US07875353B2
Multilayered pellets are provided that contain an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) and a polyamide resin and that have excellent thermal stability during pelletizing and melt molding. The multilayered pellets each are composed of at least two resin layers and include a resin layer A whose main component is EVOH and a resin layer B whose main component is a polyamide resin. In the multilayered pellets, at least 70 mol % of all the terminals of the polyamide resin are blocked by units each containing an imide structure.
US07875350B2
Ethylene polymer particles having an intrinsic viscosity [η] of 5 dl/g to 30 dl/g, a degree of crystallinity of as high as 80% or more, and a specific shape on the surface of the particles. The ethylene polymer particles can be obtained by carrying out polymerization of olefins including ethylene using an olefin polymerization catalyst containing a solid titanium catalyst component including magnesium, halogen and titanium under specific conditions. The ethylene polymer particles obtained by a solid phase method, such as solid phase drawing molding, are capable of providing a molded article with high strength.
US07875345B1
Articles are disclosed, comprising a polymer foam layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface; a plurality of cells between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the polymer foam layer, wherein the thickness of the polymer foam layer between the first surface and the opposite second surface is 1.0 to 1.5 times the average height of the plurality of cells; and a plurality of electrically conductive particles aligned into a plurality of columns that essentially continuously span the foam between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the polymer foam layer. The foams are useful as gaskets for electromagnetic shielding, grounding pads, battery contact conductive spring elements, and the like.
US07875335B2
The present invention provides a polishing pad. The polishing pad comprises a transparent part and a high molecular weight layer. The transparent part has an uneven side surface and the profile of the uneven side surface is selected from a group consisting of a serrated shape, a wavy shape and a toothed shape. The high molecular weight layer encircles the transparent part.
US07875332B2
A tape body having an adhesive layer includes a tape center to be affixed to an object and a tape outer periphery continuous to an outer periphery of the tape center and separable therefrom. A release paper includes a release paper center laminated on the tape center except at the outer periphery of the tape center, and a release paper outer periphery at least partially continuous to an outer periphery of the release paper center and separable therefrom. Thus, when the release paper center is separated from the tape center, opposite ends of the tape center adhere to the release paper outer periphery. Therefore, after a part of the tape center is affixed to the object, the tape outer periphery and the release paper outer periphery are separated from the tape center, and the remaining parts of the tape center are affixed to the object, thereby completing the adhesion operation.
US07875329B2
A thermoplastic resin composition which is excellent in heat resistance, low in heat shrinkage and excellent in resistance to moisture vapor transmission, and is capable of improving the productivity of insulating glass units. The composition includes a thermoplastic resin (A) having a specific moisture vapor permeability; at least one kind of unvulcanized rubber (B) selected from the group consisting of a halide of a copolymer of para-methylstyrene and polyisobutylene and an ethylene propylene rubber; and a moisture absorbent (C). The weight ratio of the thermoplastic resin (A) to the unvulcanized rubber (B) is 85/15 to 15/85, and the content of the moisture absorbent (C) is 10 to 70 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the total of (A) and (B). The insulating glass unit uses the composition in at least a spacer.
US07875326B2
A liquid crystal display comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode formed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and a second electrode formed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The second electrode forms an electric field to a liquid crystal layer along with the first electrode, and the liquid crystal layer comprises about 25-35 wt % of a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, and about 9-11 wt % of a compound represented by Chemical Formula 8. wherein X is an alkyl with a carbon number of 2, and Y is an alkenyl. wherein X is an alkyl with a carbon number of 3-7.
US07875314B2
A method of forming a printed image on an image receiving element is disclosed, comprising: providing an image receiving element comprising at least one activatable stiffening and/or thickening layer which comprises a polymer matrix and an activatable material; printing an image over a designated area of said image receiving element, and substantially uniformly and non-imagewise activating said activatable stiffening and/or thickening layer over the designated area of said image receiving element after step (b) to produce a printed image receiving element with an activated stiffened and/or thickened layer.
US07875308B2
An organic EL device in which light-emitting efficiency, color purity and laser induced thermal imaging characteristics are improved by providing with an organic EL device comprising a first electrode, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode, wherein the light-emitting layer uses a mixture of an optically active low molecular electric charge transport material and a high molecular light-emitting substance.
US07875296B2
A conformable tissue implant is provided for use in repairing or augmenting a tissue defect or injury site. The tissue implant contains a tissue carrier matrix comprising a plurality of biocompatible, bioresorbable granules and at least one tissue fragment in association with the granules. The tissue fragment contains one or more viable cells that can migrate from the tissue and populate the tissue carrier matrix. Also provided is a method for injectably delivering the tissue implant.
US07875283B2
The present invention relates to a stent fabricated of or coated with a composition comprising a biodegradable hydrophobic polymer containing water-labile bonds such that a device fabricated of the composition or the surface of a device coated with the requisite mechanical characteristics required of a stent and the polymer erodes from its outer surface inward.
US07875281B2
The present invention is a composition and method for repelling moles, voles, gophers, chipmunks and armadillos by applying a composition comprising castor oil, yellow grease and sodium lauryl sulfate to plant materials.
US07875280B2
The present invention concerns methods and compositions involving modified LcrV proteins from Yersinia bacteria. These methods and compositions can be employed to invoke an immune response in a subject against the bacteria, while not suppressing the immune system as much as the native LcrV protein. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to vaccines, as well as methods to protect a subject against Yersinia pestis and plague. Moreover, the present invention concerns methods and compositions for suppressing a subject's immune system using non-native LcrV polypeptides.
US07875268B2
The present disclosure relates to specific dimercaptoamides, reducing compositions for permanently reshaping keratin fibers comprising the dimercaptoamides, for instance, human keratin fibers such as the hair; and processes for reshaping keratin fibers comprising the application of said reducing compositions. The present disclosure also relates to processes for preparing the dimercaptoamides.
US07875267B2
A body cavity cleansing agent of the present invention is either poured into or applied to a navel cavity (N) or an ear hole and solidifies after a specified period of time, and the cleansing agent takes a form that can be removed from the navel cavity (N) or the ear hole together with dirt in the navel cavity (N) or the ear hole.
US07875266B2
The present invention relates to the use of fully esterified di- or oligosaccharide polyesters in hair styling products selected from hair styling waxes, hair styling creams, hair styling foam wax products, and hair styling spray wax products. Preferred saccharide polyesters are octaesters of sucrose and C8 to C30 fatty acids such as behenic acid and fatty acids derived from cotton seed oil.
US07875262B2
A delivery system for UV-protective sunscreen agents, antioxidants, skin care agents, cosmetics and the like comprising feruloylated acylglycerols (FAG) and other cinnamate-modified vegetable oils (CMVO) incorporates the agents into starch-based composites. These composites permit the use of a lower level of CMVO for comparable UV protection than if the CMVO were used alone.
US07875260B2
Novel imaging agents targeted to a lymph vascular cell receptor and a hyaluranon cell receptor are disclosed. The disclosed imaging agents incorporate biological molecules such as hyaluronic acid which bind to the receptors. Lymph vascular cell receptor expression may be related to the beginnings of tumor formation. As such, embodiments of the imaging agents may be used to stain lymph structures for detailed imaging of lymph architecture as well as serving as potential markers for tumor angiogenesis, tumor metastases, etc.
US07875258B2
One aspect of the invention relates to novel complexes of technetium (Tc) with various heteroaromatic ligands, e.g., pyridyl and imidazolyl ligands, and their use in radiopharmaceuticals for a variety of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Another aspect of the invention relates to novel pyridyl ligands that form a portion of the aforementioned complexes. Methods for the preparation of the technetium complexes are also described. Another aspect of the invention relates to novel pyridyl ligands based on derivatized lysine, alanine and bis-amino acids for conjugation to small peptides by solid phase synthetic methods. Additionally, the invention relates to methods for imaging regions of a mammal using the complexes of the invention.
US07875251B2
An ozone-decomposing agent including a first iron compound and a second iron compound is provided. The second iron compound may have a spinel type structure. The first iron compound of the ozone-decomposing agent may include an oxide selected from Fe2O3, FeO(OH) or Fe(OH)3. The second iron compound of the ozone-decomposing agent may include an oxide selected from MnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4, NiFe2O4, CuFe2O4 or CoFe2O4.
US07875250B2
An exhaust treatment device, comprises a substrate; a catalyst layer deposited on the substrate, the catalyst layer comprising a first catalyst metal and a second catalyst metal, wherein greater than or equal to about 70 wt % of the first catalyst metal and the second catalyst metal is non-alloyed under alloying conditions, wherein the weight percent is based on a combined weight of the first catalyst metal and the second catalyst metal. The first catalyst metal and the second catalyst metal are different and may be individually selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, rhenium, iridium, ruthenium, and osmium.
US07875249B2
In order to improve sealing properties between a downcomer and a high-speed layer and in order to efficiently take out produced gas obtained through gasification of, for example, a solid reactant, a syphon for sealing between a downcomer and a high-speed layer through temporary storage of particles moving from the downcomer to the high-speed layer comprises a reactor portion for causing the solid reactant to conduct chemical reaction through action of the particles, a downcomer seal portion in communication, at upper and lower ends thereof, with the downcomer and a lower portion the reactor portion, respectively, a particle outlet seal portion provided in a spaced apart relationship from the downcomer seal portion and in communication, at upper and lower ends thereof, with the high-speed layer and the lower portion of the reactor portion, respectively, and a freeboard portion formed above the reactor portion.
US07875239B2
A re-usable sterilizer test device is disclosed which is comprised of at least two parts which are releasably connected together. An indicator device which changes color in the presence of steam after a certain time period is deposited within the two parts. One or both of the bodies is manufactured from a material having a predetermined degree of porosity as regards steam and is generally cylindrical or spherical so that the outer surface of said one or both bodies forms a significant and substantial portion of the external surface of the assembled device. Steam penetrates the porous body and passes into a cavity inside the body from where the steam can move internally of the device through suitable passageways and into a chamber where the indicator is located.
US07875237B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dental scaler tip using a powder injection molding process, a mould, and a scaler tip that is excellent in shape-reliability and injects fluid to a front end thereof along a curved section of the tip. The method comprises the steps of preparing feedstock and injecting the feed stock into a mould to form a molding body, wherein, the mould comprises an operating section to which cylindrical core pins having multi steps and an eccentric end formed at a front end thereof for forming the fluid passage is mounted; and a pair of slide cores disposed for supporting the eccentric ends of the core pins such that the slide cores face each other and are slid in the direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the core pins to form a cavity corresponding to a shape of an article to be formed.
US07875236B2
Systems and methods for use in processing raw material (e.g., iron bearing material) include a linear furnace apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis between a charging end and a discharging end (e.g., the linear furnace apparatus includes at least a furnace zone positioned along the longitudinal axis). Raw material is provided into one or more separate or separable containers (e.g., trays) at the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus. The separate or separable containers are moved through at least the furnace zone and to the discharging end where the processed material is discharged resulting in one or more empty containers. One or more of the empty containers are returned to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material.
US07875214B2
Electroconductive composition, method for forming electroconductive film, and electroconductive film
An electroconductive composition including silver oxide (A) and silver salt of a fatty acid (B) containing at least one hydroxy group is provided. The electroconductive composition is capable of forming an electroconductive film at a low temperature and in a short period. The electroconductive composition is capable of adequately forming an electroconductive film on a substrate having a low heat resistance.
US07875206B2
A luminescent material is provided, which includes a compound having a composition represented by the following general formula (A): (Sra1,Bab1,Cac1,Rev1,Euw1)2SiO4 (A) wherein, Re is at least one selected from a group consisting of Pr and Dy, and a1, b1, c1, v1 and w1 satisfy following relationships: a1+b1+c1+v1+w1=1 (1), 0≦a1/(1−v1−w1)≦1 (2), 0≦b1/(1−v1−w1)≦1 (3), 0≦c1/(1−v1−w1)≦1 (4), 0
US07875203B2
The invention relates to a deicing or anti-icing agent containing, based in each case on its total weight, from 35.0% by weight to 95.0% by weight of at least one glycol, from 0.001% by weight to 5.0% by weight of at least one dendritic polymer and from 0.01% by weight to 5.0% by weight of at least one further thickener and optionally water.It furthermore relates to the use of from 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of at least one dendritic polymer and from 0.01% by weight to 5.0% by weight of at least one further thickener for thickening a composition which contains from 35.0% by weight to 95.0% by weight of at least one glycol and optionally water.
US07875202B2
This invention relates to an aircraft de-/anti-icer for use at low temperatures. In particular, the present invention provides the use of a composition comprising 1,3-propylene glycol, one or more surfactants, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more pH regulators and water for removing frozen water from the surfaces of aircraft and/or for preventing the formation of frozen water thereon at a temperature below −32° C.
US07875200B2
A method for a repair process includes the steps of subjecting a substrate coated with at least one protective metallic coating to a nitric acid solution and then subjecting the substrate with the at least one protective metallic coating to a hydrochloric acid solution to remove the at least one protective metallic coating from the substrate. The substrate includes about 5 wt %-15 wt % chromium, about 2 wt %-8 wt % cobalt, about 2 wt %-6 wt % tungsten, about 0.5 wt %-2.5 wt % titanium, about 8 wt %-16 wt % tantalum, about 2 wt %-8 wt % aluminum, hafnium in an amount no greater than 1 wt %, and a remainder of nickel.
US07875199B2
The method for generating radicals comprises: feeding F2 gas or a mixed gas of F2 gas and an inert gas into a chamber of which the inside is provided with a carbon material, supplying a carbon atom from the carbon material by applying a target bias voltage to the carbon material, and thereby generating high density radicals, wherein the ratio of CF3 radical, CF2 radical and CF radical is arbitrarily regulated by controlling the target bias voltage applied to the carbon material while measuring the infrared absorption spectrum of radicals generated inside the chamber.
US07875197B2
Improved methods of forming a patterned self-assembled monolayer on a surface and derivative articles are provided. According to one method, an elastomeric stamp is deformed during and/or prior to using the stamp to print a self-assembled molecular monolayer on a surface. According to another method, during monolayer printing the surface is contacted with a liquid that is immiscible with the molecular monolayer-forming species to effect controlled reactive spreading of the monolayer on the surface. Methods of printing self-assembled molecular monolayers on nonplanar surfaces and derivative articles are provided, as are methods of etching surfaces patterned with self-assembled monolayers, including methods of etching silicon. Optical elements including flexible diffraction gratings, mirrors, and lenses are provided, as are methods for forming optical devices and other articles using lithographic molding. A method for controlling the shape of a liquid on the surface of an article is provided, involving applying the liquid to a self-assembled monolayer on the surface, and controlling the electrical potential of the surface.
US07875196B2
A method for forming micro lenses includes the step of performing an etching treatment to an object to be processed, which includes a lens material layer and a mask layer having lens shapes and formed on the lens material layer, using an etching gas including SF6 gas and CHF3 gas, an etching gas including SF6 gas and CO gas, an etching gas including a gas having therein carbon and fluorine and CO gas, or an etching gas including two or more kinds of gases from a first gas having therein carbon and fluorine and a second gas having therein carbon and fluorine, to etch the lens material layer and the mask layer and transfer the lens shapes of the mask layer to the lens material layer, thereby forming the micro lenses.
US07875194B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a hydrogen sensor using Pd nano-wires. The method includes steps of forming an external electrode pattern on a substrate applying a first resin layer to the substrate and forming a resin layer nano-channel pattern; depositing Pd on the substrate having the nano-channel pattern, by sputtering, and removing the first resin layer to form Pd nano-wires; applying a second resin layer to the substrate having the Pd nano-wires, and forming a resin layer pattern on the external electrode pattern, at opposing ends of the Pd nano-wires, and at predetermined positions between the external electrode pattern and the opposing ends of the Pd nano-wires; and depositing conductive metal on the resin layer pattern and removing the resin layer pattern, thereby electrically connecting the external electrode pattern to the Pd nano-wires.
US07875167B2
A low hydrogen partial pressure process for desulfurizing naphtha in the presence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst which catalyst is selective for suppressing hydrogenation of olefins and in the presence. This invention also relates to the use of optimum metals loading for achieving a high level of hydrodesulfurization with a low level of olefin saturation.
US07875162B2
A device for separating and purifying useful quantities of particles comprises: a. an anolyte reservoir connected to an anode, the anolyte reservoir containing an electrophoresis buffer; b. a catholyte reservoir connected to a cathode, the catholyte reservoir also containing the electrophoresis buffer; c. a power supply connected to the anode and to the cathode; d. a column having a first end inserted into the anolyte reservoir, a second end inserted into the catholyte reservoir, and containing a separation medium; e. a light source; f. a first optical fiber having a first fiber end inserted into the separation medium, and having a second fiber end connected to the light source; g. a photo detector; h. a second optical fiber having a third fiber end inserted into the separation medium, and having a fourth fiber end connected to the photo detector; and i. an ion-exchange membrane in the anolyte reservoir.
US07875161B2
A method of applying a coating to an internal surface of a device includes applying an electric current through an interior space of the device to electrodeposit resin particles onto a first portion of the internal surface and curing the resin particles to form a coating on the first portion of the internal surface. The method further includes repeating an application of the electric current through the interior space of the device to electrodeposit resin particles onto a second portion of the internal surface and curing the resin particles to form a coating on the second portion of the internal surface. The application of the electric current through the interior space and the curing of the resin particles may be repeated until a coating is formed on all of the internal surface.
US07875157B2
A composite reconstituted anode well. The composite well has a first while section and a second regenerative section. The first well section has a pre-existing anode well earthen wall, pre-existing sacrificed carbon material, pre-existing sacrificed anode materials, and pre-existing sacrificed well casing. The second regenerative section has a regenerative well casing, regenerative anodes, and regenerative carbon material. The regenerative well casing is driven into the first well section which compacts the pre-existing sacrificed carbon material, pre-existing sacrificed anode materials, and pre-existing sacrificed well casing against the pre-existing anode well earthen wall which forms a first outer section of the composite reconstituted anode well. The regenerative anodes are placed inside the regenerative well casing, and regenerative carbon material is filled inside the regenerative well casing which encases the regenerative anodes and forms the inner well section. The first outer section and the first inner section result in the composite reconstituted anode well.
US07875155B2
The present invention provides a transparent electrically conductive film and a method for producing the same. The transparent electrically conductive film comprises Zn, Sn and O, wherein the molar ratio Zn/(Zn+Sn) of Zn to the sum of Zn and Sn is 0.41 to 0.55, and is amorphous.
US07875151B2
A particulate product comprising kaolin produced from a method wherein the kaolin of a feed suspension is such that not more than 30% by weight has a particle size less than 2 μm and not more than 30% by weight has a particle size greater than 10 μm, wherein the kaolin of a product suspension produced is such that not more than 10% by weight has a particle size greater than 10 μm and not more than 10% by weight has a particle size less than 0.25 μm, and wherein the particulate product comprises kaolin produced from a fine fraction suspension.
US07875140B2
A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic substrate includes: a) discharging a droplet of a conductive ink on each of a plurality of green sheets so as to draw a liquid pattern made of the conductive ink on each of the green sheets; b) drying the liquid pattern so as to form a dry pattern; c) laminating the green sheets including the dry pattern so as to form a laminated body, and applying hydrostatic pressure on the laminated body that is decompress-packaged so as to form a pressure-bonded body; and d) firing the pressure-bonded body so as to form a multilayer ceramic substrate. In the method, in the step a), the liquid pattern is drawn by drawing a wiring liquid pattern and a dummy liquid pattern drawn along a vicinity of the wiring liquid pattern.
US07875136B2
A method for manufacturing an absorbent hygiene article having a plurality of components that are joined together during the manufacturing process. Thermochromic fibres are incorporated in a component web, component or a selected area thereof, said thermochromic fibres being adapted to change colour between a contrasting colour to a less contrasting colour. A colour change of said thermochromic fibres is induced during one step of the manufacturing process and the presence of the thermochromic fibres being in their contrasting state is detected by a detection means. A measure in the process control is actuated in response to the detected presence of thermochromic fibres in their contrasting state.
US07875133B2
High temperature heat treatable aluminum alloys that can be used at temperatures from about −420° F. (−251° C.) up to about 650° F. (343° C.) are described. The alloys are strengthened by dispersion of particles based on the L12 intermetallic compound Al3X. These alloys comprise aluminum, copper, magnesium, at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium; and at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and niobium. Lithium is an optional alloying element.
US07875124B2
A method for performing wash cycles in a dishwasher comprising factory includes presetting the dishwasher to an adapted wash cycle as a default cycle, the adopted wash cycle being adapted to a combination product including a detergent agent and at least one of a water-softening agent and a rinse agent. A wash cycle is selected using a control element. Using a cycle controller, the adapted wash cycle is performed until a filling of at least one reservoir with a rinse aid or a water softener salt. Using the cycle controller, a predetermined number of standard wash cycles are performed after the filling of the at least one reservoir.
US07875119B2
A coating apparatus includes a mounting member for mounting a turbine airfoil in a coating chamber. The mounting member defines a chamber therein and includes a mounting port that is adapted to receive the turbine airfoil. The mounting port provides a fluid connection between the chamber and an internal passage of the airfoil. A support member is mounted between the chamber wall and mounting member and bears the weight of the mounting member. The mounting member is unfixed relative to a chamber wall of the coating chamber. Thus, the chamber wall does not restrict the mounting member during thermal expansion and contraction of the mounting member and avoids warping of the mounting member.
US07875117B2
An epitaxial wafer and a high-temperature heat treatment wafer having an excellent gettering capability are obtained by performing epitaxial growth or a high-temperature heat treatment. A relational equation relating the density to the radius of an oxygen precipitate introduced in a silicon crystal doped with nitrogen at the time of crystal growth can be derived from the nitrogen concentration and the cooling rate around 1100° C. during crystal growth, and the oxygen precipitate density to be obtained after a heat treatment can be predicted from the derived relational equation relating the oxygen precipitate density to the radius, the oxygen concentration, and the wafer heat treatment process. Also, an epitaxially grown wafer and a high-temperature annealed wafer whose oxygen precipitate density has been controlled to an appropriate density are obtained, using conditions predicted by the method.
US07875116B2
A method in which SSDs are reliably reduced while reducing void defects other than the SSDs on a wafer surface, which is essential for an annealed wafer, and ensuring that BMDs serving as gettering source in a bulk are generated, in order to stabilize the quality of the annealed wafer. Considering that annealing a silicon wafer leads to an increase of density (quantity) of deposits associated with oxygen and nitrogen and forming a core of the SSDs, SSDs are decreased by reducing the density (quantity) of the deposits associated with oxygen and nitrogen by controlling three parameters of oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration and cooling concentration during the process of pulling and growing the silicon single crystal 6 before annealing. Alternatively, SSD is reduced by polishing after annealing.
US07875114B2
A gypsum slurry is described that includes water, a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer, a polycarboxylate dispersant having olefinic unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid moieties and (poly)oxyalkylene moieties, a first portion of a retarder and a second portion of a retarder. In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry. The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry.
US07875113B2
A concrete obtained through mixing a composition comprising the following constituents: a) 21 to 27% of a hydraulic binder, b) 52 to 68% of aggregate particles having a size of between 0.02 mm and 5 mm, c) 2 to 6% of pozzolanic reaction particles having a particle size of between 0.1 and 1 micron, d) up to 10% of filler having a particle size between 10 and 200 microns, e) 0.32 to 1.6% of a dispersant, f) 0.1 to 1.2% of fibres, g) 0.02 to 0.1% of a defoamer agent, and h) 7 to 10% of water, each percentage being the percentage by weight of the respective constituent relative to the sum of the weights of constituents a) to h). The concrete obtained is particularly suitable for polished flooring overlay.
US07875112B2
The present invention relates to surface-modified effect pigments based on flake-form substrates which are distinguished by the fact that they are sheathed with one or more layers of immobilised LCST and/or UCST polymers. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of the surface-modified effect pigments and to the use thereof in surface coatings, water-borne coatings, powder coatings, paints, printing inks, security printing inks, plastics, concrete, in cosmetic formulations, in agricultural sheeting and tarpaulins, for the laser marking of papers and plastics, as light protection, as pigment for corrosion protection and for the preparation of pigment compositions and dry preparations.
US07875106B2
A method device and material for performing adsorption wherein a fluid mixture is passed through a channel in a structured adsorbent bed having a solid adsorbent comprised of adsorbent particles having a general diameter less than 100 um, loaded in a porous support matrix defining at least one straight flow channel. The adsorbent bed is configured to allow passage of a fluid through said channel and diffusion of a target material into said adsorbent under a pressure gradient driving force. The targeted molecular species in the fluid mixture diffuses across the porous support retaining layer, contacts the adsorbent, and adsorbs on the adsorbent, while the remaining species in the fluid mixture flows out of the channel.
US07875097B2
A raw material for sintering of 100% in total is blended so as to adjust iron-containing dust and/or sludge to 60% or more, and coarse grains having a grain size of 2 mm or larger to 20% or more on the weight basis, one-third or less of the total amount of addition of coke breeze is added as a fuel, the blend is kneaded and granulated using a vibration kneading granulator to thereby produce granulated grains, the residual portion of the total amount of addition of coke breeze is added to the granulated grains, the blend is subjected to exterior coating granulation using a rolling type granulator, thus-granulated raw material for sintering is screened, and a fraction having a grain size of 1 mm or larger is used for sintering, making it possible to sinter microparticulate dust and microparticulate sludge as main raw materials, which have conventionally been used only to a limited amount of use.
US07875082B2
An ulnar prosthesis assembly comprising a head formed with a curved surface extending between opposed ends and a stem. One of the ends of the head has an attachment bore defined therein. The attachment bore generally has a first diameter and includes an attachment groove thereabout with a second diameter greater than the first diameter to define at least one attachment shoulder. The stem has a stem body extending between a proximal end configured for implantation in a target bone and a distal end configured to be received in the attachment bore. The distal end has a locking flange extending radially therefrom. The locking flange defines a locking shoulder having a diameter greater than the first diameter such that upon receipt in the attachment bore, the locking shoulder engages the attachment shoulder.
US07875081B2
A knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component having an anterior side, a posterior side, a pair of laterally spaced condylar portions, and an intercondylar portion joining the condylar portions and including a recess. A cam surface is located adjacent the intercondylar recess on the anterior side of the femoral component and has a saddle shape that is defined by an at least substantially concave first radius of curvature and a convex third radius of curvature that is perpendicular to the concave first radius of curvature. The prosthesis also includes a tibial component including a platform having an upper surface that includes first and second laterally spaced concavities. Each concavity is adapted for receiving one condylar portion of the femoral component. The tibial component has a tibial post for reception in the intercondylar recess of the femoral component. The tibial post has a saddle shaped anterior cam surface that is complementary to the saddle shaped anterior cam surface of the femoral component and is defined by an at least substantially convex second radius of curvature and a concave fourth radius of curvature that is perpendicular to the convex second radius of curvature.
US07875072B2
A cellular stent carries living therapeutic cellular material for implantation into a human or animal body and allows either localized or systemic delivery of the therapeutic products, while promoting engraftment, either on a tissue surface or its interior. The cells are contained within wells in the stent that are enclosed by inner and outer membranes that seal the cellular material within the stent until it is to be released. The outer membrane is preferably in the form of a thin, hard plastic sheet having a plurality of score lines, perforations, or other lines or weakening provided therein. The membrane may be embedded in a softer perimetral mount which retains it in position until the seal is to be broken. Rupture of the outer membrane ensures penetration of the cells into the interior of tissue or an organ in which the stent is implanted.
US07875071B2
A system and method for delivering and assembling a bifurcated stent in a bifurcated vessel having a first lumen and a second lumen. The system and method includes the use of three balloon catheters wherein at least one of the catheters is a fixed wire catheter. A first segment of the bifurcated stent having a stem portion, a first leg portion, a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and a branch aperture formed in the side wall is mounted on two of the balloon catheters and delivered to the treatment site where it is implanted into the first lumen. A second segment of the bifurcated stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough is mounted on the third balloon catheter and is delivered to the treatment site such that the distal end extends into the second lumen and the proximal end extends into longitudinal bore of the first segment. The second segment is then implanted into the second lumen and secured to the branch aperture of the first segment to form a bifurcated stent.
US07875065B2
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a receiver, a compression insert and an articulation structure made from at least two discrete pieces. The shank upper portion cooperates with the compression insert to place the retainer in frictional engagement with the receiver. The geometry of the retainer structure pieces corresponds and cooperates with the external geometry of the shank upper portion to frictionally envelope the retainer structure between the capture structure and an internal surface defining a cavity of the receiver.
US07875053B2
A method for closing a patent foramen ovale in the heart tissue of a patient may include percutaneously advancing a connector applicator to the patent foramen ovale, registering the connector applicator with the patent foramen ovale, deploying connectors into heart tissue to close the patent foramen ovale; and percutaneously removing the connector applicator from the heart. One or more anchors may be used to register the connector applicator with the patent foramen ovale. The connector applicator may include a driver having a longitudinal passage therein, where at least part of at least one connector is positioned within the passage.
US07875049B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for providing access to a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a lumen extending therebetween. A pushable stiffening member extends from the distal end of the tubular member. An expandable sheath extends along at least a portion of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to facilitate insertion into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen communicating with the tubular member lumen. A distal portion of the sheath is steerable, e.g., using a pull wire disposed within a lumen of the sheath or within the stiffening member. In addition or alternatively, the stiffening member may be biased to a predetermined shape to facilitate introduction.
US07875016B2
A flexible multi-chamber container for preparation of medical mixed solutions includes at least three chambers separated from each other by leaktight seams. The chambers are designated to be filled with different solutions and are separated from each other by leaktight seams. At least a part of the first leaktight seam is provided with a separation zone to be opened for fluid transfer from the first chamber into the second chamber. At least a part of the second leaktight seam is provided with a separation zone to be opened for fluid transfer from the second chamber into the third chamber. The leaktight seams are arranged and the separation zones are formed such that, in use of the container for preparation of the medical mixed solution, the first separation and second separation zones are opened in a sequential order. The first zone is opened before the second separation zone is opened. Thus, the components are mixed one after another in a predetermined sequential order.
US07875014B2
A disposable absorbent garment for wear about a wearer's waist includes a garment shell and an absorbent assembly constructed to take in and retain body exudates released by the wearer, the absorbent assembly including an inner waist band. The absorbent assembly may be permanently detached from the garment shell. The garment shell has limited attachment to the absorbent assembly at front and rear attachment zones. The inner waist belt provides tension on each side of the absorbent assembly to provide effective coverage of the wearer.
US07875002B2
A balloon dilation catheter comprising: a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the tubular member. The tubular member comprises a first lumen disposed in communication with an interior of the inflatable balloon and a second lumen for receiving a guidewire substantially along the entire length of the tubular member. The second lumen has a first opening at the proximal end of the tubular member and a second opening at the distal end of the tubular member. A first slit is disposed longitudinally from the first opening along substantially the entire length of the tubular member to permit separation of the guidewire with respect to the second lumen. The subject balloon dilation catheter provides improved rapid exchange advantages of either the catheter or the guidewire used in a catheterization technique.
