes a gas supplying unit which blows off a gas from an exhaust outlet of the gas supplying unit into the powder storing unit, and a powder passage which allows the powder storing unit to communicate with the developing device.
US07869738B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing including a plurality of walls, a duplex unit openably provided to one of the walls of the main body housing, that reverses a recording medium, and a handle that advances from and retracts to the wall of the main body housing including the duplex unit. The duplex unit includes a pocket which is a clearance formed in the advancing/retracting direction and a direction perpendicular to and adjoining the advancing/retracting direction of the handle so as to expose the handle inside the duplex unit. A front end of the handle in the advancing direction thereof is positioned at a retracted position when the handle is retracted to the pocket and positioned at an advanced position outside the duplex unit when the handle is pulled out from the retracted position.
US07869737B2
A developer cartridge includes a storing portion that stores developer and has an opening, a shutter member that opens and closes the opening, and a seal member that seals between the shutter member and the storing portion. The seal member is so provided that both end portions thereof face each other. One end portion of the seal member has at least one angled portion provided inside both side end edges of the seal member in width direction of the seal member, and the other end portion has an angled portion along the angled portion of said one end portion.
US07869735B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a paper-dust collecting roller, a paper-dust removing member, a conveying roller, and an urging member. The paper-dust collecting roller is rotatably supported at a fixed position in the main casing so as to confront a conveying path of a recording medium. The paper-dust collecting roller is configured to collect paper dusts adhering to the recording medium. The paper-dust removing member removes the paper dusts collected by the paper-dust collecting roller. The conveying roller is supported at a position in confrontation with the paper-dust collecting roller across the conveying path. The conveying roller is configured to remove relative to the paper-dust collecting roller. The urging member urges the conveying roller toward the paper-dust collecting roller.
US07869729B2
A fixing device fixes an image on a recording medium by applying heat and pressure. In the fixing device, a belt is looped over a heating roller and a first roller provided inside a loop formed by the belt. A belt tensioner is provided outside the loop formed by the belt to apply tension to the belt. A second roller presses the first roller via the belt to form a nip between the first roller and the second roller via the belt. A holder holds the first roller and the second roller to maintain a distance between the first roller and the second roller. A detector detects a position of the belt tensioner. A controller changes a control parameter for fixing the image on the recording medium at the nip when the recording medium passes through the nip according to a detection result provided by the detector.
US07869725B2
A surface potential distribution measurement method and device including setting a sample having a surface with a surface potential distribution in a sample installation unit wherein both an electric field intensity formed on the sample surface and a potential bias component of the sample are variable, and scanning the sample surface in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner by irradiating a charged particle beam to the sample. The method also includes obtaining a detection signal from charged particles generated by the scanning, to measure the surface potential distribution of the sample by varying the electric field intensity and the potential bias component in order to control a quantity of the detection signal obtained from the charged particles.
US07869724B2
An image density control device includes a first detecting unit that detects a light amount of first specular reflected light which is reflected from a surface of an image carrier, a second detecting unit that detects a light amount of first diffuse reflected light which is reflected from an image on the surface of the image carrier, a surface change information acquiring unit that acquires a surface change information which shows changes with time, and a control unit that corrects the light amount of the first specular reflected light by using the surface change information to a light amount of second specular reflected light, and controls the density of the image by using the light amount of the first diffuse reflected light and the light amount of the second specular reflected light.
US07869720B2
A toner container is detachably mountable into an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus provided with a window for enabling the interior of a casing to be seen and is provided with a container main body for storing toner particles, a visual confirmation portion constituting a part of the outer surface of the container main body and to be seen through the window from the outside, and a light blocking wall standing on the outer surface of the container main body in such a manner as to surround the visual confirmation portion.
US07869719B2
A method for receiving an optical signal is included where an ingress signal is split into a first portion and a second portion. A relative delay is induced between the first portion and the second portion, which are optically interfered to generate at least one interfered signal. Quality criteria of a monitored signal at least based on the at least one interfered signal is monitored so that a relative delay based in the quality criteria may be adjusted.
