US07914622B2
A smoking article includes a cylinder of smoking material having at least one hollow tube having a heat conductive wall within the cylinder of smoking material and a filter system attached to the cylinder of smoking material. The filter system includes an adsorbent material therein. The at least one hollow tube extends from within the cylinder of smoking material through the adsorbent material. At least one flavorant material is retained within the at least one hollow tube, and upon exposure to heat from the heat conductive wall of the hollow tube the flavorant material releases a flavorant.
US07914620B2
A device for supporting a heating crucible includes a supporting table having an upper surface in which a plurality of holes are formed, and a contamination prevention plate arranged at an entrance of each of the holes of the supporting table and having an opening portion corresponding to the hole and a shield portion extending along an inner wall of the hole.
US07914619B2
The invention provides a high temperature (about 1150° C. or greater) annealing process for converting thick polycrystalline Si layers on the order of 1 μm to 40 μm on a single crystal seed layer into thick single crystal Si layers having the orientation of the seed layer, thus allowing production of thick Si films having the quality of single crystal silicon at high rates and low cost of processing. Methods of integrating such high temperature processing into solar cell fabrication are described, with particular attention to process flows in which the seed layer is disposed on a porous silicon release layer. Another aspect pertains to the use of similar high temperature anneals for poly-Si grain growth and grain boundary passivation. A further aspect relates to structures in which these thick single crystal Si films and passivated poly-Si films are incorporated.
US07914618B1
Flowable materials and methods of manufacture and use are provided. The flowable fill materials include a cement-based fill material with a cement component and an aggregate component that are mixed with a chemical agent and the like in water. This provides the cement-based material in a flowable state that can be controllably set over time.
US07914616B2
A method for producing a liquid composition containing pigment particles is provided including (1) maintaining a mixture of a solvent and pigments of at least two types including a pigment A insoluble in the solvent at a normal temperature and a normal pressure, and a pigment B soluble in the solvent at the normal temperature and the normal pressure, at a temperature exceeding the normal temperature and a pressure exceeding the normal pressure, thereby obtaining a pigment solution in which the pigment A and the pigment B are dissolved; and (2) cooling the pigment solution to a temperature precipitating a deposition of the pigment A or lower, thereby precipitating pigment particles containing the pigment A and the pigment B.
US07914614B1
A herbal paint mixture comprising, in combination, a carrier paint having a first volume and an herbal mixture having a second volume. The first volume and the second volume being mixed together.
US07914604B2
An air conditioning system includes an air flow pathway extending through a housing from an inlet to an outlet. Air conditioning apparatus is disposed in the airflow pathway between the inlet and the outlet conditioning an air stream passing through the air flow pathway from the inlet to the outlet. A modular electrically stimulated air filter apparatus is carried by opposed, parallel frameworks mounted in series in the air flow pathway between the inlet and the air conditioning apparatus filtering entrapping contaminants in the air stream flowing through the housing from the inlet to the outlet. The opposed parallel frameworks are mounted to opposed supports affixed to the housing.
US07914603B2
A particle trap for a remote plasma source includes a body structure having an inlet for coupling to a chamber of a remote plasma source and an outlet for coupling to a process chamber inlet. The particle trap for a remote plasma source also includes a gas channel formed in the body structure and in fluid communication with the body structure inlet and the body structure outlet. The gas channel can define a path through the body structure that causes particles in a gas passing from a first portion of the channel to strike a wall that defines a second portion of the gas channel at an angle relative to a surface of the wall. A coolant member can be in thermal communication with the gas channel.
US07914602B1
A process for tapping a steel furnace with a reduced amount of entrained slag is disclosed. During tapping, particles of a slag foaming agent are added. The foaming agent may include calcium carbide and/or other chemicals. The agent foams the slag to decrease its density during tapping and/or to disrupt initial vortex formation at the tap.
US07914597B2
A dust collector includes turbofans with inducers fixed to the shafts of electric motors. The electric motors are fixed to the rectangular body with mounting legs. The dust collector further includes a single dust collecting filter under the turbofans. The turbofans have a diameter ranging from 40% to 50% of the length of the short side of the body.
US07914588B2
Fluorescent metal nanoclusters were prepared.
US07914584B2
A prosthesis includes a trunnion having a first end defining a uniform cross-section and a second end adapted to be fixed to a prosthesis stem. A ceramic head has a first bearing surface on which a second prosthesis fixed to a second bone can articulate. The ceramic head defines a recess. The first end of the trunnion is fixedly received within the recess. The second end of the trunnion is releasably connectable to the prosthesis stem by a taper connection.
US07914575B2
A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has at plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a first collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and a second expanded mode when it is implanted.
US07914567B2
A stent tissue graft prosthesis (20) for repairing, excluding and/or reinforcing a vessel, duct and the like in a patient. The prosthesis includes an inner expandable stent (21) of which a tissue graft (24) and preferably a multilayered tissue construct (33) is disposed thereon for application to the host tissue of a vessel, duct and the like. The tissue construct includes an extracellular matrix material (36) such as small intestine submucosa (37) for remodeling the host tissue into the prosthesis. The prosthesis further includes an outer tubular member (25) such as an outer expandable stent (44) for retaining the tissue graft on the inner stent. The ends of the inner and outer stents are coincident with or extend beyond the ends of the tissue graft to prevent eversion or fold back of the tissue graft during withdrawal of a delivery catheter in a placement procedure.
US07914564B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, methods and devices, including software, are provided for administering cooling or rewarming and controlling the same based on a projected control temperature measured by a temperature sensor within the catheter.
US07914557B2
In order to improve an orthopedic fixation device for connecting a first anchoring element (12) which has a connecting section (26) and can be anchored in or on a bone (18) to a connecting element (14) which can be connected to a second anchoring element which can be anchored in or on a bone, wherein the fixation device is movable relative to the connecting element and to the anchoring element in an adjusting position and can be secured on the connecting element and on the anchoring element in a fixing position, such that the connecting element can be secured on the anchoring element in a particularly simple manner it is suggested that a single tensioning member (50; 122; 166; 172) which is supported so as to be movable be provided for transferring the fixation device from the adjusting position into the fixing position and vice versa.
US07914546B2
Plastics material injected through an entry point of a mould at the location (8) is caused to deflect around a pin which creates the hole (14) in a guard (5), so as to increase the balance of flow of material to either side of the pin (9). In order to minimize the tendency for the plastics material to bend out of shape the tip of the needle embedded within an enlarged portion (13) the mould is formed such that the mould material is initially encouraged to divide and flow through outer thickened regions (10) surrounding a thinner portion. At point (12) the plastics material is therefore caused to slow down resulting in greater equalization of the flow speed of the plastics material to either side of the needle tip.
US07914545B2
A system and method may be used for accessing an articular surface and for preparing an implant site on the articular surface. The method may include locating a portion of the articular. An access passage may be drilled towards the articular surface though bone behind the articular surface. An implant site may be excised in the articular surface relative to an axis defined by the access passage.
US07914542B2
Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).
US07914541B2
Methods and apparatus of forming hydrogel systems in situ are provided using a delivery system configured to deliver two or more fluent prepolymer solutions without premature crosslinking. The delivery system comprises separate first and second lumens coupling first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, respectively, and may include a balloon, flexible distal region, mixing chamber or steerable distal end. Multi-component hydrogel systems suitable for use with the inventive methods and apparatus are also described.
US07914533B2
Apparatus for bone reinforcement, fixation and treatment of diseased or fractured bones including a supporting structure optionally coated with therapeutic agent is provided. The supporting structure or device may be collapsible upon deployment at the surgical site, and include fixation features such as anchors to securely position in place once deployed. Bone cement or other material may be provided to alternatively secure the positioned supporting structure for treatment. A lockable bone fixation device is described that comprises: a sleeve adapted to be positioned in a space formed in a bone; a guidewire adapted to guide movement of the sleeve; and an actuable lock adapted to secure the sleeve within the space of the bone from an end of the device.
US07914529B2
A cooling member for a cautery surgical instrument such as a surgical forceps including a pair of elongate arms joined at an end so as to provide for resilient compressible movement of the arms between a normally open position and a squeezed closed position. The cooling member provides for conduction of heat away from an electrode tip and includes a first portion having a first diameter, and a second portion spaced away from the first portion that transitions from the first diameter to at least one smaller diameter section. A socket is disposed within each arm of the forceps. The socket includes a longitudinal blind hole that is sized so as to releasably receive the smaller diameter section of the second portion, and a catch for engaging a portion of the arm.
US07914522B2
A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft having a working end and a shaft axis, and a pair of linking arms each having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is pivotally mounted on the working end of the shaft to rotate around a first pitch axis to produce rotation in first pitch. A wrist member has a proximal portion pivotally connected to the distal end of the linking arm to rotate around a second pitch axis to produce rotation in second pitch. An end effector is pivotally mounted on a distal portion of the wrist member to rotate around a wrist axis of the wrist member to produce rotation in distal roll. The wrist axis extends between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the wrist member. The elongate shaft is rotatable around the shaft axis to produce rotation in proximal roll. At about 90° pitch, the wrist axis is generally perpendicular to the shaft axis. The proximal roll around the shaft axis and the distal roll around the wrist axis do not overlap. The use of the linking arms allows the end effector to be bent back beyond 90° pitch. The ability to operate the end effector at about 90° pitch and to bend back the end effector renders the wrist mechanism more versatile and adaptable to accessing hard to reach locations, particularly with small entry points such as those involving spinal, neural, or rectal surgical sites.
US07914516B2
A medical device includes an elongated member and a reinforced retention structure. The device can be used for draining substances from organs or abscessed areas within a body of a patient. The elongated member is made of a flexible material. The reinforced retention structure extends from or is formed integrally with the elongated member and comprises an elastic member and the flexible material. The reinforced retention structure provides retention strength while providing flexibility and patient comfort. The use of the reinforced retention structure also provides increased stability to the device within the patient's body and combats migration and/or expulsion of the device. The nature of the reinforcement in the retention structure may extend into the elongated member, which allows for larger drainage openings in the device and increases the radiopacity of the device.
US07914515B2
The instant invention relates generally to catheters and to introducer catheters used to help deliver catheters or other medical devices to locations within the human body. In particular, the instant invention relates to large diameter catheters and introducer catheters having a torque transfer layer that includes at least two flat wires braided into a wire mesh. The flat wires have a width of at least about 0.007 inches and a depth of at least about 0.003 inches. The lumen diameter of the catheter is at least about 6 French. The torque transfer layer provides increased strength, flexibility, and kink resistance.
US07914501B2
Indwelling needle includes a cylindrical body, a needle having a sharp edge at a tip thereof, a cylindrical hub retaining proximal end of needle and moveable along main body, a protective cover moveable along main body and projecting from main body, and a spring elastically installed between hub and protective cover. First engaging portion of actuating lever is provided on body engaged with first projection of protective cover and second through-hole in hub to allow first retention mechanism to retain indwelling needle in a use state. First engaging portion is moved upward to release first retention mechanism. This separates protective cover and hub from each other under elastic force of spring. Protective cover and hub are thus retained in a housed state by second retention mechanism and third retention mechanism, respectively. This configuration reduces length of member contacting patient in the use state.
US07914500B2
A container for storing a product to be injected, e.g., a therapeutic or diagnostic liquid, wherein the container includes a container body and a piston body arranged in the container body in a sliding manner, the piston body moveable between a rear end position that determines a maximum filling of the container and a front end position to dispense the product, and wherein the container has a maximum opening ratio H/L of approximately 1.25 to 1.0, H corresponding to the maximum height of the container body and L corresponding to the maximum distance between the lateral wall or walls of the container body.
US07914498B2
An improved catheter system having a hub including a self-suturing mechanism comprising a circular needle rotatably slidable in a circular groove in the hub. The needle is sharpened to a point at an end and preferably is also formed into a tang for use as a handle. The hub is flattened on a side to be adjacent to the skin, defining a hub flat thus truncating the groove through, for example, 60° thereof. After the catheter is positioned in the blood vessel, the flat is pressed against the skin. The circular needle is rotated through an angle such that the circular needle passes through a portion of the skin, thereby “self-suturing” the hub to the skin of the patient. The hub is thus firmly attached to the patient, and no separate suturing is required. De-suturing of the catheter requires only reverse rotation of the circular needle.
US07914495B2
A 3-way stopcock for medical use is described and includes a body or nucleus (1) wherein a principal arm (2) and two secondary arms (3, 3′) converge and a plug or stopper (4) acting inside the body or nucleus (1). According to the invention, the two secondary arms (3, 3′) present initial curved flexible segments (3a, 3′a) having a high elastic index, which respectively extend into parallel final distal segments (3b, 3′b).
US07914486B2
A balloon catheter assembly includes a first tubular member with a proximal portion and a distal portion and a lumen extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. A balloon has a proximal waist length, a distal waist length and an expandable region therebetween disposed about the distal portion. A tie layer is disposed between the proximal waist length or distal waist length and the first tubular member. The tie layer comprises a polyester polymer and a polyamide polymer.
US07914477B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for separating components of a fluid having an outer housing containing a core and other components wherein three separate fluid pathways are provided to allow continuous separation of biological fluids; this apparatus is particularly useful for the administration of extracorporeal photopheresis in that it enhances the collection of the desired blood components, the return of the treated blood, and the speed with which the therapy is administered.
US07914475B2
An orthopedic brace is adaptable for either left or right sided use. The brace includes a softgood pad having a distal edge, a proximal edge opposite the distal edge, a dorsal edge, and a radial edge opposite the dorsal edge. A strap retainer is disposed on the radial or ulnar edge, and a strap pod is removably attachable to the pad in a left or right sided closure position. The strap pod cooperates with the strap retainer to secure the pad closed about a left limb, when the strap pod is attached in the left sided closure position, or about a right limb, when the strap pod is attached in the right sided closure position. A distal retention strap extends from the pad proximate to the distal and radial edges, and a reversible fastening member is coupled to the distal retention strap.
US07914467B2
An elongated medical device and components therefore, and methods for making and using the same. An example embodiment includes an elongated metallic tubular member including a tapered transition region disposed between two sections having different physical characteristics, such as flexibility characteristics. In some cases, the tubular member includes a section including a plurality of slots formed therein. Some example embodiments include a medical device including such a tubular member.
US07914463B2
A biopsy needle for collecting tissue samples includes a needle having a first cavity adapted for accepting a first sample core, the needle having a second cavity adapted for accepting a second sample core and a sheath with a single slot or opening and positioned coaxially with the needle. The needle with the sheath may have a separate core extraction kit.
US07914462B2
A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well. The processing station includes an automated fluid delivery system operable to dispense a fluid into the collection well, and a controller operatively coupled to the fluid delivery system, wherein the controller causes the fluid delivery system to selectively dispense fluids into the collection well based at least in part on a flow rate across the filter determined at least in part based on changes in the monitored fluid level in the collection well.
US07914461B2
A bone-marrow extraction and/or injection device (1) comprising a grip zone (2), and a needle (10) presenting at least one side orifice (15), a protective sleeve (20) surrounding at least part of said needle (10) being mounted to move relative to said needle (10) between a closed position of said at least one side orifice (15) and an open position of said at least one side orifice.
US07914458B2
An ultrasound catheter is described herein for insertion into a cavity such as a blood vessel to facilitate imaging within a vasculature. The catheter comprises an elongate flexible shaft, a capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer, and a sonic reflector. The elongate flexible shaft has a proximate end and a distal end. A capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) is mounted to the shaft near the distal end. The reflector is positioned such that a reflective surface redirects ultrasonic waves to and from the transducer. In other embodiments, the catheter comprises a plurality of cMUT elements and operates without the use of reflectors. In further embodiments, integrated circuitry is incorporated into the design.
US07914436B1
At least one aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood though a body passageway. The pump system includes a distal section having at least one inlet to receive blood, a pumping section in fluid communication with the distal section to receive blood from the distal section, and a pump constructed and arranged to be positioned within the pumping section to draw blood into the pumping section in a first phase of operation and to pump blood out of the at least one outlet valve in a second phase of operation. The pump system may be configured such that the at least one inlet is in fluid communication with the pumping section in both the first phase of operation and the second phase of operation. At least one other aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood from one of the right atrium and the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.
US07914434B2
Treatment of lesions in any luminal or organ system of mammalian anatomy is performed using an electronic source of ionizing radiation and aided by an endoscopic or percutaneous approach.
US07914433B2
A folding roller is provided for a device for folding a flat product to be folded which extends along a center axis and includes a first axial portion and a second axial portion, the first axial portion having a first surface for folding the product to be folded. The second axial portion includes a main relief which is radially recessed relative to the first folding surface.
US07914426B1
A twist exercising device includes two handle units (1) and a plurality of elastic bars (2) detachably mounted between the two handle units. Thus, the number of the elastic bars mounted between the two handle units can be changed freely so as to adjust the tension of the elastic bars according to the user's requirement.
US07914421B2
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for use with exercise treadmills capable of being selectively configured in an operating configuration or a storage configuration. The locking mechanism may utilize various configurations of engagement devices and/or locking members to allow a user to selectively lock a treadmill frame in a fixed position relative to a base frame.
US07914419B2
A system that facilitates activity management and tracking with respect to an individual is disclosed. The innovation employs the notion of establishing a strategy to compress activity information into an identifying indicia (e.g., two-dimensional barcode) that can be processed (e.g., scanned) by a wide array of devices (e.g., mobile phone, personal data assistant). The innovation discloses a system that facilitates the ability to plan, monitor and log activity of an individual. The planning phase enables a user or third party (e.g., health-care professional) to proactively define an exercise or activity regimen for a user. The monitoring phase enables real-time fitness and/or activity tracking of an individual. Finally, the logging phase enables a user to log the information into a fitness log that can be subsequently used in health or fitness-related assessment.
US07914416B2
A hybrid transmission is provided that is operatively connectable to an engine. The transmission has an electric motor and a clutch, which may be a brake-type clutch or a rotating-type clutch, depending on the embodiment, integrated within the transmission. Absent the electric motor and the clutch, and with the addition of a torque converter and torque converter lock-up clutch, the transmission would be a non-hybrid, operable automatic transmission. The transmission is operable to provide an electric-only operating ode, an engine-only operating mode, an electrically-variable operating mode and a parallel hybrid operating mode.
US07914412B2
In a load shift transmission for a utility vehicle having a transmission input shaft, a split group, a main group and a range group, a dual clutch with two input shafts, a main shaft and a countershaft with input constants including loose gear wheels, one loose gear wheel of an input constant is selectively rotationally fixedly connectable by means of shift elements to either one of the input shafts which can in each case be coupled by means of clutches (K1,K2) to the main transmission input shaft, the countershaft can be driven by one of three input constants with power being transmitted via the countershaft in all forward gears with the exception of a direct gear. The arrangement provides, with a simple design, for the possibility to carry out sequential shifts and multiple up-shifts and multiple down-shifts without an interruption in traction force.
US07914397B2
Golf ball 2 has a spherical core 4, a mid layer 6 covering this core 4, a reinforcing layer 8 covering this mid layer 6, and a cover 10 covering this reinforcing layer 8. Base polymer of this mid layer 6 includes an ionomer resin as a principal component. Base polymer of this cover 10 includes a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer as a principal component. The cover 10 has a thickness Tc of equal to or less than 0.6 mm. The cover 10 has a hardness Hc as measured with a Shore D type hardness scale of equal to or less than 54. The cover 10 has a volume V of equal to or less than 3.0 cm3. A product obtained by multiplying the thickness Tc, the hardness Hc and the volume V is equal to or less than 90. The reinforcing layer 8 includes a thermosetting resin as a base polymer. The reinforcing layer has a thickness of 3 μm or greater and 50 μm or less.
US07914392B2
The present invention is directed to a golf practice system having a practice mat and first and second alignment devices. The first alignment device has a first light emitting device rotatably attached to a first housing and rotatable about a vertical axis. The first alignment device is secured proximate a first side of the mat. The first light emitting device projects a first light beam in a straight line extending outwardly in an adjustably selected first direction and defines a first visible reference line. The second alignment device has a second light emitting device rotatably attached to a second housing and rotatable about a vertical axis. The second alignment device is secured proximate a second side of the mat. The second light emitting device projects a second light beam in a straight line extending outwardly in an adjustably selected second direction and defines a second visible reference line.
US07914384B2
An amusement device has an elongated track along which one or more amusement device seat assemblies adapted to carry the one or more passengers are moveable. Each seat assembly has a seat with a seating surface and a back support with a back support surface. The seat assembly further includes a bar construction attached to a pivot mechanism. This bar construction has a hip bar and one or more pivot arms integral with the hip bar, which bar construction is pivotable about the pivot axis from a raised position in which the hip bar is raised from the seating surface to allow a passenger to sit down in the amusement device seat assembly, to a lowered position. No part of the bar construction takes away the view of the person and limits the movements of the arms of the person, allowing the passenger to experience a great sense of freedom.
US07914383B2
The invention relates to a rotorcraft transmission system that comprises both a transmission shaft (21), and electromagnetic induction members (30, 31) of an active magnetic damper that extend around the shaft and that co-operate therewith to determine radial clearance (33). The system further comprises an additional radial damper (35) extending around the shaft with radial spacing (29) that is smaller than the radial clearance, such that in the event of the active magnetic damper failing, radial displacements of the shaft relative to its axis (22) are damped at least in part by the additional radial damper, so that damage to the induction members is limited or avoided.
US07914375B2
The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. In another embodiment, price parameters further incorporate operator selected price parameters. Should the player decide to pay the flat rate price, the player simply deposits the necessary funds into the gaming device or makes a credit account available for the gaming device to debit. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player's credit account. In accordance with one embodiment, a player may enter into a contract, wherein the contract specifies the flat rate play session as described above.
US07914365B2
Methods of processing four-legged slaughter animals for consumption as meat and/or meat product(s) are described. The methods comprise I) contacting exterior surfaces of the live animal at least once with a microbiocidal solution formed from mixing together at least (i) water and (ii) at least one N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoin, such contacting occurring at least once when the animal is en route to being slaughtered but before it is killed by exsanguination; or II) contacting the carcass of the animal, after exsanguination, with a microbiocidal solution formed from mixing together at least (i) water and (ii) at least one N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoin or III) contacting at least one raw meat product and/or at least one processed meat product derived from the carcass. The contacting can be done one or more times in each of I), II), and III). Considerable advantages, which are described, are realized when using such methods.
US07914355B2
First electrodes partially configuring light-emitting elements are patterned in the form of stripes on a first major surface of a transparent substrate. Next, piezoelectric elements functioning a SAW touch sensor are formed on a second major surface of the transparent substrate. Next, the light-emitting elements forming step of forming light-emitting elements on the first electrodes which are patterned in advance is sequentially executed. After the formation of the piezoelectric elements, since the step of forming the light-emitting elements is executed, the light-emitting elements can be prevented from being damaged by receiving heat in the formation of the piezoelectric elements.
US07914352B2
A cover for a flotation device includes a single piece fabric configured and dimensioned so as to slip over and completely enclose an individual noodle type flotation device and adapted for removal and replacement by the same or another cover. The cover possesses reopenable closures such as drawstring, zipper, button, snap and/or hook and loop type closures at the ends of the cover or along its length.
US07914349B2
A single battery connection device that allows for connection both to a battery post and to a battery side terminal. Regardless of whether the device is connected to the battery post or side terminal, the device may be used as part of a four-point Kelvin connection to the battery. Also, a method of connecting to either to a battery post or to a battery side terminal using a single device.
US07914347B2
An electrical connector has first and second connector bodies. The first connector body has an inclined surface and the second connector body has arms that correspond to the inclined surfaces. At the end of the inclined surfaces are generally flat portions forming a ledge that prevent the connector bodies from separating. To unmate the connector bodies, one connector body is rotated relative to the other, causing the arms to move from the generally flat portion to the outer surface of the second connector to allow them to be moved axially away from one another.
US07914345B2
An electrical connector including an array of conductors having at least one differential pair of conductors that extends between a mating end and a loading end of a housing. The conductors are configured to engage a selected mating contact of a mating connector at a mating interface. The electrical connector also includes a plurality of traces that extend between the mating and loading ends. Each trace is electrically connected to a corresponding conductor proximate to the mating end and/or the loading end. Also, the electrical connector includes a first interconnection, path formed by the conductors that extends from the mating interface to the loading end and a second interconnection path formed by the traces that extends from the mating interface to the loading end. The differential pair transmits current that is split, between the first and second interconnection paths where at least one interconnection path provides compensation.
US07914326B2
A coaxial cable connector is provided with a generally tubular mandrel. An attachment element and a retainer are associated with the mandrel and a bushing is telescopically mounted on the retainer. The bushing is adapted for axial movement along the retainer to a closed position wherein the bushing biases a first portion of the retainer into sealing engagement with a seating surface on the exterior of the mandrel. The retainer is sufficiently translucent to permit visual observation of a cable inserted into the retainer.
US07914321B2
A connector adapted for receiving a flexible printed circuit board therein includes an insulating housing having a base board, a plurality of electric terminals disposed in the insulating housing and a shell slidably mounted onto the insulating housing. An end of the base board protrudes upward to form a preventing wall. A top of the preventing wall extends forward to form an elastic board. Each of the electric terminals has a base arm and an elastic arm. The base arm is disposed in the base board and the elastic arm is located under the elastic board. The flexible printed circuit board is inserted between the base arms and the elastic arms. The shell has a top board protruding downward to form at least one pressing portion slidably moving along the elastic board for pressing the elastic board downward so as to further press the elastic arms against the flexible printed circuit board.
US07914318B2
An electrical connection system includes a first electrical connector having a first plurality of electrically conductive elements. A second electrical connector has a second plurality of electrically conductive elements and is matable with the first electrical connector such that the first plurality of electrically conductive elements are in contact with the second plurality of electrically conductive elements. A probe is mounted with respect to the first electrical connector, and a receptacle is mounted with respect to the second electrical connector. The probe has a tip, an untapered section, a tapered section between the tip and the untapered section, and a cross-sectional shape that has no more than one plane of mirror symmetry. The receptacle defines a cavity having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the probe.
US07914312B1
A connector includes an insulating housing defining a receiving recess for receiving a flexible printed circuit board and a pair of receiving cavities located at two sides of the receiving recess, a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the insulating housing, and a slidable cover mounted to the insulating housing and having a base board. A portion of the base board is recessed downward to form a gap and an inmost edge of the gap extends to form a supporting board. Two opposite ends of the base board extend to form a pair of fixing arms. A front portion of each of the fixing arms is protruded downward to form a sliding block. The slidable cover is pushed to the insulating housing with the sliding blocks sliding into the receiving cavities that drives the supporting board moving upward so that ensure a firm contact between the flexible printed circuit board and the electrical terminals.
US07914311B1
A connector coupling that comprises a connector body, a first collar rotatably coupled to the connector body that has a plurality of teeth extending from an inner surface thereof, a second collar that receives the first collar and is movable axially with respect to the first collar. A ratchet ring is supported by the connector body and has a plurality of teeth corresponding to the plurality of teeth of the first collar. The ratchet ring is axially moveable with respect to the connector body between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A biasing member is supported by the connector body adjacent the ratchet ring. The biasing member biases the ratchet ring in the engaged position. The second set of teeth of the ratchet ring engage the first set of teeth of the first collar when the ratchet ring is in the engaged position, and the second set of teeth of the ratchet ring are spaced from the first set of teeth of the first collar and the ratchet ring engages the second collar when the ratchet ring is in the disengaged position.
US07914302B1
An electrical connector assembly has an elongated insulative housing and a plurality of signal contacts secured in corresponding passageways defined in the housing. Each signal contact has a retention portion retained in the passageway, a contact portion extending from the retention portion and a soldering portion extending from the retention portion. The contact portion defines a first face exposing an exterior of the passageways and a second face opposite to the first face. Wherein each of signal contacts defines a recess on the second face. The signal contacts become thinner so as to prevent signal contacts from crosstalk and improve high frequency performance.
US07914293B2
An electrical connector for electrically connecting conductive portions formed on edges of connection objects, respectively. The electrical connector comprises an electrode sheet and a press member. The electrode sheet comprises an insulation sheet and an electrode formed on the insulation sheet. The press member comprises a plurality of springs arranged to press the insulation sheet against the conductive portions of the connection objects to force the electrode to be brought into contact with the conductive portions.
US07914291B2
An electrical hose swivel connector may be used to connect a vacuum hose to a hair clipping device. The hair clipping device may need power, which may be delivered from a power source and through a power cord. The power cord may be in electrical communication with this electrical hose swivel connector to deliver power to the hair clipping device. This electrical hose swivel connector can allow for easier use of the hair clipping device, which may be used with the vacuum hose without causing tangling, twisting, or knotting in the power cord.
US07914290B2
As for clothes for infant according to the present invention, it consists of and is characterized as followings: the base part embodied to be able to be detachably attached on surface of clothes; the educational auxiliary member detachably attached on the above base part but having a shape among as a plane or a solid body including a educational contents which consists of any of character, picture, digit, and shape and contains education content for infant and; a coupling auxiliary member which consists of any of a button, a velcro tape, a zipper, a magnet, a hook, and combination of a projected rod and a coupling groove and also, provides coupling ability of attachment and detachment on any of the above clothes and the above base part, or any of the above base part and the above educational auxiliary member.Through clothes for infant education according to the present invention, an environment, which infant can take education feeling sight and body heat of educators such as parents, etc, is provided. Thereupon, infant can gain emotional settlement and there are merits that educators can smoothly and naturally teach infant on combination and relation between various objects by providing the base part having shape or content having relation with educational contents like shape or content contained in educational auxiliary member as well.
US07914289B1
An apparatus for golf instruction comprising: a weight bar 3; a grip section 2; and an overlay decal 10; the weight bar having distinct color regions about the periphery thereof; the weight bar and grip sections being elongated and rigid; the grip section and weight bar being substantially perpendicular to each other.
US07914285B2
A portable apparatus for visualizing or practicing a paint color, finish, technique, or texture includes a substrate having a primed first surface and a second surface having means for securing the substrate to a mounting surface, such as a wall. A method for visualizing and practicing a paint color, finish, technique, or texture includes the steps of (a) applying a paint color, finish, technique, or texture to a first surface of the substrate; (b) textually identifying onto the substrate the paint color, finish, technique, or texture applied thereto; (c) securing the substrate to a first portion of the mounting surface; (d) removing the substrate from the mounting surface; and (e) securing the substrate to a second portion of the mounting surface.
US07914282B2
Apparatus for reducing pollution from a flare stack includes a platform disposed on or near the top of the flare stack and a plurality of baffles and filters disposed on the platform. A first plurality of upwardly extending stainless steel baffles is disposed around the flare stack while a second plurality of baffles is disposed about the outer periphery of the platform. A first and a second plurality of filters are disposed between the first and second plurality of baffles. The first plurality of filters associated with a fan, blower or pump for drawing flare gas into and out of the filter.
