US07981049B2
A biopsy system includes a biopsy device, a vacuum canister, a vacuum control module, and a plurality of tubes. A first tube is configured to provide an axial vacuum to the biopsy device, while a second tube is configured to provide a lateral vacuum. A third tube is configured to communicate atmospheric air to the second tube. A fourth tube is configured to communicate saline to the second tube. The vacuum canister is configured to collect fluids drawn through the first tube and the second tube. The canister has a lid with trenches formed in it for retaining the first, second, third, and fourth tubes. The lid also has engagement regions for selectively pinching each of the tubes against to prevent fluid communication through selected tubes. The canister can be removably inserted into the vacuum control module, which includes components for selectively pinching the tubes against the engagement regions.
US07981048B2
The invention disclosed herein provides a system and method for diagnosing lower urinary system conditions by receiving urodynamic data and subjective symptomatic impressions concerning a patient. The system and method then assigns weighted point values to the urodynamic data, for example, urethal pressure profiles due to sphincter contraction conditions such as urgency (2) and stress incontinence (4), and the subjective symptomatic impressions, quantifies norms for lower urinary system function, as a whole or in part, and quantifies recognized pathologies of lower urinary system conditions as degrees of departure from the norms. The system and method then determines a lower urinary system condition diagnosis of the patient, as a function of the degrees of departure from the norms, by invoking a set of rules to compare the weighted point values assigned and the quantified norms. The invention then reports the lower urinary system condition diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or further diagnostic suggestions.
US07981039B2
Receive circuits and associated methods are provided for ultrasound imaging. Both subarray mixing and time division multiplexing are provided with a same circuit. Components of the receive circuit respond to either phasing or time slot information to implement subarray mixing or time division multiplexing. A network of switches allows combination of signals from different elements to form different sub-apertures. A controller minimizes power consumption while outputting the desired phase or time division multiplexed information by gating a clock to various registers. Each of the registers corresponds to different groups of transducer elements. For loading new phasing information, the clock is turned on to the desired register. Duration operation of the receive circuit, the clock is gated off. The register outputs the previously loaded values in a static state without clocking. Preamplification for either of time division or subarray mixed signals is provided using a variable gain amplifier with a common mode feedback. The common mode feedback provides for a constant operating point despite changes in the desired amount of gain.
US07981037B2
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus which performs ultrasonic diagnosis with respect of a fetal heart. An area change measurement section calculates an area of a specific heart chamber (left ventricle) in the fetal heart in frame units. Further, the area change measurement section generates a graph representing the area which is calculated in frame units. The maximum value and the minimum value are specified in the graph to thereby specify end-diastole and end-systole. Based on this information, a heart rate and a cardiac cycle with regard to the fetal heart are calculated. Further, an ejection fraction is also calculated from an end-diastolic area and an end-systolic area.
US07981036B2
A method for processing Doppler signal gaps may include receiving Doppler signals during Doppler signal acquisition to obtain data of in-phase (I) component and quadrate (Q) component signals of the Doppler signals. The method may also include receiving interruption of the Doppler signals and estimating the data of the Doppler signals interrupted in the gap period filling the interrupted Doppler signals with the data of the estimated Doppler signals so that the data of the I and Q component signals in the gap period are filled to form a continuous output. The method may further include generating Doppler spectrum data or Doppler sound based on the data of the filled I and Q component signals.
US07981034B2
Method and system for providing diabetes management is provided.
US07981023B2
The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to adjustable length implantable sling assemblies for providing support to anatomical locations. In certain embodiments, the sling includes at least one elastic member to aid in the placement and tensioning of the sling.
US07981018B2
A folding superstructure and to a method for operating a folding superstructure of a web-fed rotary printing press with at least one former by which one or more paper webs fed through this former are provided with a longitudinal fold. The longitudinally folded paper web is guided to folding cylinders. The folding cylinders further process the uncut paper web to form cut sheets. The still uncut paper web is actively transported by at least one transporting device.
US07981013B2
An adjustable weight kettlebell includes a weight lifting member that rests on top of a vertical stack of weights. A weight selector is rotatable into and out of underlying engagement of the weight plates to secure a desired amount of mass to the weight lifting member.
US07981012B1
A weight lifting member is configured to accommodate a plurality of weights. A selector rod is movably mounted on the weight lifting member for rotation about an axis to selective engage and disengage a first subset of the weights, and for movement axially to selectively engage and disengage a second subset of the weights. A latch must be moved in order to release the selector rod for movement relative to the weight lifting member.
US07981007B1
A cyclical skating motion exercise machine has a base frame assembly. A first pedal arm mounted on a first pedal axle, wherein the first pedal axle is substantially vertical. A first link assembly mounted to the first pedal arm at a first pedal joint. The first pedal joint provides motion between the first link assembly and the first pedal arm. A first pedal mounted to the first pedal arm for supporting a user's foot. A second pedal arm is mounted on a second pedal axle, wherein the second pedal axle is substantially vertical. A crank assembly has a first link assembly is mounted to the crank assembly, and the crank assembly has rotational inertia is substantially orthogonally to the first pedal axle.
US07980994B2
A load control structure for a work vehicle comprises: set rotation speed detection device for detecting a set rotation of an engine of the work vehicle; actual rotation speed detection device that senses an actual rotational speed of the engine; continuously variable speed change device that receives power from an engine of the work vehicle; speed change position detecting device for detecting a speed change operation position of the continuously variable speed change device; operating device for speed-shifting the continuously variable speed change device; control device for controlling the operation of the operating device; wherein the control device calculates a drop amount of the actual engine rotation speed from the set rotation speed based on the detected information from the set rotation speed detection device and the actual rotation speed detection device, and sets a limit operation position for the continuously variable speed change device based on the calculated drop amount and a correlation data that correlates the actual engine rotation speeds with operating positions of the continuously variable speed change device, and controls the operating device such that the operating position of the continuously variable speed change device moves to the limit operating position based on the set limit operating position and detected information from the speed change position detecting device, and wherein the control device has command device for commanding a change of the correlation data.
US07980982B2
A ring gear of a planetary reduction gear is screwed into an inner peripheral surface of a first housing through an opening thereof, while the thrust-receiving flange of a screw feed mechanism is held by the locknut screwed into an inner peripheral surface of a second housing through an opening thereof. In addition, the locknut and the ring gear face each other in an axial direction with a slight gap provided therebetween when the openings, respectively, of the first and second housings are connected to each other in the axial direction. Accordingly, even if the threaded connection of any one component of the locknut and the ring gear is loosened, the one component is prevented from moving by the other component.
US07980981B2
An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of planetary gear units; a plurality of frictional elements, the frictional elements assuming engaged/disengaged condition upon receiving a ratio change instruction thereby to establish a desired speed of the transmission with the aid of the planetary gear units; a deceleration detecting means that detects a deceleration of the motor vehicle; a gear ratio detecting means that detects an actual gear ratio that is actually established in the transmission; and an interlock judgment means that judges whether or not the transmission is subjected to an interlock, the interlock being a condition wherein upon receiving the ratio change instruction, at least one of the frictional elements is brought into unintended engagement. The interlock judgment means is configured to carry out judgment of the interlock by analyzing a deceleration of the vehicle and a relation between a gear ratio intended by the ratio change instruction and an actual gear ratio actually established by the transmission while the transmission is not under a ratio change.
US07980977B2
A power transmission apparatus includes a pulley 1 having a belt attached thereto to transmit the rotating drive force, a hub 2 which connects the pulley to a rotating shaft of a driven device, a bearing 7 which rotatably supports the pulley, and a sleeve ring 5 which is fitted and secured to the pulley and attaches the bearing to the pulley to prevent it relatively moving. The sleeve ring is provided, on its first end opposite to the driven device, with a bent portion 5b against which the bearing abuts to restrict further movement of the bearing. An annular retainer 6 is provided on the portion of the bearing adjacent to the drive device. The bearing is secured to the sleeve ring through the annular retainer by calking a second end 5a of the sleeve ring opposite to the first end. The sleeve ring is provided with a projection 5f which projects in the axial direction from the rear surface of the pulley and a casing 9 is provided with an annular groove 9c which at least partly receives therein the projection.
US07980976B2
A tensioner for tensioning a flexible drive means, such as a timing belt or chain, includes a pulley to contact the belt. The pulley is mounted on a tensioner arm and the tensioner arm can be rotated about a pivot shaft mounted to the tensioner by a spring. The axis about which the pulley rotates is spaced from the axis of the rotation of the tensioner arm with respect to the pivot shaft and the spacing of these axes of rotation results in the pulley moving through an eccentric towards or away from the belt when the tensioner arm is rotated. A stop is used to limit the range of movement of the tensioner arm between a desired range of movement defined by a free arm stop and a backstop. The position of the stop is adjustable by an installer. The angular range of movement of the tensioner arm is adjustable from a position suitable for installation of the tensioner to a position suitable for operation of the installed tensioner. In one embodiment, the movement of the stop from the installation position to the nominal operating position also compensates the spring.
US07980969B1
A hockey blade having a malleable metal core sandwiched between the lower portions of the front and rear planar striking surfaces fabricated of semi-rigid, but bendable and durable, high strength molded plastic material. The metal core also extends through the molded neck of the blade received within the tubular end of the hockey stick handle. Thus, the blade may be bent along its length to a desired and retained curvature.
US07980959B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
US07980955B2
Data processing apparatus in which removable storage media store a respective program and associated data, the apparatus comprising: a removable storage medium reader; and means for executing the program from a first removable storage medium which is currently readable by the reader, using data stored on that first removable storage medium, the executing means and/or the program being arranged so that at least a predetermined point within execution of the program, the first removable storage medium may be removed from the reader and a second, different, removable storage medium associated with the reader, so that execution of the program can continue using data read from the second removable storage medium.
US07980953B2
A methodology to determine the contents of an image uses an online game that is played by a large number of people at once. Each player may be randomly assigned a partner to form a pair. Partners do not know each other's identity and cannot communicate with one another. Players cannot see what their partners are typing, and the only thing the two partners have in common is an image that they can both see. One object of the game is to have each player type exactly what his or her partner is typing or has already typed. Once both players type the same string of words or letters, they receive a new image (the players are not required to type the string at the same time). The string upon which the two players agree is used as a label for that image. When trying to agree on a word, players may not be able to type certain specific strings of characters or “forbidden words”. When humans play the electronic game (online or over the Internet), they help computers determine the contents of images. If played by a large number of people, this game could provide a resource capable of classifying a vast portion of images on the World Wide Web. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US07980948B2
A technique is disclosed for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino which includes a casino gaming network and a plurality of gaming machines. In at least one embodiment, a casino side wagering system may be utilized to enable casinos operators to provide side wagering opportunities to non-primary players of electronic gaming machines, electronic slot machines and/or other types of gaming machines.
US07980947B2
The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size. The function may cause relatively higher percentages of the current progressive pool size to be payable to players when the current progressive pool amount is greater than a target progressive pool size and relatively lower percentages of the current progressive pool size to be payable to players when the current progressive pool size is less than or equal to a target progressive pool size.
US07980940B2
A gaming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a roulette wheel including a plurality of pockets associated with respective numbers in advance; a memory for storing a plurality of control data for controlling the gaming apparatus so as to provide different weights on probabilities that a ball is housed in each of the pockets; and a controller, the controller controlling rotation of the roulette wheel and launching of the ball by referring to a single control data out of the control data, and selecting another control data different from the single control data, out of the plurality of control data, to set the selected control data as a reference target, when said ball is housed in a predetermined pocket belonging to a single group controlled so as to have a relatively high housing probability by said single control data.
US07980936B2
A gaming apparatus includes a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The controller is programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a first video image to be generated on the display unit, the first video image representing a first video game, to determine a game event associated with the first video game, to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on the display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, to animate the second video image, to receive a player's input to stop animation of the second video image, to stop animation of the second video image according to the player's input, and to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.
US07980927B2
A fume hood is described for use in removing material from, or inserting material into, the opening of a container. The fume hood enclosure has a floor with an opening for insertion of the upper end of the container into the enclosure. The floor includes a circumferential groove around the opening, preferably in a raised shoulder. An annular flexible membrane having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening is placed in axial alignment over the opening and the groove. A vacuum is drawn on the groove through a vacuum port to pull the section of the membrane above the groove into the groove, holding the membrane securely in place during use. If desired, a retainer can be placed in the groove above the membrane to prevent movement of the membrane in the event of a loss of vacuum.
US07980924B2
A cover device for a power tool with at least one disc-shaped working tool (6), includes first and second cover parts (12, 22) and a locking mechanism (41) for releasably pivotally positioning the second cover part (22) relative to the first cover part (12) and having a locking element (46) provided on one of the first and second cover parts (12, 22) and engageable with a counter-locking element (23) provided on another of the first and second cover parts (12, 22), and an actuation member (42) pivotally supported at a pivot point (45) on the one of the first and second cover parts (12, 22) and having an actuation section (43) and a locking section (44) extending at an angle from the actuation section (43), with the locking element (46) being provided at a free end of the locking section (44).
US07980923B2
A powder blast tool for mixing a powder with a pressurised gas, having at least one powder reservoir, with supply lines for the pressurised gas, and a discharge line, which is connected to a discharge nozzle, at which a powder-gas mixture and optionally pressurised water are discharged, wherein the powder blast tool can preferably be connected to plural powder reservoirs simultaneously and exchangeably, wherein at least one receiving region with at least one mixture terminal and at least one gas terminal is disposed on the powder blast tool and wherein the powder reservoir has a coupling region for exchangeable connection of the powder reservoir to the powder blast tool. Also disclosed are a suitable powder reservoir and an insert for such powder reservoirs and a corresponding method of dental treatment.
US07980920B2
A manufacturing method of a spectacle lens improving a manufacturing yield and a production efficiency is provided.The manufacturing method of the spectacle lens in which necessary information for a frame machining of a spectacle lens (progressive-power lens 20) including spectacle rim related information is obtained, and both surfaces of a convex surface and a concave surface are edge/polish machined from a spectacle lens blanks. When the convex surface or the concave surface is polish machined, and thereafter, the next surface is machined, the spectacle rim related information and layout information of the edge machining are obtained, and first provisional reference position marks 1 to 3 and second provisional reference position marks 4 to 6 guiding a geometrical horizontal reference and a geometrical perpendicular reference of the lens are inscribed at positions outside of an edge shape 111 as identification marks for the machined surface being polished as a provisional reference marking process, an optical layout is performed for the surface to be machined next based on these provisional reference position marks to perform a lens block to a lens machining tool.
US07980919B2
The present invention relates to a blasting device for premixed abrasive slurry jet. The device comprise a cylinder, in which defines a hydraulic oil side and a slurry side separated from each other hermetically, and the hydraulic oil side and the slurry side have ports for oil or slurry entry in and out respectively; hydraulic medium feeding system which is connected to the port of the cylinder for oil entry in and out through oil pipe; slurry jet system which is connected to the port of the cylinder for slurry entry in and out through slurry pipe; said cylinder has a sealed bladder to separate the hydraulic oil side and the slurry side. Friction between bladder and body become very little, as the slurry is ejected from the nozzle by utilizing the transformation of the bladder. So service life of the blasting device becomes longer. Furthermore, if the bladder mangles due to wear for use a long time, bladder can be renewed only. It is not necessary to renew the whole cylinder. So the cost of production cuts down.
US07980918B1
A playhouse is provided that includes an outer structure and a roof supported by and positioned atop the outer structure. The outer structure and the roof cooperate to at least partially define a first playspace. In one embodiment, the playhouse can further include a fence that at least partially defines a second playspace. The first and second playspaces can communicate with one another such that a person can travel between the first and second playspaces.
US07980915B2
An apparatus for use as a game call contemplate a plurality of rotor mounted acoustical plates having differing tonal qualities which can be selectively positioned for engagement by a complimentary striking plate to produce individually distinct sounds or tones.
US07980910B2
A flexible barrier assembly having a flexible visible light-transmissive substrate having a Tg greater than or equal to that of heat-stabilized polyethylene terephthalate (“HSPET”) overcoated with a first polymer layer having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET and further overcoated with at least two visible light-transmissive inorganic barrier layers separated by at least one second polymer layer having a Tg greater than or equal to that of HSPET can be used to mount, cover, encapsulate or form moisture- and oxygen-sensitive articles such as organic light emitting devices and light valves.
US07980904B2
A jet-propulsion personal watercraft comprises a body including a hull and a deck, an engine mounted in the body, a driving power output changing system configured to be able to change a driving power output of the engine, a controller configured to control an operation of the driving power output changing system, and a pressure sensor configured to be able to detect a pressure which is applied to the body from the water on which the body is floating, the pressure having a component in a lateral direction of the body, wherein the controller includes a turning determiner configured to determine whether or not the body is turning, based on a signal received from the pressure sensor; and a driving power output control unit configured to control the driving power output changing system based on information received from the turning determiner.
US07980903B2
An installation switch has an insulating housing and a terminal connecting arrangement for clamping a connecting conductor having an annular terminal shoe. The terminal connecting arrangement includes a terminal socket having an interior disposed between an insertion opening for receiving the terminal shoe and an access opening and a terminal screw having a screw head and a screw shank disposed in the interior of the terminal socket, the screw being actuatable in a longitudinal direction within the interior of the terminal socket between an open state and a clamped state. The arrangement further includes a connection plate having a screw hole with interior threads for threadably engaging the terminal screw when in the clamped state and a retaining device preventing the terminal screw from being removed from the terminal socket when in the open state.
US07980900B2
A connector is provided for simultaneously improving both the NEXT high frequency performance when low crosstalk plugs are used and the NEXT low frequency performance when high crosstalk plugs are used. The connector includes a first compensation structure provided on an inner metalized layer of the PCB at a first stage area of the PCB, and a second compensation structure, provided at a second stage area of the PCB, for increasing compensation capacitance with increasing frequency.
US07980894B1
A coaxial cable connector is provided. The connector includes a housing and a subassembly. The subassembly includes a cable receptor including a receptor portion configured to receive a cable, and an outer contact formed integrally with and extending axially from the receptor portion. The outer contact configured to electrically couple to an outer conductor of the cable. A dielectric is positioned within the outer contact of the cable receptor. A center contact assembly is positioned within the dielectric and configured to electrically couple to an inner conductor of the cable. A cable retainer is configured to couple to the receptor portion of the cable receptor. The cable retainer has at least one cable retention contact configured to retain the cable.
US07980883B2
A connecting block includes a housing having a plurality of slots extending from an upper surface thereof to an inside thereof with intervals, a plurality of terminal pins installed in the slots, a dielectric cover made of an insulating resin and coupled to the housing to cover a side of the housing, and a coupling pin electrically contacted with a terminal pin of any one pair among terminal pins belonging to different terminal pin pairs and extending opposite to a terminal pin of the other pair. The coupling pin is molded in a body of the dielectric cover such that the insulating resin is interposed between the coupling pin and the terminal pin opposite to the coupling pin.
US07980881B2
The connecting device for connecting a cable fitted with a conductive shell to a case having a receiving portion, a contact portion, and a conductive joint. The contact portion includes electrical contacts, which are adapted to be joined with the receiving portion and with a printed circuit board. The conductive joint is crimped together with a shielding element of the case, between the receiving and contact portions, with the receiving portion allowing passage of the cable and fitted shell until it is located in abutment with the conductive joint.
US07980875B2
An aircraft electrical connector is provided with features to allow facile engagement with an aircraft and strong retention forces. The aircraft electrical system may include the aircraft electrical connector having a unique biasing mechanism and modular construction, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to place differential forces onto mating electrical connectors from an aircraft. The biasing mechanism may be operatively coupled to a handle or trigger, which may be easily engageable by an operator. In one embodiment, an electrical connector may include a cam plate disposed between electrical connectors. The cam plate is configured to place differential forces on mating connectors inserted into the electrical connectors. In another embodiment, an electrical connector includes a moveable shaft that is disposed between electrical connectors. The shaft is configured to bias the position of the electrical connectors to place differential engagement and retention forces on mating connectors inserted into the electrical connectors.
US07980871B2
A lamp system used in a light string system comprises a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass mechanism is in the first position when the light assembly is not seated in the socket assembly. When the bypass mechanism in the first position, current flows across the bypass mechanism. When the light assembly is inserted into the socket assembly, the bypass activating system of the light assembly moves the bypass mechanism into the second position, and current flows through the light source instead of the bypass mechanism.
US07980864B2
A connector adapted for receiving a longitudinally inserted 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 pressing cover vertically movably mounted onto the insulating housing. Two opposite ends of the base board protrude upward to form a pair of sidewalls. Each of the electric terminals has an elastic arm. The flexible printed circuit board is inserted between the base board and the elastic arms. A portion of a base portion of the pressing cover extends forward to form a pressing portion transversely spanned over the elastic arms of the electric terminals for pressing the elastic arms downward against the flexible printed circuit board when the pressing cover is pressed downward to be closed so as to make the flexible printed circuit board tightly clipped between the elastic arms and the base board.
US07980863B1
In some embodiments, a circuit board interconnect may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first circuit board having a plated through hole within a metal pad on the circuit board, the through hole providing a passage for solder to connect the first circuit board to a second circuit board, (b) a second circuit board having a metal pad able to couple to the first circuit board in an overlapping fashion when solder is passed through the plated through hole, and (c) a non-conductive solder repelling material on a surface of one circuit board.
US07980860B2
A power connector, includes an insulating housing having a plurality of contact receiving passages, each of said plurality of contact receiving passages receives a contact pair having a pair of independent conductive contacts, wherein said independent conductive contact includes a first part made of high conductive material and a second part made of high mechanical material, said first part is connected with said second part by a positioning element, said supporting portion of said second part keeps said first part from over deforming when a force is applied on said contacting portion for power transmission, so as to ensure the stability of power transmission.
US07980857B2
This invention relates generally to writing boards, and more particularly to reusable and foldable boards that permit writing to be easily removed. In one embodiment, a writing board comprises a substrate comprising a front panel, a rear panel opposite the front panel, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs connecting the front panel to the rear panel, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are integrally formed with the plurality of ribs. The writing board of this embodiment further includes at least one backslit formed in the rear panel, at least one living hinge formed in the front panel opposite the at least one backslit to form at least one outer panel, and at least one holding mechanism coupled to the at least one outer panel to maintain the outer panel in one of a substantially open, unfolded position or a substantially closed, folded position.
US07980839B2
Wide panels of UHMWPE having exceptional flatness and surface quality are ram extruded through a slit die equipped with a plurality of individually adjustable cooling zones proximate the panel exit slit and transverse to the machine direction, which cool the panel while the panel is restrained by a back pressure device and preferably a vertical movement restraint. The process is robust and can be run for long product campaigns.
US07980834B2
A pump for boosting pressure of liquid color for injection into plastic resin in molding or extrusion apparatus includes a housing having a first bore extending in a first direction and second and third bores extending through the housing and communicating with the first bore proximate a first end of the first bore with the first end of the first bore being blind. The pump further includes an inlet check valve connectable to the second bore for permitting liquid flow through the second bore into the first bore. Further included is an outlet check valve connective to the third bore for permitting liquid flow out of the first bore through the third bore. A member is reciprocally axially movable within the first bore. A solenoid applies air pulses to the end of the first member facing oppositely from the blind end of the first bore.
US07980833B1
The present invention relates to a coupling assembly used to connect a rotatable motor shaft to a drive shaft in, for example, a fluid pump. In one embodiment, the coupling assembly of the present invention includes a seal gland that doubles as a jacking gland, thereby facilitating both the raising and/or lowering of a fluid pump's shaft and impeller assembly from the pump's motor. In another embodiment, the coupling assembly of the present invention includes a seal gland having therein one or more connectors that enable the seal gland to be raised and lowered relative the position of the pump's motor. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for replacing the mechanical seal in the casing portion of a fluid pump.
US07980818B2
Provided is a member having an internal cooling passage 7c formed therein and having opposed partition walls 6b, 6c between which a medium flows to cool a parent material, including a first heat transfer rib 25a which extends from almost the center between the opposed partition walls 6b, 6c to one partition wall 6c and slants in a downstream direction of the medium, and a second heat transfer rib 25b which extends from almost the center between the opposed partition walls 6b, 6c to the other partition wall 6b and slants in the downstream direction of the medium, wherein a slit 70a or 70b which passes through between an upstream side of the cooling passage 7c and a downstream side thereof is formed in the first heat transfer rib 70a or the second heat transfer rib 70b.
US07980816B2
Disclosed are retainers for a turbocharger. In one embodiment, the retainer includes a generally annular body that defines a bore and one or more channels. The bore is generally directed along a central axis of the body and can be configured to mate with a nose of a center housing of a turbocharger. The channels can be configured to accommodate vanes associated with a cartridge assembly of the turbocharger. One or more legs may extend from the retainer body and may be configured to mate with and locate the retainer relative to a cartridge assembly for the turbocharger. The retainer can also include a concave portion disposed around a perimeter of the body. The concave portion and the body may be together configured to act as a spring when the retainer is mechanically loaded in a direction having a component parallel to the central axis. Also disclosed are corresponding turbochargers.
US07980811B2
A Mixer/Ejector Wind/Water Turbine (“MEWT”) system is disclosed which routinely exceeds the efficiencies of prior wind turbines. Unique ejector concepts are used to fluid-dynamically improve many operational characteristics of conventional wind/water turbines for potential power generation improvements of 50% and above. Applicants' preferred MEWT embodiment comprises: an aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud with an inlet; a ring of stator vanes; a ring of rotating blades (i.e., an impeller) in line with the stator vanes; and a mixer/ejector pump to increase the flow volume through the turbine while rapidly mixing the low energy turbine exit flow with high energy bypass fluid flow. The MEWT can produce three or more time the power of its un-shrouded counterparts for the same frontal area, and can increase the productivity of wind farms by a factor of two or more. The same MEWT is safer and quieter providing improved wind turbine options for populated areas.
US07980809B1
Methods of making and using a vehicle transport apparatus are provided. An exemplary method of making the vehicle transport apparatus includes at least the steps of providing a beam with a kingpin attached on each a proximal and distal end, linking a single and only axle in vertical and horizontal sliding support of the beam, wherein the beam adjusts vertically relative to the axle, and the axle adjusts horizontally relative to the beam, and wherein the beam is unsupported by the single and only axle during at least one operating mode of the beam, attaching a guide post to the axle, securing a vertical slide member to the beam and in sliding contact with the guide post, and interposing a vertical position control apparatus between the vertical slide member and the axle, the vertical position control apparatus controlling the vertical position of the beam relative to the axle.