US07874990B2
A system and method is provided for using ultrasound data backscattered from vascular tissue to estimate the transfer function of a catheter (including components attached thereto—e.g., IVUS console, transducer, etc.). Specifically, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a computing device is electrically connected to a catheter and used to acquire RF backscattered data from a vascular structure (e.g., a blood vessel, etc.). The backscattered ultrasound data is then used, together with an algorithm, to estimate the transfer function. The transfer function can then be used (at least in a preferred embodiment) to calculate response data for the vascular tissue (i.e., the tissue component of the backscattered ultrasound data). In a second embodiment of the present invention, an IVUS console is electrically connected to a catheter and a computing device and is used to acquire RF backscattered data from a vascular structure. The backscattered data is then transmitted to the computing device, where it is used to estimate the catheter's transfer function and to calculate response data for the vascular tissue. The response data and histology data are then used to characterize at least a portion of the vascular tissue (e.g., identify tissue type, etc.).
US07874985B2
A method, system, and computer program product related to the diagnosis of diabetes, and is directed to predicting the long-term risk of hyperglycemia, and the long-term and short-term risks of severe hypoglycemia in diabetics, based on blood glucose readings collected by a self-monitoring blood glucose device. The method, system, and computer program product pertain directly to the enhancement of existing home blood glucose monitoring devices, by introducing an intelligent data interpretation component capable of predicting both HbA1c and periods of increased risk of hypoglycemia, and to the enhancement of emerging continuous monitoring devices by the same features. With these predictions the diabetic can take steps to prevent the adverse consequences associated with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
US07874978B2
An implantable pump with a plurality of protrusions and grooves is described.
US07874974B2
A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy comprising a substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member made of material, which is bio-absorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the member. The delivery system and method further customize the member based on a prescription.
US07874968B2
A leg rehabilitation apparatus comprises a base including first and second base members, wherein the first base member is linearly adjustably connected to the second base member. The first base member including an adjustable thigh support member attached thereto; the second base member including a movable boom attached thereto via a resistance module that offers adjustable dynamic resistance there between during relative movements thereof. The adjustable boom including a bracket that is linearly movable along the length of the boom; the bracket including an adjustable foot and ankle rest, such that a user can place their thigh upon the thigh support member and a foot within the foot and ankle rest and thereby move their leg in a plurality of motions against the resistance of the resistance module in order to exercise and rehabilitate chosen muscle groups within the leg.
US07874957B2
An integrated sensor apparatus capable of detecting exercise equipment parameters such as power output and cadence is designed so as to be easily retrofittable to existing equipment. To the extent that a particular sensor uses friction measurement, it can supplant an existing friction causing device on the equipment. Additionally, the sensor can communicate, wirelessly if desired, with a processing device. The processing device is capable of receiving and processing a plurality of sensor signals. The processing device can then output processed signals to a display, so that a plurality of people joining in a group exercise or competition can easily track their relative performance in real-time.
US07874953B2
A stator torque transmitting assembly for a vehicle including a stator shaft connected to a stator in a torque converter for the vehicle and arranged to transmit torque from the stator during a torque conversion mode for the torque converter. In some aspects, the assembly includes a first planetary gear set with a first sun gear, a first planetary carrier, and a first ring gear. The first sun gear is rotationally connected to the stator shaft and the first carrier is grounded. A first transmission input shaft is rotationally connected to the first ring gear and to a second carrier in a second planetary gear set in a transmission in the vehicle. A second transmission input shaft, rotationally connected to a turbine in the torque converter, is rotationally connected to a second ring gear in the second planetary gear set.
US07874948B2
Rocker arm assembly for the rear derailleur of a bicycle, comprising an outer plate carrying a pivot pin, an inner plate and a pair of idle transmission wheels arranged between the outer plate and the inner plate. The inner plate is made of metallic material and the outer plate is made of a structural fiber fabric incorporated in a thermoplastic material matrix.
US07874946B2
A bat for limiting the maximum barrel response at high impact speeds while minimizing the dampening performance at low impact speeds includes a plurality of separate longitudinal beams extending from the end of the bat to the tapered portion of the bat. These beams, as well as the tapered portion and a handle, are constructed from a composite material, such as fiber reinforced plastic. An external sleeve is then provided around the barrel portion of the bat. The external sleeve is secured around the barrel of the bat using a snap-fit end cap.
US07874945B2
A mechanism for securing a handle to a head, particularly of a lacrosse stick, comprises a shaft having a wedge portion positioned at a distal end thereof, a binding plate positioned adjacent to said shaft, and a means for moving said wedge portion in a longitudinal direction relative to said binding plate. Longitudinal movement of said wedge portion causes latitudinal movement of said binding plate, thereby binding said handle to said head. Such a mechanism can be used in a method for securing and maintaining secure the joint between a handle and a head, either in a new lacrosse stick or as a retrofit.
US07874942B2
A portable lightweight ball toss toy comprises a tube, a wind sock and an air supply adapted to direct air through the tube and support a ball in a hover mode at an open end of the wind sock. The toy can include a ball supply adapted to hold at least one ball, a controller adapted to control the air supply to propel the ball from the open end of the tube in various modes including (a) a hover mode in which the ball hovers at the open end of the wind sock, (b) a toss mode in which the ball is propelled vertically out of the tube by one or more distances and/or (c) a pitch mode in which a ball is lobbed in a horizontal direction.
US07874939B2
The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core.
US07874937B2
The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head is formed with a cross-sectional profile having a varying thickness. The face plate comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. At least a portion of the plies comprise a plurality of elongated prepreg strips arranged in a predetermined criss-cross pattern in the lay-up. The prepreg strips create one or more areas of increased thickness where the strips overlap each other, thereby creating a desired profile for the plate. Metallic or polymer covers or cover layers can be used to define a striking surface.
US07874936B2
The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head is formed with a cross-sectional profile having a varying thickness. The face plate comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. At least a portion of the plies comprise a plurality of elongated prepreg strips arranged in a predetermined criss-cross pattern in the lay-up. The prepreg strips create one or more areas of increased thickness where the strips overlap each other, thereby creating a desired profile for the plate. Metallic or polymer covers or cover layers can be used to define a striking surface.
US07874931B2
An inflatable type golf swing training apparatus, which comprises an inflatable track guide and adjustable struts. The inflatable track guide had a radian of an swing track and is made by an enclosed capsule which is hollow and inflatable and is made of elastic material. The adjustable struts includes two front adjustable struts which are provided at the lower part of the inflatable track guide and used for adjusting the height and angle thereof, and two rear adjustable struts which are provided at the middle part of the inflatable track guide and used for adjusting the angle of the track guide plane with respect to the horizontal plane.
US07874918B2
An electronic game apparatus for providing a game activity on a monitor device. The electronic game apparatus may include a contacting member and a signal-emitting member that are each adapted to be manipulated by a user. The signal-emitting member may include a kinetic sensor adapted to produce a kinetic control signal representative of at least an orientation of the signal-emitting member. The signal-emitting member may also include at least one contact sensor adapted to be actuated by the user pressing the contacting member against the signal-emitting member to produce a contact control signal. A processor may be responsive to the kinetic control signal and the contact control signal and adapted to determine the game activity corresponding thereto. An audio-video processor adapted to produce and transmit audio-video output signals representative of the game activity to the monitor device may be coupled to the processor.
US07874912B2
A gaming device having a bonus round with multiple selection groups is provided. The gaming device provides a plurality of selection groups including a final selection group. Each non-final selection group includes selections that yield awards and at least one selection that yields an advance indicator. The advance indicator signals the end of a player's picking from one selection group and the start of the player's picking from a subsequent selection group. The gaming device provides the player with a total number of picks. The player uses the picks to advance through as many selection groups as possible, wherein the awards increase as the player advances.
US07874911B2
A hardware or software module is added to a gaming device. The module renders the gaming device capable of permitting play of the gaming device when a credit balance of the gaming device is insufficient, in which prior to such rendering, the gaming device was not capable of permitting play of the gaming device when the credit balance is insufficient.
US07874904B2
A gaming device and a method of operating a gaming device which include at least one potential award-generating event and at least one guaranteed award-generating event. The award-generating events can include independent games of a composite game or independent plays of a game. For each occurrence of a potential award-generating event, at least one guaranteed award-generating event occurs to provide the player at least one award. In an embodiment, the award-generating events occur simultaneously by being simultaneously displayed to a player and simultaneously played. Even if a terminating event occurs in the potential or guaranteed award-generating event, an award is provided to the player in the guaranteed award-generating event. In an embodiment, the potential award-generating event includes an advancement game and the guaranteed award-generating event includes a random selection game. In an embodiment, if a predetermined number of awards provided to a player are associated with an accumulation indicator, the player is provided an additional award.
US07874897B2
A vibrating lap polishing system for flat items, comprising a polish pan with flexible bottom mounted on a base having three or more round-head bolts of equal height extending vertically above the base surface and positioned at one hundred twenty degree spacing on a circle about the base center; a center bolt attached to and extending below the pan center into a nut rotated by horizontally positioned gears, a center gear which rotates the nut and an outer meshed gear available from the outside work area to raise and lower the workpiece during operation. Means, which put no holes in the polish pan, are provided to pull the polish pan down onto the round-head bolts which create raised areas in the flexible pan-bottom. A flat-bottomed multi-item workpiece is circulated and rotated in an unsynchronized manner over the raised areas which creates a complete polish of the workpiece after sufficient cycles.
US07874888B2
An inspection method for an organic electroluminescence panel of the present invention includes the steps of: applying a predetermined voltage to each of pixels of color filters of respective types relative to an organic electroluminescence panel on which the color filters of the respective types are installed; with respect to leakage light generated from the organic electroluminescence panel, detecting the leakage light transmitted from each of the color filters of the respective types; adjusting each of the amounts of light emissions of the leakage light detected from the color filters of the respective types so as to be set within reference permissible values for each of the color filters of all the types; and based upon the amount of light emission of each of the leakage light detected from the color filters of the respective types of the organic electroluminescence panel, inspecting the organic electroluminescence panel.
US07874884B1
A method for controlling a marine engine uses a flow regulating valve in combination with a solenoid operated two position control valve to regulate the flow of cooling water through exhaust system components. Temperatures are measured at the components, such as within the cooling jacket of exhaust manifolds, and a microprocessor compares the measured temperatures to desired ranges. When the temperatures exceed upper limits, additional flow is directed from a pump to the exhaust system components. When the temperatures are below desired flow thresholds, the flow of the water in the pump is restricted in order to allow the exhaust system components to rise in temperature.
US07874881B1
An improved full tension connector for electrical conductors has a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a stepped series of substantially cylindrical inner surfaces with progressively smaller inside diameters. The design of the connector allows for improved control of the compression of the cable inside the fitting. A series of swages, progressing successively from a light compression to a heavier compression, ensures that the connector will sustain the required tensile load.
US07874867B2
In an electrical connection member having elasticity and adapted to be interposed between connection objects for electrically connecting them together, an inner member has a plurality of spring pieces each extending from a base plate portion, an outer member including a flexible insulating film and a plurality of conductive paths formed at the flexible insulating film. Each conductive path has a first and a second contact portion for connection to the connection objects. Each spring piece includes a root portion formed adjacent to the base plate portion and faced to a portion, corresponding to the second contact portion, of an inner surface of an intermediate portion of the insulating film. Each spring piece further includes an inclined spring portion extending obliquely from the root portion and faced to a portion, corresponding to the first contact portion, of the inner surface of the intermediate portion.
US07874860B2
An electrical connector includes an electrical plug having a threaded sleeve for screwing on a union nut of an electrical socket or for screwing into a stationary housing component of an electronic device. The threaded sleeve includes an external thread not having a threadless area. The union nut includes an internal thread configured for threaded engagement with the external thread of the plug. The internal thread has at least one threadless area.
US07874859B2
An electric connection box which is electrically connected to electrical equipments of an automobile via wire harnesses is installed at a center cluster provided at a central portion of an instrument panel of the automobile. A plurality of switches for controlling the electrical equipments are provided at a front portion of a connection box body of the electric connection box. Operating portions of the switches are exposed to form part of a design surface (front surface) of the center cluster.
US07874850B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing provided with a plurality of first contacts. Each of the first contacts has a tine that extends toward an outside of the insulating housing that is bent at a right angle with respect thereto. A tine plate is mounted on a side of the insulating housing. A circuit board is arranged adjacent to the undersurface of the tine plate and spaced there from. The tines extend through first through-holes in the tine plate and first through-holes in the circuit board. The tine plate has at least one first recess provided on the undersurface of the tine plate that encompasses at least one of the first though-holes on the tine plate. Molten solder is provided in the first through-holes in the circuit board and forms a fillet on the tines that extends toward the undersurface of the tine plate.
US07874845B1
A scissor-type multi-functional connector includes a male connector and a female connector respectively mounted to circuit substrates. The male connector includes a housing that includes a frame wall and receives and retains therein plate terminals. The female connector includes a housing and a lower body between which clips are retained. Both connectors are mounted to the substrates by pins. Contact legs of the plate terminals and the clips extend outside the housings and are mounted to the substrates through SMT or PCB soldering (DIP). As such, the frame wall of the male housing may be set to mate the female housing to have the plate terminals and the clips efficiently and effectively engaging each other to form a connected condition.
US07874844B1
A universal power plug adapter for supplying power to an electrical device. The adaptor is comprised of two intermediate electrical connectors attached together by magnetic force. One connector attaches to an electrical power supply, and another contains a plug compatible with the receptacle on one or more electrically powered devices. An optional specially designed extension cord can be inserted between the two connectors. The extension cord has ends that are identical to the two mating ends of the two connectors so that the extension cord can insert therebetween.
US07874842B2
A display board assembly includes a polymeric board having edges, a backing coupled with the polymeric board and configured to engage a mounting surface, and a dry erase surface coupled with the polymeric board. The backing is spaced inwardly from the edges of the polymeric board.
US07874834B2
Disclosed is a combustion apparatus using an air fuel ratio sensor, which detects the operation of the air fuel sensor based on pressure of gas and air introduced into a combustion chamber and adjusts the amount of gas and air introduced into the combustion chamber using a controller based on data detected by the air fuel sensor. The combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber of a boiler; a blower installed in an air feeding line communicated with the the combustion chamber; an electronic proportional gas valve installed in a gas feeding line communicated with the combustion chamber; an air fuel ratio sensor including a movement section connected to the combustion chamber, the blower and the electronic proportional gas valve and moved up and down according to pneumatic pressure supplied thereto from the combustion chamber, the blower and the electronic proportional gas valve, and a distance sensor for detecting a moving distance of the movement section; and a controller for adjusting an amount of gas and air based on data detected by the distance sensor.
US07874831B2
An imprint lithography template including, inter alia, a body having a first thickness associated therewith; a patterning layer, having a second thickness associated therewith, comprising a plurality of features, having a third thickness associated therewith.
US07874826B2
A method of manufacturing an ink stick for use in a phase change ink jet imaging device comprises heating phase change ink material to an extrusion temperature at which the phase change ink material is in a malleable state. The ink material is then extruded through an extrusion orifice to form an extruded rail of ink. The extruded rail of ink is then roll formed to partially form a portion of a shape transverse to the extrusion direction as the rail of ink moves in the extrusion direction. A swaging process is then carried out to further form and divide the extruded rail of ink into ink sticks.
US07874823B2
The invention relates to a device for producing pellets from a plastic melt by extrusion, comprising a perforated plate from which the plastic melt is extruded at a pressure above the ambient pressure; a process chamber into which the plastic melt is extruded; a chopping device for chopping strands of the plastic melt extruded from the perforated plate into individual granules, the process chamber being filled with a process fluid; and a pumping device which supplies the process fluid to the process chamber at a pressure above the ambient pressure, the pressure of the process fluid with the therein contained granules being reduced downstream of the process chamber. According to the invention, an energy converter is provided downstream of the process chamber, wherein said energy converter extracts at least some of the pressure energy from the process fluid with the therein contained granules, reduces the pressure of the process fluid with the therein contained granules and converts at least some of the extracted energy into a reusable form of energy. The invention further relates to a corresponding process for producing pellets from a plastic melt by extrusion and also to a corresponding application.
US07874821B2
A tire forming mold in which a depression for forming a land portion of a tread surface is provided in a molding surface forming a tread pattern of a tire. The tire forming mold has a pocket provided in the depression, a block fitted into the pocket to form an exhaust chamber in an inner portion of the pocket and holding a laminated blade, which is formed by superposing thin plates, so that one end portion is exposed to the molding surface and the other end portion is exposed to the exhaust chamber, and an exhaust hole having one end portion is communicated with the exhaust chamber and the other end portion is communicated with a mold back face or a mold split face.
US07874805B2
A hub for a wind turbine with a first end facing a nacelle of the wind turbine and a second end facing a direction opposite the nacelle. The hub has at least one opening between the first and second end, which opening is adapted for receiving a wind turbine blade, and the hub is adapted to rotate in relation to the nacelle by means of the wind turbine blade. A self-supporting front structure is connected to the second end of the hub, the front structure extending from the second end of the hub and away from the nacelle and being arranged to support a spinner module, the spinner module being adapted to house the front structure and hub. The front structure has a projecting part, which is part of the self-supporting structure and can extend from the front structure and away from the nacelle and has a connection point.
US07874804B1
A turbine blade with a detached platform in which the platform has a central opening in which the blade is inserted and held in place. The blade includes a root portion with a fir tree configuration to fit within a slot of a rotor disc. The platform includes two legs that also have a fir tree configuration to fit within the slot of the rotor disc. The blade is inserted into the central opening and the fir tree configurations of the blade root and the platform legs form substantially an aligned set of fir trees that fit within the rotor disc slot to retain both the blade and the platform within the slot. The blade is therefore separated from the platform such that thermal stresses are uncoupled. Also, the blade can be made from a different material than is the platform. The centrifugal load applied to the platform is not transferred onto the blade.
US07874795B2
A nozzle assembly for a turbine that may include: (1) a nozzle blade having inner and outer sidewalls and, in part, defining a flowpath upon assembly into the turbine; (2) an outer ring; (3) a flowsplitter having a horizontal extension; (4) an interface between the outer ring and the outer sidewall having at least one of (i) a male/female interface or (ii) a radial interlock; and (5) an interface between the horizontal extension and the inner sidewall having at least one of (i) the male/female interface or (ii) the radial interlock. In some embodiments, one of the interface between the outer ring and the outer sidewall and the interface between the horizontal extension and the inner sidewall comprises a weld and one of the interface between the outer ring and the outer sidewall and the interface between the horizontal extension and the inner sidewall is weld free.
US07874781B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of process chambers (20) for applying a process to substrate accommodated therein and a conveyance case (24) that conveys the accommodated substrates to the process chambers (20) and a transfer mechanism that moves the conveyance case (24) along a moving path. The conveyance case accommodates the substrates in an isolated state from an external atmosphere. The plurality of process chambers (20) are arranged in an aligned state on both sides of a moving path of the conveyance case (24). The conveyance case (24) has two conveyance ports (24a) in response to conveyance ports (20a) of the process chambers (20) arranged in alignment in two rows.
US07874775B2
A fastening device to be fitted into a support part (22) has a cover plate (1) and two clamping arms (6, 7). Each clamping arm (6, 7) has an inner leg (5) and an outer leg (10) which has a bracing structure on its end facing the cover plate (1). The bracing structure of each clamping arm (6) is provided with two flat side cheeks (15, 16) that are joined to mutually opposite side margins (13, 14) of the respective outer leg (10) and extend toward the other clamping arm (6, 7). Each side cheek (15, 16) has an end face (17) that is oriented at an angle to the cover plate (1) and falls away toward the respective outer leg (10) from the end remote from that outer leg (10). The fastening device according to the invention can consequently be used in the presence of relatively high extraction forces with support parts that vary in thickness over a relatively large range.
US07874771B2
The invention provides an improved seal structure of cutting fluid supplied to a spindle of a milling spindle. The milling spindle 100 comprises a spindle 20 supported within a housing via a bearing 16, and a drawbar 24 having a through coolant passage 22. The cutting fluid C1 passing through the rotary joint 40 and 50 is sent to the through coolant passage 22, but a portion thereof is collected in a drain chamber 105. A rotation member 110 is attached to a rear end portion of the spindle 20, which is equipped with a labyrinth device 150 having a lip seal member 152. An air supply member 120 has two air seal members 142 and 144, and air A1 is sent toward the labyrinth device 150, by which an air seal is formed.
US07874761B2
The inventive support structure for a soft ground consists of at least two elements which comprise a plate [1], on the lower supporting surface of which three anchoring projections in the form of hooks are made or secured, one of these projections [9] being located near the end face [5] and two other [8, 10] being located near side faces [6, 7], and a curved anchoring element [11], the side surfaces [12] of which are inclined with respect to the horizontal surface of the plate and have three arc-like segments [13, 14, 15] projected outside the contour of the plate base.The invention is characterized in that the side faces [6, 7] of the plate [1] consist of two parts [16, 19] which are inclined in the opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal section, in that the end faces [4, 5] of the plate [1] are inclined in the same direction and in that stops [20, 21] are provided in the area where the differently directed parts of the side faces are conjugated.The inner surfaces of the anchoring elements [8, 9, 10] can be directed at different angles to the lower surface [3] of the plate [1].
US07874760B2
A groove profile for a positive hub-shaft connection has a hub having a plurality of grooves with an essentially quadrilateral groove cross section and a shaft having a plurality of grooves with an essentially quadrilateral groove cross section. Additionally, the groove profile has at least one rib radially projecting from one of the grooves of the hub or shaft towards one of the grooves of the other of the hub or shaft.
US07874759B2
The present invention relates to a coupling (1) for a ship propulsion system to be arranged between a first shaft section (3) and a second shaft section (5) of a propeller shaft, comprising a first radial surface (17) facing a second radial surface (19), said first and second radial surfaces (17, 19) are transversal to the axial extension of the first and second shaft section (3, 5), wherein said first and second radial surfaces (17, 19) are connectable into an axially engaged condition and disconnectable into an axially disengaged condition, wherein said first and second radial surfaces (17, 19) are rotationally secured relative to each other in said axially engaged condition by means of at least one shear-carrying element (27) seated in opposite recesses (23, 25) arranged in the first radial surface (17) and the second radial surface (19), respectively, taking up shear forces directed substantially parallel to said first and second radial surfaces (17, 19), each of said opposite recesses (23, 25) comprises an open end facing the other one, wherein said at least one shear-carrying element (27) in said axially engaged condition abuts an axial abutment surface provided in the vicinity of each of said recesses (23, 25) for provision of a distance (29) between the first radial surface (17) and the second radial surface (19).
US07874757B2
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning surfaces connects to a water source, and uses a portable cylindrical deionized water unit, a garden hose, a replaceable ion exchange resin cartridge, a brush pole system, and a second hose.
US07874748B2
A photo development apparatus for use in fabricating a color filter substrate for a display panel is disclosed. The disclosed photo apparatus includes a development solution supplier to supply a negative development solution. The photo apparatus also includes a first photo apparatus to form a positive photo-resist pattern to be used in forming a black matrix, wherein the positive photo-resist pattern is formed by patterning a light shielding layer formed on a substrate using the negative development solution and a positive photo-resist.
US07874743B2
A pressure equalizing housing may be used to house equipment (e.g., one or more mechanical and/or electronic devices). The pressure equalizing housing may include a pressure equalization device to provide pressure equalization between an internal pressure inside of the housing and an ambient pressure outside of the housing. The pressure equalization prevents relatively humid air outside of the housing from passing into the housing and thus prevents or substantially minimizes condensation inside of the housing.
US07874739B2
In one embodiment, a fiber assembly is provided. The fiber assembly has a first fiber having at least one core. The core has a length, a first end, and a second end, and light may be transmitted along the core. The second end has an obtusely angled end surface. The assembly also has a second fiber having at least one core having a first end. Light may be transmitted along the core. The second end of the first fiber is optically coupled to the first end of the second fiber such that light emitted from the first fiber may be transmitted to the second fiber.
US07874724B2
Two vertically offset thermistors for sensing a fluid such as oil and refrigerant in a compressor shell are monitored by a method that takes into account rapidly changing conditions within the shell. The system can determine the fluid's sump temperature, high/low liquid levels, and can determine whether the thermistors are sensing the fluid as a liquid, gas, or a mixture of the two, such as a foam or mist of liquid and gas. For greater accuracy, thermistor readings can be dithered and filtered to provide temperature or voltage values having more significant digits than the readings originally processed through a limited-bit A/D converter. For faster response, limited microprocessor time is conserved by sampling thermistor readings at strategic periods that enable the microprocessor to identify certain conditions and temperatures via simple delta-temperature ratios and undemanding equations rather than resorting to exponential functions or lookup tables to determine time constants.
US07874719B2
An improved method and apparatus for mixing is provided that features a drive system that is removable from a bearing housing that supports the impeller shaft in the vessel. Some versions of the system and method use a magnetic drive system having a canister projecting outward from the bearing housing. The drive system has a lower shell that engages with the bearing housing and is quickly releasable and/or detachable to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the drive system from the bearing assembly.
US07874701B2
A lighting apparatus comprises a light panel having a panel frame, and a plurality of LEDs or other light elements secured to the panel frame. Lenses and/or filters are adjusted in distance from the light elements, by for example moving the lenses/filters into different slot positions of the frame, to alter characteristics of the emitted light. Focal lenses, diffusion lenses, and color filters may be used individually or in combination. A compound lens includes lens elements having different characteristics arranged in a pattern. Through groupwise control of the intensity of the light elements, the different characteristics are emphasized or de-emphasized. The light panel may have an integrated battery, and may be mounted on a stand. The panel may be modular, allowing larger panels to be constructed from smaller panels.
US07874697B2
The invention relates to a lamp with a first light source generating white light, comprising at least one fluorescent lamp (2) or an incandescent lamp, as well as a second light source comprising at least one set of light-emitting diodes (4, 5; 300), and comprising a reflector (1) for the light emitted by the light sources, wherein a cooling device (6, 7) for the at least one set of light-emitting diodes (4, 5) is attached to the reflector (1) and is thermally linked to the at least one set of light-emitting diodes (4, 5), and wherein the lamp comprises a translucent and light-dispersing medium (3) in the optical path of the light emitted by the lamp.
US07874696B2
A wall luminaire is described having a housing intended for the reception of the electrical components and having at least one light permeable element mounted to the housing whose special feature consists of the fact that light generated by a plurality of LEDs with an associated optical system or by a fluorescent lamp arrangement is guided in bundled form between two surfaces which are disposed in the sidelight region of the light beam.
US07874690B2
An oven lighting fixture includes an LED assembly or assemblies optically coupled with an optical guide member. The lighting fixture also includes a mounting bracket and a pair of electrical leadwires to connect the LED lighting fixture to an external voltage source. The LED assembly has an LED attached to a printed circuit board containing ancillary circuitry for powering the LED, and a heat sink for removing heat from the LED. The mounting bracket is attachable to a door of the oven cavity to support the LED lighting fixture adjacent to a sidelight window. The mounting bracket has a slot adjacent to the window for transmitting light from the LED through the light guide and into the oven cavity. Positioning the lighting fixture outside of the oven cavity and adjacent to the sidelight window permits the LED to operate within required temperature limits.
US07874688B2
A deformable mirror device compensates the spherical aberration caused by the difference of thickness of the cover layers covering recording layers of an optical disc. Circular projections are concentrically arranged on a flexible member (2) where a mirror surface (3) is formed to produce a strength distribution pattern (2a). Attractive force is generated as electrostatic force between an upper electrode (8) and a lower electrode (9) according to the voltage applied from a drive circuit (10) so as to contract the second space (7) and accordingly expand the first space (5) in order to deform the mirror surface. At this time, the profile of the mirror surface is deformed to show a desired profile that can compensate the spherical aberration by the pattern formed on the flexible member (2) as strength distribution pattern (2a). With this arrangement, only a single drive actuator (10) is needed to deform the mirror surface to simplify the configuration and the control operation. The mirror surface can be deformed stepwise to show predetermined deformed profiles depending on the pattern formed as strength distribution pattern (2a). Then, it is possible to compensate the spherical aberration for each of the three or more than three recording layers of the optical disc.
US07874687B1
A vehicular exterior mirror assembly comprises a base assembly adapted for fixed attachment to an exterior portion of the vehicle and a reflective element assembly pivotally attached to the base assembly and supported thereby. A pivot member having a perimeter wall is interposed between the base assembly and the reflective element assembly and defines an axis of rotation between the base assembly and the reflective element assembly. A side-acting detent assembly is mounted to one of the base assembly and the reflective element assembly, and has a side-acting detent assembly member positioned to exert a force against the perimeter wall of the pivot member normal to the axis of rotation. One of the pivot member and the side-acting detent assembly member comprises at least one indentation and the other of the pivot member and the side-acting detent assembly member comprises a bearing element. The reflective element assembly can be pivoted relative to the base assembly against the force exerted by the side-acting detent assembly member and, when the bearing element engages with the at least one indentation, the reflective element assembly will be held in a position defined by the at least one indentation relative to the base assembly by said force.
US07874678B2
An autostereoscopic 3-D image is provided in a viewing zone without the need for 3-D glasses by use of one or more projectors that project two or more images having projected exit pupils separated horizontally by no more than an average human interocular spacing onto a 3-D forming screen (which is a lenticular or a raster barrier screen) with a substantially smooth and nominally white back projection surface and a front side with multiple individual vertical elements that project left and right images so that the 3-D forming screen retro-reflects projected light on the screen received from a light source back to the light source.
US07874672B2
“Universal improvement” of vision is achieved by effectively changing the shape of the anterior refracting surface of the cornea to an ideal “turtleback” shape, on which is imposed the necessary curvature adjustment to achieve correction of distance vision. In accordance with one embodiment, the cornea is actually formed to the turtleback shape through corneal surgery, preferably laser ablation surgery. In accordance with a second embodiment, a contact lens with the desired distance corrected ideal turtleback shape on its anterior surface is positioned over the cornea.
US07874671B2
A pattern (P) is transferred onto an optical article (1) in the form of one or more portions of a transferable material (3, 4b) retained by a layer of latex (2). The portion or portions of transferable material are applied with a stamp after the layer of latex has been formed on the article and before the latex is dry. By using latex as the adhesive material, the nature of the transferable material may vary widely. Such a method is particularly suitable for producing patterns such as holograms on optical lenses, especially ophthalmic lenses. The layer of latex may also protect the product against shocks which may subsequently be received.
US07874669B2
An eyeglass component mounting system is provided that can comprise a frame and at least a first ear stem. The first ear stem extends rearwardly from the frame and defines an anterior end and a posterior end. The anterior end of the first ear stem can be hingedly coupled to the frame such that the first ear stem can be pivotably movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first ear stem can comprise a mounting area configured to receive an eyewear component thereon such that the eyewear component can be removed or seated onto the mounting area when the first ear stem is in the stowed position and such that the eyewear component is retained on the mounting area when the first ear stem is in the deployed position.
US07874668B2
An eyeglass frame (10), the eyeglass frame (10) being usable for supporting a first lens (12) and a second lens (14), the eyeglass frame (10) comprising: a first rim (16) and a second rim (18), the first and second rims (16 and 18) being provided for supporting respectively the first and second lenses (12 and 14); a bridge (19) attaching the first and second rims (16 and 18) to each other; and a nose pad (20) removably attachable to the first rim (16); the first rim (16) defining a nose pad attachment (24) for removably attaching the nose pad (24) thereto, the nose pad attachment (24) being deformable between a locked configuration in which the nose pad (20) is fixedly attached to the nose pad attachment (24) and an unlocked configuration in which the nose pad (20) is movable relative to the nose pad attachment (24) for selectively attaching the nose pad (20) to the nose pad attachment (24) and detaching the nose pad (20) from the nose pad attachment (24); the first rim (16) being deformable between a lens supporting configuration in which the first rim (16) is able to support the first lens (12) and a deformed configuration, the deformed configuration being achievable when the first rim (16) is deprived of the first lens (16); wherein when the first rim (16) is in the lens supporting configuration, the nose pad attachment (24) is in the locked configuration and when the first rim (16) is in the deformed configuration, the nose pad attachment (24) is in the unlocked configuration.