US07869717B2
In the present invention, the extremely complicated setting and control and an extremely expensive optical component (wavelength locker) are not required, and optical output wavelength and optical output power can simply be set and controlled at a moderate price. At least one value for determining a dependence of the optical output wavelength on drive current and device temperature and at least one value for determining a dependence of the optical output power on drive current and device temperature in a light emitting device constituting first means 1 for emitting light are stored in fourth means 4. Fifth means 5 determines drive current or optical output power c and device temperature d, at which both the optical output wavelength and optical output power of the light emitting device are separately specified value b, from a relationship among the drive current, device temperature, and optical output wavelength of the light emitting device, the relationship being determined by the at least one value, and a relationship among the drive current, device temperature, and optical output power, the relationship being determined by the at least one value, and the fifth means 5 gives the drive current or optical output power c and device temperature d as target values to second means 2 and third means 3.
US07869714B2
An electronic system includes a first circuit board having a first optical element and a second circuit board having a second optical element positioned to electronically communicate with the first optical element over free space. The system also includes a cold plate having openings positioned to enable the optical communications over free space is positioned between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The system further includes a condenser and a fluid conduit containing a cooling fluid configured to absorb heat through the cold plate and to convey the heat to the condenser, where the fluid conduit connects the cold plate and the condenser.
US07869712B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for increasing transmission capacity for large-capacity high-speed signal transmission in an optical transport network (OTN). A method and apparatus for increasing transmission capacity are needed, which can transmit a large-capacity high-speed signal in order to transmit a signal through a united OTN by adapting signals from various tributary signal networks which have been independently operated for voice, image, or data transmission. Although various types of techniques such as Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), and an optical Printed Circuit Board (PCB) method have been performed, the techniques have various limitations. Therefore, a method and apparatus is provided for embodying a large-capacity optical transmission network, which overcome the limitations by using a Virtual Concatenation (VC) method.
US07869709B2
Signals in an optical communications network, such as optical channels in an optical WDM network for example, are each identified by at least two low frequency dither tones with which the signal is modulated. The dither tones alternate with a predetermined periodicity to produce a cyclically repeated sequence of dither tones. A network parameter, such as a channel identifier for example, is obtained by the detection of the particular combination of dither tones in the sequence. To detect a number of network parameters a signal is modulated with a number of cyclically repeated sequences of dither tones each uniquely identifying a respective network parameter. In some implementations each dither tone in a cyclically repeated sequence of dither tones is repeated with substantially the same phase and coherent averaging is performed over a number of periods to detect dither tones on low power signals.
US07869708B2
A method and apparatus is provided for obtaining status information from a given location along an optical transmission path. The method begins by generating a cw probe signal having a prescribed frequency that is swept over a prescribed frequency range. The cw probe signal is transmitted over the optical path and a returned COTDR signal in which status information concerning the optical path is embodied is received over the optical path. A receiving frequency within the prescribed frequency range of the returned COTDR signal is detected to obtain the status information. The detecting step includes the step of sweeping the receiving frequency at a rate equal to that of the prescribed frequency. A period associated with the receiving frequency is temporally offset from a period associated with the prescribed frequency.
US07869704B2
A focus adjusting device in which, when a detecting unit that detects an object image to be focused from a picked up image is capable of detecting the object image to be focused, a setting unit that sets a focus detection area when a focused state of an image pickup optical system is detected sets a second focus detection area after setting a first focus detection area and in accordance with the position of the first focus detection area, corresponding to the object image that is detected by the detecting unit and that is to be focused. Then, on the basis of signal outputs at the set focus detection area, the image pickup optical system is driven to perform focus adjustment.
US07869702B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image blur correcting device having a dimension reduced in any one direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the incident light, and a camera equipped with this device. The image blur correcting device 300 includes a pitching movement frame 205, a pitching guide mechanism 304, a yawing guide mechanism 306, a pitching direction electromagnetic actuator 312, and a yawing direction electromagnetic actuator 314. The pitching movement frame 205 supports a third lens group G3 for performing image blur correction. The pitching guide mechanism 304 guides the pitching movement frame 205 in the pitching direction. The yawing guide mechanism 306 guides the pitching movement frame 205 in the yawing direction. The electromagnetic actuator 312 drives the pitching movement frame 205 in the pitching direction. The electromagnetic actuator 314 drives the pitching movement frame 205 in the yawing direction. The electromagnetic actuator 312 and the electromagnetic actuator 314 are provided substantially opposed to each other and with a second optical axis A2 interposed therebetween.