US07914266B2
A booster pumping system is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea production well. The booster pumping system includes: (1) a submersible pump hydraulically connected to the production well to provide energy to the hydrocarbon flow and boost production to another destination such as a subsea production facility or the surface via a riser; (2) an inlet conduit to receive the flow from the production well and isolate the flow from the dummy wellbore and direct the flow to the intake of the pump; and (3) a motor exposed to the dummy wellbore to drive the pump. The dummy wellbore may be flooded or circulated with seawater to cool the motor.
US07914248B2
In a first aspect, a first method is provided repositioning support provided by an end effector. The first method includes the steps of (1) employing the end effector to support a substrate carrier by a bottom of the substrate carrier; (2) transferring the substrate carrier from the end effector to an intermediate support location, wherein the intermediate support location supports the substrate carrier by a bottom of the substrate carrier; (3) repositioning the end effector proximate an overhead transfer flange of the substrate carrier; (4) employing the end effector to support the substrate carrier by the overhead transfer flange of the substrate carrier; and (5) transferring the substrate carrier from the intermediate support location. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07914246B2
A system adapted to exchange wafer carriers between an overhead transport mechanism and a platform is provided. The system employs a wafer carrier having at least one handle extending therefrom, an overhead transfer mechanism, a transporter coupled to the overhead transfer mechanism and adapted to move therealong and having a wafer carrier coupling mechanism adapted to couple to the at least one wafer carrier handle, a platform positioned below the overhead transfer mechanism such that wafer carriers traveling along the overhead transfer mechanism travel over the platform, and an actuator coupled to the platform and adapted so as to elevate the platform to an elevation wherein the loading platform may contact the bottom of a wafer carrier coupled to the overhead transfer mechanism.
US07914244B2
A threaded fastener includes a shank having a tip and a head configured for engagement by an associated driving tool. The fastener is configured for use with an associated threaded opening. The head is disposed on the shank opposite the tip. The shank has a helical thread formed thereon. The thread extends from about the tip to about the head and defines a plurality of zones. Each zone has a plurality of individual threads extending 360 degrees about the shank. A leading thread in each zone is formed with a wave-form profile having an amplitude that is greater than the amplitude of each prior leading thread. In one embodiment, threads other than the leading thread in each zone do not have an amplitude as great as their respective leading threads. A fastening assembly is also disclosed.
US07914241B2
A tapping tool having a guide body, a driver for longitudinal movement of a tap within the guide body, and a pump for lubricating the tap. A keyway in the outer body of guide body mates with an indexing key in a rotatable indexing holder of a turret press, which causes the guide body to rotate in sync with the turret press. A driver cylinder is centrally disposed in the guide body. The driver is adapted for sliding, mating engagement within the driver cylinder. A chamber in the lubrication pump holds the lubrication which is ejected by the pump onto the tap. Lubrication is ejected onto the tap through a normally closed ejector inlet that is opened by downward movement of a plunge pin against the lubrication in the chamber. The ejector is sized to restrict the flow of lubrication from the ejector outlet, which creates back pressure in the lubrication chamber. The back pressure forces a ball to close the lubrication conduit when the plunge pin moves downward.
US07914240B2
A cutting tool (10) comprises a shank (12) for receiving a cutting insert (14) and a block (16) for delivering a flow of fluid to the cutting insert (14). Fluid is delivered to the cutting insert (14) through a fluid passageway (18) that extends through the shank (12) and the block (16). The block (16) is pivotable mounted on the shank (12). The block (16) pivots about screw (22) between a first and a second position. In the first position the block (16) is held in sealing arrangement with the shank (12) to allow the passage of a coolant through the fluid passage (18) to the cutting insert (14). In the second position the block (16) has moved to allow removal of the cutting insert (14) from the shank (12).
US07914238B2
A load support includes an outer tube and a plunger at least partially slidably disposed within the outer tube. Gravity-set wedging members are disposed between an outer surface of the plunger and an inner surface of the outer tube for setting the plunger and outer tube in place with respect to each other, wherein the wedging members are substantially self-setting under gravity. The wedging members gouge the outer surface of the plunger and the inner surface of the outer tube upon inward axial movement of the plunger within the outer tube.
US07914227B2
A manhole cover includes a support having an upper surface and a peripherally-extending portion. An outer insulating member is disposed over the entire upper surface of the support, and the support comprises a first material and the outer insulating member comprises a second material different from the first material. The peripherally-extending portion of the support is positionable over the lip of the manhole ring. The outer insulating member is positionable between the upper surface of the support and the upper surface of the rim of the manhole ring when the manhole cover is received in the manhole ring. In one aspect, the support comprises cross-members defining a grate having passageways through the support. In another aspect, the support comprises metal, and the outer insulating member comprises a composite of resin, reinforcement fibers, and stone aggregate. In another aspect, screen inserts are disposed in a plurality of passageways in the outer insulating member.
US07914219B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide an apparatus and method for moving a cover. The apparatus includes a base. The apparatus also includes a cover pivotably coupled to the base. The apparatus also includes a set of flexible bands. A first end of each of the set of flexible bands is coupled to the cover. A second end of the set of flexible bands is coupled to the base. The set of flexible bands are adapted to bias the cover into an open position. When the cover is opened by a user, the set of helical springs are elongated when the cover is forced beyond its open position.
US07914204B2
A temperature sensor includes: a first oscillator that generates a first frequency signal; a second oscillator that generates a second frequency signal; a multiplexer that selectively passes the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal; and a frequency-to-digital converter that converts a frequency difference between the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal into a digital code.
US07914200B1
An apparatus and method for mixing feedstock within a vessel wherein the feedstock is moved along a heat transfer surface within the vessel. A mixing blade assembly includes a mixing blade and at least one mixing blade support member moved within the vessel to sweep forward along a path of travel extending adjacent the heat transfer surface. Feedstock is circulated within the vessel by the mixing blade, and the mixing blade support member includes a mixing surface confronting the heat transfer surface. The mixing surface is spaced from the heat transfer surface and is configured such that feedstock material is squeezed between the mixing surface and the heat transfer surface so as to be subjected to mixing shear and heat transfer between the squeezed feedstock material and the heat transfer surface. A scraper blade is located on the mixing blade support member in position to trail behind a trailing face of the mixing blade support member and is engaged with the heat transfer surface during movement of the mixing blade support member along the path of travel so as to scrape feedstock material from the heat transfer surface and direct the squeezed feedstock material to the mixing blade to be mixed with the feedstock circulated within the vessel by the mixing blade.
US07914198B2
The modular track luminaire system of the present invention is a modular lighting system which has a lighting unit which is electronically connected to a remote ballast housing by a removable and reattachable insulated cord and plug system, the luminaire unit electrically connected to the ballast housing through the flexible cord and plug system thereby allowing the entire system to be modularized.
US07914192B2
A light transmitting diffusing sheet can be used in backlighting systems for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Such displays are typically used in televisions, computer monitors, laptop computers and handheld devices such as mobile phones. Embodiments of the light diffusing sheets are suitable for use with both cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) and light emitting diode based backlighting systems. Desired light transmitting properties in the light transmitting diffusing sheet have been achieved by modifying both the volume and surface features of the sheet. Embodiments of this invention when used as part of the backlighting assembly for a LCD system results in improved brightness and controlled viewing angles. In one embodiment, substantially asymmetric particles in the volume of the sheet are combined with a ridged structure on one surface of the sheet. The use of the sheet removes the need for separate prismatic films and diffusing sheets, while also optimizing the light transmitting properties of these two elements.
US07914165B2
A configurable beverage container comprises a container body defining a central axis and bounded by non-opaque sides, an openable top, and a bottom defining a cavity in which a liquid can be retained. The container body includes a connector, such as a set of female thread portions, located on a lower end of the container body adjacent the container body bottom. The configurable container further includes an accessory having an accessory connector (e.g. male thread) located on a top end thereof and another (e.g. female thread) on a bottom thereof, with the top end configured to be coupled to the container body connector along a long axis of the container body. Examples of accessories include a first-aid kit, a GPS, a power source, and a flashlight. The flashlight accessory may further include an inward-shining light adapted to shine into the beverage container cavity and turn it into a lantern. Multiple accessories may be coupled in serial fashion in any configuration.
US07914164B2
A ferrule includes a body having a cylindrical shape. Elastic gripping portions are arranged on the body so as to bulge radially inwardly. The elastic gripping portions can have elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of a glass tube. The body of the ferrule is mounted to the glass tube via the elastic gripping portions capable of elastic and radial deformation. Thereby, the variations in outer diameter of the glass tube can be absorbed, and therefore the dimensional control with high precision is not required for glass tubes at the time of manufacturing. This leads to cost reduction.
US07914159B2
An exemplary lens (50) includes a central transparent portion (44) and a peripheral portion (35). The central transparent portion is configured for converging or diverging the light beams transmitted therethrough. The peripheral portion surrounds and extends from the central transparent portion. The peripheral portion is comprised of a shading material.
US07914156B2
An optical engine for a projection display device includes a housing, a light source module, an imaging unit, and a projecting mechanism. The housing includes a base wall and a surrounding wall cooperating with the base wall for defining a receiving space with an opening. The light source module is disposed at a side of the housing for providing an illuminating light beam into the receiving space. The imaging unit is disposed in the receiving space, and includes a display element and an optical lens set. The projecting mechanism includes a lens barrel having first and second barrel ends, a projecting lens disposed at the second barrel end, and a coupling element formed on an outer surface of the lens barrel adjacent to the first barrel end. The coupling element is configured to have a size and shape corresponding to those of the opening, and is disposed to cover the opening and to seal the receiving space.
US07914149B2
A method of generating a computer program for control of an apparatus for photorefractive treatment of presbyopia by ablation of corneal tissue or a contact lens, comprising the following steps: (a) electing an eye model, (b) measuring the pupil diameter of the patient at far distance mesopically and at short distance photopically, (c) selecting wanted short and far distances regarding optimum sight, (d) calculating a global optimum regarding curvature (1/R) and asphericity (Q) of the cornea on the basis of the results obtained in steps (a) (b) and (c) by means of optical ray tracing and minimal spot diameter at the retina, and (e) deriving the computer program in accordance with the results of step (d). Alternatively step (d) includes determining a central steep island with a diameter in the range of 2 to 4 millimeters at the cornea and calculating a curvature and asphericity in the rest of the cornea.
US07914148B2
A method of simulating an optical effect, and/or characteristic of a selected ophthalmic lens design for a wearer is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes retrieving simulation data for the selected ophthalmic lens design and processing the simulation data to generate output image data for an output image simulating the optical effect and/or characteristic of the selected ophthalmic lens design. The output image is displayed, using a head-mounted display worn by the wearer, for viewing by the wearer.A system for simulating an optical effect, and/or characteristic of a selected ophthalmic lens design for a wearer is also disclosed.
US07914145B2
A progressive power lens in which distortion aberration is restricted and a manufacturing method therefore are provided. In a progressive power lens in which a progressive refracting surface provided with a first region arranged at an upper part of the lens for viewing relatively far, a second region arranged lower than the first region and having a larger refracting power than that of the first region, and a progressive zone arranged between these regions, whose refracting power is progressively changing, is formed on an inner surface of the lens, when both the far-sighted diopter and the near-sighted diopter are negative, as an upper practical region is separated from a virtual horizontal line passing through the geometric center of the lens, the curvature of the curve of the outer surface of the lens is gradually increased, while as the lower practical region is separated from the horizontal line, the curvature of the curve of the outer surface of the lens is gradually decreased.
US07914135B2
A liquid cartridge mountable on a cartridge mounting portion of a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid cartridge includes: a circuit board that is attached to an outer surface of the liquid cartridge in an insertion direction of the liquid cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion; and a connection terminal that is formed in the circuit board to be contactable with a connector provided in the cartridge mounting portion, wherein the circuit board has a positioning hole that is formed at a front end side in the insertion direction into the cartridge mounting portion, and an error absorption hole that is formed at a base end side in the insertion direction and has a larger opening area than that of the positioning hole, and the positioning hole is engaged with a positioning boss that is provided in the liquid cartridge, the error absorption hole is engaged with an error absorption boss that is provided in the liquid cartridge, and the circuit board is fixed to a container main body by thermally caulking the bosses.
US07914127B2
The invention relates to an ink jet print head structure for printing devices, comprising a substrate in which one or more slots are realized and a nozzle plate connected to the substrate. The nozzle plate defines a first axis (X) and a second perpendicular axis (Y) and comprises a plurality of nozzles from which ink is ejected in fluid communication with the slots. The slots extends along the second axis (Y). A plurality of strip-like stress relief elements is realized on the nozzle plate, the plurality of stress relief elements is disposed so to extend along the Y axis, and each stress relief element of the plurality defines an aperture on a free surface of said nozzle plate. In addition, the total X projections of all apertures defined by the plurality of stress relief elements along the first (X) axis has a resulting length comprised between 10% and 55% of the overall width of the nozzle plate along the same first axis (X).
US07914126B2
In an ink jet head manufacturing device, first and second diodes are arranged on a path extending from a gate of a control unit to an individual electrode of an ink-pressure control part in an ink jet head, the first diode allowing a current from the individual electrode of the ink-pressure control part to flow into a first wiring, and the second diode allowing a current from a second wiring to flow into the individual electrode of the ink-pressure control part. A short-circuit unit is arranged to short-circuit the first wiring and the second wiring when depolarization or polarization of the ink-pressure control part is performed.
US07914119B2
An inkjet printhead for a printer that prints via an array of ink ejection devices. Each ink ejection device has a chamber for holding a quantity of ink. The chamber is partially defined by at least one sidewall and has an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber. The inlet defines a flow path into the chamber and has a series of columns extending across the flow path. The series of chambers form a barrier structure that creates a flow constriction that traps contaminants in the ink flow.
US07914118B2
The present invention relates to an ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) for a printhead. The IC includes rows of elongate nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement defines an ink ejection port at one end and has an internal cantilevered actuator anchored at the other end so that the actuator can move to eject ink out though the ink ejection port. The rows are arranged in pairs with the ports of one of the rows being proximally located to the ports of the other row, for each pair.
US07914111B2
Printer waste ink subsystem apparatuses are described including an apparatus located between a waste ink pump output port and a waste ink container such as a waste ink pad or sponge for containing waste ink splashing. In one illustrative example, a muffler is placed at the distal end of the waste ink pump discharge port. Such a muffler contains waste ink splatter caused by air bubbles in the waste ink stream as it exits the waste ink pump output port.
US07914108B2
The image forming apparatus comprises: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits treatment liquid onto a recording medium, the treatment liquid containing a polymerization initiator and particles introducing electrorheological properties; an electric field application device which applies an electric field to the treatment liquid having been deposited on the recording medium; an ink ejection device which ejects ink toward the recording medium on which the treatment liquid has been deposited, the ink containing a coloring material and a radiation-curable polymerizable compound; and a radiation irradiation device which irradiates radiation to cure the ink having been deposited on the recording medium.
US07914105B2
A system is provided for creating a three-dimensional object. A plurality of printheads are provided with each printhead configured to print a respective portion of the object. The system is configured to enable a first printhead that is initially configured to print a first portion to be dynamically reconfigured to print a second portion, and if a second printhead initially configured to print the second portion fails, the first printhead is dynamically reconfigured to print the second portion.
US07914100B2
A recording apparatus including: a head for performing recording on a medium, a transport mechanism that includes a roller on an upstream side of the head and transports the medium in the transport direction according to a target transport amount that is targeted, a sensor that is provided at a more upstream side than the upstream-side roller in order to detect a lower end of the medium transported in the transport direction, and a controller that corrects the target transport amount by correction values matched with a relative position of the head and the medium.
US07914095B2
A head element substrate includes receiving means for receiving data in which recording data and drive pulse width data have been multiplexed, a shift register which separates recording data from the multiplexed data, and a drive pulse width signal generation circuit which generates a drive pulse width signal by separating the drive pulse width data from the multiplexed data.
US07914092B2
A dresser featuring a center storage piece having a first set of drawers on one side and a second set of drawers on the other side, a set of shelves and a first concealing device and a second concealing device the first concealing device featuring a first track for a first door to slide open and shut, wherein the first track has a major bend and a minor bend, and wherein the first door features a couple of guide studs located on an upper edge of the first door and a couple of guide studs located on a bottom edge of the first door.
US07914085B2
In brake control system and method for an automotive vehicle, a vehicle body deceleration increment correction quantity is set to zero during a start of braking, the vehicle body deceleration increment correction quantity is set to be gradually larger along with at least one of a decrease in the traveling velocity of the vehicle and an increase in a braking passage time in a first region in which a traveling velocity of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a first predetermined traveling velocity, and the vehicle body deceleration increment correction quantity is set to a substantially constant value in a second region in which the traveling velocity of the vehicle is lower than the first predetermined traveling velocity.
US07914084B2
A control for use in a hydraulic circuit where the control can act as a valve and an auxiliary pressure source for the hydraulic circuit.
US07914076B2
Dental devices with cylinders, trunnions, and limit switches, and a method are provided. The dental devices include a cylinder and a trunnion having a cavity and an outer surface. A portion of the cylinder is slidably mounted within the cavity of the trunnion, and a portion of the cylinder protrudes out of the trunnion. The limit switch is coupled to the outer surface of the trunnion, with the limit switch is operable to contact the cylinder. Separation of the limit switch and the cylinder causes actuation of the limit switch, and the actuation of the limit switch inhibits a downward movement of the device. Alternatively, the limit switch may be coupled to the portion of the cylinder that protrudes out of the trunnion, with the limit switch operable to contact the trunnion. As such, separation of the limit switch and the trunnion causes actuation of the limit switch.
US07914071B2
A front structure of a vehicle body is disclosed as having a radiator core support including an upper member and a lower member vertically spaced from each other and extending in a vehicle width direction. The upper member is structured in two stages on upper and lower sides composed of an upper-stage upper member and a lower-stage upper member, which have both left and right ends connected to vehicle body components placed in a vehicle body on both sides thereof.
US07914067B2
An excavator mounted with tanks having side doors. Bend-formed side doors are mounted on outer sides of a hydraulic fluid tank and a fuel tank that are welded structures mounted on an upper frame of the excavator, have the same curved surfaces as an external shape of the equipment, so that no precise tank manufacturing work is required and welded portions of the tanks are prevented from being exposed to an outside.
US07914043B2
The present invention provides for a steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis. A first clamping member and a second clamping member are disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket. A lever is coupled to one of the first and second clamping members and rotatable between a set and adjustable positions. The lever includes a first arm and a second arm flanking the column jacket and coupled to at least one of the first and second clamping members with a portion of the locking device disposed about at least one of the first and second clamping members and engaging both of the first and second arms such that rotation of the lever moves the portion of the locking device for minimizing rotation of the lever between the set and adjustable positions when the locking device moves between a locked and unlocked positions.
US07914041B2
An occupant protection device on a passenger side of a vehicle includes a gas bag (16) having a front wall (18) facing an interior of the vehicle. The occupant protection device further includes a tether strap (26) arranged inside the gas bag (16). The tether strap (26) has a first fastening section (32) and an elongated second fastening section (40). The first and second fastening sections (32, 40) are fastened to the front wall (18) of the gas bag (16). The second fastening section (40) extends substantially vertically in an unfolded state of the gas bag (16).
US07914038B2
An airbag system includes an airbag, and the airbag includes an airbag body having a passenger-side wall portion that is arranged at a passenger side when having completed deploying and inflating, and a slip cloth that is disposed at an outer surface side of the passenger-side wall portion. The slip cloth formed in a loop shape an axial direction of which is in a left and right direction includes: a front panel portion arranged at a passenger side; an upper back panel portion extending downward from an upper end of the front panel portion; and a lower back panel portion extending upward from a lower end of the front panel portion, and a lower end of the upper back panel portion and an upper end of the lower back panel portion are mutually approximated, and joined to the passenger-side wall portion.
US07914035B2
An interior trim assembly including vehicle roof structure that supports a headliner-mounted component and a headliner, a separating means proximate a mounting location perimeter of the headliner-mounted component for maintaining a mounting integrity of the headliner-mounted component upon deployment of an inflatable restraint.
US07914034B2
A tube shaped cargo container and method of manufacture. The cargo container is manufactured by a process that includes pultruding or extruding a seamless container with two sides, a roof, and a floor. Doors, landing gear, structural supports, another side, and a wheel assembly may be added after the pultrusion/extrusion process. The cargo container may include rounded side/floor and side/roof connections. The cargo container may include one or two rounded ends.
US07914031B2
A damper for a bicycle having a primary unit and a remote unit that is substantially entirely outside of the primary unit. The primary unit includes a damper tube, a spring chamber, and a piston rod that supports a main piston. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber. The remote unit comprises a remote fluid chamber, and an inertial valve within the remote unit. The inertial valve is preferably responsive to terrain-induced forces and preferably not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle. The shock absorber forms a flow path separated from the piston rod that connects the remote fluid chamber and the compression chamber of the damper tube.
US07914028B2
An occupant propelled vehicle is provided that includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, front and rear wheels, a platform for the occupant, an integrated articulating steering mechanism and a drive mechanism. The steering mechanism provides the multiple function of power transmission to a drive train, maneuvering the vehicle through a 360° turning radius and reversing the direction of the vehicle, so that it can travel both forward and backward. In one embodiment, the driving mechanism includes a power transfer means having a first end connected to a drive sprocket through a chain and a second end connected to another drive sprocket through the chain both sprockets mounted on a front wheel for propulsion. The steering means transfers power through the chains that in turn rotate the sprockets and associated wheel propelling the vehicle.
US07914022B2
Systems and methods for controlling the speed and direction of vehicles such as tractors.
US07914019B2
A countersteering rear vehicle axle, which under the effect of a lateral force upon the wheel that is outside during cornering and is fastened to a wheel carrier, causes a rotating movement of this wheel carrier about a virtual steering axle inclination in the toe-in direction. The wheel carrier is supported by supporting elements on an axle body extending essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Above and below the wheel center, in each case, two torsionally soft but bend-resistant supporting elements are provided which are essentially equally inclined with respect to the vertical direction. An upper linkage supporting element is supported, on the one side, on the wheel carrier and, on the other side, on an upper torsion supporting element which is supported on the axle body. A lower linkage supporting element is supported on the wheel carrier, on the one side, and on a lower torsion supporting element, on the other side.
US07914009B1
The present invention is universal gasket for a pool skimmer opening, which comprises an essentially rectangular planar sheet of material with a horizontal top member and a horizontal bottom member; a first and second vertical member connected to the horizontal top member and the horizontal bottom member defining a rectangular first end opening; a third vertical member connected to the horizontal top member and the horizontal bottom member defining a middle opening in conjunction with the second vertical member; a fourth vertical member connected to the horizontal top member and the horizontal bottom member defining second end opening in conjunction with the third vertical member; and wherein the vertical and horizontal members are individually, selectively detachable from the planar sheet to alter the shape of the planar sheet and cause the remaining portion of the planar sheet to form a standard sized gasket for a pool skimmer opening.
US07914006B2
A subterranean drill tool has a seal gland formed between a rotating and a static surface. An annular elastomeric seal is located in the gland in engagement with each of the surfaces. A property gradient is formed in at least part of the elastomeric material. The property gradient defines a property that changes from a first level at the surface to a second level in the interior of the seal. The elastomeric material within the property gradient has the same chemical composition as the rest of the seal.
US07914005B2
A hand-held setting tool (10) includes a connection element (16) for connecting the setting tool (10) with a positioning device (20) having a switching link (30) for connecting the actuation element (24) to the actuation switch (13) of the setting tool (10), and a safety device (50) for preventing actuation of the actuation switch (13) at an orientation of the setting tool (10) other than a predetermined orientation and including at least three blocking members (55a, 55b, 55c) displaceable in at least three separate channels (56) respectively, and receivable in a recess (51) formed in a first, switching element (34) of the switching link (30) with the channels (56) being inclined with respect to a plane (E) extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (A) of the positioning device, and with at least three channels (56) intersecting, in some regions, an axial projection of the switching element (34).
US07914000B2
A method and system for performing sheet registration are disclosed. Output values for a sheet may be identified within a reference frame. A difference between each output value and a corresponding desired output value may be determined. Input values may be determined based on at least the differences. State feedback values may be determined based on information received from one or more sensors. Jerk values may be determined for multiple drive rolls based on the input values and the state feedback values. A desired angular velocity for each drive roll may be determined based on the corresponding jerk value. A motor voltage may be determined for each drive roll that tracks an observed angular velocity value to the desired angular velocity value. The jerk values may create a linear differential relationship between the input values and the output values. The steps may be performed multiple times.
US07913999B2
A system, method, and resulting resilient belt type sheet compiler with a mixed sheet length mode is provided. The device includes a resilient belt transport for sequentially feeding sheets from a sheet inlet to a compiler tray, the compiler tray having a lead edge stop and a trail edge wall. A monitoring means is positioned proximate to the trail edge wall for detecting a lead end and a trail end of sequentially fed sheets from the sheet inlet to the compiler tray. A sheet brake, responsive to the monitoring means detecting a short sheet, selectively stalls the detected short sheet until a lead end of a subsequent sheet is detected by the sensor or subsequent sheets are absent.
US07913994B2
In a feeding device, a first friction pad and a second friction pad are disposed on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. Thus, to a conveyance-target medium, which is either one of a conveyed medium and a separation-target medium, pressing forces are successively applied by the first friction pad or the second friction pad over the first contact area to the second contact area. Therefore, the conveyance-target medium, which is either one of the conveyed medium and the separation-target medium, successively receives a separation force in a total contact area wider than an area when receiving a separation force only in either one of the first contact area and the second contact area. With this, the capability of separating the conveyed medium and the separation-target medium can be increased.
US07913992B2
The present application is directed to embodiments for moving a media sheet within a scanning device. The methods include moving the media sheet through a separation mechanism that prevents multiple media sheets from being moved simultaneously along the media path. Further, a buckle is formed in the sheet at a point upstream from a scanner. The buckle acts as a buffer to absorb any load release that could occur as the media sheet exits the separation mechanism. The load release could cause a change in the velocity of the media sheet as it moves across the scanner.
US07913986B2
A automatic truss jig setting system is disclosed that includes a table including a plurality of segments with a side edge of adjacent segments defining a slot. At least one pin assembly, and optionally a pair of pin assemblies, is movable independently of each other along the slot. Movement apparatus is provided for independently moving the pin assemblies along the slot. Each of the side edges of the segments associated with the slot defines a substantially vertical plane with a zone being defined between the substantially vertical planes of the side edges, and the movement apparatus is located substantially outside of the zone of the slot. The invention may optionally include a system for handling the obstruction of pin assembly movement, and a system for keeping track of the position of the pin assembly when the pin assembly has encountered an obstruction.
US07913985B2
A container cap for providing a seal with an annular wall of a receptacle is disclosed. The cap includes a top wall, an annular seal wall, and cam structure. The annular seal wall extends axially from the cover portion. The annular seal wall is spaced radially inward of the cam structure. An end portion of the annular seal wall is configured to form a seal with the annular wall of the receptacle when the end portion is forced into engagement with annular wall of the receptacle.
US07913977B2
The present invention is briefly named “The tightener” for fastening a selected securing member around an object and carrying it comprising a set of two independent devices. One of them is an ordinary clamp being in common use everywhere in the world with a strap permanently attached to it and said clamp is modified to enable connecting it with a tightening device and named a jamming clamp to distinguish one clamp from the other. The tightening device comprises a shaft with its ends and with a ratchet mechanism is mounted in a two-arms handle. Said handle operating as a lever of the ratchet mechanism turning said shaft. The securing member exiting the jamming clamp is initially pulled by hand then is pulled by winding it onto the shaft turned by said ratchet mechanism to reach needed tension in said securing member, which is the main idea of the invention and it is impossible to attain said task by pulling said securing member only by hand, automatically jammed in said jamming clamp when the pulling of it is stopped. The handle is detached if an object is prepared for transportation only, not for carrying it.
US07913975B2
A stacker unit having an inlet area with sensors to detect ingress of a hamper or similar nestable container whereby a plurality of parallel lifting elements complimentary of the container, may grasp the container and lift it to perform a stacking operation when combined with a plurality of stacked containers. The inlet area has a plurality of walls providing structure and mounting for sensors and controls for selecting containers having an open end forming an entrance, within the entrance a plurality of guides, lifting elements and adaptors are actuated upon detection of an incoming container operable in lifting the container for stacking by utilization of a chain drive and motor having adjustable plates coupled to the lifting elements. It is also capable of lateral adjustment to suit differently sized containers utilizing attachments for the lifting of hampers, wire containers and 084C containers along with having a plurality of lockout controls for better control and safety precautions while operating a lifting and stacking procedure.
US07913973B1
A reverse flow valve for metering high pressure gaseous media, such as ignition media to the injectors of a scramjet engine in a hyerpsonic flight vehicle, has a metering member that moves parallel to the flow direction of the metered media and throttles the valve in a direction counter to the flow direction. This reduces side loading on the metering member and permits the use of a lighter and smaller actuating mechanism. The metering member can be a pintle having a uniquely configured pintle seat providing bubble tight shut off of the inlet flow without effecting the critical flow contour of the media. The pintle can be driven by a piston that is responsive to push-pull forces of pressurized drive fluid under servo control. The drive fluid is isolated from the gaseous media by a primary seal, which can be seated on the piston without deformation by a seal retainer. The drive fluid can be fuel diverted from the sustained combustion fuel system of the vehicle so that a separate hydraulic system is not required.
US07913971B2
A valve system comprising a closure member that is linearly translatable within a valve body. A hydraulic override assembly comprises a first end that is connected to the valve body and a first rod member that is connected to the closure member. A linear actuator is connected to a second end of the hydraulic override assembly and comprises a second rod member that is operable to move the first rod member.
US07913970B2
A mold 10, 30, 40 particularly for use in food preparation comprising a base 11, and a collar 12 having a continuous wall 14 that upstands from the base with a lower edge 16 of the collar abutting the base 11. The mold may be for single use with the base and the collar being formed from fiberboard and in a particular form the collar wall incorporates a releasable connection to enable opening of the collar. In one form, the collar includes tabs 25 that extend from the lower edge 16 and retaining means (18, 19, 31) which are operative to retain the tabs in relation to the base so as to retain the lower edge 16 of the collar in proximity with the base. The mold further includes in one form an insert 19 which is locatable within the mold cavity 17 and in another form a support arrangement (29, 42, 43) is provided to support the collar wall.
US07913967B1
An adjustable picture-hanger assembly comprises a hanger adapted to be secured to a wall and defining a substantially central opening of an interior of the hanger. A hanger slide is movably mounted to the hanger, is adapted to slide continuously substantially rotationally in the opening of the hanger, and defines a slot of an interior of the hanger slide. A mounting fastener is received through the slot of the hanger slide and adapted to slide continuously along the slot and be fastened to the wall to mount the assembly to the wall. A combination of the continuous substantially rotational sliding of the hanger slide and continuous sliding of the mounting fastener allows for substantially infinite placement of the mounting fastener in the opening of the hanger. A hanger hook is fixedly connected to and extends outwardly from the hanger and overlies the opening of the hanger for supporting an object hung on the hanger hook.