US07874667B2
To attain the object of the invention to provide an eye mask of a simple structure that is easy to assemble using the integrally formed arc-shaped mask body, with the centrally located concave part abutting the nose of the wearer, the eye mask of the invention comprises an arc-shaped oblong mask body (1) integrally formed of resin, a concave (4) formed at the center of the mask body (1), a first and a second eye spot (5 and 6) comprising small perforated holes (2) formed on both sides of the concave (4) and temples (10) each mounted on both sides of the mask body (1) via a hinge (9), wherein the cross section of the mask body (1) perpendicular to its length direction has a C-curved surface.
US07874666B2
Eyewear exhibiting a variable light transmittance functionality is achieved by including a smart lens incorporating an electrochromic (EC) polymer, switchable between a first state and a second state in response to a voltage selectively applied thereto. The smart eyewear includes the smart lens, a voltage source, and a support. The EC polymer transmits more light in the first state than in the second state, because changing the state of the EC polymer varies the light transmittance of the smart lens. The voltage source is configured to provide the voltage required to switch the EC polymer between the first state and the second state, while the support member is configured to support the smart lens and enable a user to wear the smart eyewear. Embodiments can include sensors and controllers to automate the switching, as well as energy harvesting elements to increase battery life.
US07874664B2
A printing apparatus having a) a printing station including at least one printhead for applying phase-change ink to a print substrate in a phase-change ink image, and b) an ink spreading station including an ink spreading member and a back-up pressure member in pressure contact with the ink spreading member forming a nip between the ink spreading member and pressure member for spreading the phase-change ink image on the print substrate, wherein the print substrate is passed through the nip, and wherein the pressure member includes i) a pressure member substrate, and ii) an outer coating with a urethane and conductive salt.
US07874663B2
The present invention provides: an inkjet recording method comprising: applying an undercoating liquid on a recording medium, the undercoating liquid containing at least one surfactant in an amount of from 0.001% to the critical micelle concentration, the surfactant achieving a surface tension of 25 mN/m or smaller when dissolved in 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate at a critical micelle concentration; semi-curing the applied undercoating liquid; and recording an image by ejecting an ink onto the semi-cured undercoating liquid, the ink being curable by irradiation with an actinic ray; and an inkjet recording apparatus.
US07874662B2
A method of replacing a printhead in an inkjet printer with minimal ink wastage, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a printhead comprising: an ink distribution manifold having an ink inlet and an ink outlet; one or more printhead integrated circuits mounted on the manifold, each printhead integrated circuit comprising a plurality of nozzles; (ii) providing an ink supply system comprising: an ink chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet via an upstream ink line; a reversible air pump communicating with a headspace of the ink chamber; and a downstream ink line connected to the ink outlet; (ii) actuating the pump so as to negatively pressurize the headspace, thereby depriming the printhead by drawing ink from the downstream ink line and the printhead into the ink chamber; (iii) deactuating the pump and allowing an ink level in the ink chamber to equalize with an ink level in the upstream ink line; (iv) removing the printhead from the printer, the removing including disconnecting the ink inlet and the ink outlet from respective upstream and downstream ink lines; (v) replacing the printhead with a replacement printhead, the replacing including connecting an ink inlet and an outlet inlet of the replacement printhead with respective upstream and downstream ink lines; (vi) actuating the pump so as to positively pressurize the headspace, thereby priming the printhead by drawing ink from the ink chamber, through the printhead and into the downstream ink line; and (vii) deactuating the pump and allowing an ink level in the ink chamber to equilibrate to a predetermined level.
US07874643B2
A printhead assembly includes a printhead module including two or more printhead integrated circuits and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the printhead integrated circuits. First and second power supplies are provided at first and second ends of the printhead assembly, the second end being opposite to the first end. The printhead assembly further includes a plurality of electrical conductors for providing power to the printhead integrated circuits from the first and second power supplies. The plurality of electrical conductors extend transverse to a media feed path defined through the printhead assembly. The plurality of electrical connectors are arranged as first and second groups of electrical conductors, the first and second groups having a combined lengths at least equal to a width of the media feed path. The first group of electrical conductors is connected to the first power supply and extends from the first end of the printhead assembly to a region intermediate the ends of the printhead assembly. The second group of electrical conductors is connected to the second power supply and extends from the second end to connect to the first group at the region intermediate the first and second ends of the printhead assembly to supply power in parallel from both ends of the printhead assembly. The first group of electrical conductors has a staggered configuration, the staggered configuration adapted to overlap and mate with a complementary staggered configuration of the second group of electrical conductors.
US07874640B2
An inkjet printhead includes a substrate defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having a fluid outlet nozzle and a fluid supply channel respectively defined in opposite walls of the chamber; a thermal actuator extending from outside of the fluid chamber into the fluid chamber via an aperture in a sidewall of the fluid chamber; and a nozzle paddle terminating the thermal actuator and positioned within the fluid chamber, the nozzle paddle operatively displaceable upwards by the thermal actuator to eject ink from within the fluid chamber out through the fluid outlet nozzle. The fluid chamber is provided with a rim extending around an inner surface of the side wall, the rim partially protruding from the inner surface into the fluid chamber. The rim is provided with a rim edge angled upwards towards the fluid outlet nozzle. The nozzle paddle is spaced from the rim edge to define a gap between an edge of the nozzle paddle and the rim edge, the gap facilitating ink flow from a side of the nozzle paddle facing the fluid supply channel to a side of the nozzle paddle facing the fluid outlet nozzle.
US07874637B2
Provided is a pagewidth printhead assembly having a plurality of printhead modules. Each printhead module comprises a printhead integrated circuit (IC) having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles, and an ink distribution assembly formed from a stack of ink distribution layers, each layer defining apertures therein at predetermined locations, the layers laminated together so that the apertures of each layer complementarily define discrete ink distribution channels to the printhead IC. The module also includes air channels for directing air at the nozzles of the IC to purge unnecessary ink from said nozzles.
US07874631B2
Provided is a printhead integrated circuit for an inkjet printer that has a nozzle and a corresponding actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle. The Printhea IC also has drive circuitry for controlling the operation of the actuator. The drive circuitry has an open actuator test circuit comprising an open actuator test input, a column enable input and a row enable input, a drive transistor operatively linking said actuator to a power supply, a bleed transistor arranged in parallel with the actuator, a sense transistor operatively linking an output of the drive transistor and inputs of the actuator and bleed transistor to a sensing node. Actuating the actuator to eject ink by enabling the column and row enable inputs, deactivates the bleed transistor and activates the drive transistor to link the actuator to the power supply. Testing the actuator involves enabling the open actuator test input to activate the sense transistor, so that the actuator is short-circuited and the sense node is pulled high if the actuator is open-circuit.
US07874630B2
A recording system for performing a recording operation on a target includes a plurality of recording heads, a plurality of controllers that are arranged respectively for the plurality of recording heads, a data distributor that distributes second data to each of the controllers, and a data generator that generates third data to be output to the plurality of recording heads in response to the second data. The second data results from dividing, by the number of recording heads, a first data to be supplied. The controller further includes a transfer unit that transfers the third data to be output to the recording head corresponding to another controller to the other controller and a verification unit that verifies that a recording start condition has been established.
US07874622B2
In a vehicle seat reclining device, all projections are surely engaged in corresponding cam grooves and strength of every projection is assured. The seat reclining device includes a first cam groove formed at a first opposing surface of a pawl, a pawl control member provided in an inner space and rotatably disposed between the first arm and the first opposing surface, the pawl control member including at least a first projection to be inserted into the first cam groove and controlling movement of the pawl in response to the rotation thereof by engagement between the first cam groove and the first projection, a second projection formed at a second opposing surface of the pawl and a second cam groove formed at the second arm side, into which the second projection is inserted and including a restricting portion restricting the movement of the pawl towards the engagement state with an internal toothed portion by engagement with the second projection.
US07874619B2
An adjustable lumbar support for a chair back having a frame with a top end and a bottom end. The frame has a series of flexing zones and a series of control zones. The adjustable lumbar support for a chair back further includes a support having a first end and a second end. The first end of the support is adapted to engage the top end of the frame. The lumbar support also includes an adjusting means adapted to adjust the support in a vertical plane for flexing of the frame and the chair back in a horizontal plane. The adjusting means is also adapted to engage the second end of the support and adapted to engage the bottom end of the frame. The frame is mounted to the chair back.
US07874616B2
An adjustable lumbar assembly for a vehicle seat is provided with a wireframe for attachment to a frame of the seat. The wireframe has a pair of spaced apart side members. A flexible lumbar support band has a pair of outboard portions affixed to the side members, a pair of lateral portions extending inboard from the outboard portions and pivotally connected to the outboard portions offset from the side members. A central portion of the support band is pivotally connected to the lateral portions. A cable assembly is mounted to the outboard portions for extension and retraction of the lateral portions and the central portion for providing adjustment of the lumbar assembly. A method for manufacturing an adjustable lumbar assembly is provided by forming a wireframe with the side members, inserting the wireframe into a mold, and molding a flexible lumbar support band to the wireframe side members.
US07874615B2
Described are several mechanisms for permitting a user to adjust the seat on a stationary exercise bicycle. The described mechanisms can be used to adjust the height of the seat or the fore and aft positioning of the seat on an upright type bicycle. Each of the described mechanisms can be configured to provide users with an optimum seat position and with a convenient latch mechanism to adjust the position of the seat. Also described is a seat mechanism for use with a recumbent type stationary exercise bicycle where the seat can be adjusted along the longitudinal length of the bicycle.
US07874613B2
A chair stabilizer for preventing injury to children or others who might tip over chairs. A removable chair-engaging section is removably and adjustably couplable to a table-engaging section. Generally, the entire apparatus is free standing but in conjunction with a flat or available undersurface, the table-engaging portion prevents rearward rotation of the chair as the table-engaging portion comes into contact with the underside of the flat surface, such as a table when the chair-engaging section is rotated. As a result, vulnerable individuals including children and the infirm are protected from impact with the ground should the chair begin tipping as the table restrains the rotational motion of the chair.
US07874609B2
A powered vehicle door system and method in which a motor-driven door opening and closing mechanism and a motor-driven latching mechanism cooperate to enable the door to open from a latched, fully-closed position with improved noise control and improved smoothness of operation. The door can be a tailgate or a swinging or sliding door, and the opening and closing mechanism is operative to place the door in an over-closed position, thus reducing or eliminating the inherent tension placed upon the latch from the compressive force of the seal interposed between the door and the door frame. Optionally, the door latching mechanism assists the door opening and closing mechanism in placing the door in the over-closed position.
US07874605B2
A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame including a left and right side portion, a front seat affixed to the vehicle body frame, and a rear seat affixed to the vehicle body frame provided to the rear of the front seat. The vehicle also includes a rear roof support structure including a left member and right pipe member that extend generally in the vertical direction from the vehicle body frame, disposed respectively at both the left and right side portions of the vehicle body frame to the rear of the rear seat. At least a downward direction portion of the left pipe member and right pipe member are positioned lower than a seating surface of a seat cushion portion of the rear seat and are angled so as to extend rearward as the left and right pipe members extend upward. A pair of rear wheels are supported by the vehicle body frame provided at a position that is below the seat cushion portion of the rear seat wherein, at least a portion thereof, is coincident with the rear seat and with the rear roof support structure in the front/back direction of the vehicle.
US07874604B2
An apparatus for moving a slide-out compartment of a vehicle. The slide-out compartment is slidably received in an opening in the side of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a rotatable member having a distal end wherein the rotatable member is rotatably mounted to one of the slide-out or the opening so as to rotate the member about a horizontal axis parallel to a first plane substantially containing the opening. A drive rotates the rotatable member. A slotted bearing portion is mounted to the other one of the slide-out or the opening. Rotation of the rotatable member causes the distal end to bear against so as to slide along the slot in the bearing portion to selectively extend or retract the slide-out compartment relative to the vehicle. The rotatable member and drive may be mounted adjacent to the opening in the vehicle wherein the bearing portion is mounted in an end wall of the slide-out.
US07874603B2
A console retainer mounts to a floor of a motor vehicle and receives a floor transmission shifter assembly. The shifter assembly has a forward end and a rearward end. The console retainer includes a frame portion for coupling to the floor and configured to receive at least one console trim piece. A pair of lateral side walls are integrally formed with the frame portion as a molded thermoplastic unit, wherein the lateral side walls are substantially parallel to delimit a mounting space for the shifter assembly therebetween, wherein the lateral side walls each have a forward retention feature for fixedly retaining the forward end of the shifter assembly, and wherein the lateral side walls each have a rearward retention feature for fixedly retaining the rearward end of the shifter assembly.
US07874594B2
A label assembly including a carrier sheet and label sheets, including a first sheet and a second sheet and defining at least one label portion. The label portion is adhesively bonded to the carrier sheet and removable with respect to the carrier sheet. A label comprises a first sheet having a first outer periphery and a second sheet having a second outer periphery. The first outer periphery may be coextensive with the second outer periphery. At least a portion of the first sheet is adhesively bonded to the second sheet by a first adhesive. The label further includes a second adhesive at least partially covering a back surface of the label. When the label is in a mounted position with respect to an object, the second adhesive contacts a surface of the object. Voids and/or openings within the label, or any part thereof, may be aligned with or over certain areas on a surface of an object to allow visual and/or physical access to such areas on the surface of the object.
US07874591B2
An apparatus and method for canting a skier comprising a cant angle plate that locks on to the heel bearing surface of a ski binding. The cant angle plate has portions of varying thickness for inducing a cant angle when the heel of a boot rests on the cant angle plate locked on to the heel bearing surface of the binding. Thus, the cant angle plate alters the cant angle at which a boot supports a skier's foot and lower leg, relative to the longitudinal running surface or bottom plane of an attached ski.
US07874590B1
A safety belt includes a length adjuster for securement of one end of a belt webbing, with the length adjuster being constantly biased in a direction of retraction of the belt webbing. A locking mechanism, when rendered effective, inhibits the length adjuster from turning in a direction of protraction of the belt webbing and is operatively connected to a control unit which, when activated, applies a locking function to inhibit the belt member from being pulled out of the retractor and being retracted, thereby preventing a lengthening and shortening of the belt webbing. Operatively connected to the control unit is an actuator which is constructed to allow an occupant, upon actuation, to override the locking function and thereby render the locking mechanism ineffective to enable the occupant to adjust a length of the belt webbing.
US07874589B2
To further reduce variation in the maximum limited load by a seat belt load limiting mechanism composed of a torsion bar and a shearing member. When a spool rotates in the belt withdrawing direction relative to the locking base, energy absorbing (EA) mechanism action only by shear deformation of shear pins is first conducted so that the entire EA load is only the EA load by the shear pins. After the EA load by the shear pins becomes the maximum EA load, the seat belt is withdrawn by a predetermined amount and the EA action by torsional deformation of a torsion bar is conducted in addition to the EA action by the shear pins. Since the EA action only by the shear pins is first conducted, it is possible to reduce variation in the maximum limited load during the shear deformation of the shear pins.
US07874585B2
The airbag for a front passenger's seat includes an inner panel comprised of a pair of left and right base cloths. Each of the base cloths has a band shape curved in a generally C shape. A circumferential edge of a communication area communicating left and right shoulder restraining portions of the airbag is constituted by a joint portion joining inner edges of the respective base cloths together. The joint portion includes a corner area having a large curvature. Each of the base cloths includes a reinforcing portion at its inner edge for preventing the corner area from being so deformed as to reduce the curvature thereof upon airbag deployment.
US07874581B2
A vehicle-occupant restraint system includes a base attached to a vehicle part, an anchor attached to the base swingably in a front-back direction of a vehicle, an inflator attached to the base or anchor, and a lap belt attached to the anchor at one end thereof and including an inflatable part connected to the inflator. A first cover is attached to the vehicle part and has an upper opening through which the lap belt passes to be connected to the anchor. A second cover covers the upper opening and a part of the lap belt. The second cover has an upper flange and a lower flange to define a space therebetween so that a marginal part of the upper opening is interposed therebetween. The space increases toward a front side of the second cover so that the second cover is swingable in the front-back direction.
US07874575B2
The airbag apparatus is provided with a retainer that includes a hold-down portion for attachment of a periphery of a gas inlet of an airbag to the case, a cover wall surrounding an inflator body, deflectors and catches. The cover wall includes a plurality of outlet ports for releasing inflation gas exited discharge ports of the inflator body radially. The deflectors deflect the inflation gas exited the outlet ports in a range of angle from a direction orthogonal to an axis of the inflator body to a downward direction extending toward the hold-down portion. The catches capture residual particles contained in the inflation gas when the gas deflected by the deflectors hit them.
US07874573B2
A convertible toe strap for securing a toe area of a snowboarding boot is selectively and repeatedly convertible between different restraining configurations. The convertible toe strap includes a first configuration where one of toe lift or forward movement is resisted and a second configuration where both toe lift and forward movement is resisted.
US07874562B2
Various embodiments of the wheel positioning assembly are adapted for facilitating the insertion of a cart into an enclosure. In certain embodiments, the cart comprises: (1) first and second fixed front wheels that are disposed adjacent opposite front lateral sides of the cart; and (2) first and second swiveled rear wheels disposed adjacent opposite lateral side of the cart. In various embodiments, the wheel positioning assembly comprises: (1) a first wheel guide for physically guiding the first, fixed front wheel into a desired first-front-wheel position in which the first front wheel is disposed within the dispenser and adjacent a first wheel barrier; and (2) a locking mechanism for selectively maintaining the second rear wheel in a desired second-rear-wheel position within the dispenser. The first wheel barrier and the locking mechanism may selectively cooperate to physically prevent removal of the cart from the enclosure.
US07874557B2
A sheet processing apparatus and a sheet take-out apparatus that prevents a sheet conveyed by a take-out portion from hanging-down and falling, when the take-out portion is stopped due to an emergency. If a take-out emergency process state occurs during the take-out of sheets, the sheet take-out apparatus stops upward movement of a backup plate, moves down feed stoppers, and presses a sheet bundle from above to prevent the sheet on the uppermost surface from being taken out. The sheet take-out apparatus also keeps a rotor air valve on and takes out the sheet caught in a sheet take-in port. When residual sheets on the backup plate are later detected, the sheet take-out apparatus moves down the position of the backup plate, turns off air valves for the rotor, fixed absorbing unit, and handling, and loads a hanging-down sheet on the backup plate, to prevent the sheet from scattering.
US07874547B2
Reduced size evaporative cooling apparatus utilizes a convex flare at the outlet of the apparatus to control air flow exiting the apparatus and cause air to flow along a helical path that produces an updraft off the ground below the apparatus.
US07874535B2
A cup holder includes a box-shaped body having a holder opening at the top, a supporting arm, an urging element urging the supporting arm to come inward into the holder opening of the box-shaped body, an engaging element engages temporarily the supporting arm at a retreated position, an enabling/disabling element enabling the urging action of the urging element and disabling the engagement action of the engaging element by a pressing force resulting from a container, a fixing element, and a releasing element. The fixing element includes a mechanical mechanism, which fixes the supporting arm to bring it into contact with the container. The releasing element includes a mechanical mechanism, which releases the supporting arm from the fixing action of the fixing element upon taking out the container, and enables the supporting arm to come outward out of the holder opening.
US07874534B2
Disclosed is a circuit board mounting backplate to mount a circuit board including a base unit, a tongue unit formed by bending a region enclosed by a notched groove formed at a portion of the base unit and a horizontal unit formed by bending the tongue unit at a predetermined height position so as to be horizontal to the base unit, and burring holes are provided at the horizontal unit and the base unit, respectively, so that center positions of the burring holes are arranged at a same position and that a diameter of the burring hole provided at the horizontal unit is larger than a diameter of the burring hole of the base unit, and the circuit board is mounted on the horizontal unit and/or the base unit.
US07874530B2
A supporter usable with a display apparatus includes a base, a vertical moving member coupled to a display main body, a guide frame coupled to the base to support the vertical moving member to slide up and down, a spring rotor supported in the vertical moving member rotatably having a rotational axis transverse to a moving direction of the vertical moving member to move up and down along with the vertical moving member, a spiral plate spring having an inside end part coupled to the spring rotor as being wound around the spring rotor and an outside end part coupled to the guide frame to elastically resist a downward movement of the vertical moving member, a spring friction part to frictionally contact the spiral plate spring to resist a rotational movement of the spiral plate spring, and a rotor friction part to frictionally contact the spring rotor to resist a rotational movement of the spring rotor.
US07874525B2
A fully fixed, non-articulating geometry vehicle that includes a number of virtual control surfaces operable to replicate a mechanical control surface's functionality. These virtual control surfaces further include a number of flow control devices on the non-articulating vehicle surface. The plurality of flow control surfaces is operable to induce secondary flow structure(s) within a boundary layer of a fluid flow over the non-articulating vehicle surface. A virtual control surface controller is operable to dynamically adjust a frequency and amplitude of the secondary flow structure(s) in order to reposition the virtual control surface. A vehicle control and stability system communicatively coupled to the plurality of virtual control surfaces is operable to direct positioning of the plurality of virtual control surfaces in response to vehicle control commands.
US07874509B2
A device for dispensing a rolled web of material having a plurality of laterally-extending, longitudinally-spaced lines of perforation. The device has a frame for supporting the rolled web such that lengths of the web are removed from the roll in a direction of advancement as the roll rotates. An infeed roller pair is rotatably mounted on the frame. The infeed roller pair provides a nip therebetween for receiving the web from the roll and for moving it forward in the direction of advancement. A pair of delivery rollers is rotatably mounted on the frame in spaced relation with the first pair of rollers. The second pair of rollers receives the web from the first roller pair and provides a nip therebetween for moving the web in the direction of advancement. Motor means drives the infeed roller pair and the delivery roller pair. Brake means is affixed to the infeed roller pair for slowing the rotational speed thereof relative to the delivery roller pair whereby sufficient tension is created in a length of web located between said roller pairs to tear the web across one of the lines of perforation. Actuation means selectively actuates the brake means during advancement of the web by the delivery rollers.
US07874505B1
A grinder (30) has a toolessly attached ingredient hopper assembly (50) overlying a toolessly attached fixed grinding burr (134) defining the top of a grind chamber (158) within which is received a mating rotary grinding burr (150) that is slidably mounted to a rotary drive motor (154) for adjustment relative to the fixed grinding burr (134). Adjustment is achieved automatically by control of a stepper motor (168) that pushes on the end of an elongate member (151) passing through a hollow rotary drive axle (152) and carrying the rotary grinding burr (150) at an opposite end. Start of a grinding cycle in response to actuation of a start switch is inhibited if a pair of photosensors (81, 82) do not detect location of a ground ingredient container (68) in a correct position for receipt of the ground food ingredient, if an automatically closable hopper cover lid (57) is not in a closed position or if grinding parameters, such as the fineness of the grind and the amount of ingredient to be ground has not been detected.
US07874502B2
A control valve arrangement for use in controlling fuel pressure within a control chamber (30) includes a control valve member (32) which is movable between a first position in which the control chamber (30) communicates with a source of high pressure fuel, and a second position in which the control chamber (30) communicates with a low pressure fuel drain and communication between the control chamber (30) and the source of high pressure fuel is broken. The control valve arrangement also includes restricted flow means (55, 70, 86) for restricting the rate of flow of fuel from the control chamber (30) to the low pressure fuel drain when the control valve member (32) is moved from the first position to the second position. It is desirable for the restricted flow means to be configured and arranged such the rate of flow of fuel from the source of high pressure fuel to the low pressure drain for the period of time for which the control valve member (32) is moving between the second position and the first position is also restricted.
US07874501B2
A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.
US07874500B2
A snow making apparatus of the low profile snow gun type or of the tower type having independent and co-extending air and first water conduits supported above ground. Air and first water discharge nozzles are connected to the upper ends respectively of these conduits for producing a plume of atomized water from external interacting air and water discharge under pressure from the air and water discharge nozzles to produce snow in sub-freezing ambient conditions. A second water conduit co-extends with the air and first water conduits and a second water discharge nozzle is connected to the upper end of this second water conduit in the head of the snow gun or tower for discharge of additional water under pressure to ambient atmosphere through this second water discharge nozzle. An air valve is also provided in the head of the snow gun or snow tower and is connected to the second water conduit and the air conduit whereby the air valve disconnects the supply of air under pressure from the air conduit to the air discharge nozzle or nozzles when the air valve is subjected to water under pressure from this second water conduit.
US07874476B2
A container (1) for the transport of a foodstuff comprises an upper and a lower container half (2, 3) which are interconnected for pivoting between a closed and an open position (4). Each container half comprises a flat bottom and/or cover wall (5, 6), from which side walls (7, 8, 9, 10) extend essentially obliquely upwards or downwards and outwards to the respective other container half (2, 3). In order to improve the thermal insulation with containers of this nature and at the same time to achieve increased stability, in particular with containers made from paper, cardboard or the like, the bottom and/or cover wall (5, 6) is formed double-walled at least in places. A one-part blank (40) is provided for the manufacture of a container of this nature.
US07874471B2
Provided are butt welds and methods of making such butt welds using a combination of fusion root welding and friction stir welding to yield welds with decreased propensity for dropout during friction stir welding without the need for a back-up support plate. In one form of the present disclosure, the butt weld includes: two or more abutting structural steel components beveled on faying surfaces on one side of the components to form a suitably shaped fusion root weld groove and unbeveled on faying surfaces on the opposite side of the components and interconnected with a first fusion root weld on the beveled side of the components and a second friction stir weld on the unbeveled side of the components, wherein the first fusion root weld has a width ranging from 7 mm to 30 mm, a penetration depth ranging from 2 mm to 20 mm, and an overfill ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm, and wherein the stir zone of the second friction stir weld penetrates the first fusion root weld. The butt welds and methods of making find application in joining linepipe for oil and gas production.
US07874460B2
A refrigerator dispenser includes an ice dispensing actuator, an ice dispensing chute, an ice dispensing housing positioned within a refrigerator door cavity and configured to define an ice dispensing cavity through which ice dispensed by the ice dispensing chute passes, a liquid dispensing chute positioned closer to a front surface of a refrigerator door than the ice dispensing housing, and a liquid dispensing actuator positioned on the ice dispensing housing and configured to receive input to inspire dispensing of liquid through the liquid dispensing chute.
US07874453B2
A sealed, locked, and reopenable cup and lid assembly comprises a cup, a resilient circular lid, circumferentially spaced and rotationally alignable interrupted portions and at least one tab. The resilient circular lid is sized to be inserted in a mouth of the cup and to fit in a locking groove of the cup. The resilient circular lid is permitted to be removed upon alignment of interrupted portions in the locking groove and a peripheral lip of the circular lid.
US07874448B1
The paint tray liner apparatus provides removable fit to an existing paint tray, thereby providing a disposable liner. Flexible sides are collapsible and the liner bottom relatively rigid. The collapsible sides provide for reduced space storage of the apparatus, whether prior to use or after when discarded. The collapsible sides each has an inner panel spaced apart from an outer panel. Each inner and outer panel is connected by the continuous shelf. The side panels thereby fit the sides of a paint tray, with the apparatus tray bottom against a paint tray bottom.
US07874446B2
A trash container has a flexible, corrugated baffle attached to or integrated into the lid of the container. The baffle may have a handle and a compacting plate attached to it, and it allows a user to compact trash inside the trash container. Specifically, the flexible design of the baffle allows the compacting plate to compact trash inside the container when the baffle is extended into the container. After the trash inside the container is compacted, the baffle may spring back into its original shape. The lid structure, including the baffle, may be incorporated into the container, which may have other features, such as a foot pedal to raise and lower the lid. The baffle allows trash in the trash container to be reduced in size, allowing more trash to be placed in the container, while maintaining a simple design and keeping the user clean and safe.
US07874440B2
A child-resistant package includes first and second elements having base walls with rectangular peripheries, continuous peripheral walls extending around the peripheries, locking projections or tabs on opposed sections of the peripheral walls, and cylindrical walls extending from the base walls within the peripheral walls and having thread segments. The second element is threadable onto the first element to bring the peripheral walls into aligned abutment and the locking tabs into engagement with the locking projections to resist unthreading of the elements. The peripheral wall of the second element is inwardly flexible and resilient adjacent to the locking tabs to permit manual movement of the locking tabs inward from the locking projections so that the elements can be unthreaded from each other.
US07874438B2
A boom assembly comprising: a base anchored to a structure/ground. A boom is rotatably mounted to the base at a connected end so as to be rotatable about a generally vertical axis, the boom having a device to support loads at a free end. An orientation clutch is provided between the base and the boom. The orientation clutch has a mechanism for locking a rotation of the boom with respect to the generally vertical axis so as to selectively adjust an orientation of the boom. The orientation clutch has a release configuration to allow the boom to self-adjust its orientation to align with a load pulled by the device.
US07874437B2
A Mechanical Closet Arm with a horizontal pole to hang items which has a reversible drive and a method of stopping the horizontal pole when it reaches the upper or lower height limit. A preferred embodiment includes a bearing washer assembly supporting each mounted support arm axle inside each side arm bearing block.
US07874434B2
A substrate carrying tray capable of horizontally placing a substrate thereon and enabling a plurality of trays to be stacked on each other, comprising an upper contact part coming into contact with one tray disposed on the upper side of the tray when the plurality of the substrates are stacked on each other and a lower contact part coming into contact with the other tray disposed on the lower side. The shapes of the upper contact part and the lower contact part are formed such that, when one tray is placed on the upper side of the tray, the one tray can be moved in the direction that the gravity center of the one tray is disposed just above the gravity center of the tray.
US07874424B1
A method of balancing a disk pack assembly is disclosed. The disk pack assembly comprises a plurality of components including a plurality of disks coupled to a hub of a spindle motor with at least one disk spacer between the disks. The method comprises the steps of rotating a first biasing arm about a pivot to apply a first biasing force to a first component of the disk pack assembly, and moving a second biasing arm linearly to apply a second biasing force to a second component of the disk pack assembly.
US07874419B2
A conveyor frame assembly for use with a conveyor belt formed from individual links each joined together at pivot points. The conveyor frame assembly includes a drive assembly that pulls the conveyor belt around a drive roller to transition between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt. The drive end includes a support block that encloses the side edges of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt transitions over the drive sprockets. The side frame members each include a continuous retaining channel having a height greater than the thickness of the conveyor belt. The retaining channels formed on opposite sides of the conveyor frame assembly allow the lower run of the conveyor belt to “tent” by creating an angle between adjacent links of the conveyor belt assembly. The tenting of the lower run of the conveyor belt eliminates catenary sag.
US07874418B2
Multi drive unit for propelling a modular conveyor belt, where the conveyor belt is made from a plurality of substantially identical belt links, where each link has a top and bottom surface, two side faces and a front and rear edge, where eye parts project from the front and rear edges, where the eye parts are separated by openings, such that the eye parts along the front edge of one belt link may intermesh in the openings provided between the eye parts along the rear edge of an adjacent belt link, and that apertures provided in the eye parts perpendicular to the intended travelling direction are superposed and a hinge pin may be inserted in order to hingely connect the overlapping eye parts and thereby adjacent belt links, wherein the unit comprises a plurality of parallely arranged axles, where each axle is provided with a plurality of sprocket wheels, each sprocket wheel having a number of projecting teeth distributed along its circumference, where the sprocket wheels on the same axle are spaced along the axle by way of spacing members, and where at least one axle is coupled to a drive.