US07869701B1
A method and system for effecting adaptive autofocusing, such as for a camera, are disclosed. The method can comprise obtaining focusing information, such as historic focusing actuator current or voltage information or focusing lens position information, storing the focusing information, and subsequently using the focusing information to facilitate a determination of a best position of a focusing lens during a focusing process. The use of such focusing information can result in a better choice for the next focusing lens position to be tested, such that the focusing process can be performed more rapidly. The use of such focusing information can also mitigate the undesirable effects of production variations and/or component wear.
US07869688B2
The recording apparatus of the present invention: stores therein one or more recorded data pieces, each of which is created by encoding a video data piece, and one or more encoding information sets, each of which is information extracted when a different one of the video data pieces is encoded and represents characteristics of the video data piece; selects a recorded data piece based on the stored encoding information sets; creates a re-encoded data piece by re-encoding the selected recorded data piece using a predetermined encoding method; extracts a corresponding re-encoding information set in a course of creating the re-encoded data piece; and stores (a) the re-encoded data piece which replaces the selected recorded data piece and (b) the re-encoding information set which replaces an encoding information set corresponding to the selected recorded data piece.
US07869684B2
A cabinet is provided for managing the connections between a feeder cable and a distribution cable wherein the distribution cable is a blown optical fiber. The cabinet includes shelves for holding splices between the feeder cable and the distribution cable. The shelves also include microduct holders for holding each of the microducts associated with the distribution cable.
US07869682B2
A fiber optic enclosure includes a housing and a cable spool assembly disposed on an exterior surface of the housing. The cable spool assembly has a first tear-away end and a second tear-away end. The first and second tear-away ends include at least one area of weakness extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly. A mounting plate is rotationally engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and unitarily rotate about an axis of the mounting plate.
US07869675B2
A light emitting device, in which an encapsulation resin is disposed at a space confined between an optical member and a mounting substrate. This encapsulation resin is possibly made free from a void-generation therein. In this light emitting device, the optical member can be precisely positioned. An electrode disposed outside a color conversion member is possibly free from an improper solder connection. A ring gate is formed on the top surface of the mounting substrate outside of the optical member, and acts to position the color conversion member. The ring gate acts to prevent an overflowing liquid encapsulation resin from flowing to the electrode provided. The ring gate is provided with a plurality of centering projections which are spaced circumferentially along its inner circumference to position the color conversion member.
US07869665B2
A composite method and apparatus for adjusting an image resolution are provided, which are applied for adjusting a digital image or de-interlace scanning, especially for achieving an edge enhancing effect. The composite method may include: obtaining an original image and a scaling factor for adjustment S; after that, detecting an edge of the original image and generating an edge map for the original image; then, calculating and generating an adjusted image with a scaling factor equal to 2n; and finally, converting the adjusted image into a final image, which is S times the original one.
US07869660B2
A method of entropy encoding image or video data may include entropy encoding a number of blocks independently and in parallel to generate a number of bit streams. At least one of the number of bit streams may include an assumed value in place of a value that would be determined by another bit stream. The method may also include selectively correcting the assumed value based on a value in another one of the number of bit streams. The number of bit streams may be combined into an output, entropy encoded bit stream corresponding to the number of blocks.
US07869658B2
In a computer-mediated method for providing representative images, image records are classified spatio-temporally into groups. In each group, image records are partitioned into clusters and the hierarchically highest cluster is ascertained. The partitioning is between a hierarchy of feature clusters and a remainder cluster, based on a predetermined plurality of saliency features. Feature clusters each have one or more of the saliency features. The remainder cluster lacks the saliency features. Feature clusters are each exclusive of the saliency features of any higher clusters in the hierarchy and non-exclusive of the saliency features of any lower feature clusters in the hierarchy. A representative image of each group is designated from respective image records based on: the respective saliency feature of the highest cluster when the highest cluster is a feature cluster and independent of the saliency features when the highest cluster is the remainder cluster.