US07980805B1
An ejector blade adapted to be combined with an ejector truck or trailer body. In one embodiment, the blade comprises fluidly actuated vibrators for loosening material that has become adhered to the ejector blade. In another embodiment, the blade is heated to help prevent material from being frozen to the blade. In yet another embodiment, the blade comprises a plurality of low friction guides to aid the blade in moving through the receptacle body.
US07980797B2
A method and apparatus for restraining cargo items on an aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus may include a base that attaches to the cargo item, a lever coupled to the base, and a foot coupled to the lever, wherein the foot is placed into a seat track attached to the aircraft, the seat track having a cutout portion and a cavity beneath the cutout portion, and the lever is moved to turn the foot within the cavity to lock down the cargo item to the seat track to restrain its movement.
US07980795B2
A multi-piece tool assembly includes a male threaded member having an external thread, and a female threaded member having an opening adapted to receive at least part of the male threaded member up to a predetermined depth and an internal thread adapted to mate with the external thread of the male threaded member. When the male threaded member is received in the opening to the predetermined depth, substantially all forces between the external thread and the internal thread are oriented along an axis of the female threaded member, a working portion of the tool assembly being provided on one of the male threaded member and the female threaded member.
US07980791B1
An earthen containment reinforcement system has a plurality of connected panels containing recycled rubber vehicle tire material forming a retaining or barrier wall. The panels are connected by interlocking joints and include a rodent barrier for deterring rodent burrowing. An erosion shield having a proximal end connected to the top edge of each of a topmost panel of the interconnected panels, and a distal end extending away from the top of the interconnected panels toward a side of the earthen containment that is opposite a side in contact with water, wherein the distal end comprises an upwardly curved toe to prevent erosion at the base of the levee.
US07980782B2
An integrated system for traffic safety (1), particularly in low visibility conditions, for use on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, which comprises road markings and/or signs (3). The system (1) comprises at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5). One feature of the invention is that it comprises means (6) for controlling the light-emitting device (4) to generate the beam (5). The device has such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2) as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make the beam (5) only visible to the drivers that drive over the site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to those who drive in the opposite direction. An integrated method for traffic safety, in conditions and sites as described above, including the steps of providing road markings and/or signs (3) on a road site (2) (step a), providing at least one light-emitting device (4) for emitting at least one light beam (5) (step b), emitting the beam (5) (step c) and conforming and orienting it toward the site (2) to selectively hit the road markings and/or signs (3) thereon (step d).
US07980771B2
A device for rotatably mounting a camera on a person comprises first and second connecting means. The first connecting means has a U-shaped slot which is defined by a pocket and a pair of opposed channels which extend from the pocket. The second connecting means has a plate and a truncated cylindrical body mounted on the plate. The plate is slidably received by the U-shaped slot and is rotatable within the U-shaped slot. The truncated cylindrical body is provided with a flat edge. A threaded member extends from one of said first connecting means or said second connecting means. The threaded member is for engaging a threaded female tripod receiver of the camera. The plate of the second connecting means can only be received or released from the U-shaped slot of first connecting means when the flat edge to the truncated cylindrical body of the second connecting means is aligned with one of said opposed channels of the first connecting means.
US07980762B2
A hybrid bearing cylinder having a composite sleeve and a metallic jacket positioned around the composite sleeve and secured thereto. The hybrid bearing cylinder is adapted to be secured to metallic cylinder end caps by threading, welding, swaging or other metal attachment methods.
US07980758B2
The invention concerns an equipment for non-contact temperature measurement (1) of samples of materials (2) arranged in a vacuum chamber (12). A UV lamp (6) illuminates the samples (2) through a window (4), so as to subject them to a predetermined thermal cycle and to perform an environmental test, in particular for materials designed for space missions. An external pyrometer measures the temperature of the samples (2) through a window (6). It is associated with a scanning module (9) including a mobile mirror, with two axes of rotation and three orthogonal axes of translation, arranged on the optical path of the infrared radiation (Rir) so as to obtain a two-dimensional scanning of each sample (2) by means of a measuring spot focused on the surface of the samples. In a preferred embodiment, the samples are of slight thickness and locked pressed against a convex support. The whole assembly is monitored by an automatic data processing system with recorded program (10).
US07980757B2
A bonding strength measuring device for measuring the bonding strength between a substrate and a molding compound disposed on the substrate is provided. The measuring device includes a heating platform, a heating slide plate, and a fixing bracket. The heating platform has a first heating area and a first replaceable fixture. The substrate is disposed on the first heating area, and the first replaceable fixture is used to fix the substrate and has an opening exposing the molding compound. The heating slide plate has a second heating area and a second replaceable fixture. The second heating area is used to heat the molding compound, and the second replaceable fixture has a cavity for accommodating the molding compound. The fixing bracket is used to fix the heating slide plate above the heating platform.
US07980753B2
Methods and systems for chemical management. In one embodiment, a blender is coupled to a processing system and configured to supply an appropriate solution or solutions to the system. Solutions provided by the blender are then reclaimed from the system and subsequently reintroduced for reuse. The blender may be operated to control the concentrations of various constituents in the solution prior to the solution being reintroduced to the system for reuse. Some chemicals introduced to the system may be temperature controlled. A back end vacuum pump subsystem separates gases from liquids as part of a waste management system.
US07980748B2
A light guide includes a light guide substrate having a top surface through which light is to be emitted, a bottom surface, an incident edge surface through which incident light is to be introduced into the light guide substrate, and another edge surface. The another edge surface includes at least one micro structure operative to reflect at least a portion of the incident light, which travels through the light guide substrate and is incident on the another edge surface, back within the light guide substrate.
US07980740B2
An illuminating caster includes an at least translucent tire, a rim for supporting the wheel, a hub including slits defined therein, spokes extending to the rim from the hub, illuminating elements located in the vicinity of the tire and a generator. The generator includes a ring disposed in the hub, rods each extending to a related one of the illuminating elements from the ring through a related one of the slits, a circuit board disposed in the ring and connected to the illuminating elements, an annular shell disposed in the ring, a coil disposed in the annular shell and connected to the circuit board, a permanent magnet disposed in but separated from the coil and a lining provided between the permanent magnet and an axle.
US07980739B2
An in-vehicle illuminating device 1 capable of efficiently guiding luminous flux emitted from a luminous source to a light guiding body. The in-vehicle illuminating device 1 is provided with a rod-shaped light guiding body 13 which reflects, on its inner surface, light rays incident from an optical incidence plane 16 provided at an end 13a to guide the light rays to the other end longitudinally provided, a lamp 19 which emits light to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped light guiding body 13 and is arranged in the vicinity of the optical incidence plane 16, and an light introducing body 20 for introducing the luminous flux emitted from the lamp 19 to the optical incidence plane 16. The light introducing body 20 allows the optical incidence plane 16 to be set within a range of the luminous flux emitted from the lamp 19.
US07980725B2
A solar energy street lamp structure with an air passageway is provided. The solar energy street lamp structure includes a lamp support, a photovoltaic panel, a lighting unit, and a power module. The photovoltaic panel and the lighting unit are coupled with the street lamp, respectively. The power module stores power generated by the photovoltaic panel and provides the stored power to the lighting unit. Moreover, the air passageway is formed between a first body and a second body of the lamp support to enable air circulation. Thus, heat generated by the photovoltaic panel and the lighting unit in operation can be dissipated by air circulating through the air passageway. The solar energy street lamp structure with the air passageway is capable of effective heat dissipation and therefore has an extended service life.
US07980718B2
A thin, lightweight illuminating device, in the form of a backlight unit, is capable of securing even brightness and improving light use efficiency. The backlight unit includes a light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a mounting surface of a board, a diffusion plate which has a light introduction surface that faces the mounting surface of the board at a predetermined distance therefrom and diffuses the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes, and a reflection sheet that is adhered to the mounting surface of the board. A light emission direction of the plurality of light emitting diodes is parallel or substantially parallel to the light introduction surface of the diffusion plate.
US07980717B2
Provided is a light source assembly that may facilitate the coupling and the replacement of light source units, and may thus reduce the manufacturing time, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) having the same. The light source assembly includes a light source unit, a circuit board, and a supporting plate. The light source unit includes at least one light source chip, a first terminal connected to the light source chip, and a housing accommodating the light source chip therein and having at least one fixing protrusion on one side thereof. The circuit board includes a second terminal that is connected to the first terminal and transmits a driving voltage. The light source unit is mounted on the second terminal. The supporting plate is disposed on the circuit board and includes an opening into which the light source unit is inserted. At least a portion of the housing is fixed to the circuit board through the opening.
US07980712B2
A light-transmissive film for use in display devices is provided. The light-transmissive film includes a plurality of first protrusions formed on one surface and extending in a predetermined direction of the one surface, and a plurality of second protrusions formed on an opposite surface to the one surface, extending in one direction of the opposite surface, arranged parallel to the one direction, and arranged parallel to a direction intersecting the one direction. At least one of the first and second protrusions has a refractive index anisotropy in a plane.
US07980710B2
A retroreflective article including a retroreflective element layer having an array of a large number of total internal reflective cube corner retroreflective elements, an optical property-adjusting layer partially provided on the back side of the retroreflective element layer, and an air layer on the back side of the optical property-adjusting layer. The retroreflective article exhibits optical properties suited for an intended use, such as a reflector of traffic or commercial signs, such as traffic signs, regulating signs, informative signs, and construction signs, or visible, laser or infrared light reflective sensors, by the presence of the optical property-adjusting layer with an adjusted hue or an adjusted area ratio. The retroreflective article can easily be produced at low cost and high efficiency by utilizing an existing retroreflective article.
US07980699B2
Devices, systems, and methods that facilitate optical analysis, particularly for the diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors of the eye. Embodiments of the invention may facilitate the use of multi-modal diagnostic instruments and instrument systems, making it easier to acquire and fuse data from different measurements of the eye. For example, wavefront aberrometry may be fused with corneal topography, optical coherence topography and wavefront, optical coherence topography and topography, pachymetry and wavefront, etc. While some of these different optical datasets may be obtained simultaneously, it is often difficult and/or disadvantageous to attempt to acquire the images or other data at exactly the same time. Advantageously, both patient movement between measurements (and/or during a measurement sequence) can be identified, as well as changes in the eye itself (including those induced by the measurement, such as changes in the size of the pupil, changes in pupil location, etc.).
US07980676B2
A liquid ejection head is constituted by a liquid ejection substrate comprising a liquid supply port for supplying liquid, an ejection outlet for ejecting the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port, and ejection energy generating devices for generating energy for ejecting the liquid; and a supporting member having a supporting surface for supporting the liquid ejection substrate and a liquid supply hole for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection substrate, the liquid supply hole communicating with the liquid supply port of the liquid ejection substrate to form a communicating portion, a periphery of which is sealed by a sealant. The liquid supply hole of the supporting member has an opening larger than that of the liquid supply port of the liquid ejection substrate. The support member has an inner wall portion including an edge line portion defined by the liquid supply hole on a side where the liquid ejection substrate is to be disposed. The inner wall portion is covered with the sealant.
US07980661B2
A nozzle device for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink supply; a chamber-defining layer defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle opening and the ink supply; an actuating arm coupled to the substrate assembly and terminating in a paddle separating the ink supply and nozzle chamber, the actuating arm configured to pivot during actuation to cause ink within the nozzle chamber to be ejected out through the nozzle opening; and a movement sensor configured to determine the degree or rate of pivotal movement of the actuating arm. The actuating arm further includes a bridge between the paddle and the thermal bend portion which supports a portion of the chamber-defining layer.
US07980649B2
An apparatus and method of ink jet printing is provided that poor ejection less occurs even where making a printing on a printing medium ready to cause a paper powder, such as a fine art paper. An image is to be printed on a printing medium by performing a relative movement of a printing medium and a printing head having a plurality of arrays each having a plurality of ejection openings. On this occasion, the image is printed by using ejection openings in a number changed in accordance with a type of the printing medium, out of a plurality of ejection openings on the two arrays adjacent to each other.
US07980648B2
A print engine controller for a pagewidth printhead includes contone and bi-level decompression circuitry for decompressing a contone layer of compressed page data and a bi-level layer of compressed page data, respectively; halftoner and compositor circuitry for halftoning the decompressed contone layer to associated bi-level versions and compositing the decompressed bi-level layer over the halftoned contone layers; printhead interface circuitry for receiving the halftoned and composited data, and to generate therefrom print data suitable for printing by the printhead; and line loader and formatter circuitry for receiving dot data from the halftoner and compositor circuitry, loading dot data for a given print line into buffer storages, and formatting the dots of the given print line into an order required by the printhead interface circuitry. The line loader and formatter circuitry loads the dot data into a combination of on integrated circuit and external storage buffers.
US07980647B2
A printer is provided having a carrier, a printhead having a plurality of nozzles, at least one of the nozzles being rotationally displaced relative to the carrier, and a controller for determining and communicating print data to the nozzles. The controller is configured to determine the rotational displacement, determine a correction factor for compensating for a printing error caused by the determined rotational displacement, and alter the print data based on the correction factor to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. The correction factor is at least partially based on a thickness of media being printed on.
US07980639B2
A tracked machine may be equipped with a debris guard in order to inhibit entry of debris from an exterior to an interior of a track roller frame. An idler, track roller frame, track and debris guard may be configured to create a difficult to traverse serpentine debris entry pathway into the track roller frame. This may be accomplished by flanking opposite sides of a track chain with a pair of guard plates, and further inhibiting debris entry by including an in board guard shield that defines a slot that surrounds a portion of the idler.
US07980631B2
Disclosed is an adjustable armrest that can readily raised, or lowered, and optionally rotated in a horizontal plane. In one embodiment, the present armrest is released from its use position be raising the front portion of the armrest. The armrest is moved into the desired position and then the front portion is lowered to secure the armrest in the desired position.
US07980630B2
The invention relates to a monitoring and/or entertainment system (1), especially for a child seat (10), having at least one electronic assembly (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) for displaying and/or recording images, films or film sequences, and having a moulded body (2) in which the at least one electronic assembly (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is mounted and held. In order that the monitoring/entertainment system (1) can be used for a child seat (10) when the seat shell (12) of the child seat (10) is aligned in the direction opposite to the direction of travel, according to the invention the moulded body (2) has at least one fixing element (3) which is arranged to form a force-based connection to the base frame (11) of the child seat (10), wherein when the moulded body (2) is in the state in which it is fixed to the base frame (11) of the child seat (10) the front side (2a) of the moulded body (2) and the electronic assembly (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) mounted in the moulded body (2) face towards the seat shell (12) of the child seat (10).
US07980627B2
An apparatus includes a table and a bench movably coupled to the table. The table and the bench collectively have a first configuration and a second configuration. The table has a first width when the table and the bench are in the first configuration. The table and the bench collectively have a first height when the table and the bench are in the first configuration. The table and the bench collectively have a second width and a second height when the table and the bench are in the second configuration. The second width is less than half of the first width, and the second height is less than half of the first width.
US07980624B2
The device for actuating a pivoting movement of a vehicle flap about a pivot axis includes a gas spring having a cylinder and a piston rod protruding from the cylinder. Either the cylinder or the piston rod is coupled to a fixed component of the vehicle body, and the other one of cylinder and piston rod is coupled to the flap at a distance from the pivot axis. A flexurally rigid guide extends parallel adjacent to the gas spring and is fixedly connected to the cylinder of the gas spring. One region of a flexible tension and compression element is guided in the guide and operatively connected to the flap, and a second region is guided in a flexible casing and operatively connected to a reversible drive, so that the flexible tension and compression element can be motor-driven.
US07980615B2
A target tubular member with flange, such as a bumper stay, has a flange having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of an axial section and is formed by electromagnetic forming without excessive expansion. The tubular member with flange includes an axial member made of a tubular aluminum alloy extrudate and a flange member joined to an end of the axial member. The axial member has an end flange being integrated at its end and having an area smaller than that of the flange member. The flange member has a hole, and a cylindrical hole flange at the edge of the hole. The axial member fits in the hole of the flange member, the end flange is in intimate contact with the flange member, and the outer periphery of a small-diameter portion of the axial member is in intimate contact with the inner periphery of the hole flange. The hole flange is held between the end flange and a protrusion. The tubular member with flange may be produced by inserting an untreated pipe into the hole of the flange member and expanding the untreated pipe by electromagnetic forming.
US07980609B2
An improvement to elongate tools for engaging objects from remote distances includes a connection between the rod on which the engagement elements are provided and the handle of the that allows for the orientation of the rod with respect to the handle to occupy at least two pre-selected fixed positions which are angular positions approximately 90 degrees from one another.
US07980601B2
A coupler for a corrugated pipe in which several elements thereof can be handled as a single assembly body, and which can be coupled to the corrugated pipe through a simple process. The coupler includes a coupling base, a guide member, a compression ring, a force-fitting member, a sleeve and a cap nut. A through hole, a compression hole and an insert hole are continuously formed through the coupling base. The guide member is inserted into the insert hole of the coupling base. The compression ring has an opening such that the compression ring is elastically expanded or contracted in diameter. The compression ring is fitted into the insert hole of the coupling base. The force-fitting member is fitted into the insert hole of the coupling base. The sleeve is inserted into the insert hole of the coupling base. A passing hole having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the peak portion of the corrugated pipe is formed through the sleeve. The cap nut has a threaded hole threaded over the coupling base, and a coupling hole fitted over the protruding part of the sleeve.
US07980596B2
the invention provides a composition having laser engraving properties, comprising a host material and a laser enhancing additive. The host material comprises a material, such as a polymer, modified by a first process, whereby the host material as modified by the first process has increased thermal conductivity as compared to the host material before the first process. The laser enhancing additive comprises a first quantity of at least one of copper potassium iodide (CuKI3), Copper Iodide (CuI), potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI), and aluminum iodide (AlI), and a second quantity of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfide (BaS), alkyl sulfonate, and thioester.
US07980595B2
A postage payment label is provided which includes a substrate having an image provided thereon and a postage mark. The substrate and the image are able to transmit light of one or more first wavelengths (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet light) while the postage mark is able to absorb or reflect light of the one or more first wavelengths. Moreover, the image that is provided on the substrate is able to absorb and/or reflect light of one or more second wavelengths (e.g., visible light). Accordingly, when the image is illuminated with light of the one or more second wavelengths (e.g., visible light), the image conceals a portion or all of the postage mark. The postage mark (or relevant portion thereof), however, may be viewed when the image is illuminated with light of the one or more first wavelengths and not illuminated with light of the one or more second wavelengths.
US07980578B2
An application for a device for human conveyance includes a front wheel and a rear wheel. The rear wheel interfaced to a sprocket through a ratchet drive system which allows forward rotation of the rear wheel in response to forward rotation of the sprocket and allows free backward rotation of the sprocket. A frame interfaces the front wheel to the rear wheel keeping the front wheel at a constant distance from the rear wheel. The front and rear wheels are rotatably interfaced to the frame. A front end of an arc-shaped spring is affixed to the frame in proximity to the front wheel and a rear end of the arc-shaped spring has a sprocket gear interfaced to the sprocket whereas depression of the arc-shaped spring pushes the rear-end of the arc-shaped spring in a rearward direction with respect to the rear wheel and the sprocket gear turns the sprocket in a forward rotational direction.
US07980573B1
A skateboard having extra sets of gears compared to a regular skateboard and also has a lower support platform is provided. When an individual jumps on the skateboard, the support platform and extra gears cause the skateboard to automatically travel forward due to the interaction between the support platform, the extra gears, and the existing wheels on the skateboard.
US07980571B2
A liftable independent suspension system which may also be steerable. In a described embodiment, a liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle includes wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle. The spindles are displaceable independent of each other. An actuator is operable to raise at least one of the spindles, so that a tire rotatably connected to the spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the spindle.
US07980568B2
Two skate wheel devices each with a foot placement platform, a frame and a wheel. The wheel rotates relative to the frame. The user inserts both feet into respective platforms within the skate wheel devices while the devices rest on pavement. After shifting weight to one of the wheel skate devices, the other raised so that the foot is generally horizontal as opposed to pointing to the pavement. The wheel skate device with the raised foot is then rolled to the side. The user then raises the other wheel skate device so that its foot also points generally horizontally and rolls that wheel skate device in the same direction as the other to build momentum. The platform may rock back and forth relative to the wheel. Grooved rollers may be sandwiched between spaced apart frame elements.
US07980564B2
To eliminate pins for specifying a vertical position of a metal fixture from a dust cover forming mold to suppress variation in product shape caused by wear of the pins, the ring-shaped metal fixture is embedded in the dust cover to fix the dust cover at an installation position, inner diameter teeth are formed integrally at one end in the axial direction of an outer diameter tube section via a bend, the metal fixture is embedded in the dust cover so that one end in the axial direction of the bend is set at axially the same position as one end face in the axial direction of the dust cover, and groove communication sections radially penetrating the bent section are formed in a radial shape at the one end.
US07980561B2
A paintball target holder includes a frame having plural parts that are movable relative to one another in order to fold the frame and thereby reduce a volume encompassed by the frame. The plural parts include a front part, a back part, and a bottom part. The paintball target holder includes a target mounted to the front part, layers of material mounted between the target and the back part, where the layers of material receive a paintball through the target, and a paintball loader mounted to the bottom part. The paintball loader receives the paintball from the layers of material via the bottom part.
US07980554B2
A friction backup roller assembly for a peripheral device, comprising an auto-compensating mechanism having a pick tire at one end, a media tray disposed adjacent to the auto-compensating mechanism, a backup roller extending through an aperture in the media tray, the backup roller having a tire, the auto-compensating mechanism pivotally positioned for engagement and disengagement of the pick tire with the backup roller, and a biasing element acting on the backup roller.
US07980550B2
A paper output mechanism for an automatic document feeder, including: a seat; a connecting shaft, passed through the seat; and a paper feeding roller, placed around the connecting shaft, and including: a shaft portion; a roller portion, placed around the shaft portion; and adapted to convey a document, and an elastic element, placed around the shaft portion, and one end thereof being connected to the seat.
US07980547B2
The invention describes an image recording device having a sheet supplying device that supplies sheets. The sheet supplying device has a first tray and a second tray that hold sheets, and a first and second shaft positioned over the first and second trays. A first rotating member contacts a sheet in the first tray, and a second rotating member contacts a sheet in the second tray. A first arm extends from the first shaft to the first rotating member, and a second arm extends from the second shaft to the second rotating member. A transmission device is coupled to the first arm member and the second arm member, and transmits selectively a rotational drive force from the first shaft to either the first or second rotating members. A recording unit records an image on the sheet supplied by the sheet supplying device.
US07980544B2
A sheet hold flap 18 is arranged on an upper side of a vicinity of a rear end portion of a sheet table 7 to which a sheet is continuously supplied from a copier or the like. The sheet hold flap is switched to an upper initial position and a sheet holding position by a solenoid 17. There is carried out a control of holding a rear end portion of a sheet P by driving the sheet hold flap to the sheet holding position after taking in a sheet to the sheet table and returning the sheet hold flap to the initial position to escape from a sheet path in taking in a successive sheet. Sheet jamming by floating up the sheet is prevented by holding a sheet on the sheet table until immediately before taking in the successive sheet.
US07980535B2
A steam dispersion system is disclosed. The steam dispersion system includes a header, a divider dividing the header into at least two interior chambers that are generally not in fluid communication with each other, and at least two steam dispersion tubes, each steam dispersion tube communicating with only one interior chamber. Each interior chamber includes a separate steam flow valve for independently controlling the amount of steam flow to each chamber based on the difference between a measured humidity value and a predetermined desired humidity value.
US07980521B2
A medical device safety support apparatus features a clamp member configured to be attached to an IV pole, a bed rail, or other support structure. A medical device support member extends from the clamp member and is configured to support a cooperatively configured medical device. The medical device support member may include a socket which receives a post that extends from the medical device, and a lockdown member having a set-screw portion and a handle is provided to secure the post within the socket. The post has a circumferential channel in which the set-screw portion seats, thereby allowing the post to be retained within the socket when the lockdown member is loosened so as to prevent the medical device from being removed from the support member.
US07980513B2
Currently, the wastewater collection tank and the freshwater tanks comprise separate containers which are each mounted individually in the pressurized area of the cabin on the structure. In the present application a water-wastewater module is described which has two tanks for disposing of feces and wastewater and a water generation unit in the form of the fuel-cell module as integral components. The module and the fuselage may advantageously be manufactured separately from one another and first have to be combined during the final mounting of the aircraft.
US07980512B1
In accordance with one or more embodiments, systems and methods for in-flight fuel delivery include an aerial refueling device adapted to provide fuel to a receiver aircraft, an optical component adapted to capture images of the aerial refueling device and the receiver aircraft, an operator input component adapted to interface with an operator and capture control signals as input from the operator, and a display component adapted to display images. A controller is adapted to receive the captured images and the captured control signals, process the control signals by generating graphic display symbology, process the images by generating a combined image having the generated graphic display symbology superimposed on the images, and display the combined image on the display component for viewing by the operator. The controller is adapted to superimpose the graphic display symbology on a portion of the images obscured by the aerial refueling device.
US07980500B2
An apparatus for cutting up biological sample material, including a sample container, a rotary drive device separate from the sample container, and a shaft rotatably arranged in the sample container, wherein the shaft has a laterally projecting cutting device in the region of a working end and has a coupling piece in the region of a coupling end, said coupling piece being accessible from outside and being designed for coupling engagement with a coupling counterpart of the rotary drive device, wherein the shaft (14) is arranged with lateral guidance and in an axially displaceable manner in the sample container (10), the coupling piece (19) and the coupling counterpart (21) are designed for producing coupling engagement which is positive-locking in the direction of rotation (23) and permits an axial displacement, and the cutting device (16) is designed in a propeller shape in such a way that, during rotation of the shaft (14) in the working direction, it exerts a propulsive force on the latter in the direction of the coupling end (18).