US07913959B2
A suction nozzle holster is provided with a latch mechanism for receiving a universally adjustable strap having a groove system whose individual grooves can engage with a pawl of a lever arm of said latch mechanism. A forward surface of the holster may be provided with a hole into which a suction hose can be forced in order to constrict said hose and, hence, curtail the vacuum conditions in a suction nozzle serviced by that hose.
US07913954B2
An electrodynamic structure having a periphery. The electrodynamic structure includes a power system, a plurality of collectors, a plurality of emitters, and conductive paths. The plurality of collectors are disposed on the periphery of the electrodynamic structure and configured to collect electrons. The plurality of emitters are disposed on the periphery of the electrodynamic structure and configured to emit electrons. At least 20% of the periphery of the electrodynamic structure is utilized for electron collection and electron emission. The conductive paths are configured to conduct current between the power system, the collectors, and the emitters to provide at least one of power generation and electrodynamic propulsion.
US07913950B2
An aircraft comprises a cargo compartment having a cargo-compartment floor, and at least one functional unit, such as a water tank, a waste-water tank, or an electrical equipment rack. The functional unit is disposed on a pallet so that the functional unit can be transported into, and installed in, the cargo compartment. A fixation device attaches the pallet to the cargo-compartment floor.
US07913948B2
The high-altitude balloon has a skin made of nearly evacuated electrostatically inflated cells which provide thermal insulation to minimize heat loss from the gas in the balloon, while transmitting heat from the sun to heat the gas. The lower surface of the balloon is reflective to microwave or laser beams. A stable array of the balloons is maintained at a high altitude and is used to facilitate communications in a world-wide communications system. Ascent of the balloon is well controlled and weight is minimized by starting with lighter-than-air gases in liquid form, releasing a lifting gas into the craft, and then using the empty containers to store the remaining gas when the balloon is aloft.
US07913946B2
A reinforcement ring is insert-molded as an insert body on a reel hub of a reel around which recording tape is wound. The reinforcement ring includes a metal ring at least whose inner peripheral surface is covered by a resin layer. The clearance between the reinforcement ring and a mold during reel molding can be reduced, and the amount of eccentricity of the insert body with respect to the reel hub can be reduced.
US07913933B2
An oil atomizer apparatus for essential and fragrant oils includes at least one atomizer that engages with a container of essential and fragrant oils, and a body with a generally hollow interior and having a mixer housing associated with one surface of the body. An oil feeder tube extends from the mixer housing and through a surface of the body to the container of essential and fragrant oils. The mixer housing includes a compressed air inlet of a first diameter which is larger than a second diameter of the inlet, which passes to a diffusion chamber in the mixer housing having a passage to the body of the container. The application of compressed air to the inlet of the mixer housing causes the essential and fragrant oils to be dispersed to air in a fine droplet form through at least one aperture in the body.
US07913927B2
An electronic circuit for a hot water heating system conserves fuel consumption and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. A heating system includes a burner that heats water and a room thermostat. The electronic circuit comprises an override thermostat which has a setting for a lower temperature limit and an upper temperature limit below those of the room thermostat. The override thermostat is operable to activate continuous operation of the burner when the indoor temperature falls below the lower temperature limit of the override thermostat and until the upper temperature limit of the override thermostat is reached. The electronic circuit further comprises a timer operable to deactivate and reactivate the burner while the room thermostat is calling for heat.
US07913920B2
A document processing system and method thereof are disclosed. The system comprises machine-readable data such as DataGlyphs and human-readable data such as rendering text of the DataGlyphs that are applied on the document. Processing devices of the system can decode document-processing instruction(s) embedded in the machine-readable data, and then optionally execute at least part of the instruction automatically. A designed stamp is also provided to generate the machine-readable data and human-readable data on the document.
US07913919B2
A smart card capable of performing more than one function, said smart card comprising a first memory means comprising a first set of data to access a bank account, a second set of data to access a credit card account, a third set of data representing the identification of a holder of the smart card, and a fourth set of data to access telephone communication services. The smart card further comprises a microprocessor, said microprocessor being in electrical communication with a second memory means, and a location tracking means for determining a location of the smart card.
US07913914B2
A card connector for ejection and introduction of smart cards is disclosed for usage in a portable electronic device comprising a card reader with a resilient card connecting device for operative connection of the smart card to the card reader by introducing the smart card into the card reader or disconnection of the smart card from the card reader by withdrawing the smart card from the card reader by moving the smart card in a plane being substantially in parallel with the plane of the card reader, wherein the card connecting device is extending substantially along a plane being inclined in relation to the plane of the card reader at an angle α, wherein the angle α is not 90°.
US07913912B2
Associating and/or disassociating a mobile point-of-sale scanner device with a particular shopper. Shoppers may be identified, for example, using biometrics or by scanning a loyalty card. As an example of using biometrics, the shopper's fingerprint may be scanned as a trigger of the scanner is activated to scan an item's barcode. The fingerprint is preferably transmitted, along with the scanned barcode, to a server or other device for comparison to previously-stored information. The scanner is then automatically associated with the shopper to whom the fingerprint corresponds. In another embodiment, scanned loyalty card information is preferably transmitted (optionally, along with a scanned barcode), such that the scanner is then automatically associated with the shopper to whom the loyalty card corresponds. Disassociating the scanner from a shopper is preferably triggered using a sensor (such as a light) that forms part of the scanner device, whereby the sensor is activated when the shopper releases the scanner device. A timer may be used to filter out accidental activation of the sensor.
US07913902B2
Method and system for implementing a virtual automated teller machine (“VATM”) system are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a VATM host connectable to each of a plurality of registered disbursement entities (“DEs”) via a secure connection, such as an SSL connection. The system further includes an accessing computer connectable to the VATM host via a secure connection, such as an SSL connection, the accessing computer comprising a card reader for reading user information from an ATM card and having installed thereon VATM client software executable by the accessing computer to interact with the VATM host to validate user information read from the ATM card and an associated PIN entered by a user and, responsive to the validation, present the user with a list of DEs comprising at least one of the registered DEs, prompt the user to select one DE from the list of DEs from which funds are to be disbursed to the user, and specify an amount of funds to be disbursed. The VATM host sends a disbursement order to the selected DE indicating the specified amount of funds to be disbursed.
US07913897B2
A carton includes a reclosable dispenser that allows a top end of the carton to be accessed and subsequently reclosed. The sides of the carton can be pressed together to vary the size of the dispenser opening.
US07913893B2
A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15mm in length to about 60mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples.
US07913889B2
A fastener driving apparatus includes a motor with an output shaft. The motor is shiftable between a de-energized condition in which it can not be actuated to move the output shaft, and an energized condition in which it can be actuated to move the output shaft. The apparatus further includes a nose and a control device. The nose is shiftable between differently configured conditions, including a first condition for guiding a fastener driven by the output shaft, and a second condition for releasing a fastener that jams when the nose is in the first condition. The control device maintains the nose in the first condition while the motor remains in the energized condition.
US07913886B2
A loader bucket is attached for tractor shipping in a non-operational position between the front and rear wheels of the tractor. The loader bucket may be attached to the mast using a bracket between a first surface of the loader bucket and the mast, and a brace between a second surface of the loader bucket and the bracket, to resist pivotal movement of the loader bucket.
US07913880B2
A squirting toy capable of squirting water received from a reservoir and/or from an external source. The squirting toy can include a housing, a piston, a shaft, and an handle portion. As the piston is slidably moved through the housing the water can be squirted out of the housing. Water can be drawn in from an external source by placing a part of the housing in the water and slidably moving the piston through the housing. Water can also be drawn in from a water reservoir (e.g., a standard water bottle).
US07913879B2
The present application describes a product dispenser. The product dispenser may include at least one macro-ingredient source, at least one micro-ingredient source positioned about the dispenser, a diluent source, a dispensing valve, a number of pumps or metering devices, and a user interface. The user interface receives a request for a product type and instructs the pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of macro-ingredients, micro-ingredients, and diluent to the dispensing valve for a predetermined flow rate.
US07913867B2
A lid for a cup which provides for use of a beverage bag unit comprising a beverage bag and a drawstring connected to the beverage bag, the lid comprising: a flange for attachment to a cup; and a body unit comprising a body section including an aperture through which the drawstring is slideable, and at least one wing member operable to allow a user to squeeze and/or hold the beverage bag when in a raised position.
US07913856B2
Systems and methods for cleaning a fuel storage tank are disclosed. One system includes a plurality of filter elements mounted within a portable housing, and a hose in fluidic connection to at least some of the filter elements, the hose extendable from the portable housing and into an interior of a fuel storage tank, the hose having a nozzle including an inlet. The system also includes a pump in fluidic connection with one or more of the filter elements and configured to draw contents of the fuel storage tank into the hose and forward the contents through the one or more filter elements. The system further includes a video camera configured to capture video images of the interior of the fuel tank in an area proximate to the nozzle of the hose during cleaning.
US07913855B2
The invention relates to an improved self-cleaning filter for agricultural irrigation water having a support base (8) for the rings (3) traversed by perforated tubes (4) which clean them, allowing the axial movement of the tubes (4) having an integral upper cover (5) at the opposite end which presses them in an axial direction, whereas the lower base (6), also integral thereto, generates the axial thrust to separate and press them, acting as a blocker and allowing the flow path to the perforated tubes (4); incorporating a base (9) acting as a membrane and a spring pressing on the rings (3), with an adjustable separation and variable in number.
US07913852B2
Modified resins are disclosed for removing a wide variety of solids and/or ionic species from the liquids in which they are suspended and/or dissolved. These modified resins are especially useful as froth flotation depressants in the beneficiation of many types of materials (e.g., mineral and metal ores), including the beneficiation of impure coal comprising clay impurities, as well as in the separation of valuable bitumen from solid contaminants such as sand. The modified resins are also useful for treating aqueous liquid suspensions to remove solid particulates, as well as for removing metallic ions in the purification of water. The modified resins comprise a base resin that is modified with a coupling agent, which is highly selective for binding to solid contaminants and especially siliceous materials such as sand or clay.
US07913839B2
A security bag for displaying items of merchandise includes a mesh bag formed of metal wire providing an internal storage chamber. A two-piece member locking device is attached to an open end of the bag. A magnetically attachable locking tine is mounted in one of the members and engages a locking projection on the second member which is slidably received into the first member to lock the bag in a closed position protecting the stored merchandise from theft. An EAS tag is secured within one of the locking members. A magnetic key moves the locking tine to an unlocked position when placed adjacent the locking tine enabling the two locking members to be separated into an unlocked position and the bag open end spread apart for removing items therefrom.
US07913830B2
The bill storage device in an automated teller machine includes an input port through which a bill introduced in the automated teller machine is inputted perpendicularly; a pair of opening/closing plates for supporting both side surfaces of the bill inputted into the input port; first and second storage parts arranged at both sides of the input port; a push bar placed in the input port and stroke-operated selectively toward the storage part in which the bill is inputting; a push bar driving motor for performing a stroke-operation of the push bar; and a pair of push plates forcing a pressure toward the input port to support perpendicularly the bill stored by a stroke-operation of the push bar.
US07913825B2
A viscous fan drive with a front-mounted fan and electrical actuation without a tethered harness. The mechanical package includes an inverted viscous clutch, a drive pulley and a split electromagnetic actuator with the electrical portion mounted to a stationary mounting member. An integrated slip speed sensor is provided in order to determine the output speed.
US07913822B2
A shock assembly includes a first tube having a cylindrical wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A second tube is received within the first tube and includes a cylindrical wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A piston assembly is received within the second tube and includes a piston rod and a piston that is selectively movable relative to the first tube and the second tube. A height-sensing device is disposed within the first tube between the inner surface of the first tube and the outer surface of the second tube.
US07913820B2
A control system for elevators controls the operations of a plurality of elevator apparatuses. The elevator apparatuses have cars and elevator doorways provided at each landing floor. The control system for the elevators is equipped with a landing call registration device, a landing call automatic registration portion, a response selection portion, a passenger traveling time period calculation portion, and an opening/closing control portion. The landing call registration device is provided at the landing floor to be operable at the landing floor. The landing call automatic registration portion sets as a car call floor the landing floor whose landing call registration device is operated, and makes a car call registration for stopping one of the cars at the car call floor. The response selection portion selects as a selected elevator that one of the elevator apparatuses which responds to the car call registration, based on information from the elevator apparatuses and information from the landing call automatic registration portion. The passenger traveling time period calculation portion sets as a selected doorway that one of the elevator doorways of the selected elevator, which is provided at the car call floor, based on information from the response selection portion, and calculates a passenger traveling time period corresponding to the selected doorway. The opening/closing control portion controls opening/closing operations of the selected doorway based on information from the selected elevator and information from the passenger traveling time period calculation portion.
US07913815B2
Disclosed is a solution to automate a seal oil float trap by-pass for a hydrogen cooled generator. An automated by-pass system is coupled to an existing manual by-pass system for a float trap for a hydrogen cooled generator. The automated by-pass system includes at least one solenoid valve and a controller that controls opening and closing of the solenoid valve. The automated by-pass system can also include manual valves, orifices and limit switches. The controller activates the solenoid valve to allow the seal oil to drain. The controller can also provide a notification alarm that the hydrogen cooled generator is being purged.
US07913814B2
An acoustic baffle assembly for sealing or baffling a hollow body having a mass of heat activated expandable material that is capable of activating at a predetermined temperature. A substrate supports the mass. The substrate has a central portion and spaced apart projections extending outwardly from the central portion. The projections are configured to control expansion of the mass.
US07913812B2
A composite sound barrier panel includes a concrete substrate provided for strength and a noise attenuation layer bonded thereto. The noise attenuation layer in one embodiment is a concrete mixture of a fiber composite material and cement. In another embodiment, recycled wood chips are added to the mixture. A plurality of identical panels are pre-cast in a mold for use in forming a noise abatement wall, particularly between a residential neighborhood and a highway.
US07913808B2
A water-resistant composite paper, suitable for use as a loudspeaker component, is made from a composition including wood pulp, hydrophobic fibers, and stiffening fibers that retain stiffness when wet. In some examples, fibrillated acrylic fibers and glass fibers are used.
US07913805B2
A rotational angle sensor used in an electric power steering apparatus detects a rotational angle of a motor shaft at a portion on a steering system side, as a motor rotational angle (θm). A MPU sets a base correction amount (Δθ′m) based on a q-axis actual current value (Iq). The MPU sets a rotational angle correction amount (Δθm) used to correct the motor rotational angle (θm) by decreasing the base correction amount (Δθ′m) as a rotational angular speed (ω) increases and by increasing the base correction amount (Δθ′m) as a torque differential value (dT/dt) increases.
US07913796B2
An exhaust system for a motorcycle in which a bank angle is secured while a necessary passage area of exhaust gas is maintained. A connection pipe connecting left and right exhaust pipes is disposed in an area enclosed by a bottom surface of an engine and left and right bank angle lines in a front view.
US07913792B2
The fork-lift truck comprises a body (11) with one or more directional rear wheels and a mast (12) with a slide (13) sliding and hearing front forks for gripping and supporting the load. According to the invention, the truck comprises an intermediate frame (14), bearing the front wheels (21; 22) and oscillating with respect to the body (11) around a transversal axis (X-X) parallel to the axis (Y-Y) of the front wheels, as well as operating-cylinder means (30) interposed between said frame and said body. Said mast (12) is dismountably fastened to said intermediate frame (14), so as to be made to oscillate integrally with the frame itself around said transversal axis (X-X) by means of said operating-cylinder means (30) to swing forwards and rearwards, with both idle (21) and driving (22) front wheels, whereas it can be easily disassembled and assembled with respect to the intermediate frame (14).
US07913789B2
A reinforced upper frame for supporting a cabin of heavy construction equipment using a welding deformation preventing structure and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which even if a side frame is welded to a machined center frame, there is no thermal deformation around the machined portion. The reinforced upper frame includes a center frame having a lower plate machined to accommodate a swing ring gear, a lateral plate machined to accommodate an operation device, and a welding deformation preventing structure fixed to one side of the lower plate and lateral plate prior to welding, in which a part of the cabin is mounted on the welding deformation preventing structure, and left and right frames each having a side channel disposed in a longitudinal direction of the center frame and a side frame welded to the structure for connecting the side channel and the center frame.
US07913773B2
The disclosure has application for use in conjunction with an operation of drilling an earth borehole using: a drilling rig, a drill string having its generally upper end mechanically coupleable with and suspendable from the drilling rig, and a bottom hole assembly adjacent the lower end the drill string, the bottom hole assembly including a drill bit at its lower end. A method is set forth for obtaining information about at least one parameter sensed at the bottom hole assembly, including the following steps: providing at least one measuring device in the bottom hole assembly, the at least one measuring device producing measurement data representative of a measured condition at the bottom hole assembly; providing an uphole processor system at the earth's surface; providing a drill string telemetry system coupled with the at least one measuring device and coupled with the uphole processor system; and transmitting the data from the measuring device to the uphole processor system via the drill string telemetry system.
US07913772B2
An embodiment of the apparatus includes a housing having a first flow bore and a second flow bore, the first flow bore having a drilling fluid flowing therein, a device disposed in the second flow bore to receive a fluid flow, and a diverter disposed between the first and second flow bores, the diverter having a first position preventing the drilling fluid from flowing into the second flow bore and a second position allowing a portion of the drilling fluid to flow into the second flow bore and through the device. Another embodiment includes a variable second position directing the drilling fluid into the second flow bore at a variable flow rate. A further embodiment includes a drill collar as the housing and a power generation assembly as the device to receive the fluid flow. Embodiments of a method of diverting a fluid flow in a downhole tool include diverting a portion of a first fluid flow to a second flow bore, and further varying a flow rate of the fluid to the second flow bore.
US07913768B2
A downhole system including a driving unit for driving an operational tool. The driving unit is provided in a first part of the system and the operational tool is provided in a second part of the system. The system further includes a release device for releasing the operational tool and the second part from the first part of the system.
US07913764B2
Systems and methods for drilling a well bore in a subsea formation from an offshore structure positioned on a water surface with a drill string that is suspended from the structure and includes a bottom hole assembly adapted to form a top hole portion of the well bore. A drilling fluid source on the offshore structure supplies drilling fluid through the drill string to the bottom hole assembly where the drilling fluid exits from the bottom hole assembly during drilling and returns up the well bore. A suction module is disposed at the sea floor and collects the drilling fluid emerging from the well bore. A pump module is disposed on a return line, which is in fluid communication with the suction module, at a position below the water surface and above the sea floor. The pump module is operable to receive drilling fluid from the suction module and pump the drilling fluid through the return pipe to the same offshore structure or a different offshore structure.
US07913762B2
In a method of hydraulically fracturing a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation, a proppant stage is introduced into the fracture which contains a gaseous fluid and an ultra lightweight proppant suspended in a viscosified aqueous fluid. The gaseous fluid of the proppant stage contains at least about 90 volume percent of the combination of gaseous fluid and aqueous fluid. A pad fluid may first be introduced into the formation, the pad fluid containing a gaseous fluid and, optionally, an aqueous fluid. The gaseous fluid of the pad fluid mixture typically contains at least 70 volume percent of the mixture.
US07913751B2
The invention concerns a micro-heat exchanger having a microstructure of channels (2) arranged at least in one matrix element (1) in the form of a plate and circulating at least one coolant, said matrix element (1) having upper and lower surfaces (5, 6) as well as lateral surfaces (3, 4). The invention is characterized in that the channels (2) are open on the upper surface (5) and/or on the lower surface (6) and closed on the lateral surfaces (3, 4).
US07913741B1
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for providing a pass through connection opening for water hoses, electrical and power cords, telephone lines, and cable lines to freely pass through screens such as screen pool enclosures, screen doors, and the like. The pass-through connectors easily attach to the screens to allow for a permanent pass through to exist between an interior space and an exterior space that is separated by a screen wall. The connectors can have a first plate with central opening and corner adjacent male protruding members with enlarged heads, and a second plate with central opening and corner adjacent female openings in similar locations. The plates can be positioned on opposite sides of the screen wall so that their respective fastening portions and their central openings are aligned to another. The plates can then be snapped together by the male members being received within each of the female openings. An opening in the screen wall can be formed through the aligned central openings of the plates, and garden hose or electrical conduit can pass through. The central plate openings can have reduced diameters by a ringed grommet. Also, a connector having a threaded end can be locked in place in the openings with a nut.
US07913735B2
An adhesive tape joining apparatus of this invention adopts an inverted “T”-shaped layout configured with a rectangular section that extends laterally when being viewed in a plane and a protrusion section that is coupled on a center of the rectangular section. An adhesive tape joining part is disposed in the protrusion section and joins an adhesive tape to a ring frame and a wafer. A transport mechanism is disposed in the rectangular section and transports the wafer, the ring frame, and the wafer held by the ring frame. An electronic substrate processing unit is disposed in at least one of two regions adjoining to the rectangular section with the protrusion section being interposed therebetween, and is coupled to the transport mechanism.
US07913726B1
A trailer-mounted wood splitter with an integral platform, log boom and grappler provides an extended table area to facilitate the splitting of wood. The apparatus comprises a hydraulic-powered wood splitting assembly operated by an internal combustion engine mounted to a trailer. A horizontal surface worktable is provided all around the upper surface of the wood splitting plane. In such a manner, any wood that is placed upon the platform for splitting does not fall off after splitting is complete. This allows the user to reposition any remaining sections of wood for additional splitting without having to pick them up off the ground. Once completely split, the wood can be directed to the side of the table or platform for stacking or transportation. The apparatus further comprises a log boom with a grappler attached to a far end for moving and manipulating felled logs.
US07913724B2
An inflation device for inflating containers with non-rigid walls such as bags, which includes a body having a venturi shaped air channel. First and second air inlets lead into the air channel, with an outlet being adapted to allow air to exit from the air channel for inflating a container when joined to the outlet. The second inlet is adapted to be closed by a self-closing valve if air does not flow through the air channel. A sensor associated with the body is adapted to detect when a container, such as a bag, joined to the body has been filled to a predetermined degree and then causes the flow of air through the air channel to be interrupted.
US07913723B2
The invention relates to a method for filling a container with gas, gas being inserted into the container under compression. In order to be able to fill the container with a larger amount of gas than before and to reduce gas pressure peaks during filling, it is proposed according to the invention that electrically conducting stretched material is inserted into the container before it is filled with gas. Furthermore, the invention relates to a gas container (1), in particular a high-pressure gas cylinder, for storing gases under pressures exceeding 50 bar, in particular exceeding 200 bar, which contains electrically conducting stretched material (11). With gas containers (1) according to the invention, a higher filling level is achieved than before with a given pressure. Containers with a small wall thickness can be used without a safety risk because of a reduction of gas pressure peaks in the interior of containers.
US07913717B2
The invention can be used in pipelines, any devices, man holes and arrangements, at any pressures and working conditions for closable large-diameter pipes. The object of the present invention is to improve serviceability of a gate. The inventive gate comprises a lid consisting of a flange and a bottom which is caved-in inwards the pipe, a sleeve provided with a supporting ring which is welded to the bottom, arresting elements in the form of sectors inserted into a circular recess of the pipe when they are radially displaced on the flange along clamping bolts and on the supporting ring by the action of the inclined surface of a drive nut, are arranged on the end face of the flange and on the supporting ring. The nut is embodied in the form of a truncated pyramid provided with T-slots on lateral surfaces thereof. The sectors are provided with T-shaped tenons enabling movement of the sectors along the end surfaces of strengthening ribs, control markers are mounted on the sectors, a locking plate provided with a lever, said plate lowering into a gap embodied between the sectors and locking them by the action of a pneumatic cylinder in the presence of excessive pressure inside a closable pipe is arranged inside the lid. The nut may be embodied in the form of a truncated cone. The lid is mounted on articulated joints; the pipe with the lid is covered by a casing.
US07913716B2
A sealing element including a tube-shaped body of metallic material and first and second male sealing members arranged at a respective end of the body. At least two intermediate members are arranged in series in the body between the first and second male sealing members. Each one of the intermediate members is compressible so as to be capable to store elastic energy when the body is subjected to axial compression and includes a protuberance arranged in the body and extending around the center axis of the body. A coupling device provided with such a sealing element.
US07913715B2
A relief valve includes a body, a damping chamber in the body, a poppet in the body, wherein the poppet includes an end in the damping chamber, and a check valve in the damping chamber. The damping chamber is located adjacent an inlet side of the relief valve, and the check valve includes a sealing member to prevent fluid flow into the damping chamber at the inlet side. The sealing member is unseated during opening of the poppet to permit fluid to flow into the damping chamber at the inlet side.
US07913705B2
The present invention is related to an improved cleaning cup arrangement for CMP systems that efficiently and effectively removes most, if not all, of any slurry material present on the abrasive conditioning disk and conditioner head as they are resting in the cup between conditioning cycles. The cleaning cup of the present invention includes an underside water knife for directing a high velocity stream of cleaning fluid against the rotating abrasive disk (or conditioning brush, which may be used instead of a disk) surface, and at least a pair of spray stems for directing columns of cleaning fluid with sufficient cleaning force against all exposed portions of the conditioner head.
US07913696B2
A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal. The device includes a body having a body ear end, an opposite body user end, and a shaft extending from the ear end to the user end. A resilient bladder is joined with the body ear end and a chamber is defined inside the resilient bladder. An elongate plunger is located in the shaft. The resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position and an in-ear position. The elongate plunger actuates between the at-rest position and an insertion position to assist the resilient bladder to be deformed into the in-ear position. The plunger actuates in the insertion position without extending a front end portion of the bladder forward of a position of the front end portion when the bladder is in the at-rest position.
US07913694B2
Protective shield and protective or ornamental cover for protecting the vulva and labia minora of a female. The protective shield is shaped to conform to the outer shape of the labia minora and protects the vulva of a female user.
US07913689B2
Components of a CPAP or other patient ventilation apparatus have a remotely-readable identification tag encoded with component identification data. The flow generator controller 40 is programmed to receive data derived from the identification tag from a tag reader, and to adapt functions of the flow controller to coordinate with the component.
US07913687B2
An oral airway for providing an air passage to a patient's trachea. The oral airway includes a curved section and a straight section with the curved section having spaced-apart curved upper and lower members and the straight section having spaced-apart planar upper and lower members with the same width. The curved upper member has the same width as the planar upper member with the curved lower member having a greater width than the width of the lower planar member. The width of the curved lower member is greater than the width of the planar lower member and the distance between the curved upper and lower members is greater than the distance between the planar upper and lower members. The curved lower member has a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section.
US07913683B2
A radiant tube heater has a tubular arrangement with an air duct portion forming a combustion air passage and a radiant tube portion which is heated by and surrounds a laminar flame. An inlet end of the air duct portion receives combustion air from a blower. A burner assembly mounted in the air duct portion includes a burner nozzle and a burner head for mixing gas and combustion air, this head having an inlet portion and an outlet portion wider than the inlet portion. A perforated restricting plate is mounted in the air duct portion and extends around the burner head. Air holes in this plate are sized and distributed so that the plate increases flow of combustion air through openings formed in the side of the inlet portion and allows combustion air to flow in the annular passage between the outlet portion and the air duct portion.
US07913679B2
A valve assembly according to the present invention includes a valve housing having a first end and a second end. A selectively closeable flow path runs through the valve housing. A valve body is disposed in the valve housing. The valve body is moveable from a first position closing the flow path to a second position opening the flow path. The valve body has a channel therethrough. A secondary chamber is provided adjacent the valve body in communication with the channel. An exhaust port is provided in communication with the secondary chamber. A solenoid is provided adjacent the secondary exhaust port, the solenoid adapted to selectively open the secondary exhaust port. A compressed gas gun employing the valve assembly is also provided.
US07913678B2
An arrow rest that contains the arrow shaft before, during, and after the shot. To give the archer a precise, accurate shot, pull-away support fingers 120 degrees apart move in a self centering radial motion towards the center of the arrow shaft when the archer draws the bow to full draw and simultaneously pull away from the arrow shaft in a simultaneous radial motion to give complete clearance to the arrow shaft and its vanes or fletching once released from full draw.
US07913669B2
A method of controlling a cylinder deactivation system is disclosed. Information from one or more sensors is received by a control unit. The control unit compares the current values of a parameter with one or more prohibited ranges in order to determine if cylinder deactivation should be prohibited. The one or more prohibited ranges are discrete ranges, each with a lower limit and an upper limit.
US07913666B2
In order to reduce the quantity deviation of a fuel injection valve, it is proposed according to the various embodiments that a test injection be carried out during an overrun cut-off phase of a motor vehicle in operation. In the process, the fuel rail (2) is closed on the inlet side and the selected injection valve (1) is activated. A quantity difference between the predetermined setpoint and the actual value can be determined by measuring a pressure difference in the fuel rail (2) before and after the test injection. This results in a correction factor with which the activation for the selected injection valve (1) is corrected for subsequent injections.
US07913663B2
A rotary piston machine 10 includes an enclosure 12 having a cavity 14 therein with arcuate side walls 16a,b,c defining a plurality of arcuate recesses 18a,b,c and a piston member 20 rotationally disposed in the cavity 14. The piston member 20 includes opposite ends 42 and 43 configured to rotationally engage the arcuate side walls 16a,b,c and the arcuate recesses 18a,b,c such that compression chambers 26a,b,c are ultimately formed via the piston member ends 42 and 43 cooperatively engaging two arcuate recesses 18a,b,c. The two piston member ends 42 and 43 each including first and second arcuate edges 44 and 46 that sequentially engage cooperating first and second edge portions 50a,b,c and 52a,b,c of respective arcuate recesses 18a,b,c, resulting in two relatively large seals between one end of the piston member 20 and an arcuate recess 18a,b,c during rotation of the piston member 20 until forming compression chambers 26a,b,c, thereby preventing a fuel-air mixture from “leaking” during the formation of the compression chambers 26a,b,c, resulting in maximum power output from the rotary piston machine 10.
US07913662B2
An engine includes engine valves disposed on intake and exhaust sides of a combustion chambers with a valve operating device for opening and closing the engine valves and an engine valve disabling mechanism for disabling opening and closing movement of the engine valves in response to hydraulic pressure. An oil pump is disposed in a lower portion of the crankcase, for supplying hydraulic pressure to the engine valve disabling mechanism. A hydraulic pressure control valve controls the supply of hydraulic pressure to the engine valve disabling mechanism depending on a vehicle operating state. An oil passage extends to the hydraulic pressure control valve and can easily be formed without affecting mounts for functional components. A pipe for delivering working oil from the lower portion of the crankcase to the hydraulic pressure control valve is disposed on a front surface of the engine.