US07869656B2
A statistical image processing system and method for detecting an original image feature and/or a noise feature in an input image using a statistical hypothesis test, thereby estimating the image or noise when an original image is contaminated with the noise, and a recording medium for recording the method, are provided. The method enables existence/non-existence of an image/noise feature in an input image to be accurately detected without information on the magnitude of a sample variance of noise in the input image. In addition, according to the method, the relative amount of noise and/or image feature can be numerically expressed and can be used in the various fields of image processing application.
US07869655B2
A system, computer program product and method are provided that smooth handwritten information following the transmission of handwritten data to a second computing device, thereby reducing the memory, processing and communications bandwidth requirements of a first computing device that captured the handwritten information. A system, computer program product and method are also provided for creating new points in the vicinity of at least some of the data points of the handwritten data after transmission of the data, thereby effectively improving the resolution of the handwritten information without increasing the memory, processing and communications bandwidth requirements of the first computing device. A system, computer program product and method are further provided that associate additional data with the handwritten information after the information has been transmitted such that a composite can be created without increasing the memory, processing and communications bandwidth requirements of the first computing device.
US07869653B2
Column misalignment between a magnetically-recognized character string and an optically-recognized character string is corrected to improve character recognition reliability. A character string is read magnetically and the result outputted. The same character string is also read optically and the result outputted. A magnetic data reading unit detects the magnetism of a character string printed in magnetic ink and outputs the detected magnetic data. A recognition result comparing unit then applies a column offset detection process to detect misalignment between the character columns in the magnetic and optical results, then applies a column offset correction process to correct any column offset and align corresponding character columns. The comparing unit then compares corresponding character columns in the magnetic data recognition result and image data recognition result. For each position comparison, the comparing unit outputs the common character if the magnetically-recognized and optically-recognized character at that position match, or a question mark if the magnetically-recognized and optically-recognized character at the position do not match or if one or both of the magnetically-recognized or optically-recognized character is missing.
US07869651B2
When a user instructs photographing by operating an operating unit, an image captured by an image sensor is stored as a photographed image in a memory. When a mode for performing color fading correction is set, the CPU instructs an image processing device to extract, from the photographed image, an area which is supposed to bring about color fading. The image processing device generates a binary image by detecting edges of the area.
US07869649B2
It is an object to perform color correction that is simple and utilizes existing devices to achieve an increase in the feeling of depth in 2D images. Input image data are transformed into predetermined color information by a color information calculation portion 11. A correction amount control portion 10 determines a correction gain value for the color information according to depth information that has been input. A color information correction portion 12 performs color information correction based on the correction amount due to the contrast between the color information of a target pixel and representative color information of the surrounding region, and the correction gain value of the correction amount control portion. An output portion 13 converts this into a predetermined image format and outputs the result. Thus, by correcting the color information based on the contrast effect in conjunction with the depth information of the foreground and the background, for example, it is possible to easily increase the feeling of depth in a 2D image. Moreover, by controlling the color contrast effect with the depth information when performing the color correction, it becomes possible to more easily give a sense of depth that is perceived by humans.
US07869644B2
Inspection apparatus are used to inspect a substrate as solder is printed, components are mounted and the substrate is heated for a soldering process. Images of the substrate are taken both before and after a production process such as the component mounting process and the soldering process and their differences are extracted. Each component on the substrate may be identified by differentiation and binarization processes and setting conditions for windows are determined corresponding to identified components. Windows are set according to determined setting conditions for inspecting the conditions of the substrate by using image data in the set windows and standard inspection data corresponding to component identification data.
US07869643B2
Inspection of objects such as semiconductor wafers may proceed on a cell-to-cell or die-to-die basis. An image of a wafer may be obtained and the cells or dies shown therein can be inspected using any combination of appropriate die-to-die or cell-to-cell inspection methods. For example, one or more areas may be designated for cell-to-cell inspection. For each cell type, a reference image can be generated by obtaining an image of the area and displacing the image by an amount equal to the repetition vector for that cell type in opposite directions. The displaced images and the original image can be combined into a single reference image. The original image can then be compared to the reference image. In some embodiments, the displaced images are also compared to the reference image to statistically determine the presence or absence of defects.
US07869641B2
A system for determining tissue locations on a slide.