US07874415B2
A torque transfer device, in particular in the drive train of a motor vehicle for torque transfer between a drive unit, in particular a combustion engine, and a transmission with at least one multi-disk clutch, in particular, a twin multi-disk clutch, comprising at least one disk packet, comprising outer disks, connected torque proof with an outer disk carrier, and inner disks, connected torque proof with an inner disk carrier (17, 27), and with at least one operating lever device for operating the multi-disk clutch, wherein a pressure transfer device extends between the disk packet and the operating lever device through at least one pass-through opening, which is cut out in a carrier device. The seal device is disposed between the inner disk carrier and the pass-through opening.
US07874413B2
A rotation transmission device which can quickly change the direction of rotation includes an inner ring having cam surfaces on its outer periphery, an outer ring having a cylindrical surface on its inner periphery, and pairs of circumferentially opposed rollers, the rollers of each pair being disposed between one of the cam surfaces and the cylindrical surface to be circumferentially opposed to each other. A roller separation spring is disposed between the rollers of each pair of rollers to bias the rollers away from each other so that the rollers are wedged between the cam surface and the cylindrical surface. The rollers are retained by a roller retainer which can change the distance between the rollers of each pair of rollers. By reducing the distance between the rollers of each pair of rollers with the roller retainer, the rollers can be disengaged from the cam surfaces and the cylindrical surface.
US07874411B2
A cable assembly reel including a drum defining an exterior surface for receiving a length of wound cable and including at least one access panel therein for providing access to an interior cavity, and at least one flange removably attached to the drum defining an opening therethrough for receiving an axle. A cable reel for maintaining at least one cable of a cable assembly around the exterior surface of the reel and defining an interior cavity for maintaining attached hardware of the cable assembly separate from the at least one cable.
US07874409B1
An expandable suitcase. An illustrative embodiment of the expandable suitcase includes an enclosure comprising a length-adjustable and width-adjustable enclosure frame; a pair of expandable end panels, a pair of expandable side panels and an expandable bottom panel provided on the enclosure frame; a lid comprising a length-adjustable and width-adjustable lid frame pivotally carried by the enclosure frame; and an expandable lid panel provided on the lid frame.
US07874407B2
A magnetorheological fluid damping system includes a hydraulic cylinder, a piston head, a piston rod, and a porous valve. The hydraulic cylinder is configured for disposing magnetorheological fluid therein. The piston head is disposed within the hydraulic cylinder and has first and second sides defining first and second chambers within the hydraulic cylinder. The piston head is configured to be in sliding engagement with the hydraulic cylinder. The piston rod is connected to the piston head. The porous valve includes a magnetorheological fluid pathway, has first and second fluid connections, and is configured to dampen the flow of the magnetorheological fluid between the first and second fluid connections in accordance with a magnetic field. The first fluid connection is fluidly connected to the first chamber and the second fluid connection is fluidly connected to the second chamber. The magnetorheological fluid pathway at least partially directs magnetorheological fluid flow through a porous media.
US07874404B1
An elevator system includes a hoistway defined by a surrounding structure. An elevator car and counterweight are located in the hoistway, and a drive motor is located between the elevator car and a sidewall of the hoistway. The drive motor drivingly couples and suspends the elevator car and counterweight via at least one flat rope or belt.
US07874400B2
A noise isolation device includes a plurality of panels comprising a sound absorbent material for assembling into an enclosure for a pump mechanism and a plurality of fasteners built into the panels for assembling the panels to form an enclosure for a pump mechanism and for disassembling the panels to remove the enclosure from the pump mechanism.
US07874397B2
To provide the breather structure of a shaft-drive-type drive device which can miniaturize a gear casing as a whole and can exhibit an excellent appearance. A shaft-drive-type drive device is capable of transmitting an output of an engine mounted on a vehicle body to a wheel by way of a drive shaft by connecting one end of the drive shaft to an output shaft of the engine by way of a universal joint and by connecting the wheel to another end side of the drive shaft by way of gears or the like. A breather mechanism, which performs a breathing operation of the inside of a gear casing housing the gears or the like, is mounted on the gear casing, and an atmosphere opening portion of the breather mechanism is formed to open upwardly in the vertical direction of a vehicle and inwardly in the width direction of the vehicle.
US07874391B2
A utility vehicle includes front and rear wheel assemblies, a frame supported on the front and rear wheel assemblies, and an operator compartment supported on the frame and having operator controls. The frame includes a central, tubular frame member having a front end portion and a rear end portion. An engine is supported on the frame for providing power to the front and rear wheel assemblies. A cooling assembly mounted above the engine. An attachment arm is attached to the front portion of the frame and a rear interface mount is rigidly attached to the rear portion of the frame.
US07874384B2
Core drill bits with long crown heights are described herein. The core drill bits have a series of slots or openings that are not located at the tip of the crown and are therefore enclosed in the body of the crown. The slots may be staggered and/or stepped throughout the crown. As the cutting portion of the drill bit erodes through normal use, the fluid/debris notches at the tip of the bit are eliminated. As the erosion progresses, the slots become exposed and then they function as fluid/debris ways. This configuration allows the crown height to be extended and lengthened without substantially reducing the structural integrity of the drill bit.
US07874381B2
A wellbore servicing method comprising supplying a deicing fluid to a pressurized pneumatic line on a drilling rig, whereby the deicing fluid retards the formation of ice within the pressurized pneumatic line. A wellbore servicing apparatus comprising a pump, a sight glass container coupled to the pump, and a storage tank coupled to the sight glass container and the pump. A wellbore servicing apparatus comprising an air regulator configured to couple to a pneumatic line coupled to an air compressor, a pneumatic pump coupled to the air regulator and configured to couple to the pneumatic line, a sight glass container coupled to the pneumatic pump, and a storage tank coupled to the sight glass container and the pneumatic pump.
US07874379B2
The invention relates to a damping device for an output shaft (26) in a gearbox (14, 16), where the gearbox (14, 16) is arranged for rotation of a rotational degree of freedom (Z4,Z5) in a rock-drilling rig (2), and thus for positioning of the same, and where the damping device (18) comprises a brake (38) that acts on the output shaft (26) of the gearbox (14, 16), which brake (38) acts as an oscillation damper for the movement of the output shaft (26), whereby a gearbox (14, 16) with play can be used for applications that require a high degree of precision such as positioning, e.g. measuring a position for a drill hole. The invention also relates to a gearbox (14, 16) and a rock-drilling rig (2) with damping device (18), respectively.
US07874375B2
An attachment for a conventional, walk-behind power tiller for forming seed rows and adjacent furrows wherein an auger disposed perpendicularly to the seed row being formed has a larger diameter at its proximal ends and a smaller diameter at its central, inner end. The auger is rotated using power derived from the tiller to which the novel seed row forming apparatus is attached. In operation, the larger diameter outer portions of the auger dig a furrow and move the disturbed soil inwardly along the diminishing diameter of the auger, thereby depositing the soil from each side of the auger into a central berm or seed row. The apparatus provides seed row-forming capability for use with small rotary tillers and provides minimum soil tillage while readily forming planting rows.
US07874370B2
A drill stem connection system and method is shown that provides a secure hold on drill stem surfaces while unscrewing a threaded connection. Two lever arm components are adjustable to a number of possible orientations to allow for fitting the drill stem wrench in tight spaces. Concentric rotation of lever arm components facilitates connection of the lever arm components together. Configurations and methods shown provide a stable and powerful tool to loosen threaded drill stem effectively.
US07874365B2
Methods and devices are provided for treating multiple interval well bores. More particularly, an isolation assembly may be used to allow for zonal isolation to allow treatment of selected productive or previously producing intervals in multiple interval well bores. One example of a method for treating a multiple interval well bore includes the steps of: introducing an isolation assembly to a well bore, the isolation assembly comprising a liner, one or more sleeves and a plurality of swellable packers, wherein the sleeves and swellable packers are disposed about the liner; deploying a shifting tool inside the liner, where the sleeves are configured so as to provide open, closed and open to screen positions when actuated by the shifting tool. An open position allows for treatment of the well bore while an open to screen position allows for receiving fluid from the well bore. A closed position re-establishes zonal isolation.
US07874356B2
A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having a plurality of sample collectors disposed along an expandable packer element. An anti-expansion device also is deployed along the expandable packer element to limit expansion in localized regions. Limiting the expansion can provide additional space or an increased production surface that facilitates collection of samples.
US07874352B2
Methods and apparatus for running tubulars into and out of a wellbore. A gripping apparatus is activated with an actuator having a primary actuator and a redundant safety feature. The redundant safety feature may include one or more redundant fluid operated pistons. The gripping apparatus may include an integrated safety system adapted to prevent damage to the tubulars while making and breaking out connections between the tubulars and the tubular string.
US07874347B2
A heat pipe (1) includes a shell (20), a protective layer (10) formed on an outer surface of the shell, a wick (30) and a hydrophilic layer (40) sequentially formed on an inner surface of the shell, and a working fluid contained in the shell. A material of the shell is metal, such as copper, aluminum, or a copper-aluminum alloy. The protective layer is formed of nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, nano-sized copper particles, nano-sized aluminum particles, or nano-sized particles of a copper-aluminum alloy. The wick is made from a mixture of carbon fibers and carbon nanocapsules. The hydrophilic layer is made from nanomaterials, for example, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, alumina, or any mixture thereof.
US07874328B2
A utility bag having a compartment recessed in an upper portion of the utility bag to provide additional storage space and utilize unused space in compartments thereof. The recessed compartment may accommodate various items including tools and trays for storing small items.
US07874325B2
An apparatus and method for emptying and filling a fluid container. A flow-actuated valve inside a fill tube regulates the flow through the fill tube. A cap containing the valve and a vent tube can be installed on a modified bottle used to supply water dispensers, thus enabling a user to continuously replenish the bottle from a remote supply. Alternatively, a cap containing the valve, a vent tube, and two fluid level sensors can be installed on a conventional bottle. A user is thus relieved of the burden of repetitive bottle changing, and is able to treat the water to his own specifications.
US07874324B2
A rack for preparing samples for analysis is provided. The rack includes a frame, a sliding assembly, a first and a second receptacle mounted in the frame underneath the sliding assembly; and means for selectively connecting each receptacle with a vacuum source. The sliding assembly is mounted for sliding in the frame and is provided with a plate having a plurality of columns for receiving samples through an upper opening of the columns. The sliding assembly is movable between a first position above the first receptacle and a second position above the second receptacle. The sliding assembly is provided with engagement means for a needle, wherein the engagement means are located outside the columns.
US07874323B2
A fluid supply assembly. The fluid supply assembly includes a disposable cup and lid, and a reusable cup holder and outer lid. A method of preparing a fluid supply assembly for use with a fluid supply applicator is also described.
US07874317B1
A pressure stabilizer for mediating changes in pressure within a pipeline is provided. The pressure stabilizer incorporates a plurality of perforations about a central pipeline and a circumferential enclosure about the perforations. This structure allows excess fluid to flow from the central pipeline into the space provided between the central pipeline and the circumferential enclosure. As the pressure increases within the overflow space, the medium applies a pressure to an elastomeric membrane, which in turn transfers the pressure to a plurality of dampening materials. The elastomeric membrane can be filled with a porous material providing a smoother transition within the pressure dampening process. The elastomeric membrane and respective dampening materials can be placed within the circumferential enclosure assembled about the central pipeline or utilized with a pressure-stabilizing chamber.
US07874315B2
A multi-channel, multi-phase flow metering valve has multiple pintle valves for metering liquid media through each valve channel. The valve channels have venturi passageways that alone, or in cooperation with the pintles, cause the local pressure of the media to fall below its saturated vapor pressure and allow the liquid media to change phase. The cavitation creates a gaseous region, formed from one or many discrete cavities, in the media within valve channels that effectively isolates the pressures in the upstream and downstream parts of the valve channels to reduce the affects of input pressure fluctuations in the output media. The valve components, particularly the modules defining the venturi passageways, are made of a high-strength material to better resist pitting and other surface erosion from sonic shock associated with the collapse of the gaseous cavities.
US07874301B2
The invention relates to an entry region of a conveyor-type dishwasher. A conveyor belt which moves in the conveying direction is located in the entry region. The entry region comprises a trough base which is bounded by sidewalls arranged laterally. The entry region contains at least one washing container which stores a stock of fluid and, upon emptying, cleans the trough base.
US07874299B2
The present invention relates to processes for neutralizing relaxed hair. Still further, the present invention relates to neutralizer compositions for use on relaxed hair. Still further, the present invention relates to a system for neutralizing relaxed hair. Yet further, the invention relates to relaxed hair neutralized by the compositions and methods disclosed herein.
US07874297B2
A tobacco-like product includes a coffee, tea, cocoa or soy base material. A flavor ingredient is added to the base material and the final product is formulated to a suitable form, such as lozenges, tablets, cakes, shredded, powdered and capsules. In the practice of the method of the present invention, a tobacco-like product is manufactured by selecting a base material, drying the base material, converting the base material, adding a flavor ingredient, adjusting a caffeine content, processing the combined ingredients, formulating the final product and packaging the final product.
US07874293B2
A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having an integrally formed first connector portion. A nozzle assembly includes a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles. At least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. A pair of second connector portions are removably and rotatably connected to respective first connector portions of the frame and are in communication with respective inlet conduits, e.g., directly or via angle connectors. A headgear assembly is removably connected to the pair of second connector portions and/or the angle connectors so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient's face.
US07874290B2
A breathing assistance device (10) for a patient, comprising: A source of respiratory pressurised gas (105), A breathing connection (120) to allow the patient to receive said gas, At least one sensor for acquiring a parameter representative of the operation of the device (10), wherein said gas source (105) is a ventilator (210), and said ventilator (210) is integrated into a removable module (20) which also comprises at least one sensor for acquiring a parameter representative of the operation of the device (10).
US07874287B1
The air intake apparatus provides for additional auxiliary air to a wood or pellet burning stove. The apparatus is provided in more than one embodiment for fit to more than one type of stove. The curved T-handle controls the damper sleeve for dampened control of the auxiliary air.
US07874286B2
A food item is cooked in a cooking device and transferred to a heated holding table by two exit conveyors. The food item then falls onto one of two transfer conveyors that move perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. The food items travel on the transfer conveyors and then fall onto a main conveyor. The main conveyor moves in a direction that is parallel to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. If the food item has not been manually removed from the main conveyor after a predetermined amount of time, the food item falls off the main conveyor and into a drawer waste chute for disposal.
US07874285B2
Depending on a trim controller diagnosis, a suspicion marker for an asymmetric ageing of the exhaust gas probe is allocated either a “true” value or a “false” value and, if the value of the suspicion marker is “true”, a dynamic diagnosis will be performed based on the exhaust gas probe's measuring signal, on the basis of the results of which diagnosis either an asymmetrically aged or a non-asymmetrically aged exhaust gas probe will be detected.
US07874284B2
A fuel supply system for an accumulator fuel injection system designed to inject fuel, as stored in an accumulator, into an internal combustion engine through a fuel injector The fuel supply system includes a feed pump working to pump the fuel out of a fuel tank and a fuel filter disposed between the feed pump and a high-pressure pump working to deliver the fuel to the accumulator. The fuel supply system also includes a return path and a control valve. When the pressure of the fuel between the fuel filter and the flow rate control valve exceeds a first set pressure, the control valve opens the return path to return the fuel from downstream to upstream of the feed pump to keep the pressure of fuel supplied to the flow rate control valve below the first set pressure, thereby controlling the flow rate of the fuel passing through the fuel filter.
US07874279B2
A motorcycle includes an engine in which angle intervals of crank angles respectively corresponding to expansion strokes of a plurality of cylinders are unequal, a motor configured to generate a torque applied to a driving power transmission system including a crankshaft of the engine, and a motor controller configured to drive the motor to add the torque of the motor to a torque of the engine.
US07874269B2
A styptic powder applicator and file for use with pets. The applicator is designed to be integrated with the container and have a funnel-like shape in order to handle a styptic powder in an easier fashion. The container further has a file attached to a side of the container for the removal of burrs left after clipping a pet's nails. This invention provides a more efficient structure for grooming a pet by incorporating a file for removing burrs with the styptic applicator for staunching the flow of blood from a “quicked” nail.
US07874260B2
A body structure has an inner region shape that defines a cavity within the body structure. The cavity within the body structure is designed to hold a fluid. A chuck includes a top that is capable of holding a substrate, and a body portion that has a complementary shape with respect to the inner region shape of the body structure. The complementary shape of the chuck body portion at least partially aligns with the inner region shape that defines the body structure cavity. The chuck body portion is designed to move into the cavity of the body structure and displace the fluid held within the cavity, so as to shift the fluid over the top of the chuck. The body portion of the chuck is also designed to move out of the cavity of the body structure, so as to remove the fluid from over the top of the chuck.
US07874259B2
Road and marine steering means in an amphibious vehicle are linked so that the ratio between them is variable. In a first embodiment, an arm connects a lever to a steering rack. A cable operates the marine steering means. The lever pivots about a pin, which may be moved along a slot by the motor and gearbox driving screw shaft. At pin position A, full road steering travel x is achieved with minimal marine steering travel. At pin position B, road and marine steering have equal travel x′; and at position C, full marine steering travel z is achieved with minimal road steering travel y. In a further embodiment, a lever arm fixed to steering rack casing has a cam profile constraining pin. Full marine steering travel z of the cable is achieved over rack travel y. The steering wheel controls both road and marine steering.
US07874244B2
An improved popcorn popper (10) has effluent filtration structure to treat the oil laden vapor and steam effluent from popping popcorn within the popper and with discharge of effluent having less than 5 milligrams of particulates per cubic meter of effluent discharged directly into the area in which the popper (10) is located. There is no need for external hoods or for external ducting of effluent to outside the area and facility in which the popcorn is popped. The filtering is carried out within the popper (10). A fire suppression system is provided to handle fires even within the kettle (14). Methods are disclosed.
US07874232B2
A system, apparatus, and method for installing fasteners are disclosed involving a fastener installation tool and a socket assembly. The fastener installation tool comprises a tool component and a gear head. The gear head comprises a lever, a retaining slide, a retaining slide housing, and at least one gear. The socket assembly comprises a socket, a hex key, and a hex key retainer. An end of the drive shaft of the socket has an annular groove around the circumference of the exterior surface of the drive shaft. When the retaining slide is slid into a locked position, the retaining slide engages the annular groove of the drive shaft of the socket, thereby attaching the drive shaft of the socket to the gear head of the fastener installation tool. A socket gear of the gear head matingly engages the drive shaft of the socket to rotate the socket.
US07874229B2
A bicycle handlebar assembly is provided with a handlebar, a first gearshift operating part and a second gearshift operating part. The handlebar includes a central portion, a first end portion on a first lateral side of the central portion and a second end portion on a second lateral side of the central portion. The first gearshift operating part is attached to the first end portion of the handlebar with the first gearshift operating part being arranged to electrically control a front derailleur to selectively perform a first gearshift operation. The second gearshift operating part is attached to the first end portion of the handlebar with the second gearshift operating part being arranged to electrically control a rear derailleur to selectively perform a second gearshift operation.
US07874219B2
In a micromechanical sensor (11) for measuring a mass flow rate in accordance with the Coriolis principle, two line sections (13) are mounted in a suspension means (24) such that they can oscillate, as a result of which they can be caused to oscillate in phase opposition (essential for the measuring principle). A spacer layer (18) is provided between the layers (12a, 12b) forming the line sections (13), the spacer layer ensuring that there is a space between the line sections (13) in the quiescent state. Oscillation of the line sections in phase opposition only becomes possible at all as a result of this since this prevents collision of the line sections (13) as they approach one another.
US07874215B2
An accelerometer includes a pressure transducer; and a vibration-to-pressure converter (VPC). The VPC may include a housing mechanically coupled to an object to be measured, and a diaphragm sealing the housing to form a chamber, the chamber being fluidly coupled to the pressure transducer. A power generator and motor including the accelerometer are also presented.
US07874212B2
An ultrasonic probe performs flaw detection of a high (t/D) metal pipe. The front end portion of a transducer has at least a portion with an asymmetrically curved shape having a radius of curvature which progressively increases from one end towards the other end of the front end portion. The probe is disposed with respect to the pipe with its end having the smaller radius of curvature positioned on the side away from the direction of propagation of refracted waves, the end having a larger radius of curvature thereof positioned on the side in the direction of propagation of refracted waves. Angle beam flaw detection is carried out such that incident waves are generated which generate refracted longitudinal waves which do not reach the inner surface of the metal pipe and refracted transverse waves which are focused on the inner surface of the pipe.
US07874208B2
An improved flow measuring device, such as a mass flow meter or mass flow controller, providing a high turn-down ratio as compared to prior art devices. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a flow sensor includes a sensor flow path that includes one or more restrictions configured to provide the sensor flow path with a non-linear relationship between a pressure drop across the sensor flow path and the flow of fluid through the flow sensor conduit. Such a flow sensor preferably achieves a high turn-down ratio by way of a variable bypass ratio that is directly proportional to the sensor tube mass flow rate so that the turn-down ratio of the mass flow controller will be ideally proportional to the square of the turndown achievable by the flow sensor conduit fluid sensing portion alone. In some embodiments, the restriction can be employed as a part of a fluid seal having an orifice and disposed between a flow sensor portion of a flow meter and a bypass portion of the flow meter.
US07874205B2
A bonded patch is bonded on a surface of an inner liner. A first patch wall having a first wall surface for restraining a movement of an electronic device main body in one direction is provided integrally with the bonded patch so as to project toward a tire center. A second patch wall having a second wall surface for restraining a movement of an electronic device main body in another direction is provided integrally with the bonded patch so as to project toward the tire center. A connecting segment is provided between the first patch wall and the second patch wall with bridging them for engaging a top of the electronic device main body. A crack occurrence on the mounting structure is prevented by deconcentrating a force applied on an electronic device to overall of the mounting structure to restrain an intensive stress concentration on the mounting structure.
US07874204B2
In a method for determining a correction value λk for the lambda center position λm which is specified in the control of the air/fuel ratio which is force-modulated between a first lean lambda value λ1 and a second rich lambda value λ2 and supplied to an internal combustion engine or a catalyst, using the signal from a binary jump sensor downstream from a catalyst volume, and whenever the jump sensor signal Uλ jumps from “lean” to “rich” or from “rich” to “lean” the air/fuel ratio is switched back and forth between the lean lambda value λ1 and the rich lambda value λ2, it is proposed that the time period between two signal jumps Uλ, which indicates the residence time T1 in the lean phase or the residence time T2 in the rich phase, is determined, and the correction value λk is determined from the first lean lambda value λ1, the second rich lambda value λ2, the first residence time T1, and the second residence time T2. According to the proposal, a particularly simple yet accurate method is provided for determining the correction value λk for the lambda center position λm.
US07874203B2
In a misfire detection apparatus and method that detects a misfire in an internal combustion engine with cylinders provided in a vehicle, it is determined that a misfire occurs in the engine, if a first condition and a second condition are satisfied; the first condition is a condition that a rotational speed of an output shaft of the engine decreases by an amount equal to or larger than a first change amount during a time period from a compression top dead center in a first cylinder to the compression top dead center in a second cylinder; and the second condition is a condition that the rotational speed of the output shaft increases by an amount equal to or larger than a second change amount during a time period from the compression top dead center in the second cylinder to the compression top dead center in a third cylinder.
US07874202B2
In a probe apparatus that intermittently irradiates a sample with excitation light to observe the sample while subjecting a cantilever including a probe arranged to face a surface of the sample to self-excited vibration at a predetermined frequency, the sample is irradiated with the excitation light at a predetermined timing when a distance between the probe and the sample is not greater than a predetermined distance.
US07874201B2
The leakage search assembly has a main device which contains a vacuum pump and a test gas sensor, and a hand-held sniffing probe. Capillary lines which connect the sniffing probe to the basic assembly contain valves by means of which these lines can be selectively opened. In a leakage search mode, the capillary line having the larger cross section is open. This results in leaks also being found from a greater distance. The dead time before response of the test gas sensor is shortened. Once a leak has been located, the assembly is switched to the leakage rate measurement mode, in which only the capillary line with the smaller cross section is open. This results in quantitative determination of the leakage rate with high accuracy and high stability.
US07874191B2
A cylinder lock includes a lock housing receiving a plug assembly that has a key hole, tumbler pieces having respective toothed parts, and a re-keying unit. The re-keying unit has rotatable gear wheels engaged releasably with the respective toothed parts to reposition the respective tumbler pieces. The gear wheels disengage from the respective tooth parts by moving transversely of a longitudinal axis of the lock housing. Re-keying methods are also disclosed.
US07874190B2
The invention concerns an electromechanical lock cylinder that cooperates with evaluation electronics to recognize access authorization and has a housing that includes two opposite cylindrical receptacles, in which a lock core, which can be operated by a key, or a knob shaft, which is connected to rotate in unison with a know, are mounted to rotation, in which the lock core and/or knob shaft cooperate with a lock tab, which operates, in particular, a bolt or latch with a door lock, and, with a fitting key or access authorization, an electromechanically driven blocking or coupling element is moved from the rest position to an operating position and produces a splined connection between the key or knob and the lock tab, characterized by the fact that the lock tab is freely rotatable relative to the two lock cores or the two knob shafts in the rest position of the blocking or coupling element.
US07874189B2
A four-way, field-reversible self-latching cabinet lock includes a cylinder and plug assembly shell that is rotatable with respect to a bolt housing cover for the lock. A locking device is provided to fix the cylinder and plug assembly shell in one of four orthogonal positions with respect to the bolt housing cover. The bolt housing cover is receivable by a bolt housing and conventional self-latching latch bolt. In this manner, pins in the cylinder and plug assembly may be retained in a desirable vertical position while a throw of the bolt can be adjusted to vertical, inverted, left-hand, and right-hand positions in the field without special tools or additional parts.
US07874179B2
A method for removal of gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a layer of filter particles is positioned in the viscous liquid and the viscous liquid is passed through the layer of filter particles, whereby the gaseous inclusions combine or coalesce within the layer of filter particles, forming larger gaseous inclusions which rise to the top of the viscous liquid and escape therefrom.
US07874177B2
A pouch for carrying temperature-sensitive products having at least three sides and a bottom that are fixedly attached. The sides and bottom of the pouch form an internal container which may be sized and configured to hold a variety of sizes and shapes of temperature-sensitive products. The pouch may also comprise a releasably-attached top. A thermo-regulable agent is contained within at least one of the sides.
US07874176B2
A drawer refrigerator has a partitioned cabinet with one or more pull-out drawers. The pull-out drawer(s) can have an adjustable divider fence for dividing the storage space of the drawer. The divider fence can have two dividers each defined by two spaced apart elongated rods that are coupled together at a hub and have end pieces with flat surfaces that abut inside surfaces of the drawer walls. A hand operated screw knob mounted to the hub can be used to lock the position of the divider fence.
US07874172B2
An air flow control mechanism for a refrigerator or freezer is disclosed comprising at least one knob to regulate by its adjustment, air flow within a compartment, the knob including at least one end, and wherein said knob is configured to rotate, a cam including a base, a groove and a receiving end, wherein the cam base includes the groove, wherein the groove is a semi-circular shape and is un-centered with regards to the cam base and wherein said receiving end receives said knob end, a crank having a first end a second end, wherein said first end is inserted in the semi-circular groove of said cam base and is configured to run said groove when the user adjusts the knob, a rod having a front end and a back end, wherein said front end is connected to said crank second end, and an obturator connected with said rod back end. Said cam base has the same rotation degree than the knob and wherein the rotational movement of said knob is transformed and transmitted to the crank and consequently the rod.
US07874170B2
A method and a control unit (4) for controlling a supply of power to an electrical circuit comprising a switch (3). An output voltage of a first power source (5), which is connected to the circuit, is measured and compared to a predefined threshold voltage. If the measured voltage is smaller than the threshold value it is determined that the switch (3) is in a closed state, and if the voltage is larger than the threshold value it is determined that the switch (3) is in an open state. The supply of power is controlled in accordance with the open/closed state of the switch (3). Preferably, the electrical circuit is connected to a second power source (9) when the switch (3) is in a closed state. Power is conserved while it is ensured that sufficient power is available when needed. The invention is very suitable for supplying power to a lamp (1) positioned inside a refrigeration compartment (2), especially when the system is battery powered.
US07874169B2
A power management system (36) supplies power to a refrigeration unit (20) of a vehicle (22). When a vehicle engine (40) is running, the refrigeration unit receives power from a DC power source (38). When the vehicle engine is not operating, power is supplied through an AC source (46). A converter (42) within the power management system converts the AC power to Dc power and sends the power to the refrigeration unit. If the user attempts to start the vehicle engine when the refrigeration unit is receiving power through the converter, there is conflict in power supply. The power management system will activate an alarm (48) to alert the user to an attempt to power the refrigeration unit with two different power systems.
US07874166B2
A cooling system for a vehicle comprises a compressor for compressing refrigerant, the compressor being adapted to be driven by a power source installed in the vehicle, a condenser for receiving compressed refrigerant from the compressor, an expansion device for expanding refrigerant from the condenser, and a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from the expansion device and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a liquid. The liquid may comprise a coolant, and a pump may be provided for pumping the coolant through the heat exchanger to a point of use such as a cooling garment to cool personnel on board the vehicle. Alternatively, the liquid may be a drinkable liquid which is pumped through the heat exchanger to a suitable dispensing system to provide an on-board supply of cool drinking liquid.
US07874163B2
A starter-generator system for a tip turbine engine includes a starter motor with a fixed starter generator stator and a starter generator rotor. The fixed starter generator stator is mounted to a static inner support housing. The starter generator rotor surrounds the fixed starter generator stator and is engagement with the axial compressor rotor.
US07874154B2
A method and a system for cooling an internal combustion engine having charge air feed, which has a first and a second cooling loop, of which the first cooling loop is operated at a higher temperature level than the second cooling loop, and in which the charge air feed has at least one intercooling unit which is thermally coupled to the second cooling loop, having a controllable coolant throughput. The system includes at least one shutdown element in the second cooling loop for throttling the coolant throughput in the second cooling loop to 0 (zero). Coolant throughput may be shut down during the operation of the internal combustion engine as a function of an operating parameter of a vehicle component.
US07874152B2
A machine, such as a backhoe, has a series of components connected in series and moved by separate hydraulic actuators. A position estimator determines the present position of each component from the load acting on the associated hydraulic actuator and a velocity command for the component. For each component, a function parameter estimator uses the present positions of the components to derive a set of parameters that include a static structure load that the components exert on the associated hydraulic actuator, acceleration and deceleration limits for both directions of component motion, and a control bandwidth for the associated hydraulic actuator. The set of parameters for a given component is used to control the associated hydraulic actuator.
US07874150B2
An exhaust system has an exhaust tailpipe cover provided in an outlet region and, on the inside, contains inner exhaust pipes which are disposed spaced apart from the exhaust tailpipe cover by a passage. The passage in the exhaust tailpipe cover results in the exhaust tailpipe cover being exposed to as little thermal loading as possible and avoids transmitting heat to a surrounding vehicle rear part, in particular made of plastic.
US07874147B2
A method of reducing NOx in exhaust gases generated by an internal combustion engine includes advancing the exhaust gases along an exhaust path to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst positioned downstream from the internal combustion engine. The method further includes activating a heat source if the exhaust gases are below a predetermined temperature, such that the exhaust gases along a segment of the exhaust path are heated to a temperature of 700-1000° C. The method further includes injecting a reductant into the segment of the exhaust path upstream of the SCR catalyst to react in the segment with NOx in the exhaust gases. The method further includes deactivating the heat source if the temperature of the exhaust gases at the catalyst rises above the first predetermined temperature. An emission abatement assembly is also disclosed.