US07913652B1
An elevating animal bathing tub having an elevating platform and a tub formed of light weight strong material secured to the platform. The tub is provided with a downward directed skirt and the elevating platform is provided with an upward directed skirt that telescopes with the skirt on the tub to shield the elevating apparatus. The tub is provided with an entry cutout so that when the tub is in the lowered position an animal to be bathed can easily enter the tub. The tub is configured to accept utilities and attachments specific to the tasks to which the tub is to serve.
US07913651B1
An animal and gear transportation system for positioning in a cargo space of a vehicle is disclosed. The system may comprise a kennel module including a base portion mountable on a bed of the cargo space, and the base portion is elongate with opposite ends. The kennel module may include a containment portion defining an interior capable of receiving an animal, with the containment portion being mounted on the base portion and being elongate with opposite ends and sides extending between the ends. The containment portion may be slidable with respect to the base portion such that the containment portion is movable between a retracted position in which the containment portion is substantially fully positioned over the base portion, and an extended position in which the containment portion is at partially cantilevered with respect to the base portion.
US07913650B2
Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.
US07913648B2
A water drinking container for animals is provided with which the temperature of water placed therein can be suppressed over a long period of time, especially during a period of high air temperature, to make water readily drinkable for a dog or other animal to weak from heat and make it easy for the animal to weather the heat by adequate hydration, the water drinking container being simple in arrangement, being available inexpensively, and including: a water container, having an upwardly-open, water containing recess; a cold reserving material, contained in a bag or a plastic case; and a cold reserving material container, holding the cold reserving material in a state of contact with a bottom rear surface of the water containing recess of the water container.
US07913647B1
An animal food dispenser is disclosed. The animal food dispenser includes a base having a base interior and a dispensing slot communicating with the base interior. A food hopper having a hopper interior is provided on the base. A food opening is provided between the hopper interior and the base interior. A food tray pivotally mounted in the hopper adjacent to the food opening is pivotal between closed and opened positions. A water dispenser is also disclosed.
US07913646B2
The invention provides a vacuum processing apparatus having a function for removing particles on the surface of the sample stage in order to improve the yield of the sample being processed. The vacuum processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber 104 disposed in a vacuum reactor and having plasma formed in the interior thereof, a sample stage 113 placed below the processing chamber 104 and having a sample 102 to be processed placed on the upper plane thereof for processing, and a gas introducing mechanism placed at an upper portion of the processing chamber 104 and having introduction holes for introducing processing gas into the processing chamber, wherein the sample stage 113 comprises grooves 117 and a gas supply port 119 for introducing thermal conductance gas 118 between the sample stage and the sample 102 to be processed, and a mechanism for introducing dust removal gas 120 through the gas supply port 119 between the sample stage 113 and the sample 102 to be processed or a dummy sample 202 having substantially the same shape as the sample to be processed placed on the sample stage 113 within the vacuum reactor, by which particles 201 attached to the sample stage 113 are removed via hydrodynamic force by the dust removal gas 120.
US07913644B2
An electroless deposition system includes a deposition solution, and saturating the deposition solution with an oxygen concentration in a range from about two thousand parts per million to about twenty thousand parts per million.
US07913638B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a wasp repellent device comprising a suspension member operatively connected to a closed end of a bag. The bag has a skirt extending from the closed end of the bag to a mouth of the bag, with a drawstring for contracting the mouth of the bag to give the bag the approximate shape of an inverted cone. The exterior of the bag is provided with a striated pattern and, in use, the bag imitates the appearance of a wasp nest.
US07913637B2
A boat comprising an assembled modular seat formed from two individual, modular seating components. Each seating component includes a base and a seating frame secured thereto. The seating frame further includes a front wall, a back wall, and a connecting structure extending therebetween. The connecting structure forms a void or depression extending substantially entirely between the front wall and the back wall of the seating frame. Extending from the front wall to the back wall and across the depression formed by the connecting structure is a layer of tightly stretched, resiliently extensible fabric support material. The support material, which may be attached directly to the seating frame, can then be covered by cushioning material and/or a final covering, such as foam and/or vinyl, respectively, to form the final seating surface.
US07913635B2
A water craft including a hull having a main longitudinal axis defining a direction of travel of the craft, a plurality of discs mounted at respective opposed sides of the main longitudinal axis to and below the hull and in combination having sufficient buoyancy to support the hull above the water, each disc comprising an essentially circular convex skimming surface adapted to skim upon the water as the craft moves at low speed, wherein the discs are mounted to the hull such that the skimming surface of each disc faces downwardly with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the hull, and adapted for movement between a low speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the circular convex skimming surface to the water surface and a high speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the edge of the disc to the water.
US07913625B2
An ammunition round assembly with alternate load path is disclosed herein. The ammunition round assembly includes a projectile, a body engaging the projectile, and a non-combustible base at least partially enclosing the body. A structural member having first and second engagement portions opposite to each other is positioned inside an interior space defined by the body and the base. The first engagement portion firmly engages the base, and the second engagement portion firmly engages the projectile to provide an alternate load path between the projectile and the base.
US07913617B1
A container with a door forms an operating chamber. A crushing zone within the chamber is defined below by a support and above by a vertically reciprocable ram. A driving assembly raises and lowers the ram to compact a plastic bottle in the crushing zone. A heating element softens the plastic bottle. A programmer is operatively coupled to a plurality of controls for receiving operating instructions and to the heating element and the driving assembly to thereby cause an appropriate cycle of operation for crushing and compacting the plastic bottle.
US07913614B2
An object is to provide a milk foamer capable of smoothly and securely managing hygiene of a suction tube which sucks milk from a milk storage section. The milk foamer sucks the milk from a milk pack via the suction tube and mixes the milk and air with the milker to produce milk foam. The milk foamer includes a control unit which controls the production of the milk foam, and a cleaning unit which executes a cleaning operation of a route extending from the suction tube to the milker. The control unit prohibits the production of the milk foam and instructs the cleaning unit to execute the cleaning operation, in a case where a predetermined time elapses from the previous production of the milk foam.
US07913612B2
In an actuator control device that controls an expansion/contraction operation of a hydraulic cylinder, when a main spool 52 is switched to a discharge position for discharging working fluid in the hydraulic cylinder, a back pressure chamber 7 communicates with a tank passage 13 via a first port 14, thereby opening an operate check valve 51, and as a result, the working fluid in the hydraulic cylinder flows into a return passage 4 from an actuator port 1 and into a pilot chamber 20 through a second port 15. A pilot spool 53 is maintained in a balanced position by the pressure of the pilot chamber 20, which is caused to act by a front-rear differential pressure of a control throttle 25, and the biasing force of a spring 22 housed in a spring chamber 21, and therefore the opening area of the first port 14 is controlled to and maintained at a fixed level.
US07913610B2
An ammunition retainer apparatus for restraining a continuous belt of linked ammunition cartridges loaded into bays of an ammunition box or magazine from flowing over a divider wall from a first bay to a second bay adjacent to the first bay. The ammunition retainer apparatus comprises an elongated body having on a first side, a first pair of tabs rigidly attached to the body and protruding from the body in a first direction, and on a second side, a second pair of tabs rigidly attached to the body and protruding from the body in a second direction.
US07913605B2
This missile launcher is characterized in that the cells do not extend in rows parallel to an elongated chimney, but by surrounding a central chimney, providing a more compact and especially lighter arrangement with identical resistance conditions.
US07913602B2
A method for cutting a ribbon of rubber-coated fabric includes dragging a free end of the ribbon past a working position of a punching device, forming a notch between two adjacent reinforcing cords of the ribbon using the punching device, moving a counter-blade of the punching device away from the working position, inserting at least one cutting blade through the notch, and performing first and second cuts of the ribbon. An associated apparatus includes a punching device and a cutting device. The punching device includes an incision tool, an abutting counter-blade, and control devices for moving the incision tool and the abutting counter-blade toward and away from the ribbon. The cutting device includes at least one cutting blade and a control device for moving the at least one cutting blade toward and away from the ribbon.
US07913601B2
A saw blade, such as a bandsaw blade, has a toothform pattern that includes a raker tooth and set teeth. The bandsaw blade teeth are configured such that a distance from a tooth point of the raker tooth to a tooth point of an immediately preceding set tooth is the smallest tooth spacing in the saw blade toothform pattern. With the use of a smaller spacing, the raker tooth removes the smallest chip thickness from a work piece relative to the chip thicknesses removed by the set teeth. This reduces the amount of load imposed on the raker tooth point. In one arrangement, in order to balance the forces on either side of the blade during operation, the saw blade is configured such that an accumulated pitch of the tooth points set to a first side of the blade are substantially equal to the accumulated pitch of the tooth points set to a second opposing side of the blade.
US07913591B2
A multipurpose tool is provided that includes a carabiner and that is designed to fold into a closed position that is relatively compact. As such, the carabiner of the multipurpose tool can be utilized to secure the multipurpose tool to a user, such as to a belt loop or the like, while permitting the multipurpose tool to be folded into a compact form. A handle that includes a carabiner and that can be utilized by such a multipurpose tool as well as a method of forming the handle are also provided. Still further, a multipurpose tool is provided that includes a handle defining a pocket for storing at least one bit in instances in which the bit is not engaged by the bit driver, thereby reducing the likelihood that the bit will be lost or otherwise separated from the multipurpose tool.
US07913590B2
A socket apparatus includes a socket, at least one detent and an elastic element. The socket includes a bit-receiving recess in an end, a mandrel-receiving recess in an opposite end, at least one vent in communication with the mandrel-receiving recess and at least one aperture in communication with the mandrel-receiving recess. The detent is inserted in the aperture so that the detent includes a portion disposed in the mandrel-receiving recess. The elastic element is used to bias and keep the detent in the aperture.
US07913587B2
An engine (internal combustion engine), in accordance with an embodiment, includes: a crankcase; a crankshaft accommodated in the crankcase; a first crank gear and a second crank gear disposed inside the crankcase to rotate about the crankshaft; a balancer gear meshed with the first crank gear to rotate as the first crank gear rotates; and a water pump part having a water pump gear. The water pump gear is meshed with the second crank gear to rotate as the second crank gear rotates. The balancer gear and the water pump gear are disposed to overlap each other as viewed from an end of the crankshaft.
US07913584B2
A support arm for a clamping and/or centering element of a gripper frame for holding three-dimensional components includes an adjustment mechanism, such as a ball that can pivot or a cylindrical pin that slide and rotate, held in a clamping and release unit with clamping jaws that can be radially clamped and are configured as shells engaging on opposing halves of the ball or the cylindrical pin and whose separation distance can be set by a means of adjustment. A radially directed compression force can be applied to the clamping jaws by a ring-shaped hydraulic force generator that is arranged about the jaws.
US07913577B2
A flow meter may include a case body formed with a fluid space in its inside, an impeller disposed in the fluid space, a detected part integrally provided in the impeller, a detecting part provided with detecting terminals for detecting the detected part, terminal pins which is provided with terminal contact parts, which are electrically connected with the detecting terminals of the detecting part, and connector parts with which a connector for outputting an electric signal to an outside is connected, and a holder to which the terminal pins are fixed and which is detachably held by the case body through a holder holding part provided in the case body. The detecting part and the terminal contact parts are held between the case body and the holder by attaching the holder to the case body so that the terminal contact parts are contacted with the detecting terminals.
US07913576B1
A flow scale apparatus includes a substantially vertical flow path along which material can flow, a plurality of spreader baffles substantially aligned horizontally and positioned in the flow path, a plurality of basket baffles located downstream from the spreader baffles in the flow path and substantially aligned horizontally, and a sensor. The basket baffles are secured together and configured to be displaceable such that portions of the material in the flow path contact each of the basket baffles to displace the basket baffles relative to the spreader baffles as a function of a weight of the material in the flow path. The sensor is configured for sensing displacement of the basket baffles and generating an output signal.
US07913572B2
Disclosed is an integrated multi-measurement system for measuring physical properties including thickness, electrical resistance and differential pressure of a gas diffusion layer for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with respect to compression. The integrated multi-measurement system simultaneously measures changes in the physical properties of the gas diffusion layer depending on pressure upon measurement of the physical properties of the gas diffusion layer of the fuel cell and also measures through-plane permeability in which a gas is passed through a sample in a direction perpendicular to the sample and in-plane permeability in which a gas is passed through a sample in a direction parallel to the sample.
US07913568B2
The invention concerns a method of dimensioning and producing stiffened structural components (4) comprising at least one shell component (6) and at least one stiffening component (8) which can be connected thereto, in which the shell component (6) and the at least one stiffening component (8) is dimensioned on the assumption of intactness of the at least one stiffening component and having regard to a predetermined safety factor and/or a predetermined structural inspection interval in which a predetermined maximum crack progression in the shell component is not to be exceeded and/or the strength of the structural component is not to fall below a predetermined minimum residual strength, and in which the at least one stiffening element (8) of the structural component dimensioned by this method is equipped with at least one structural condition sensor (30) for detecting intactness; as well as the use of structural condition sensors in an aircraft, in particular a passenger aircraft.
US07913567B2
A temperature compensating pressure sensor comprises a substrate having sealed channels on which is deposited a CMOS layer; a conductive layer and a passivation layer deposited on the CMOS layer; a conductive active membrane spaced from the conductive layer to form an active chamber, the conductive active membrane having a corrugated cross section; a conductive reference membrane spaced from the conductive layer to form a reference chamber; and a cap which covers the membranes, said cap exposing the active membrane to an outside fluid pressure. The active membrane deflects due to differential stresses so that an active capacitance is developed between the active membrane and the conductive layer depending on the electrical permittivity e of the fluid, with the reference membrane providing a temperature compensating reference capacitance.
US07913566B2
A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process includes a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process. A coil of wire is mounted to the housing and a magnet is configured to move through the coil of wire. The relative movement of the magnet is responsive to vibrations in the industrial process. Such relative movement induces an electrical current in the coil of wire. Electrical circuitry in the housing includes an input to receive the electrical current from the coil of wire.
US07913558B2
Mechanical overloads in a reciprocating gas compressor can cause irreparable damage to compressor components if the source of the overloads is not repaired. A method of detecting mechanical overloads includes applying an overload indicator across an interface between components in the compressor, and observing a mechanical condition of the overload indicator. The mechanical condition of the overload indicator is indicative of whether the compressor experienced a mechanical overload. By placing the indicator in an appropriate location in the compressor, overload conditions can be checked during routine inspections and maintenance checks.
US07913555B2
A method of expanding a tubular downhole comprises mounting a sensing device in a downhole tubular to be expanded, expanding at least a portion of the tubular and then engaging the sensing device with a retrieving device. The sensing device is then translated through the expanded tubular.
US07913552B2
A device for testing the adhesion of a coating to a substrate and a method of using the device are disclosed. The device is adapted to substantially replicate and consistently conduct the adhesion test procedure described in ASTM standards D3359 and F1842. The device includes a support with a source of a pressure sensitive adhesive tape rotatably mounted to the support. A tape dispenser and means to cause the tape to contact a test surface are mounted to the support. Means to remove the tape from the test surface is provided that includes a take-up spool adapted to receive the tape removed from the test surface.
US07913549B2
An intake throttle valve (ITV) position determination module generates a desired ITV position based on at least one of a desired airflow in a regeneration mode and an exhaust braking request in an exhaust braking mode. An ITV position limitation module generates a limited ITV position based on the desired ITV position. A transition module detects a transition from the exhaust braking mode to the regeneration mode, wherein an ITV is controlled to the limited ITV position after the transition is detected.
US07913542B2
A gas sensor assembly detects a constituent in a gaseous stream. The assembly comprises: (a) a mounting surface, (b) a sensor mounted on the mounting surface and sensor capable of generating a detectable signal in the presence of the constituent, and (c) an enclosing structure. The enclosing structure comprises: (i) a walled component having a pair of vertically spaced ends and mounted at one end on the mounting surface so as to circumscribe the sensor, and (ii) a gas-permeable membrane attached at the other end of the walled component, thereby defining an interior volume within said enclosing structure. Flowing the gaseous stream across the membrane infuses a portion of the gaseous stream into said interior volume containing the sensor.
US07913540B2
An apparatus and method are provided for screening odor emitters for one or more target odors. A screening station is adapted to permit an odor emitter, such as a pedestrian or vehicle, to pass through the screening station. An observation room contains a dog trained to identify at least one target odor. An airflow inducer; directs airflow through the screening station. A porous passage allows airflow from the screening station to the observation room. Air flows through the screening station to entrain odors emitted in the screening station and passes through the porous passage for sensing by the dog.
US07913532B2
A manipulator of a metal sheet (4) is disclosed, comprising pickup means (8) for picking up the metal sheet, which pickup means (8) is connected to a rack (3) associable with a first pinion (1) and an operating head (9). The manipulator comprises at least a second pinion (2) and the first (1) and the second (2) pinions are arranged along the movement path of the metal sheet (4); at least one between the first (1) and the second (2) pinions are each time engaged with said rack (3) to move the rack from one part to the other of the operating head (9) (FIG. 2).
US07913527B2
A locking device includes an enclosure having an insertion section formed with two holes for inserting into a connecting port on a computer, and a plurality of windows axially spaced on at least one side of the enclosure; a locking unit arranged in the enclosure and including a rod having axially spaced teeth, a push member connected to one end of the rod and having an engaging portion, a hooking member movably connected to the engaging portion with two hooking arms extended into the two holes on the insertion section; an elastic member located between the push member and the fixing seat; a plurality of rotating discs fitted on the rod corresponding to the windows and each having a plurality of numeral areas and a notch; and at least one push button movably arranged on at least one lateral side of the enclosure to interfere with the push member.
US07913522B2
A steam generator is used in a machine such as a clothes washing machine, a clothes drying machine, a clothes washing and drying machine, and the like and a level sensor is used in the same. More particularly, a level sensor is integrally formed by molding and conveniently assembled in the steam generator. The steam generator includes a case having a space for storing water, and formed with a level sensor insertion hole and a level sensor. The level sensor includes a conductor having a detector positioned in the space for storing the water and a connector electrically connected to the exterior, and a level sensor housing is inserted into the level sensor insertion hole and is integrally formed with the conductor by insert molding.
US07913520B1
In a structure of a spacer fabric and a thickness-controlled knitting method for producing the same are disclosed, the method includes knitting a yarn into a three laminated layer fabric, and the three laminated layer fabric includes a top layer, a middle layer and a bottom layer, wherein the middle layer has one end connected with the top layer and the other end connected with the bottom layer; and the spacer fabric has its thickness determined by a length and a knitted angle of the yarn of the middle layer; when in the knitting process, the length of each yarn of the middle layer is gradually decreased/increased and the knitted angle of each yarn of the middle layer is varied, thereby gradually increasing or decreasing the thickness of the spacer fabric.
US07913518B2
A process and a device for pushing hollow glass objects off a glass forming machine onto a moving conveyor belt are disclosed. Each hollow glass object is pushed by a push-off unit from a dead plate along a curved path onto the conveyor belt in such a way that the curved path is brought tangentially to a contact point in a movement direction of the conveyor belt. Subsequent to the contact point each hollow glass object is pushed further by the push-off unit by a further linear path portion in the movement direction of the conveyor belt as far as a release point at which the push-off unit is released from the hollow glass object. The push-off unit is then moved back to dead plate.
US07913516B2
A crystalline glass with a characteristic of precipitating crystals from the surface of the crystalline glass to the interior thereof when it is being heated at a temperature higher than the softening point is used in the invention. A plurality of small crystalline glass masses 12 are accumulated and leveled in a fireproof mold coated with a mold release agent, and two crystalline glass plates 14A and 14B cut in an S shape are placed on the accumulated surface of the small crystalline glass masses 12 with the cut faces tightly bonded. A heat treatment is then performed to obtain a crystallized glass article having patterns. The crystalline glass plate can be cut into any shape to tightly bond the cut faces, and therefore the obtained crystallized glass articles have different patterns like natural-marble-like patterns, human figure patterns, animal patterns, etc. The invention also discloses a method of producing crystallized articles having patterns.
US07913514B2
A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.
US07913512B2
A heat exchanger comprises a first tube having a first fin of a first predetermined height extending outward therefrom. A second tube is vertically spaced above the first tube. The second tube has a second fin of a second predetermined height extending outward therefrom. A fan is positioned to force ambient air across the second tube and then across the first tube to heat a fluid flowing therethrough. A method of heating a fluid comprises sequentially flowing the fluid upward through a plurality of vertically spaced rows of substantially horizontal tubes, and forcing air downward over the plurality of tubes to heat the fluid.
US07913511B2
A cargo container includes an outer aluminum shell or housing having side, rear, bottom and top walls and a front opening with a pair of hinged doors. The housing receives a molded box-shaped composite outer shell which receives a molded box-shaped composite inner shell defining a cargo chamber. Corresponding walls of the inner and outer shells and the doors confine insulation cassettes each including vacuum insulation panels forming layers, all protected by plastic sheets and plastic film. Air is circulated by blowers within the chamber through a refrigeration evaporator and electrical heating elements, and a rear portion of the housing encloses operating components including a refrigeration compressor, storage batteries and exhaust fans. A control system senses temperature within the chamber and smoke and humidity outside the container and controls the operation of the compressor, exhaust fans and other components from storage batteries or an external power source.
US07913507B2
An electronic equipment cooling system of the invention comprises: a heat receiver; a closed refrigerant circulation path (including: the heat receiver; a refrigerant condenser; a refrigerant pump; and a refrigerant tank); and a closed gas circulation path (including: the heat receiver; the refrigerant condenser; and a blower). The heat receiver includes: a heat receiver base contacting a heat generating component; a box; a gas flow space surrounded by the heat receiver base and box; a refrigerant inlet through which a liquid refrigerant dribbles down along an internal surface of the heat receiver base; a liquid refrigerant spreader used for spreading the liquid refrigerant thereacross and having a mesh portion with an opening for passing a vapor of the refrigerant into the gas flow space; a gas inlet through which a gas is fed from the blower; and a gas outlet for venting the gas containing the vapor of the refrigerant.
US07913506B2
A refrigeration system includes a medium temperature subsystem circulating a coolant in a closed loop between at least one medium temperature chiller and at least one medium temperature load and at least one cascade heat exchanger, and a low temperature subsystem circulating a coolant in a closed loop between at least one low temperature chiller and at least one low temperature load. A cooling circuit is provided for circulating a coolant and includes a first pump and a second pump and a fluid cooler and a valve, and interfaces with the medium temperature chiller and the low temperature chiller. The valve is movable to a closed position to define a first flow path and a second flow path, where the first flow path includes the first pump and the medium temperature chiller and fluid cooler, and the second flow path including the second pump and the low temperature chiller and the cascade heat exchanger.
US07913505B2
A work vehicle comprises a plurality of wheels; a vehicle body supported by the plurality of wheels and having a cabin, a front half region and a rear half region; an engine located in the rear half region of the vehicle body; and an air conditioning unit located in a lower forward region of the cabin and having an evaporator and a fan.
US07913496B2
An apparatus and method are provided for pumping a cryogenic fluid from a storage vessel. The cryogenic fluid is pumped from the storage vessel to a heat exchanger and then to a delivery conduit. A pressure sensor measures fluid pressure in the delivery conduit. An electronic controller is programmed to monitor a signal from the pressure sensor, process the signal to determine from the measured process fluid pressure when cryogenic pump performance is degraded, and to send a signal to an operator of the apparatus indicating when the electronic controller determines that cryogenic pump performance has degraded below a predetermined threshold volumetric efficiency.
US07913494B2
A burner 1 for combustion chamber is provided with a cylindrical mixing portion 3 that mixes air for combustion (oxidizing agent) and fuel in the interior thereof and has one end 3a that opens to a combustion portion 2; a spray nozzle (fuel spraying portion) 5 that sprays fuel in the mixing portion 3, being disposed on another end 3b of the mixing portion 3; first blowing ports 6 that introduce the air for combustion to the mixing portion 3 to form a swirling flow with the fuel, being disposed to open to the inner wall of the mixing portion 3; and second blowing ports 7 that additionally introduce the air for combustion to the mixing portion 3, opening in a direction different from the first blowing ports 6 and being disposed further to the other end 3b side of the mixing portion 3 than the swirling flow. The burner for combustion chamber and combustion method of the present invention can shorten the flame length in the central axial direction by improving the combustion efficiency even during low loading and shorten the overall length of the burner for combustion chamber in the central axial direction.
US07913490B2
A hydraulic circuit for a construction machine is disclosed, which can prevent an energy loss of a hydraulic system by automatically reducing revolution of an engine when a working device such as a boom is not driven. The hydraulic circuit includes first to third hydraulic pumps, first to third switching valves for controlling hydraulic fluid fed to working devices, a fourth switching valve for controlling hydraulic fluid fed to left and right traveling devices, a confluence switching valve for selectively supply the hydraulic fluid from the third hydraulic pump to either the working devices on the first hydraulic pump side or the working devices on the second hydraulic pump side, a signal line for traveling devices, signal lines for working devices, and a shuttle valve for selecting any one of the signal pressure formed in the signal line for the traveling devices and the signal pressure formed in the signal lines for the working devices.
US07913489B2
A component for a vehicular exhaust pipe includes an upstream venturi forming portion for creating at least a partial vacuum interior to the component. A downstream diverter housing portion of the component has an inlet coupled to an outlet of the venturi portion. The diverter housing portion includes the diverter element positioned adjacent an output of the diverter housing portion for forcing axially central exhaust flow radially outward toward a wall of the diverter housing. The partial vacuum in the component device causes colder environmental ambient air to enter an inlet of the component. The diverter also creates a mixture of hot exhaust flow with the colder environmental air, resulting in a lower temperature of the exhaust gas exiting the component and substantial elimination of centrally disposed exhaust hot spots.
US07913482B2
A bale shape monitor for assisting an operator of a round baler. The bale shape monitor has an indicator with variable sensitivity. The indicator is less sensitive for small bales and more sensitive for larger bales so that the indicator de-emphasizes bale shape problems at the beginning of bale formation and emphasizes bale shape problems when the bale is almost fully formed. The indicator also changes colors according to the degree the bale is misshapen and provides textual driving instructions.
US07913478B2
Food service set assembly systems and methods include delivery of one or more utensils and a napkin to a receiving cradle where they are grasped by two fingers attached to a rotatable shaft and wound to a desired tension. Utensils are delivered to the receiving cradle is a uniform alignment via a gravity driven system. Sterilization of the utensils can also be provided. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US07913470B2
An insulating strip is configured to support two profiles or frames in a spaced relationship. The insulating strip includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction and has at least first and second longitudinal edges. The longitudinal edges are configured to be connected with the respective frames or profiles in a shear-resistant manner. Openings penetrate through one or more walls of the body and one or more struts separate the openings from each other in the longitudinal direction of the body. The body further comprises at least one attachment structure configured to retain a covering profile configured to cover the openings. The covering profile may be integral with the insulating strip body or may be a separate part. A composite structural unit comprises two frames supported in a spaced relationship by such an insulating strip.
US07913465B2
An expandable frame for a storm door mounted onto the header and door jamb in an entrance, a frame kit, and method of installation. The expandable frame includes an expandable header assembly, an expandable lock-side assembly and a hinge-side piece. The header assembly includes a frame mount and a header stop mounted onto the underside of the header, the hinge-side piece is mounted vertically against the door jamb on one side of the entry, and the lock-side assembly includes a lock-side stop and a frame mount mounted vertically onto the door jamb opposite the hinge section. A user can adjust the position of the header assembly and lock-side assembly to accommodate a door having smaller dimensions than the height and width of the entrance.
US07913462B2
The present invention provides structural members for buildings, methods for using the same, and building structures comprising such structural members. In particular, the present invention provides buildings that can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, high winds such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and other natural disasters.
US07913458B2
A gutter shield device for mounting to a rain gutter is provided. The gutter shield device includes an elongated body comprising a first body portion; a second body portion; and an intermediate body portion disposed between and connected to the first and second body portions. The intermediate body portion defines a surface and includes a plurality of extending portions extending in a direction away from the surface to define a plurality of openings in the surface. The gutter shield device further comprises a filter element secured to the intermediate body portion. A surface of the filter element is arranged adjacent to the openings. A filtration element adapted to be mounted to a rain gutter is also provided. The filtration element comprises a plurality of interwoven threads defining a first substantially planar surface and at least one substantially planar extending portion extending at an angle to the first substantially planar surface. The at least one substantially planar extending portion may be a folded portion.
US07913448B2
A trap for crabs or lobsters has a mesh extending over a trap frame, with at least one inlet opening provided with a one-way inlet gate spaced apart pins which are pivotable between open and closed positions. Pin retainers prevent spreading of the pins apart from one another when the pins are in the closed position and an undersized crab outlet opening, dimensioned to allow undersized crab or lobsters to escape from the interior chamber, is provided at a side of the trap and at the bottom of the trap. The frame includes an top peripheral frame portion and finger grip openings at the underside of the trap frame. The one-way inlet gate has first and second sets of spaced apart pins, each set being pivotable independently of the other between open and closed positions. Also, the one-way inlet gate has pairs of pins which are pivotable between the open and closed positions, each pair being formed by parallel legs of a U-shaped length of wire, with retainers engaging the legs of each pair to prevent spreading of the legs.
US07913436B2
An omni-directional display technology allows for obtaining better display effect and more rational dynamical structure through adopting the assembly of two or more rotating and symmetrical configurable structure of display which is fitted with a blankoff device, comprising: one chassis (12), one rotating display part consisting of a display (1) which is fitted with a blankoff device (3) in front of the display plane, and one vertical rotary driving device (11) fitted on the chassis. This driving device is connected to the rotating display part, comprised of two or more displays which are equipped with blankoff devices and distributed around the vertical axial line, which will, when driven by the vertical rotary driving device, rotate around a vertical axial line (L) and thus realize omni-directional display. This display system is featured by high display brightness, low rotating speed, fine integrity, rational dynamical structure, safe and reliable running, and other advantages.
US07913425B2
A convertible shoe having a shoe body and a shoe sole. An air channel formed in said shoe sole including pressurized air inlet and air exhaust. An elongated pocket or multiple individual pockets in the bottom of the shoe sole and along said air channel. A flexible wall portion between said air channel and pocket that expands into the pocket(s) upon pressurization of said air channel. A protrusion affixed to said flexible wall portion and which extends out of said pocket and into engagement with a support surface when said air channel is pressurized.
US07913420B2
Footwear having a textured surface. The footwear may have an upper, where at least a portion of the footwear upper has a textured surface. The textured surface may be formed, at least in part, by contoured structures. These contoured structures may define a group of alternating peaks and troughs extending in two orthogonal directions. The textured surface may optionally include apertures that will allow air to pass through the upper into the shoe, and allow moisture to expire from the inside of the shoe into the air.