US07869636B2
The invention relates to medicine and can be used for determining the anxiety level of a human being. According to said invention, in order to determine the anxiety level of a human being, the structures of a gas-discharge luminosity are fixed around the studied part of the same area of a human skin through a polymer film and without it, each structure is converted into a digital code, the quantitative parameters of the luminosity structure reflecting two-dimensional geometric characteristics of the gas-discharge luminosity are defined and the totality of the parameters of each structure is presented in the form of a point which is situated in a multidimensional parameter space. The level of anxiety of a human being is determined by the distance between the points for structures produced through the film and without it. The less the distance is, the lower the anxiety level is.
US07869631B2
The present invention discloses a method of automatically detecting and tracking a face by an electronic capturing device that alternatively uses a face detecting algorithm to quickly locate a face in a frame based on a skin color model and a face tracking algorithm to locate a face in subsequent frames by a nonparametric technique and a mean shift algorithm. If the face tracking algorithm cannot track and locate a face correctly, the face detecting algorithm will be used again to detect a face position in another new frame until the face position is located successfully, and then the face tracking algorithm will be used again for detecting and locating the face position in subsequent frames. After this method has detected a face position, a variable focal lens is used to slowly and smoothly refocus the frame including a face region, so as to obtain a clear face image.
US07869617B2
A speaker for a mobile communication terminal is provided. The speaker with an upper case, a frame, a vibration plate, a voice coil, a yoke, a magnet, a top plate and a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a housing for accommodating the vibration plate, the voice coil, the yoke, the magnet and the top plate, the housing being formed by coupling the upper case and the frame, a sound emission hole formed in one side surface of the housing, a sound pressure adjustment hole formed by penetrating the upper case, and a resonance space formed in an outer circumference of the upper case. In the speaker, it is possible to elevate degree of space utilization in the mobile communication terminal, to easily manufacture a mobile communication terminal which parallels the trend toward miniaturization, slimness and lightness, to improve the characteristics of low frequency sound, and thus to improve sound quality.
US07869616B2
A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupleable to a first audio source using a wired connection and to a second audio source using a wireless connection. A controller is used to determine whether the first, or second, audio source is coupled to the active crossover network which, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within the in-ear monitors of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source.
US07869613B2
The present invention provides the ability to efficiently detect a defect of an earwax protection device membrane. To achieve this, a high contrast is set between the membrane and the associated carrier. If the membrane is torn, the carrier in the background can then easily be detected. A particularly suited brightness contrast between the membrane and the carrier is >0.1. In the case of a desired high color contrast, the color of the membrane should be spaced apart from the color of the carrier by at least 60° on a blue-yellow-red color circle.
US07869598B2
An embodiment includes a first system for computing a contribution to a greater-than comparison of a first private value and a second private value. The first system includes: an accessing unit configured to access the first private value; a processor unit configured to compute a first encrypted value by encrypting the first private value, compute a decrypted value by decrypting a third encrypted value, and compute a contribution to a result of the greater-than comparison by checking a relation between the decrypted value and a modulus value; and a communication unit configured to send the first encrypted value to a second system and to receive the third encrypted value.
US07869589B2
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) comprising a keypad (2), and means for generating a tactile response to a user of the apparatus when a key in said keypad is pressed. In order accomplish a simple construction requiring a minimum of space, said means for generating a tactile response include at least one piezoelectric element (3) arranged to generate vibration which is forwarded to the user via a key when said key is pressed.
US07869585B2
A declarative model for specifying appropriate transformations that may occur at the input and output of each service of a sequence of services that accomplish a more complex task. Each of the services may have access to the appropriate transformation declarations, and may interpret the declarations to thereby be appropriate directed on transforms to occur in its input data and/or output data. In order to change a transformation, the transformation declaration may be altered.
US07869582B2
An apparatus and methods for implementing a garage door monitoring system coupled to a garage door opener. The door monitoring system allow a user to actuate the door under control via a network connection. In at least one embodiment, the door monitoring system is controlled by a cell phone or networked appliance capable of transmitting information and data via a cellular telephone network. The door monitoring system provides the added advantage of allowing a remote user to view the areas or regions near to the door under control prior to actuating the door. At least one embodiment comprises a method to validate reception of the pictures or video clips of the areas or regions near to the door prior to enabling the system to actuate the door. In another embodiment a pass code is embedded into the pictures or video provided to the remote user.