US07874144B2
A method for controlling a fuel mixture in an exhaust gas system of a mobile internal combustion engine having at least one catalytic converter in an exhaust gas line, includes carrying out the control with an individual control probe in the interior of the at least one catalytic converter. An exhaust gas system and a vehicle having the exhaust gas system, are also provided.
US07874142B2
A gas turbine engine comprising a bypass duct defined radially outwardly by a nacelle and radially inwardly by a core engine casing. The nacelle comprises a thrust reverser unit having at least one blocker door rotatably attached to a static part and slidably connected to a translating part. The translating part is arranged to move between a stowed position and a deployed position and in the deployed position the blocker door spans the bypass duct. In the stowed position the blocker door is stowed inside the translating part and does not form part of an airwash surface of the bypass duct.
US07874138B2
A combustor for use in a turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustion section downstream from the compressor section, and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. An inner annulus wall extends from a burner end of the combustor to an outlet end of the combustor. An outer annulus wall is disposed outwardly from the inner annulus wall and extends from the burner end of the combustor to the outlet end of the combustor. A passageway is formed between the inner annulus wall and the outer annulus wall and extends from a combustion zone to the outlet end of the combustor. A plurality of symmetrically distributed section walls extends between the inner annulus wall and the outer annulus wall from the burner end of the combustor toward the outlet end of the combustor. The section walls divide the combustion zone into a plurality of segments.
US07874134B1
Each row unit of a corn head can easily be converted between a first mode, wherein only ears are harvested, and a second mode, wherein ears together with stalks are harvested. In the first mode, a pair of snapping rolls is mounted for operation beneath each row unit frame for grasping corn stalks and pulling them downwardly through a narrow throat defined by a pair of laterally adjustable deck plates mounted to a top surface of the row unit frame. In the second mode, the snapping rolls are either removed or disabled and at least one stalk cutting disk is mounted on one of a pair of gathering chain drive idler shafts, mounted at the forward end of the row unit frame, for rotating above the frame. The snapping rolls are disabled by adjusting the deck plates toward each other to close the throat.
US07874133B2
A forage harvester having a header for harvesting crop from a field, a chopper for comminuting the crop harvested by the header, a spout from which the chopped crop is discharged and a rotary blower (10) for propelling the chopped crop from the chopper along an intake chute (18) leading to the spout. A deflector plate (14a) is provided at the entrance of the blower. The deflector plate (14a) is pivotable between a first position in which the crop is guided to flow in a substantially tangential direction relative to the trajectory of the blades (10a) of the blower (10) and a second position in which the crop is deflected radially inwards from the tangential direction to impact the blades (10a) of the blower (10) at a point along their length.
US07874126B2
A service line distribution base (10) comprises a ground anchor (18) having an upstanding cruciform portion adapted to extend into the ground. A cabinet (20) suited to support a utility pole (14) extends upwardly from the ground anchor (18). The cabinet (20) defines and internal space for receiving buried wire conduits (28) incorporated to the cruciform ground anchor (18). The cruciform shape of the ground anchor (18) advantageously permits to incorporate a greater number of wire conduits (28) into the base of a utility pole as compared to conventional concrete bases.
US07874125B2
A molded support beam (1, 2, 3) that includes an elongated lower portion (11) an elongated upper portion (14) and at least one elongated flange (17, 18) extending upwardly from the elongated upper portion, is described. The elongated lower portion (11) includes at least three separate downwardly extending supports (e.g., 29, 32, 35) which together define at least two open-bottomed transverse openings (e.g., 41, 44), at least one of which being an arched open-bottomed transverse opening (e.g., 219, 234, 249). The elongated upper portion (14) includes a longitudinal passage (68), and a ledge (92) that extends horizontally outward from a second vertical side (56) thereof. An elongated hollow support tube (74) resides within the longitudinal passage (68) of the elongated upper portion (14). The elongated lower portion (11), elongated upper portion (14) and the elongated flange(s) (17, 18) are substantially continuous and together form a substantially unitary structure, and are each typically fabricated from a plastic material (e.g., thermoplastic polyethylene), and the elongated hollow support tube (74) is typically fabricated from metal. The molded support beam (e.g., 1, 2, 3) may be used as a lower molded support beam in numerous structures, such as shipping containers (e.g., ISO Containers having lengths from 6.1 to 16.2 m).
US07874124B2
Certain embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for securing a wall system together in a vertical direction. More specifically, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a first floor lower linkage beam attached to a foundation of a structure. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed including attaching a first floor lower linkage beam to a foundation of a structure.
US07874123B2
A stop bead for mounting along a frame or jamb of a window or door of a building to separate the frame or jamb from plaster or stucco material during application of the plaster or stucco material to the building comprises a first side end portion and a second side end portion, the first side portion having a leading edge for engaging the frame or jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the frame or jamb, a base panel having a front face, a wall formed on the base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the base panel, the wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco and a frame/jamb facing surface that faces the frame or jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the frame or jamb, and a spacing member formed on the stop bead and extending outwardly away from the frame/jamb facing surface of the wall for spacing the wall a predetermined distance from the frame or jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the frame or jamb, the spacing member forming the leading edge of the first side portion of the stop bead and forming gap between the wall and the frame or jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the frame or jamb.
US07874119B2
The invention relates to a locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards (1) constructed from a body (30), a rear balancing layer (34), and an upper surface layer (32). A strip (6), which is integrally formed with the body (30) of the floorboard and which projects from a joint plane (F) and under an adjoining board (1), has a locking element (8) which engages a locking groove (14) in the rear side of the adjoining board. The joint edge provided with the strip (6) is modified with respect to the balancing layer (34), for example by means of machining of the balancing layer under the strip (6), in order to prevent deflection of the strip (6) caused by changes in relative humidity. The invention also relates to a floorboard provided with such a locking system, as well as a method for making floorboards with such a locking system.
US07874110B2
The invention concerns a reinforced concrete or prestressed concrete part stressed by shearing forces with layers of reinforcement (22, 24) provided at its upper and lower sides. For shear protection at least one sheet metal reinforcing part (30, 32, 34, 36) is provided between these layers of reinforcement which mainly extends at right angles to a surface of the reinforced concrete part and mainly over the entire distance between the layers of reinforcement (22, 24) and crosswise to at least one crack (50) occurring in the reinforced or prestressed concrete part under transverse load.
US07874101B2
A method for applying a water soluble soil stabilizer to soil wherein the soil stabilizer is added to a solid carrier.
US07874100B2
A trellis system of the invention comprises a trellis and tool in combination. The trellis includes multiple legs and one or more horizontal supports. The tool includes a tray and a coning tool. The tray is adapted to slidably engage the legs by way of engagement means. The coning tool is adapted to engage the ends of the legs to facilitate shaping the trellis into a conical or pyramidal frame if desired. The trellis system can be used as a plant growth support and/or to hold potted plants. It can be installed into the ground or an existing potted plant. The trellis can be inverted position, the trellis can be used as a frame to build ornamental Christmas trees. The trellis can be a break down type of trellis including at least two horizontal supports and at least three segmented legs, wherein the segmented legs can each be made from two or more extended leg segments.
US07874093B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for attracting animals. In one aspect, there is provided a wind driven device, such as a decoy for animals, such as waterfowl, birds, humans, and the like. The device may include a support pole; a hanging rod coupled to the support pole; and a blade coupled to a swivel mechanism. The swivel mechanism is further coupled to the hanging rod. The blade is attached to the swivel mechanism and shaped to move to attract one or more animals when the blade moves in response to wind. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US07874083B1
A sole wear protection system for minimizing wear to a sole of a shoe includes a shoe being worn on a foot. The shoe includes an upper positioned over the foot when the shoe is being worn. The shoe includes a sole coupled to the upper and positioned under the foot when the shoe is being worn. A plurality of sleeves extends into the sole of the shoe. Each of the sleeves includes an open bottom end. A plurality of plate assemblies is mountable to sleeves. The plate assemblies are positioned between the sole and a support surface to minimize contact between the sole and the support surface.
US07874082B2
Method and apparatus are provided for drying bulk material, especially bark, sawdust, pretreated sludge or a mixture of these. Also provided are a method and apparatus for cooling waste water produced in a pulp or paper production process. Certain embodiments include a pulp mill, paper mill and a novel way of using a wire. Other embodiments provide for cooling in one and the same heat exchanger the waste water produced in a pulp or paper production process while simultaneously heating the gas that cools the waste water. Heated gas extracted from the heat exchanger is conducted through one or several drying conveyers and through the material to be dried that is conveyed on the drying conveyer so as to dry the material with the heated gas.
US07874075B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable cutting machine including: a housing; a motor; a cutting blade driven by the motor; a saw cover that covers the cutting blade; a base that rotatably supports the saw cover and to be brought into contact with the to-be-processed members; and a changing mechanism capable of changing the protrusion amount of the cutting blade toward the side opposite to the saw cover, wherein the changing mechanism has an adjustment guide extending from the base in the rotation direction of the saw cover and a movement restricting part for restricting the movement of the adjustment guide, and wherein the portion of the adjustment guide on the side farther from the base with respect to the movement restricting part is arranged outside of the saw cover.
US07874072B2
A method is provided for manufacturing a bearing support, particularly for a fan casing. The method includes the step of placing a bearing assembly in correspondence to a matrix die of an injection mold. The method further includes the step of abutting a punch of the injection mold on the bearing assembly to coaxially align and axially clamp the bearing assembly. The method further includes the step of injecting a plastic material into the mold to form an assembly sheath over-injected on outer surfaces of the bearing assembly.
US07874068B2
A production method for an electronic chip component includes the steps of forming a first paste layer by applying paste onto a first end surface of an electronic component body with a second end surface being stuck onto a substrate having an adhesive surface and drying the paste, turning the electronic component body 180 degrees so as to stick the first end surface of the electronic component body onto the substrate by sliding a slider relative to the substrate in a state in which the slider is in contact with the first end surface of the electronic component body, forming a second paste layer by applying the paste onto the second end surface of the electronic component body and drying the paste, and firing the first and second paste layers.
US07874060B2
An optics element, such as an optical, IR, or X-ray mirror or mirror segment, is made by a combination of replication and lamination by depositing a first metallic layer on a replicating surface of a master or mandrel, depositing a light weight backing layer that adheres on the first metallic layer, and depositing a cover layer that adheres on the backing layer whereby the optics element comprises an in-situ deposited composite lamination of the first metallic layer, the backing layer, and the cover layer.
US07874059B2
A bushing (30, 31) in a hole (26) through a ceramic matrix composite structure (20) with a flange (34, 38) on each end of the bushing (30, 31) extending beyond and around the hole and pressing against opposed surfaces (22,24) of the CMC structure (20) with a preload that resists buckling of the composite structure fibers and resists internal CMC fiber separation. A connecting element (40), such as a bolt or pin, passes through the bushing (30, 31) for engagement with a supporting element (50). The bushing (31) may be formed in place as a single piece of ceramic, and cured along with the CMC structure (20), or it may be formed as two ceramic or metal parts (32, 36) that are joined together and preloaded by threads (33). The connecting element (40) may be a pin, or it may be a bolt with a shaft threaded into one part (32) of the bushing and a head (42) that pushes the second flange (38) toward the first flange (34).
US07874056B2
An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.
US07874053B2
An assembly of a frame and doors with a lifting device to position the assembly in an open end of a storage container for conversion to access from opposing ends, the frame including side plates and end plates that abut respective side walls and end edges of end of the storage container from which an end panel is removed, and the lifting device attached to the assembly to hold the assembly in the end while rigidly connecting the assembly to the storage container. A method of converting a storage container for dual opposing access is disclosed.
US07874050B2
A synthetic biometric article for use in a cremation process is disclosed. The synthetic biometric article comprises a body, which is to be placed with a deceased individual, including a cremation compatible material that is suitable for mechanical pulverization. At least one synthetic biometric is integrated into the cremation compatible material in order to provide for continuous positive identification of the deceased individual during the cremation process.
US07874049B2
Disclosed is a buckle attached to a belt or a strap which is connected to a rucksack, a bag, clothing, and a helmet, etc. so as to connect the belt or the strap. The buckle includes: a male member including a body and first latching means; and a female member which includes a body and second latching means rotatably coupled to the body so as to latch on the first latching means, for removably engaging with the male member. The buckle constructed as described above has a simple structure. Thus, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the buckle. Furthermore, there is an advantage in that the second latching means of the female member may be softly pushed, so as to easily release the male member from the female member.
US07874048B2
When an operation wall of an inner member is inserted into an insertion portion of an outer member and an engagement piece does not receive a cam operation due to a slanted cam portion, contact pieces of the outer member do not correspond to a positioning hole of the inner member and are located in a position so as not to be inserted into the positioning hole. When the outer member is inserted into an attachment hole of an attachment receiving member with maintaining a state where the engagement piece does not receive the cam operation due to the slanted cam portion, the contact pieces are elastically deformed inwardly and located in a position so as to be inserted into the positioning hole.
US07874040B2
A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a multiplicity of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator. The apparatus also includes a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes. By providing this arrangement, the separate passageways can be located around other parts of the cyclonic separating apparatus inwardly of the shroud, allowing for better packaging of the components of the cyclonic separating apparatus. The shroud may be reduced in size because some of the space previously required for a single, large passageway can be used for other components of the cyclonic separating apparatus such a collector or a cyclone. The reduction in size of the shroud in turn allows for the cyclonic separating apparatus to be more compact.
US07874038B2
An air gun equipment (10) for cleaning workpieces includes an air gun (20), a switch (50) connected to the air gun and an air source by pipes (206, 70), and a sensor (30) fixed on the air gun. The switch is controlled by an output signal from the sensor to control the flow of air from the air source to the air gun.
US07874035B2
Provided are a connection apparatus and a connection method capable of rapidly and fixing a pre-cast deck slab with a beam. The connection apparatus includes a main body buried in the pre-cast deck slab and having a hollow part formed in an axial direction thereof! a plurality of support portions integrally formed with an outer surface of the main body, each of which has a body having a certain length and a hook integrally formed with an end of the body; a bolt having a bolt body inserted into the hollow part of the main body and a fixing hole of the beam, and a head integrally formed with an upper end of the bolt body! and a nut threadedly engaged with the bolt body of the bolt.
US07874028B2
An easily laundered one piece sofa protector and bedding substitute for couches and sofas having a fitted sheet type element conjoined to a flat sheet in such a way to stay in place while the sofa occupant sleeps. Alternately, the flat sheet may be pulled away from the fitted sheet and laid against the back sofa cushions to protect them from soiling. Additionally, a sewn in pouch for the temporary retention of a typical throw pillow is provided so that the throw pillow may be used as a sleeping pillow without soiling the surface of the throw pillow.
US07874026B2
A new and useful system and method of raising and lowering a bed is provided. A bed system comprises a bed, and a balanced movement system for raising and lowering the bed and for maintaining the bed in a stopped position when application of force to the bed is stopped. The balanced movement system is (i) configured to enable the bed to be raised or lowered by application of force to the bed in a selected direction, and (ii) configured such that when application of the force ceases the bed will come to a stopped position and be maintained in the stopped position by the balanced movement system. In order to raise or lower the bed, a relatively modest force is applied (preferably manually) to the bed in a selected direction.
US07874020B1
The gloves having snap-on cleaning pads include a front cleaning pad and a rear cleaning pad. Both the front and the rear cleaning pad are capable of contouring the knuckle regions of the hand, and attach to the glove via a plurality of snap buttons and/or nylon hook and loop fasteners. The front and rear cleaning pads are disposable and are made of a scouring material such as metal wool. The gloves themselves are made of a waterproof material such as rubber or latex.
US07877813B2
A copy protection method and a copy protection system are disclosed. The system includes a private key verifier receiving a media certificate that includes a private key identification of a compliant playing device and searching for an actual private key corresponding to the private key identification, an intermediate key decryptor receiving an encrypted intermediate key and decrypting the intermediate key with the actual private key, a media key decryptor obtaining an original media key by decrypting the decrypted intermediate key with a media identification; and a media data decryptor receiving an encrypted media data set and decrypting the media data set with the original media key. The method and system of the present invention are applicable to all types of digital media data, and it makes no assumption of any specific media properties. The primary goal of the present invention is to significantly reduce the possibility of making any illegal copies on any nonstandard equipment and is to restrict the media data transfers only to authorized entities.
US07877812B2
A method for enforcing privacy policies associated with data. The method includes accessing a database to identify labeled data in the database, the labeled data associated with a privacy policy. An access node accessing the label data is determined. For the access node accessing the labeled data, it is determined whether the access node applies an authorization test as indicated by the privacy policy. An authorization test is associated with the access node if the access node does not apply necessary authorization indicated by the privacy policy.
US07877810B2
A system, method and client user interface for a copy protection service employs software agents masquerading as nodes in decentralized networks for monitoring and interdicting file sharing activities of protected files in the networks. A control center communicates with the software agents and subscriber client computers through user interfaces, so as to provide monitoring information to users of the client computers and control the monitoring and interdiction of protected files according to instructions received from the client computers. A one-click method for requesting protection of a file, providing the terms of such protection, and updating billing information for the user is implemented through the user interface to simplify user interaction with the copy protection service.
US07877804B2
A computer system and method for detecting and monitoring network intrusion events from log data received from network service devices in a computer network, the computer system having discrete modules associated with a function performed on the log data received. An event parser in communication with at least one network service device is able to receive log data in real time from the device, and create an event object. An event manager in communication with the event parser is able to receive the event object and evaluate the event object according to at least one predetermined threshold condition such that, when the event object satisfies the predetermined threshold condition, the event manager designates the event object to be broadcast in real time. An event broadcaster in communication with the event manager receives event objects designated by the event manager for broadcast. The event broadcaster transmits the event object in real time as an intrusion alarm.
US07877796B2
A method and system for best effort propagation of security group information is disclosed. The method includes determining if a reserved group identifier is associated with a destination and, if the reserved group identifier is associated with the destination, indicating that a packet received at a network node can be sent to another network node. The packet includes destination information that identifies the destination as a destination of the packet.
US07877791B2
System, method and program for managing a production server. An authentication server sends to the production server via a network a group password for a GroupID to access a file in the production server. A user at a workstation sends via a network to the authentication server an individual UserID and corresponding individual password for the user and a request for the group password for the GroupID to access a file in the production server protected by the group password. In response, the authentication server authenticates the individual UserID with the corresponding individual password and returns to the workstation the group password for the GroupID. After receiving the group password from the authentication server, the user at the workstation sends via a network to the production server the group password and GroupID and a request to access the file in the production server protected by the group password. In response, the production server authenticates the GroupID with the group password and grants the user access to the file.
US07877784B2
A certificate registry system is configured to issue authentication certificates issued to each one of a plurality of information providers and to maintain a root certificate corresponding to all of the authentication certificates. Each one of the authentication certificates links respective authentication information thereof to identification information of a corresponding one of the information providers. Each one of the authentication certificates is devoid of linkage between the corresponding one of the information providers and domain name information thereof. The authentication certificates of the certificate registry are associated in a manner at least partially dependent upon at least one of a particular type of information that the information providers provide, a particular organization that the information providers are associated with, a particular type profession in which the information providers are engaged and a particular geographical region in which the information providers are located.
US07877781B2
A method and apparatus for controlling document access and application usage using centrally managed rules. The rules are stored and manipulated in a central rule database via a rule server. Policy enforcers are installed on client systems and/or on servers and perform document access and application usage control for both direct user document accesses and application usage, and application program document accesses by evaluating the rules sent to the policy enforcer. The rule server decides which rules are required by each policy enforcer. A policy enforcer can also perform obligation and remediation operations as a part of rule evaluation. Policy enforcers on client systems and servers can operate autonomously, evaluating policies that have been received, when communications have been discontinued with the rule server.
US07877780B2
A method and system for enforcing functionality in computer software through policy including converting a natural language policy to sample code, wherein the natural language policy is represented by logical patterns; creating one or more static analysis rules from the sample code to enforce the natural language policy at a centralized location of the computer software; and enforcing the created one or more static analysis rules for the computer software.
US07877776B2
A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience.
US07877772B2
According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US07877767B2
A method for distributing geographical restriction data in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed. The method includes accepting at an IPTV server, a request from an IPTV client for the geographical restriction data related to geographically restricted video data, determining at the server, a plurality of geographic restriction zones for the geographically restricted video data and sending from the server to the client a message containing the restriction data related to at least one of the restriction zones.
US07877765B2
A method and system are provided in which DVR viewer metrics are collected and saved in a “Watched Log” data base including identifying titles and other features of recorded DVR programs. User viewing metrics are collected and saved for use in determining whether or not future shows are recorded. After a DVR user watches a TV or other video show episode, the show episode will be added to the Watched Log. Subsequently, before recording a new TV show, the DVR device can determine the viewer's actions with regard to previous similar shows and factor such information into a decision regarding the recording of the new show.
US07877764B2
A turn table of a motor includes a first cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction, a first discoid portion radially outwardly extending from the first cylindrical portion, and a second discoid portion radially outwardly extending from the second cylindrical portion. A chucking member arranged on the turn table includes a main body having a diameter substantially the same as that of a center opening of a data storage disk to be arranged on the motor. The chucking member also includes a plurality of chucking claws having radially tip ends arranged radially outside of the outer circumferential surface of the main body and a plurality of coil springs applying bias force pressing the chucking claws in the radially outer direction. A radially inner end of each of the coil springs comes in contact with and is supported by at least one of the radially inner wall of the main body and the second cylindrical portion of the turn table.
US07877762B2
During a process of closing of a shutter of a disk device, a position of the shutter is detected. A first shutter position indicator indicative of a first position of the shutter and a second shutter position indicator indicative of a second position, which is immediately before the first position, are calculated. Whether a disk is pinched by the shutter is determined based on comparison of a predetermined threshold and the difference between the first shutter position indicator and the second shutter position indicator.
US07877760B2
Mechanisms are disclosed herein that manage operations in virtual machine environments. A first partition can have a proxy driver object corresponding to a driver object in a second partition. The driver object can control a physical device, but because of the proxy driver object, the first partition can retain some measure of control over the physical device. The driver object can be surrounded by a first filter object beneath it, and a second filter object above it. The first filter object can provide interfaces to the driver object so that the driver object can perform various bus-related functionalities; and, the second filter object can receive redirected instructions from the first partition and provide them to the driver object, and intercept any instructions originating from within the second partition, such that if these instructions are inconsistent with policies set in the first partition, they can be manipulated.
US07877757B2
Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, monitors the flow of events between a front-end application and a backend server. In one approach is technology, a new event is received at the backend server. This new event has an event type, which is used to set a new event flag, indicating that a new event of that type has been received. The new event is added to the queuing table. One or more events from the queuing table are selected, and a failover mechanism is maintained while selected events are being processed.
US07877754B2
Methods, systems, and media to expand resources available to logical partition associated with a client are contemplated. Embodiments may associate the logical partition with a grid that retains a list of resources, referred to as grid resources, available for allocation to logical partitions. The grid resources may include resources from, e.g., other logical partitions within the logically partitioned system, logical partitions from other logically partitioned systems, another type of system, a cluster, and the like. Further, one or more of the systems associated with the grid may include on-demand resources that are also available to supplement resources based upon the demands of the client. Embodiments may also monitor resource usage by the client and meter billable usage of the grid resources and/or on-demand resources based upon agreements between service providers and clients.
US07877751B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, heat emissions of processors are level among the processors, and it is possible to suppress occurrence of stop of process due to overheating. The control IC assigns tasks to the processors, and thereafter rectifies an assignment result such that temperatures of the processors become almost level among the processors, on the basis of the temperatures of the processors obtained by temperature sensors. This structure enables level heat emissions among the processors, and suppresses occurrence of stop of process due to overheating.
US07877748B2
A computer and software method and apparatus for distributed data processing which provides agreement between data sources (sensors) and data sinks (actuators) as to what data has been written into a shared buffer. The invention further provides methods and means for meeting data timeliness requirements. Invention employs a programming primitive which recognizes semantics so as to provide a consistent view of computation modules over prescribed time intervals, called “epochs”. Application-level control of the asynchrony and timing of information flow between various computation modules is realized. The invention has applications which include sensor fusion and network gaming.
US07877747B2
According to at least one embodiment, a flexible operating system comprises operability for executing in a first manner as a native operating system on a computer system and for executing in a second manner as a virtualized operating system on the computer system. The flexible operating system further comprises code for determining whether it is being used as a native operating system or as a virtualized operating system on the computer system.
US07877744B2
A system for detecting a preloaded inactivated core application and sending an activation inquiry request requesting an activation status associated with the preloaded inactivated core application. The system also includes sending the activation inquiry request over a network. The system also includes receiving the activation status associated with the preloaded inactivated core application. Also, included is a system for receiving, via a network, an activation inquiry request requesting an activation status associated with a preloaded inactivated core application, where the activation inquiry request is received on a remote computing device. The system also includes determining the activation status based on information associated with the remote computing device, and where such information stored remotely from the remote computing device. The system also includes sending, via a network, the activation status.
US07877724B2
An arbitrary function may be represented as an optimized decision tree. The decision tree may be calculated, pruned, and factored to create a highly optimized set of equations, much of which may be represented by simple circuits and little, if any, complex processing. A circuit design system may automate the decision tree generation, optimization, and circuit generation for an arbitrary function. The circuits may be used for processing digital signals, such as soft decoding and other processes, among other uses.
US07877718B2
A placement tool searches for an optimal placement for a plurality of device modules within an integrated circuit (IC) including symmetry groups formed by device modules that are to be symmetrically placed. The tool employs a hierarchical B*-tree (HB*-tree) representation of a trial placement wherein each symmetry group and each module not included in a symmetry group is represented by a separate node of the HB*-tree. Each symmetry group node maps to a symmetry island placement for the symmetry group satisfying all symmetry and other placement constraints on the symmetry group. The placement tool employs a simulated annealing technique to iteratively perturb the HB*-tree representation to produce a sequence of trial placements, and uses a cost function to evaluate the quality of each trial placement.
US07877717B2
Mechanisms for accurately modeling an asynchronous interface using expanded logic elements are provided. With these mechanisms, the logic of an asynchronous interface is reduced to primitive logic elements. These primitive logic elements are expanded by the mechanisms of the present invention to take into consideration whether or not the primitive logic elements themselves may be experiencing a switching or glitch hazard and whether or not the inputs to the primitive logic elements may be based on a switching or glitch hazard from another primitive logic element in the asynchronous interface logic. These expanded logic elements are used in an integrated circuit design to replace the original primitive logic elements in the design. The asynchronous interface may then be simulated with the expanded logic elements providing outputs indicative of whether the actual data output of the expanded logic elements is deterministic or not.
US07877716B2
A computer program product, comprising a computer readable storage device having a computer readable program code stored therein, said program code including an algorithm adapted to be executed by a computer to implement a method. First, design information of a design structure is provided including a back-end-of-line layer of an integrated circuit which includes N interconnect layers, wherein N is a positive integer. Next, each interconnect layer is divided into multiple pixels. Next, a first path of a traveling particle in a first interconnect layer of the N interconnect layers is determined. Next, M path pixels of the multiple pixels of the first interconnect layer on the first path of the traveling particle are identified, wherein M is a positive integer. Next, a first loss energy lost by the traveling particle due to its completely passing through a first pixel of the M path pixels is determined.
US07877712B2
A verification system disclosed herein uses the unique signatures of an IC to perform authentication of the IC after the IC is shipped to a customer. The verification system records the fingerprint and associated IC identifier with the fingerprint into a data structure. The data structure is supplied to the customer for use in the customer's own security systems. When an IC interfaces with the customer's system, the verification system requests the IC's identifier and selects a data structure corresponding to that IC identifier. The verification system then performs a test on the IC (e.g. remotely operates the IC at 1V), records the resulting data and compares the test results with the corresponding data in the data structure. If a predetermined condition is satisfied then the IC is verified to be authentic. If not, the verification system responds, for example, by flagging the customer's security system.
US07877710B1
A method for managing vectorless estimation includes identifying a semantic structure. A signal activity is assigned to an output of the semantic structure. Vectorless estimation is performed on non-semantic structures.
US07877708B2
A method of displaying messages on handheld devices. The device displays messages in a scrollable viewport of vertically arranged fields. Date separators inserted into the vertically arranged list of messages to enable the user to associate the messages with a date. The date separators have “sticky” operation, meaning that the device ensures a date separator always appears within the viewport, even when the viewport has been scrolled to the middle of a long list of messages all associated with the same date. The device may ensure that the top field of the viewport always contains a date separator associated with the message immediately below.
US07877697B2
A user interface that enables user perception of status regarding communications that leverage an instant messaging platform may be rendered on a display. The user interface includes an instant messaging application user interface that enables perception and selection of instant messages for an instant messaging user, and a status indicator that provides a perceivable indication to the user of statistics regarding concurrent instant messaging sessions.
US07877694B2
Method and systems for generating notifications in a notifications system. A parameter-driven template received from a content provider contains one or more parameters related to a subscription for notifications. The notifications system enables an application based on the received template and executes it to map a recurring event to one or more subscribers as a function of the parameters specified by the content provider. In response to the recurring event, the notification system generates a notification. Other aspects of the invention relate to a computer-readable medium that defines the application for use in a notifications system.
US07877689B2
Ads are placed in a movie using a graphical interface that enables selecting of the ads from a set of ads, selecting frames of the movie for the ad, and selecting locations in the frames for the ads. Each of the ad and the movie can be a still image, a full motion video, an audio, a graphic or a combination thereof. An executable command may also be a part of the ad that is inserted, the command being selected for execution by a viewer of the ad when the movie is played to the viewer.
US07877681B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing automatic context management for simulating virtual users for testing and monitoring web applications, including those web applications that execute code on the client side, without requiring the actual execution of client side web application code or the execution of the client within the testing, monitoring, or simulation tool. Simulation tools with automatic context management according to the present invention can record and replay context-full scripts that do not require manual customization and are capable of handling state information even for web applications that execute code on the client side. These scripts are able to realistically mimic complex web application transactions on the network HTTP layer.
US07877679B2
A method for optimizing forms includes generating a profile of a user of a web browser on a client computer and loading into the web browser a vendor form including a field to be filled in with information provided by the user. The form also includes a tag invoking a script-based engine. Software code is stored corresponding to a plurality of layers containing interactive instructions for assisting the user in filling in the field. Responsively to the tag, the script-based engine is loaded into the web browser. Responsively to at least one profile parameter of the user, a portion of the software code is selected and downloaded to the web browser, so that a layer from among the plurality of layers is displayed by the web browser. Via the displayed layer, input is received from the user for filling in the field.
US07877676B2
A context of media content is represented by context description data having a hierarchical stratum where the lowest hierarchical layer is formed from an element representing a segment of media content which corresponds to a change between scenes of video data or a change in audible tones. A score relating to the context is appended, as an attribute, to individual elements in the lowest hierarchical layer. In a selection step of a data processing method, the context of the media content is expressed, and one or a plurality of scenes of the media content is or are selected on the basis of the score of the context description data.