US07913408B2
A chalk line hook is constructed and arranged to connect with an identical chalk line hook to provide a chalk line having a length of two chalk lines. The chalk line hook includes a connector portion, an anchor portion, and a lock portion. The connector portion is constructed and arranged to connect with a free end of the chalk line. The anchor portion is operatively joined with the connector portion for anchoring the hook. The lock portion is constructed and arranged to lockingly engage with a captured portion of the identical chalk line hook.
US07913406B2
A hands-free measuring instrument is disclosed. The disclosed instrument includes an upright member extending perpendicularly from a base member. At least one magnet is affixed to the instrument to facilitate the mounting thereof on a ferrous workpiece. The disclosed instrument includes at least one bubble level disposed thereupon. Graduations may be provided on the instrument to facilitate measurement of linear distances. Embodiments are provided wherein a spring-loaded spike is disposed within the instrument that is adapted to secure the measuring instrument to a workpiece which may be non-ferrous. The spike assembly may be configured to work with commonly used building materials, e.g., wood, drywall, masonry, and sheet metal surfaces.
US07913405B2
One embodiment of the present invention concerns a target for use with a measuring instrument in distance measuring and surveying applications. The target includes a base element, at least one light reflecting area arranged at the base element, the at least one light reflecting area being arranged to reflect light beams being incident in an angular area of substantially 360° degrees in plane, and an identification unit arranged at the base element and being adapted to emit signals having predetermined characteristics, wherein the predetermined characteristics may be used to identify the target.
US07913404B1
An alignment tool and method is disclosed for use in aligning wheels of trucks and truck trailers. The tool includes at least one self-leveling laser for checking wheel alignment. The self-leveling laser includes a body, an attachment member and a laser. The attachment member secures the alignment tool to the vehicle or trailer and the alignment tool provides for self-leveling to enable a user to make various predetermined measurements from the laser marking “+” when aligning the wheels of the vehicle or trailer. The alignment tool also may include a fifth wheel adapter for attaching the alignment tool to a fifth wheel pin of a truck trailer when checking the alignment of a truck trailer.
US07913403B1
An apparatus for the cutting of tree limbs includes an extensible drive shaft that is detachably-attachable at one end to a portable electric drill and is secured to a housing at an opposite end thereof. The housing converts the rotary motion that is supplied by the drill into reciprocating motion of a saw blade and it disposes the saw blade at an angle with respect to the drive shaft that is slightly less than 90 degrees. An extensible two-part cylindrical outer sleeve covers the drive shaft and is detachably-attached at one end thereof to the drill and at an opposite end to the housing. A hook is provided in the housing and is used to grab and urge severed limbs where desired. An optional clamping mechanism is attached to the housing and is used initially to urge the blade and the limb toward each other during cutting and then to retain the limb proximate the housing after it has been cut for controlled placement and safe release of the limb.
US07913401B2
A three-in-one cutting head for a rotary trimmer usable with discrete lengths of string, flail blades, and fan blades is provided. The present disclosure represents an improvement over presently existing multi-purpose trimmer heads in that there is no requirement for the trimmer head to be disassembled in order to change the different blades or strings. The cutting head being selectively rotationally driven through a drive shaft includes a generally cylindrical body having first and second pairs of diametrically opposed apertures disposed on a periphery of the body; at least one clamping member disposed in the body adjacent to each aperture of the first diametrically opposed pair configured for releasably retaining at least one cutting string; and at least one holding member disposed in the body adjacent to each aperture of the second diametrically opposed pair configured for releasably retaining at least one blade.
US07913399B2
A blade set for hair clipper which has a lower fixed blade, an upper fixed blade, a movable blade assembly and a blade holder. The movable blade assembly is disposed in between the lower fixed blade and the upper fixed blade and is connected to a driving means driven by a driving unit in the hair clipper to reciprocate laterally relative to the lower fixed blade and the upper fixed blade in an operating condition. A third toothed front edge is provided at a front end of the movable blade assembly. A lower portion of the third toothed front edge cooperates with an upper portion of the first toothed front edge to define a first cutting surface. An upper portion of third toothed front edge cooperates with a lower portion of the second toothed front edge to define a second cutting surface.
US07913397B2
A folding pocket utility knife includes a front handle, and a rear handle pivotally mounted to the front handle via a pivot. The rear handle contains a cavity configured to contain at least a portion of the front handle within the cavity. A blade holder is mounted inside the front handle for holding a blade, and a bendable blade strap is attached to the blade holder and to the rear handle. The blade strap extends around an outer circumference of the pivot to move the blade holder from a closed position where the front handle is in the cavity and the blade is completely within the front handle, to an open position where the front handle is not in the cavity and the blade extends from a terminal end of the front handle.
US07913391B1
A nail clipper apparatus formed of thick steel and having a broad textured contoured handle lever providing a slip-free surface which substantially conforms to a user's thumb and which is at angle an angle to an upper arm in a range of about 0 to 30 degrees thereby increasing gripping capacity, an aperture accommodating passage of a chain therethrough and also providing a nail file. The nail clipper may also provide a curved nail length determining gauge member as a depth stop feature provided in range of predefined increments thereby accommodating a desired nail length trimming position.
US07913386B2
Flat gasket comprising a first sheet metal layer consisting of a spring steel and a second sheet metal layer consisting of a ductile steel, the first layer being provided with a sealing bead, and the second layer being provided in an edge area bordering on an edge of the layer with a thickened zone as supporting element for receiving pressing forces; to increase the design possibilities for such a supporting element, the latter is formed by at least one elongate arch of the second layer, which is stamped into the edge area of the second layer and extends approximately parallel to the free edge of the edge area, the arch being compressed in such a way that the metal volume of the supporting element is at least three times the total hollow space volume which the supporting element and two tangential planes abutting on the latter and extending parallel to the plane of the second layer include between them.
US07913383B1
A method of manufacturing gel containing wire connectors with a silicone gel that remains in an unseparated state wherein the temperature of the gel precursors are elevated before being mixed and dispensed into the cavity of a wire connector where the mixed gel precursors are allowed to cool and cure without the necessity of additional heating of either the mixed gel precursors or the wire connector.
US07913376B2
A method of forming an actuating mechanism for a probe storage system includes providing a scanner chip having a main body including first and second outer surfaces and first and second coil mounting cavities. First and second coils are positioned in respective ones of the first and second coil mounting cavities. First and second magnet receiving pockets are formed in a first plate with first and second magnets being positioned in corresponding ones of the first and second magnet receiving pockets. The first plate is arranged relative to one of the first and second outer surfaces of the scanner chip with the first and second magnets registering with respective ones of the first and second coils. The first plate is spaced from the one of the first and second outer surfaces by a gap of less than about 10 microns.
US07913368B2
A method of manufacturing a chip capacitor according to an aspect may include: preparing a capacitor lamination including a dielectric sheet formed of a composite having ceramic powder and a polymer mixed with each other, and first and second internal electrodes formed on both surfaces of the dielectric sheet at predetermined intervals; forming covering layers formed of an insulating material on both surfaces of the capacitor lamination; forming a first opening and a second opening in the capacitor lamination having the covering layers formed thereon to expose the first and second internal electrodes, respectively; forming plating layers in the first and second openings, the plating layers connected to the first and second internal electrodes; and dicing the capacitor lamination into chips on the basis of the first and second openings so that the plating layers formed in the first and second openings are provided as first and second external terminals.
US07913347B2
A toothbrush which head can be rotated to form different angle with the handle. This action of rotation can be done while brushing the teeth, once the handle leaves out the slot at the head, the handle can be moved to another slot, the angle of the head and the handle is changed from 180 degree to 90 degree and then from 90 to 180 degree again. The handle also can be free rotated without fixing to the slot at the head. A T-shape shaft is inserted between two covers at the head of the toothbrush, a connector is connected between the T-shape shaft and the handle of the toothbrush, so that the head and handle can be rotated freely.
US07913344B2
Disclosed is an electric inter-dental brush device which is generally divided into a cleaning brush attached at a head assembly of the electric inter-dental brush device, a finger grip of a small size for holding a small-sized motor for driving the cleaning brush and a housing for holding a battery or AC adaptor for the small-sized motor and other components and parts of the electric inter-dental brush device. The finger grip and the housing are physically separated except through an electric cord connecting the small-sized motor and the battery or AC adaptor.
US07913342B1
A ramp assembly has a ramp portion configured for reciprocating motion between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position. A counterbalance is associated with the ramp portion and includes a drive element with a spring fitting. The drive element is rotatably coupled about a first axis of rotation that moves along an arcuate path. A restraint is slidably coupled to the drive element and is also rotatably coupled about a fixed axis of rotation. An end stop is associated with the restraint. A compression spring is disposed between the spring fitting and a portion of the restraint so that the compression spring provides a force to bias the ramp portion toward the neutral position.
US07913341B1
A ramp assembly has a ramp portion configured for reciprocating movement between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position, and a counterbalance. The counterbalance includes a restraint slidably coupled to a driving element having a spring fitting. The drive element includes a first engagement surface for engaging a first bearing surface associated with the ramp portion and a second engagement surface for engaging a second bearing surface associated with the ramp portion. A compression spring is disposed between a portion of the restraint and the spring fitting so that the compression spring provides a force to bias the ramp portion toward the stowed position when the ramp portion is between the deployed position and the neutral position, and toward the deployed position when the ramp portion is between the stowed position and the neutral position.
US07913338B2
A pad (10) of interleaving linear cells (2) has loop straps (1) to hold the central section of the cells (2) linearly in parallel with the cell axis (11), whilst the opposite ends (3) of each cell (2) are secured a pre-determined distance (4) off-set from the cell axis (11). The distance (4) can vary along the length of the pad. By fixing of the ends (3) of the cells (2) at a distance (4) away from the cell axis, each end (3) of the cell (2) is pulled away from the centre axis of the cell, the loop straps (1) and the cell (2) become tensioned, preventing the central cell section from moving or rotating. The resulting cell has been seen to dramatically reduce the movement of a user along the pad with improved user comfort and enhanced pressure relief.
US07913333B2
A bed rail structured to minimize the gap between the mattress and the bed rail and including a leg portion and a rail portion. The rail portion extends upwardly on a first side of the mattress to extend beyond the sleeping surface of the mattress and prevent a person from rolling out of bed. The leg portion is sandwiched between the mattress and the box spring and extends toward a second side of the mattress. In one embodiment, the leg portion includes a distal end that is engaged to the second side of at least one of the mattress and box spring such that the distal end and rail portion hug the mattress. In another embodiment, the bed rail includes a relatively rigid cover depending from an upper portion of the rail portion to the sleeping surface so as to cover a gap that may exist between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In still another embodiment, the rail portion is set at an acute angle relative to the leg portion so as to tend to close off any gap between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In another embodiment, the wall of the rail portion may include tubing and the rail portion may be drawn against the bed with a strap extending about the periphery of the bed.
US07913324B2
A headpiece having a first section and a second section separated along a fold-line. The sections have a decorative design printed thereon and are cut from a piece of material such that a top edge and bottom edge have the shape of the decorative design. The first section has a tab extending from the top edge that is received within a slit on the second section. A strap extends outwardly from the side edge of the second section and has at least one slit that receives a tab that extends outwardly from the side edge of the first section.
US07913317B2
A suit for use to be worn by a person when immersed in water or in contact with water and may be provided, for example, as a wetsuit construction or a dry suit construction. The suit includes an outer layer typically of a rubber foam construction and in accordance with the invention there is provided on the inner side of said layer, at least one portion of the suit, a layer of wool (8) or wool blended with other material. This inner wool (8) containing layer typically lies in contact with the wearer. In one embodiment the wool used is that obtained from Merino sheep which is found to be particularly well suited.
US07917966B2
Techniques for fabricating carbon nanotubes aligned on a tip are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating carbon nanotubes aligned on a tip includes forming nanostructures on the tip, and aligning the nanostructures on the tip using a fluid flowing on the tip.
US07917964B2
A method and apparatus for processing information, method and apparatus for manufacturing an information recording medium, an information recording medium, and a computer program are provided. An information processing apparatus for playing back a content recorded on an information recording medium and includes a data transform processor performing a substitution process on content member data recorded on the information recording medium. The data transform processor substitutes transform data as substitute data for the content member data in accordance with a fix-up table holding recording position information of the transform data.
US07917959B2
Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device profile.
US07917956B2
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that determine a virus associated with a communications network, and distribute an anti-viral agent onto the communications network using a bypass network, the bypass network configured to provide transmission of the anti-viral agent with at least one of a higher transmission speed, a higher transmission reliability, a higher transmission security, and/or a physically-separate transmission path, relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.
US07917951B1
An anti-virus system provider distributes an e-mail identifying content filtering rule seeking to identify e-mail messages suspected of containing an item of malware from a central source (20) to users (2). This distribution may be by an e-mail message itself which is appropriately signed and encrypted. At the user system (2), the received e-mail identifying content filtering rule is extracted from the e-mail message and added to the content filtering rules (18) being applied within that user system. In this way, malware which is distributed by e-mail may be identified by characteristics of its carrier e-mail rather than characteristics of the malware itself which not yet have been properly analyzed or the mechanisms for detecting such characteristics of the malware itself not yet put in place.
US07917943B1
Effective aspects of stamping outbound e-mail are combined with a registration and entity identification system for e-mail senders. A mail sender participates by registering From: line and entity information with a trusted third-party repository known as a stamp authority. When the sender sends an e-mail message, the From: line is compared against the From: line information for the sender stored in the repository. If the result is a match, entity information is added and the e-mail is allowed to be sent. If there is not a match, then the e-mail is prevented from being stamped.
US07917932B2
PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the media player requests a media broadcasting device to receive the media program; to digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary; and to transmit the media program to the media player. The media program may be recorded in a local storage of the media broadcasting device or the media player.
US07917924B2
In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to create and customize a version of media content based on semantic criteria is provided. Based on semantic criteria, the media content management application may use editing/assembly software packages to construct a version of the media content for an intended audience. In addition, the media content management application uses semantic criteria to provide the user with options for optimizing the cost of the version of media content, options for delivering the version of media content, and/or options for delivery mediums to transmit the version of media content.
US07917915B2
A system, apparatus, method and article for a modular electronic mail software architecture are described. The apparatus may include a processing sub-system having a processor and memory. The memory may store software components for execution by the processor. The software components may comprise an application program implemented using a model driven application framework and capable of operating with multiple operating systems. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07917906B2
Method and apparatus for allocating system resources for use by software processes in a computer-based system, such as a wide area network (WAN) comprising a data storage array. A first memory space provides a first bit indicator to indicate whether at least one system resource is available for use. A second memory space provides a second bit indicator to indicate whether a pending software process awaits availability of the system resource. The resource is allocated for use by the process in relation to a combinatorial operation upon the first and second bit indicators, preferably comprising a logical AND operation. The first and second memory spaces are preferably characterized as multi-bit registers. A free resource stack identifies available resources, and a process queue identifies pending processes waiting for released processes. The statuses of the respective stack and queue are reflected in the bits in the multi-bit registers.
US07917903B2
A quality-of-service controller and related method for a data storage system. Requests for each of a plurality of storage system workloads are prioritized. The requests are selectively forwarded to a storage device queue according to their priorities so as to maintain the device queue at a target queue depth. The target queue depth is adjusted response to a latency value for the requests wherein the latency value is computed based on a difference between an arrival time and a completion time of the requests for each workload. Prioritizing the requests may be accomplished by computing a target deadline for a request based on a monitored arrival time of the request and a target latency for its workload. To reduce latencies, the target queue depth may be reduced when the target latency for a workload is less than its computed latency value. To increase throughput, the target queue depth may be increased when the target latency for each workload is greater than each computed latency value.
US07917901B2
A technique for the dynamic instrumentation of a running software system. One or more callable instrumentation functions are accessible in a first memory space associated with the software system. The one or more callable instrumentation functions are adapted to probe an operation of the software system and return data regarding the probed operation. Probed operation environment information needed by the one or more instrumentation functions is provided to a second memory space associated with the software system. First memory space addresses associated with the probed operation environment information are determined from a resource that is accessible in the second memory space. A probe handler is generated that includes calls to the one or more instrumentation functions with references to the first memory space addresses. The probe handler is callable as part of the probed operation.
US07917900B2
A source code clarification system is described. In various embodiments, the source code clarification system receives clarified source code and transforms the clarified source code into standard source code or object code that implements asynchronous components. The standard software source code can contain expressions for enabling asynchronous communications. The clarified code can be software source code that is expressed in an imperative language and is capable of static analysis. The clarified source code can contain a coordination primitive that encapsulates interactions between asynchronous components. By using the coordination primitives and events, the clarified source code can express interactions between asynchronous components so that the clarified source code is easier for developers to understand and for static analysis tools to analyze.
US07917888B2
A system and method are provided for visually building multi-channel and multi-modal applications. The system includes a process design module for designing application workflow, an integration design module for integrating data sources into the application; a presentation design module for designing application views; a media library; and a componentization module, for packaging designed workflow into reusable components. The system further includes an interactive development/design environment (IDE). The IDE provides a graphical user interface for allowing a developer to visually interact with and operate modules. The system allows a developer to design a single application that can operate across multiple network standards, devices, browsers and languages, and that operate in one or more modes, such as real-time, off-line and asynchronous modes.
US07917885B2
A high-level logic description is developed based on a non-primitive-based standard cell library. The logic description is synthesized into a netlist that includes references to the non-primitive-based standard cell library. A logic function for each standard cell in the netlist is determined and mapped into a set of primitive logic cells to create a primitive constructed version of each referenced standard cell. The set of primitive logic cells is defined for integration within a base array. The primitive constructed version of each referenced standard cell is included within a primitive-based cell library. The primitive-based cell library is used to place and route the netlist for the logic design for integration within the base array. The logic design is then integrated within the base array.
US07917875B1
An adjustable buffer including a series of P-channel devices having current paths coupled between a first voltage supply and at least one output node, and a series of N-channel devices having current paths coupled between the output node and a second voltage supply. The control electrodes of the P- and N-channel devices are coupled to a selected one of an input node and a corresponding voltage supply collectively forming first and second sets of selectable connections. The first and second sets of selectable connections are made to adjust delay from the input node to the output node. The selectable connections may be defined in an integrated circuit mask or may be electronic switches. The P- and N-channel devices may be in a balanced configuration or an imbalanced configuration. The P- and N-channel devices may form an inverting buffer or a non-inverting buffer.
US07917870B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for automatically enhancing a power distribution system (PDS) in a ceramic integrated circuit package. The package includes multiple layers. The entire package is divided into a three-dimensional grid that includes multiple different grid cells. Information is associated with each one of the cells. For each one of the cells, the information included in the cell describes characteristics of the physical location of that cell relative to the other cells in the three-dimensional package. The information also describes any via or trace that already passes through said that cell. Potential new via and/or trace locations are automatically located throughout all of the entire package utilizing the information.
US07917854B1
This invention provides an improved graphical user interface (GUI) for telecommunications network administration. The GUI allows a network administrator to maintain an association between a link bundle and the contents of that link bundle by displaying a network topology including the link bundle, as well as the contents of that link bundle in the same window. The GUI further allows easy navigation between groups of NE's wherein there are a number of inter-group links extending from a particular NE, by displaying characteristics of these links in the same window as a network topology of the NE group under investigation, and allowing the user to follow a selected one of these links to a different NE group.
US07917844B1
A method for processing a document including a field containing information in a predefined domain includes defining a directory of data relating to the predefined domain. An image of the field containing the information is received from a client via a computer network. The image is processed to code the information, and the coded information is looked up in the directory so as to check whether the information is coded correctly.
US07917843B2
A method, system and computer readable medium for providing for providing a function item, such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name and addresses and/or other person or company related information, while the user works simultaneously in another program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function item initiates a program connected to the button to search a database or file available on or through the computer, containing the person, company or address related data, in order to look up data corresponding to what the user types, or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word processor, the correct data from the database, data related to the typed data, e.g., the name of the person, company, or the traditional or electronic address, or other person, or company, or address related data, and alternatively the persons, companies, or addresses, are displayed and possibly entered into the word processor, if such related data exists.
US07917842B2
In an environment in which some forms are received in paper form and some in electronic form or an environment in which in which workers prefer using paper forms, the invention provides a method of producing a template for the purpose of producing paper forms from electronic forms, the paper forms produced from the electronic forms being similar in appearance to forms that were completed in hard copy. Variable information is extracted from one or more electronic forms that are to be mapped to the paper form. A template is created by placing the variables from the electronic form onto an image of the paper form. The template may include position coordinate information, variable name information, text, and logic. After the template is completed, the system uses the template to print paper forms from instances of electronic forms. In some cases, multiple electronic forms can be mapped to a single paper form, and a preferred system can create a template, even if questions presented in electronic forms vary, depending on answers of previous questions.
US07917841B2
A method of viewing information associated with data in a spreadsheet, includes providing a document including data and information associated with the data, parsing the document to retrieve the associated information, processing the associated information to break the associated information down into at least one sentence, categorizing the at least one sentence to determine whether the at least one sentence corresponds to at least one category in a taxonomy corresponding to the data, assigning an association strength to the categorized at least one sentence, the association strength indicating a likelihood that the categorized at least one sentence actually corresponds to the at least one category in the taxonomy, filtering the at least one categorized sentence based on the association strength to determine whether to match the categorized at least one sentence with the at least one category in the taxonomy and outputting only the categorized at least one sentence matched with the at least one category in the taxonomy.
US07917838B2
A system and method for presenting document records to a user through a display interface, comprising means for processing data of the first type through a first applet and data of the second type through a second applet and separately extracting data of the two different types using the separate applets. The user interface provides means for selecting a data file from a plurality of data files, displaying the merged and formatted processed first and second data, and managing a plurality of data files with the host application. Each record on the list may be individually selected, comprising providing at least two distinct categorization inputs from the user, providing an indicia in the record list to indicate a respective record classification, and providing means for selectively processing the records according to a respective classification thereof. The data file employs a standard image format file with an embedded index pointer to segregate two data types. A first data type, preferably an image, is referenced by the index pointer and is located near the terminus of the file. A second data type, for example text, appears immediately after the file header which includes the index pointer, and preferably terminates with an end of file marker. Thus, the single file may be read by both a standard image file reader, and a standard text reader, without parsing or segregation. The two data types are preferably text and image data, and the data file is preferably a tagged image format file (TIFF) file with Group-4 image compression.
US07917837B2
A blade center is provided with an additional video output system which includes additional video output capabilities to allow a user to point to another blade within the blade center to work locally on a blade that does not include media tray access. The local access is granted via a control (e.g., a button) on the control panel of the blades or a control on the chassis or management module that allows the user to specify which blade to use for the second video output connection to a KVM console or direct host connect. This video output system advantageously allows more than one blade to be interactively utilized in a graphic environment at any time. Other blades executing local applications can be accessed and/or modified while another blade is accessing the media tray for installations and using one of the video output controls.
US07917830B2
A turbo decoder includes first and second interleavers, a de-interleaver, first and second component decoders and a stop judging circuit. The first and second component decoders respectively decode a systematic code and an interleaved systematic code into first and second extrinsic information. The de-interleaver, the first and second data interleavers respectively process the second extrinsic information, the systematic code and the first extrinsic information into a first a-priori information, an interleaved systematic code and the second a-priori information. The stop judging circuit includes a signal selector, a difference detector and a comparator. The signal selector outputs the first extrinsic information and the first a-priori information or the second extrinsic information and the second a-priori information. The difference detector and comparator respectively get a difference between two output data of the signal selector and output a stopping signal to stop the iteration when the difference is smaller than a threshold value.
US07917829B2
Low density parity check code (LDPC) base parity check matrices and the method for use thereof in communication systems. The method of expanding the base check parity matrix is described. Examples of expanded LDPC codes with different code lengths and expansion factors are also shown.
US07917823B2
A test architecture and method of testing are disclosed to allow multiple scan controllers, which control different scan chain designs in multiple logic blocks, to share a test access mechanism. During test mode, the test architecture is configured to decouple clock sources of the test access mechanism, the scan controllers and the scan chains.
US07917822B2
The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus of using the JTAG TAP's TMS and TCK terminals as a general purpose serial Input/Output (I/O) bus. According to the present disclosure, the TAP's TMS terminal is used as a clock signal and the TCK terminal is used as a bidirectional data signal to allow serial communication to occur between; (1) an IC and an external controller, (2) between a first and second IC, or (3) between a first and second core circuit within an IC.
US07917817B2
A user interface messaging system and method that allows a user to defer resolution of the substance of a message, such as a user-initiated error, and adds the message to a queue. The messaging system may remind the user to resolve the substance of the messages in the queue. After a message has been added to the queue, the message layer may be closed, allowing the user to continue using the application.
US07917816B1
A system is used to determine whether a display function of a basic input output system (BIOS) of a tested computer is normal. Operators can select an error information option set on an error information interface. A breakpoint address and an amending instruction can be obtained to interrupt the running of the BIOS, and parameters of a corresponding hardware of the tested computer are amended with preset values. Therefore, an error occurs in the BIOS of the tested computer. The tested computer is controlled to display the BIOS error information. Whether the display function of the BIOS of the tested computer is normal can be ascertained via comparing the displayed BIOS error information with standard BIOS error information.
US07917811B2
To improve the maintainability of a virtual machine system, there is provided a mechanism capable of appropriately reporting a failure that occurs in a dedicated PCI device, in a shared PCI device, or in a virtual PCI device. A device for transferring PCI device configuration information between a failure monitoring application and a hypervisor that monitors a PCI device failure is prepared, and the failure monitoring application is operated in a user virtual machine and in a control virtual machine. Based on the above-described PCI device configuration information, the failure monitoring application operating in the user virtual machine monitors a dedicated PCI device failure and a virtual PCI device failure, and the failure monitoring application operating in the control virtual machine monitors a shared PCI device failure, respectively, thereby appropriately reporting a failure of the dedicated PCI device, the shared PCI device, or the virtual PCI device without duplication.
US07917805B2
The present invention maintains mapping information denoting which real areas have been allocated to which virtual areas for a virtual volume, the capacity of which is dynamically expanded. The present invention also maintains real area management information denoting which real areas have been allocated to which virtual areas. The real area management information is referenced to determine whether or not a low-reliability real area, which is a real area for which reliability has been lowered by the occurrence of a failure in a certain physical storage device, and which belongs to a RAID group comprising this certain physical storage device, has been allocated to a virtual area. A data restore process is not carried out for a low-reliability real area that has not been allocated to a virtual area, but a data restore process is carried out for a low-reliability real area that has been allocated to a virtual area.
US07917796B2
Methods and apparatuses for the dynamic configuring of profiles used for the control of the frequency of clock signals. At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a means of dynamically generating, storing, updating and using spread spectrum profiles in a clock circuit to provide spread spectrum modulated clock signals and to slew clock frequency.
US07917795B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program are provided to measure and/or correct duty cycles. Duty cycles of various signals, specifically clocking signals, are important. However, measurement of very high frequency signals, off-chip, and in a laboratory environment can be very difficult and present numerous problems. To combat problems associated with making off-chip measurements and adjustments of signal duty cycles, comparisons are made between input signals and divided input signals that allow for easy measurement and adjustment of on-chip signals, including clocking signals.
US07917794B2
A method optimizes a DSP Input clock using a clock comparing/analyzing circuit. The method of the present invention enables PLD to select a delay function of the PLD and signals from a plurality of patterns, in addition to varying three elements' values of R, L and C, a driver delay, and a characteristic change by peripheral elements of patterns that a clock passes to thereby obtain an optimal characteristic. Particularly, the inventive method provides an optimal clock with the best performance among clocks from the pattern. This method has the following two functions: (1) allowing the paths from a plurality of patterns to be scanned individually and a pattern having the lowest noise level to be searched; (2) searching the maximum SNR(Signal to Noise) value by providing a delay offset to an optimal path having the lowest noise level which is searched from the first function, and wherein an optimal path is searched and connected by checking the operation periodically by a timer to provide optimal characteristics in case peripheral environments change.
US07917782B2
An exemplary computer device (10) includes a host (11) configured for generating a turn on signal when the host is turned on, and a turn off signal when the host is turned off; and a display device (13) including a display unit (131) and an automatic control circuit (12). The automatic control circuit is configured for receiving the turn on signal and the turn off signal and turning on or turning off the display unit according to the received the turn on signal and the turn off signal. Thus when the host of the computer is turned on or turned off, the display unit of computer device can be automatically turned off or turned on according to a switch instruction of the host.
US07917781B2
A universal series bus (USB) power supply has a DC power source, a USB power interface and a voltage modulation module. The USB power interface is for connecting to an electronic device that stores a default D+ voltage and a default D− voltage. The voltage modulation module connects to and outputs signals to the D+ and D− terminals of the USB power interface. If voltage levels of the output signals are not respectively identical to the default D+ and D− voltages, the voltage modulation module changes the voltage levels of the signals output to the D+ and D− terminals of the USB power interface until the voltage levels of the output signals are respectively identical to the default D+ and D− voltages. Therefore, the USB power supply may be applied to any kind of electronic device that is charged over a USB interface.
US07917772B1
Methods and systems for operating a semiconductor device (e.g., a microprocessor) are described. The microprocessor is initially operated at a voltage and frequency that would be within operating limits at any device temperature. Using models that relate device temperature, operating limits and power consumption with voltage and frequency, the amount of supply voltage and a new operating frequency can be selected. The models are periodically consulted thereafter to continue adjusting the supply voltage and operating frequency, so that the microprocessor is caused to operate at very close to its capacity, in particular in those instances when, for example, processor-intensive instructions are being executed.
US07917768B2
A device includes an access control element to compare new acceleration data from an accelerometer with registered gait signature associated with an authorized user of a mobile device to determine the identity of the user of the mobile device.
US07917766B2
The invention comprises an encoder for encoding a stegotext and a decoder for decoding the encoded stegotext, the stegotext being generated by modulating the log power spectrogram of a covertext signal with at least one key, the or each key having been added or subtracted in the log domain to the covertext power spectrogram in accordance with the data of the watermark code with which the stegotext was generated, and the modulated power spectrogram having been returned into the original domain of the covertext. The decoder carries out Fast Fourier Transformation and rectangular polar conversion of the stegotext signal so as to transform the stegotext signal into the log power spectrogram domain; subtracts in the log power domain positive and negative multiples of the key or keys from blocks of the log power spectrogram and evaluates the probability of the results of such subtractions representing an unmodified block of covertext in accordance with a predetermined statistical model.
US07917765B2
It is difficult to provide a mechanism that is able to verify electronic signatures of different types in a simple and cost-effective manner. This is achieved by using a signature verification engine with an interface enabling signature modules to be removably plugged in. Each signature module has information about a particular signature type and functionality for verifying signatures of that type. The signature verification engine receives requests to verify signatures. It identifies a suitable signature module and works with that module to verify the signature. An enterprise who acquires equipment incorporating the signature verification engine is able to plug in its own signature module giving versatility whilst retaining security.