US07869581B2
A communication terminal having one or more one-touch-dial buttons simplifies operations needed for registration of destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses. A communication terminal (e.g., a cellular phone) having one or more one-touch-dial buttons includes a destination-data registration unit (e.g., a phone-directory database) that allows destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses to be registered therein, a one-touch-dial registration unit that allows destination data to be registered therein so as to be associated with the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, and a control unit that, in response to an operation of the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, determines whether destination data has been registered in the one-touch-dial registration unit or the destination-data registration unit, and that outputs a result of the determination and a query message regarding registration of the destination data.
US07869575B2
An X-ray examination system for analog mammography is provided. The X-ray examination system for analog mammography includes an X-ray system including an X-ray film and labeling device. The X-ray film is exposed to an X-ray beam of the X-ray system with examination images of a patient. The labeling device includes an exposure beam for exposing the X-ray film with additional patient-specific information. The labeling device is a structural component of the X-ray system and is separate from the X-ray system for exposing the X-ray film. The labeling device is positionable relative to the X-ray film. The labeling device is disposed outside the X-ray beam or in the direction of an exposure of the X-ray film.
US07869574B2
A bonded assembly includes a member, and a substrate comprising beryllium, the substrate configured to be bonded to the member. The bonded assembly includes a first barrier applied to a surface of the substrate, a second barrier applied to a surface of the first barrier, a bonding material disposed between the second barrier and the member, and wherein the second barrier is configured to prevent dissolution of the first barrier into the bonding material.
US07869570B2
A Coulomb force oscillator comprising a power supply having a closed primary winding circuit and an open secondary winding that produces charge differential within the secondary winding to separate positive charges and negative charges therein, and which effects charge separation in an external body coupled to the secondary winding. Switching the power source off causes a collapse of the magnetic field in the primary winding which causes the secondary winding to return to a steady state condition, which causes charge recombination in the external body effecting release of energy. Methods of generating electromagnetic energy are also disclosed.
US07869567B2
Phase contrast imaging is achieved using a sample mask 8 and a detector mask (6). X-rays emitted from x-ray source (2) are formed into individual beams (16) by sample mask which pass through sample (14) and arrive at individual pixels (12) of the detector (4) through detector mask (6). The individual x-ray beams are arranged to hit the pixel edge (20) of individual rows of pixels, individual columns of pixels or individual pixels. Small deviations θ in the individual beams (16) cause a significant increase or decrease in the signal hitting the exposed area (22) of the pixel resulting in a significant phase contrast signal.
US07869560B2
An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray radiation unit which applies a first X-ray having a first energy spectrum and a second X-ray having a second energy spectrum different from the first energy spectrum to a subject, an X-ray data acquisition unit which acquires first X-ray projection data of the subject based on the first X-ray and second X-ray projection data of the subject based on the second X-ray, and an image reconstruction unit which determines information about a difference between the first X-ray and the second X-ray with respect to an image of the subject, segments the image into at least two pixel areas based on the difference information, and sets part of the segmented pixel areas to a dual energy image obtained by a weighted subtraction process based on X-ray projection data having a plurality of energy spectrums.
US07869556B2
A method for the operation of a plasma device (100) is described in which particles (2) are arranged in a plasma, wherein a generation of electric travelling waves (1) is provided, under whose effective action the particles (2) in the plasma device (100) perform a directed movement to at least one pre-determined collection area (20, 20A). A plasma device for carrying out the method is also described.
US07869550B2
A digital signal processor (DSP) comprises an input terminal configured to receive an input, an adaptive nonlinear phase filter coupled to the input terminal, the adaptive nonlinear phase filter having a time-varying phase response, and an adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter coupled to the input terminal, the adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter having a time-varying amplitude response.A method of processing a signal comprises receiving the signal, sending the signal to an adaptive nonlinear phase filter, the adaptive nonlinear phase filter having a time-varying phase response, and sending the signal to an adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter, the adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter having a time-varying amplitude response.