US07877673B2
A DTV transmitter includes a pre-processor pre-processing enhanced data, a data formatter generating enhanced data packets including the pre-processed enhanced data, and a multiplexer multiplexing the enhanced data packets with main data packets. The transmitter further includes an RS encoder RS-coding the multiplexed packets by adding systematic RS parity data to each main data packet and by adding non-systematic RS parity place holders to each enhanced data packet, and a data interleaver interleaving the RS-coded packets. The non-systematic RS parity place holders are placed after the enhanced data within each interleaved enhanced data packet, and a sequence of known data place holders is periodically included in the interleaved enhanced data packets.
US07877669B2
Data move operations in a memory device are described that enable identification of data errors. Error detection circuitry in the memory device can be operated using parity data or ECC data stored in the memory. Results of the error detection can be accessed by a memory controller for data repair operations by the controller.
US07877664B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving a signal in a communication system, which generates an Affine Permutation Matrix-Low Density Parity Check (APM-LDPC) codeword by encoding an information vector in an APM-LDPC encoding scheme which is a preset structured LDPC encoding scheme, and detects the information vector by decoding the signal in a decoding scheme corresponding to the APM-LDPC encoding scheme, thereby making it possible to generate a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code in the form of maximizing a girth while minimizing complexity.
US07877658B2
In a first embodiment a TAP of IEEE standard 1149.1 is allowed to commandeer control from a WSP of IEEE standard P1500 such that the P1500 architecture, normally controlled by the WSP, is rendered controllable by the TAP. In a second embodiment (1) the TAP and WSP based architectures are merged together such that the sharing of the previously described architectural elements are possible, and (2) the TAP and WSP test interfaces are merged into a single optimized test interface that is operable to perform all operations of each separate test interface. One approach provides for the TAP to maintain access and control of the TAP instruction register, but provides for a selected data register to be accessed and controlled by either the TAP+ATC or by the discrete CaptureDR, UpdateDR, TransferDR, ShiftDR, and ClockDR WSP data register control signals.
US07877647B2
As disclosed herein, an interface for a device adapted to couple to an interconnect may comprise decode and error check logic and a plurality of decode logic units. The decode and error check logic may receive error check bits and a target address from the interconnect and may determine whether the target address was received in error. At least one of the decode logic units also may receive the error check bits and correct the target address using the error check bits in parallel with the decode and error check logic determining whether the target address was received in error.
US07877645B2
The use of operational configuration parameters to predict digital system failures is described herein. At least some illustrative embodiments include a method that includes initializing a digital system (the initializing comprising determining an operational configuration of at least part of the digital system), saving the operational configuration to a database stored on the digital system, reading the operational configuration from the database and comparing the operational configuration to a reference configuration, and identifying the digital system as being at risk of a future failure if at least one parameter of the operational configuration differs from the at least one same parameter of the reference configuration by more than a tolerance value.
US07877642B2
A method monitors non-faulty application traces of a computer application with the runtime environment during fault-free activities to create non-faulty runtime signatures for the computer application. Once obtained, the method stores the non-faulty runtime signatures. The method then detects a faulty application trace of the computer application and compares the faulty application trace with the non-faulty runtime signatures by comparing a call graph of the faulty application trace with call graphs of non-faulty application traces of the application signatures to identify differences between the two (e.g., fault attributes). Then the invention outputs the fault attributes to allow the user to identify a fault cause.
US07877641B2
A method of forming a stack signature responsive to execution of a computer program in a digital computer according to one embodiment comprises halting execution of the computer program, tracing the program's call stack to determine a series of stack frames resulting from execution of the program, capturing a selected metric with respect to each stack frame in the series, encoding each captured metric into a corresponding symbol, and assembling the series of encoded symbols into an ordered list thereby forming a stack frame signature that reflects generally the execution of the computer program.
US07877633B2
The disk controller has a plurality of channel control units, a plurality of cache memories, a plurality of disk control units, and a plurality of internal switch units. Each channel control unit or disk control unit sends to one of the cache memory units a request packet requesting execution of processing. The cache memory unit sends a response packet in response to the received request packet. Each internal switch unit monitors the request packet sent from the channel control unit or disk control unit, and judges whether or not the response packet to the request packet has passed through the internal switch unit within a first given time period since the passage of the request packet. In the case where the response packet has not passed through the internal switch unit within the first given time period, the internal switch unit sends a failure notification.
US07877632B2
A storage control apparatus of the present invention reduces the frequency of disk drive failures. An error management part manages the number of times errors occur in respective disk drives. A disk drive in which the number of errors meets or exceeds a threshold value is selected as a disk drive to be restarted. A restart control part commences difference management prior to restarting the disk drive targeted for restart. A difference management part manages parity group-related update locations using a difference bitmap. After commencing difference management, the restart control part restarts the disk drive in which the error was detected. This makes it possible to resolve an error caused by a firmware hangup or the like.
US07877630B1
This invention includes a circuit for tracking memory operations with trace-based execution. Each trace includes a sequence of operations that includes zero or more of the memory operations. Traces execute atomically and become eligible for commitment after all the operations in the trace have executed. The memory operations being executed form a set of active memory operations that have a predefined program order among them and corresponding ordering constraints. At least some of the active memory operations access the memory in an execution order that is different from the program order. Checkpoint entries are associated with each trace. Each entry refers to a checkpoint location. Memory operation ordering entries correspond to each one of the active memory operations. Rollback requests result in overwriting the checkpoint locations associated with the selected trace as well as the checkpoint locations associated with traces that are younger than the selected trace.
US07877624B2
A wireless communications system for viewing and modifying memory locations within a power system device is provided including a wireless device and a power system device. The wireless device includes an input mechanism adapted to accept input from a user indicating a memory location the user wishes to view; a first radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a first signal including the memory location within the power system device the user wishes to view; and a first radio frequency receiver for receiving a second signal. The power system device includes at least one randomly accessible memory location and a processor coupled to at least one randomly accessible memory location; a second radio frequency receiver coupled to the processor and a second radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor for receiving the first signal. The processor retrieves the value of the memory location included within the first signal and activates the second radio frequency transmitter to transmit a second signal including the value of the memory location. The value of the memory location may be a command or control that is executed by the power system device.
US07877617B2
An energy-saving mode-equipped apparatus for implementing an energy-saving mode for limiting power supply to modules notifies an information specifying a restore time from the energy-saving mode to an information processing apparatus connected via a network before switching into the energy-saving mode. The information processing apparatus transmits a processing request to the energy-saving mode-equipped apparatus after the restore time has elapsed since a launch request was transmitted to the energy-saving mode-equipped apparatus.
US07877609B2
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for encoding digital watermarks into content signals. Also disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and/or verifying digital watermarks in content signals. According to one embodiment, a system for encoding of digital watermark information includes: a window identifier for identifying a sample window in the signal; an interval calculator for determining a quantization interval of the sample window; and a sampler for normalizing the sample window to provide normalized samples. According to another embodiment, a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is disclosed. According to another embodiment, a method for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks comprises: (1) providing a digital signal; (2) providing a digital filter to be applied to the digital signal; and (3) identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter based on at least one measurable difference between the digital signal and a counterpart of the digital signal selected from the group consisting of the digital signal as transmitted, the digital signal as stored in a medium, and the digital signal as played backed. According to another embodiment, a method for encoding a watermark in a content signal includes the steps of (1) splitting a watermark bit stream; and (2) encoding at least half of the watermark bit stream in the content signal using inverted instances of the watermark bit stream. Other methods and systems for encoding/decoding digital watermarks are also disclosed.
US07877590B2
Consistency for replicating data storage subsystem configurations in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. A data storage subsystem comprises a blade system with a plurality of slots, the blade system configured to support a plurality of blades and a storage system, each arranged in a predetermined slot of the blade system. A management module operates the blade system to first power on the storage system, and subsequently to power on the plurality of server blades in a sequential order that matches a blade system natural boot sequence order, skipping the storage system, and the storage system is configured with the “golden” configuration file to log on the server blades in accordance with the power on sequence to logically configure the server blades in accordance with the “golden” configuration file.
US07877583B2
In a multi-threaded processor, thread priority variables are set up in memory. The actual assignment of thread priority is based on the expiration of a thread precedence counter. To further augment, the effectiveness of the thread precedence counters, starting counters are associated with each thread that serve as a multiplier for the value to be used in the thread precedence counter. The value in the starting counters are manipulated so as to prevent one thread from getting undue priority to the resources of the multi-threaded processor.
US07877579B2
The present invention provides a system and method for prioritizing compare instructions in a cascaded pipeline. The system includes a cascaded delayed execution pipeline unit having a plurality of execution pipelines that execute instructions in a common issue group in a delayed manner relative to each other. The system further includes circuitry configured to: (1) receive an issue group of instructions; (2) determine if at least one compare instruction is in the issue group, if so scheduling the least one compare instruction in a one of the plurality of execution pipelines based upon a first prioritization scheme; (3) determine if there is an issue conflict for one of the plurality of execution pipelines and resolving the issue conflict by scheduling the at least one compare instruction in a different execution pipeline; (4) schedule execution of the issue group of instructions in the cascaded delayed execution pipeline unit.
US07877574B2
A first storing unit stores therein a chain indivisibility instruction. A detecting unit detects a change of first data that is distributed in a node computer. A first designating unit designates, when the detecting unit detects the change in the first data, an indivisibility instruction corresponding to the first data from which the change is detected, by referring to the first storing unit. A first executing unit executes the indivisibility instruction designated by the first designating unit.
US07877570B2
A method and apparatus for managing memory allocation using memory pages. A first physical memory page is compared with a second physical memory page, wherein the first physical memory page is associated with a first page table and the second physical memory page is associated with a second page table. If the second physical memory page matches the first physical memory page, the second physical memory page is deallocated, and the second page table is associated with the first physical memory page.
US07877563B2
A removable digital data storage device has a programmable memory controller, a data storage medium and a data destruction means. The memory controller is encoded with a firmware program to provide a computer device driver interface, wherein the firmware program further configures the memory controller to secure data on the medium by querying for a hardware code in response to a data operation request by a computer through the interface and either granting access in response to a hardware code input or, independent of an operational status of the requesting computer, directly instructing the data destruction means to render data residing on the data storage medium unreadable in response to a failure to receive the first hardware code input through the interface.
US07877560B2
When a plurality of disk control apparatuses function as one disk control apparatus with a mutual connecting network, a processor is used as an independent resource. Moreover, states of use of resources are monitored, and processing from distribution of the resources to allocation of control tasks is optimized promptly so as to be compatible with a user request. By promptly making system performance compatible with the user request according to the present invention, a state in which the user request and the system performance are alienated from each other for a long time is eliminated.
US07877556B2
A unified storage system for executing a variety of types of storage control software using a single standardized hardware platform includes multiple storage control modules connected to storage devices for storing data related to input/output (I/O) operations. A first type of storage control software is initially installed and executed on a first storage control module for processing a first type of I/O operations. A management module replaces the first type of storage control software by installing a second type of storage control software onto the first storage control module. When the second type of storage control software is installed and executed, the first storage control module processes a second type of I/O operation, different from the first type of I/O operation. Control of volumes originally accessed by the first storage control module may be transferred to a second storage control module having the first type of storage control software installed.
US07877548B2
Buffer memories having hardware controlled buffer space regions in which the hardware controls the dimensions of the various buffer space regions to meet the demands of a particular system. The hardware monitors the usage of the buffer data regions over time and subsequently and automatically adjusts the dimensions of the buffer space regions based on the utilization of those buffer regions.
US07877547B2
A system, method and circuit for efficiently managing a cache storage device. A cache storage device may include a cache management module. The cache management module may be adapted to generate a management unit and to associate the management unit with new data that is to be written into the cache. The cache management module may be further adapted to assign two or more allocation units for each management unit, to store the new data in the cache. A cache management module may include a management unit module. The management unit module may be adapted to generate management units associated with predefined global cache management functions. The cache management module may further include an allocation unit module in communication with the management unit module. The allocation unit module may be adapted to assign allocation units for storing data written into the cache.
US07877537B2
A cache module for a central processing unit has a cache control unit coupled with a memory, and a cache memory coupled with the control unit and the memory, wherein the cache memory has a plurality of cache lines, at least one cache line of the plurality of cache lines has an address tag bit field and an associated storage area for storing instructions to be issued sequentially and at least one control bit field, wherein the control bit field is coupled with the address tag bit field to mask a predefined number of bits in the address tag bit field.
US07877536B2
A Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express switch is provided. The PCI Express switch includes a first routing information bus connected to the first port; a second routing information bus connected to the second port; a third routing information bus connected to the third port; two routing slaves in the first port, each dedicated to listening to one of the second and the third routing information buses; two routing slaves in the second port, each dedicated to listening to one of the first and the third routing information buses; and two routing slaves in the third port, each dedicated to listening to one of the first and the second routing information buses.
US07877533B2
A bus system includes one or more bus masters, one or more bus slaves, and a response unit. When an access request to a resource of a bus slave is sent from a bus master, the response unit outputs a wait response that is either a blocking wait response to cause the bus master to perform a blocking wait operation or a non-blocking wait response to cause it to perform a non-blocking wait operation to the bus master if the bus slave is in the wait state.
US07877516B2
A method of replicating data on a source to a destination comprising the steps of: extracting data from a source via a user interface in a source format; converting the extracted data from the source's format into a destination format; and uploading the converted data to said destination.
US07877514B2
A retransmission method and system for time-constrained video packet transmission between a sender and a receiver, wherein the retransmission deadline of each packet is individually adjusted based on the actual decoding time deadline at the receiver decoder. Accordingly, variable retransmission deadlines are set corresponding to the decoding and playback time for each data packet which carries compressed video information. As such, both network efficiency and video transmission quality are improved compared to the conventional retransmission approaches.
US07877510B2
Methods, configured storage media, and systems are provided for resolving domain names into IP addresses in a path-sensitive manner, namely, a manner that may consider information about a link to a server and/or information about routers and other path components. The IP addresses given in response to domain name resolution requests are selected to provide increased reliability and/or dynamic load-balancing over paths.
US07877506B2
Computer system, method and program for routing. A nonencrypted message packet is received. In response, a payload in the message packet is read to determine if the payload contains sensitive information. If the payload contains sensitive information, the message packet is encrypted and subsequently, routed to a nonsecure communication path. If the payload does not contain sensitive information, the message packet is routed to a nonsecure communication path without encrypting the message packet. The payload can be read to determine if it contains sensitive information by determining a standard for a format of the message packet, and based on the standard, determining a location of data within the message packet and a type of the data at the location.
US07877496B2
Methods, systems, devices, and software are disclosed for providing application levels of service over a network. Embodiments of the invention maintain a list of registered applications (or application providers) that have registered with a network resources provider. Customers of the network resources provider may authenticate some or all of the registered applications, indicating a desire to allow traffic relating to those applications over their access networks. Customers may further set application levels of service with respect to those authenticated applications. Certain embodiments may manage network traffic to accord with the application levels of service.
US07877495B2
Methods, systems, devices, and software are disclosed for providing application levels of service over a network. Embodiments of the invention maintain a list of registered applications (or application providers) that have registered with a network resources provider. Customers of the network resources provider may authenticate some or all of the registered applications, indicating a desire to allow traffic relating to those applications over their access networks. Customers may further set application levels of service with respect to those authenticated applications. Certain embodiments may use the registrations, authentications, service level settings, and/or other related information to generate application service level protocol data. This ASLP data may then be used to make data handling determinations for managing the flow of network traffic according to agreed service levels at the application level.
US07877490B1
A method for efficient communications with a cluster-based architecture preserves various aspects of integrity throughout one or more connections with a client, even in the midst of connection migration between nodes in the cluster. According to one aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for preventing the loss of packets arising from a TCP connection migration within the cluster. According to another aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for uniquely identifying conflicting TCP connections migrated to a common node. According to a still further aspect, the invention provides a distributed TCP timestamp mechanism so that the sender and receiver will have a consistent view of the timestamp even when each node has different local clock values and regardless of how many times the socket has been migrated.
US07877484B2
A system and associated method for bulk processing of semi-structured results streams from many different resources ingest bytes, parse as many bytes as practical, and return to process additional bytes. The system processes network packets as they arrive from a computing resource, creating intermediate results. The intermediate results are held in a stack until sufficient information is accumulated. The system then merges the intermediate results to form a single document model. As network packets at one connection are consumed by the system, the system can select another connection at which packets are waiting for processing. The processing of a result at a connection can be interrupted while the system processes the results at another connection. In this manner, the system is able to utilize one thread to process many incoming results in parallel.
US07877482B1
In a distributed application execution system having an application master and a plurality of application servers, each application server includes one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs. The one of more programs include instructions for storing in non-volatile storage a plurality of applications distributed to the application server by the application master, for loading into volatile storage and executing a respective application in response to a received request, and for returning a result to the request. In addition, the one of more programs include instructions for conditionally retaining the respective application in volatile storage, for responding to a future request, when criteria, including at least predefined usage level criteria, are met by the respective application, and otherwise removing the respective application from volatile storage upon returning the result to the request.
US07877481B2
A system for managing packets incoming to a data router has a local packet memory (LPM) mapped into pre-configured memory units, to store packets for processing, an external packet memory (EPM), a first storage system to store packets in the LPM, and a second storage system to store packets in the EPM. The system is characterized in that the first storage system attempts to store all incoming packets in the LPM, and for those packets that are not compatible with the LPM, relinquishes control to the second system, which stores the LPM-incompatible packets in the EPM.
US07877472B2
A method of monitoring an element in a computer network including monitoring a preselected variable relating to that element; defining a threshold for the monitored preselected variable; establishing a sliding window in time; repeatedly generating a time above threshold value, the time above threshold value being a measure of an amount of time during which the monitored variable exceeded the threshold during the sliding window of time; detecting when the time above threshold value exceeds a condition window value; and in response to detecting when the time above threshold value exceeds the condition window, generating an alarm.
US07877471B2
In a clustered computer system with multiple power domains, a bus number manager within each power domain manages multiple nodes independently of other power domains. A node within a specified power domain includes a non-volatile memory that includes bus numbering information for its own buses as well as bus numbering information for two of its logically-interconnected neighbors. This creates a distributed database of the interconnection topology for each power domain. Because a node contains bus numbering information about its logical neighbor node(s), the bus numbers for the buses in the nodes are made persistent across numerous different system reconfigurations. The clustered computer system also includes a bus number manager that reads the non-volatile memories in the nodes during initial program load (i.e., boot) that reconstructs the interconnection topology from the information read from the non-volatile memories, and that assigns bus numbers to the buses according to the derived interconnection topology.
US07877463B2
A system and method for providing access to dynamic content via static pages. A page or portion of a page is received containing at least one executable element and at least one static element. The at least one executable element is identified and then processed to produce output. A static page is created comprising the produced output. In some embodiments static elements linked to executable elements are replaced with static links referencing said executable elements. In other embodiments a page comprising a single form is created from a page comprising at least two forms.
US07877453B2
System and method for optimizing data traffic in signaling stream of IP multimedia subsystem service
A system and associated method for optimizing media data in signaling stream of a network system. A client subscribed for a presence service sends a signaling message embedding media data in an Extensible Markup Language file. An optimizer gateway in the network system intercepts the signaling message, extracts and keeps the media data, replaces the media data in the signaling message with a reference pointer to the media data, asynchronously processes the media data, retransmits the media data to another client subscribing to the presence service, or reinstate the media data from the reference pointer to the media data.
US07877452B2
Method for composing, browsing, replying, forwarding e-mail's in an e-mail system and an e-mail client that can reduce e-mail traffic by not sending the original e-mail content in replying or forwarding e-mail's. In accordance with this invention, each e-mail has a Global-ID and each reply e-mail has a Reply-to-ID which corresponds to the Global-ID of the original e-mail, thereby the content of the original e-mail is not contained in the reply e-mail. During browsing e-mail's, the original e-mail is retrieved from repositories which stores sent and received e-mail's, and is incorporated into the browsed e-mail.
US07877451B2
A system, method and program product for sharing content contained in an e-mail. The method includes determining, using a tool, presence of any file attachments in an e-mail created in an e-mail application, removing, responsive to the determination, any file attachments from the e-mail prior to queuing the e-mail message for delivery, posting, using the tool, the e-mail as a feed document on a feed server on a network, publishing, using the tool, any file attachments removed from the e-mail on a network drive on the network, and sending, using the tool, respective links to the feed document posted and any file attachments published on the network to one or more recipients specified for the e-mail, wherein the respective links notify the one or more recipients of the e-mail and any file attachments. Further, the e-mail application includes a tagging tool for creating tags for the e-mail.
US07877440B2
Improved approaches for providing secure remote access to email resources maintained on private networks are disclosed. The secure access can be provided through a public network using a standard network browser. Multiple remote users are able to gain restricted and controlled access to email on a mail server within a private network through a common access point. The solution provided by the improved approaches allow not only native access to email resources but also robust authentication approaches.
US07877439B2
It relates notably to a data requesting device from a data server, comprising means for sending requests of determined data to the server, means for receiving streamed data from that server and for providing said data to processing means, and means for producing pause control signals, intended for pausing data streaming, and for triggering their sending to the server. The requesting device comprises means for generating normal state signals, intended to the server for testifying normal operation at the requesting device, and for triggering periodic transmission of those signals to the server.
US07877433B2
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method that can include generating a repository of computing system architecture designs. An offer can be generated to instantiate a host environment for an application, wherein the offer includes a plurality of options. A selection of an option of the offer can be received and utilized to identify a computing system architecture design of the repository. The computing system architecture design can be utilized to instantiate the host environment for the application.
US07877432B2
A reseller program may be used to increase the number of Customer desired domain names that are registered by a Registrar. There are two main embodiments of this reseller program. In the first embodiment, Resellers guide Customers to a Registrar web site through the use of advertisements, links in various web sites and/or links from search engines. The Registrar web site communicates directly with the Customer and registers the Customer desired domain names and compensates the Reseller for guiding the Customer to the Registrar web site. In the second embodiment, Resellers have their own reseller web sites that communicate directly with the Customers and communicate the desired domain names to the Registrar web site so the Registrar web site can register the Customer desired domain names. In this embodiment, the Customer may compensate the Reseller and the Reseller may compensate the Registrar for the services rendered.
US07877422B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a method and system for processing 1:N relationships between data object nodes. A first data object and a second data object is provided wherein a first node of the first data object has a 1:N relation with a second node of the second data object. The first node includes a first sync key uniquely identifying a field in the first node. The second node includes n second sync keys, each of the n second sync keys uniquely identifying a field in the second node. A shadow node is generated in the first data object. The 1:N relation is de-normalized to generate 1:1 associations between the first node and the second node, the 1:1 associations being stored in shadow node.
US07877421B2
A method for mapping data schemas into an ontology model, including providing an ontology model including classes and properties of classes, providing a data schema, identifying a primary data construct within the data schema, identifying a secondary data construct within the primary data construct, mapping the primary data construct to a corresponding class of the ontology model, and mapping the secondary data construct to a property of the corresponding class of the ontology model. A system and a computer readable storage medium are also described and claimed.
US07877419B2
In an information processor which records many contents or has many contents already recorded therein, and can generate an arbitrary combination of the contents, a weight is computed for each of the contents based on either data stored in a history data file or data stored in a display data file and data stored in a filtering data file, and a content is selected from the contents stored in a content file based on the weight. The selected content is related with a package corresponding to the data stored in the filtering data file.
US07877417B2
A data exchange system for communicating with a database having a plurality of data tables includes a plurality of internal classes adapted to represent data from the data tables in a business entity format, a plurality of query structures corresponding to the plurality of data tables and a plurality of document classes referencing one or more of the plurality of query structures. The data exchange system allows an application to communicate with the database without having to know the structure of the database. Moreover the data exchange system allows the database to communicate with a document without having to know any business logic governing the creation, retrieval, update, deletion, etc., of the document.
US07877409B2
To prevent conflicts of interest, an information management system is used to make sure two or more groups are kept apart so that information does not circulate freely between these groups. The system has policies to implement an “ethical wall” to separate users or groups of users. The user or groups of user may be organized in any arbitrary way, and may be in the same organization or different organizations. The two groups (or two or more users) will not be able to access information belonging to the other, and users in one group may not be able to pass information to the other group. The system may manage access to documents, e-mail, files, and other forms of information.
US07877395B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for identifying premium content items (such as video content items) that are responsive to a query. According to one embodiment, a method for identifying one or more items of video content responsive to a given query comprises receiving a query comprising one or more terms from a given user, identifying one or more items of video content responsive to the received query and generating a result set comprising one or more links to the one or more items of video content responsive to the received query. The one or more links the result set associated with items of premium video content are identified and the one or more links in the result set associated with items of premium video content are filtered on the basis information associated with the user from which the query was received.
US07877387B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for selection of promotional media items and/or generation of promotional or advertising units. In one embodiment, a set of promotional media items may be dynamically identified responsive to an input set of media items. In another embodiment, a promotional program unit is generated in response to receipt of user taste data for a user or group of users. The promotional program unit is an integral unit made up of one or more media items and one or more promotional media items.
US07877386B2
A user uses a graphical user interface to configure a search process. One or more set up pages may be output to the user to allow the search process to be configured. Once the search process is defined, a graphical user interface is generated that provides the search process. A searcher can then use the interface to perform searches. A search page is provided that includes fields that were defined. When a search term is received, a search is performed according to a search definition. The search results are then returned according to how the search results were configured. For example, the search results may be returned in a stepped fashion. Additionally, a quick create option is provided on the search result page. This allows a user to create an entry that is classified according to the search definition for the field that was searched.
US07877382B1
Methods and apparatus for detecting distracting search engine results are described. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring the behavior of a user with respect to a group of images that are related in some manner to a query, and using the monitored behavior to calculate the distractiveness of a particular image. The method also includes adding to a group of images related to a query a set of images that are unrelated to the query and monitoring the behavior of a user with respect to all the images.
US07877379B2
Techniques are provided for delaying evaluation of expensive expressions in a query. Expensive expressions in the query are established by cost information or by looking up a list of known expensive expressions for a match. After an execution plan is determined by using the early evaluation technique, one or more equivalent execution plans is established. The one or more equivalent execution plans may include both a type of execution plans that delay evaluation of expensive expressions and a type of execution plans that do not. In addition, the one or more equivalent execution plans may include both parallelized and non-parallelized alternatives to the execution plan identified by the early evaluation technique. Finally, based on a set of criteria, which may include comparing cost information among all the equivalent execution plans generated thus far, the best execution plan is chosen for the query.
US07877377B2
A database query optimizer creates a main access plan for a query, and also creates one or more subplans for the same query. The subplans are used in executing a query. When a subplan is generated, all tautological predicates (i.e., predicates that do not narrow the query) are dropped, thereby enhancing the reusability of stored subplans. When a query is processed, its tautological predicates are dropped, and if a subplan for the query with the dropped tautological predicates is found, the subplan is used to execute the query. If the query to be run has no main access plan in the cache, a main access plan is generated, and a subplan is also generated that corresponds to the query to be run, with all tautological predicates dropped. The same query may thus generate many subplans, enhancing the reusability of the query by storing each subplan in the access plan cache.
US07877372B1
A method, computer program, and database system are disclosed for querying tables stored on multiple processing modules. The method includes specifying module group characteristics. A plurality of modules corresponding to the module group characteristics are then identified. The identified modules are sampled for statistics concerning at least one table specified in a query. An execution plan for the query is optimized based at least in part on the sampled statistics.
US07877369B2
Hosted searching of different local area network (LAN) information is described. The apparatus for hosted searching of different private LAN information includes a LAN crawler to automatically and repeatedly crawl a LAN having multiple devices, and a hosted on-demand search system including a set of one or more centralized-search servers to create and synchronize a separate private search database for each of the private LANs based on received reports from of different instances of the LAN crawler deployed on the multiple private LANs, at least some of which are operated by different entities.
US07877365B2
A system and method are disclosed for rendering published documents tamper evident. Embodiments render classes of documents tamper evident with cryptographic level security or detect tampering, where such security was previously unavailable, for example, documents printed using common printers without special paper or ink. Embodiments enable proving the date of document content without the need for expensive third party archival, including documents held, since their creation, entirely in secrecy or in untrustworthy environments, such as on easily-altered, publicly-accessible internet sites. Embodiments can extend, by many years, the useful life of currently-trusted integrity verification algorithms, such as hash functions, even when applied to binary executable files. Embodiments can efficiently identify whether multiple document versions are substantially similar, even if they are not identical, thus potentially reducing storage space requirements.
US07877359B2
A problem of prior art is that normal backup data is lost as a result of taking a backup by overwriting the normal backup data with data that has been changed greatly from a virus infection or the like. This invention provides a computer system having a storage system. The storage system contains a first storage area and a second storage area for storing a copy of data that is stored in the first storage area at one point in time. Only when the differential amount indicating the difference between data stored in the first storage area and data stored in the second storage area is smaller than a predetermined threshold, the storage system deletes the data which is stored in the second storage area and newly stores a copy of the data stored in the first storage area in the second storage area.
US07877356B1
A method of sharing a group of one or more objects between a plurality of users, the method comprising providing the group of one or more objects to each user; allowing at least one user to effect a change to an object; providing each change effected by a user to the other users; and providing each user with an indication of all changes made to an object. In addition or instead, the method may comprise providing a notification to the other users of the change. The group may be a calendar and each object may be an event in the calendar.
US07877349B2
Methods and apparatus to evaluate the semantic proximity between reference free-form text entry and a candidate free-form text request.
US07877344B2
Systems and methods are provided for an expert search engine. In one embodiment, a method may employ a computer based system to define a meaning taxonomy including one or more meaning loaded entities, associate documents to the meaning taxonomy based on a set of expert rules and the syntactic structures included in the documents and provide the results to a user. In another embodiment, a system includes interfaces for meaning taxonomy, expert rule and search criteria information. The information provided by these interfaces is then used to determine how a set of documents maps to meaning taxonomy to assist the user in locating documents that are most interesting from a meaning perspective and to provide a user with an interface to navigate the meaning taxonomy as it applies to the set of documents.
US07877342B2
A neural network for processing arrays of data with pertinent topology includes a n-dimensional array of cells (Ki) corresponding to the knots of the neural network, each cell having connections to the directly adjacent cells (Kj) forming the neighborhood of a cell (Ki), Each cell (Ki) has inputs for each connection to directly adjacent cells; an output for the connection to one or more of the directly adjacent cells (Kj), the connection between the cells being determined by weights (wij), and each cell being characterized by an internal value and being able to carry out signal processing for generating a cell output signal (ui), The output signal (ui) of a cell (Ki) is a function of its internal value and of the input signals from the neighboring cells, each cell being associated univocally to a record of a n-dimensional database (Pi) with pertinent topology and the value of each data record being the starting value of the corresponding cell. Processing is carried out by considering the internal value or the output value (ui) of each cell (Ki) after a certain number of iterative processing steps of the neural network as the new obtained value (Ui) for the univocally associated data records (Pi).
US07877335B2
An improved system and method is provided for efficiently learning a network of categories using prediction. A learning engine may receive a stream of characters and incrementally segment the stream of characters beginning with individual characters into larger and larger categories. To do so, a prediction engine may be provided for predicting a target category from the stream of characters using one or more context categories. Upon predicting the target category, the edges of the network of categories may be updated. A category composer may also be provided for composing a new category from existing categories in the network of categories, and a new category composed may then be added to the network of categories. Advantageously, iterative episodes of prediction and learning of categories for large scale applications may result in hundreds of thousands of categories connected by millions of prediction edges.
US07877327B2
An authoring application for allowing users to create, control and distribute electronic content including a canvas interface for constructing a project of the electronic content from a plurality of resource files, the canvas interface having: a canvas area for constructing screen elements of the selected resource files to create screens; a path area for illustrating a relationship among the screens of the project; and a properties area for adjusting characteristics of the selected screen elements, a reader interface for allowing the users to view the project, the reader interface being accessible from the canvas interface and a resource interface for managing groups, membership in groups, and user accounts, said groups and user accounts having varying levels of control over the project.