US07980496B2
A method for detecting an amount of grains within a container of a rotating grinding member is described, said method comprising the steps of: supplying (FORP1) a first driving torque to the rotating grinding member during a first interval (T1) of a grinding cycle (CM); —having (CTM1OO) a first value indicative of a period of rotation of said member at the first driving torque; supplying (RP2) the rotating grinding member, during a second interval (T2) of said cycle, with a second driving torque lower than the first driving torque; —measuring (CTM50) a second value indicative of the relative period of rotation of said member at the second driving torque, processing (CDTR, CNFR) the first and second values in order to generate information (ALR) indicative of the amount of grains being within the container.
US07980489B2
A multiple configuration shower device includes at least one handle (2) connected to a flexible duct for supplying water and at least one water dispensing element (5). The dispensing element (5) is provided with a plurality of water ejection faces (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), each provided with respective nozzles (U), and comprising at least one connector (6), provided between the handle (2) and the dispensing element (5), which is adapted to allow the manual rotation of the dispensing element (5) about at least one axis which is substantially perpendicular to the handle (2), so as to arrange selectively at least one of the ejection faces (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) substantially in the direction of the user.
US07980476B2
An IC card readable by a drive device and including at least one non-volatile memory portion to contain stored files. Moreover, there is an IC card application stored in the at least one non-volatile memory portion to organize the stored files and define their accessibility and to be driven by the drive device. Finally, an interchange application is stored in the at least one non-volatile memory portion to provide organization of the stored files in a high level logic structure of arbitrary length, identification of the stored files through alphanumeric identifiers of arbitrary length and extension, and accessibility of the stored files by the drive device.
US07980472B2
A data converter and its converting method having both the functions of barcode technology and RFID technology, and conforming with related regulations of international civil aviation are disclosed. The data converter includes a barcode reading module, a processing module, and a reading module. The converting method includes the following steps: (1) Reading an external barcode data SBC by the barcode reading module; (2) Reading the external barcode data SBC read by the barcode reading module by the barcode reading module from a memory; (3) Reading the date data (preset data SP) from the RTC (Real Time Clock) by the processing module; (4) Reading the data arrangement format defined within the firmware by the processing module; (5) Combining the external barcode data SBC and the preset data SP in accordance with the arranged format by the processing module; (6) Writing the combined data into a register memory by the processing module; (7) Starting the RFID module by the processing module; (8) Reading the combined data from the register memory by the processing module and writing into the RFID medium memory through the RFID module.
US07980470B2
An imaging system for, and a method of, electro-optically reading targets, utilize an energizable illuminator for illuminating an illuminated target with illumination light, a solid-state, energizable imager having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from the illuminated target over a field of view, and for generating electrical signals indicative of the captured return light, and a controller for energizing the illuminator and the imager to process the electrical signals into data indicative of the illuminated target. A power reducer is operatively connected to the controller, for adaptively reducing electrical power consumption of the illuminator and/or the controller based on system usage.
US07980464B1
Systems and methods are provided for protecting against bank card fraud and related crimes by providing a distress/fraud trigger at bank card machines, such as automated teller machines and point-of-sale terminals. The trigger initiates certain heightened-security processes designed to stop the crime, control damage, and help apprehend the criminal. For example, in one embodiment, the trigger involves the cardholder inputting a “panic” personal identification code into the bank card machine. The panic personal identification code indicates to a party involved in the bank card transaction that a fraudulent transaction may be taking place. The heightened-security processes may include, for example, displaying that the bank card machine is out-of-order, dispensing money with a GPS tracking device, requesting additional identification steps, instituting delay tactics, notifying on-site personnel, or forwarding audio or video information from the bank card machine to a bank's command center in real time or near real time.
US07980458B2
There is provided an electronic wallet device including a holding section to hold a plurality of non-contact type IC cards, an external communication antenna to perform non-contact communication with an external unit, a card communication antenna to perform non-contact communication with the IC cards held in the holding section, a card selecting section to select at least one IC card by narrowing down candidates for an IC card to be used for communication with the external unit from the plurality of IC cards based on a plurality of different card selection criteria, and a communication control section to connect the selected IC card with the external unit via the external communication antenna and the card communication antenna so that the selected non-contact type IC card and the external unit communicate with each other.
US07980453B2
The present invention is a handled container for retail products. The handled container defines an upper opening wherein a first upper panel and a second upper panel together cover a substantial portion of the upper opening. The second upper panel is provided with a pair of substantially parallel cuts extending across the second upper panel to define a handle in the second upper panel. A first upper panel is shaped such that it provides access to the handle when the first upper panel is positioned above the second upper panel and both are in the closed position to substantially seal the handled container.
US07980452B2
The present invention provides a container configured to selectively enclose a food product or the like, including: a tray including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom that collectively define a compartment configured to hold a food product or the like, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each include an enlarged flap; and a tapered cover including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a tapered top, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the back wall, and the top are substantially coextensive with the tray, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each include an enlarged flap that is configured and positioned to interlock with the corresponding enlarged flap of the first side wall and the second side wall of the tray.
US07980449B2
A welding method and apparatus are provided for forming a weld joint between first and second elements of a workpiece. The method includes heating the first and second elements to form an interface of material in a plasticized or melted state interface between the elements. The interface material is then allowed to cool to a plasticized state if previously in a melted state. The interface material, while in the plasticized state, is then mixed, for example, using a grinding/extruding process, to remove any dendritic-type weld microstructures introduced into the interface material during the heating process.
US07980442B2
A clinch positioning mechanism of a stapler is provided. The clinch positioning mechanism includes a driver unit and a clincher unit. The driver unit includes a driver for driving out a staple, and a guide piece. The clincher unit includes a clincher for bending and clinching a leg portion of the staple, and a guide hole for engaging with the guide piece. The clincher unit is arranged being opposed to the driver. At least one of the driver unit and the clincher unit is movably arranged, and the driver and the clincher are aligned with each other by engaging the guide piece in the guide hole at the latest when clinching the leg portion of the staple by the clincher.
US07980441B2
A setting tool for driving fastening elements in a constructional component, includes a muzzle (14), a bolt guide (15) located in the muzzle (14), a magazine (20) for fastening elements (50) and releasably mountable on the tool housing (11) and having a connection section (21) provided at an end of the magazine (20) adjacent to the muzzle (14) and with which the magazine (20) is secured to the muzzle (14), and a connection device for releasably mounting the magazine on the tool housing (11) and including a hinge bearing formed as a plug-in coupling and provided with a first support element arranged on the connection section (21) of the magazine (20) and a second support element arranged on the muzzle (14), with the hinge bearing (17) having a pivot axis (S) provided on a side of the magazine (20) remote from the housing (11), outside of the magazine (20) and outside of the muzzle (14) and extending at a right angle to a plane (E) defined by the bolt guide (15) and the magazine (20).
US07980433B2
A ball cap blocking and stretching system includes a steamer and a stretcher on which the crown of the ball cap is positioned, and a brim positioner. The steamer has a crown-contourer for contouring the crown that has a hemispherical shape and includes at least one aperture for emitting steam; and a steam generator located substantially within and in communication with the crown-contourer. The stretcher includes a front-contourer overlappingly provided adjacent to the crown-contourer so that the inside surface of the crown of the ball cap covers the front-contourer and the crown-contourer; a mover for cooperatively moving the front-contourer relative to the crown-contourer for stretching at least the perimeter of the crown in cooperation with the steamer; and a stretcher fixator for temporarily fixing the position of the front-contourer relative to the crown-contourer when the mover is moved. Additionally provided is a ball cap blocking and stretching kit and method.
US07980426B2
A device (10) for the dosed discharge of a powder-form medium, in particular ceramic powder for dental purposes, including a storage container (12) with a first outlet (40), as well as a slider (20) with a receptacle (18) for a quantity of medium to be dosed, which can be selectively aligned with a first outlet or a second outlet (50), through which the medium can be discharged. In order to achieve reproducible discharge of a defined quantity of free-flowing medium in an uncomplicated design, and since there is no requirement for re-usability after emptying the storage container, the invention proposes that the slider (20) be connected to at least one spring element (26, 28), which admits a force upon the slider to align the receptacle (80) with the first receptacle (40), and that the receptacle can be secured by a lock element (34) in a position aligned with the second outlet (50).
US07980425B2
A pump for metering a liquid is disclosed comprising a flexible tube connected to a container with a pressure relief valve located in the flexible tube. A housing defines an aperture for receiving the flexible tube with a compression surface located adjacent to the aperture. A reciprocating member has a sealing element and a pumping element. A drive moves the sealing element for pinching the flexible tube against the compression surface upstream from the pressure relief valve for trapping liquid between the sealing element and the pressure relief valve. The drive moves the pumping element for collapsing the flexible tube against the compression surface for pumping the trapped liquid to discharge a metered quantity of the liquid from the pressure relief valve.
US07980424B2
An improved piercing fitment assembly for mounting to a flexible container is provided, whereby the contents of the container are dispensed by piercing a pierceable portion of a cap using a fluid transfer device. The piercing fitment assembly is easy to use as a relatively minimal amount of force is required for piercing and establishing fluid transfer. It also has a locking system which locks the fluid transfer device into a dispensing state and also forms a reliable seal between the cap and the fluid transfer device which minimizes the risk of unwanted spillage. The fitment assembly comprises: a spout connected in fluid communication to the container; a cap having a pierceable portion sealing an end of the spout and a fluid transfer device having a leading tooth to initiate piercing of the pierceable portion of the cap.
US07980423B2
An apparatus for discharging a stream of fluid includes a water pump, a trigger mechanism, a ratchet mechanism, a fluid reservoir, and a secondary fluid chamber. A pump handle is used to move a piston that draws the fluid from the fluid reservoir into the secondary fluid chamber before discharge. The pump handle is also used to selectively connect the trigger mechanism to the ratchet mechanism to allow incremental discharge of the fluid from the secondary fluid chamber. A handle is selectively connectable to the ratchet mechanism and configured to manually move the ratchet mechanism to a first position against the urgency of the spring. The handle is also selectably connectable to a pump mechanism, the handle being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the handle is connected to the ratchet mechanism in the first position and connected to the pump mechanism in the second position.
US07980418B2
The present invention provides for a vending system wherein a monitoring system verifies that a product ordered by a vending customer is actually delivered through a delivery area to the customer. If the product ordered is unavailable either because of an out of stock situation or a blockage of the delivery path for that product, the present invention allows the customer to request a refund or order a second product. Additionally, the present invention helps to prevent theft of product from the vending system.
US07980414B2
A produce packaging system incorporates a container having ample top ventilation enabling efficient ingress of cooling water into container to cool produce contained inside. The container also having a sloped bottom for draining water toward a bottom vent and out of the container during hydrocooling. The system also includes a cooling box configured for holding the containers in an upright orientation enabling inflow of cooling water into the containers and out of the box.
US07980413B2
An improved metallic can has an integral base that defines a standing ring that is more resistant to buckling than conventional designs. It includes a vertically oriented cylindrical sidewall and a unitary end wall having a recessed central portion and a downwardly flanged rim portion that defines the standing ring. The downwardly flanged rim portion preferably includes a first outer convexly curved annular surface that when viewed in vertical cross-section has a first radius of curvature R1, a second, lower convexly curved annular surface that when viewed in vertical cross-section has a second radius of curvature R2, and a third, inner convexly curved annular surface that when viewed in vertical cross-section has a third radius of curvature R3. Advantageously, the first, second and third radii of curvature R1, R2 and R3 are each different from each other.
US07980412B2
A container or package for pizzas, made of thermoplastic material, including a cover (1) and a dish or plate (2), wherein the cover (1) has a plurality of first holes (8) arranged centrally and a plurality of second holes (6) arranged along its circumference or circular edge (or in the neighborhood of the latter). Several radial channels (11) interconnect these two pluralities of holes (6 and 8). Preferably, the container (1, 2) is transparent; thereby allowing to recognize the kind of food it contains.
US07980402B2
The invention relates to a radio remote control unit for an operating device, comprising a radio transmitter for transmitting control command signals for the operating device and a radio reception unit assigned to the operating device for receiving control command signals of the radio transmitter and for converting the control command signals into control signals for controlling the operating functions of the operating device, characterized in that the radio transmitter has a sensor unit for detecting at least one irregular force induction state and/or an irregular movement state and/or at least one irregular positional state of the radio transmitter and is equipped to change its radio transmission performance in a specific manner on detection of the irregular state, and the radio reception unit is equipped to trigger an emergency control signal on detecting the specific change in the radio transmission performance of the radio transmitter to influence the operating functions of the operating device in a predetermined manner.
US07980399B2
A modular display rack and, more specifically, a display rack having a plurality of cylindrical bins oriented horizontally and stacked vertically. The cylindrical bins consist of a transparent half-pipe bottom with vertical dividers attached to two circular end caps. The circular end caps provide a hinge for a rotatable door and snap-to-fit features that allow the stacking of the bins vertically.
US07980394B2
A sheet processing apparatus including a table to be loaded a first and a second banknote group partitioned by a header card recording the bar code number in the piling direction of the banknotes, a take-in portion to take in the banknotes of the first and second banknote groups loaded on the table and the header card, a discrimination portion to count the banknotes taken in by the take-in portion and discriminate the kind thereof, a plurality of stackers to sort and stack the banknotes discriminated by the discrimination portion on the basis of the kink thereof, and a sensor to detect the header card taken in by the take-in portion. The sheet processing apparatus additionally includes a controller to control so as to stop the taking-in of the second banknote group on the basis of detection of the header card by the sensor and after a lapse of a predetermined time, to start the taking-in of the second banknote group.
US07980393B2
A vibrating screening machine for grading bulk materials and the like, with a housing and two sidewalls on which at least one screen deck is mounted on which a screen lining is retained, and a drive means to cause the screen deck to vibrate. Via a material feed, bulk material to be screened is fed and via at least one fine-grain discharge, fine-grain bulk material, and via at least one coarse-grain discharge, coarse-grain bulk material is discharged. The mounting points provided on the sidewalls for mounting at least one screen deck are aligned with a defined grid.
US07980384B2
An automatic chain tensioner for a tubular drag conveyor tensions the conveyor chain hydraulically utilizing an air-over-oil hydraulic system. A hydraulic cylinder acts on chain idler sprocket to tension the chain.
US07980383B2
A method and apparatus for moving objects, such as pallets, between an upper horizontal conveyor and a lower horizontal conveyor. A lift raises the pallet from a lower conveyor, and a clamp disposed above the lift with inwardly and outwardly pivotable arms, having inwardly facing fingers at the ends of the arms, clamps the pallet and raises it up to be substantially coincident with the upper conveyor's pallet-supporting surface. A pusher displaces the pallet from the fingers to the upper conveyor. The apparatus can also be operated in reverse to lower pallets from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor if a fastener, such as electromagnets, is mounted to the end of the pusher.
US07980379B2
A conveyance device has two endless arrangements of tread steps, step plates or pallets driven in a transportation direction by a drive. Adjacent to a first longitudinal side of the first arrangement is a first balustrade with a handrail, and adjacent a second longitudinal side of the first arrangement is a second balustrade and handrail. The second arrangement is located parallel and next to the first arrangement and is also driven by the drive. The second balustrade is configured as a center balustrade between the two arrangements to be used by persons on both arrangements. A third balustrade and handrail is adjacent a second side of the second arrangement.
US07980376B2
To control initial shudder in a wet paper friction plate, the frictional sliding surface of a wet paper friction member is preconditioned by frictional sliding contact with a mating plate until its bearing length ratio tp at a cutting depth of 10 μm is in the range from 70 to 85%. The preconditioning is optionally preceded by grinding, preferably before the wet paper friction member is attached to a base plate.
US07980375B2
A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch is provided with a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings is composed of plural segment pieces each having at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of the friction plate and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the friction lining, and the second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the friction plate and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the friction lining. The second oil groove has an opening flared outwardly in a radial direction.
US07980372B2
A device for damping rotary oscillations in a drive train with a freewheel clutch (27) located between a pulley (25) and a rotor hub (26) is provided. The hub (26) is connected to an input shaft of an auxiliary unit, and the pulley (25) is connected to a crankshaft via a traction means, and the freewheel clutch (27) has an inner ring (34), which surrounds the hub (26) while being fixed thereto, and includes an outer ring (35), which surrounds the inner ring (34) with radial play and which is fixed to the pulley (25). At least one locking element (36) that is actuated by centrifugal force is provided in the inner ring (34), and at least one locking receptacle (37) is provided in the outer ring (35).
US07980368B2
A damping force variable shock absorber is provided, which is configured to prevent a ring disc of a damping force variable valve from being excessively bent without increasing the thickness of the ring disc. The damping force variable shock absorber includes a damping force variable valve controlled in a pilot control manner by operating a solenoid. The damping force variable valve includes a disc valve and a pilot chamber provided in a housing to vary damping force. The disc valve includes a main disc, a pilot disc-S provided adjacent to the main disc in the rear thereof, and a ring disc having an outer periphery supported on a supporting portion of the housing. A spacer disc is inserted between the main disc and the pilot disc-S, the spacer disc having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of an arc-shaped slot of the ring disc.
US07980365B2
A brake mechanism for a utility vehicle which can be installed around a drive shaft or inside a wheel hub. The brake has a non rotatable fixed body (200), a rotatable body (100) rotatable relative to the fixed body (200), at least one brake disc (207) which is non-rotatably relative to the fixed body (200), and at least one rotating brake disc (107) which is fixed for rotation with the rotatable body (100). An actuating member (234) can press the fixed brake disc (207) and the rotating brake disc (107) against each other and against a stop surface (209) on the fixed body to apply the brake. A spring means (230) also exerts an immobilizing force on the actuating member (234) to press the fixed brake disc (207) and the rotating brake disc (107) against each other to apply the brake. A brake release means (231, 233) can exert a brake release force which counteracts the immobilizing force of the spring so that the actuating member (234) no longer presses the fixed brake disc (207) and the rotating brake disc (107) against each other, and a brake applying means (235) can exert a pushing force on the actuating member (234) in the same direction as the immobilizing force to press the fixed brake disc (207) and the rotating brake disc (107) against each other to apply the brake.
US07980363B2
An elevator safety arrangement and a method for implementing safety spaces in an elevator has a mechanical safety device which can be set to a working position to ensure a sufficient safety space in the elevator shaft and an electric safety system for identifying the operating state of the mechanical safety device. An electric safety controller comprises means for measuring the total resistance of a series circuit. The method includes reading the number of landing doors open by means of detectors fitted in conjunction with the landing doors, reading the number of elevator car doors open by means of detectors fitted in conjunction with the elevator car doors, and reading the position of a mechanical safety device by means of detectors fitted in conjunction with the mechanical safety device. If it is established that number of landing doors open is greater than the number of elevator car doors open, then setting the safety system into a ‘person in shaft’ state and preventing operation of the elevator. If it is established during the ‘person in shaft’ state of the safety system that the number of landing doors open is equal to the number of elevator car doors open and that the mechanical safety device has been set to a working position, then allowing maintenance operation.
US07980361B2
A lubricating system is adapted to supply lubricating oil to a lip portion of an oil-seal member for preventing the lubricating oil from leaking out of a case. The lubricating system includes a rotating member, a bearing, a scraping member, and a guiding section. The rotating member is configured and arranged to be rotatably housed within the case and to slidably engage the lip portion of the oil-seal member. The bearing rotatably supports the rotating member. The scraping member is configured and arranged to scrape the lubricating oil discharged from the bearing. The guiding section is configured and arranged to guide the lubricating oil scraped by the scraping member to the lip portion of the oil-seal member.
US07980356B2
The invention relates to a cladding part for components. The cladding part has at least two areas with different vibration damping properties. The different areas make it possible in a simple manner to meet partly conflicting requirements for cladding parts of the components in an optimum manner. The components include medical examination devices.
US07980354B2
The invention concerns a hydraulic steering (1) with a supply connection arrangement (P, T), a steering motor (2) and a steering unit (3) between the supply connection arrangement and the steering motor (2), the steering unit (3) having a directional section (4) and a measuring section (5), a steering valve (9) being arranged in parallel to the steering unit (3). With such a steering, it is endeavored to achieve the best possible safety. For this purpose, it is ensured that for each steering direction the directional section (4) comprises a first outlet (A1L, A1R), which is connected to the steering motor (2) by means of a first pipe (23, 24), and a second outlet (A2L, A2R), which is connected to the steering motor (2) by means of a second pipe (25, 26), the first outlet (A1L, A1R) being, in the neutral position of the directional section (4), connected to the measuring section (5), and the first pipe (23, 24) being interruptible by means of a valve arrangement (27, 27a).
US07980350B2
A chassis frame (10) has a cross member (22) that bridges right and left side rails (18, 20). Right and left wheel units (14, 16) comprising respective right and left steered road wheels (24, 26) are suspended from the frame by respective multi-link suspensions (33). A steering system (28) steers the wheels. An electric motor (34) and gear box (36) mounted on the cross member is coupled to the right and left wheels by respective drive shafts (38, 40). The weight of a brake system (42, 44) for the wheels is supported by the frame.
US07980349B2
A drive system for a vehicle includes a motor, an internal combustion engine, a generator, a power distribution mechanism distributing a driving force of the internal combustion engine to driving wheels and the generator, an electronic control unit controlling the motor and the internal combustion engine, and rotation members connected to first driving wheels constituted by one of front wheels and rear wheels and including an output element of the power distribution mechanism, wherein the internal combustion engine driving the first driving wheels via the power distribution mechanism, the motor driving second driving wheels not driven by the internal combustion engine, the rotation members are driven by the internal combustion engine.
US07980343B2
Due to a centrifugal force in a vehicle width direction due to turning of an automobile, oil in an electric motor housing chamber housing an electric motor and oil in a transmission housing chamber housing a reduction gear and a differential gear flows to-and-fro via oil communication passages that penetrate a partitioning wall. An opening on the transmission housing chamber side of the oil communication passages is spaced from the partitioning wall. Hence, when oil moves from the transmission housing chamber side to the electric motor housing chamber side, it is possible to prevent the oil quantity on the electric motor housing chamber side from increasing excessively and suppress an increase in resistance to oil stirring by a rotor of the electric motor while retaining a constant oil amount on the transmission housing chamber side to ensure lubricating performance for the reduction gear and the differential gear.
US07980339B2
A power transmission system of a hydraulically driven working vehicle comprises: a prime mover supported by a vehicle frame, the prime mover including a prime mover output shaft projecting in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle; a pump housing; a hydraulic pump disposed in the pump housing, the hydraulic pump including a pump shaft projecting from the pump housing in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle so as to be drivingly connected to the prime mover output shaft; a first hydraulic motor disposed outside the pump housing so as to be fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump; a transaxle supported by one of front and rear portions of the vehicle frame, the transaxle including a transaxle housing, a pair of axles disposed in the transaxle housing so as to be driven by the hydraulic motor, and a differential gear unit disposed in the transaxle housing so as to be drivingly interposed between the hydraulic motor and the pair of axles; a PTO shaft; and a working power train extracting a part of power transmitted from the prime mover output shaft to the pump shaft and transmitting the extracted power to the PTO shaft.
US07980335B2
An omni-directional wheel includes a hub rotatable about a wheel axis and a first row of angled rollers about the hub each rotatably supported by the hub. There is at least a second row of angled rollers about the hub each also rotatably supported by the hub. The rollers of the second row are axially offset along the wheel axis from the first row, and rotationally offset from the first row about the wheel axis, and not coaxial with the rollers of the first row.
US07980333B2
An earth boring drill bit comprising a milled cutter having rows of hardfacing guides on the cutter. Hardfacing is applied between adjacent hardfacing guides to form a hardfacing web that serves as a cutting element. The hardfacing web defines an interface between the hardfacing web and the hardfacing guide. The hardfacing web may extend past the crest of the hardfacing guides or end along the hardfacing guides flanks. Projecting hardfacing is provided on the interface to form trimmers.
US07980330B1
A debris collector or strainer assembly for a well string tubular coupling wherein one embodiment discloses a conical coil with one end fixed to a hub, a beveled collar surrounding and supporting the hub and secured thereto with shear pins, the conical coil is deformable as necessary to capture irregular shaped objects between its coils, its loops may be closed, spaced apart, fixed or allowed to expand under pressure, and may be retrieved using an overshot fishing tool to engage a rod extending axially through the coil which may be attached at one or both ends of the coil.
US07980329B2
A method and system for drilling a wellbore is described. The system includes a wellbore with a variable density drilling mud, drilling pipe, a bottom hole assembly disposed in the wellbore and a drilling mud processing unit in fluid communication with the wellbore. The variable density drilling mud has compressible particles and drilling fluid. The bottom hole assembly is coupled to the drilling pipe, while the drilling mud processing unit is configured to separate the compressible particles from the variable density drilling mud. The compressible particles in this embodiment may include compressible hollow objects filled with pressurized gas and configured to maintain the mud weight between the fracture pressure gradient and the pore pressure gradient. In addition, the system and method may also manage the use of compressible particles having different characteristics, such as size, during the drilling operations.
US07980325B2
A locking mechanism for a rotary power tool that includes an elongated locking member that is retained by, and is at opposite first and second end portions within, at least one of a motor housing and a gearbox end casting and being slideable between unlocked and locked positions, the locking member first end portion being accessible by a user to move the locking member to the locked position. The locking member also includes a locking portion intermediate the first and second end portions that is configured to engage the non-circular configured portion of a rotatable armature shaft and prevent rotation thereof when the locking member is in its locked position. A biasing element is also included and configured to bias the locking member toward said unlocked position.
US07980322B2
An impact adaptor to convert a rock drill to an impact driver is described. The impact adapter has a boom coupling for securing the adapter in co-operating alignment with the shank of a drifter. The adapter has a casing for slidingly receiving and guiding an anvil therein from a top open end of the casing. The casing has an open bottom end adapted for receiving a top end section of a pile, tube or rod in the casing. Anvil supports are provided in the casing for retaining the anvil captive therein in the absence of the top end section of the pile, tube or rod. The casing has a predetermined length above the anvil supports to permit captive displacement of the anvil and displacement of the top section of the pile, tube or rod therein. The impact adapter is secured to the drifter in a movable or immovable manner and compensates for wear of the shank.