US07869549B2
A method of gain control by amplifying an input signal with a variable gain amplifier to generate an output signal where the gain of the variable gain amplifier is selected based upon a control signal presented at a control input of the variable gain amplifier. When the output signal is larger than the upper boundary, incrementally changing the magnitude of the control signal so as to reduce the gain of the variable gain amplifier in a step-wise linear fashion. When the output signal is smaller than the lower boundary, incrementally changing the magnitude of the control signal so as to increase the gain of the variable gain amplifier in a step-wise linear fashion.
US07869547B1
Timing acquisition is performed. A first portion of a preamble having an end is sampled. A first phase value is determined based on the sampled first portion. A second portion of the preamble is sampled and a second phase value is determined based on the sampled second portion. An end phase value is extrapolated based at least in part the first phase value and the second phase value. A clock is adjusted using the extrapolated end phase value.
US07869540B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for increased pre-emphasis for clock-like data patterns to compensate for channel distortions. One aspect of the invention compensates for channel distortions by evaluating a data pattern to be transmitted; determining if the data pattern satisfies one or more predefined criteria defining a clock-like data pattern; and generating a pre-emphasis level for the clock-like data patterns that is higher than a pre-emphasis level for the data patterns that do not satisfy the one or more predefined criteria. For example, a predefined window size can be defined for determining if the data pattern satisfies the one or more predefined criteria defining the clock-like data pattern. In one exemplary implementation, the higher pre-emphasis level is generated for one or more predefined data patterns. A table can optionally be accessed to determine the pre-emphasis level based on the data pattern.
US07869533B2
A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. At least one transmitter transmits hierarchically modulated high priority and low priority signals as a single frequency network. At least one satellite re-transmits the high priority signal in a first circularly polarized direction and the low priority signal in a second circularly polarized direction. At least one of a first receiver having a single antenna is configured to receive the high priority signal in the first circularly polarized direction and switched to receive the low priority signal in the second circularly polarized direction, and a second receiver having a first antenna is configured to receive the high priority signal in the first circularly polarized direction, and a second antenna is configured to receive the low priority signal in the second circularly polarized direction substantially simultaneously.
US07869532B2
A cellular communication system employs a plurality of bandwidths. The cellular communication system comprises a plurality of base stations (101, 103) each of which transmits a reference signal comprising a Generalised Chirp-Like, GCL, sequence. The length of the GCL sequence is dependent on the bandwidth employed by the base station (101, 103). A sequence generator (105) provides a first subset of GCL sequences for a first bandwidth selected from a set of possible GCL sequences for the first bandwidth in response to properties of a sub-sequence of GCL sequences. The sub-sequence has a length corresponding to a different bandwidth. Sequence processors (107, 109) select GCL sequences for base stations (101, 103) employing the first bandwidth from the first subset of GCL sequences. The invention exploits characteristics of GCL sequences to enable, facilitate or improve multiple bandwidth operation.
US07869524B2
A pulse generator circuit is provided. The pulse generator circuit has an input adapted to receive an input electrical quantity and an output at which an output electrical quantity is made available. A transfer characteristic establishes a relationship between said input and said output electrical quantities. The pulse generator circuit is adapted to provide said output electrical quantity in the form of pulses having a predetermined shape, suitable to be used for UWB transmission. The transfer characteristic has substantially a same shape as that of said pulses. Moreover, a UWB modulating system exploiting the novel pulse generator is proposed.
US07869515B2
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07869501B2
A method for efficiently decoding a video signal is disclosed. The method for decoding a video signal based on fine granularity scalability (FGS) includes acquiring picture identification information indicating a reference picture of a current block, and decoding the current block using the reference picture. A base layer reference picture and an enhanced layer reference picture corresponding thereto have the same picture identification information. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a problem caused in a procedure for decoding a video signal due to transmission error.
US07869499B2
The present invention discloses a variable-frequency circuit with a compensation mechanism, which comprises: a load sensing/decision unit, a frequency-division unit and a level modulation unit. The present invention applies to a power supply having a frequency-division mode. The power supply has a feedback unit generating a feedback signal. The load sensing/decision unit determines the operational mode according to the feedback signal. The frequency-division unit generates a reference frequency signal. The level modulation unit generates a reference level signal. During frequency variation, the level modulation unit generates a compensation current to modulate the reference level signal. Thereby, the PWM unit of the power supply can adjust the working cycle of the power supply according to the reference frequency signal, the reference level signal and the feedback signal.