US07917762B2
A device and method for providing a secure execution environment includes retrieving a boot loader, for example, from the memory of an electronic device or from a peripheral component. Next, a determination is made as to whether the boot loader is authorized to be executed on the corresponding electronic device. If the boot loader is authorized, then the boot loader code is executed. By only allowing execution of authorized boot loaders, security related breaches are substantially reduced or eliminated; thereby, enhancing device integrity.
US07917747B2
A cryptographic communication system and method having a first plurality of stations, each of the first plurality of stations having at least one encryption key Kj, were j is a number greater than 2, a data packet D to be viewed by each of the first plurality of stations, means for encrypting the data packet by each of the first plurality of stations to form an encrypted data packet Ej for transmission to a central processor, and means for combining each of the encrypted data packets, wherein the means for encrypting is applied in parallel to allow each of the first plurality of stations to view the contents of the data packet D prior to encrypting the data packet D.
US07917733B2
An instruction code compression method and an instruction fetch circuit which are capable of reducing both the number of fetches and program codes. A reuse flag is provided in an upper bit group including operational codes, and a lower bit group including operands and having the same number of bits as the upper bit group. When 2N+1 (N is an integer of 1 or more) instruction codes having the same upper bit group continues in a series of instruction codes, respective reuse flags of the lower bit group of a 2n-th (n is an integer of 1 or more and N or less) instruction code and a (2n+1)-th instruction code in the series of instruction codes are set to “1”, and the lower bit groups of the 2n-th and (2n+1)-th instruction codes are integreted into one compressed instruction code.
US07917728B2
An integrated circuit having a plurality of processing modules (I, T) is provided. At least one first processing module (I) issues at least one transaction towards at least one second processing module (T). Said integrated circuit further comprises at least one first transaction retraction unit (TRU1) for indicating an allowance to said at least one first of said processing modules (I) to retract said at least one transaction according to the sate of said second processing module (T).
US07917724B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a virtual machine monitor (VMM) to access a protection indicator of a page table entry (PTE) of a page of a set of memory buffers and determine a state of the protection indicator, and if the protection indicator indicates that the page is a user-level page and if certain information of an agent that seeks to use the page matches that in a protected memory address array, a page table base register (PTBR) is updated to a protected page table (PPT) base address. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07917719B2
Methods and systems for working around the timeout limitations of physical interface standards for detachable modules. By use of dummy data blocks to keep the bus active, the bus timeout requirements (in either direction) can be spoofed, to thereby permit more complex processing operations to be performed that may exceed the bus timeout of a particular specification. A controller in the memory system deasserts the ready signal and holds the bus connecting the computer system in a “busy” state until the memory system is about to timeout. During a write operation, the controller receives dummy data blocks from the computer system before the write bus timeout period expires, causing the bus timeout period to be reset. During a read operation, the controller sends dummy data blocks to the computer system before the read bus timeout period expires, causing the bus timeout period to be reset.
US07917717B2
Computer-based methods, techniques, and systems for automatically protecting a storage device from unwanted alterations are provided. Example embodiments provide a Disk Access Redirection System, which includes a Redirection Driver, an Available Space Table (“AST”), a Protected Space Redirection Table (“PSRT”), and optionally an Unprotected Space Table (“UST”). The Redirection Driver is installed and registered with the computer operating system so that it can intercept storage device access requests (such as a disk read/write). When a storage access request for a read or write is sent, the request is intercepted by the Redirection Driver, transparent to the code that invokes the storage access request. The Redirection Driver uses the AST, PSRT, and optionally the UST, to allocate available storage space for redirected write requests, redirect write requests for protected areas of the storage device, and redirect read requests when the read request specifies a storage location that has been previously redirected.
US07917714B2
A data processing system has a plurality of storage systems. In this system, data replication is performed at high speed and efficiency while maintaining data integrity. In addition, when failure has occurred in a configuration element, the time necessary to resume the data replication is reduced. In accordance with an instruction from first host computer, updating of replication-target data and creation of a journal are performed in a storage system A; and updating of replication data and creation of a journal are performed in a storage system B. A storage system C retrieves a journal from the storage system B in asynchronization with the updating, and performs updating of replication data. When failure has occurred in the storage system B, a journal-retrieving end is altered to the storage system, and the replication data is updated in accordance with the retrieved journal.
US07917706B1
A SDRAM controller prioritizes memory access requests to maximize efficient use of the bandwidth of the memory data bus, and also gives different priorities to access requests received on its different inputs. The SDRAM controller has multiple inputs, at least one of which allows connections to multiple bus master devices. The SDRAM controller forms a queue of bus access requests, based amongst other things on a relative priority given to the input on which a request is received. When a request is received on an input which allows connections to multiple bus master devices, the SDRAM controller forms the queue of bus access requests, based amongst other things on a relative priority given to the bus master device which made the request.
US07917705B2
A scalable, performance-based, volume allocation technique that can be applied in large storage controller collections is disclosed. A global resource tree of multiple nodes representing interconnected components of a storage system is analyzed to yield gap values for each node (e.g., a bottom-up estimation). The gap value for each node is an estimate of the amount in GB of the new workload that can be allocated in the subtree of that node without exceeding the performance and space bounds at any of the nodes in that subtree. The gap values of the global resource tree are further analyzed to generate an ordered allocation list of the volumes of the storage system (e.g., a top-down selection). The volumes may be applied to a storage workload in the order of the allocation list and the gap values and list are updated.
US07917704B2
There is provided a storage management system capable of utilizing division management with enhanced flexibility and of enhancing security of the entire system, by providing functions by program products in each division unit of a storage subsystem. The storage management system has a program-product management table stored in a shared memory in the storage subsystem and showing presence or absence of the program products, which provide management functions of respective resources to respective SLPRs. At the time of executing the management functions by the program products in the SLPRs of users in accordance with instructions from the users, the storage management system is referred to and execution of the management function having no program product is restricted.
US07917702B2
A system and method taught herein control data prefetching for a data cache by tracking prefetch hits and overall hits for the data cache. Data prefetching for the data cache is disabled based on the tracking of prefetch hits and data prefetching is enabled for the data cache based on the tracking of overall hits. For example, in one or more embodiments, a cache controller is configured to track a prefetch hit rate reflecting the percentage of hits on the data cache that involve prefetched data lines and disable data prefetching if the prefetch hit rate falls below a defined threshold. The cache controller also tracks an overall hit rate reflecting the overall percentage of data cache hits (versus misses) and enables data prefetching if the overall hit rate falls below a defined threshold.
US07917701B2
Prefetch circuitry is provided which is responsive to a determination that the memory address of a data value specified by a current access request is the same as a predicted memory address, to perform either a first prefetch linefill operation or a second prefetch linefill operation to retrieve from memory at least one further data value in anticipation of that data value being the subject of a subsequent access request. The selection of either the first prefetch linefill operation or the second prefetch linefill operation is performed in dependence on an attribute of the current access request.
US07917694B1
A storage system and method of operating the same can speed the operation of cache management functions. Generally, a storage system can include data stored in stripes, with each stripe including a number of blocks. A cache memory can store data blocks for fast access. A method can include providing a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) with a processor coupled thereto, and tracking a block count for each active stripe with the processor and TCAM. The block count for each active stripe can be the number of data blocks belonging to the same stripe that are stored in the cache memory.
US07917685B2
A non-volatile memory device has a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The array can operate in either a multilevel cell or single level cell mode and each cell has a lower page and an upper page of data. The memory device has a data latch for storing flag data and a cache latch coupled to the data latch. A read method comprises initiating a lower page read of a memory cell and reading, from the data latch, flag data that indicates whether a lower page read operation is necessary.
US07917684B2
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device including a bus translator. In some embodiments, the device also includes a core module and a core bus coupled to the core module. The bus translator may be coupled to the core module via the core bus, and the bus translator may be configured to translate between signals from a selected one of a plurality of different types of buses and signals on the core bus.
US07917671B2
A scalable port controller architecture supporting data streams of different speeds. In an embodiment, a port controller contains high speed receptor units and low speed receptor units, and a port routing logic connecting each external device (on corresponding port) to one of the receptors according to various registers. The port routing logic may connect an external device to one of the receptors, which determines the data rate at which data on a corresponding virtual connection from the external device is being received/sent. If the receptor does not have sufficient capacity (based on the data rate) to communicate with the external device, the connection is moved to other receptors, potentially in another control unit.
US07917663B2
A method for confirming connection state of a home appliance in home network system is disclosed, which includes a step in which the home appliance periodically confirms the connection state to the home network system, a step in which the appliance generates a packet for requiring address allocation, a step in which the appliance transfers the packet to network managing appliance, a step in which the appliance generates an alive notifying packet on allocating the address of the appliance from the network managing appliance, and a step in which the appliance transfers the alive notifying packet to the network managing appliance.
US07917657B2
A system including an event monitor for monitoring at least one transmission link. Each event monitor receives transmission link addresses from an address sequencer and transmits related event data to a centralized storage register. The address sequencer also transmits the addresses to the storage register. The event monitor compares new event data for each address with old event data stored by the event monitor. If a difference is detected, the event monitor sends a strobe signal to the storage register, which stores the event data reflecting the difference and the related address data. The strobe signal is also sent to a signaling device, which sends an interrupt signal to cause a microprocessor to read the event and address data from the storage register. Optionally, the signaling device does not send an interrupt signal until a threshold number of strobe signals have been received.
US07917654B2
A system for synchronizing data between a host client and a field device comprises a computer system with a virtual field device resident on the computer system. The virtual field device comprises a virtualized instantiation of a portion of a field device. A synchronization manager is also resident on the computer system. The synchronization manager is configured for managing synchronization operations involving the virtual field device. A field client transceiver is coupled with the synchronization manager. The field client transceiver is configured for facilitating data exchange between the virtual field device and the field device during a field client to virtual field device synchronization operation. A host client is also resident on the computer system. The host client is configured for exchanging data with the virtual field device during a host client to virtual field device synchronization operation.
US07917647B2
A method and apparatus for a network monitor internals mechanism, which serves to translate packet data into multiple concurrent streams of encoded network event data, to contribute to enterprise management, reporting, and global mechanisms for aggregating monitors at a centralized aggregation point, and to facilitate rate limiting techniques because such monitors are not in control (i.e. cannot back pressure flow) is provided.
US07917629B2
A system and method for an interface for external system management is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method includes connecting a first client system with a web service of a server, the server including an application, the client system utilizing one of a plurality of computer platforms; and receiving a management instruction from the first client system using the web service.
US07917626B2
A smart node is integrated with each Web service in a Web service application chain to automatically supply compatible features, missing functionality, and orchestration of the processes in the application, without coordination by an orchestration engine, in an embodiment. A smart node is a software program that systematically specifies the communications dimensions, functionality, and orchestration required for interoperability among Web services. The communications parameters, backup functionality, and process orchestration required for the Web services in a Web service application may be predetermined and programmed into smart nodes. The smart nodes are subsequently integrated with the Web services in a Web service application so that communications among the Web services occur first through the smart nodes. The smart nodes can thus supply communications parameters, any missing functionality, and dynamic process orchestration based on the current event context of the Web service application. A smart node further enables a Web service to supply different functionality in different contexts.
US07917613B2
A device monitoring system for monitoring a device comprising: a database including a health record for the device; a heartbeat server coupled to the database; a heartbeat agent operating on the device and coupled to the heartbeat server; a heartbeat packet sent from the heartbeat agent to the heartbeat server; and an update to the health record of the device responsive to the heartbeat packet.
US07917610B2
Embedded devices in a data communications network are arranged to formulate XML data messages containing data representing the operation of the embedded device. The software in the embedded device acts as a server that can be accessed over the network by a browser program in a computer to monitor device operation. The browser program can formulate XML command messages which are sent over the network to the embedded device to control its operation.
US07917601B1
A networking device, method, and web server software architecture are provided. The device may include a web server application program configured to run on an operating system of the device, and an event-based signaling mechanism configured to signal the web server application program when data has arrived on a socket of the operating system, by triggering an operating system-level signaling event. The web server application program is configured to read data off of the socket in response to detecting the event, without polling the socket first to determine that data is ready to be read from the socket.
US07917600B2
A method performed by a first computer system includes receiving one or more of a plurality of files from a second computer system in response to a selection of the one or more of the plurality of files by a customer of the second computer system and receiving network settings from the second computer system. The method also includes providing a third computer system to the user, providing a medium that includes the network settings to the customer where the medium is configured to provide the network settings to the third computer system, and providing the one or more of the plurality of files to the third computer system in response to a request received from the third computer system.
US07917599B1
Memory demands of large-memory applications continue to remain one step ahead of the improvements in DRAM capacities of commodity systems. Performance of such applications degrades rapidly once the system hits the physical memory limit and starts paging to the local disk. A distributed network-based virtual memory scheme is provided which treats remote memory as another level in the memory hierarchy between very fast local memory and very slow local disks. Performance over gigabit Ethernet shows significant performance gains over local disk. Large memory applications may access potentially unlimited network memory resources without requiring any application or operating system code modifications, relinkling or recompilation. A preferred embodiment employs kernel-level driver software.
US07917596B2
Described herein are techniques for using super masters to coordinate accesses by nodes in a database server cluster to data stored in a database. In many cases, the number of inter-nodal messages is reduced, thereby saving the overheads attendant to coordinating accesses in such a system.
US07917593B1
A method and apparatus for employing automatic reply systems to detect e-mail scammer IP addresses whereby a decoy system to receive illegitimate e-mails, also known as a “honeypot” is established. E-mails sent to the honeypot decoy e-mail addresses are initially scanned and preliminarily identified as scam e-mails and the fact that the scammer must make contact with the intended user/victim is exploited by analyzing the scam e-mail to identify one or more e-mail addresses in either the header or the body of the preliminarily identified scam e-mail. The one or more identified e-mail addresses are then extracted and fabricated reply e-mails are generated that include one or more mechanisms for ascertaining the IP address of the scammer. The fabricated reply e-mails are then sent to the one or more identified e-mail addresses and when the scammer takes the necessary action, the IP address and browser information associated with scammer is obtained.
US07917588B2
A method and apparatus for managing the delivery of electronic messages using bounce profiles is provided. A bounce profile is a set of data that may be used by a mail server in redelivering an electronic message that was not successfully delivered (i.e., bounced) to a recipient of an electronic message. A sender mail server, upon determining that an electronic message sent to a recipient mail server bounced, may select a bounce profile, among a plurality of bounce profiles, that is associated with a trait of the bounced electronic message, such as a domain of the recipient or a message type of the bounced electronic message. The sender mail server determines whether, and how, to redeliver the bounced electronic message to the recipient mail server based on information specified by the selected bounce profile.
US07917586B2
A method and apparatus are provided for handling a multimedia message in order to reduce radio resources and unnecessary forwarding time. This may include setting an index value in a multimedia message and forwarding the multimedia message based on the set index value.
US07917579B2
Provided are a chat system, a chat device, a chat server control method, and an information storage medium for realizing sound communication between users. When a message transfer unit (11a) receives a message, the message is transferred to a game terminal of a transmission destination and a stop limit unit (11c) transmits an instruction such as a limit instruction limiting a chat function stop processing in the game terminal to the game terminal of the transmission source of the message. A stop limit time calculation unit (11d) calculates a period of a stop limit time for limiting the chat function stop processing in accordance with the number of characters in the received message and a timer unit (11b) specifies a stop limit time end time instant. When the stop limit time end time instant has been reached, the stop limit unit (11c) transmits a limit cancel instruction for canceling the limit of the chat function stop processing.
US07917575B1
A distributed report processing system. The system includes a management server and a queue server in communication with the management server. The system also includes a plurality of report generators in communication with the management server and the queue server.
US07917571B2
A web page, including clickthroughs, is cached at a location within a network intermediate a client requesting the page and the host web site for the page. Clickthrough activation (in session cache on the client machine, or in the network cache) causes a javascript program to generate an activation identifier giving the IP address of the machine activating the clickthrough and the time. This ID and an ID for the IP address from which the web page originally hosting the clickthrough was retrieved are sent to the host web site. Generating such identifiers is applicable to text messages, e.g. sent out by a publicity agent, and actuable to connect to a telephone number held by an enterprise within the telephone network. Activating such a text message causes the return of suitable identifiers to the publicity agent to enable them to seek renumeration from the enterprise.
US07917570B2
The sensor device having an address storage unit 107 storing a channel address to be used, a temperature sensor 103, a table storage unit 101 storing an address table in which a measurement value is associated with a channel address, and an address specification unit 102 specifying a channel address associated with a measured value obtained from the temperature sensor 103. The sensor device also including an address update unit 105 updating the channel address in the address storage unit 107, a judgment unit 108 judging whether or not inquiry data is directed to the channel address stored in the address storage unit 107, a response generation unit 106 generating response data which is a response to the inquiry data, and a communication unit 109 transmitting the response data to a retrieval node 120.
US07917564B2
When processing a signal having a sequence of discrete values, wherein there is a first frequency range, in which the signal has a high energy, and wherein there is a second frequency range, in which the signal has a low energy, the sequence of discrete values is first manipulated to obtain a sequence of manipulated values, so that at least one of the manipulated values is non-integer. Then the sequence of manipulated values is rounded to obtain a sequence of manipulated values. The rounding is formed to effect a spectral shaping of a generated rounding error so that a spectrally shaped rounding error has a higher energy in the first frequency range than in the second frequency range. By spectrally shaping the rounding error so that the rounding error does not have any energy either in the storage areas where there is no signal energy, an especially efficient coding is obtained particularly in connection with a lossless coding context.
US07917557B2
A playback system and method allows for dynamic remapping of location identifiers in a playlist. An original playlist is created based on select content material located at a first set of storage locations. When the playlist is transferred to a different environment, having access to a second set of storage locations containing unknown content material, the playback device at this different environment searches the second set of storage locations for content material that corresponds to the items/songs in the playlist. If a correspondence is determined for a song in the playlist, the location identifier of the playlist for this song is updated to reflect its location in the second set of storage locations. If a correspondence is not found, the location identifier of the playlist for this song is updated to reflect a “not found” indication. Thereafter, when directed to effect a playback of the material in the playlist, the playback device will render the songs that were found at the second set of storage locations, and skip those that are marked “not found”. By dynamically updating the location identifiers of a playlist based on the available content at a given system, the playlist becomes a means for communicating a user's preferred set of songs without actually transferring the songs. In a preferred embodiment, additional filtering criteria may be applied, in addition to the availability of the material within the current environment.
US07917555B2
The location of a drawing of an activity, a property of an element in the drawing and the structural relationship of elements in the drawing are stored in a database. The database is accessed to form a user interface that provides a hierarchical representation of activities and the elements within activities.
US07917544B2
A method for retrieving a desired postal address from a plurality of postal addresses. The invention can feature receiving input data having input terms for finding the desired postal address from a first database of postal addresses where each postal address is formed of a plurality of postal address elements, searching a dictionary for entries in the dictionary corresponding to the input terms, determining that each entry in the dictionary that corresponds to the input terms corresponds to postal address elements of one or more postal addresses in the first database, and outputting data representing the desired postal address. The desired postal address is found in the first database if an address in that database has postal address elements that correspond with each of the entries of the dictionary that corresponds to one or more of the input terms.
US07917541B2
A hierarchial tree is provided to harvest data from data sources. The hierarchial tree includes multiple tree node entities arranged in multiple levels. In one case, leaf node entities of the hierarchial tree are used to collect data from the data sources. The hierarchial tree includes storage resources for storing the collected data. The hierarchial tree further includes computing resources for aggregating the collecting data in one or more aggregation operations and performing other processing operations. A receiving entity can selectively and independently receive parts of the collected data and aggregated data.
US07917530B1
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to managing and sharing data between web accessed calculators. The systems include a data store to persist calculator inputs and outputs and share them with other calculators and with customer service representatives.
US07917528B1
Systems and methods for providing refinements to queries based upon the context of a refinement indication. Refinements, for example, can be related to a previous search query and can be provided to the user based upon receipt of a refinement indication.
US07917527B1
A system for personalizing communication between origination devices and destination devices based on intelligent information searches and retrievals of historical interaction data on networks includes a user module adapted to displaying information to the origination device for identifying individuals or groups of individuals and historical interaction data. The system includes a processing module adapted to query a server system in response to commands from a user of the origination device. The query requests historical interaction data relating to the individual or group of individuals and can identify the individual or group using the historical interaction data from the server system. An information receipt and display module displays historical interaction data received from the server system, including the specifically requested historical interaction data. A communication module connects the origination device to the destination device using the information data from the server system.
US07917525B2
Techniques suitable for identifying potential subjects for a clinical trial and other applications are disclosed. One or more exclusion or inclusion criteria are defined for the clinical trial. One or more specialized searching tables are pre-generated using administrative healthcare claims data and the one or more exclusion or inclusion criteria. The specialized searching tables are searched. Through the searching step, subjects are identified within the administrative healthcare claims data who match the one or more exclusion or inclusion criteria. Through the searching step, a geographical area is identified corresponding to the subjects who match the one or more exclusion or inclusion criteria. A customized report is generated using the identified subjects and geographical area.
US07917523B2
Method and system for providing improved uniform resource locator (URL) mangling performance using fast re-write including scanning a web page, detecting an absolute URL in the web page, and modifying the detected absolute URL to a corresponding relative URL in the web page, is disclosed.
US07917517B2
Techniques are disclosed for indexing uncertain data in query processing systems. For example, a method for processing queries in an application that involves an uncertain data set includes the following steps. A representation of records of the uncertain data set is created based on mean values and uncertainty values. The representation is utilized for processing a query received on the uncertain data set.
US07917514B2
A system that can analyze a multi-dimensional input thereafter establishing a search query based upon extracted features from the input. In a particular example, an image can be used as an input to a search mechanism. Pattern recognition and image analysis can be applied to the image thereafter establishing a search query that corresponds to features extracted from the image input. The system can also facilitate indexing multi-dimensional searchable items thereby making them available to be retrieved as results to a search query. More particularly, the system can employ text analysis, pattern and/or speech recognition mechanisms to extract features from searchable items. These extracted features can be employed to index the searchable items.
US07917504B2
Vectors representing objects in n-dimensional space are approximated by local polar coordinates on partitioned cells of the data space in response to a query, e.g., a query data vector entered with a request to find “k” nearest neighbors to the query vector. A set of candidate near neighbors is generated using the approximations, with the local polar coordinates being independent of the dimensionality of the data space. Then, an answer set of near neighbors is returned in response to the query. Thus, the present invention acts as a filter to reduce the number of actual data vectors in the data set that must be considered in responding to the query.
US07917503B2
A mechanism for expressing a user preference to a set of documents based on user knowledge about the document corpora. The user preference input to the system can be positive, negative, or both. A set of documents that can be identified with a query can define a search scope definition. The search scope is mapped into an input ranking feature for a ranking function. The search scope definition is employed as a soft preference ranking feature, and thus, used to bias ranking via relevance feedback. The mechanism facilitates increasing or decreasing the final ranking score of a document based on whether the document falls into the user scope. The ranking weight can be configured by the user ad-hoc, or when relevance judgments are available, using machine learning techniques to find the optimal weights to optimize ranking.
US07917501B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for optimizing the processing of abstract rules. In general, the results of executing an abstract query may be used as data inputs for processing an abstract rule. In one embodiment, query results may be sorted according to input field values required for processing a deterministic abstract rule. If a record of the sorted query results includes the same input values as a preceding record, then the rule output of the preceding record may be reused, rather than processing the abstract rule again. Accordingly, the demand load placed on a rule engine may be reduced.
US07917499B2
An index update component updates an index of a database in response to a query to the database referencing the index. An index control record tracks the last time the index was referenced and state of the index compared to the state of the database. An index deletion component deletes indexes in the database that have not been referenced for a period of time.
US07917496B2
A method and apparatus for discovering polysemous words and classifying polysemous words found in web documents. All document corpi in any natural language have words that have multiple usage contexts or words that have multiple meanings. Semantic analysis is not feasible for classifying all word occurrences in all documents on the web, which contain trillions of words in total. In addition, semantic analysis typically cannot distinguish multiple usages of a given meaning of a given word. In one embodiment of this invention, polysemous words in natural languages can be discovered by analyzing the co-occurrence of other words with the polysemous word in web documents. In one embodiment, the multiple meanings and usages of a polysemous word can be determined by analyzing the co-occurrences of other words with the polysemous word. In one embodiment, counting overcorrelations is achieved probabilistically to minimize use of network bandwidth.
US07917494B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a high-performance content management system with a log-based data storage. To speed data operations, updates and deletes are appended to log-based data files. Seek operations are not needed as old data is not overwritten or removed at the time of write operations. Instead, the log-based data files are periodically optimized by processes that compact data entries and remove data files containing old data. In addition, an associated index with entries accessible in constant time is used to facilitate the process of locating data entries within the data files. Embodiments of the log-based data storage are implemented in a standard file format for ease of development and maintenance and can be compressed to further improve performance. In one embodiment, the log-based data storage corresponds to a node-based logical data tree that can be adapted to house a variety of data, including data from relational databases.
US07917487B2
This document describes techniques that enable an application to operate as if the application were running on its native computing system when it is actually running on another computing system. The techniques may do so by building a portable registry having metadata particular to the application, which can be stored in a portable device along with that application. When that portable device is connected to another computing system, the portable registry may be used to supplement or supplant the other computing system's registry to enable the application to operate with its particular functionality.
US07917472B2
A system, computer-readable media and method for backup one or more databases and restoring one or more databases using incremental backups are provided. Persistent collection objects are generated in the process of performing a database backup. A collection objects may order records, e.g., objects, in relation to and within pluralities of records. These pluralities of records may be referred to, or organized as, pages or containers of pages, comprising software objects. The persistent database backup collection object may include a time and date of a generation of an incremental backup database by a distinguishable and specific database archiving process (“backup event”), an event number of an incremental backup generation, one or more database identifiers, one or more container identifiers, and/or identifiers of individual records, e.g., object identifiers.
US07917466B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, a digital camera system and a computer-readable medium for processing digital image assets of a digital camera. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of automatically matching an asset scheme of the digital camera to a best available asset normalizer of a predetermined set of asset normalizers and processing assets of the digital camera into a standard structure in accordance with the best available asset normalizer.
US07917461B2
An apparatus for handling file level and block level remote file accesses. The apparatus includes a block level server. The apparatus includes a file level server. The apparatus includes a storage layer implementing an inode layer performing inode operations, and storing data accessed by the file level and block level servers. The apparatus includes a management layer connected to the storage layer underlying the block and file level servers, which performs data management operations upon the underlying data. A method of handling file level and block level network file accesses. The method includes the steps of performing management operations by a management layer for a block level server and a file level server. Then there is the step of performing the servers' data accessing and updating operations using a vnode layer implemented on top of an inode layer. Then there is the step of storing data from the block level server or the file level server in a storage layer connected to the management layer.
US07917455B1
Methods and systems capable of determining which subset of a set of logical expressions are true with relatively few evaluations of the primitives that together with any standard logical connectives, make up the logical expressions. A plurality of directed acyclic graphs, each graph including at least one root node, at least one leaf node, and at least one non-leaf node associated with a leaf node. Each node is associated with a, possibly empty, subset of presumed to be true logical expressions. Each non-leaf node is associated with one of the primitives mentioned in any of the logical expressions. Edges are defined between two of the nodes, each edge being associated with a possible value, or range of possible values, of the primitive associated with the node at the tail of the edge. Paths are defined through each of the directed acyclic graphs from a root node to a leaf node by recursively following each edge corresponding to the current value of the primitive at a selected non-leaf node. Lastly, subsets of logical expressions associated with the nodes on the defined paths are collated to yield a subset of logical expressions that are true.
US07917452B2
A system and program product for determining a price “P” to bill a customer for a resource. Amounts “U” and “Ci” of the resource provided and committed, respectively, to the customer during the billing period are determined. The price P=F(Ci)+G (U−Ci) is determined and billed to the customer, where “F” and “G” are price functions for the resource. Determined is the number of requests for the resource made by the customer during the billing period in excess of “Ci” which were denied. If the number of denied requests exceeds a predetermined threshold, the amount “Ci” for determining the price “P” is increased during a subsequent billing period. The price “P” is billed to the customer for the subsequent billing period based on the increased amount “Ci” and the value “U” during the subsequent billing period, and the functions “F” and “G”.
US07917447B1
Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communications among persons sharing a common interest. Customers of a telecommunications provider are notified about the service via a notification included in a billing statement. A customer uses the information to access a web site capable of registering the customer and connecting the customer to other persons sharing a common interest. The service assigns aliases to respective participants so that the true identity of each person is not made available to others in the group.
US07917446B2
A method for capturing data packets sent on a network for evaluating response time performance, the network including a financial institution and a partner bank. The method includes associating a captured data packet sent to the partner bank with a captured data packet received from the partner bank, by comparing at least one coded field of a data portion of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank with at least one coded field of a captured data portion of the data packet received from the partner bank. The method also includes measuring a response time of the associated data packet received from the partner bank, relative to a transmission time of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank. The method further includes transmitting an alert message upon determining that the response time is not within an adjustable predetermined threshold, wherein the alert message includes data from a data portion of the associated data packets.
US07917439B2
A system, method, apparatus and computer program product for providing location based functions and mobile e-commerce comprising a central processing unit including a processor, a storage device, and programming stored in the storage device, a display device, an audio input device, an audio output device, a communications module, a commerce module, an image module, and a location module. The programming controls the operation of the present invention to provide functions based on location data, to facilitate commercial exchanges by wirelessly exchanging payment and product information with venders, to identify services such as venders meeting selection criteria, to wirelessly exchange select information with other users and systems, to restrict and/or monitor the use of the device based on authorized user parameters, selecting one of a plurality networks through which to communicate, detecting a trigger for performing an action based on a change in location and sensed data, storing a voice annotation with a computer data file, determining service providers and associated communication parameters, contemporaneously maintaining a wireless voice and data link, providing a system for selecting and delivering mobile advertisements, and many other functions and services that are described herein.
US07917438B2
A method, system and device for secure mobile healthcare selection are presented in which a user can, from a mobile device, authorize the comparison of pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) data with data profiles corresponding to healthcare products, services and service providers to determine which are the most appropriate for a particular consumer. Data masking is used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.
US07917427B2
A system and method are disclosed for managing collateral allocation and substitution in general collateral repurchase agreements. In a preferred embodiment, an intermediary computer system facilitates the execution of anonymous general collateral repurchase agreements between buyers and sellers. The intermediary system manages initial collateral allocations and substitutions in accordance with systematic and impartial rules.
US07917415B1
An embodiment of the present invention is a retirement administration and distribution system. A user interface (UI) module is coupled to at least one of a client administering module, a communication interface, an account manager, an employment and payroll interface, a self-service Website, and a business rule processing module to interact with an operator through a set of UI functions in a session related to accounts and retirement benefits of a plurality of customers. At least one of the UI functions includes a UI action and a UI display. An employment and payroll database is coupled to the employment and payroll interface to store employment and payroll information of the customers used by the UI module.