US07980317B1
Disclosed is a smart monitor for monitoring fire hydrants and comprising an electronic module associated with an operating nut and nut shaft.The electronic module is configured to monitor the fire hydrant operating nut to determine when the fire hydrant has been activated. When a hydrant is activated, the electronic module performs at least one of the following functions: stores activation time data, records sound data, records image data, turns on a signaling device, determines possible flow rate by counting the number of turns the operating nut has been turned, records elapsed time since hydrant activation, estimates consumption based on time data and possible flow rate data, transmits activation data to a remove receiver. Embodiments of the smart monitor also include a receiver configured for receiving a signal from remote transmitter for activating the signaling device.
US07980302B2
The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.
US07980296B2
A heat exchanger, includes a housing including an inlet passage through which a fluid is introduced, an outlet passage from which the fluid is discharged, an inner communication space in which the fluid flows from the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and a plurality of unit plates of thin flat plates that are disposed in parallel to a flowing direction of the fluid, the plurality of unit plates layered in a direction to be substantially orthogonal to the flowing direction, the plurality of unit plates each having a fin in parallel to the flowing direction of the fluid, a frame enclosing the fin and projecting in an out-of-plane direction of the fin, and holes respectively communicating with the inlet passage and the outlet passage. Heat is exchanged between a heating body attached on an outer surface of the housing and the fluid.
US07980285B2
A system for manufacturing an optical display device having an optical display unit and an optical film bonded thereto and including a polarizing plate, the system including: a first cutting and bonding unit which performs a process including unwinding a long sheet material from a first roll of the long sheet material, wherein the long sheet material includes a first optical film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release film laminated in this order; a second cutting and bonding unit which performs a process including unwinding a long sheet material from a second roll of the long sheet material, wherein the long sheet material includes a second optical film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release film laminated in this order; and a turning unit which turns the optical display unit to the direction of bonding in the other cutting and bonding unit.
US07980276B2
A device defining a chamber for receiving a substance and a thermoplastic portion in fluid communication with the chamber is provided along with a method of filling and sealing the substance within the chamber. The thermoplastic portion defines a penetrable region that is penetrable by a filling member and is heat resealable to hermetically seal an aperture therein by applying laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power. The thermoplastic portion comprises a thermoplastic body defining a predetermined wall thickness and includes a styrene block copolymer, an olefin and a predetermined amount of pigment allowing the body to absorb laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength, substantially prevent the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness, and hermetically seal the aperture in the penetrable region in a predetermined time period. The body includes a predetermined amount of lubricant that reduces friction forces at an interface of the filling member and body during penetration thereof.
US07980266B2
A one-way soffit vent has an upstream valve seat and a downstream vented cover having a boss extending in the upstream direction. A valve disk is reciprocally mounted on the boss and biased against the valve seat.
US07980262B1
A windproof umbrella includes a center post (10) including an upper grommet (11), an intermediate fixed ring (12), and a lower sliding runner (13); ribs (20) each having one end (21) pivotably secured to the grommet (11) and the open other end (22); main joints (51) each formed at a portion of the rib (20); stretchers (30) each having one end (31) pivotably secured to the ring (12) and the other end (32) moveably secured to the main joint (51); auxiliary joints (61) each formed at a portion of the stretcher (30); and struts (40) each having one end (41) pivotably secured to the runner (13) and the other end (42) moveably secured to the auxiliary joint (61); a lower canopy (70) secured in covering relation on the ribs (20); and an upper canopy (80) having a peripheral edge positioned over a portion of the lower canopy (70).
US07980261B2
The invention originates with a mast on the upper end of which a locking and tiltable jib support is arranged. A jib is guided in the jib support such that said jib can be slid and fastened and carries a roof construction on the outer end thereof, wherein said roof construction can be extended like a canopy, fan, or frame. To make the extension and retraction of the jib easier, it is proposed that the jib support be designed with at least four guide and locking rollers, of which at least two engage in a left-handed track and two in a right-handed track of the jib.
US07980246B2
An airway adapter suitable for use with patients having low tidal volumes, e.g., neonates, which minimizes deadspace in the airway and promotes smooth flow of gases through the adapter. The adapter includes a first portion adapted to couple to a tubular adapter, such as an endotracheal tube adapter, and a second portion adapted to couple to a ventilation tube. A longitudinally compressible member is coupled to the first portion to minimize deadspace in the adapter. A portion of the compressible member resiliently contacts and seals against a tubular adapter upon assembly of the airway adapter therewith.
US07980238B2
A paintball marker for firing a projectile includes a main body. The main body includes a breech and a feed port connected and a feed tube connected thereto. The main body is originally configured for launching a projectile having a first size. The invention includes a conversion kit to enable a marker to launch projectiles that are smaller than what can be originally launched. A breech insert is positioned within the breech, a feed insert is positioned within the feed port and a replacement barrel, with a smaller diameter bore, are provided to reduce the size of the all conduits within the marker for launching a projectile having a second size that smaller than the first size. The feed insert directly engages the breech adapter to prevent the movement of the breech adapter. Also, connection of the barrel secures the breech insert in place.
US07980235B1
A portable bow press made of three distinct and separable parts. The first two parts contain loop assemblies made of steel wire formed into a U-shaped loop with the two ends connected via a bolt. The third part is a connection cable with S-hooks on either end that hook into the loop elements. The bolts in the loop assemblies are applied through tooling holes in pulleys on the limbs of a compound archery bow. The bow press is applied once the loop assemblies are in place. The limbs can be forced inward by drawing the bowstring creating enough slack for the connection cable to be hooked on either end to the loops. When the bowstring is released, the limbs are held by tension in the cable and loops to a point where they are closer than at brace height. When the bow press is applied, the bowstring is loose and maintenance can be applied to the bow, before disengaging the bow press.
US07980232B2
A four stroke internal combustion engine has a gas reserving chamber 100 which communicates with an exhaust port 31 and is configured to reserve burned gas discharged from a combustion chamber. The burned gas flows into the gas reserving chamber 100 while an exhaust valve including a valve head 32a and a stem 32b is opened in an expansion stroke. The burned gas reserved in the gas reserving chamber 100 is discharged to the combustion chamber while the exhaust valve is opened in an intake stroke.
US07980229B2
A tank ventilation system for a motor vehicle includes a tank (1) for combustible fuels. An activated carbon filter (20) is connected to the tank (1) via a connecting line (7) and adsorbs hydrocarbon vapors of the tank (1) for deaeration. An electrically activatable check valve (30) is in the connecting line. A differential pressure sensor (3) measures the pressure difference between the vapor chamber (21) of the tank (1) and the environment. The connecting line is formed without a vacuum valve. A mechanical vacuum valve (6) is provided for tank aeration with respect to the environment. The check valve is closed if the pressure difference measured by the differential pressure sensor is below a fixed, positive threshold value, and is open if the pressure difference is above the threshold value.
US07980222B2
A method for heating fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine supplies current from a power source to a plurality of electrically operable mechanical actuators. The current is supplied sequentially to at least two electrically operable mechanical actuators at a level sufficient to produce a time-varying magnetic field having a power density that substantially raises an armature temperature of said valve, while substantially maintaining the operating states that said at least two electrically operable mechanical actuators assumed prior to applying said current.
US07980220B2
A method is described for operating a gaseous fueled engine, where gaseous fuel and intake air are delivered to a first intake port of a cylinder of the engine and intake air without gaseous fuel is delivered to a second intake port of the cylinder, the first port separated from the second port. Further, the method includes inducting the fuel and intake air from the first port via a first intake valve, and the intake air from the second port via a second intake valve, into the cylinder, where the first intake valve is opened after the second intake valve.
US07980215B2
A variable valve system includes a transmission mechanism T which transmits a valve actuating force to an inlet valve 11 and which varies a maximum lift amount of the inlet valve 11 and biasing members 60. A sub-cam 40 oscillatably supported on a holder 30 driven by a control member 70 has a roller 43 contacting the inlet cam 15a, a drive cam portion 46 outputting the valve actuating force, and acting portions A contacting the biasing members 60. The acting portions A are provided in the vicinity of the roller 43 so that biased contact points 45a1, 45b1 are positioned nearer to a cam contact point 43a than an oscillation center line Ls and that an acting line L1 of a biasing force is superposed on the roller 43 as viewed in the direction of the oscillation center line Ls.
US07980214B2
At time of starting an engine, stop/rotation of an electric motor is sensed based on presence/absence of output pulses of an encoder installed in the motor. Controlling of power supply to the motor is prohibited to maintain an off-state of the motor until start of rotation of the motor is sensed. When the start of the motor is sensed, the controlling of the power supply to the motor is started. At time of stopping the engine, stop/rotation of the motor is sensed based on time intervals of pulses outputted from the encoder. The controlling of the power supply to the motor is enabled until sensing of stopping of rotation of the motor. When the stopping of rotation of the motor is sensed, the controlling of the power supply to the motor is prohibited to stop the power supply to the motor.
US07980212B2
A variable valve lift apparatus may include a cam that is disposed to a camshaft and rotates, a rocker arm that is disposed to the camshaft and in which a relative rotation angle of the rocker arm around the camshaft is variable, a cam follower that contacts the cam, receives rotation of the cam, and pivots around the rocker arm, and a swing arm that contacts the cam follower and drives a valve.
US07980209B2
An internal combustion engine includes an electromagnetic valve actuator having an armature between upper and lower electromagnets with a stem extending through one electromagnet and guided by a bushing with increased clearance about at least a portion of the inner circumference in at least a middle portion of the bushing to reduce oil shear length and associated viscous friction in the actuator. A two-piece intake/exhaust valve guide includes a lower half with a stepped outer diameter cooperating with a counter-bored hole in the cylinder head to provide a positive stop. The upper and lower halves of the valve guide have increased clearance relative to the valve stem around at least a portion of the inner circumference to reduce oil shear length and associated viscous friction. Reducing viscous friction of the actuator and associated valve guide improves system robustness by decreasing the system sensitivity to temperature.
US07980199B2
Gestating sows are housed in a series of gestation stalls arranged in a row and backing onto an open alley along a rear of the row of stalls into which the sow can enter by backing out of the stall. A common trough extends along the front of the stalls and is fastened to the floor by fasteners which connect trough sections end to end. The common trough provides a support for the front end of the side walls defining the stalls. A rear gate closes the rear of each stall and connects to a front gate of the stall operable to close the rear gate by the sow as it moves in the stall toward the front. The rear gate latches closed to prevent entry of another sow but is releasable by rear pressure on the rear gate from the sow backing out.
US07980196B2
An apparatus for coating a polyimide layer includes a printing table in which a substrate is provided, an inkjet head having an injection surface with nozzles for injecting a polyimide liquid onto the substrate, a polyimide liquid supply tank filled with the polyimide liquid, an ultrasonic cleaner in which a cleaning liquid for cleaning the inkjet head is stored for cleaning the inkjet head with vibrations in the cleaning liquid generated by applying an ultrasonic signal, and a wiper for wiping an injection surface of the inkjet head.
US07980192B2
The invention disclosed herein is directed to a chair mount assembly and related kit for retrofitting a bench-style boat seat or thwart. The inventive chair mount assembly kit includes (1) first and second rails; (2) first and second sliders having respective first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion of the first slider section includes a first rail connector and the first end portion of the second slider section includes a second rail connector, and wherein the first rail connector is matingly and slidably engagable to the first rail and the second rail connector is matingly and slidably engagable to the second rail; and (3) an interconnecting base plate adjustably connectable to the second end portions of the first and second sliders and movable together with the first and second sliders back and forth along the first and second rails.
US07980189B2
Methods and apparatus for a scuttle assembly including an end member having a port to enable fluid flow, a valve member having a closed position to prevent fluid from flowing into a channel and an open position to allow fluid flowing into the channel, a bias member to bias the valve member to the open position, and a scuttle washer sandwiched between the end member and the valve member, the scuttle washer comprising a material that dissolves due to exposure to sea water without generating toxic gas or hydrogen.
US07980187B2
A distribution system for a drill, having a body defining first and second outlets in communication with a delivery system of the drill. The body includes at least two first and two second containment units. The first containment units are in communication with only a first one of the two outlets, and the second containment units are in communication with only a second one of the two outlets. A separation system in a separate configuration opens a communication between the first containment units and a communication between the second containment units, with the first containment units being separate from the second containment units. The separation system in the mixed configuration closes the communication between the first containment units and the communication between the second containment units. Two different products can thus alternately be distributed separately or together.
US07980179B2
A safety and arming unit for a fuze of a projectile has a firing device for transferring the firing energy to another firing device and a barrier for interrupting the transfer. The barrier is locked in a locking state by a safety that triggers an unlocking action due to a physical arming parameter. The arming parameter of the novel device is an apogee parameter, effected by the projectile flying through the apogee of its projectile trajectory. A physical arming parameter independent of a launch parameter can be used to unlock the safety without needing to pull out a safety pin.
US07980178B1
A cartridge containing an environmentally friendly percussion primer employing a primer explosive mixture, packed under the paper disc and anvil; the mixture being a metastable interstitial composite (MIC) and a high explosive; and a second mass of high explosive, packed within the primer cup above the anvil—which mass of high explosive is ignited by the detonation of the MIC and high explosive mixture—thereby adding to the detonation to create a combined, enhanced pressure and temperature wave to more quickly initiate the booster pellet and propellant, to fire the bullet within the subject action time limit—even under extreme cold ambient conditions.
US07980169B2
A coffee machine for making a coffee beverage using pre-packed and pre-portioned coffee pouches including a brew chamber which includes a brew chamber top and a brew chamber base. The brew chamber top is movable by a locking mechanism along a virtual vertical axis from an elevated position to a position lowered on the brew chamber base to form a tight brew chamber and is movable back into the elevated position where a carrier of brew chamber base can be pushed, in horizontal plane from a pushed-in position in which the brew chamber base and the brew chamber top are disposed coaxially relative to each other, into a drawn-out position in which a pouch can be placed on said brew chamber base. Piercing elements are also supported at said brew chamber top and can be pushed into its interior. After elevating the brew chamber top and thus opening the brew chamber and drawing out the movable carrier, the piercing elements are withdrawn from the interior of the brew chamber top.
US07980154B2
A transmission shifting device (1) with a selector shaft (2), a disk (7) connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the selector shaft (2), in which a disk-side guide (14) is provided, and a fixed plate (16) arranged opposite the disk (7), in which a plate-side guide (19) is formed. A moving control element (25) is provided for shifting a transmission, which extends into the disk-side and the plate-side guides (14, 19). The disk-side guide (14) extends in the radial direction of the disk (7). A transmission shifting device (1) of this type is particularly compact and takes up only little structural space.
US07980153B2
An actuator device for a motor vehicle transmission, the motor vehicle transmission having:—at least two shafts;—a plurality of gear sets for the achievement of different gear steps;—a plurality of shift mechanisms that may be operated to produce or release a rotationally fixed shaft-gear connection; the actuator device having:—a plurality of output elements that can be moved in order to operatively engage in shift mechanisms of the transmission—a main actuator device having at least one main actuator element that is movable for the engagement of gears, the main actuator element preferably being an output element—a secondary actuator device having at least one movably mounted secondary actuator element, which is movable for the disengagement of gears, the at least one secondary actuator element preferably being an output element, the main actuator device and the secondary actuator device cooperating to produce controlled relative movements of at least two output elements.
US07980149B2
A docking mechanism provided for analytical apparatus, such as an acoustic bio-sensor apparatus. The mechanism is operable releasably to receive a cartridge (58) for use in analysing a sample comprising a fluid and having a flow cell (104, 106; 304, 306) for the sample and an electrically operated sensor (92) for performing the analysis. The docking mechanism has a clamping mechanism (12, 8, 10) for urging a fluid connector such as ferules (50, 52) against the cartridge to provide a fluid connection between the flow cell inlet and a sample delivery device. The docking mechanism also has an electrical connector (74, 76, 78) for engaging the sensor to connect the latter to electrical circuitry for operating the sensor, the electrical connector being moveable towards and away from the sensor relative to the clamping mechanism, so that, in use, the electrical connector exerts on the sensor a force which is sufficient to maintain the necessary electrical connection, while not being so great as to have a substantial detrimental effect on the accuracy of the sensor. There is also shown analytical apparatus which includes such a docking mechanism.
US07980147B2
A novel multi-gas passive sampler is described, whereby different collection media are packed into one passive sampler to collect a variety of air pollutants (or groups of air pollutants) at the same time. By comparison with known commercially available passive samplers—in which only a single collection medium is used to collect a single air pollutant of or group of air pollutants—the MGPS is more cost effective, convenient to use and more environment-friendly.
US07980145B2
Methods and devices based on a microelectromechanical capacitive sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an electromechanical capacitive device includes forming a housing of the electromechanical capacitive device using a non-conductive material and applying a conductive material on one or more areas on the housing to form one or more pairs of conductor plates.
US07980143B2
An apparatus for use with a liquid supply pipeline, for transforming energy of liquid passing therethrough into electrical energy, comprising: a housing configured to be received within the pipeline and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet defining a flow direction therebetween, at least one current generator including a rotor supported by the housing and having a shaft and a plurality of vanes attached thereto, the shaft extending in the housing along the flow direction allowing rotation of the vanes by liquid passing through the generator, and a stator associated with the rotor for producing electrical signals corresponding to the rotation of the rotor, and a power storage mean to which the at least one current generator is electrically connected, for receiving the electrical signals.
US07980140B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an adhesion inspection apparatus and method that can provide a reliable detection even for defect without the need of any complicated works, such as adjusting of an optical axis of instrument. An adhesion inspection apparatus 1 for inspecting adhesion of a package box 3 constructed with use of an adhesive, said apparatus characterized in that a vacuum pad 5 to be affixed for sucking on an outer surface of the package box 3 at an area proximal to an adhered region thereof; an inspection arm 9 carrying the vacuum pad 5 at one end thereof; a rotating shaft 11 joined to the other end of the inspection arm 9; a driving device 13 for driving the rotating shaft 11 to make a rotational movement; and a torque sensor 15 for detecting a torque induced in the driving device 13.
US07980137B2
A dual pressure sensor using a reduced number of parts to simplify its structure and having increased ease of assembly and improved air tightness. The dual pressure sensor has an airtight container, two pressure sensor units received in the airtight container so as to be in intimate contact with each other and a substrate. The pressure sensor units has two bases, two pressure sensing diaphragm chips, and an output correction circuit. The pressure sensing diaphragm chips are secured to the bases, respectively. The bases are constructed respectively from base bodies having communication paths formed inside them and also respectively from pressure introduction sections integral with and projecting from the base bodies. The pressure introduction sections respectively project outward from insertion holes formed in the airtight container.
US07980133B2
In a micromachined devices having a movable shuttle driven in oscillation, measuring the electrical charge accumulated on opposing drive capacitors to determine the displacement of the movable shuttle. Alternately, in such a micromachined device, measuring the electrical charge accumulated on a drive capacitor and comparing the measured electrical charge to a nominal electrical charge to determine the displacement of the movable shuttle.
US07980132B2
A sensor assembly is discussed. The sensor assembly may include a housing. The housing may include an inlet port and an outlet port. The sensor assembly may also include a sensing element disposed within the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end towards a second end. The sensing element may include heating elements. The sensor assembly may also include a sleeve circumferentially disposed about the sensing element. The sleeve may include a first passageway on a first side of the sensing element and a second passageway on an opposite second side of the sensing element. The first passageway and the second passageway may be longitudinal passageways extending along a length of the sensing element. The sleeve may also include an inlet orifice on one side of the sleeve and an outlet orifice on an opposite side of the sleeve. The inlet orifice may fluidly couple the inlet port with the first passageway and the outlet orifice may fluidly couple the outlet port with the second passageway.
US07980130B2
A gravity gradiometer is disclosed which has a sensor in the form of bars (41 and 42) which are supported on a mounting (5) which has a first mount section (10) and a second mount section (20). A first flexure web (33) pivotally couples the first and second mount sections about a first axis. The second mount has a first part (25), a second part (26) and a third part (27). The parts (25 and 26) are connected by a second flexure web (37) and the parts (26 and 27) are connected by a third flexure web (35). The bars (41 and 42) are located in housings (45 and 47) and form a monolithic structure with the housings (45 and 47) respectively. The housings (45 and 47) are connected to opposite sides of the second mount section 20. The bars (41 and 42) are connected to their respective housings by flexure webs (59). Transducers (71) are located in proximity to the bars for detecting movement of the bars to in turn enable the gravitational gradient tensor to be measured.
US07980126B2
A method is provided for operating a hot-film air-mass sensor, which can be used especially for measuring air mass flows in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine. The hot-film air-mass sensor has a sensor chip having a sensor frame and a sensor diaphragm having at least one heating element and at least two temperature sensors, a chip carrier for holding the sensor chip and at least one additional heating element. The sensor chip is able to be heated up using the at least one additional heating element. Immediately after shutting down the internal combustion engine, the at least one heating element of the sensor diaphragm is switched off, or is switched to a lower heating power. Furthermore, the at least one additional heating element is switched on for a specified postheating phase. The provided method is particularly suitable for avoiding oil contamination of the hot-film air-mass sensor.
US07980121B2
The degradation simulator is used for a gas sensor including a sensor element having a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes located opposite to each other across from the solid electrolyte layer, the sensor element outputting a sensor output signal having a value depending on concentration of a specific gas in the ambient gas. The degradation simulator includes a first setting function of enabling variably setting a time constant delay which appears on the sensor output signal when concentration of the specific gas changes, a second setting function of enabling variably setting a dead time delay which appears on the sensor output signal when concentration of the specific gas changes, and an adding function of adding at least one of the time constant delay and dead time delay to the sensor output signal in order to generate a pseudo-degraded sensor output signal in accordance with an external instruction.
US07980118B2
Method and apparatus for estimating an apparent viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid. The results may be used for selecting equipment for pumping systems.
US07980115B2
A self-calibrating laser accelerometer system that continuously removes bias errors from acceleration measurements under dynamic operating conditions has a frame with a pair of essentially identical mass modulated accelerometers positioned within the frame. Each accelerometer includes a proof mass mounted to the sensing element frame by a flexure suspension. The proof mass is arranged to rotate about an output axis in response to acceleration of the sensing element frame along an input axis. The first proof mass includes a secondary mass that is movable between a first stable position on a first side of the output axis and a second stable position on a second side of the output axis to provide mass modulation of the first proof mass and to provide a selectively reversible polarity to the input axis and to provide self-calibration of bias.
US07980113B2
An onboard electronic device operating unit enables a needle calibration mode by performing a specified needle calibration enabling operation on part of multiple setup operation sections. The setup operation sections can change setting states of control contents for an onboard electronic device. In the needle calibration mode, part of the setup operation sections functions as a needle calibration section. Operating the needle calibration section can calibrate a needle position of a needle-type display apparatus.
US07980112B2
A die having various features such as spring pockets and mounting provisions for a lifter bar that can be utilized to make a variety of dies. The dies may include pockets or other mounting features that provide for mounting replaceable plates that can be machined for mounting of die forming and cutting steels and other die components. The die shoe may include an array of pockets or blind holes for mounting nitrogen springs or the like for operation of forming steels and the like. One or more openings may be drilled in the replaceable plates above the pockets selected to receive nitrogen springs, with the remaining unused pockets being covered by the replaceable plate. The replaceable plate and pre-formed spring pockets thereby permit the die to be readily adapted for a particular die. The replaceable plates may be removed, and a replacement plate may be installed as needed for a new die.
US07980102B2
Disclosed is a washing machine, which prevents solidification of liquid detergent by rapidly recovering the liquid detergent left in a liquid detergent supply passage and a liquid detergent supply pump by forming a negative pressure differential by use of the liquid detergent supply pump for a set period of time after the supply of liquid detergent is finished.
US07980101B2
A laundry machine including a selectively rotatable drum, a pump for supplying water to a steam generator, and a controller for determining if the pump is out of order. This determination is made by monitoring either a time period required for supplying water to a preset water level of the steam generator or electric current drawn by the pump.
US07980100B2
A sinkerless knitting machine with latch needles, comprising a needle holder with a plurality of slots on one face, each slot accommodating a needle. Knitting retainers are provided, each with a body composed of at least two side-by-side interconnected laminar elements. At least two laminar elements of each knitting retainer are arranged in a same or in two contiguous slots of the needle holder. At least one of the laminar elements composing a knitting retainer has a retention portion defining a stop shoulder for the knitting. Each knitting retainer can move on command from a first position, in which it does not interfere with the knitting being formed, to a second position, in which it is inserted, with the retention portion, between two contiguous needles, in a region which faces the knitting forming plane, in order to retain the portion of knitting that lies between two contiguous needles.
US07980096B2
In order to avoid deposition of evaporating alkali compounds on an inner surface of a hollow glass body during thermal processing to form a glass container from the hollow glass body, an overpressure is provided in the hollow glass body during the thermal processing. Either rinsing the hollow glass body with a gas, such as air, or at least partially closing the glass body at one end so that sufficiently rapid pressure equilibration is avoided, can provide this overpressure. The glass containers made by these methods are especially suited for food or pharmaceuticals because they have a reduced alkali release from their inner surfaces, for example at most about 2.0 mg/l sodium oxide.
US07980089B2
A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
US07980088B2
A modular system comprises an appliance, an adapter removably coupled to the appliance, and a consumer electronic device removably coupled to the adapter. The adapter can supply at least one wireless service between the adapter or the appliance and the consumer electronic device. The adapter can be removably coupled to a door of the appliance. A standardized service interface can couple with the adapter to supply the service between the appliance and the adapter.
US07980078B2
A hermetic Rankine cycle in a sealed casing powers an internal centrifugal condensate pump with an internal vapor turbine during forced convective heat transfer between a heat source and a heat sink. No work is imported into the cycle during operation. A centrifugal pumping disk shears the working fluid against a heating surface, sweeping evolving vapor into radial vortices which provide sink flow conduits to a vapor space at the center of the cylindrical turbine. Convective mass flow through the vapor space to the condensing end of the casing spins the turbine and the centrifugal pumping disk which is connected to it. Vapor is continuously swept from the heating surface, so bubbles do not form and superheat while blocking heat flux into liquid working fluid. Vapor is sucked through the radial vortices into the central vapor space and into the condensing end of the casing along the low pressure gradients in vortex cores established by cooling power. A high heat flux surface is thereby thermally connected to a conventional heat sink having high cooling power, for maximal heat extraction at data centers or other heat sources. Vapor vortices organize counterflow of vapor and condensate in a continuous mass flow cycle, and extract work from heat. Organic working fluids can be used in the casing to make even low temperature waste heat a power source.