US07877303B2
Systems and processes are provided for projecting, tracking and assessing the performance of and relative interests of the parties to one or more cooperatively-funded insurance policies, such as split-dollar or jointly-owned life insurance policies. Certain embodiments can also optimize the structure and function of existing insurance policies. Input data regarding actual and potential parties to an insurance contract, regulatory considerations, as well as the objectives that the parties intend to achieve, is used to propose, create, track, maintain, and implement an insurance policy or a group insurance plan. The input data is communicated to an enterprise platform via a web server. The enterprise platform includes applications which process the data. Data processing functions performed include proposal and policy generation, policy reevaluation and re-proposal, policy conversion, and report generation. The systems and processes optimize achievement of policy objectives and minimize tax consequences under applicable tax codes.
US07877295B2
A system and method provides a user of a network-based commerce system drag and drop functionality that allows a user to purchase goods from a network-based transaction system through the use of links and images.
US07877290B1
Digital data objects containing video-based advertisement information are broadcast via satellite and received by one or more integrated receiver decoders (IRDs). Each IRD selectively discards or caches advertisement objects (AOs) in a local memory. AOs that are incompatible with the sophistication level of the IRD and/or user preferences/characteristics are discarded without being cached and AOs that have a lower priority than currently cached AOs are discarded. The IRD arranges cached AOs into ordered lists to schedule them for display and each ordered list corresponds to a unique display position within a program guide. When the user initiates a program guide session, the IRD cyclically displays the AOs in the program guide according to the ordered lists.
US07877287B1
After defining a relevant market area around a selected geographical point, a map is generated using stored geographical map information around a selected geographical point and a geographical area is selected around that point. Multiple bands are formed on the map around the geographical point and market information is gathered from a database for the defined geographical area. The bands are weighted based according to empirical data drawn from within the market area, if available, or from data from a demographically matched location. A net demand model is constructed to perform point studies, comparison studies, area studies, and multi-unit simulations for the selected geographical area.
US07877286B1
A method for computing a preferred set of prices for products in a subset of a plurality of products is provided. Generally, initial prices for a plurality of products are stored. A subset of products of the plurality of products is designated, where the number of products in the subset of products is less than the number of products in the plurality of products. A demand model is created based on Bayesian modeling. Prices for the products in the subset of products are optimized, while maintaining the initial prices of products of the plurality of products that are not in the subset of products, wherein the optimization uses a grid method to determine the optimized prices.
US07877281B1
A representative implementation of a method begins when a planner captures assumptions about products and components in an entity called a “scenario.” A scenario is the parameterization of all the demand, financial, and operational information for a portfolio of products and components across a set of time buckets (planning periods). The planner then specifies a component plan to be analyzed, which identifies the quantities of each resource that will be used or procured during each planning period. A request for analysis includes one or more analysis parameters that will be used in order to evaluate the performance and the risks associated with the component plan and scenario. The request for analysis is submitted to an analysis engine for calculation of risk indicators. The analytical engine calculates all the performance indicators and returns the results. The results are then typically stored in a database or other persistent storage system.
US07877280B2
A travel system for processing travel requests based on a user's travel destination goal such as a meeting place and time. The travel system selects a destination terminal, if one is not provided, and estimates a travel time between the destination terminal and the destination goal. An itinerary is then built interactively with the user selecting air, bus or train transportation, ground transportation, and, optionally, hotels, restaurants, and activities.
US07877274B2
A networked health-monitoring system configured to collect and process patient health-related data. A plurality of remote patient sites each includes at least one display, a data management unit for collecting patient health-related data, a memory, and stored program instructions for generating health-monitoring related information on the display. A central server connects to the data management unit at each patient site. The system transmits messages for display at the patient sites and at least one of these messages is a message selected by a health care professional.
US07877262B2
In a gaming system, a user controls actions of characters in the game environment using speech commands. In a learning mode, available speech commands are displayed in a command menu on a display device. In a non-learning mode, the available speech commands are not displayed. A speaker-independent context-sensitive speech recognition module contains a vocabulary of available speech commands. Use of speech commands is combined with input from a controller device to control actions of a character or characters in the game environment.
US07877252B2
An automatic speech recognition method includes converting an acoustic signal into a digital signal; determine a power spectrum of at least one portion of the digital signal; and non-linearly determining envelope values of the power spectrum at a plurality of respective frequencies, based on a combination of the power spectrum with a filter function. Non-linearly determining envelope values involves calculating each envelope value based on a respective number of values of the power spectrum and of the filter function and the respective number of values is correlated to the respective frequency of the envelope value.
US07877250B2
Operational resource modeling is usable to analyze application and computer system performance over a wide range of hypothetical scenarios. Operational resource modeling involves creating and training one or more resource models, and/or simulating hypothetical scenarios using resource models.
US07877249B2
A circuit arrangement and method detect external requests to access a memory array in a hardware simulation accelerator during performance of a simulation on a simulation model and access the memory array without halting the simulation in response to detecting the external request. Such functionality may be provided, for example, by detecting such external requests in response to processing a predetermined instruction in an instruction stream associated with the simulation model, where the predetermined instruction is configured to ensure a predetermined period of inactivity for the memory array. By doing so, the memory array can be accessed from outside of the hardware simulation accelerator during the processing of a simulation, and without requiring that the simulation be halted, thus reducing overhead and improving simulation efficiency.
US07877241B2
Psychopharmacological properties of new therapeutic drugs and highly heritable behavior patterns of test subjects are identified based on analysis of monitored exploratory movement to identify behavioral signatures. A test subject in a pen is allowed to explore for a period of time, after injecting it with a candidate drug or control vehicle. The test subject's movement is monitored and its locations stored. The locations are analyzed to separate them into behavioral patterns that are defined based on combinations of behavioral feature. Relative frequencies of performing each behavioral pattern are determined. In each pattern, differences between the relative frequencies in the candidate drug and control groups are tested, and only patterns in which this difference is highly significant are retained. The number of behavioral patterns further is reduced based on the relative frequencies and the correlation of behavioral patterns to one another, with the cells left over corresponding to a set of endpoints that identify a behavioral signature of the effect of the drug.
US07877236B2
An integrated circuit includes a first storage location, a first generator, a converter, and a second generator. The first storage location is operable to store a first adjustment value. The first generator is coupled to the first storage location, is operable to generate a first signal having a first characteristic, and includes a first adjuster operable to change the first characteristic in response to the first adjustment value. The converter is coupled to the first storage location and is operable to generate from the first adjustment value a modified adjustment value. The second generator is coupled to the converter, is operable to generate a second signal having a second characteristic, and includes a second adjuster operable to change the second characteristic in response to the modified adjustment value.
US07877232B2
A metric based performance monitoring a process control system is disclosed in which diagnostics are performed at multiple levels of the plant, results of the diagnostics converted into Key Performance Indicators and compared to predetermined benchmarks such that an integrated and overall determination of the plants' performance may be displayed.
US07877230B2
A system and method for evaluating a portion of a response time of an application that is attributable to an element on a virtual IP network by emulating a condition on a network, running the application on the network under the emulated network conditions and measuring a portion of the response time of the application that is attributable to elements on the network under such emulated conditions. The application may be varied and response times of various network elements may be measured under one or more of the variations.
US07877226B2
An apparatus and method for counting exercise repetitions are provided for counting exercise repetition even when an exerciser attaches the apparatus in different places and along different orientations of his or her body. The apparatus and method utilizes acceleration data along at least three axes and determines that a valid step is taken by the exerciser if at least one of acceleration profiles falls within at least one of pre-defined thresholds. Moreover, a method of identifying an optimal axis for exercise repetition measurement is disclosed by comparing the acceleration profiles of previous steps with amplitude, cycle and rhythm thresholds.
US07877225B2
In a method for determining measurement points on a physical object, a number of measurement points are first selected in a graphical computer model of the object, until a sufficient number of measuring points have been selected so as to allow the position and orientation (lay) of the object to be determined relative to a reference system. A further measuring point of the object is then selected in the graphical computer model, and a check is automatically made to determine whether the further measuring point can determine the lay of the object relative to the reference coordinate system more accurately. If so, the further measuring point is used for this determination. Further measuring points are selected and checked in this manner, until the lay of the object can be determined better than with a predefined tolerance.
US07877224B2
An inclination calculation apparatus sequentially calculates an inclination of an input device operable in terms of a posture thereof. The input device includes acceleration detection means and imaging means. The inclination calculation apparatus sequentially calculates first inclination information representing an inclination of the input device from positions of two imaging targets in a taken image obtained by the imaging means. The inclination calculation apparatus also sequentially calculates second inclination information representing an inclination of the input device from an acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means. The inclination calculation apparatus calculates an inclination of the input device using the first inclination information and the second inclination information.
US07877222B2
A design structure for an apparatus for utilizing a single set of one or more thermal sensors, e.g., thermal diodes, provided on the integrated circuit device, chip, etc., to control the operation of the integrated circuit device, associated cooling system, and high-frequency PLLs, is provided. By utilizing a single set of thermal sensors to provide multiple functions, e.g., controlling the operation of the integrated circuit device, the cooling system, and the PLLs, silicon real-estate usage is reduced through combining circuitry functionality. Moreover, the integrated circuit device yield is improved by reducing circuitry complexity and increasing PLL robustness to temperature. Furthermore, the PLL circuitry operating range is improved by compensating for temperature.
US07877219B2
A system for analyzing non-monotonic of signals is provided. The system is configured for receiving a signal and displaying changes of the signal using a waveform curve. The system is configured for analyzing data of the signals and the waveform curve in order to locate peak points on the waveform curve. The system is also configured for storing the signal data and data generated during the analyzing process. A related method is also provided.
US07877213B2
A system and method of operating a data processing system to provide feature extraction from an image obtained from a plurality of chemical arrays is disclosed. The method includes bifurcating processing of the image by performing image processing and post-processing. The image processing includes processing parts of the image, each part corresponding to a different one of the arrays, in an automated batch process, to produce image-processed outputs that are different from the image and contain information extracted from the image. The post-processing includes processing the image-processed outputs according to different post-processing protocols with respect to different ones of those parts of the image corresponding to at least two of the arrays, to produce post-processed outputs. The method includes outputting at least one of the image-processed outputs and/or at least one of the post-processed outputs.
US07877197B2
Systems and methods for actively seeking and generating real-time, conflict-checked, operationally preferred flight trajectory revision recommendations are disclosed. The system analyzes air traffic based on a plurality of uniquely integrated inputs, to produce at least one conflict-checked, operationally preferred flight trajectory revision opportunity for an operating vehicle, and a communications component configured to communicate the at least one conflict-checked flight trajectory revision. In one embodiment, the system interfaces with the airspace user's operations center (e.g. Airline Operations Center), to communicate the operationally preferred flight trajectory revision opportunity, and allow the operator to make the decision whether to implement, and request the same from the Air Navigation Service Provider. In another embodiment, the system interfaces with the Air Navigation Service Provider, and while considering operator business objectives, and other constraints, directly aides the air traffic controller in determining more optimal flight trajectory revision opportunities.
US07877189B2
A method is described for an engine having a delivery system configured to deliver fuel and a fluid to an engine cylinder, said fluid containing at least some water. In one example, an engine operating parameter may be varied based on an amount of water in said fluid, where said amount is determined based on an operating condition.
US07877187B2
A navigation device provides support for a driver of a vehicle in merging from one road onto another road (main road). The navigation device receives traffic information including at least positions and speeds of other vehicles traveling the main road. The navigation device then detects at least positions of inter-vehicle spaces between those other vehicles, using the traffic information, and determines which one of the detected inter-vehicle spaces is most suitable for the driver's vehicle to enter for merging. A beam radiating unit provided in the driver's vehicle is used to form a moving first entry point mark on the road surface to indicate the inter-vehicle space the driver's vehicle is going to enter upon merging.
US07877179B2
A system as described herein relates generally to automotive active front steering control systems having a main processor and a redundant sub-processor. The system provides a way of controlling the electrical and mechanical locking of an actuator motor in a variable gear ratio active front steering system. The method enables the sub-processor to electrically lock the active front steer actuator motor via the main processor to reduce mechanical wear or damage to the variable gear ratio system if the main processor is unable to electrically lock the actuator motor before it mechanically locks the actuator motor. The system also provides an error detecting technique that is robust to false failures and allows the active front steering system to safely transition into a fail safe mode if an error occurs.
US07877172B2
Instruments or gauges arranged to provide feedback detectable by the peripheral vision of a driver when vehicle operating parameters, such as engine speed, temperature, pressure, and voltage, are in a critical range, include one or more of the following types of instruments or gauges and/or features: (a) a tachometer that not only includes a primary numeric display, but also a secondary display made up of a plurality of discrete lights of different colors, the colors indicating whether the engine speed of a vehicle is within a relatively narrow range of engine speeds acceptable for the roadway leading from a race track to service areas, known as “pit road,” the high and low limits of the range being adjustable to meet pit road requirements at different tracks; (b) an instrument or gauge having a background that illuminates to indicate critical sensor readings; (c) an instrument or gauge having improved handling of sensor abnormalities to prevent false readings; (d) a non-linear analog gauge for a motor vehicle having a higher resolution in a particular range of interest, and a lower resolution outside that range; and (e) a boost pressure gauge that facilitates entry of gear information for use in traction control. The instruments or gauges of the invention are suitable for use in racing vehicles that meet standards established by NASCAR.
US07877171B2
In order to simplify the switching of medical or surgical equipment in an operating theatre, there is proposed a switching device for medical or surgical equipment which is characterized by a planar floor mat having sensors distributed over the surface area thereof, said sensors producing an electrical signal corresponding to the position of a foot of an operator on the floor mat when the foot is located near the respective sensor, and by a data processing system which is connected to the floor mat and is programmed in such a manner that it stores the instantaneous position of the foot on the floor mat as a starting position when activated by an activating signal, selects at least one switching area of the floor mat which has a predetermined location relative to the starting position, and produces a switching signal when the foot is located near a sensor in the switching area.
US07877164B2
A method of assembling pallets 14, 20, 28 containing first stock units 50 for use in the fulfillment of stock orders, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of first pallets 14 each containing a quantity of the first stock units 50 and moving a portion of the first stock units 50 from at least one of the first pallets 14 onto one or more second pallets 20 in establishing desired quantities of the first stock units 50 in the first and second pallets 14, 20 for use in the fulfillment of the stock orders. In one form, the sequence of order fulfillment is controlled to increase the quantity of first stock units on the first pallets used in fulfilling the stock orders. A distribution system and control system is also disclosed.
US07877163B2
The method and apparatus of the present invention includes a computer implemented injection molding configuring subsystem which enables a customer to interactively specify and design a system using a mix of parameters that the customer specifies and are manufacturing process determined. The configuring subsystem is connected to a computer network such as the Internet. The method and apparatus of the present invention further includes a computerized business and processing subsystem in communication with the configuring subsystem. The computerized business subsystem automatically provides a cost and schedule for a system configured by the configuring subsystem and additionally processes an order for the system. The processing subsystem automatically processes the customer's inputs and generates drawings for the configured system. Prior to receiving the customer's order, hot runner system components may be partially manufactured in a first phase and placed in inventory. The partially manufactured hot runner components may then be removed from inventory after receiving a customer's order, and further manufactured and assembled in accordance with the customer's parameters in a second phase.
US07877159B2
The production history information management apparatus 100 comprises: machining an identifier for identifying a pipe or tube in a region of the pipe or tube on which thread cutting is to be performed before an initial production process is performed among production processes which are management targets of the production history information; reading the identifier machined on the pipe or tube before each of the production processes is performed or while each of the production processes is performed; management for storing the production history information of the pipe or tube obtained in each of the production processes and the identifier read from the pipe or tube while the production history information and the identifier are associated with each other; and thread cutting for removing the identifier machined on the pipe or tube in the process of performing the thread cutting on the end portions of the pipe or tube among the production processes which are management targets of the production history information.
US07877157B2
A design support apparatus includes an evaluation unit that evaluates a recyclability of the product, using evaluation condition and parts/material data, an analysis unit that analyzes a factor obstructing the recyclability based on an evaluation result of the evaluating unit, and a display unit that displays a remedy against an obstruction factor provided as an analysis result of the analysis unit.
US07877155B2
Methods and apparatus for controlling display elements within a networked device. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the device a digital set-top box (DSTB) with front panel display(s). A downloadable software module is provided that is adapted to discover the front panel display capabilities of the device, and control the display accordingly. This approach allows, inter alia, the cable network operator or other entity to manage the user's experience relating to the front panel display(s) on various types of client devices. The module is also optionally platform-agnostic (i.e., “universal”) so that the aforementioned capabilities are provided largely irrespective of the device hardware/software environment.
US07877147B2
Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.
US07877144B2
Methods for optimizing the atrio-ventricular (A-V) delay for efficacious delivery of cardiac resynchronization therapy. In CRT devices, the programmed A-V delay starts with detection of electrical activity in the right atrium (RA). Thus, a major component of the A-V delay is the time required for inter-atrial conduction time (IACT) from the RA to the LA. This IACT can be measured during implantation as the time from the atrial lead stimulation artifact to local electrograms in a coronary sinus (CS) catheter. Assuming that the beginning of LA contraction closely corresponds with the beginning of LA electrical activity, the optimal AV delay should be related to the time between the start of RA electrical activity and the start of LA electrical activity plus the duration of LA atrial contraction. Thus ‘during atrial pacing’ the IACT measured at implantation is correlated with the echocardiographically defined optimal paced AV delay (PAV).
US07877137B2
Method and systems of treating a patient with at least one of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, and a pulmonary embolism include providing a stimulator coupled to at least one electrode and a catheter, configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat at least one of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, and a pulmonary embolism, programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters, delivering with the stimulator via the catheter at least one drug to at least one tissue in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and limiting perfusion of the at least one tissue by delivering electrical stimulation with the stimulator via the at least one electrode to the at least one tissue.
US07877134B2
An in vivo imaging device and method, the device including at least one illumination source; at least one image sensor; and at least two optical systems. The optical systems have different depths of focus. A first and second image are focused onto the image sensor.
US07877116B2
A user is allowed to select an acoustic equalizer setting from among a plurality of predetermined acoustic equalizer settings. Upon receiving an indication of a selection of a given acoustic equalizer setting, a handheld telephony device processes voice call downlink audio, based on the given acoustic equalizer setting and drives an audio output device with the processed audio signal.
US07877113B2
A system and method for improved data transmission on a wireless link to a remote receiving node includes a communication device for converting packets to RF at a physical data rate, an antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna configurations for transmitting the RF, and a processor for selecting the antenna configuration and the physical data rate based on whether the remote receiving node indicated reception of the data transmission. A plurality of antenna configurations may be mapped, as well as a plurality of physical data rates. A logical antenna and a logical data rate may be selected for transmission of a packet. The logical antenna may be changed based on whether the packet is received by a remote receiving node.
US07877100B2
A position determination system and apparatus for utilizing a network of cellular base stations to determine position of a mobile station includes taking a plurality of statistically independent data measurements of the pilot signals from the base stations. Each of the data measurements includes an earliest time of arrival, providing multiple independent measurements for each of the pilot signals. For each cellular base station, a representative measurement is calculated responsive to the independent measurements, which is used to determine position of the mobile station using an AFLT algorithm and/or in conjunction with a GPS algorithm. In some embodiments, the data measurements for each pilot signal further include an RMSE estimate and time of measurement for each time of arrival, and an energy measurement for all resolvable paths. If the mobile station comprises a cell phone, a cell search list and a GPS search list may be provided by a cell base station.
US07877099B2
A method is described that comprises executing a service selection method on an off load processor of a computing system to select an available network service for handling traffic sent to/from a handheld device. The execution of the service selection method is performed while a main CPU of said computing system is in a low power state.
US07877094B2
This disclosure concerns systems and methods for location updating in communications networks. In one example, when a device initiates a connection to an access network, by way of which a communications network is adapted to provide core network GSM functions to devices registered therewith over a non-GSM bearer, a core network interrogates the device to obtain, if available, data indicative of the cell occupied thereby, interrogates the core network to obtain, if available, an indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device, obtains, if available, data indicative of the location of the access point with which the device communicates, and, in dependence on that location, selects an access controller for communicating with the access point or instructs the device to attempt to connect to the GSM radio access network.
US07877089B2
A method, apparatus for providing at least near continuous broadcast services to one or more terrestrial receiver stations is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of satellites, each satellite in an inclined, elliptical geosynchronous orbit, each satellite providing a portion of the at least near continuous broadcast service to the terrestrial receiver. In one embodiment, the system also comprises a receiver station having an legacy antenna modified so as to include a sensitivity pattern substantially matched to the track of the apparent position of the satellites actively broadcasting information to the receiver stations. The present invention is also embodied in a method for receiving at least near continuous broadcast service from at least one of a plurality of satellites at a time, each satellite in an inclined, elliptical, geosynchronous orbit.
US07877084B2
The present invention provides a method and system that enables telephone users to specify parameters that will be used in filtering incoming calls to the user's telephone device. The invention can use parameters known in telephone use such as call cost or roaming detection of mobile telephone device and user-defined settings to enable users to control costs and improve efficiency when using their cell telephones especially outside their home network and/or time zone. These call filtering parameters serve to activate the call filtering method of the present invention. The user can choose parameters that specify telephone call cost and user time zone location as threshold parameters that can trigger activation of the call filtering method of the present invention. When those parameters are exceeded, the system will enable the user-defined settings that determine how to process or direct incoming calls. The method and system of this invention can include dynamic parameters (i.e. cost) and/or static parameters (i.e. time of day) as triggering parameters. Further, the method of this invention can be automatically activated by triggers or can be manually activated by the user at any time.
US07877075B1
A single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a differential input circuit having a single-ended input. The differential input circuit is responsive to a single-ended input signal to generate first and second signals. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a passive tank circuit in communication between a reference voltage and the differential input circuit. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a mixer circuit in communication with the differential input circuit and responsive to the first and second signals and a second input signal to generate a differential mixer output signal.
US07877072B2
Accordingly, a system and method are provided for adaptively controlling amplification in a wireless communications device receiver. The method comprises: receiving a signal with a variable signal strength; amplifying the received signal in response to the signal strength, to supply an amplified signal. More specifically, amplifying the received signal in response to signal strength includes selecting a gain state in response to a plurality of signal strength switch point. The method further comprises: measuring signal quality; measuring signal energy; and, modifying a relationship between receiver performance and amplified signal strength, in response to the measured signal quality and measured signal energy. Other aspects of the method comprise processing the amplified signal, so that a processed signal quality and processed signal energy can be measured. Then, the relationship between receiver performance and amplified signal strength is modified in response the processed signal quality and the processed signal energy.
US07877067B2
Provided is a method for selecting a receiver mode of a mobile terminal having two receivers and that can receive a signal using either or both of the two receivers depending on a channel environment. A method for selecting a receiver mode of a wireless communication terminal having at least two receivers includes computing at least one parameter for determining the receiver mode from a received signal; comparing the at least one parameter with a preset threshold; and selecting one only of a single receiver mode in which either of the two receivers is activated and a dual receiver mode in which both of the receivers are activated according to the comparison result. The method enables a receiver mode to switch between single and dual receiver modes adaptively according to a wireless environment, thus achieving stable signal reception without compromising reception sensitivity.
US07877066B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an RF log-amp detector, comprising a pre-amplifer at the input of the RF log-amp detector, a plurality of limiters with variable gain connected to the pre-amplifier, wherein the gain of the preamplifier is set to its minimum and the dynamic range is expanded by modifying the amplification gain of the plurality of limiters, thereby increasing the dynamic range and reducing accuracy, after which a coarse measurement of a power level is taken and wherein the RF log-amp detector then defines which pre-amplification level is required based on the course measurement to bring the signal at the output of the preamp within an optimum dynamic range of the log-amp and wherein the pre-amplification gain is then set while the gain of the plurality of limiters are set to their minimum value with the RF log-amp then performing a second measurement with higher accuracy and calculating the final measurement from fine measurements and the pre-amplification gain.
US07877063B2
In a high-frequency amplifier for amplifying transmission and reception signals, an integrated circuit area is reduced to reduce production costs. A high-frequency amplifier (101) includes a reception signal amplifying part (102), a transmission signal amplifying part (103), and a spiral inductor (104). An output of the reception signal amplifying part (102) is connected with an output of the transmission signal amplifying part (103) to be an output terminal OUT of the high-frequency amplifier (101). The single spiral inductor (104) is connected to the output terminal OUT. This spiral inductor (104) is used as a load common to the reception signal amplifying part (102) and the transmission signal amplifying part (103). Thereby, the area of the integrated circuit is reduced, and the production cost is reduced.
US07877060B1
A system and method are provided for calibrating Amplitude Modulation to Phase Modulation (AM/PM) pre-distortion in a transmitter operating according to a polar modulation scheme. In general, phase modulation is disabled during transmission of an actual polar modulation signal. As a result, the transmitter provides a radio frequency (RF) output signal having an amplitude modulation component and ideally a constant phase. However, the AM/PM distortion of the transmitter creates a phase modulation component in the RF output signal. The phase component of the RF output signal, which is the AM/PM distortion of the transmitter, is measured by test equipment. The AM/PM pre-distortion applied by the transmitter is then calibrated based on the measured AM/PM distortion such that the AM/PM distortion of the transmitter is substantially reduced.
US07877057B2
A wireless communication system, relay station device, and base station device reduce dead zones in which communication with the base station device is not possible, and enable expansion of service areas. The BS transmits to the RS burst packets and MAP messages including information providing notification of the timing of information transmission and reception. The RS receives the MAP messages and burst packets. The RS stores, in the Preamble Present bits in MAP messages, information providing notification of the preamble transmission timing to control synchronization of reception by the SSs, and transmits the MAP messages to the SSs. The RS transmits burst packets to which preambles are appended to the SSs.
US07877052B2
In the image forming apparatus, an image forming section forms an image onto medium by using developer; and a fixing section has a fixing member which fixes the image onto medium at a predetermined temperature and has a pressing member which is in contact with and presses the fixing member by a predetermined pressure amount, and fixes the image formed by the image forming section onto the medium while conveying the medium at a predetermined speed, wherein the developer contains binder including crystalline resin and amorphous resin, and the endothermic peak temperature difference between crystalline resin and amorphous resin is from 3° C. to 9° C.
US07877018B2
Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for correcting a color imbalance of visible light in wavelength division parallel visible light communications. The method includes the steps of: inverting an original signal including information by a visible light communication transmitter; transmitting the original signal including the information and an inverted signal from the visible light communication transmitter to a visible light communication receiver, receiving the original signal including the information and the inverted signal by the visible light communication receiver, reinverting the inverted signal among the received signals by the visible light communication receiver, restoring the inverted signal back to its state prior to the inversion by reinverting the inverted signal by the visible light communication receiver, and performing a diversity combination on the original signal and a restored signal.
US07877017B2
In an optical waveform measurement system, a phase comparator compares phases between an electric signal output from a PD and an electric signal output from a mixer, and outputs a signal having an amplitude proportional to the phase difference of the two electric signals to a VCO via an LPF, as an error signal. A BPF removes a jitter from the electric signal output from the VCO, and a sampling pulse light source outputs sampling light based on the electric signal with the jitter removed. An optical sampling gate samples signal light to be measured with sampling light output from a sampling pulse light source, and the sampled signal light to be measured is measured by an oscilloscope.
US07877015B2
An optical to radio frequency detector comprises an optical guide for receiving two optical signal components having frequencies that differ by an amount corresponding to a radio frequency, and a radio signal guide coupled with an interaction zone of the optical guide for propagating a radio signal from the interaction zone at the radio frequency. The material of the interaction zone presents a second-order non-linear optical polarization characteristic to the propagation of the optical signal components, and the radio signal guide is in travelling-wave coupling with the interaction zone. A radio signal output is coupled with the radio signal guide.
US07877010B2
An optical signal quality monitor device includes a local oscillator that generates a local oscillation signal, with which a mixer mixes an input optical signal to output a mixed signal, of which at least one beat component a filter that extracts. An intensity detector detects intensity of the extracted beat component. The monitor device may thus accurately and rapidly monitor the quality of an input optical signal transmitted even at a higher bit rate.
US07877007B2
An omni-directional stereo camera and a control method thereof. The omni-directional stereo camera includes two or more omni-directional cameras, and a supporting member installed within a shooting range between the omni-directional cameras to interconnect the omni-directional cameras and including compensation patterns formed at the surfaces.
US07877006B2
A focus information display system is provided in which focus state detection that is performed during automatic focusing (AF) and the like is also performed during manual focusing (MF) and the like to display focus information indicating a focus state. By arranging a focus position range at which a correct focus state is determined when a correct focus display is being performed to be wider than a focus position range at which a correct focus state is determined when an out-of-focus display is being performed, stabilization of a state of correct focus display is achieved without jeopardizing correct focusing accuracy when performing focusing according to a focus information display.
US07877005B2
A commander flash apparatus for use in a wireless flash system which continuously emits light from the commander flash apparatus, transmits from the commander flash apparatus to a slave flash apparatus the data corresponding to the emission time interval of the commander flash apparatus, and controls the flash emission of a slave flash apparatus includes: a data setting unit for setting emission control data for control of the emission of the slave flash apparatus and emission amount determination data for determination of an amount of emission of the slave flash apparatus as the transmission data; and a data transmission control unit for controlling the emission of the commander flash apparatus so that the emission time interval per bit of the digital data configuring the emission control data can be longer than the emission time interval per bit of the digital data configuring the emission amount determination data.
US07877002B2
A BD-ROM playback apparatus for selecting and playing back one among text subtitle streams together with a moving picture. PSR 48-61 store Decode Capability flags whose set values indicate, for each language, whether or not a decode capability is present. Procedure executing unit 20 judges whether each text subtitle stream can be displayed, by referring to the set values of the flags. Stream selection unit 17 selects a text subtitle stream judged as being able to be decoded.
US07876995B2
A telecommunications patching system includes: a carrier having a generally vertically disposed carrier panel, the carrier panel including a cutout area; and a plurality of patching modules. Each of the patching modules has a main panel and a plurality of telecommunications connectors mounted thereon. The patching modules are inserted into the cutout area so that the main panels thereof are substantially parallel to each other, and so that the main panels define an oblique angle relative to vertical. In such a configuration port density can be increased over typical systems.
US07876989B2
An active cable that is configured to communicate over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, and that includes an integrated electrical connector at at least one end. The active cable includes a power transmission spanning the length of the optical fiber(s). Thus, electrical power from one end of the optical cable may be provided to an opposite side of the optical cable. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations.
US07876987B2
The present invention provides an optical device and an exposure apparatus capable of suppressing a reduction in light output. The optical device of the present invention includes a laser light source which emits laser light having a short wavelength (e.g., 160 to 500 nm), a lens, a transparent member and an optical fiber provided with a junction-inhibiting film. The optical device is configured such that light density of abutment faces between the transparent member and the optical fiber formed with the junction-inhibiting film is 4464 W/mm2 or less, thereby suppressing a reduction in light output which may be caused by fusion.
US07876973B2
In some embodiments, the present invention relates to methods or suppressing edge ringing in images. For example, in some embodiments a method of processing an image to suppress ringing and broadened edges induced by image correction processing, includes high-pass filtering a first image to obtain a second image, processing said second image including applying non-linear apodization to said second image to obtain a third image, low-pass filtering said first image to obtain a fourth image, and combining the third image and the fourth image to obtain an output image, wherein the output image is characterized by having reduced edge-response sidelobes as compared to the first images. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to devices comprising means and/or modules to suppress edge ringing in images.