US07917411B1
A system and method for error reduction may reduce errors of tax returns filed with a taxing authority. The system and method for error reduction may include an error reduction component that may compare user-supplied tax information to corresponding tax entity information accessed from a taxing authority. The error reduction component may present the corresponding tax information to the user. If a discrepancy is detected by the error reduction component, the error reduction component may notify the user so that the discrepancy may be corrected before a tax return containing the discrepant information is filed with a taxing authority. The error reduction component may enable a user to correct discrepancies in user-supplied tax information and/or corresponding tax entity information possessed by a taxing authority. In various embodiments, the error reduction component may be implemented with a tax preparation application.
US07917405B2
A method of reverse logistics using an auction to sell products directly to consumers from a store instead of using a third party reclamation company. One or more methods of auctioning one or more typically unsalable items directly to purchasers from a retail store including the steps of providing a communications multi-network having at least one logic engine, at least one star communication network through which non-location data is transferred to said logic engine, and at least one mesh communication network through which location data is transferred to said logic engine. The method further includes the steps of locating products for purchase that are eligible to be auctioned, the scanning of product codes of each auctionable product, tracking the scanning device in the store, transmitting auctionable product data through the star communication network, sorting auctionable products into at least one bundled lot for sale, producing a unique identifier for each bundled lot, initiating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each bundled lot, and auctioning each bundled lot to a best bidder in the auction.
US07917404B2
The wishes of purchasers and sellers of particular commodity items are matched using a computer database. Hopeful purchasers submit requests during a predetermined sale time frame. The requests include a desired purchase price and a desired purchase quantity for the particular commodity item. After the predetermined period, purchaser information is used to produce a purchase wish list in a predetermined order. An optimum combination of intending purchasers, selling quantities, selling prices, commodity suppliers, supply quantities, and supply prices is created by comparing the purchase wish list with a supply list.
US07917401B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for obtaining financial information with a handheld device. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for obtaining real time financial information utilizing a bar code or RF ID reader on a handheld device. A bar code or RF ID reader is used to obtain the product identity of a particular product in a retail environment. The product identity is correlated with the particular retailer's product price. This information can then be analyzed versus current financial budgets or recorded as part of a financial plan. In addition, real time financial advice and information can be given on the product including whether a competitor offers a lower price on a similar product, consumer reviews of the product, value rating, etc. The bar code or RF ID reader may be incorporated into any existing handheld device including a PDA, media player, cell phone, calculator, watch, or shopping device.
US07917396B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for processing customer orders associated with providing telephony services via a telecommunications network and with services provided via a cable network. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a service-order-entry (SOE) system associated with a set of legacy components, the SOE system being operable to receive a first type of customer order that is associated with providing services via a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network not including a cable television (CATV) network; supplementing the SOE system with a secondary order-reception system operable to receive a second type of customer order that is associated with providing telephony services over a CATV network and further operable to receive the second type of customer order without substantially modifying the legacy components; receiving the second type of customer order; and fulfilling the second type of customer order without substantially modifying the legacy components.
US07917394B2
A system and method for provisioning services accessible via a broadband network. The system receives a user selection of one or more services that have been deemed to be available to the user via the network as well as user registration information. The user registration information may include billing information and a user identifier such as a login id or email address. The system then authenticates the identity of the user with an ISP and communicates the user identifier to each provider of each selected service. The registration information and information representative of any selected service is also communicated to a billing engine. In this manner, a user may access each product or service and be billed appropriately for its usage.
US07917382B2
A method of graphically displaying the path of a customer traversing a web site and related business data is described. The method includes receiving a user request for a visualization. The user request may include data filters and exclusions. Responsive to the user request, traffic data is selected for analysis. The selected traffic data is analyzed and displayed to the user. The display may be in the form of a visualization including a graph and related business data. The graph may be of an overview, referral, path, page-to-page path, and animation type. A system for visualizing traffic patterns and the path of a customer at a site is described in conjunction with the above method. The system includes a logical data model, a dimensional data model, a report specification, a graphical interface, metadata database and an analysis report. The graphical interface is used for viewing visualization information.
US07917378B2
A claim pre-processing system employs trial adjudication to improve claim accuracy prior to claim submission to a healthcare payer institution or other entity. A system processes claim data related to provision of healthcare to a patient The system includes a claim data collator for collating data related to a claim for a particular patient for submission to a payer and a source of rules for use in processing collated claim data. A pre-processor submits the collated claim data for processing using the rules to validate the collated claim data is in condition for processing to initiate generation of payment. A claim processor submits the collated claim data to a payer, in response to successful validation by the pre-processor. A rules processor processes acquired claim data to identify a condition triggering application of a different set of rules for determining validity of an individual claim element. The pre-processor re-submits amended collated claim data for processing using the rules to validate the collated claim data is in condition for processing to initiate generation of payment, the amended collated claim data being received in response to unsuccessful validation using the rules.
US07917377B2
A technique is provided for automatically generating performance measurement information. At least some of the obtained performance measurement information may be derived from unstructured data sources, such as free text physician notes, medical images, and waveforms. The performance measurement may be sent to a health care accreditation organization. The health care accreditation organization can use the performance measurement to evaluate a health care provider for its quality of patient care. Alternatively, performance measurement information can be provided directly to consumers.
US07917363B2
A system for developing dialog systems estimates the speech recognition accuracy achievable when using a dialog system, and the number of example input phrases required to achieve a desired speech recognition accuracy. The maximum achievable speech recognition accuracy is also predicted. The development system thereby allows a developer of a dialog system to determine how and whether to continue development of the dialog system. The development system includes a grammatical inference engine for generating a grammar for the dialog system on the basis of example input phrases, and an in-grammar speech recognition accuracy estimator for generating the estimate of speech recognition accuracy on the basis of probabilities of confusing phonemes of input phrases with phonemes of the grammar.
US07917362B2
A method for determining a bit boundary of a repetition-coded signal including bits each having a plurality of epochs includes (a) counting the epochs repeatedly from an initial number to a predetermined number in a predetermined time, (b) sensing sign changes in the epochs, (c) recording each sensed sign change with a weighting function to a corresponding counting number of the epoch, and (d) determining the bit boundary according to a result of step (c).
US07917352B2
A language processing system including: a forbidden word memory part that stores a forbidden word; a sequence candidate generator that generates a plurality of word sequence candidates where each words are described separately from plain text; and a word sequence estimator that reads the forbidden word from the forbidden word memory part, excludes the word sequence candidate containing the forbidden word from the plurality of word sequence candidates, and selects an estimated word sequence with the highest concatenation possibility of the words from among the plurality of word sequence candidates.
US07917346B2
A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model data storage device containing geospatial model data including a plurality of groups of tree crown vegetation points and a display. The system may further include a processor cooperating with the geospatial model data storage device and the display for displaying a simulated tree trunk beneath a group of tree crown vegetation points, and displaying at least one level of simulated tree branches for the simulated tree trunk. Each tree branch may be positioned based upon determining a branch distal reference point beneath a cluster of tree crown vegetation points from among the group of tree crown vegetation points.
US07917344B2
Tools and methods allow an enterprise to define a set of processes and create scenarios which link and integrate combinations of processes. In addition, both processes and scenarios can be categorized, enabling re-use of existing definitions and easing subsequent scenario building. Processes and scenarios both allow variations which are stipulated to have a certain applicability in terms of organizations within the enterprise and time-frame. The variations can be evolved and improved over time via versions. Subsequently designed process scenarios can be tested and released for use in an organization and used to drive work planning, initiation and status reporting.
US07917340B2
The present invention relates to a method for designing a system. This method includes obtaining a visual representation of one or more components of the ventilation system. One or more property values are assigned to each of the components of the system, which may be achieved using first program code. Geometrical information representing the visual representation and the property values of each component are exported to a data file using the first program code. Standards information relating to the property values are stored. The data file is then imported into a second software application and the data file and the standards information is used to generate a final design using the second software application.
US07917331B2
A deterministic component identifying apparatus identifies a distribution shape of a deterministic component included in a probability density function supplied thereto. The apparatus includes a standard deviation calculating section that calculates a standard deviation of the probability density function, a spectrum calculating section that calculates a spectrum of the probability density function, a null frequency detecting section that detects a null frequency of the spectrum, and a ratio calculating section that calculates a ratio between a top portion and a bottom portion of a distribution of the deterministic component, based on the standard deviation of the probability density function and the null frequency of the spectrum.
US07917326B2
A technique for estimating and improving the test coverage for large machines, while accumulating minimum information of past test cases (i.e., minimum feedback) is provided. The technique is scalable in the sense that the number of machine instructions needed to measure the test coverage can range from a few instructions to all the instructions. The technique is easily integrated into existing test generation systems and is applicable to both uni- and multi-processing systems.
US07917319B2
Delay-fault testing and parametric analysis systems and methods utilizing one or more variable delay time-base generators. In embodiments of the delay-fault testing systems, short-delay logic paths are provided with additional scan-chain memory elements and logic that, in conjunction with the one or more variable-delay time-base generators, provides the effect of over-clocking without the need to over-clock. Related methods provide such effective over-clocking. In embodiments of parametric analysis systems, test point sampling elements and analysis circuitry are clocked as a function of the output of the one or more variable-delay time-base generators to provide various parametric analysis functionality. Related methods address this functionality.
US07917314B2
An electric power meter is disclosed. The meter comprises means for digitally sampling voltage and current. The meter further comprises means for storing the digitally sampled voltage and current. The meter further comprises means for performing power calculations upon the digitally sampled voltage and current, and converting the calculations and the digitally sampled voltage and current into at least one network protocol. The meter further comprises means for interfacing with an external network. A system for modifying the functionality of the electric power meter is also disclosed.
US07917311B2
The structural health monitoring method of the present invention utilizes a sensor system to determine information about deformation, stress and/or damage in structural elements. The sensor system and the method employ at least one sensor which comprises a material having fully-reversible nonlinear elasticity. The method comprises associating at least one sensor including a material having fully-reversible nonlinear elasticity with a structural element in a manner whereby stress is transferred from said structural element to said sensor, propagating ultrasound through a portion of the sensor, receiving the ultrasound which has been propagated through at least a portion of the sensor and determining information about the structural element from attenuation and/or time of flight of said received ultrasound.
US07917298B1
The compositions, methods and systems of the invention provide nanocrystal taggants for unobtrusive monitoring of objects. Objects can be tagged with nanocrystal taggant compositions for detection of informative invisible emissions on illumination with appropriate excitation wavelengths.
US07917293B2
The present invention is directed to methods for controlling the operations of a well service rig at a well site by evaluating load sensor data obtained from sensors on or associated with the well service rig. A rig load data chart can be reviewed and an average rig load can be determined for each pull of tubing or rods from a well. The average rig load can be used to calculate and set a rig overload level. If the rig load sensor reads a rig load at or above the rig overload level, the clutch for the hoist can be disengaged and the brake applied to prevent the load from either damaging the rig or breaking off the tubing or rods in the well. In addition, the rig load can be evaluated to determine when the limit the block speed when pulling rods or tubing.
US07917292B1
In various embodiments, points from flood maps (e.g., geospatial flood risk zoning maps) may be used in generating a flood frequency versus flood elevation curve for reducing the uncertainty in the flood risk assessment. In some embodiments, geospatial flood elevation lines for flood elevation lines at different flood frequency levels may be defined based on elevation datasets where there are inconsistencies between the elevation datasets and flood maps that were generated. The flood frequency versus flood loss curve may be derived based on the computed flood frequency versus flood elevation curve, digital elevation datasets, and collected damage curve. In some embodiments, the flood risk rating may also be derived and a flood risk assessment report may be generated.
US07917291B2
The present system and method detects and predicts potential tornadic activity. In one aspect, the invention predicts potential tornadic activity based on radar data. In another aspect, the invention predicts potential tornadic activity based on an integrated and composite product based on model forecast data and radar data by generating a composite tornado potential index using weighted values of the model forecast data and the radar data.
US07917287B2
A navigation device performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination. A communication controller sends a request for searching the route to a server. A guidance-information receiving unit receives information on the route from the server. A time measuring unit measures an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance. A guidance controller performs the route guidance based on the information received. The communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.
US07917277B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is operatively connected to the differential mechanism and an operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state between input and output shaft speeds, and a transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path between the differential portion and a vehicle drive wheel, the control apparatus including a differential-state switching portion for switching the differential portion between differential-state and non-differential states, a shifting control portion for controlling a shifting action of the transmission portion, and a learning control portion for effecting learning compensation of a control amount of a control element to be controlled during the shifting action, wherein the learning control portion includes a differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation of the control amount of the control element when the shifting action takes place in the differential state of the differential portion, and a non-differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation when the shifting action takes place in the non-differential state of the differential portion, and the shifting control portion controls the shifting action in a presently selected one of the differential and non-differential states of the differential portion, on the basis of the learning compensation implemented by one of the differential-state and non-differential-state learning control portions which is operable in the other of the differential and non-differential states of the differential portion.
US07917276B2
The vehicle-use power supply apparatus includes an alternator driven by an engine mounted on a vehicle to generate electric power in accordance with a command value, a battery electrically connected to the alternator to be charged by the alternator, and connected to electrical loads mounted on the vehicle to apply a power supply voltage to the electrical loads. The vehicle-use power supply apparatus further includes a first function of determining, as a power generation cost, an increase amount of fuel which the engine consumes for the alternator to generate electric power, and a second function of transmitting the command value to the alternator, the second function being configured to determine the command value on the basis of the power generation cost determined by the first function such that a change rate of the power supply voltage does not exceed a predetermined limit value.
US07917274B2
A method of controlling a vehicle involves determining if the vehicle is swaying (e.g., if a trailer being towed by the vehicle is exerting a sway force on the vehicle), and if the vehicle is swaying, reducing a torque of an engine of the vehicle and applying independent braking forces to each wheel of the vehicle. A vehicle for controlling vehicle sway includes an engine, a plurality of wheels, a braking system configured to apply independent braking forces to each wheel, and a controller configured to control the engine and the braking system. The controller is configured to determine if the vehicle is swaying (e.g., if a trailer being towed by the vehicle is exerting a sway force on the vehicle), and if the vehicle is swaying, reducing a torque of the engine and applying independent braking forces to each wheel.
US07917266B2
A method for estimating the effective volumetric capacity of a truck body is provided. The method includes the step of establishing a side-to-side profile of a generic load model by extending load side lines upward at a predetermined material angle of repose from the upper edge of each of the side walls of the truck body. A front-to-rear profile of the generic load model is also established by extending a front load line upward from the upper edge of the front wall of the truck body at the predetermined material angle of repose and a rear load line upward from at or near a rear edge of the floor of the truck body at the predetermined material angle of repose. Load plateau lines having predetermined dimensions are established in the front-to-rear and side-to-side profiles and the height of the plateau lines are determined. A top profile of the generic load is then created from the side-to-side and front-to-rear profiles and the shape of the load plateau is adjusted into a closed curve shape. The front, rear and side load lines below the final outer boundary of the load plateau are then contoured into a generally conical shaped surface in which the sides of the surface are still inclined at the predetermined material angle of repose. The final three-dimensional generic load model is formed by where this generally conical shaped surface intersects the sides walls, front and floor of the truck body. The volume of the final three-dimensional generic load model can then be calculated.
US07917256B2
An active vibration damping (AVD) control system for spacecraft provides a simple-to-implement and robust formulation that provides a novel damping control method for reducing spacecraft structural vibrations and improving antenna and instrument pointing. The AVD control system comprises an excitation signal generator configured to generate excitation input signals, and a damping model identification unit configured to receive system identification data and configured to produce control model parameters, the system identification data comprising the excitation input signals and information associated with motion of the spacecraft. The AVD control system further comprises an AVD control unit configured to receive the control model parameters, the AVD control unit configured to produce AVD control signals to control one or more actuators of the spacecraft.
US07917252B2
A post-control electric power amount curve generating portion generates plural pieces of running control information indicating a changeable running method for each device and plural post-control electric power amount curves indicating an amount of main electric power. A post-control hot water storage amount curve generating portion generates post-control hot water storage amount curves each indicating an accumulated amount of hot water generated in a case where the fuel cell generates electric power based on the plural post-control electric power amount curves. A hot water storage completion determining portion determines whether the accumulated amounts exceed a specific heat capacity. A reduction amount calculating portion calculates plural energy cost reduction amounts produced before and after the change using the post-control hot water storage amount curves determined as not exceeding the specific heat capacity. A running method determining portion determines the running control information corresponding to the largest energy cost reduction amount.
US07917251B2
A metering system for measuring the electrical power used to charge a vehicle is provided. The metering system includes an electrical meter operably coupled to a conductor connected to the vehicle and an electrical outlet. A controller receives signals from the meter to record the measured electrical consumption. The controller includes a plurality of communications devices for communicating with different communications carriers. In one embodiment, the controller selects one of the communications devices based on availability and a desired criterion. The selected communications device then transmits the measured electrical power consumption to a utility provider. In one embodiment, the metering system is mobile.
US07917237B2
A sending apparatus includes a compressed music data outputting unit that outputs one of compressed music data including compressed basic music data in a first mode and compressed music data including the basic music data as well as high frequency information for extending high frequency of the basic music data in a second mode, and a formatter that transmits a compressed music data outputted by the compressed music data outputting unit first and then music information including a value indicating which mode is used for the compressed music data.
US07917236B1
A first signal processing section is used to constitute an impulse response of a head related transfer function region contributing to position recognition of a virtual sound source. A second signal processing section is used to realize an impulse response of a reflected sound region contributing to a sense of distance of the virtual sound source. A rotational angular speed sensor and a response characteristic control section are used to recognize position changes of the listener's ears. By controlling the first signal processing section, the sound image is localized with sufficient feeling of distance at an arbitrary position while suppressing signal processing operation quantity of the impulse response corresponding to the transfer function from the virtual sound source to both ears, and the position of the virtual sound source can be changed in correspondence with a change of position of the ears of the listener.
US07917225B2
Methods and systems for treating movement disorders are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment can include determining that the movement disorder affects the patient's gait, oral functioning, and/or other functioning, and applying electrical stimulation proximate to the interhemispheric fissure, the Sylvian fissure, or between the two fissures, respectively. In another embodiment, the method can include selecting at least one neural process from among a plurality of processes sequentially carried out by a patient to cause a muscle movement in the patient (e.g., a planning process, an initiation process, and an execution process), and applying electrical stimulation to a location of the patient's brain associated with the at least one neural process.
US07917220B2
A system and method of positioning an interface element for interfacing with laryngeal structures in a subject such as for diagnosis or treatment of a laryngeal impairment is presented. Illustratively, a curved hollow needle system is inserted into a subperichondral space beneath posterior cricoarytenoid muscle from the larynx. The curved hollow needle system is pushed in a curve around cartilage at least until the curved hollow needle is seen from outside of a body of the subject. The curved hollow needle system is retracted back into the larynx along a retraction route. At least one interface element is positioned at a desired position along the retraction route.
US07917215B2
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems that provide one or more of monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation, and pacing. Cardiac signal separation is employed to detect, monitor, track and/or trend closed-loop cardiac resynchronization therapy using cardiac activation sequence information. Devices and methods involve sensing a plurality of composite cardiac signals using a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes configured for implantation in a patient. A source separation is performed using the sensed plurality of composite cardiac signals, producing one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with all or a portion of one or more cardiac activation sequences. A cardiac resynchronization therapy is adjusted using one or both of the one or more cardiac signal vectors and the signals associated with the one or more cardiac signal vectors. In further embodiments, the cardiac resynchronization therapy may be initiated, terminated, or one or more parameters of the resynchronization therapy may be altered.
US07917213B2
An implantable biocompatible lead that is also compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for the purpose of diagnostic quality imaging is described. The implantable electrical lead comprises a plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a first direction forming a first structure of an outer layer of conductors of a first total length with a first number of turns per unit length and a plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a second direction forming a second structure of an inner layer of conductors of a second total length with a second number of turns per unit length. The first and the second structures are separated by a distance with a layer of dielectric material. The distance and dielectric material are chosen based on the field strength of the MRI scanner. The lead may further comprise a conducting layer formed by coating a material consisting of medium conducting particles in physical contact with each other and a mechanically flexible, biocompatible layer forming an external layer of lead and in contact with body tissue or body fluids.
US07917212B2
A method and system for the detection of electromagnetic interference is disclosed in which a telemetry coil or other magnetic sensor is used to detect a magnetic signal. If a magnetic signal is determined to be a non-telemetry signal and is time-correlated with the onset of an increase in heart rate, electromagnetic interference is assumed to be present.
US07917209B2
The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating physiological signals in the patient. In one embodiment, a medical device evaluates two or more different physiological signals, such as phonocardiogram (PCG) signals, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, patient impedance signals, piezoelectric signals, and accelerometer signals for features indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse. Using these features, the medical device determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient. The medical device may also be configured to report whether the patient is in a VF, VT, asystole, or PEA condition, in addition to being in a pulseless condition, and prompt different therapies, such as chest compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and PEA-specific electrotherapy, depending on the analysis of the physiological signals. Auto-capture of a cardiac pulse using pacing stimuli is further provided.
US07917191B2
In a method and apparatus for generation of an image in contrast agent-supported magnetic resonance angiography, a first data set is generated during an arterial phase of a distribution of a contrast agent in a vessel system by scanning of a first central k-space region, a second data set is generated during an equilibrium phase of the distribution of the contrast agent in the vessel system by scanning a peripheral k-space region while omitting scanning of a second central region, and the image is generated by merging the first data set and the second data set.
US07917187B2
A mapping catheter comprises a catheter body and a mapping assembly. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The mapping assembly comprises a generally straight proximal region attached to the catheter body, a generally circular main region distal the proximal region having an outer circumference, and a generally straight distal region distal the main region. The mapping assembly also comprises a support member having shape-memory, a non-conductive covering over the support member, and a plurality of electrodes on the non-conductive covering along the generally circular main region.
US07917185B2
A portable electronic device (20) comprises a housing (22), a battery (26), a battery cover (28) and a trigger mechanism (24). The housing (22) have a battery chamber (222) defined therein. The battery cover (28) have a mating portion (2822) formed thereon. The battery (268) assembled in the battery chamber (222) with the battery cover (28) covering thereon. and The trigger mechanism (24) comprise an expanding portion (242), a securing portion (244), and a resisting portion (246), the securing portion (244) have two ends respectively connecting the expanding portion (242) and the resisting portion (246), the mating portion (2822) is configured for securely engaging with the securing portion (244) so as to restrain the expanding portion from expanding. The expanding portion (242) is secured within the battery chamber (222). The resisting portion (246) is configured for resisting against the battery (26). When the mating portion (2822) disengages from the securing portion (244), the expanding portion (242) expands and the resisting portion (246) ejects the battery (26) from the battery chamber (222).
US07917177B2
An apparatus for gain control in a communication system is disclosed. The apparatus includes means for receiving at least one aggregate communications signal, the at least one aggregate communications signal comprising a summation of distributed communications signals, means for detecting at least a sample of a signal level of the at least one aggregate communications signal, and means for attenuating the signal level of the at least one aggregate communications signal based on the signal level sample.
US07917170B2
A multi-band wireless communication device includes a plurality of transmit paths outputting signals to one or more antennas and one or more power amplifiers coupled to the transmit paths. Each of the transmit paths is configured to transmit signals on a specific radio frequency (RF) band. The RF bands can include the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) band and the Personal Communication Service (PCS) band. Passive filters, such as SAW, BAW or FBAR devices, having out-off-band low return losses are included in the transmit paths. The passive filter and phase shifters on each transmit path can be configured so that RF switching between transmit paths is not necessary and a single power amplifier can be used for the different RF bands. Significant cost, power and space savings can be achieved by reducing the need for RF switches and using a single power amplifier to amplify plural RF bands.
US07917169B1
A method and system for geocasting data packets in a MANET. The MANET is combined with a long-range network such that a wireless terminal can decide whether to rebroadcast a geocast packet over the MANET, the long-range network, or not at all, depending on the wireless terminal's proximity to the geocast region, the location of the originating wireless terminal, or both. A wireless terminal close to or within the geocast region can rebroadcast on the MANET, whereas a wireless terminal far from the geocast region can rebroadcast on the long-range network.
US07917167B1
A communication device which receives the mobile phone specific update controlling signal, which indicates update(s) specific to mobile phones, in a wireless fashion.
US07917165B2
The present invention discloses a power control method for a base station, including: adjusting, by the base station, a transmit power of a code-channel occupied by a terminal according to a power control command from the terminal; determining a permitted minimum code-channel power according to an adjusted transmit power of the code-channel occupied by the terminal; correcting the transmit power of the code-channel occupied by the terminal according to the minimum code-channel power; and transmitting signals to the terminal according to a corrected transmit power of the code-channel occupied by each terminal. By the present invention, the signal power difference between different users is controlled, the stability of the wireless link is improved, and the quality of system communication is guaranteed.
US07917163B2
Techniques for intra-frequency searching in the presence of frequency gaps are disclosed. In one embodiment, a search is scheduled and frequency switches are suppressed during the scheduled search. In another embodiment, a search is scheduled in between anticipated frequency gaps. In yet another embodiment, a timer is deployed, the expiration of which indicates a search is to be scheduled. In yet another embodiment, a timer is deployed, the expiration of which indicates a search is to be scheduled and frequency switches are suppressed during the scheduled search. Various other embodiments are also presented. Benefits include allowing prescribed levels of intra-frequency and inter-frequency search to be performed which allows for improved base station selection and therefore improved performance and system capacity.
US07917162B2
A mobile terminal and method of managing a reply message are discussed. According to an embodiment, the terminal includes a storage unit that stores information regarding a multimedia message with an image file attached thereto, when the multimedia message is transmitted; and a controller that controls the storage unit such that when a return message to the transmitted multimedia message is received, the return message is registered in the storage unit as a reply associated with the image file, and when the image file is reproduced, the associated reply is reproduced together with the image file.
US07917160B2
Disclosed is a method for automatically recognizing an approval number for performing an electronic commerce transaction through a short messaging service (SMS) message in a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) terminal, the method including the steps of: accessing, by the DMB terminal, a home page for electronic commerce through a web-browsable DMB service, and determining a purchase for a predetermined product; requesting, through the home page, an approval number for approving payment for the predetermined product according to purchase determination for the predetermined product; receiving an SMS message including an approval number according to the request; displaying the SMS message in an active state of the DMB service; and recognizing the approval number from the displayed SMS message.
US07917159B1
In one embodiment, a device in an IP-based cellular wireless communication system includes a monitoring arrangement and a sender arrangement. The monitoring arrangement arranged to detect a location of a cellular phone device with respect to an area of restricted access. The location of the cellular phone device with respect to the area of restricted access is detected in part by determining when a preset period of time has elapsed. The sender is arranged to send a first message including information associated with the cellular phone device when the location of the cellular phone device with respect to the area of restricted access is detected. A method for operating the device is also disclosed.
US07917153B2
A technique to electronically deliver a message from a sender to an intended recipient based on tracking movement of a mobile object, including obtaining a message provided by the sender, obtaining a location designated by the sender for delivery of the message, tracking a specified mobile object having a position-determining device that determines its own current position, and which transmits its then current position at preset time intervals, determining from the transmitted current position whether the specified mobile object has reached the designated location, and initiating a procedure for automatic delivery of the message electronically to the intended recipient upon the specified mobile object being determined to have reached the designated location.
US07917152B2
A method for performing a change of a connection of a mobile entity from a first network access entity to a second network access entity, wherein a global address of the first network access entity is not known to the mobile entity is provided. According to one embodiment, the method includes the step of sending a message including information for identifying the first network access entity from the mobile entity to the second network access entity which enables the second network entity to direct traffic to the first network entity. According to another embodiment, the invention also provides a method for the reverse direction. Namely, the invention provides a method for sending IP signaling from the mobile entity or from the first network access entity towards the second network access entity, whose global IP address is not known by the mobile entity or first network access entity.
US07917149B2
A method for reusing wireless resources in a wireless network, includes determining the probability of a first communication with a first relay station experiencing interference from a second relay station. The method also includes, upon determining that the probability of experiencing interference from the second relay station is greater than an interference threshold: allocating a first wireless resource to the first relay station and the second relay station; designating the first wireless resource as a primary wireless resource for the first relay station; designating the first wireless resource as a secondary wireless resource for the second relay station; allocating a second wireless resource to the second relay station; and designating the second wireless resource as a primary wireless resource for the second relay station.
US07917137B2
According to an embodiment of the invention, a method includes receiving a radio resource control message for which a response message is required to be transmitted to a network access node; performing at least one procedure specified by the radio resource control message; and transmitting the response message using network radio resources that are received in a non-solicited manner from the network access node. According to another embodiment of the invention an apparatus includes a controller configured to operate with a radio frequency receiver and a radio frequency transmitter. The controller is further configured to transmit a radio resource control message for which a response message is required to be received from a user equipment, and to specify to the user equipment in an un-solicited manner those network radio resources to be used by the user equipment for transmitting the response message.
US07917119B2
A band control apparatus, a band control program and a band control method that control bands takes the cost into consideration. A band control apparatus 1a for relaying signals by using at least one of a plurality of lines 2a, 2b, 3 that is connected to some other band control apparatus 1b by way of the plurality of lines and adapted to cooperate with the other band control apparatus 1b to control the bands of the plurality of lines comprises communication status gauging sections 15a, 15b, 15c that gauge the communication status of the own apparatus on the plurality of lines 2a, 2b, 3 as first communication status and a band control section 16 that acquires the communication status of the band control apparatus 1b on the plurality of lines 2a, 2b, 3 as second communication status, computationally determines the line status of each of the lines according to the first communication status and the second communication status acquired and allocates the bands to be used for the relay to the plurality of lines 2a, 2b, 3 according to the line statuses.
US07917117B2
This document discloses, among other things, a front end circuit having a selectable center frequency. The center frequency is selected based on a control signal proportional to a phase difference between a reference frequency and an amplifier output. A resonant frequency of a tank circuit coupled to the amplifier is tuned using the control signal.
US07917112B2
Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping are disclosed. In this regard, in a wireless device comprising an antenna that is configurable into a plurality of configurations, determining a subset of the configurations, where each configuration of the subset enables received signal strength above a threshold for a wireless channel, may be determined. During a time interval in which the wireless device is receiving signals on the wireless channel, the antenna may be configured to sequentially utilize each configuration of the subset. During the time interval, a plurality of samples of the wireless channel may be generated, where each of the samples corresponds to a different one of the configurations of the subset. The plurality of samples may be aggregated. The aggregated samples may be processed to recover information communicated on the wireless channel.
US07917105B2
A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The amplitude control loop may also compensate for impedance mismatch with the load by increasing the power delivered from the power amplifier to the load, or decrease the output power of the power amplifier upon detection of excessive power dissipation in the power amplifier. The phase control loop adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon a phase error signal indicating a phase difference between phases of the input signal and the output signal to reduce phase distortion generated by the power amplifier.