US07980072B2
An apparatus for energy recovery is provided. The apparatus comprises a hydrostatic machine and at least one hydraulic storage component. The hydraulic storage component is connected to the hydrostatic machine via a working line. A valve device is provided for influencing the volumetric flow in the working line between the hydraulic storage component and the hydrostatic machine. The valve device comprises a brake pressure regulating valve unit with a valve and a pilot valve unit which acts on the valve with a control pressure. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the apparatus for energy recovery. In order to store released energy, a required braking torque is determined by a control electronics system. The volume from the hydrostatic piston machine into the working line is increased and the pilot valve is actuated by the control electronics system such that the valve is moved towards its open position.
US07980069B2
An exhaust treatment system is provided. The system may include a particulate trap configured to remove one or more types of particulate matter from an exhaust flow, the exhaust flow including at least a portion of a totality of exhaust gases produced by an engine. The system may further include a burner assembly configured to increase a temperature of gases in the exhaust flow at a location upstream from the particulate trap. The burner assembly may include an exhaust inlet oriented in a direction along a first axis and configured to direct the exhaust flow into the burner assembly and an exhaust outlet oriented in a direction along a second axis at an angle relative to the first axis, the exhaust outlet being configured to direct the exhaust flow out of the burner assembly toward the particulate trap.
US07980068B2
A passive particulate filter assembly for filtering exhaust. The assembly includes a housing unit defining a filtering chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port. A cylindrical inner core member is disposed in the filtering chamber and is surrounded by a pleated cylindrical filter pack having first and second opposite ends. An end cap couples with the first end of the filter pack and is configured to prevent exhaust flow there through. An end plate is coupled to the second end of the filter pack and is configured to secure the filter pack to the housing unit. The filter pack comprises a woven metal fiber medium preferably manufactured from stainless steel or a nickel-chromium-iron alloy having a porosity of between about 2 to about 15 μm.
US07980064B2
A lean NOx trap is a diesel exhaust aftertreatment system is selectively denitrated based on a measure relating to the state and/or the performance of the exhaust aftertreatment system, or a portion thereof comprising the lean NOx trap, reaching a critical value. The critical value is varied according to the demands currently being place on the exhaust aftertreatment system. In one embodiment, the critical value is set based on engine speed-load information. The method regenerates more frequently when exhaust aftertreatment demands are high and less frequently when demands are low. The method improves aftertreatment performance while reducing aftertreatment fuel penalty.
US07980060B2
A clogging determination apparatus determines clogging of a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) such that exhaust pressure is estimated using a sensor deigned for regular control of an engine, without using exhaust pressure sensor. The apparatus includes: the DPF disposed in an exhaust system; an exhaust sensor that measures an air-fuel ratio λ in exhaust gas; and an injector that changes the air-fuel ratio in an cylinder through post-injection. A response time T taken for the exhaust sensor to detect a change in the air-fuel ratio is measured from the time when the post-injection is output from the injector. If this response time T is longer than a clogging determination response time To, the apparatus determines that the DPF is clogged.
US07980058B2
The present invention relates to an air compression type engine for aviation. The conventional aircraft engine is complicated in structure, consumes expensive aero fuel, and produces extremely loud noise during operation. Therefore, the present invention employs a turbo-charged air compressor to generate high temperature and high pressure gas in the pressure chamber, and uses the reaction thrust force generated by ejecting the compressed air through the nozzle to make the aircraft vertically take off/land, suspend in the air and fly forwardly. Benefited from the simple structure, the manufacture cost of the aircraft engine can be dramatically decreased. Vertically raising and landing the aircraft can be achieved by changing the ejection directed of the compressed air in the pressure chamber. The commonly used gasoline or diesel, which is cost saving and capable of combusting with a high combustion value, can be used instead of the expensive aviation kerosene. Further, the generated noise is quite small. By means of above arrangement, it is possible to manufacture a jet type manned craft like a car, which can be operated by common people to vertically take off/land and shuttle conveniently in the downtown area through simple operation procedure.
US07980056B2
A flow control device for use with a pulse detonation chamber including an inlet coupled in flow communication with a source of compressed air. The inlet extends at least partially into the chamber to facilitate controlling air flow into the chamber. The device also includes a body portion extending downstream from and circumferentially around the inlet, wherein the body portion is positioned in flow communication with the inlet.
US07980055B2
A gas turbine including an exhaust diffuser with a flow splitter located between the inner wall and outer wall defining the exhaust gas flow path. In one aspect the flow splitter being moveable independent of the walls defining the exhaust gas flow path to allow for differing thermal movement between the components. In one form a structural member extends from a wall and is coupled to the flow splitter. The wall can have an opening for the through which the structural member is allowed to pass. In some forms a plurality of structural members can be coupled to the flow splitter. In other forms the flow splitter can be independently movable relative to the wall.
US07980052B1
An industrial gas turbine engine capable of operating at higher temperatures than air cooled nickel based alloy airfoils in the turbine. The engine burns stoichiometric or rich to produce a hot gas stream that is mostly without oxygen, and the turbine airfoils are made from a high temperature resistant material such as a refractory material that also has poor oxidation resistance. A second small gas turbine engine is used to compress nitrogen gas that is used to pass through the turbine airfoils for cooling where the film cooling nitrogen gas is injected into the hot gas stream but without igniting the fuel rich gas stream.
US07980050B2
A mower unit includes a mower deck, a plurality of blades mounted inside the mower deck and rotatable about vertical shafts supported to the mower deck, the mower deck defining, on one lateral side thereof, a discharge outlet for discharging cut grass cut by the plurality of blades, and an opening and closing member configured to be movable to a closing position for closing the discharge outlet and also to an opening position away from the discharge outlet for opening the discharge outlet, the opening and closing member at the opening position being disposed along an outer face of the mower deck.
US07980048B1
A mechanism for harvesting tobacco plants includes a magazine of rails. Each rail is elongated and hollow, with a slot along a bottom portion of each rail. Two opposing dispensing conveyors each engage opposing ends of each rails for advancing an empty rail to a filling position. Two opposing notching conveyors grasps the plants and cuts notches into the plants on opposing sides of the plant. A single roller chain stepping conveyor moves the plants from the opposing notching conveyors into a rail in the filling position. The two opposing dispensing conveyors advance the rail filled with plants. An unloading conveyor having opposing roller chains receives the rails filled with plants, collects a group of filled rails, and unloads the group of filled rails on a ground level at a linear speed equal to a forward speed of the harvesting mechanism.
US07980034B2
A structural column assembly of the type used for erecting building structures and the like is bedded in a concrete footing formed in situ in an earthen hole. The column assembly includes a post whose bottom end is suspended above a floor of the hole by a stilt. The stilt includes a plurality of legs which extend from the post's bottom end and grip the hole floor through a plurality of cleats. The cleats help stabilize the column assembly during the concrete pour operation so that it does not shift out of position. The stilt legs are provided with a base pad, which is set below the bottom end of the post at a predetermined distance so that the concrete footing can be poured in a single operation immediately after the hole is formed. The stilt can accommodate posts made from wood, pre-cast concrete or any other known construction material. The stilts can be manufactured from formed flat steel or commercially available angle iron and channel stock.
US07980027B2
An assembled component for a motor vehicle includes a lower flitch (6), an upper flitch (7), and an intercalation (8) disposed between the lower flitch (6) and the upper flitch (7). The lower flitch (6) and the upper flitch (7) are directly connected at joining points (15, 41) wherein the upper flitch defines at least one guide groove configured to support a window for relative movement within the at least one groove.
US07980020B2
An artificial fish lure 100 including a lure body 110, an attaching means 130 to attach the lure body 110 with a fishing line, at least one hook 140 disposed on the upper portion of the lure body, a weight 150 disposed with the lower portion of the lure body, a connecting means 160 to connect the hook 140 with the artificial fish lure 100, and a swivel 170 disposed with the upper portion of lure body such that the at least one hook 140 may be attached with the connecting means 160 whereby the hook 140 may freely rotate 360 degrees.
US07980016B2
Stand for displaying information having at least one presentation surface, comprising a plurality of panels (32-34) made of a substantially rigid material and articulated together in an articulation direction, having two end panels (32, 34) each extending between an articulation edge (35, 36) and a free border (37, 38) substantially parallel to the articulation edge (35, 36), the stand being able to be laid flat counter to the action of elastic return means, with the two free borders (37, 38) of the two end panels (32, 34) being spaced apart from one another. The return means are arranged in order, after the panels have been unfolded, to bring the two free borders (37, 38) together, so as to be approximately coincident, and to thus set up the stand. The width of one of the end panels between its articulation edge and its free border is different from the rest of the opened-out width of the stand, each of the two end panels being extended by flaps (39, 40) for securing the elastic return means, these flaps being articulated at the free border (19, 20) and flapped inwards. When the stand is set up, the flaps for securing the two end panels are flattened together between the two end panels.
US07980007B2
A system for custom fitting athletic shoes to an individual wearer includes a foot measurement device, an adjustable footform and an infrared activation chamber. Shoes of a single width for each length size have at least a portion of the upper made of heat malleable material to be custom fitted for width. Foot measurement data is used to calculate length size, width size and a number of custom adjustment factors. After the length size is calculated, the appropriately sized shoe and last are assembled together and subject to infrared radiation until the heat malleable material becomes plastic. Adjustments are then made to the last in accordance with the adjustment factors to provide custom width sizing. After further heat treatment to set the shoe upper and cooling, the shoe is complete. In this manner, if used in a retail setting, shoes are custom fitted to the wearer in a matter of minutes.
US07980006B2
Support elements for footwear or other products include: (a) a base member having first and second major surfaces; and (b) an extending arm having a free end for engaging a portion of a footwear structure. The extending arm may engage and further support a heel-supporting portion or other structural portion of an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. Such foot-receiving devices may include: (a) a foot-covering member (such as a footwear upper); (b) a foot-supporting member (such as a footwear sole structure) engaged with the foot-covering member; and (c) a lateral-reinforcing member that includes an extending arm engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.
US07979986B2
This method for securing a cartridge mechanical face seal to a sleeve in a rotating shaft sealing assembly uses one or more plunger locks to secure the rotary face of the seal assembly to the sleeve. Such seal assemblies have been previously secured with set screws. This plunger lock method for securing the rotary face of the cartridge seal avoids the use of set screws altogether. Instead, one or more spring activated plunger locks located in the rotary face seal assembly are mated into precisely located receptacle bores in the sleeve. The resulting attachment will not leak, require additional tightening, or distort the sleeve.
US07979982B2
A vehicle-mounted camera (1) comprises a lower case (2) constituting a part of a case, an upper case (3) provided with lenses (3a, 3b) constituting the case integrally with the lower case (2), an imaging element (4) for converting light passing through the lenses (3a, 3b) into an electrical signal, an MID-mounting substrate (6) with the imaging element (4) mounted, substrate mounting bosses (3c, 3d) for mounting the MID-mounting substrate (6) to the upper case (3), and spacers (7a, 7b) interposed between the MID-mounting substrate (6) and the substrate mounting bosses (3c, 3d) for adjusting the clearance between the lenses (3a, 3b) and the light receiving plane of the imaging element (4), structured to fix the lower case (2) to the upper case (3) while the MID-mounting substrate (6) mounted with the imaging element (4) is being fixed to the upper case (3) by the substrate mounting bosses (3c, 3d).
US07979972B2
A method for assembling a molding, including pre-assembling a molding by placing one of two inwardly bent longitudinal edges of a cover in a groove in a flexible main body, the groove receiving one of the two edges; placing the molding in a fixture so that the cover cannot be substantially flexed when a pushing force is applied to the molding; applying a pushing force to the main body of the molding, causing the main body to flex or compress under the pushing force; sliding the main body past the other of the two edges of the cover; seating the other of the two edges of the cover in another groove by releasing the pushing force allowing the main body to return toward an unflexed and uncompressed state inside the channel of the cover so the two parts form an assembled molding; and removing the assembled molding from the fixture.
US07979961B2
A hinge assembly includes a first rotating module and a second rotating module. The first rotating module includes a frame and a pivot mechanism positioned on the frame. The second rotating module includes a supporting body, a shaft, a rotating washer, a stationary washer, a resilient ring, and a nut. A first end of the shaft is fixed on the frame, and the supporting body, the rotating washer, the stationary washer, the resilient ring, and the nut are orderly sleeved on a second end, opposite to that of the first end, of the shaft. The nut fixes the supporting body, the rotating washer, the stationary washer, and the resilient rings to the shaft. The rotating washer and the stationary washer forms at least one protrusion and at least depression for receiving the at least one protrusion respectively. The pivotal shaft is configured to drive the stationary washer to rotate.
US07979959B2
An accessory for a cleaning appliance includes a head having a housing, a downwardly-directed suction opening in the housing and a neck adapted for attachment to a hose or wand of the cleaning appliance. A rotatable connection is provided between the neck and the head for allowing rotation of the neck relative to the head. A wheel arrangement maneuverably supports the accessory on a surface to be cleaned and is mounted on the neck of the accessory. The wheel arrangement may normally be in contact with the surface to be cleaned, but the point or points of contact between the wheel arrangement and the surface to be cleaned are dependent upon the rotational position of the neck with respect to the head.
US07979955B2
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a recovery tank. The surface cleaning apparatus can further include a base, and the recovery tank can have side rails to facilitate alignment of the recovery tank with the base. The recovery tank can include a float assembly with a pivotable closure member. The recovery tank can have a lid with a handle and latch to secure the lid to the recovery tank. Further, the recovery tank can comprise a lid with a working air conduit mounted to the lid and removable from the recovery tank with the lid.
US07979943B2
A cleaning brush which is inserted into a conduit of the endoscope, includes a long and flexible shaft, and a brush part provided at a leading end of the shaft. The brush part includes brush bristles, a strand, etc. A part of the shaft that overlaps the brush bristles in a state where the brush bristles are bent toward the leading end of the shaft, is provided with a small diameter part that is smaller in external diameter than the other part of the shaft. The dimension obtained by adding the external diameter of the small diameter part and twice the external diameter of the brush bristles is smaller than the internal diameter of a conduit into which this cleaning brush is inserted.
US07979942B2
A substrate treatment apparatus including a substrate holding mechanism for holding a substrate; a first brush made of an elastically deformable material and having a cleaning surface inclined with respect to a perpendicular direction perpendicular to one surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism; a first brush moving mechanism for moving the first brush with respect to the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism; a controller for controlling the first brush moving mechanism so that the cleaning surface is made to contact with a peripheral area on the one surface and a peripheral end face of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism; and a first pushing pressure holding mechanism for holding a pushing pressure of the first brush in the perpendicular direction to the peripheral area on the one surface of the substrate at a preset pushing pressure.
US07979936B2
An impact attenuating device includes both concave and convex side walls, e.g., in an interleaved arrangement, optionally at least partially surrounded by a restraining element that may help return the impact attenuating device back to its original orientation after attenuating an impact. Such impact attenuating devices may be included in pieces of footwear and/or other foot-receiving devices. Additionally, such impact attenuating devices or portions thereof may be freely selected and/or interchanged in a piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device, e.g., based on one or more characteristics of an intended user and/or an intended use, so as to allow users to obtain footwear (or other devices) customized and targeted for use under a predetermined set of conditions.
US07979928B2
An on-demand electronic faucet system for providing a faucet with a flow of water in response to a stimulus. A sensor unit is positioned remote from the faucet and in wireless communication with a wireless valve control unit. The wireless valve control unit controls a valve in the water supply line that feeds the faucet. In response to a stimulus, the sensor signals the wireless valve control unit to change the status of the valve in the water supply line from open to closed or closed to open and other states affecting flow and temperature.
US07979921B2
A utility holder assembly for securely holding articles such as eyewear and the like, small tools and accessories such as screwdrivers, flash lights, pliers, and the like, and writing utensils such as pencils, pens and the like to the sides of various types and styles of headwear. The utility holder assembly may be mounted on the outside surface or the inside surface of the headwear to accommodate easy insertion of an article for temporary storage. The holder may include a gripping mechanism such as hook and loop fasteners, a ductile layer, or a ductile member, such that the holder may be configured to conform to the shape of the article to more securely retain the article within the holder. The utility holder may also hold an article securely when the headwear is removed.
US07984497B2
A system for binding a subscription-based computer to an internet service provider (ISP) may include a binding module and a security module residing on the computer. The binding module may identify and authenticate configuration data from peripheral devices that attempt to connect to the computer, encrypt any requests for data from the computer to the ISP, and decrypt responses from the ISP. If the binding module is able to authenticate the configuration data and the response to the request for data from the ISP, then the security module may allow the communication between the computer and the ISP. However, if either the configuration cycle or the response cannot be properly verified, then the security module may degrade operation of the computer.
US07984493B2
Malicious network activities do not make use of the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol to reach remote targets outside a local network. This DNS-based enforcement system for confinement and detection of network malicious activities requires that every connection toward a resource located outside the local network is blocked by default by the local enforcement box, e.g. a firewall or a proxy. Outbound connections are allowed to leave the local network only when authorized directly by an entity called the DNS Gatekeeper.
US07984491B2
Disclosed is an off-line user authentication system, which is designed to present a presentation pattern to a user subject to authentication, and apply a one-time-password derivation rule serving as a password to certain pattern elements included in the presentation pattern at specific positions so as to create a one-time password. An off-line authentication client pre-stores a plurality of pattern element sequences each adapted to form a presentation pattern, and a plurality of verification codes created by applying a one-time-password derivation rule to the respective presentation patterns and subjecting the obtained results to a one-way function algorithm. A presentation pattern is created using one selected from the stored pattern element sequences, and presented to a user. A one-time password entered from the user is verified based on a corresponding verification code to perform user authentication. The present invention provides an off-line matrix authentication scheme with enhanced security.
US07984490B2
A method and apparatus for issuing an attribute certificate for attributes of a Light Weight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) entry stored in an LDAP repository. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for an attribute of an LDAP entry. The method further includes, in response to the request, sending a reply that includes an attribute value of the requested attribute and a digital signature to authenticate the attribute value.
US07984487B2
The present invention relates to an information processing system, and an information processing apparatus and method in which authentication processing on a network can be easily performed. A setting terminal device sends registration information input by a user to a CE-device registration setting server. The CE-device registration setting server generates connection information for connecting CE devices to the Internet based on the registration information. The setting terminal device receives the connection information from the CE-device registration setting server and stores it in a memory card. When the memory card is attached, the CE device reads the connection information so as to connect to a network. The present invention can be applied to electronic devices connected to a network.
US07984467B2
In a method for providing a program guide in a program receiver, program schedule data is received, wherein the program schedule data associates programs with time slots on a particular channel of a plurality of channels. For a first time slot of a virtual channel, and using the program schedule data, a first program is selected from a first channel available for reception in a first selected time slot. For a second time slot of the virtual channel, a second program is selected from a second channel available for reception in a second selected time slot. In response to a request to display a schedule of programs, a schedule of the virtual channel is displayed, including the first and second programs scheduled respectively in the first and second time slots of the virtual channel.
US07984462B2
Methods and apparatus to detect blank images in a digital video broadcast signal are disclosed. An example method of detecting a blank image includes analyzing DC values of luminance blocks associated with a frame to determine a number of the luminance blocks having substantially the same DC value; and identifying the frame as a blank image if the number exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US07984459B2
A recording medium drive includes a disc ejecting mechanism that ejects an optical disc disposed on a turntable to a slot. The disc ejecting mechanism is provided with a first disc feeding mechanism disposed on a rear side in a drive unit body and a second disc feeding mechanism (a disc guide mechanism) that is disposed on a slot side relative to the first disc feeding mechanism and continuously feeding the optical disc fed by the first disc feeding mechanism in a direction toward the slot. The optical disc having a small diameter can be transferred from the turntable to the slot by the first disc feeding mechanism and the second disc feeding mechanism which are respectively disposed on the rear side and a front side of the slot, thereby ejecting the optical disc to the outside.
US07984456B2
Disclosed herein is a method and system for isolating business logic from system operations by attaching and organizing a set of java interceptor components, using XML configuration and java dynamic proxy functionality, around an existing standard software java business component. The interceptor components are configured by pre-configuring a set of interceptor classes in an XML configuration file. An interceptor framework is provided which configures, initializes and maintains the interceptor classes. A proxy of the business component is created and returned to a calling client program. The interceptor framework parses the XML configuration file for initializing all the interceptor classes. An interceptor chain is created associated with the business component, when the client program invokes the methods on the proxy business component. Each interceptor acts as a proxy to a previous interceptor in the interceptor chain.
US07984455B2
An electronic device that includes a native contact book application, at least one Java application for providing one or more functions relating to information included in the native contact book application, and a content handler serving as an interface between operations of the native contact book application and operations of the at least one Java application.
US07984446B1
A method and system for multitasking BIOS initialization tasks are disclosed. The BIOS utilizes preemptive multitasking and cooperative multitasking. The preemptive multitasking and the cooperative multitasking increase utilization of the processing power of a processor and ensure higher priority valued tasks are executed with less interruption than lower priority valued tasks. During execution, each task is able to request a particular waiting period.
US07984438B2
A computing device has a hardware device employed to provide a hardware service to the computing device and a plurality of virtual machines including a host virtual machine (VM-H) to which the hardware device is assigned, and a client virtual machine (VM-C) that can consume the hardware service by way of the VM-H. The VM-C includes an emulating stack and an enlightened stack. The emulating stack interfaces an application requesting the hardware service with a trap in a virtualization layer of the computing device which re-directs the request to the VM-H. The enlightened stack interfaces the application with the VM-H and bypasses the virtualization layer. The emulating stack includes a shunt driver that shunts to the enlightened stack each request from the application directed to the emulating stack.
US07984435B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic device having an update agent capable of updating application software employing reference software and an update package generated based on the reference software. The update agent may be employed by the electronic device to perform the update. When a user of an electronic device installs an application software, reference software may also be installed during the same installation to support subsequent updates to the application software. In a personal computer, application software may be loaded from a CDROM that may also provide reference software. Both application software and reference software may be installed during the same installation onto the PC from the CDROM. Update packages may also be generated based on the reference software and the number of update packages to be generated. Disclosed herein is a method and system where multiple update transitions may be reduced to a single update transition.
US07984430B2
Provided is an apparatus for a parser framework having the characteristics of the application program, using the markup language. But the apparatus for the parser framework, by providing a method of describing data format description and the data format parser framework that can applies the data format description to a development of application programs, has the advantage of reducing the amount of reprogramming involved in a conventional parser development, and maximizing reusability, finally increasing the efficiency of developing the application programs
US07984427B2
System and methods for synchronizing software execution across data processing systems and platforms
Systems and methods for software automation are provided. Software testcases are distributed across multiple data processing systems (equivalently, “machines” or “hosts”) that may collectively include multiple platforms (equivalently, “operating systems”). A testcase may be executed as one or more processes progressing through a sequence of phases, with execution within a phase being asynchronous among processes. Synchronization of the testcase processes across the data processing systems and platforms may be effected by managing an event; the testcase processes block on the event upon completion of the current testcase phase. A testcase phase execution service on each host handles synchronization events. The definition of the testcase may include metadata that identifies the particular phases in sequence, that is phase names, for the testcase; the phase names identifies the phases to the synchronization process that triggers the synchronization events which initiate each succeeding phase of the testcase.
US07984419B2
A system and method for categorizing bundles into two categories in an OSGi framework. The first type of bundle is referred to as a code sharing bundle, while the second type of bundle is referred to as an application bundle. Code sharing bundles are primarily static in nature and act as libraries, while application bundles are dynamic and contain active applications. This arrangement reduces dependencies between bundles, as well as providing a number of additional benefits.
US07984417B2
According to some embodiments, meta-model information associated with an enterprise portal is defined. The meta-model information may then be consumed (e.g., by a design tool) when not in communication with an executing enterprise portal server. According to some embodiments, the meta-model information includes UML class diagram definitions associated with the enterprise portal.
US07984416B2
A class definition syntax that leverages the array and math-oriented nature of a dynamically typed array-based programming language is discussed. The present invention provides a simplified mechanism for the creation of element-wise methods. Additionally, a mechanism for defining derived classes in a dynamically typed array-based programming language using mathematical set notation and semantics is also supported.
US07984405B2
A system that determines the timing of an integrated circuit (IC) design is presented. During operation, the system receives a netlist for the IC design, wherein the netlist specifies the placement of cells within the IC design. Next, the system estimates capacitances for cells within the IC design based on analytic models of the cells. The system then estimates the post-physical-optimization timing of the IC design based on the netlist, the capacitances, and the analytic models, wherein the post-physical-optimization timing is estimated without performing physical optimization.
US07984400B2
Various techniques involving snapshots of the contents of registers are described and claimed. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving descriptions of design circuitry including design registers to receive register input signals. The method also includes generating additional descriptions through at least one computer program including descriptions of additional registers (snapshot registers) to receive snapshots of the register input signals, wherein the additional registers provide register initial condition signals for use in a simulation of at least a portion of the design circuitry. Other embodiments are described.
US07984396B2
The EB data is separated into an area A and other area. The area A is covered by a recognition layer to which an algorism is linked to form a recognition layer A. For arranging a same dummy pattern for respective areas A, a dummy pattern creation starting point is designated in a common position for each recognition layer A. When there are areas A which have different rotation angles, the recognition layer is created to satisfy a condition that, even if any corner of the area A is designated as the dummy pattern creation starting point, the created dummy pattern becomes an identical arrangement. The sizes DP and gaps GAP of the dummy pattern elements composing the dummy pattern are respectively same in X-direction and Y-direction. The size of the recognition layer A is determined by: a multiple of (DP+GAP)+DP, in X and Y-direction respectively.
US07984391B2
Photomask patterns are represented using contours defined by level-set functions. Given target pattern, contours are optimized such that defined photomask, when used in photolithographic process, prints wafer pattern faithful to target pattern. Optimization utilizes “merit function” for encoding aspects of photolithographic process, preferences relating to resulting pattern (e.g. restriction to rectilinear patterns), robustness against process variations, as well as restrictions imposed relating to practical and economic manufacturability of photomasks.
US07984384B2
A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.