US07869498B2
Low power decision feedback equalization (DFE) through applying DFE data to input data in a data latch is disclosed. In one embodiment, a decision feedback equalization (DFE) system to remove a post cursor intersymbol interference (ISI) through feeding back previous data scaled with adaptive weights to the DFE system, with each slice of the DFE system may include a first set of decision feedback digital to analog converters (DACs) to generate a first DFE data obtained through the feeding back the previous data scaled with the adaptive weights and a first data latch to generate an output data of the each slice through applying the first DFE data to an input data of the each slice in the first data latch to remove a first delay caused by performing the applying the first DFE data to the input data of the each slice outside of the first data latch.
US07869497B2
A fast Fourier transformation is performed on a first vector of signals, and as a result a second vector of signals is provided. A feed forward equalization is performed by multiplying each of the components of said second vector with equalization parameters, and as a result a third vector of signals is provided. An inverse fast Fourier transformation is performed on said third vector, and as a result a fourth vector of signals is provided. An output signal of said first section is provided on the basis of said fourth vector of signals. In a second section a signal derived from an output signal of said second section is is filtered via linear feedback filtering and the filtered signal is added to said first section output signal, and an added signal is provided, and said second section output signal is generated by extracting samples from said added signal.
US07869490B1
A repeater for regenerating signals communicated along a telecommunication line uses a constellation providing a sufficiently high constellation density to ensure that regenerated signals are spectrally compatible. In one exemplary embodiment, such a repeater is configured to implement a method comprising the steps of: receiving first data signals from a first telecommunication line segment; demodulating the first data signals thereby recovering digital data using a constellation that provides a first constellation density; modulating second data signals with the digital data; transmitting the second data signals across a second telecommunication line segment that is bound within a cable; selecting a second constellation density for use in the modulating step such that the second data signals are spectrally compatible with other signals transmitted across a third telecommunication line segment bound within the cable, wherein the second constellation density is higher than the first constellation density.
US07869488B2
A method and apparatus for estimating a communication channel impulse response h(t) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating a data sequence di having a constrained portion Cdi associated with at least two codes w0, w1, wherein a correlation Acode(k) of the constrained portion Cdi with one of the codes w0, w1 is characterized by a maximum value at k=0 and less than maximum values at k≠0; generating a chip sequence cj having a chip period Tc as the data sequence di spread by a spreading sequence Si of length N; generating com(t)=co(t+mNTc) for m=0, 1, . . . , M by correlating a received signal r(t) with the spreading sequence Si, wherein the received signal r(t) comprises the chip sequence cj applied to the communication channel; and generating an estimated communication channel impulse response ĥM(t) as a combination of com(t) and dm for m=0, 1, . . . , M.
US07869482B2
A semiconductor laser device is made of a group III nitride semiconductor having a major growth surface defined by a nonpolar plane or a semipolar plane. The semiconductor laser device includes a cavity having an active layer containing In and distributed Bragg reflectors coating both cavity end faces of the cavity respectively. In each of the distributed Bragg reflectors, a central wavelength λc of a reflectance spectrum satisfies the relation λSP−10 nm≦λc≦λSP+10 nm with respect to an emission peak wavelength λSP of spontaneous emission in the active layer.
US07869480B2
In a semiconductor laser device, a semiconductor laser element is so fixed to a base that a distance between a convex side of a warp of the semiconductor laser element and the base varies with the warp of the semiconductor laser element along a first direction corresponding to an extensional direction of a cavity while a wire bonding portion is provided around a portion of an electrode layer corresponding to the vicinity of a region where the distance is the largest.
US07869479B2
An optical module includes a stem; a first lead pin and a second lead pin for receiving differential signals, the first and second lead pins penetrating the stem; a mount block fixed to the stem; a laser diode having a pair of electrodes; a submount mounted on the mount block and having an interdigital capacitor, and a plurality of electrode patterns on a surfaces on the submount; and a first wire and a second wire electrically connecting the submount to the first and second lead pins, respectively. The laser diode is mounted on one of the electrode patterns on the submount and connected to another one of the electrode patterns on the submount by a third wire such that the laser diode and the interdigital capacitor form an electrical circuit. The interdigital capacitor has a capacitance selected to reduce signal reflection at a selected frequency.