US07876966B2
Methods and units are shown for supporting a switching from a first coding scheme to a Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT) based coding scheme calculating a forward or inverse MDCT with a window (h(n)) of a first type for a respective coding frame, which satisfies constraints of perfect reconstruction. To avoid discontinuities during the switching, it is proposed that for a transient frame immediately after a switching, a sequence of windows (h0(n),h1(n),h2(n)) is provided for the forward and the inverse MDCTs. The windows of the window sequence are shorter than windows of the first type. The window sequence splits the spectrum of a respective first coding frame into nearly uncorrelated spectral components when used as basis for forward MDCTs, and the second half of the last window (h2(n)) of the sequence of windows is identical to the second half of a window of the first type.
US07876949B1
Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.
US07876948B2
An imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus may find an area in which a specimen is present, then focus on the specimen and capture images of the specimen during continuous stage motion.
US07876942B2
A system for measuring the position of a hand-held tool relative to a body in six degrees of freedom employs a camera attached via a mechanical linkage to the tool so that the camera moves together with the proximal portion of the tool and has a field of view including the distal end of the tool. A processing system processes images from the camera to determine a position of at least part of the tool. By employing optically identifiable fiducial reference points defined on the external surface of the body, a projection of the tool tip position onto a plane containing the target can be derived and displayed together with the target position, thereby facilitating guiding the tool to the target.
US07876938B2
A method for segmenting digitized images includes providing a training set comprising a plurality of digitized whole-body images, providing labels on anatomical landmarks in each image of said training set, aligning each said training set image, generating positive and negative training examples for each landmark by cropping the aligned training volumes into one or more cropping windows of different spatial scales, and using said positive and negative examples to train a detector for each landmark at one or more spatial scales ranging from a coarse resolution to a fine resolution, wherein the spatial relationship between a cropping windows of a coarse resolution detector and a fine resolution detector is recorded.
US07876936B2
In a preferred embodiment a radiologist traces the pulmonary artery and pulmonary veins visible in a set of CT images and identifies the arteries and veins. The radiologist's identification of the pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins is then received by an image analyzer and combined with the analyzer's identification of the pulmonary arteries to form a combined identification; and the analyzer then reviews this combined identification of the pulmonary arteries to detect any pulmonary embolisms. The radiologist's identification of any pulmonary embolisms is compared with the analyzer's identification of any pulmonary embolisms to determine if there are any embolisms identified by the analyzer that were not identified by the radiologist.
US07876935B2
A sample processing apparatus has an associated machine vision system. The vision system may acquire an image of at least one fluidic chamber, which can be analyzed by the machine vision system and/or stored. The image and/or analysis of the image may provide a record of the actions of the sample processing apparatus, which permits a user to verify proper operation of the sample processing apparatus.
US07876933B2
Methods and apparatus for estimating an orientation are disclosed. Methods of estimating an orientation include: dividing a fingerprint image into first partial regions, measuring the gradient of each pixel of the fingerprint image, and estimating a representative orientation of each of the first partial regions; obtaining an improved fingerprint image by filtering the fingerprint image using a double orientation filter, and remeasuring the representative orientation of each of the first partial regions by remeasuring the gradient of each pixel of the improved fingerprint image; and dividing the first partial regions into second partial regions, and estimating the representative orientation of the second partial regions with respect to the curvatures of the first partial regions in response to the remeasured representative orientation of each of the first partial regions and the remeasured gradients of the pixels.
US07876930B2
The combination of an electronic fingerprint reader and a second electronic transmission device includes a first portion with a top surface and an electronic transmission device disposed therein and a second portion having a top surface with a width between about 2 inches and about 12 inches and a depth between about 1 inch and about 12 inches. A fingerprint reader is disposed in the top surface of the second portion. The top surface of the second portion is disposed at an angle of between about 0° and about 30° with respect to the horizontal such that the top surface of the second portion slants forwardly from the trailing edge of the second portion towards the leading edge of the second portion. The leading edge of the second portion is disposed at an elevation between about 0 inches and about 4 inches above the trailing edge of the first portion. The second electronic transmission device can be an electronic signature pad, a display screen, a keypad, a card reader, a mag-stripe reader or other electronic transmission devices.
US07876916B2
A card-type sound apparatus has, on a card-shaped substrate, a combination of a sound signal input portion to which a sound signal is input from outside and a sound generation portion that generates sound according to the sound signal input to the sound signal input portion, or a combination of a sound collection portion that collects sound from outside and converts the sound into an electric signal and a sound signal output portion that outputs to outside the electric signal obtained from the sound collection portion, or both of these combinations. The sound generation portion generates sound by making the card-shaped substrate itself vibrate according to the sound signal input to the sound signal input portion. The sound collection portion collects sound by converting the vibration of the card-shaped substrate itself into an electric signal.
US07876904B2
Inputting of a parametrically encoded audio signal comprising at least one combined signal of a plurality of audio channels and one or more corresponding sets of side information describing a multi-channel sound image and including channel configuration information is shown along with deriving, from the channel configuration information, audio source location data describing at least one of horizontal and vertical positions of audio sources in the binaural audio signal; selecting, from a predetermined set of head-related transfer function filters, a left-right pair of head-related transfer function filters matching closest to the audio source location data, wherein the left-right pair of head-related transfer function filters is searched in a stepwise motion in a horizontal plane; and synthesizing a binaural audio signal from the at least one processed signal according to side information and the channel configuration information.
US07876891B2
A computer system and associated method to distribute an electronic communication object. The electronic communication object comprises a main communication and a first sub-communication object. The first sub-communication object is embedded within a main communication object. The main communication object comprises a first set of attributes and a first addressee. The first sub-communication object comprises a second set of attributes and a second addressee. A hierarchal relationship exists between the main communication object and the first sub-communication object such that the first sub-communication object inherits one or more of the first set of attributes from the main communication object if said one or more of the second set of attributes is not specified in the first sub-communication object. The main communication object and a first outline of the first sub-communication object is sent to the first addressee. The first sub-communication object is sent to the second addressee.
US07876890B2
A method of controlling teleconference signals includes receiving, at a teleconference bridge, endpoint-generated audio signals from each of a plurality of participating endpoints arranged at a plurality of locations. At least two of the participating endpoints are acoustically collocated at one of the locations. A bridge-generated audio signal is generated for each of the participating endpoints based on a set of signals. The set of signals includes all of the endpoint-generated signals received at the teleconference bridge, exclusive of the endpoint-generated signals transmitted to the bridge from each of the acoustically collocated endpoints.
US07876889B2
A method and system are provided in which teleconference calls are scheduled in advance and, at an appropriate predetermined time, calls are automatically made to the designated participants of the conference calls thereby avoiding the need for the participants to call into a teleconference center. In a preferred embodiment, when teconferences are scheduled, the telecon participants are designated and their phone numbers are input or otherwise determined, for example, through access to a centralized database. A calendar is monitored and at a predetermined time relative to the scheduled start of the telecon, a server system application initiates the calling of the participants for connection to the telecon. The system may be configured to require participants to enter a password before the connection is completed. The status of the called participants is determined and displayed on individual display devices of the other participants in the telecon. In one example, designated participants are called back at selected intervals if the initial automated call is unanswered.
US07876884B2
An improved way of using radiographic imagery to capture internal characteristics of a concrete structure, wherein radiographic film is placed on one side of the concrete structure and X-rays are transmitted towards the film from the other side. A target which is selectively radiographically impervious may be interposed to generate location or guidance indicia on the film. The target may itself be non-symmetric, such as being L-shaped, or alternatively or in addition, the location indicia may be non-symmetrically located on the target or alternatively, may be arrayed about the circumference of the target similar to numerals of a clock face. Imagery resulting from radiographic imagery may or may not display inclusions and other anomalies of the concrete structure.
US07876870B2
High-speed data streams are exchanged between two digital computing devices one or both of which lacks DMA. Data transfers are performed by the devices using High-Level Datalink Control (HDLC) frames. An initiating device indicates that it wishes to exchange data with the other device by sending an HDLC frame with data stream indentification and other information. The initial HDLC frame is sufficiently short that at least an essential portion of the frame can be stored in a receive buffer of the interface circuitry. Although the receiving device may not receive the entire HDLC frame correctly because of the possibility of an overrun condition, enough information is preserved in the interface circuitry to complete the transaction. The responding device then proceeds to read or write data at high speed using a series of exchanges with the initiating device.
US07876869B1
A method for reducing interference, comprising receiving a wideband signal, having at least one large amplitude component; adaptively modifying the wideband signal with respect to at least one high intensity component without substantial introduction of non-linear distortion, while reducing a residual dynamic range thereof; digitizing the modified wideband signal to capture information describing at least the high intensity signal at a sampling rate sufficient to extract modulated information present within the wideband signal at an upper limit of the band. The system analyzes a spectral characteristic of the wideband signal; and extracts adaptation parameters for the adaptive filtering. The system therefore provides both large net dynamic range and wideband operation. Preferably, the digitizer and filter, and part of the spectral characteristic analyzer is implemented in using superconducting circuit technology, with, for example low temperature superconducting digital signal processing components, and high temperature superconducting analog filtering components.
US07876846B2
A method of demapping in a receiver including deriving M intermediate soft bit values yj for the I and Q data of the input signal as a function of the spacing in the constellation; and limiting the range of the M values yj. A look-up table index is derived for each of the limited M values yj. A look-up table, having 2N+1 entries for supporting up to N soft bit outputs, is indexed using the derived indices; and K soft bits for each of the M values yj of the I and Q data are outputted.
US07876839B2
Embodiments of system and method for generating channel estimates in a wireless network are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a linear interpolator uses refined cross-correlation and autocorrelation estimates and pilot subcarrier estimates to generate channel estimates for the current OFDM data symbol.
US07876835B2
A channel equalizer includes a first transformer, an estimator, an average calculator, a second transformer, a coefficient calculator, a compensator, and a third transformer. The first transformer converts normal data into frequency domain data, where a known data sequence is periodically repeated in the normal data. The estimator estimates channel impulse responses (CIR) during known data intervals adjacent to each normal data block. The average calculator calculates an average value of the CIRs. The second transformer converts the average value into frequency domain data. The coefficient calculator calculates equalization coefficients using the average value, and the compensator compensates channel distortion of each normal data block using the coefficients. The third transformer converts the compensated data block into time domain data.
US07876832B2
A method of characterizing a digital image, in which a point of interest (PI) in the detected in the image. For each θ of a plurality I of different prescribed orientations in the digital image a family {fθ(k)(n)}1≦K≦K of K one-dimensional lines fθ(k)(n) of points is extracted from a region (RPI) of the image along K straight lines of orientation (θ), and for each line fθ(k)(n) and for each sub-sampling level s, a foveal energy signal Eθ,s(k)(n) is calculated using foveal wavelets. The signals Eθ,s(k)(n)) on the K lines and their arguments n are used to calculate a foveal signature SI characterizing the working region.
US07876830B2
A video encoder is composed of a DC/AC prediction unit performing DC/AC prediction, a motion vector prediction unit performing motion vector prediction, and a memory. The memory is accessible from both of the DC/AC prediction unit and the motion vector prediction unit.
US07876829B2
The present invention provides a technology that is implemented in a motion compensation image coding device or a coding method and intended to code motion picture data in real time by performing a decreased number of arithmetic operations so as to determine a motion vector. In motion compensation image coding, macroblocks and sub-blocks into which each of the macroblocks is divided are searched for a motion vector with integer pixel precision. Based on the results of the search, a shape of a block that should be searched for a motion vector with decimal pixel precision is determined as a shape mode. The block of the shape mode is searched for a motion vector with decimal pixel precision, whereby a motion vector needed to produce predictive image data is determined.
US07876828B2
A method, medium, and apparatus predicting direct mode motion of a multi-angle moving picture on a temporal and spatial basis. The method may include locating a block to which a co-located block of a block for which coding is sought makes reference with a motion vector, calculating a forward motion vector and a backward motion vector by making reference to pictures of an adjacent camera that exists in a direction parallel to a direction corresponding to the motion vector when a reference picture is not taken by the same camera as the picture to which the block for which coding is sought belongs, and calculating forward and backward reference blocks of the block for which coding is sought by applying weights to the calculated motion vectors. Therefore, the moving picture can be coded/decoded by locating motion vectors of previous and subsequent pictures without predicting motion, reducing calculation and performance time.
US07876827B2
A video encoding apparatus 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.
US07876826B2
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.
US07876806B2
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-code division multiple access (CDMA) system is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter and a receiver. At the transmitter, a spreading and subcarrier mapping unit spreads an input data symbol with a complex quadratic sequence code to generate a plurality of chips and maps each chip to one of a plurality of subcarriers. An inverse discrete Fourier transform is performed on the chips mapped to the subcarriers and a cyclic prefix (CP) is inserted to an OFDM frame. A parallel-to-serial converter converts the time-domain data into a serial data stream for transmission. At the receiver, a serial-to-parallel converter converts received data into multiple received data streams and the CP is removed from the received data. A discrete Fourier transform is performed on the received data streams and equalization is performed. A despreader despreads an output of the equalizer to recover the transmitted data.
US07876801B2
A surface-emitting type semiconductor laser includes: a lower mirror; an active layer formed above the lower mirror; an upper mirror formed above the active layer; and a lens section formed above the upper mirror, wherein n1>n, where λ is a design wavelength, n1 is a refractive index of a topmost layer of the upper mirror with respect to light of the design wavelength, and n is a refractive index of the lens section with respect to light of the design wavelength, the lens section has a thickness of λ/2n at an anti-node of the zeroth order resonance mode component among light resonating in the active layer, and the lens section has a thickness of λ/4n at at least a portion of an anti-node of the first order resonance mode component among the light resonating in the active layer.
US07876795B2
A semiconductor light source comprises a substrate, lower and upper claddings, a waveguide region with imbedded active area, and electrical contacts to provide voltage necessary for the wavelength tuning. The active region includes single or several heterojunction periods sandwiched between charge accumulation layers. Each of the active region periods comprises higher and lower affinity semiconductor layers with type-II band alignment. The charge carrier accumulation in the charge accumulation layers results in electric field build-up and leads to the formation of generally triangular electron and hole potential wells in the higher and lower affinity layers. Nonequillibrium carriers can be created in the active region by means of electrical injection or optical pumping. The ground state energy in the triangular wells and the radiation wavelength can be tuned by changing the voltage drop across the active region.
US07876789B2
For some mobile communication services, a media stream such as video, will be combined with another media stream such as voice. For example, a user of a first terminal (101) is involved in a voice call over e.g. a circuit switched network (103) with a friend. During the voice call, the user of the first terminal decides to start transmitting another media stream, such as live streamed video, which may be transmitted over a packet switched network (104), to the friend's terminal (102). In such a case there is problem in that the two media streams voice and video may have quite different end-to-end time delays, i.e. the time from a part of the media stream is transmitted from the first user's terminal (101) until that part of the media stream is presented at the friend's terminal (102). Since comments from the first user will be presented to the user's friend earlier than the commented part of the video this will be quite annoying to the friend. To avoid this problem this invention presents the video to the user of the first terminal (101) delayed with a time dependent on the time difference between the end-to-end time delay of video and the end-to-end time delay of voice. Thereby, comments from the user of the first terminal (101) regarding the video will be received at the friend's terminal (102) approximately synchronized with the video.
US07876784B1
Methods and apparatus provide low-complexity receivers for use in superposition coded multi-user systems. In a downlink scenario, a superposition coded signal that includes data unique to first and second users is compared with every permutation of the bit positions of the transmitted signal. The values of the received signal that are nearest to the transmitted signal are located to extract the data unique to the first user. In an uplink scenario, a superposition coded signal that includes data unique to the first and second users is compared with every permutation of the bit positions of transmitted signals corresponding to the first and the second users. The values of the received signal that are nearest to the transmitted signal corresponding to the first user are located to extract the data unique to the first user simultaneously with the extraction of the data unique to the second user.
US07876779B2
A device that schedules the transmission of information between system components, paired with different data adapters, allows for a system that can transmit data between unlike devices. The system focuses on allowing electronic devices to be used in more facets than the intended application. A user is able to hook up multiple source devices including computers, cable boxes, heating systems, et. al. and interact with them on different output devices. Based on the output device television, speakers, monitors, et. al. and the control device, i.e. a remote, keyboard, Wii Mote™, et. al. the interaction with the source device will be tailored to provide the most natural interaction. This will also allow unlike devices to be used together in order to create a synergistic effect.
US07876775B2
In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of making a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection to a remote network. The method includes detecting the presence of a powered-on network capable device that is connected to a DSL modem; establishing a network connection over a DSL line to the remote network after detecting the presence of the powered on network capable device; terminating the network connection over the DSL line after detecting an absence of network capable devices connected to the DSL modem; and releasing network resources supported by the remote network after the network connection is terminated.
US07876774B2
A plurality of user terminals shares an uplink channel having a plurality of subcarriers according to a contention based random access protocol. Each user terminal is assigned one or more primary subcarriers, which are reserved for specific user terminals. In addition, a pool of supplemental subcarriers is available for use by any user terminal. When a user terminal sends a data packet, the user terminal transmits at least a first portion of the data packet on its assigned primary subcarriers. If additional subcarriers are needed, the user terminal autonomously selects one or more supplemental subcarriers from the pool to transmit a second portion of the data packet. The access point knows a priori which ones of the user terminals are assigned to each of the primary subcarriers. When a user terminal selects one or more supplemental subcarriers, the user terminals send to subcarrier selection information to the access point.
US07876771B2
The present invention relates to multicast communication systems and in particular to the implementation of a random access uplink channel, which can be used, e.g., for transmission of acknowledgement messages for received data. In order to prevent frequent collisions on said channel, the transmission of acknowledgement messages is spread at least over time or, additionally, with regard to another distinguishing channel property, e.g. a RACH sub-channel or RACH-signature.
US07876770B1
Techniques for and apparatus capable of implementing packet detection and signal recognition in wireless communications systems are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed techniques and apparatus incorporate at least one of relative energy detection operable on assessment of a relative energy threshold for an inbound signal borne across an RF channel, carrier sense operable upon on assessment of at least one of a peak-to-sidelobe ratio and peak-to-peak distance defined by the inbound signal, and comparison operable upon demodulated data corresponding to the inbound signal as compared to predetermined preamble data. Clear channel assessment is performed based on determinations undertaken by one or more of the aforementioned relative energy detection, carrier sense and comparison operations.
US07876767B2
A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires.
US07876763B2
Disclosed is a hierarchy of individual schedulers with multiple scheduling lanes for scheduling items, such as, but not limited to packets or indications thereof, such that different classes of priority items can be propagated through the hierarchy of schedulers accordingly. A pipeline scheduler typically includes a root scheduler and one or more layers of schedulers with each of these layers including at least one scheduler. Each scheduler is configured to maintain items of different scheduling categories received from each of the particular scheduler's immediate children schedulers within the pipeline scheduler if any and from each immediate external source coupled to the particular scheduler if any, and to schedule the sending of the items of the different scheduling categories currently maintained to its parent schedule or external scheduler client. The items may correspond to packets, indications of packets, or any other entity.
US07876762B2
An Ethernet service configuration device, method, and system in a passive optical network (PON) are provided. The device includes a PON protocol processing module, an Ethernet module, and at least one service module based on Ethernet which are sequentially connected. The Ethernet module includes a media access control (MAC) bridge port configuration data management entity (ME) and an Ethernet service termination point ME connected with each other. The service module based on Ethernet includes at least one non-Ethernet service functional termination point ME correlated with the Ethernet service termination point ME. According to the device, method, and system, the coupling between Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet is reduced, which is propitious to the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration.
US07876761B2
Systems and methods that provide fault tolerant transmission control protocol (TCP) offloading are provided. In one example, a method that provides fault tolerant TCP offloading is provided. The method may include one or more of the following steps: receiving TCP segment via a TCP offload engine (TOE); calculating a TCP sequence number; writing a receive sequence record based upon at least the calculated TCP sequence number to a TCP sequence update queue in a host; and updating a first host variable with a value from the written receive sequence record.
US07876749B1
A metro area network is provided that includes edge and core multiplexors each having a plurality of line ports and one or more uplink ports, a transport network carrying multiplexed traffic between the edge and core multiplexors. In a hard cross connect implementation utilizing source port tagging, a cross-connect device coupled to the core multiplexors provisions or maps communications path between the core multiplexors thereby providing preselected connectivity/mapping of two or more line ports of any of the edge multiplexors. In a soft cross connect implementation utilizing destination port tagging, a cross-connect device includes additional cross-connect multiplexors and functionality to control the destination port tagging performed in the edge, core and cross connect multiplexors thereby provisioning or mapping the desired communications path(s) between various endpoints.
US07876748B1
Mapping a source identifier in a source identifier space to a target identifier in a target identifier space using a hash-based computation that is stable over time with respect to a change in the number of target identifiers. A data item identifiable by a source identifier is associated with some type of computational resource that is represented by a target object identifiable by one or more target identifiers. The set of target objects is dynamically variable. After hashing the source identifier to produce an index position of an entry in a table, a target identifier is retrieved from the table entry. Each entry in the table is related to a single target identifier based on a nearness computation that depends upon the table index position of the table entry and a target identifier for the related target.
US07876744B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a collect call method and system thereof, more particularly, in order to charge the called party with a uniform toll for collect call, which is determined by only the type and location of called party terminal. In one embodiment, the collect call method, system and a counsel service providing method use a free VoIP network for part of the voice call link and a charge PSTN network for the rest of the voice call link. In one embodiment, if the first link corresponding to the collect call request is established, the collect call switch calls the called party terminal to establish the second link, and billing on the second link is initiated.
US07876742B2
A mobility signaling method and apparatus are disclosed. Mobility signaling is performed by, first, generating a mobility signaling message (300, 302) at a mobile node (100) to be sent to a correspondent node (112). Next, either direct signaling or indirect signaling is selected as a signaling mechanism for the mobility signaling message (300, 302) based on a cell residence heuristic. The mobility signaling message (300, 302) is then sent to the correspondent node using the selected signaling mechanism for the mobility signaling message (300, 302).
US07876741B2
Disclosed herein is a method of acquiring Uplink (UL) synchronization for a mobile WiMax system analyzer. When a DL sub-frame is received, the method is performed on a Portable Subscriber Station (PSS) having a test mode function of creating a UL sub-frame through the mobile WiMax system analyzer having signal generating means configured to store the CID information in advance and signal analyzing means configured to receive and analyze the DL sub-frame. The method includes step (a) of the signal generating means continuously D/A converting, RF-modulating and outputting the DL sub-frame, step (b) of the signal analyzing means receiving the UL sub-frame, step (c) of the signal analyzing means continuously demodulating, A/D-converting and capturing the modulated UL sub-frame, and step (d) of the signal analyzing means acquiring UL synchronization by comparing the UL sub-frame with the data captured at step (c) using a time correlation technique.
US07876735B2
A wireless access point may be configured to advertise, to mobile user devices, multiple wireless networks available through the wireless access point. For example, service set identifiers (SSIDs) may be specified within an information element (IE) of a communication such as, for example, an 802.11 beacon, broadcasted to mobile user devices. Such an IE may utilize the capability provided by IEEE 802.11 itself to use additional and flexible numbers of information elements within a beacon. Accordingly, networks that would otherwise remain hidden due to limitations of known wireless access points are made visible to mobile user devices. Configuring a wireless access point to advertise multiple available wireless networks, for example, by firmware upgrades, may serve as a viable and cost-effective interim solution and/or alternative to replacing a wireless access point with a wireless access point configured to implement virtual wireless access points.
US07876734B2
A system and method for transmitting/receiving a signal in a communication system are provided, in which a transmitter determines to change a transmission time of a superframe header, when a structure of a superframe is changed, determines the transmission time of the superframe header according to a result of the determination to change the transmission time of the superframe header, transmits information about the determined transmission time to a receiver, and transmits the superframe header at the determined transmission time.
US07876726B2
System and method for adaptively allocating channels to subchannels and maintain balance on the subchannels. A preferred embodiment comprises an assignment unit (for example, assignment algorithm unit 717) that receives call/connection requests from a call/connection processing unit (for example, call/connection processing unit 712). The assignment unit may use a lookup table or channel metrics to determine an allocation for the call/connection to maintain a balance across the subchannels. The assignment unit may allocate only the call/connection in the request or it may allocate the call/connection in the request plus the calls/connections that are already allocated to achieve balance.
US07876716B2
A base station (10) performs bi-directional radio communications with terminal station apparatuses using communication frames each having time slots and being composed of a first region with a predetermined open-loop period and a second region with an open-loop period shorter than the open-loop period of the first region. A level detecting section (21) detects a received level of an uplink slot configured in the second region. A transmission diversity section (14) performs diversity transmission on a downlink transmission signal assigned to a downlink slot corresponding to the uplink slot, corresponding to a result of detection of the received level. It is thereby possible to enhance the effect of improving the received quality due to transmission diversity without degrading the transmission efficiency.
US07876700B2
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include detecting connectivity of a core network element to an internal network. In addition, the system and method may halt advertisement of a default route from the core network element to a network element external to the internal network in response to not detecting connectivity of the core network element to the internal network. The system and method may also allow advertisement of the default route from the core network element to the network element external to the internal network in response to detecting connectivity of the core network element to the internal network.
US07876696B2
One embodiment of the present invention includes a method for adaptively estimating available upstream bandwidth in a network. The method comprises monitoring data indicative of a number of lost packets at a near-end communication device. The data indicative of a number of lost packets can be periodically transmitted from a far-end communication device. The method also comprises increasing an amount of upstream bandwidth transmission until the monitored data exceeds a threshold. The method also comprises calculating an estimated available upstream bandwidth based on a portion of a maximum amount of the upstream bandwidth transmission.
US07876686B1
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with message processing are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an interaction logic to interact with a message associated with an isochronous stream. The message is associated with a class of information provided on the isochronous stream. The apparatus includes a history logic to monitor messages associated with the class of information. The history logic determines a class history for the class of information. The apparatus includes a process logic to selectively process the message based on the class history.
US07876685B2
Devices and techniques for overcoming lost packets and avoiding congestion when conducting media conferences over packet switched networks are described herein. To avoid the problem of lost packets, redundant information is inserted into the media stream that permits the receiver to reconstruct any lost packets from the redundant information. Congestion avoidance techniques include adjusting the bitrate of the media stream to find the highest bitrate that can be supported without packet loss due to congestion. When increasing the bitrate to a higher rate, the additional bits can come from the redundant information used for lost packet recovery so that any lost packets caused by network congestion will not adversely affect the bitstream.
US07876683B2
Methods are provided for managing hierarchically organized subscriber profiles. According to one embodiment, subscriber services are modified without requiring a change to the subscriber's first-level profile identifier and without requiring the subscriber to reestablish a connection with the service provider. A database of hierarchically organized profile identifiers, including multiple lower-level profile identifiers, explicitly defining subscriber services, and multiple first-level profile identifiers, defining service contexts representing combinations of services available to subscribers by (i) explicitly defining the subscriber services or (ii) referring to one or more of the lower-level profile identifiers, are maintained within a virtual router operable within a telecommunications system of the service provider. Updated service profile information, representing a change to the subscriber's service context, is received. Responsive the updated service profile information, lower-level profile identifiers currently associated with the subscriber's first-level profile identifier are replaced with lower-level profile identifiers corresponding to the updated service profile information.
US07876675B2
Disclosed is a multicast network system including a multicast network which provides a plurality of relay nodes, and a monitoring server and a plurality of acknowledgment agents connected to the multicast network. The monitoring server includes an acknowledgment request message generating and sending unit that generates and sends an acknowledgment request message storing an acknowledgment probability to the plurality of acknowledgment agents; a collecting unit that collects acknowledgment messages from acknowledgment agents; and a collection number comparing unit that compares the number of acknowledgment messages collected by the acknowledgment message collecting unit with the expected number of acknowledgment messages obtained from the acknowledgment probability and the total number of acknowledgment agents. The acknowledgment agent has an acknowledgment message sending unit that determines whether an acknowledgment is needed for the acknowledgment request message based on the acknowledgment probability stored in the acknowledgment request message to send an acknowledgment message.
US07876671B2
An electronics apparatus comprises an electronic device having at least first and second ports in communication with respective first and second communication paths by each of which communications can be made with the electronic device. The electronics apparatus comprises a management device arranged to collect information concerning the performance of the first and second ports and to apply a decision threshold to said information to decide whether or not each port has failed. If said decision is that the first port has failed, the management device is arranged to disable communication over the first communication path and to adjust the decision threshold for the second port.
US07876668B2
An optical recording medium has a user data area and a lead-out area, wherein the user data area and the lead-out area each has grooves and lands formed thereon. Wobbles are formed on at least one lateral surface of grooves of the user data area and the lead-out area, and configured such that wobble characteristics are made different between the user data area and the lead-out area. Different types of wobbles are formed on the grooves of either the user data area or the lead-out area, thereby preventing an optical pickup that performs recording/reproduction from deviating from the user data area. Also, in a multi-layer optical recording medium, a whole area of a recording layer is configured to have a same condition, thereby preventing deterioration in reproduction and/or recording due to a difference in light power transmittance of another recording layer.
US07876661B2
An apparatus that provides for non-destructive readback of a ferroelectric material. The apparatus can include a ferroelectric layer with a scannable surface wherein the ferroelectric layer has a compensation charge adjacent the scannable surface. The apparatus also can include an electrode adjacent the scannable surface to sense the compensation charge. A related method is also disclosed.
US07876659B2
An optical pickup including a two-wavelength multilaser for generating a tracking error signal and a focusing error signal with high accuracy without light quantity variations which otherwise might be caused by the interference. An optical beam of first wavelength is emitted from first laser light source, and an optical beam of second wavelength longer than the first wavelength is emitted from second laser light source. The optical beams of the first and second wavelength are each split into at least one main optical beam and two sub-optical beams by a grating having, in a single plane, a first grating pattern area for splitting the optical beam of the first wavelength and a second grating pattern area for splitting the optical beam of the second wavelength. The area of the first grating pattern area is larger than the area of the second grating pattern area.
US07876641B2
A clock signal generation circuit into which a first clock signal and a control signal based on an address are inputted, and a second clock signal based on said first clock signal is generated after a lapse of predetermined time from said input of the control signal.
US07876639B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a memory device. One such memory device includes a memory array including a sub-array that includes a first number of columns of memory cells, and one or more global input/output (I/O) lines shared by the first number of columns for data transmission. The memory device also includes one or more multiplexers/demultiplexers, wherein each of the multiplexers/demultiplexers is electrically coupled to one or more, but not all, of the global I/O lines. The memory device further includes a plurality of local I/O lines, each configured to provide a data path between one of the multiplexers/demultiplexers and one or more, but less than the first number, of the columns in the sub-array. This configuration allows local I/O line repairability with fewer redundant elements, and shorter physical local I/O lines, which translate to improved speed and die size reduction.
US07876634B2
A data processing system comprising a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and read circuitry for reading a logic value stored in one of the plurality of memory cells. The read circuitry is operable perform two substantially simultaneous reads of the stored logic value. A voltage controller is provided and is operable to selectively vary a level of a supply voltage to the memory array. Detection circuitry is provided for detecting, in dependence upon the two substantially simultaneous reads, when the supply voltage level causes the read result to be unreliable.