US07984373B2
Creating an electronic data interchange (EDI) transaction from a description of the EDI schema. The description defines the EDI schema in a non-EDI structure. The description of the EDI schema is received. A plurality of data units included in the received description of the EDI schema is identified. The plurality of data units describes the content of the EDI schema. The identified plurality of data units is analyzed to determine the content of the EDI schema. The document definition is generated for the EDI schema as a function of the analyzed plurality of data units. The document definition is used to create an EDI transaction according to the EDI schema.
US07984364B2
An apparatus and method for encoding/decoding a non-binary low density parity check (LDPC) code in a communication system. The apparatus and method includes receiving an information vector; generating a non-binary LDPC code by encoding the information vector into a non-binary LDPC code according to a non-binary LDPC encoding scheme.
US07984357B2
A memory controller and methods implement minimized latency and maximized reliability when data traverses multiple buses. The memory controller includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) error correcting code (ECC) checking and correcting circuit and a high speed bus (HSB) ECC checking and correcting circuit. In a first mode for implementing minimized latency, read data is applied directly to the DRAM ECC checking and correcting circuit, bypassing the HSB ECC checking and correcting circuit. In a second mode for implementing maximized reliability, the read data is applied through the HSB ECC checking and correcting circuit to the DRAM ECC checking and correcting circuit.
US07984351B2
A data transfer device transfers data between two clock domains of a data processing device when the data processing device is in a test mode. The data transfer device receives clock signals associated with each clock domain. To transfer data from a first clock domain to a second clock domain the data transfer device identifies transitions of clock signals associated with each clock domain that are sufficiently remote from each other so that data can deterministically be provided by one clock domain and sampled by the other. This ensures that data can be transferred between the clock domains deterministically even when the phase relationship between the clock signals is indeterminate.
US07984344B1
An integrated circuit includes a memory circuit, a read address register coupled to a read address port of the memory circuit, a write address register coupled to a write address port of the memory circuit, and a multiplexer configurable to transmit a read address bit from the write address register to the read address register in response to a read control signal. The read address register loads the read address bit into the memory circuit through the read address port during a test of the memory circuit. The integrated circuit may include a multiplexer configurable to transmit a write address bit from the read address register to the write address register in response to a write control signal. The write address register loads the write address bit into the memory circuit through the write address port during the test of the memory circuit.
US07984332B2
A distributed system checker may check a distributed system against events to detect bugs in the distributed system. The events may include machines crashes, network partitions, and packet losses, for example. The distributed system checker may check a distributed system that can have multiple threads and multiple processes running on multiple nodes. To obtain control over a distributed system, a distributed system checker may insert an interposition layer between a process and the operating system on each node.
US07984331B2
Testing of an electrical device is achieved by providing a test access mechanism within the device that can receive scan frames from an external tester. The received scan frames contain stimulus data to be applied to circuitry within the device to be tested, a command for enabling a test control operation, and a frame marker bit to indicate the end of the scan frame pattern. The inputting of scan frames can occur continuously and simultaneous with a commanded test control operation.
US07984327B2
A data processing method includes receiving data objects for storage by a primary storage device. A first instance of each of at least some of the received data objects is cached in a disaster-proof storage unit. A second instance of each received data object is sent for storage in a secondary storage device.A list of identifiers of the data objects that are cached in the disaster-proof storage unit at a given point in time is sent from the disaster-proof storage unit to the secondary storage device. Following an event that renders at least some of the data objects on the primary storage device inaccessible, a request sent to the secondary storage device to access a given data object is received. A selection is made, responsively to the list, to serve the cached first instance or the stored second instance of the given data object in response to the request.
US07984326B2
Memory downsizing in a computer memory subsystem, the subsystem including one or more channels of computer memory with each channel including several Dual In-line Memory Modules (‘DIMMs’) and each DIMM capable of on-die termination (‘ODT’). Memory downsizing according to embodiments of the present invention includes identifying, during a memory initialization test in a Power On Self Test (‘POST’) by a firmware module, a defective DIMM of a particular channel in the computer memory subsystem and disabling, by the firmware module, the defective DIMM, including enabling ODT for the defective DIMM without disabling any non-defective DIMMs.
US07984323B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing a backup configuration image to a programmable hardware device. A receiving module receives a configuration file for the programmable hardware device. The configuration file comprises a synchronization key and a configuration image. An image write module writes the configuration image to a first section of a memory device. The memory device comprises the first section and a second section that stores a synchronization key and a backup configuration image. A key write module writes at least a portion of the synchronization key to the first section of the memory device in response to the image write module completing the write of the configuration image to the first section of the memory device. During a loading cycle, the programmable hardware device searches the memory device for a valid synchronization key, and loads the configuration image that corresponds to the valid synchronization key.
US07984322B1
A method, system and program product for group policy backup management in a network having a plurality of domains including components and modules for steps of retrieving a list of group policy objects for a domain, generating a configuration initialization file including a domains section identifying a plurality of domains that are to be backed up and a setup section specifying a plurality of values that control the backup of each policy object in each domain, determining a digital signature for each policy object on a list of policies for the domain, comparing the digital signature for each policy object with a corresponding previous digital signature for each policy, determining if a current digital signature for each policy object matches the corresponding previous digital signature for a policy, and backing up a policy object having a current digital signature that does not match the corresponding previous digital signature.
US07984321B2
A data transfer control device includes an OUT-transfer transmitter circuit which transmits OUT data by driving a serial signal line, a clock-transfer transmitter circuit which transmits a clock signal CLK by driving a serial signal line, a PLL circuit which generates the clock signal CLK, and a power-down setting circuit which sets a power-down mode. In a first power-down mode, the OUT-transfer transmitter circuit is set to the power-down mode, and the clock-transfer transmitter circuit is set to the power-down mode to stop a system clock signal of a target-side data transfer control device. In a second power-down mode, the OUT-transfer transmitter circuit is set to the power-down mode without setting the clock-transfer transmitter circuit to the power-down mode.
US07984311B2
A demand based power re-allocation system includes one or more subsystems to assign a power allocation level to a plurality of servers, wherein the power allocation level is assigned by priority of the server. The system may throttle power for one or more of the plurality of servers approaching the power allocation level, wherein throttling includes limiting performance of a processor, and track server power throttling for the plurality of servers. The method compares power throttling for a first server with power throttling for remaining servers in the plurality of servers and adjusts throttling of the plurality of servers, wherein throttled servers receive excess power from unthrottled servers.
US07984309B2
A power supply system includes: a first device that commands an external device to perform processing, and is configured to supply electric power to the external device; a second device that is connected to the first device through a communications line, and that performs the processing in accordance with the command received from the first device; and a request unit that requests the first device to supply to the second device an amount of electric power needed for the second device performing the processing commanded by the first device, the first device determining whether or not to supply electric power to the second device, in accordance with at least one of; (i) content of the command sent to the second device, and (ii) the amount of electric power requested by the request unit and an amount of electric power which the first device is capable of supplying.
US07984308B2
A method for shutdown of an electrical apparatus supplied by a plurality of electric power sources equipped with a management module, comprising: (a) identification of each source, (b) reading of data from the management module, (c) determination of the global autonomy of the plurality of sources with respect to said apparatus, and (d) shutdown of the apparatus when at least one shutdown criterion of the apparatus has been achieved. A shutdown device comprising communication means communicating with the management modules and comprising implementation of the previously described shutdown method.An electrical apparatus comprising control means for shutdown of said apparatus and the previously described shutdown device coupled with said control means.A system comprising a plurality of electric power sources and at least the previously described electrical apparatus.
US07984297B2
A system may account for the number of bounced e-mails by adding a number of records over the desired quantity to ensure that a minimum number of e-mails are not returned. To calculate an accurate number of extra records to identify, a system may need to track the percentage of messages returned and add a number of records equal to that percentage over the minimum number required by the particular campaign. However, unless the system accurately identifies a bounced e-mail as one originating from the system, spam or other unsolicited e-mail sent to the system may result in inaccuracies.
US07984295B2
A method and an apparatus for transmitting a message to a plurality of wireless devices that are classified into units of groups are provided. The method includes operations of: (a) determining whether the message is a predetermined message for detecting a device in a network; (b) encrypting the message with one of a plurality of keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of groups according to a determination result obtained in operation (a), each group comprising one or more devices in the network; and (c) transmitting the encrypted message. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a guest wireless device that is unknown to a user from detecting a home wireless device of the user and controlling the detected home wireless device without authorization from the user.
US07984294B1
A method and apparatus determine a trust level of a path through a plurality of routers by an endpoint by transmitting a path setup message requesting a path reservation for a first path through a subset of the routers, by receiving in response to transmission of the path setup message a trust level message containing trust level information inserted by each router in the first path through the subset, and by evaluating the inserted trust level information to determine if the first path has a sufficient trust level. Another method and apparatus gather trust level information from a router by receiving a trust level message into which a trust level of the router can be inserted, by inserting trust level information of the router into the trust level message, and by re-transmitting the trust level message on a designated path.
US07984287B2
A method and system for configuring available resources in real-time to automatically accommodate the needs of the system user in multi-modal distributed computing system is disclosed. Information about the location or environment of a wireless device is used, preferably in combination with user personal preferences and past history to modify the behavior of the wireless device, including the selection of the most appropriate mode of interaction with the device and the activation of applications thereon as appropriate.
US07984282B2
A system and method to evade the power on self test during an operating system initiated reboot is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for optimizing reboot process of a computer includes determining a status of a power on self test (POST) performed during a prior booting of the computer when an operating system (OS) initiated rebooting of the computer is triggered, loading information obtained during the POST of the prior booting of the computer into a basic input output system (BIOS) of the computer if the status of the POST performed during the prior booting of the computer indicates a success of the POST, and performing the rebooting of the computer using the information, wherein a subsequent POST associated with the rebooting of the computer is skipped during the rebooting of the computer.
US07984281B2
A multi-threaded processor is disclosed that includes a sequencer adapted to provide instructions associated with one or more threads of a multi-threaded processor. The sequencer includes an interrupt controller adapted to receive one or more interrupts and to selectively allow a first thread of the one or more threads to service at least one interrupt. The interrupt controller includes logic to preclude a second thread of the one or more threads from responding to the at least one interrupt.
US07984279B2
A method of processing branch history information is disclosed. The method retrieves branch instructions from an instruction cache and executes the branch instructions in a plurality of pipeline stages. The method verifies that a branch instruction has been identified. The method further receives branch history information during a first pipeline stage and loads the branch history information into a first register. The method further loads the branch history information into the second register during the second pipeline stage.
US07984276B2
An embodiment of the invention is a processor for detecting one or more groups of instructions and initiating a processor action upon detecting one or more groups of instructions. The processor includes an instruction unit for fetching and decoding a group of instructions. An instruction register receives the group of instruction having at least one instruction opcode. A control register includes a control word including a control opcode and an action field defining a processor action. An execution unit includes compare logic for comparing the instruction opcode and the control opcode. The execution unit initiates the processor action upon the compare logic detecting a hit between the instruction opcode and the control opcode.
US07984271B2
A processor device having a reservation station (RS) is concerned. In case the processor device has plural RS, the RS is associated with an arithmetic pipeline, and two RS make a pair. When one RS of the pair cannot dispatch an instruction to an associated arithmetic pipeline, the other RS dispatches the instruction to that arithmetic pipeline, or delivers its held instruction to the one RS. In case one RS is equipped, plural entries in the RS are divided into groups, and by dynamically changing this grouping according to the dispatch frequency of the instruction to the arithmetic pipelines or the held state of the instructions, the arithmetic pipelines are efficiently utilized. Incidentally, depending on the grouping of the plural entries in the RS, a configuration as if the plural RS were allocated to each arithmetic pipeline may be realized.
US07984267B2
Executing a service program for an accelerator application program in a hybrid computing environment that includes a host computer and an accelerator, the host computer and the accelerator adapted to one another for data communications by a system level message passing module; where the service program includes a host portion and an accelerator portion and executing a service program for an accelerator includes receiving, from the host portion, operating information for the accelerator portion; starting the accelerator portion on the accelerator; providing, to the accelerator portion, operating information for the accelerator application program; establishing direct data communications between the host portion and the accelerator portion; and, responsive to an instruction communicated directly from the host portion, executing the accelerator application program.
US07984265B2
A computer processor and a method of using the computer processor take advantage of information in the event address register of the computer processor by saving information from the event address register to an event address register history buffer. Thus, the event address register history buffer includes a cluster of events associated with execution of a computer program. The cluster of events is analyzed and the computer program modified, either statically or dynamically, to eliminate or at least ameliorate the effects of such events in further execution of the computer program.
US07984260B2
A plurality of global LDEV managed by a plurality of controller modules are provided above local LDEV under the control of each controller module. Each global LDEV is correlated to any of the plurality of local LDEV. The controller modules judge whether or not a local LDEV correlated to a global LDEV specified by an I/O request received from a host device or a first other controller module is a management target itself, and if the result of that judgment is affirmative, the controller modules access the local LDEV correlated to the specified global LDEV, while if the result of the judgment is negative, the controller modules transfer the received I/O request to a second other controller module.
US07984241B2
A plurality of bits are added to virtual and physical memory addresses to specify the level at which data is stored in a multi-level cache hierarchy. When data is to be written to cache, each cache level determines whether it is permitted to store the data. Storing data at the appropriate cache level addresses the problem of cache thrashing.
US07984240B2
A method, apparatus and program product enable memory compression for a system including processor with directly attached memory. A memory expander microchip facilitates memory compression while attached to a processor. The memory expander microchip may provide additional bandwidth and memory capacity for the system to enable memory compression in a manner that does not burden the attached processor or associated operating system. The processor may store uncompressed data in its lower latency, directly attached memory, while the memory attached to the memory expander may store either or both compressed and uncompressed data.
US07984239B2
A control program download device is disclosed that is to be connected to a host computer and to one or more external devices having predetermined functions so as to download a control program for controlling the external device from the host computer to a rewritable internal memory circuit. The control program download device comprises an external setting unit in which external information indicating the connection to the external device is preset, an external memory unit into which the external information is loaded from the external setting unit in response to a control signal input to the external memory unit, and a download control unit that controls download of the control program to the internal memory circuit.
US07984235B2
A method may include counting the number of times each of a plurality of entries in a content addressable memory (CAM) matches one or more searches; grouping entries in the CAM into a first subset and a second subset based on the number of times each of the plurality of entries in the CAM matches one or more searches; and searching the first subset for a matching entry and, if no matching entry is found, searching the second subset for the matching entry.
US07984232B2
A memory system includes a NAND flash memory including a memory block containing a plurality of pages, and a controller which controls write of data to the flash memory, and includes a scrambling circuit which converts the data into a pseudo random number, wherein the scrambling circuit includes an initial value generator which generates an initial value for every segment, an initial value shifter which shifts the initial value by N bits for every page address, a pseudo random number generator which generates a pseudo random number sequence by an M-sequence by using the initial value shifted N bits, and a random number adder which adds the pseudo random number sequence to the data.
US07984230B2
There is provided a logical volume management method for storage system. When a logical volume is created on a flash memory drive, a management computer allocates logical volume while flash memory chip border of flash memory drive is taken into account. Specifically, a table for managing a correlation between each parity group and the flash memory chip of the flash memory drive is obtained and the logical volume is allocated in such a manner that a flash memory chip is not shared by a plurality of logical volumes. When complete erasing of logical volume data is performed, the management computer specifies a flash memory chip on which complete data erasing is to be performed, and the storage system completely erases data exclusively on the chip of interest with a use of a function of completely erasing data at a time by chip unit of the flash memory chip (chip erasing).
US07984225B2
ASCII gateway to in-vehicle system provides bi-directional translation between multiplexed motor vehicle networks and industrial control and monitoring devices. Integrated hardware and software components provide data communications between motor vehicle electronic control module networks and RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, for industrial control and/or industrial automation application in manufacturing or assembly operations. Communications networks (CAN, SAE or ISO protocols) implemented inside motor vehicles pass data between electronic control modules that control operation of important vehicle components like engine, transmission and brake systems, have their messages converted to RS-232 serial ASCII-text; and from RS-232 serial ASCII-text converted to motor vehicle communications network by the system. Messages to monitor and/or control vehicle networks are generated by a serial ASCII-test capable device. Multiple vehicle protocols are supported by the system. The system translates between RS-232 serial ASCII-text message generated or received by a device and the vehicle network.
US07984222B2
Systems for providing performance monitoring in a memory system. The memory system includes a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a memory bus and a memory hub device. The memory controller receives and responds to memory access requests. The memory bus is in communication with the memory controller. The memory hub device is in communication with the memory bus. The memory hub device includes a memory interface for transferring one or more of address, control and data information between the memory hub device and the memory controller via the memory bus. The memory hub device also includes a memory device interface for communicating with the memory devices. The memory hub device further includes a performance monitor for monitoring and reporting one or more of memory bus utilization, memory device utilization, and performance characteristics over defined intervals during system operation.
US07984219B2
Generally, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a system having a north bridge and two or more Front Side Buses (FSBs) coupled to the north bridge is provided. The first front side bus has at least a first central processing unit coupled thereto. The second front side bus has at least a second central processing unit coupled thereto.
US07984217B2
In a serial bus system data in the form of telegrams, representing process images of control tasks of the active station, are transmitted to the connected passive stations, and the process data are allocated to the process images in the passive station.
US07984211B2
A forced lock-step operation between a CPU (software) and the hardware is eliminated by unburdening the CPU from monitoring the hardware until it is finished with its task. This is done by providing a data/control message queue into which the CPU writes combined data/control messages and places an End tag into the queue when finished. The hardware checks the content of the message queue and starts decoding the incoming data. The hardware processes the data read from the message queue and the processed data is then written back into the message queue for use by the software. The hardware raises an interrupt signal to the CPU when reaching the End tag. Speed differences between hardware and software can be compensated for by changing the depth of the queue.
US07984203B2
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a remapping circuit to facilitate access of one or more I/O devices to a memory device for direct memory access (DMA) transactions. The remapping circuit of the apparatus includes a translation mechanism to perform memory address translations for I/O DMA transactions via address window-based translations.
US07984200B1
A method is disclosed for configuring a data storage device. The data storage device receives a configuration code, and in response to the configuration code selects a configuration data record set from a plurality of configuration data record sets. The data storage device is configured in response to the selected configuration data record set. For example, the data storage device may be configured into a manufacturing test procedure mode, and then into a customer specific operating mode. In another embodiment, a hardware configuration of the data storage device is identified, and the configuration code selected based on the identified hardware configuration.
US07984193B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for conserving power. The method includes determining a first network connection speed for a network interface card (NIC), configuring the NIC to operate at the first network connection speed, processing, after the configuration, packets received by the NIC, obtaining a bandwidth utilization of the NIC, determining, using a power management policy, a second network connection speed for the NIC based on the bandwidth utilization when the bandwidth utilization is outside a threshold range, and configuring the NIC to operate at the second network connection speed.
US07984192B2
The invention relates to systems and methods for assigning a unique network identifier to one or more programs invoked on a computer. The computer obtains a plurality of network identifiers and associates a first network identifier to a first program invoked on the computer and associates a second network identifier, different from the first network identifier, to a second program invoked on the computer. The program may be a user session hosted by the computer, an application or an application isolation environment. The computer through a network communication interface transmits the first network identifier with the network communication of the first program and transmits the second network identifier with network communication of the second program.
US07984190B2
A content management system for providing comprehensive content management for one or more vehicle information systems and methods for manufacturing and using same. The content management system includes a content control system for providing content storage and controlling the overall functionality of the content management system. Being configured to communicate with a selected vehicle information system in a wired and/or wireless manner, the content management system can upload content to update the vehicle information system for access during subsequent travel. The content management system likewise can download content, such as performance data compiled during prior travel, from the vehicle information system. The content management system thereby can provide ensured comprehensive content management under the control of the content control system.
US07984178B2
An apparatus has a content node to logically select a first A/V stream from an application layer of a first network and a collaboration node to logically select a second A/V stream from an application layer of a second network. A set of non-network media link interfaces are configured to transmit the second A/V stream from the collaboration node to the content node, and to transmit the first A/V stream from content node to the collaboration node. The non-network media link interfaces provide for limited information encoding to prevent network protocol information from being transferred between the first and second networks.
US07984175B2
Content leaving a local network can be captured and indexed so that queries can be performed on the captured data. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus that connects to a network. In one embodiment, this apparatus includes a network interface module to connect the apparatus to a network, a packet capture module to intercept packets being transmitted on the network, an object assembly module to reconstruct objects being transmitted on the network from the intercepted packets, an object classification module to determine the content in the reconstructed objects, and an object store module to store the objects. This apparatus can also have a user interface to enable a user to search objects stored in the object store module.
US07984172B2
An open network system transacts communication over on open network. The system includes an input device associated with a non-standard I/O device for obtaining communication transaction data and a client program for generating a communication transaction message in an extended open network protocol with the communication transaction data.
US07984169B2
The subject disclosure pertains to anonymous network interaction. More specifically, mechanisms are provided to ensure anonymity with respect network interaction such that third parties are unable to determine the source and/or intent of communications. Accordingly, entities can anonymize all outgoing and/or incoming data packets so as to mitigate outside entities from learning about information being sought and/or provided. For example, a user or corporation can employ an anonymizer with respect to web searching so that outside entities are not able to determine what information is attempted to be accessed and by whom.
US07984161B2
Embodiments are provided for synchronizing data retrieval with multiple data sources on a mobile computing device while maintaining a predetermined quality of service and optimizing resource usage. A connection is established between the mobile computing device and the multiple data sources for a first synchronization interval. A synchronization request is sent over the connection during the first interval. A response to the request including data is received from a data source during the first interval to synchronize the data. After the data is received, the connection to the data source is severed. The connection between the mobile computing device and the data source is then re-established for a second synchronization interval based on quality of service parameters associated with the data source and a pending connection status associated with one or more additional data sources. Another synchronization request is then sent by the mobile computing device over the re-established connection.
US07984160B2
A method and apparatus are provided for establishing a split-terminated client-server communication connection through a stateful firewall, with network transparency. In an environment in which a pair of network intermediaries is employed to optimize client-server communications, a first intermediary intercepts a client request for a new connection. The first intermediary probes the network for a counterpart near the server, and opens an optimized communication session with a second intermediary that responds affirmatively. Some or all client-server communications that transit the intermediaries' session are accelerated or otherwise optimized. The first intermediary's probe uses the client's source address, but a different port number, while the optimized intermediary session is opened using the client's source address and source port. Therefore, a network monitoring tool can monitor the end-to-end connection, and the stateful firewall will not reject the optimized session.
US07984158B2
Architecture for providing communications resources of a network for client intercommunications. A client that desires to communicate makes a request to an arbitrary communications server node by the announcing of identifying information. The web service “parks” the request until the identifying information is ready. A second client can ultimately interact with the first client by sending identifying information and following the same lookup path to find the location at which the first client request is “parked”. A continuous hash is employed that enables a client to negotiate services of a resource and via which resource multiple clients can rendezvous for communications. The continuous hash minimizes the disruption to clients already accessing network resources. A resource is brought online or taken offline without dramatically impacting ongoing use of currently operational resources. In the event a hosting resource fails, the clients repeat the lookup process and re-converge on a new server.
US07984154B2
Application program network service requests are translated into specific actions that are then performed through the management plane and/or control plane. The translations and resulting actions are responsive to previously defined policies for the communication network, and may further reflect processing of previous service requests by the same or another application program. The amount of resources available for use by a given application program may be predefined based on a globally defined network policy. Each service request obtained from an application program may be translated into multiple actions performed using various specific protocols and/or interfaces provided by either the management plane, the control plane, or both the management and control planes. Reports of network activity, status and/or faults for a requesting application program may be tailored to the requesting program's view of the network, and passed directly and exclusively to the requesting program.
US07984152B2
Quality of Service (QoS) and/or bandwidth allocation is managed in a Regional/Access Network (RAN) that provides end-to-end transport between a Network Service Provider (NSP) and/or an Application Service Provider (ASP), and a Customer Premises Network (CPN) that includes a Routing Gateway (RG). A first subsystem is configured to manage QoS and/or bandwidth allocation for an access session in the CPN. A second subsystem is configured to manage QoS and/or bandwidth allocation for an application flow in the CPN. Thus, the RAN can independently manage QoS, session authentication and/or bandwidth allocation for an access session and for an application flow.
US07984149B1
A method is disclosed of identifying a policy server in relation to a session invoked by an invoking node on a network via a network access node. The method comprises the steps, performed at an application server, of receiving a session request and extracting a session identifier from the session request. The method further comprises the step of obtaining a policy server address from said session identifier.
US07984146B2
A Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) utilizes a common architecture which permits OEM and rotorcraft operators to view and trend HUMS data for an entire aircraft fleet independent of aircraft model, HUMS vendor, or raw data format. The system operates through a web portal that provides users with comparative information on HUMS parameters relative to fleet statistics. The user may view HUMS data for the entire fleet or drill down to a particular HUMS acquisition on a specific flight. The web based format also facilities display and communication of warnings in a timely manner.
US07984142B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for monitoring the performance of a system. The mechanism of the present invention provides an interface in the form of a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate multiple layers of system performance data to an operator. An operator monitors this display of information and uses it to determine how to adjust the system to optimize system performance. This mechanism of the present invention provides immediate feedback to an operator by displaying a trail of metric points, wherein the metric points indicate the status of system performance over a period of time. In this manner, the display mechanism of the present invention immediately conveys to an operator whether the system is operating within predefined margins, the results of performance adjustments made to the system, as well as predictions or trends for the system.
US07984140B2
In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) receiving flow records from a plurality of network devices on asymmetric paths; (ii) reconstructing a network transaction from the received flow records; and (iii) deriving response times using the reconstructed network transaction.
US07984139B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions for facilitating automatic server optimization in a system. The executable instructions include instructions to accept a set of initialization parameters, analyze a set of one or more configuration sources, determine a set of configuration settings, receive a series of load levels, and select a load level. The set of configuration settings are tested against the load level. An optimal configuration setting for the load level is identified. The optimal configuration setting is recorded.