US07917096B2
An electronic device includes an antenna, a radio frequency circuit, and an impedance matching circuit that is connected between the antenna and the radio frequency circuit. The impedance matching circuit includes a plurality of impedance matching networks that are respectively associated with frequency bands used by the radio frequency circuit.
US07917092B2
An apparatus and a method for improving packet transmission and reducing latency in VoIP over WLAN using switched beam antennas having multiple directional antenna beams are disclosed. In an access point having a switched beam antenna, or other smart antenna system, the present invention extends the coverage area of an access point for authentication and association of a new WTRU, extends the access points coverage area during in session transmissions with a WTRU, and adjusts data rates. The method also controls Contention Period (CP)/Contention Free Period (CFP) timing amongst beams emanating from an access point having a switched beam antenna, or other smart antenna system. Fast diversity switching, frame level switching, lowered data rates, and scanning multiple directional antenna beams for the optimum transmission beam are disclosed to improve beam selection and packet transmission.
US07917091B2
Methods and apparatus for calibrating In-phase and Quadrature imbalance within a receiver are described. A calibration process can inject a calibration tone to an RF or IF portion of a receiver. The receiver can frequency translate the tone to distinct I and Q calibration signals. The receiver upconverts the I and Q calibration signals to complementary sidebands or images using distinct and substantially matched upconverters. The complementary sidebands are mixed together to generate an error signal. The receiver determines a phase and amplitude correction based on the error signal.
US07917089B2
A Wireless Connection Utility (WCU) provides a unified user experience for managing various types of wireless connections, including Wireless WANs, Wireless LANs, and Bluetooth networks. The WCU functions as a gateway for a user of a computer to monitor the computer's wireless network status, to switch wireless connections, to configure wireless connection settings, and to diagnose wireless connection problems through a Wireless Helper Utility (WHU). The WCU thus provides a unified U/I layer on the top of the existing operating system components for ease of use.
US07917088B2
RFID tags, tag circuits, and methods are provided that reduce at least in part the distortion to received wireless signals, which is caused by interference in the environment. Two or more thresholds are used to digitize the received signal implemented by two or more demodulators. Multiple low pass and digital filters may be implemented with the demodulators, allowing removal of narrow pulses caused by the interference and reduction of beat tone amplitude.
US07917080B2
An apparatus for simultaneously receiving a first signal from a non-terrestrial source and a second signal from a terrestrial source on the same or overlapping channels using a receive antenna with posteriorly-directed sidelobes is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one terrestrial transmitter transmitting information on at least one frequency simultaneously usable by at least one satellite transmitting to a satellite receive antenna having a sensitivity characterizable by a primary sensitive axis directed substantially at satellite. The terrestrial transmitter includes a azimuthal gain characteristic directed substantially away from the Earth's Equator. In an alternative embodiment, the terrestrial transmitter is disposed at a location defining a vector angularly displaced from the primary sensitive axis by an angle of less than 90 degrees.A method of transmitting information is also disclosed. In this method the information is transmitted on at least one frequency simultaneously usable by at least one satellite transmitting to a satellite receive antenna having a sensitivity characterizable by a primary sensitive axis directed substantially at the satellite and a posterior secondary sensitive axis. The method is performed by transmitting the information from a terrestrially-based transmitter to a terrestrial receive antenna in a direction substantially away from the Equator.
US07917076B2
A toner conveying device includes a pipe body (conveying pipe) having an inside diameter thereof that is modified in a pipe-axis direction and a screw member coaxially located in the pipe body for feeding the toner. The screw member includes a screw shaft that rotates about an axis and a spiral fin that is spirally formed around an outer circumferential surface of the screw shaft. The distance between an outer circumferential surface of the spiral fin and an inner circumferential surface of the pipe body is constant in the longitudinal direction of the pipe body.
US07917066B2
The image forming apparatus includes a developing chamber an agitating chamber, a first conveying screw which is arranged in the developing chamber and coveys developer from one end to the other end of the first chamber, a second conveying screw which is arranged in the agitating chamber and conveys developer from one end to the other end of the second chamber, a developing sleeve which bears developer supplied from the developing chamber and conveys the developer to the agitating chamber via a developing area opposed to a photosensitive drum, motors, which drive the developing sleeve, the first conveying screw and the second conveying screw, and a controller which controls drive of the developing sleeve and the second conveying screw so that trigger timing of drive stopping of at least the second conveying screw is to be later than trigger timing of drive stopping of the developing sleeve.
US07917058B2
An image forming apparatus that includes at least one process cartridge having a photosensitive element, a development unit, a toner storage unit, a driven shaft and a driven gear mounted thereon and which is detachably attachable to the apparatus from a top front side thereof, a drive shaft, a drive gear mounted on the drive shaft to couple with and drive the driven gear to transmit a driving force to the process cartridge, an upper cover opening and closing with respect to the apparatus, a front cover opening and closing with respect to the apparatus, and at least one block component to block coupling of the drive gear and the driven gear by contacting the driven shaft while interlocked with opening and closing of the upper cover. The process cartridge is detachably attachable to the apparatus from the front top side thereof by opening and closing the upper cover.
US07917053B2
An image forming apparatus performs an image forming operation and an untransferred toner particles transfer operation. In particular, the image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, the image bearing member having an endless image bearing surface and supported for rotation, a charging member made of a brush provided in contact with the image bearing surface to define a charging region, and a controller. The controller controls the image forming operation in which the toner image is provided to a recording medium and the transfer operation the transfer operation in which the rotation of the image bearing member is halted and then toner particles accumulated in the brush are transferred onto the image bearing surface at the charging region.
US07917043B2
The present invention provides an optical receiver that enables to vary the sensitivity depending on the transmission speed. The optical receiver provides a photodiode to generate the photocurrent, the pre-amplifier to convert the photocurrent to the voltage signal, the lead pin to supply the bias voltage to the photodiode, and the control block to generate the switching signal for varying the current-to-voltage conversion efficiency and the frequency bandwidth of the pre-amplifier based on the control signal. The control signal is commonly provided from the lead pin through which the bias voltage is applied. The control block interprets the signal applied to the lead pin and generates the switching signal.
US07917040B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a wavelength tuning of an optical source in an optical communication system. An operating temperature of an optical source is controlled and monitored to shorten a wavelength tuning time of the optical source generated in an optical source generator. When the current operating temperature reaches a final target temperature, an operating current is supplied to the optical source generator, and transmission of the operating current to the optical source generator is controlled and monitored. When the operating current reaches a final operating current, the wavelength tuning of the optical source is terminated. The operating temperature is adjusted by distinguishing between a smaller amount of temperature change and a larger amount of temperature change to prevent oscillation at the point of reaching the final target temperature, thereby minimizing the time taken for the output wavelength tuning.
US07917035B2
A transceiver unit for use at an end-location in a communications network includes a downstream monitor configured to monitor downstream optical signals that travel from a service provider to the end-location. The downstream optical signals carry downstream data for use by a device in communication with the transceiver unit. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the downstream optical signals is on a common optical fiber that carries downstream optical signals for other end locations. The transceiver unit also includes an upstream attenuator configured to attenuate upstream optical signals traveling from the end-location to the service provider. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the upstream optical signals is on the common optical fiber. The transceiver unit also includes electronics configured to operate the upstream optical attenuator in response to output from the downstream monitor.
US07917033B2
A wavelength-multiplexing optical transmission apparatus includes an optical-wavelength-information storing unit that stores optical wavelength information on an optical wavelength of an optical signal to be output from a transponder, and an optical-wavelength-information transmitting unit that transmits the stored optical wavelength information to the transponder via a connection cable. The transponder includes an optical-wavelength control unit that controls an optical wavelength of an optical signal to be input to a wavelength multiplexing unit based on the optical wavelength information received from the optical-wavelength-information transmitting unit.
US07917030B2
A WDM fiber optic communication system is operative to transmit WDM signals between multiple nodes. Each node has a booster EDFA, and in-band and out-of-band supervisory channels monitoring the integrity of a link by generating and detecting respective in-band and out-of-band control signals. The booster EDFA receives the multiplexed WDM and IB signals and generates an output signal carried by fibers between the nodes. The booster EDFA switches from an automatic gain control regime upon detecting of at least one of the IB and OB control signals to an automatic power control regime upon loss of both IB and OB control signals. The output signal of the EDFA in the AGC regime has a high power sufficient for transmitting the WDM and IB signals, and has a low power in the APC regime sufficient for transmitting only the IB control signal.
US07917024B2
Digital camera is provided with face detection section that detects faces of a plurality of photographing objects, microcomputer performs continuous shooting in optimum photographing conditions in accordance with the number of faces of the photographing objects for each face of the plurality of photographing objects by a single shutter operation and performs control by assigning serial photographing object numbers to the images of the plurality of photographing objects taken by continuous shooting and recording the images in a single continuous-shooting image folder. Furthermore, microcomputer performs continuous shooting in predetermined order in accordance with the number of faces of the photographing objects and detects, when the photographing object speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the photographing object speed again after photographing other photographing objects.
US07917014B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07917002B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07916992B2
Provided is an optical waveguide manufacturing method that makes the thickness of a clad layer in the vicinity of a core portion uniform. A first lamination film is fabricated by forming a clad layer by forming a first curable resin layer for clad formation on a first base film and curing the first curable resin layer, and forming a core portion by forming a second curable resin layer for core formation having a higher refractive index than that of the clad layer after cured on the clad layer and selectively curing the second curable resin layer. A second lamination film is fabricated by forming a clad layer by forming a third curable resin layer for clad formation on a second base film and curing the third curable resin layer. In the optical waveguide manufacturing method, the first lamination film in which the core portion is formed and the second lamination film are bonded together with a fourth curable resin layer for clad formation interposed therebetween, and the curable resin layer interposed between the first lamination film and the second lamination film is cured to form a clad layer.
US07916991B2
In an optical fiber (1) for the transmission of high-power laser radiation, with a fiber core (2), with an inner fiber cladding (3) surrounding the fiber core (2) for carrying the laser radiation in the fiber core (2), with a first outer fiber cladding (4) surrounding the inner fiber cladding (3), which has a smaller refractive index than the inner fiber cladding (3) as a result of longitudinally aligned air-filled capillaries (5), and with a second outer fiber cladding (6) surrounding the first outer fiber cladding (4), wherein the first outer fiber cladding (4) has a capillary-free longitudinal section (8), the second outer fiber cladding (6) has according to the invention scattering centers (7) at least in the region of the capillary-free longitudinal section (8) for scattering the laser radiation emerging from the inner fiber cladding (3) along the capillary-free longitudinal section (8).
US07916988B2
Optical splitter assemblies are provided. An assembly may include a housing, one or more fanout elements, an optical splitter element, an input fiber and a plurality of output fibers. The input fiber extends from an input opening of the housing to the optical splitter element. The input fiber carries an input signal to the optical splitter element and the optical splitter element splits the input signal into a plurality of output signals to be carried by the plurality of output fibers. Each of the output fibers extends from the optical splitter element to beyond a plurality of output openings of the housing. Each of the fanout elements defines one or more channels for supporting the input or output fibers. The assembly may further include tubular members for further support to the fibers. The fibers extend from the openings of the housing to the optical splitter element free of any loops.
US07916984B2
Provided are an opto-electric bus module and a method of manufacturing the opto-electric bus module. The opto-electric bus module includes an opto-electric interconnection unit where a concave-shaped micro structure is formed on a lower surface of a polymer structure and an optical bench where a convex-shaped micro structure is formed in a position corresponding to the concave-shaped micro structure, at least one second electric interconnection for electric connection with a semiconductor chip is formed, and the semiconductor chip and an opto-electric device can be mounted. Thus, automatic, efficient, high-speed, and high-integration optical communication and electric communication between multi-chips can be completed at the same time by using the opto-bus module which provides low-speed electric communication while manually maintaining solid optical coupling.
US07916982B1
An integrated fiber optic switch based on the magneto-optic effect of magnetic materials suitable for optical fiber networks is presented. The switch is based on the Faraday Effect exhibited by magneto-optic materials. The all-fiber magneto-optic switch has a beam splitter at the input that splits an incoming signal into orthogonal polarized paths. Each path has at least one magneto-optic Faraday rotator (MOFR) controlled by a field. When the field is present, the polarization of the optical beam changes, thereby turning the switch on or off. A beam coupler couples the orthogonal polarized paths at the output of the all-fiber magneto-optic switch. The switch is constructed in the Mach-Zehnder configuration, utilizing two 3 dB couplers, isolators and MOFRs fabricated on silicon-on-insulator.
US07916980B2
An interferometric modulator array is formed with connectors and/or an encapsulation layer with electrical connections. The encapsulation layer hermetically seals the array. Circuitry may also be formed over the array.
US07916979B2
A user interface can display electronic ink in one section of a display device and corresponding recognized or converted text in another section of the display device that was generated from a electronic ink recognition system. Each page of electronic ink and each corresponding page of converted or recognized text are linked to one another. In other words, each page of electronic ink can be displayed only with its corresponding page of converted or recognized text until a command or message is received that editing of the converted or recognized text has been completed. Once the command or message is received that editing of the converted or recognized text has been completed, then the link between an electronic ink page and its corresponding converted text page is broken. This means that the converted text page can now be saved independently of its corresponding electronic ink page.
US07916959B2
An image decoding method, apparatus and program for decoding coded picture data is disclosed. In the method, apparatus and program, the coded picture data is entropy-decoded to derive four transform coefficient strings each comprising entropy-decoded sixteen (16) transform coefficients. The four transform coefficient strings are combined into an 8x8 block of entropy-decoded sixty four (64) transform coefficients by de-interleaving the four strings in such a manner as to select a lower frequency transform coefficient alternately from the four strings and arrange it in the 8x8 block in an order of a low frequency to a high frequency. An inverse orthogonal transform is then performed on the 8x8 block of the entropy-decoded sixty four (64) transform coefficients.
US07916953B2
A removable medium device, configured to transmit information stored in a removable medium via a network based on a predetermined communication protocol, includes a reduced image generating system that reduces each of a plurality of original images in the removable medium and generate a reduced screen image in which the plurality of reduced images are arranged, an image file generating system that generates an image file including the reduced screen image and image specifying information for specifying an original image in the removable medium for each of the plurality of reduced images, an image file sending system that sends the image file via the network, and an original image sending system that, in response to receiving image specifying information by which one of the plurality of original images in the removable medium is specified, sends the original image specified by the received image specifying information.
US07916950B2
An image processing method is disclosed for processing a first and a second image area of a video frame or a video field. The image processing method includes performing a first operation on the first image area wherein the first operation corresponds to a first criterion, performing a first image processing procedure on the first image area according to the result of the first operation so as to update the first image area, performing a second operation on the second image area wherein the second operation corresponds to a second criterion, and performing a second image processing procedure on the second image area according to the result of the second operation so as to update the second image area.
US07916945B2
An image processing device includes; an image segmentation unit that divides an image information set into a plurality of image areas, the image information set forming a plurality of lines each constituted of colored pixels arrayed in a first direction, and the image information set expressing gradations forming an image as a number of the colored pixels existing in a predetermined image area; an image area shift unit that shifts the predetermined image area among the plurality of image areas in a second direction different from the first direction, relative to an image area substantially contiguous to the predetermined image area; and a pixel replacement unit that replaces the colored pixels forming part of each of the lines and existing within a predetermined distance range from the boundary, with at least one of the colored pixels intervening between the lines.
US07916943B2
Image determining apparatuses, image determining methods, image enhancement apparatuses, and image enhancement methods are provided. An image determining apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: (A) a histogram data generation section; (B) an attribute information obtaining section; and (C) a determining section.
US07916942B1
Image determining apparatuses, image enhancement apparatuses, backlight image enhancement apparatuses, and backlight image enhancement methods are provided.
US07916938B2
In gamut mapping, as the brightness of the original color (S) increases further and further beyond the source gamut (110) boundary, the corresponding color (S′) in the target gamut (120) becomes closer and closer to a white color (W). Image distortion is reduced as a result.
US07916930B2
A method and apparatus for the repair of photolithography masks, wherein a photolithography mask is examined for the presence of defects and a list of the defects is generated, in which at least one type of defect, its extent, and its location on the photolithography mask is assigned to each defect, and these defects are repaired.
US07916929B2
A method of inspecting patterns, including: adjusting a brightness of at least one of a first bright field image and a second bright field image detected from a specimen and directed to similar patterns on differing parts of the specimen, so as to more closely match a brightness; comparing the images which are adjusted in brightness to match with each other to detect dissimilarities indicative of a defect of the pattern, wherein in adjusting the brightness, the brightness between the first bright field image and the second bright field image is adjusted by performing a gradation conversion of at least one of the brightness between the first bright field image and the second bright field image; and wherein in the comparing, said defect of the pattern is detected by using information of a scattered diagram of brightness of the first bright field image and the second bright field image.
US07916924B2
A color processing method for identification of areas within an image corresponding to monetary banknotes includes dividing the image into a plurality of sections; extracting color histogram data for each section; assigning a color vector for each section according to the color histogram data for the section; comparing the color vector for each section to a color lookup table to determine a probability of the section corresponding to monetary banknotes; and selecting probable sections having the probability exceeding a first predetermined threshold.
US07916913B2
A system and method for reconstructing a diagnostic trajectory.
US07916910B2
An image of an individual (2) is obtained via a digital camera (1). The RGB image data is then processed to derive from the image data data representative of the distribution of chromophores resulting in the appearance of the individual (2). A calculated chromophore distribution is then utilised to derive a revised chromophore distribution representing the effect of the desired cosmetic or surgical intervention or medical condition. This chromophore distribution is then processed to generate an output image (34) illustrating the expected result of that intervention. The generated image (34) can be displayed simultaneously with an original image (33) so that the extent of expected improvement can be determined.
US07916907B2
Biometric data are obtained through a biometric input device (120) and subsequently pixelated via a pixelator (130). The pixelator (130) creates an image of the biometric data. Via a processing unit (110), a relationship between pixels of a transformed version of the image is asserted. Thus, the biometric data is rotated to a consistent inclination based on the relationship between pixels regardless of an orientation in which the biometric data were captured in the original image. Once the image has been transformed, features of the biometric data may be extracted and either stored in a data storage unit (140) or compared with previously stored feature values for validation of the biometric data.
US07916903B2
A personal identification device compares personal identification dictionary data, which is generated from feature data extracted from an identification element for identifying a person and is stored in association with person-specifying information for specifying a person, against feature data extracted from an identification element extracted from a person to thereby identify a person having the captured identification element. The personal identification device includes a dictionary data update processing section that assigns a weighting factor, which is generated from capture time information newly acquired by a time acquiring section and capture time information of an identification element acquired previously and stored in a dictionary-data generating information storing section in association with person-specifying information, to feature data captured at each capture time to thereby generate or update identification dictionary data corresponding to person-specifying information acquired by a person-specifying section on the basis of the result of personal identification.
US07916897B2
A method of tracking faces in an image stream with a digital image acquisition device includes receiving images from an image stream including faces, calculating corresponding integral images, and applying different subsets of face detection rectangles to the integral images to provide sets of candidate regions. The different subsets include candidate face regions of different sizes and/or locations within the images. The different candidate face regions from different images of the image stream are each tracked.
US07916893B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image capturing section, a marker-image defecting section, a judging section and an output section. The image capturing section captures at least a part of a target image, which includes a plurality of marker images and a recognition target range defined by the plurality of marker images, to acquire a captured image. The marker-image detecting section detects the marker images from the captured image. The judging section judges based on a detection result, whether or not the recognition target range is included in the captured image. When the judging section judges that the recognition target range is not included in the captured image, the output section outputs guidance for capturing the recognition target range.
US07916890B2
An ultra low frequency transducer or subwoofer for automotive speaker systems with a rectangular or square or otherwise polygonal diaphragm. The basket of the transducer has a correspondingly polygonal front, which preferably is sized to be substantially coextensive with the front of the speaker housing or cabinet. In this way, air displacement in the subwoofer is maximized for a given size of enclosure, and thus so is the loudness of the speaker. The preferred diaphragm is concave, and the transducer preferably includes a convex surround with pleated corners. For increased durability, trusses are formed in the diaphragm.
US07916882B2
The present application relates to a hearing aid, especially a hearing aid with multiple modes of operation and efficient switching between these modes of operation. The hearing aid comprises means for performing a first mode of operation, means for performing a second mode of operation, first and second quality measuring means for providing first and second quality measures corresponding to the first and second modes of operation, respectively, and selecting means for automatically selecting one of said first and second modes of operation by applying a predetermined selection criterion to the first and second quality measures, and wherein the selecting means is programmed to select the mode of operation for which the estimated quality measure is largest when the difference between the first and second quality measures exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US07916871B2
In a secure cryptographic environment, a private key in a private/public key cryptographic scheme needs to be backed up and recovered in case of a loss or corruption of the private key. To back up the private key, multiple key segments are generated based on the private key which are distributed to a corresponding number of trusted individuals, each of whom has knowledge of only his or her key segment. The key can be restored only when all of the trusted individuals provide the respective key segments, based on which the original private key is reconstructed. In addition, each trusted individual is uniquely identifiable by a personal identification number. Advantageously, the private key which is secret can be backed up and restored without any individual having knowledge of the full key.
US07916868B1
A method is provided for use in secure electronic communication. The method may include obtaining a password shared with an intended key exchange entity and sending a key exchange request including a first value to the intended key exchange entity. The method may also include receiving a key exchange reply including a permutation of a first quadratic residue of the first value, and calculating a second quadratic residue of the first value based on the key exchange reply. Further, the method may also include determining a second value shared with the key exchange entity based on the first quadratic residue and the second quadratic residue.
US07916867B2
A content receiving apparatus, capable of resuming transmission of a content without assigning a new key even when transmission of the content is suspended, is provided. A content receiving apparatus is an apparatus which receives contents. The content receiving apparatus includes: a key exchange unit which exchanges, with a content transmitting apparatus for transmitting a content, a key which is to be used in encrypting a content and which is valid only for a prescribed period; a reception unit which receives the content encrypted by using the key; a detection unit which detects when a time during which the key is not used reaches a prescribed time; and a transmission unit which transmits, to the content transmitting apparatus, information for not making the key invalid, when it is detected that the time during which the key is not is used has reached the prescribed time.
US07916864B2
A graphics processing unit is programmed to carry out cryptographic processing so that fast, effective cryptographic processing solutions can be provided without incurring additional hardware costs. The graphics processing unit can efficiently carry out cryptographic processing because it has an architecture that is configured to handle a large number of parallel processes. The cryptographic processing carried out on the graphics processing unit can be further improved by configuring the graphics processing unit to be capable of both floating point and integer operations.
US07916863B2
A security printing method includes generating a security file having a plurality of metadata fields and an information field concatenated together in an initial sequence. A security file identification is generated from the plurality of metadata fields and the information field. The security file identification corresponds to the initial sequence and is a one-way function of the plurality of metadata fields and the information field. The method further includes selecting a custom scrambling technique based on the security file identification, and scrambling the initial sequence using the selected custom scrambling technique, thereby creating a scrambled sequence of the plurality of metadata field and the information field.
US07916858B1
A call-management method and system for distributing calls to agents, wherein each agent has a profile, e.g., defining agent skills, efficiency, etc. The call center management system implements an algorithm for selecting an agent to receive a call to optimize caller utility, call center efficiency, and agent training. Therefore, the algorithm does not seek to necessarily route a call to the agent having the skill set most suited to the call; rather, the call may be routed to an agent who needs experience in the area of the call, and thus serves as a training exercise. Skilled agents may be made available to shadow the training agent when available.
US07916856B2
A technique is disclosed for receiving call-control data, often from a variety of sources; processing the data into a format, content, and size that is appropriate for a telecommunications endpoint; and transmitting the processed call-control data to the endpoint. The personal profile manager of the illustrative embodiment is what first acquires the call-control data, which includes a dialing plan. The manager also reformats the call-control data and deletes redundant data. Subsequently, when a request is received from an endpoint, the personal profile manager further processes the call-control data and then transmits, to the requesting endpoint, the portion of the processed data that is appropriate for the endpoint. Transmitting the call-control data to the endpoint offloads some of the processing from the supporting call-processing server, as the data that constitute call-control rules that are used by the endpoint to make call-control decisions.
US07916855B2
Storing and restoring a communication session includes establishing a communication session by exchanging dialog. Dialog from the communication session is stored to a persistent storage. Endpoints participate in the communication session to assert functionality to a monitoring module. If a failure occurs during the communication session, an endpoint receives the stored dialog from the persistent storage. Furthermore, the endpoint restores the received dialog onto a protocol stack to continue the communication session without loss of dialog.
US07916846B1
Described is a system and method for receiving information for a phone call corresponding to a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is subscribed to at least two services. The information is compared to subscriber information stored in a plurality of subscriber profiles, wherein each profile corresponds to one of the services. The phone call is then handled, when the information matches the subscriber information in one of the profiles, using the service corresponding to the profile.
US07916845B2
Embodiments connect a call in which at least one party is a VoIP call party and monitoring resulting VoIP signals for unauthorized call activity, such as three-way call activity. The monitoring may include monitoring the call for suspend and/or resume events to detect the unauthorized call activity, the suspend and resume events may be generated by a telephone system and passed into a VoIP system associated with the VoIP call party. The monitoring may be carried out by an agent disposed between a VoIP gateway and the VoIP call party or by the VoIP gateway itself.
US07916835B2
An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray collimator control unit which controls an X-ray collimator shape, an X-ray irradiation unit which irradiates X-rays in accordance with the X-ray collimator shape, an X-ray imaging unit which receives the irradiated X-rays and acquires a radiograph, a perpendicularity determination unit which determines, on the basis of the comparison between the X-ray collimator shape and the radiograph, whether the X-ray irradiation direction of the X-ray irradiation unit is perpendicular to a light-receiving surface by which the X-ray imaging unit receives the X-rays, and an irradiation control unit which controls X-ray irradiation by the X-ray irradiation unit on the basis of the determination result obtained by the perpendicularity determination unit.
US07916832B2
A control device of a breast image radiographing apparatus relating to the present invention controls a driving device, in response to a press-down of a position adjustment switch of an input device, so as to adjust the position of a subject table. The position of compression board is adjusted by the operator such as a radiographing technician, the subject H is pressed and fixed, and when the enlargement factor of the phase contrast radiographing is inputted through the input device, the control device controls a driving device according to the positions of the subject table and the compression board and the inputted enlargement factor, so as to make a holding member ascend and descend and thereby the relative distances of the subject table to a radiation source and to a radiation image detector are adjusted to distances satisfying the enlargement factor=(R1+R2)/R1.
US07916828B1
In one embodiment, a method of tomographic image construction includes performing sparsification on initial projection data for an object with a processor to provide sparsified projection data of the object. The method also includes backprojecting the sparsified projection data with the processor to provide a three-dimensional image of the object, and performing sparsification on the three-dimensional image with the processor to provide a sparsified image.
US07916812B2
Apparatus and methods of determining a modulo count of a synchronization number in a sleep capable system. The synchronization number is stored in a comparison register, and a comparison number equal to the largest power of two multiple of the modulus within a predetermined range is subtracted from the synchronization number. If the difference is zero, the difference is stored in the comparison register, replacing the previous number stored in the register. If the difference is less than zero, the number stored in the register remains unchanged. The comparison number is right shifted, resulting in division by two. The process is repeated for a number of loops equal to the power of two, or until the difference is less than the modulus.
US07916810B2
There is proposed a technique for determining parameters, especially channel estimation, in the receiver of a communication system utilizing adaptive antenna techniques. The technique uses information transmitted in the antenna signals and in the beam signals to determine the parameters.
US07916803B2
A modified preamble is used by extended devices that operate at higher rates, MIMO or other extensions relative to strict 802.11a-compliant devices. The extended devices might use multiple antenna techniques (MIMO), where multiple data streams are multiplexed spatially and/or multi-channel techniques, where an extended transmitter transmits using more than one 802.11a channel at a time. Such extensions to IEEE 802.11a can exist in extended devices. The modified preamble is usable for signaling, to legacy devices as well as extended devices, to indicate capabilities and to cause legacy devices or extended devices to defer to other devices such that the common communication channel is not subject to unnecessary interference. The modified preamble is also usable for obtaining MIMO channel estimates and/or multi-channel estimates. The modified preamble preferably includes properties that facilitate detection of conventional and/or extended modes (“mode detection”) and provides some level of coexistence with legacy IEEE 802.11a devices.
US07916801B2
A multiple carrier communication system includes a primary impulse shortening filter that receives an output signal of an analog to digital converter and accepts coefficients. A secondary impulse shortening filter receives the output signal of the analog to digital converter, outputs an output signal, and passes coefficients to the primary impulse shortening filter. A reference signal generator outputs a reference signal. A comparator compares the output signal and the reference signal and outputs a resulting error signal. An adaptive processor computes coefficients for the secondary impulse shortening filter based on the error signal.
US07916799B2
A method and a receiver system for subcarrier-specific frequency offset correction including frequency offset estimation, updating and compensation. The method includes initial frequency offset estimation in time domain using packet preamble, frequency offset compensation during channel estimation symbols using the initial frequency offset estimate, and frequency offset update tracking during header and data part both being performed in the frequency domain. The initial frequency offset estimation includes using a sum over a number of time lagged autocorrelation results, corresponding to a number of the last consecutive symbols of the preamble part of the packet with the autocorrelations being the result of a sum over a window of cross-correlations between the incoming signal and the respective packet synchronization sequence. The receiver includes receiver blocks for initial frequency offset estimation, frequency offset compensation, frequency offset update tracking and obtaining a current frequency offset estimate.
US07916790B2
A pixel compensation method is implemented by an image-capturing device having an image sensor for obtaining a pixel pattern of a plurality of pixels, in which each of the pixels has a response intensity. The pixel compensation method includes: a) selecting a first block of a predetermined number of pixels from the pixel pattern obtained by the image sensor; b) designating at least one pixel from the pixels of the first block as a stand-by compensation pixel; c) determining a first compensation value according to the response intensities of the pixels of the first block; and d) adjusting the response intensity of the stand-by compensation pixel according to the first compensation value.
US07916784B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for inverse telecine and field pairing may comprise receiving a plurality of fields of alternating polarity. A current field may be weaved with its corresponding adjacent field of opposite polarity. A polarity change count value may be calculated based on the weaving of the current field with its corresponding adjacent field of opposite polarity. The method may determine whether to utilize a progressive scheme or an interlaced scheme to encode the received plurality of fields of alternating polarity based at least in part on the calculated polarity change count value. At least one of a top field first (TFF) scheme, a bottom field first (BFF) scheme, a top field first-repeat first field (TFF-RFF) scheme and a bottom field first-repeat first field (BFF-RFF) scheme may be chosen to pair the plurality of fields of alternating polarity.