US07984135B2
A gateway apparatus includes a translator connected to a first network for one or more controllers to control one or more devices, and one or more aggregators. The translator includes an acquisition unit which acquires load information concerning a load on each of the controllers, a control instruction reception unit which receives a control instruction for a device from a client via the second network, a determination unit which determines whether the instruction is an aggregation target, based on the information, a first transfer unit which transfers the instruction to the aggregator corresponding to the instruction, and a second transfer unit which receives an aggregate control instruction from the aggregator. The aggregator includes a third transfer unit which receives the instruction from the translator, an aggregation unit which aggregates the plurality of instructions into one aggregate control instruction, and a fourth transfer unit which transfers the aggregate control instruction.
US07984125B2
An improved technique involves providing a set of reserved address assignments to a DHCP server, each reserved address assignment including a unique MAC address and a reserved IP address which are associated with each other via that reserved address assignment. The technique further involves providing a base virtual machine image and a set of unique MAC addresses, and generating multiple virtual machines from the base virtual machine image and the set of unique MAC addresses. Each virtual machine (i) provides a particular unique MAC address of the set of unique MAC addresses to the DHCP server and obtains a particular reserved IP address from the DHCP server via an exchange of DHCP messages between that virtual machine and the DHCP server, and (ii) operates as a networked standalone computer using the particular unique MAC address and the particular reserved IP address.
US07984121B2
The present invention provides an apparatus, system and method for use in remotely diagnosing electronic devices and/or providing content. The method for use in remotely diagnosing includes the initiating a diagnostic analysis of an electronic device, identifying the electronic device, receiving scripts communicated over a distributed network for diagnosing, remotely initiating diagnostic instructions with the scripts and receiving a response based on the instruction. The method can further determine further diagnostic instructions based on responses, and remotely initiate further instructions with the scripts. Additionally, a system for use in remotely diagnosing electronic devices includes a script generator coupled with a distributed network, and a remote diagnostic controller coupled with the distributed network and with an electronic device. The script generator compiles scripts and forwards them over the distributed network. The diagnostic controller implements the scripts to forward instructions to and to receive replies from the electronic device.
US07984116B2
A multi-source peer content distribution system transfers content files from multiple, distributed peer computers to any requesting computer. The content distribution network coordinates file transfers through a mediation system including s content catalog and a host broker system. The content catalog contains an identification of each content file, the segmented subunits of each file, and the peer caches to which the subunits have been distributed. The host broker system receives content file requests issued over a network from requesting computers. In response, manifest files identifying the request corresponding content subunits and distributed cache locations are returned. The requesting computers can then retrieve and assemble the corresponding content subunits from the peer computers to obtain the requested content file.
US07984115B2
An extensible client-server application platform. Execution of functions may require interactions between client-side and server-side components. Extensions may be provided as pairs of modules, one for the client and one for the server, that interact when performing an extension function. To ensure that the client-side and server-side interact appropriately, extensions modules may be initially supplied to the server and downloaded as appropriate, to the client. An enterprise business intelligence application is used as an example of the extensible client-server application platform. To enable use of third party extension modules, the server-side components may execute on a virtualized server.
US07984113B2
A method and system for passing messages to a Web browser. According to one embodiment, a controller receives one or more messages to be delivered to a Web browser session, provides notification to the Web browser session of the receipt of the one or more messages, receives a request by the Web browser session for the one or more messages in response to the notification, the request received via a connection opened by the Web browser session, and delivers the one or more messages to the Web browser session via the connection in response to the request.
US07984109B2
A method of providing access to data files within a wireless device is provided and includes detecting a selection of a first user interface component. The first user interface component can be linked to a private portion of the wireless device. Further, the method includes detecting a selection of a second user interface component. The second user interface component can be linked to a public portion of the wireless device. The wireless device includes a keypad and the first user interface component or the second user interface component can be selected using a press and hold keypress sequence on the keypad. When the first user interface component is selected, access is provided to the private portion of the wireless device. Conversely, when the second user interface component is selected, access is provided to the public portion of the wireless device.
US07984105B2
A method, devices and system having out of office based presence are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of sharing presence information, comprising: receiving input to enable an out of office utility for a first email account; notifying a messaging server managing the first email account that the out of office utility has been enabled; and providing to one or more recipients a presence status data packet indicating a presence status of “out of office” for a user associated with the first email account in response the enabling of the out of office utility.
US07984103B2
A computer data handling method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A data item or information object are received in one protocol. Based on data contents, a protocol transfer module (engine) optimizes information presentation by transferring/converting the data item from the one protocol to a form of the data item in a different protocol. The resulting form (i.e. the data item/information object in the different protocol) optimally presents the data contents to an end-user. The end user reads the converted data item in the different protocol. The invention system enables the user to reply or otherwise further handle the data item in the initial protocol as desired. The initial protocol may be email and the resulting form of the data item may be one or more feed entries in machine-readable feeds specified by the user. The invention optimization effectively reduces email In-box clutter and streamlines reading in feed readers.
US07984100B1
An electronic communication such as an email may have multiple file wrappers of metadata added to it by a sender. Each time the email passes to a mail server during its transmission from the sender to a recipient, one of the file wrappers may be stripped off by the mail server and sent to the sender. The information sent back to the sender with the file wrapper may comprise the server name and Internet protocol (IP) address of the computing device the mail server received the email from and the name of the mail server itself, along with a timestamp. In this manner, the sender may be apprised of the location of the email at all times during its transmission, and may be apprised of the route it took during its transmission.
US07984094B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for using distributed queues in an overlay network. Embodiments of the invention can be used to replicate queue state (e.g., inserted and/or deleted messages) within an overlay network and can be used to continue a process at a different node within the overlay network based on replicated queue state. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the availability of queue state, compensate for node failures within an overlay network, and promote replication of consistent queue state between nodes within an overlay network.
US07984085B1
A storage system, such as a file server, creates persistent consistency point images (PCPI) or “snapshots” that are point-in-time representations of the storage system. The storage system uses persistent consistency point images to backup or mirror data. Using data already found in the data block maps associated with these PCPI, the rate of change of data between persistent consistency point images can be determined.
US07984081B1
A system and method for dynamically retrieving, manipulating, updating, creating, and displaying data from sources of Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents. The program memory comprises system-user entered data definitions and business rules. The system imports XML document data into the system data definitions, processes the data using the business rules definitions and exports XML documents. The system can automatically create XML document formats from its data definitions and can automatically create its data definitions from XML document formats. The system-user can also define the mapping between XML document formats and the system data definitions. The system data definition is the combination of a Relational data model, an Object data model, and an XML data model.
US07984072B2
A three-dimensional data structure for storing data is defined and maintained. The three-dimensional data structure includes at least one column of data having a depth greater than zero indicating that multiple data values are provided for multiple domains represented by the structure. The data structure also includes zero or more columns of data having a depth of zero indicating that the data value of a zero depth column is invariable for a plurality of domains represented by the structure. The structure is maintained by employing various operations including, create, write and read operations.
US07984069B2
The invention comprises systems, methods and a computerized data management device for creating and using data relating to a medical or non-medical product or device to enhance the safety of the product or device. A vast amount of data regarding adverse events associated with a particular product or device is analyzed to identify new essential adverse events associated with the product or device. At least one database of new essential adverse event information is created and utilized, and new characteristics of or uses for the product or device related to the new essential adverse event information are determined. Adverse event information is gathered for a large number of population sub-groups. The system may also be programmed to incorporate the information into intellectual property and contract documents. Manufacturers and/or distributors can include the proprietary information in consumer safety information, which accompanies the product or device, or which is provided to patients, users, consumers and the like, or in the case of certain medical products or devices, to prescribers of those products or devices. The system and methods also provide for commercializing the essential adverse event information.
US07984063B2
A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data is provided, referred to as the data management system. The data management system receives a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed. Then, the data management system queries a metabase to locate data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein the data copies are created from similar source data, and wherein for each data copy the metabase contains an indication of the availability of the copy relative to other copies. Next, the data management system determines one of the located data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based on the indicated availability contained in the metabase for each of the located data copies. Then, the data management system accesses the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the located data copies.
US07984055B2
Presenting of real-world situational data on a dynamically updateable user interface is provided for by providing a dynamically updateable user interface that includes dynamic objects having variable characteristics and that correspond to real-world objects, receiving situational data that corresponds to a status of the one or more real-world objects, and conforming the one or more variable characteristics to be consistent with the situational data such that an observer of the one or more dynamic objects is informed of a current status of a corresponding real-world situation.
US07984054B2
Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions.
US07984049B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing ranking services. In one aspect, first signals are received from a first subscriber, and second signals are received from a second subscriber. The signals include information characterizing individual user actions relating to individual ones of first or second resources, respectively, values for one or more predefined parameters, and values for one or more first subscriber-specific parameters that are specific to the first or second subscriber, respectively. First ranking data is generated from the first signals, but not from values for any subscriber-specific parameter that is not a subscriber-specific parameter for the first subscriber. Second ranking data is generated from the second signals, but not from values for any subscriber-specific parameter that is not a subscriber-specific parameter for the second subscriber.
US07984042B2
A system and method for enabling a second database instance to more quickly process a request to execute a database statement that has previously been executed by a first database instance is described. In one embodiment, the method involves sending the database statement from the first database instance to the second database instance, and generating by the second database instance one or more structures needed to prepare the statement for execution, such as a parse tree and an execution plan for the statement. If at some point in the future, the second database instance receives a request to execute the same statement, the above structures can be used for execution, thereby eliminating the need for one or more potentially time-consuming operations, such as generation of a parse tree or execution plan for the statement.
US07984032B2
Tools and techniques are described that relate to iterators for applying term occurrence-level constraints in natural language searching. These tools may receive a natural language input query, and define term occurrence-level constraints applicable to the input query. The methods may also identify facts requested in the input query, and may instantiate an iterator to traverse a fact index to identify candidate facts responsive to the input query. This iterator may traverse through at least a portion of the fact index. The methods may receive candidate facts from this iterator, with these candidate facts including terms, referred to as term-level occurrences. The methods may apply the term occurrence-level constraints to the term-level occurrences. The methods may select the candidate fact for inclusion in search results for the input query, based at least in part on applying the term occurrence-level constraint.
US07984029B2
In a single-signature duplicate document system, a secondary set of attributes is used in addition to a primary set of attributes so as to improve the precision of the system. When the projection of a document onto the primary set of attributes is below a threshold, then a secondary set of attributes is used to supplement the primary lexicon so that the projection is above the threshold.
US07984026B2
The present invention relates to a storage system including a de-duplicate function and a full-text search function or the like, and reduces an amount of index information about full-test search to save storage resource. In this system, a storage apparatus includes a processing unit for de-duplicating a plurality of files having the same content regarding a file group of data inputted/outputted through a host apparatus. A full-text search processing server performs a full-text search processing to the file group and includes a processing unit for causing the full-text search processing to correspond to de-duplicate. An index information creation processing performed to a plurality of target files having the same content by the full-text search processing unit is inhibited according to a status of de-duplicate to the file group by the processing unit. Thereby, the amount of index information can be reduced.
US07984015B2
A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.
US07984012B2
Approaches to embedding source graphs into targets graphs in a computing system are disclosed. Such may be advantageously facilitate computation with computing systems that employ one or more analog processors, for example one or more quantum processors.
US07983991B2
A method for a secure delivery of physical goods, involving associating a good unique identifier (GUID) to a package comprising the physical goods requested by a client, obtaining proof of identity parameters from a client associated with the transaction involving the physical goods before the delivery of the physical goods, where the proof of identity parameters are provided to the client by a trusted authority, computing a function using the proof of identity parameters, the GUID, and a certification key, wherein the certification key is computed by the trusted authority, delivering the physical goods to the client, when the result of the function is positive, certifying the delivery when delivery data obtained during the delivery of the physical goods match the proof of identity parameters, the GUID, and the certification key known to the trusted authority.
US07983989B2
A method and apparatus for protecting digital content in a digital rights management (DRM) system are provided. The method includes: determining a usage rule for content included in a first content file based on usage constraint information included in the first content file; and generating a second content file complying with this usage rule. According to the method and apparatus, the security requirement of content creators and content providers can be satisfied and at the same time the requirement of content consumers for freer usage can be satisfied.
US07983981B1
A collective investment vehicle that provides cash distributions. The distributions provide a cash flow to holders of the collective investment vehicle securities, and also allow the value of the collective investment vehicle securities to be reset to a target level. The distributions may be scheduled to occur periodically, or may be based on the occurrence of specific events including company events, economic events, political events, etc. In some embodiments, the funds required for cash distributions are obtained without incurring any capital gains, and the distributions may be treated as a return of capital.
US07983979B2
A method and system for authenticating the identity of a consumer is disclosed. After the consumer is authenticated by a trusted third party, the consumer designates accounts that the consumer wishes to “lock.” When a party requests access to that account, the consumer is notified through the consumer's phone and asked to input a PIN. If the consumer provides the PIN, the requestor is granted access to the consumer's account without requiring further input from the consumer. If the party authorizing the transaction in this “two-factor” authentication does not possess both the phone and the consumer's PIN, or that party elects not to provide the PIN, the request will not be authenticated.
US07983976B2
Key features of these methods, apparatus, and designs include (but are not limited to) innovations and implementations of futures securities; the notion of Type I, Type II, and Type III futures contracts custom tailored to specific clienteles; the notion of tickets and coupons as tradable futures contracts; the notion of bifurcation; the notion of redeemable bundles; and notion of realization of the futures market on the Internet; the apparatus of an Internet-based trading interface and engine; the notion of cookie-cutter futures electronic Internet-based futures markets for each security; the feature of maximal reliance on the Internet; and the business concept of “profitability without the need for high trading volume.”
US07983974B2
A method for valuing portfolio assets using a snapshot approach system is provided. The method includes segmenting portfolio assets into a predetermined number of segments based on financial attributes of each asset, selecting a representative sample of assets from each segment, valuing each asset in the representative asset sample, and calculating a value of the portfolio assets for bidding purposes based on the value of each asset in the representative asset sample.
US07983967B2
Systems and methods related to performing a currency exchange are presented. Through the establishment of “exchange shares,” embodiments allow for the execution of a currency exchange using existing stock markets.
US07983966B2
System for handling of refunding of value-added tax to a consumer who has purchased goods in a foreign country includes a central database and first terminals, placed in shops) connected to the system. The first terminals include equipment for entering purchase data. The system creates electronic checks on the basis of the data, and includes information carriers intended to be carried by the purchaser. Personal details, such as name, address and passport number, are stored on the information carrier. An identifying reference is stored on each carrier and the system has computer programs for linking the reference and electronic checks for the person's purchases, and for storing the checks together with their references in the database. Second terminals are provided with equipment for gathering the references from the information carriers of consumers.
US07983965B2
An optical fiber inventory selection system selects optical fibers from inventory for use in a communication network. In one embodiment, the system generates an internal specification of requirements to select optical fiber reels from an inventory to be used as components in spans, such as dispersion managed spans, wherein at least one of the selected optical fiber reels is identified to have an amount of optical fiber on the reel cut back to a reduced length. The spans can then be selected to satisfy customer requirements or standardized requirements for a communication network that may include a plurality of cables and paths.
US07983962B2
A method of entering purchase order data includes receiving first data associated with an item. The first data comprises data entered by a user using a graphical user interface associated with a computerized purchasing system for at least one of products and services. The method also includes transferring the first data to a purchase order list in response to a single user input command facilitated by the graphical user interface, and displaying the first data and second data associated with the item as a purchase order list line item in the purchase order list using the graphical user interface in response to the single user input command. The second data includes at least one of data stored in the computerized purchasing system and data generated by the computerized purchasing system based on the first data.
US07983953B2
A method and apparatus to present a good of a seller. A product identification code is received via a cellular telephone, the product identification code identifying the good. The good is then presented for sale via a network and using the product identification code.
US07983941B2
Analyzing a system includes receiving system performance data indicating performance of one or more sensor systems, operational performance data indicating performance of the sensor systems in one or more scenarios, and cost analysis data indicating one or more cost values associated with the sensor systems. Integrated data is established from the system performance data, the operational performance data, and the cost analysis data. The integrated data is analyzed to establish one or more relationships between at least two of the system performance data, the operational performance data, and the cost analysis data.
US07983934B1
A method for healthcare collaboration that includes granting access, across a network, to a portion of a personal health history (PHH) account associated with a patient, wherein access is granted to a healthcare provider and controlled by the patient, submitting healthcare data to the portion of the PHH account based on a health service received by the patient from the healthcare provider, and transfer the healthcare data for review.
US07983932B2
The present invention provides networks and method for linking consumers and nutritional pharmacologists offering personalized nutritional information through a central network site. The network includes a central integration site through which network members communicate with each other. The central integration site stores two or more databases in the storage medium. The databases store biochemical marker data information, nutritional and/or drug data information including a record for association and effect of nutrients with a particular biochemical marker, and/or drug. The network of the invention provides individualized nutritional diagnostic and treatment to consumers on the basis of their clinical test results.
US07983928B2
A facility has been developed whereby an applicant (or his representative) may file corresponding applications in multiple jurisdictions using multiple associates while automating the preparation of filings in accordance with jurisdiction- and/or associate-specific requirements and/or procedures. An intellectual property filing portal or hub is employed, which in some realizations is hosted on public, packet switched data network and communicates with both applicants (or representatives) and associates. The intellectual property filing portal facilitates selection, by applicants (or representatives) of particular jurisdictions and associates based at least in part on fee quotations in accordance with particulars of an intellectual property filing and in accordance with fee structures of the particular jurisdictions and foreign associates. In addition, the intellectual property filing portal facilitates registration of associate- and jurisdiction-specific form documents and fee schedules for at least partially automated preparation of formal documents.
US07983907B2
A headset is constructed to generate an acoustically distinct speech signal in a noisy acoustic environment. The headset positions a pair of spaced-apart microphones near a user's mouth. The microphones each receive the user's speech, and also receive acoustic environmental noise. The microphone signals, which have both a noise and information component, are received into a separation process. The separation process generates a speech signal that has a substantial reduced noise component. The speech signal is then processed for transmission. In one example, the transmission process includes sending the speech signal to a local control module using a Bluetooth radio.
US07983893B2
An emulator is disclosed that allows for diagnoses of failures or defects within the emulator. A map of faulty resources is generated to identify which resources should be avoided during compilation. Thus, in a transparent and automated manner, defects found during diagnostics are stored in a database of unusable emulator resources. A compiler has access to the database and compiles the design taking into account unusable resources. In another embodiment, the defects of an emulator board are stored on the emulator board itself. This allows each board to store its own maintenance information that can be used at the manufacturing site for changing defective chips. Defects stored on the board itself allow the defects to be obtained independent of a position of a board within the emulator to simplify identification of the faulty resource.
US07983891B1
A method for determining a worst-case transition is disclosed. The method includes determining a plurality of output slews for the plurality of input signals based on a timing model of a gate and selecting a worst delay input signal from the plurality of input signals based on the output slews.
US07983889B2
The drift region for increasing the breakdown voltage in an LDMOSFET is regarded as a resistive element. The potential distribution of the overall device is calculated by obtaining a potential distribution considering the resistance by iterative calculation. A capacitance generated in the drift region is analytically calculated assuming a linear potential distribution. A capacitance generated in the overlap region between the gate electrode and the drift region is calculated by considering the potential from the depletion region to the accumulation region.
US07983888B2
Single hardware subsystems that present two software views that appear to be two separate hardware subsystems attached in a hierarchy are implemented with PCI arrangements. In an embodiment, a hardware arrangement is configured to emulate two virtually separate hierarchical subsystems in a single hardware block. This emulation facilitates the coupling of devices to PCI Express communications links while addressing PCI-Express linking requirements for such devices.
US07983887B2
The present invention provides a method utilizing primary amino acid sequence of a protein, energy minimization, molecular dynamics and protein vibrational modes to predict three-dimensional structure of a protein. The present invention also determines possible intermediates in the protein folding pathway. The present invention has important applications to the design of novel drugs as well as protein engineering. The present invention predicts the three-dimensional structure of a protein independent of size of the protein, overcoming a significant limitation in the prior art.
US07983884B2
Realistic sprays for simulated fluids are created by adding a set of spray particles to a boundary region just below the fluid surface. The fluid surface is determined by solving a level set equation for a zero level corresponding to the fluid surface. Additionally, the boundary region is determined by solving the level set equation for a non-zero level corresponding to a surface at the specified depth from the fluid surface. The set of spray particles inherit an initial state, for example a velocity, from the fluid simulation. Subsequent motion of the spray particles is determined according to a ballistic simulation, rather than a fluid simulation, thereby substantially reducing the computational burden required to animate the fluid. Spray particles that sink below a specified depth from the fluid surface are removed.
US07983880B1
Extended linear superposition methods, computer program products and systems to calculate Simultaneous Switching Noise (SSN) on victim Input/Output (I/O) pins of an electronic component caused by aggressor I/O pins is provided. A method includes calculating the quiet output voltage on a victim pin caused by the power supply only, and then calculating an aggressor noise response induced on the victim pin caused by a single aggressor pin and the power supply. To calculate SSN for a combination of aggressors, the SSNs for the different aggressors are linearly combined, and then the effects of the power supply are discounted by using the calculated quiet output voltage. Additionally, a linear victim substitution model is introduced to replace a full buffer model for a victim pin with a resistor with different resistance values depending on the induced voltage. Further, an alternate transmission line model is introduced to simplify SSN simulations of transmission lines.
US07983872B2
A vertical component is extracted from an acceleration vector corresponding to body movement of a user from a three-axis acceleration sensor, and the vertical-component is separated by a high-band/low-band separating unit into a high-band component and a low-band component. Using these components, a peak detection/determination processing unit detects a peak-position candidate of action of the user in the vertical direction, identifies a peak-position candidate on the basis of an energy ratio between the high-band component and the low-band component, performs waveform matching regarding a predetermined range including each peak-position candidate, thereby determining a peak position, and detects body movement on the basis of the peak position, and a step-position analyzing unit detects a body-movement pitch.
US07983871B2
A method includes determining at least a first characteristic of a device during a first test insertion and storing the first characteristic. The device is identified during a second test insertion. The first characteristic is retrieved responsive to the identification of the device. A test program for the second insertion is configured based on the first characteristic. The configured test program is executed to test the device during the second test insertion.
US07983859B2
A defect analyzer system having a program storage device storing instructions and an arithmetic unit executing the instructions. The system divides a defect analyzing region of a wafer into a plurality of grid squares and classifies the grid squares into a plurality of groups. The system then matches the defect information with the defect analyzing region. The defect information includes defect positions and sizes detected in the defect analyzing region. The system calculates a defect size distribution for each defect size in each of the groups, compares the defect size distribution and a predetermined estimation distribution for each of the groups, and calculates a difference. The system then compares the difference of each of the groups and a predetermined threshold value, extracts the group having the difference equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, and outputs the defect information corresponding to the extracted group.
US07983856B2
A simple, passive and rugged device for measuring the flow rate of liquid. A variable area obstruction valve, a differential pressure sensor and a densitometer are combined in a single housing to provide for a highly accurate and precise measure of mass flow.
US07983854B2
The present disclosure discloses a method of monitoring a structure by a monitoring system including at least one strain gauge positioned on the structure and a computer processor coupled to the at least one strain gauge. According to at least one embodiment, strain data are acquired using the at least one strain gauge, and it is determined, by the computer processor, whether the structure has undergone plastic deformation according to the strain data. Further, a result is outputted according to the determination of plastic deformation.
US07983834B2
A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one mass flow line and a cooling device for cooling the mass flow in the mass flow line, as well as a bypass, having a bypass valve, that bypasses the cooling device. When the bypass valve is opened, the mass flow is conducted at least partly through the bypass. When the bypass valve is closed, the mass flow is conducted through the cooling device. Downstream from the cooling device and from the bypass in the mass flow line, a temperature of the mass flow in the mass flow line is determined. In at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine, a first temporal temperature gradient is determined with closed bypass valve. In the at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine, a second temporal temperature gradient is determined with closed position of the bypass valve. An error is recognized as a function of a deviation between the first temporal temperature gradient and the second temporal temperature gradient.
US07983833B2
At a time of stopping operation of an engine, after elapse of a preset time period since start of self-sustaining operation of the engine at a stop rotation speed Nstop, the drive control sets a torque command Tm1* of a motor MG1 to a rotation speed-decreasing, vibration-suppressing torque and starts decreasing a rotation speed Ne of the engine (steps S100, S140, S150, S170, and S180). The rotation speed-decreasing, vibration-suppressing torque is set to smoothly decrease the rotation speed of the engine and suppress the potential vibration caused by the decreased rotation of the engine. A correction torque Tmod is set based on a crank angle CA and an engine water temperature Tw at the rotation speed Ne of the engine decreasing to a preset reference speed Nref (step S200). The torque command Tm1* of the motor MG1 is then set by adding the set correction torque Tmod to the rotation speed-decreasing, vibration-suppressing torque (step S210). This arrangement effectively prevents the crank angle CA from exceeding a top dead center immediately before the stop of the engine and thereby suppresses the potential vibration causes by the excess of the crank angle CA over the top dead center.
US07983829B2
In a system for monitoring an output of a sensor for detecting an operating state of a gas turbine engine by comparing a value of an output of the sensor with a prescribed reference value, a calibration map for converting the output of the sensor into a variable that is normally used for controlling the engine is used for defining the reference value for determining the state of the sensor. Thereby, a fault of a sensor can be detected both accurately and promptly by using the existing resource without unduly complicating the control program. It is particularly desirable to monitor the output of the sensor by taking into account the current operating condition of the engine to improve the reliability in detecting a fault in the sensor.
US07983828B2
A stepwise brake control is automatically performed when TTC obtained according to a relative distance and a relative speed between a vehicle and an object is lower than a predetermined value. For example, a brake force or a brake reduction speed is gradually increased over a plurality of stages in time series. Moreover, the affect of speed change control to the automatic brake control is removed. Alternatively, automatic brake control is supported by the speed change control. Alternatively, the friction coefficient state is estimated, and the brake force or the brake speed reduction is adjusted according to the estimated result. Alternatively, an auto-cruse function is invalidated at least the final stage. Alternatively, when the brake force or the brake speed reduction generated by a brake operation by a driver is greater than the brake force or the brake speed reduction generated by the brake control means, the brake operation by the driver is handled with a higher priority than the stepwise brake control.
US07983827B2
A brake control apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes wheel cylinders; a pump hydraulically connected to the wheel cylinders for pressurizing the wheel cylinders; a motor for driving the pump; control valves hydraulically connected between the pump and respective ones of the wheel cylinders for allowing fluid communication therebetween with respective variable cross-sectional flow areas; a pressure sensor for measuring an internal pressure of each of the wheel cylinders; and a control unit. The control unit performs wheel cylinder pressure control of controlling the internal pressures of the wheel cylinders by the motor and the control valves so as to conform the measured internal pressures of the wheel cylinders to respective ones of desired internal pressures of the wheel cylinders. During the wheel cylinder pressure control, the control unit constantly keeps a condition that the cross-sectional flow area of at least one of the control valves is maximized.
US07983824B2
A method for operation of a drivetrain including a drive motor and an automatic transmission having at least five shift elements, of which, at least two elements are disengaged in each forward and reverse gear and the other shift elements are engaged. Two successive shifts are accomplished by two overlapped single gear shifts such that: a) during the first shift, a first shift element is engaged or disengaged while a second shift element is disengaged or engaged; b) during the first shift, second and third shift elements are prepared for either engagement or disengagement; and c) during the first and the second shifts at least one fourth shift element is kept engaged or nearly engaged.
US07983795B2
An electrical interface may include a switching mechanism and a control module. The switching mechanism can selectively couple a source of electricity to a load and the control module can be coupled to the switching mechanism. The control module may generate a query for information from a web server and control the switching mechanism based on a response to the query.
US07983793B2
Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in robotic surgery and other robotic applications, and/or medical instrument devices, systems, and methods includes both a reusable processor and a limited-use robotic tool or medical treatment probe. A memory the limited-use component includes machine readable code with data and/or programming instructions to be implemented by the processor. Programming of the processor can be updated by shipping of new data once downloaded by the processor from a component, subsequent components can take advantage of the updated processor without repeated downloading.
US07983785B2
A computer-based fibre production monitoring system includes at least one sensor, and a computer server in communication with the sensors. Each sensor is configured to provide data packets each being associated with a respective threadline and providing a measurement of at least one physical characteristic of a fibre as it is drawn past the sensor on the threadline and wound onto a bobbin. The computer server is configured to provide an analysis of the physical characteristics on a per-threadline basis and/or per-bobbin basis from the measurements. The sensor is configured as an electric field sensor, and includes an insulating substrate, non-contacting electrodes disposed on the substrate, and vias extending transversely through the substrate. The electrodes are interlaced with one another. One portion of the vias is coupled to one portion of the electrodes, and another portion of the vias is coupled to another portion of the electrodes.
US07983778B2
A method includes determining production targets for devices of different types in a production line. A queue level of devices of a first type that have completed performance of a first operation configured in accordance with a first setup state in the production line and await performance of a second operation in the production line is determined. Based on the determined queue level, a second type of device is selected for subsequent processing in the first operation based on the production targets and a setup time associated with configuring the first operation from the first setup state to a second setup state associated with the second type of device. The first operation is configured in accordance with the second setup state for processing devices of the second type.
US07983766B1
An implantable lead having at least one electrode contact at or near its distal end prevents undesirable movement of the electrode contact from its initial implant location. One embodiment relates to a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead. A first injectable material is injected into the dura space to mechanically position the electrode array with respect to the spinal cord. Conjunctively for use with adhesives, or alternatively for use instead of the adhesives, a balloon may be positioned on the electrode lead array. The balloon is filled with air, liquid or a compliant material. When inflated, the balloon stabilizes the lead with respect to the spinal cord and holds the lead in place. An elastic aspect of the balloon serves as an internal contained relief valve to limit the pressure the balloon may place on the surrounding tissues when the epidural space is constrained.
US07983763B2
An identification device for an implantable lead includes an associated implantable sleeve and a radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag associated with the sleeve. The RFID tag includes information relating to the implantable lead, its associated lead system, or an associated implantable medical device. The RFID tag may be hermetically sealed within the sleeve and the sleeve selectively fixed along a length of the lead. The sleeve may comprise a loop forming an aperture, a crimped clamp device, a clamp device including a ratchet, clip, or rivet mechanism, or a clamp device including two separate clamshells, all of which allow for secure attachment to the lead. Alternatively, the sleeve may integrally be formed as part of the lead between a lead conductor and an insulated lumen. An external interrogator may be used for identifying information contained within the RFID tag.
US07983742B2
A PC-based ECG software program that in real time, acquires, analyzes and displays QTV and PQ interval variability (PQV) in each of the independent channels that constitute the 12-lead conventional and/or Frank X, Y, Z lead ECG. The system also analyzes and displays the QTV and PQV from QT and PQ interval signals that are derived from multiple channels and from singular value decomposition such that the effect of noise and other artifacts on the QTV and PQV results are substantially reduced compared to existing single-channel methods. Moreover, this invention also provides certain new parameters of T-wave (and QRS and P-wave) morphology, that in initial studies have improved clinical diagnostic utility and/or reproducibility and reliability compared to known existing parameters of T-wave morphology. Finally, it also provides a method for determining the beat-to-beat variability these T, QRS and P-wave morphologic parameters.
US07983736B2
Disclosed are improved methods and compositions for use in light-based in vivo imaging and treatment. The techniques described involve the use of low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitutes in imaging and treatment methods, including OCT imaging. The invention has particular advantages in imaging within the cardiovascular system and highly vascularized or oxygen-dependent tissues.
US07983729B2
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light a memory storing data, and a changeable encryption key to facilitate scrambling the data to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism.
US07983728B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resonator including: a transmission line including a conductor line with a bent portion, wherein the conductor line has a plurality of slits formed therein, the slits being formed in an extending direction of the conductor line to pass through the bent portion, and wherein the slits are formed to have intervals that become narrower from an outer-side toward an inner-side of the bent portion.
US07983714B2
A communication device communicates with another communication device via an information managing device. The communication device includes a transmitter unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The transmitter unit transmits presence information to the other communication device via the information managing device. The storage unit stores a program. If the communication device executes the program, the control unit judges whether the presence information currently registered needs to be changed based on executing the program. If the control unit judges that the presence information currently registered needs to be changed, the control unit changes the presence information based on executing the program. The control unit controls the transmitter unit to transmit the changed presence information as updated presence information to the other communication device via the information managing device.
US07983712B2
There is provided a multi-mode wireless communication device. A cellular transceiver communicates over a cellular network in a cellular mode. A wireless transceiver communicates over a wireless network in a wireless mode. A selector makes a selection between operating in the cellular mode and the wireless mode. The selector uses a subscriber profile and other information, such as financial information, to make the selection. The subscriber profile includes information such as a minimally acceptable quality of service acceptable for a communication.
US07983708B2
The description describes examples for performing reverse link power control in a mobile network having a plurality of first modem devices that receive and transmit signals to wireless access terminals (ATs) and a second device in communication with the plurality of first devices. Execution is transitioned between a first and a second loop to control reverse link power of one of the ATs. The transition is based on a state of a connection. The first control loop executes at one of the first devices and the second loop executes at the second device.
US07983695B2
A novel and improved method and system for paging a cellular telephone or other wireless terminal using two paging channels that reduces standby mode power consumption described. In one embodiment of the invention, a minimally encoded quick paging channel is established over which short, quick page messages are transmitted during one of a set of quick paging slots. The quick page message indicates that a communications request has been received, and that the receiving communication terminals should process a highly encoded full paging channel over which more detailed, full page messages are transmitted during the next full paging slot. A terminal monitors full paging channel only after a quick page message has been received on the quick paging channel.
US07983688B2
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. The method includes transmitting from a remote unit to a base station remote unit channel data. The remote unit channel is generated at the remote unit and includes data about a first portion of communication channels on which the call can be executed. The method also includes applying a channel selection method to the remote unit channel data and to base station channel data so as to select a communication channel from among the first portion of communication channels. The base station channel data is generated at the base station and includes data about a second portion of the communication channels. The method further includes executing a call on the selected communication channel.
US07983686B2
A centralized wireless resource manager is leveraged to facilitate in reconciling communication conflicts between wireless devices that interact with a computing device and/or reconciling communication conflicts between a wireless device and a locale of a computing device interacting with the wireless devices. One instance allows dynamic reconciliation of a wireless device based, at least in part, on the wireless device's hardware supported communication parameters and/or its currently utilized communication parameters and the like. Another instance provides dynamic communication adjustments based, at least in part, on a locale of a computing device. This facilitates in adjusting communication frequencies based on, at least in part, local laws and regulations and the like.
US07983684B2
Systems and methods are provided for optimizing the placement of RF components within an environment. The system operates by defining a spatial model associated with the environment, determining a first placement location of the RF device within the spatial model, defining a localized reference area, determining a coverage area associated with the RF device, identifying a set of gaps associated with the coverage area within the reference area, determining a second placement location of the RF device within the spatial model based on the set of gaps, and placing the AP in the second placement location within the environment.
US07983683B2
A communication method enabling communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, includes the step of: switching, means for carrying out predetermined data transfer while maintaining a communication channel on the predetermined mobile communication network, between communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, or activating or deactivating a part concerning the predetermined wireless communication included in a mobile terminal.
US07983679B2
A communication system provides for an active handoff of a voice call between a packet switched network and a circuit switched network. An active handoff from the packet switched network to the circuit switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over forward links of both networks during the handoff. An active handoff from the circuit switched network to the packet switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over reverse links of both networks during the handoff. The former handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same packet data control switch, and the latter handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same mobile switching center. In order for a subscriber unit to operate concurrently in both networks, the subscriber unit may comprise multiple transceivers or a single transceiver that is rapidly switched between the networks.
US07983678B2
Method for receiving, demodulating and processing a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) modulated signal into a GPS, a CDMA and an OFDM processed baseband signal and providing processed signals to an interface unit of a mobile device. Further processing said received CDMA signal into a second OFDM processed signal and connecting said second OFDM processed signal to a modulator and transmitter for modulation and transmission. Processing an OFDM processed signal into a second CDMA processed signal, connecting and transmitting the second CDMA processed signal. Storing a received camera generated CDMA signal and processing it into a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) processed signal. Processing a touch screen generated signal into a touch screen generated control signal for control of a mobile device. Generating and processing a motion detector generated signal into a motion detector generated control signal for control of operation of one or more units of a mobile device. Method for receiving and processing a smoke detector generated signal and for providing processed smoke detector signal to a transmitter for transmission.
US07983675B2
A mobile station for receiving delay-sensitive data from a wireless communications network is provided with a data buffer and cell reselection controller. The data buffer receives data from the network and stores the data for communication to a delay-sensitive data application. The cell reselection controller selectively inhibits cell reselection in order to meet requirements of the delay-sensitive data application. By intelligently controlling cell reselection, delay sensitive data may be received in a more reliable fashion, thereby increasing performance of the data application.
US07983671B2
Methods and apparatus to route communications at an interexchange carrier are disclosed. One method of routing communications may include receiving a communication at the interexchange carrier, determining a destination at which the communication is to terminate, and routing the communication from the interexchange carrier through a terminating access charge free line to a terminating mobile telephone switching office.
US07983669B2
A method is provided for verifying plotting results when multiple signals of the same frequency have been detected from different directions. Signal characteristics of the signals detected from different directions are compared so that, on the basis of the signal comparison, a decision may be made as to whether a reflection from the same transmitter is occurring, or different transmitters are involved.
US07983667B2
In one embodiment, a method for generating a radio-frequency coverage map. The method includes receiving coverage map data comprising a plurality of locations within a region, and an identification of a location in the plurality of locations corresponding to a radio transceiver, wherein the locations within the region are represented by at least corresponding x- and y-terms of a Cartesian coordinate system. The method further includes receiving calibration data comprising a plurality of observed signal strength values at corresponding ones of the plurality of locations, converting the x- and y-terms of the locations of the coverage map data to corresponding first and second warped coordinate terms of a warped coordinate system, and computing, using linear interpolation and the first and second warped coordinate terms, predicted received signal strength values at one or more locations in the coverage map based on the calibration data.
US07983664B2
A transmission method that can implement efficient communication control. A transmission block sends a signal of a first frequency band allocated to each zone, by a first directive beam which covers the entire zone, in a first time slot of a predetermined period and sends a signal of a second frequency band which contains the first frequency band and has a greater width than the first frequency band, by a second directive beam which covers a part of the zone and has a smaller beam width than the first directive beam, in a second time slot of the predetermined period.
US07983663B2
When an incoming call is received or an outgoing call is placed, a phone number associated with the call is identified. The phone number is compared to a set of phone book entries corresponding to subscriber-designated phone entries and special phone book entries. If the phone number is identified as corresponding to a special phone book entry, call processing continues according to a field type designated by the selected phone book entry.
US07983661B2
Method and apparatus for controlling the ability of mobile agents to receive customer service calls to their mobile phone from a call center. A mobile station is installed with a client application featuring an agent profile and call processing rules that are updated from the call center. The mobile agent uses the mobile station for work by turning on a “work profile”, and the client application registers the mobile agent to the call center. With the work profile on, the client application will block personal calls, or any other calls originating elsewhere than the call center. Significant advantages are accrued as the companies running the call centers will gain greater control of their mobile agent workforce and can prioritize tasks better within the organization, without having to construct complex solutions that consult different network elements within the cellular radio network.
US07983659B2
An information delivery system of the present invention includes mobile communication terminals and an information delivery apparatus. The information delivery apparatus selectively delivers information to the mobile communication terminals via a communication network, and includes delivery information memory means, location history information memory means, delivery information selecting means, and information transmitting means. The location history information memory means memorizes location history information showing locations where a mobile communication terminal was located in the past. The delivery information selecting means selects delivery information to be transmitted to the mobile communication terminal according to predetermined selection conditions based on the location history information read out from the location history information memory means. The information transmitting means transmits the delivery information selected by the delivery information selecting means to the mobile communication terminal.
US07983657B2
The invention proposes a method for controlling a network comprising the steps of providing presence information to a user, wherein the presence information includes information regarding the presence of at least one other user in a network, and providing session handling information, wherein the session handling information includes information about how a session, which can be initiated to the other user, will be handled. The invention also proposes a corresponding network control device.
US07983653B2
An alert system and apparatus for an emergency alert system is provided to disseminate emergency information to the public utilizing a universal paging system through a personal alert device such as a cellular telephone, pager, PDA or E-FOB. The alert system utilizes an emergency alert system signal from the NOAA alert system to broadcast the alert message to cellular devices in a specified alert area. The broadcast message provides information related to the alert level. The E-FOB may be a passive device which is activated by a NOAA alert signal and then listens for a cellular message. If the E-FOB is within the alert area, the E-FOB provides information to the user. If the E-FOB is not within the alert area, the E-FOB returns to a passive state.
US07983651B2
A communication apparatus includes an image information acquisition unit configured to acquire new image information to be transmitted to a display terminal through a wireless access point, a storage unit configured to temporarily store the image information, a decision unit configured to decide to change a state of a wireless communication processing unit of the display terminal from a power save state to a normal state when an amount of the image information stored in the storage unit is not less than a predetermined threshold value, a message generation unit configured to generate a change instruction message in response to decision of the decision unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the change instruction message to the display terminal through the wireless access point to instruct the display terminal to change the state of the wireless communication processing unit from the power save state to the normal state.
US07983647B2
A method for determining a scaling factor in a communication system. The method includes calculating an average power for each of an input signal and an output signal of a channel predictor; calculating a noise variance using the calculated average power; normalizing the noise variance with an average power of the channel predictor's output signal; and determining a scaling factor using the normalized noise variance.
US07983645B2
The invention relates to a method for radio reception using a plurality of antennas and to a receiver for radio transmission using a plurality of antennas. In a receiver for radio transmission with multiple antennas of the invention, 3 antennas are connected to the input ports of a device for transmission which transmits the electrical signals stemming from the 3 antennas to the input terminals of a multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier having 3 input ports and 3 output ports. Each output port of the multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier is connected to the input of an analog processing and conversion circuit which outputs digital signals. The output of each analog processing and conversion circuit is connected to an input of a multiple-input signal processing device, whose output is connected to the destination.
US07983639B2
A radio frequency (RF) filter is provided which includes a band pass filter unit and an amplifying unit. If a signal having a frequency in a first band is input, the RF filter performs band pass filtering, and if a signal having a frequency in a second band is input, the RF filter performs an amplifying process. The RF filter can be used for various RF signal processing devices, such as digital broadcast receiving tuners.
US07983636B2
A bias control signal generation unit detects ON and OFF of a transmission signal input to an amplifier and having a property of a burst according to burst information. The bias control signal generation unit controls a bias voltage to be applied to an amplifier such that an idle current flowing through the amplifier can be flowing in a larger amount in a transmission OFF period, and can return to a normal level in a transmission ON period.
US07983627B2
A circuit arrangement includes a component having a closed signal path, that closed signal path connected to a first port, a second port and at least a third port. The component has a directed signal flow of a signal applied to one of that ports. Such a coupling device can be connected to a transmitter and to a receiver path, respectively.
US07983621B2
Embodiments of sleep-mode statistics apparatus, systems, and methods are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07983619B2
Intra-cell upstream data forwarding is utilized in a wireless network such as a wireless local area network. A network forwarding path is determined based on the signal strength of an access point signal received at client stations within the network, referred to as the OASS. In particular embodiments, a station that is either originating or forwarding a frame inserts its own OASS into the frame before transmitting it and a client station that receives a frame forwards it only if its own OASS exceeds the frame-enclosed OASS, illustratively by at least a predetermined amount.
US07983617B2
Aspects of a method and system for transmitting multiple channels on FM bands may include generating from one or more baseband signals, a plurality of radio frequency transmission signals each at a different radio frequency, wherein the one or more baseband signals comprise an in-phase signal component and/or a quadrature signal component. Suitable combinations of the one or more baseband signals may be modulated in a radio frequency transmission chain that may comprise intermediate frequency modulation and radio frequency modulation. The suitable combinations of the one or more baseband signals may be weighted sums. The plurality of radio frequency signals may each carry distinct information. One of the plurality of radio frequency signals may be centered at a frequency f1+f2 and another one of said plurality of radio frequency signals may be centered at a frequency f1−f2, where f1 and f2 are frequencies.
US07983606B2
A transfer belt driving control method and transfer belt driving control apparatus for color registration correction. The color registration correction method and apparatus performs the color registration correction by setting a pattern forming section, in which patterns for the color registration correction are able to be formed, and a non-pattern forming section, in which the patterns are not able to be formed, on a transfer belt in which the patterns are formed, performing the color registration correction by driving the transfer belt at a first speed in the pattern forming section, and driving the transfer belt at a second speed, which is faster than the first speed, in the non-pattern forming section.
US07983604B2
An apparatus and method for managing magnetic carrier in an electrostatographic printer including an apparatus for directing magnetic carrier from a photoconductor, back toward a feed apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a magnetic carrier scavenger such that there is more magnetic carrier volume in the direction of the feed apparatus as well as a well to collect any magnetic carrier that does not move toward the feed apparatus.
US07983593B2
An image forming apparatus including: a cylindrical photoconductor; a laser scanning section for forming an electrostatic latent image on a peripheral surface of the photoconductor; an image development section for developing the electrostatic latent image by using a toner; a toner storage section for storing the toner to be supplied; and a transfer section for transferring the visualized image with use of the toner onto a printing sheet, wherein the image development section is disposed upstream of a rotation direction of the photoconductor from the transfer section, the toner storage section is disposed above the image development section while having a predetermined distance from the image development section so as to form a space therebetween for releasing heat, and the laser scanning section emits the scanning beam obliquely upwardly with respect to a horizontal direction so that the emitted scanning beam passes through the space and exposes the peripheral surface.
US07983588B2
In an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device having a cleaning blade arranged so as to make contact with and separate from a cleaned surface, an occurrence of excessive cutting when the cleaning blade makes contact with the cleaned surface is prevented. The image forming apparatus includes the cleaning blade for making contact with and separating from the cleaned surface and scraping off toner adhered onto the cleaned surface and a regulation member for regulating a movement of the cleaning blade in the direction of contact with the cleaned surface up to a position where a pressing force to the cleaned surface by the cleaning blade does not exceed a predetermined pressing force.
US07983582B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixer to fix an image formed on a sheet and includes a rotary heat generator including a heat generation layer, a pressure member to form a nip with the rotary heat generator to sandwich the sheet therebetween, an excitation coil disposed facing the rotary heat generator, to inductively heat the heat generation layer, a demagnetization coil disposed facing the heat generation layer, to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil and a fixer controller to control activation of the excitation coil as well as the demagnetization coil before a second image formation job after completion of a first image formation job in which an image is formed on a sheet of recording media whose width is smaller than a maximum sheet width usable in the fixer.
US07983581B2
A fixing method and a fixing device is provided in which an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium is heat-pressure-fixed by using a fixing unit, wherein the unfixed toner image is fixed when the recording medium passes through at least two fixing units arranged in series in a conveying direction of the recording medium. Specific relations are satisfied between a maximum temperature on the recording medium when the recording medium passes through a first fixing unit, a maximum temperature on the recording medium when the recording medium passes through a second fixing unit, a minimum temperature on the recording medium during a time period commencing on ejection of the recording medium from the first fixing unit and ending on entry of the recording medium into the second fixing unit and properties of the toner.
US07983575B1
A photoreceptor charge transport layer thickness determining apparatus for a photoreceptor including a scorotron charge device having coronode wires and a scorotron grid positioned between the corona wires and the photoreceptor charge transport layer, the scorotron charge device being configured to charge the photoreceptor layer using corona discharge to generate ions directed to a surface of the photoreceptor charge transport layer. A first current measuring device measures a current supplied to the coronode wires and outputs a first current value, a second current measuring device measures a current being delivered to the scorotron grid and outputs a second current value, and a processor receives the first and second current values and determines a current delivered to the photoreceptor charge transport layer by subtracting the second current value from the first current value, and determines a thickness of the photoreceptor charge transport layer using the current value.
US07983574B2
A method and system compare actual consumable usage (e.g., toner usage) with expected consumable usage in a xerographic machine, such as a printer or copier. Expected toner usage may be predicted from pixel count (area coverage) and actual usage is obtained from monitoring of consumable usage, such as from toner dispense data or toner bottle replacements. If the actual toner usage differs significantly from the expected toner usage (e.g., ±40%), the system may take some action, such as scheduling of a service call. Early detection of abnormal consumable usage in a xerographic machine may allow early correction before any noticeable image defects occur, such as images that are too light or too dark.
US07983569B2
A method and apparatus for transmission of data on bandwidth limited fiber optic channels. A multilevel signaling alphabet having multiple levels of optical intensity are used to transmit signals on optical channels. In order to counteract the decrease in signal to noise ratio resulting from the use of a multilevel signaling alphabet over a bilevel signaling alphabet trellis encoding of the data to be transmitted is employed. To counteract intersymbol interference due to signaling faster than the Nyquist Rate, equalization methods such as Tomlinson-Harashima precoding and decision feedback equalization are employed.
US07983565B2
The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects.
US07983554B2
In a camera, air orifices for linking the space inside a cell compartment with the outside of a casing are disposed in a position other than the grip portion which is held by a user, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the casing, that is, in the vicinity of a lens-barrel. A concave-convex portion serving as an air orifice guard is formed at the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the air orifices. As a result, even when the user takes a picture of an object by holding the camera with his/her own hand, the air orifices are prevented from being closed by the user's hand. Oxygen (air) can be constantly supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inside the cell compartment, and the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity.
US07983548B2
Systems and methods for implementing Z-buffer generation in a camera are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment the method may comprise actuating a light sensor after various delays to receive a plurality of modulated light signals reflected from different regions of a scene adjacent a camera. The method may also include determining distance information for the different regions of the scene based on brightness values for the plurality of modulated light signals reflected from the scene for the various delays. The method may also include storing the distance information in a Z-buffer at the camera.
US07983538B2
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.
US07983535B2
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.
US07983533B2
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.
US07983530B2
A recording and playback apparatus includes a first obtaining unit configured to obtain one or more moving parameters regarding motion from a first image; a converter configured to convert the first image into a second image composed of a lesser amount of data than the first image; a recording controller configured to record moving parameter information and the second image on a recording medium, the moving parameter information relating to the moving parameters of the first image; a reading controller configured to read the moving parameter information and the second image from the recording medium; and an image processor configured to execute image processing on the second image read from the recording medium using the moving parameters of the first image, the moving parameters of the first image being obtained from the moving parameter information read from the recording medium.
US07983527B2
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.
US07983521B2
A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including termination modules positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. The termination modules hold fiber optic modules with front termination locations. The fiber optic modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave length division multiplexers. A retention mechanism retains each fiber optic module in a partially removed position from the termination module.
US07983509B1
In a method for estimating a point spread function of an image capture device, a first function representing a captured version of a first test image is obtained, where the first test image containing a substantially ideal vertical transition. A second function representing a captured version of a second test image is also obtained, where the second test image contains a substantially ideal horizontal transition. In addition, the point spread function is estimated from the first function and the second function. Also disclosed herein is a method for image degradation compensation that employs the method for estimating a point spread function.
US07983496B2
A method performs inverse tone mapping of an image in a decoder. For each block of each color channel of the image a scaling factor is determined by adding a predicted scaling factor for the current block to a difference between the predicted scaling factor and the scaling factor of an adjacent block. An offset value for the current block is determined by adding a predicted offset for the current block to a difference between the predicted offset value and the offset value of the adjacent block. The scaling factor and the offset value are applied to pixel intensity values of the current block to produce a mapped block. The inverse tone mapping can also be applied to blocks of different sizes.
US07983492B2
A system and method for generating cluster spine groupings for display is provided. A set of spines is obtained. Each spine in the set includes a grouping of clusters that share a common concept and are arranged linearly along a vector. Those spines that are unique from each other spine are identified. At least one remaining spine from the set of spines is selected. The remaining spine is compared to the unique spines. At least one spine group is formed by grafting the remaining spine onto the unique spine that is most similar. The spine group is displayed.
US07983468B2
A method (and system) for extracting information from a document, includes segregating a set of documents from a plurality of documents based on a likelihood that at least one document in the set of documents carries an instance of a preset information.
US07983465B2
An iterative image reconstruction method used with an imaging system that generates projection data, the method comprises: collecting the projection data; choosing a polar or cylindrical image definition comprising a polar or cylindrical grid representation and a number of basis functions positioned according to the polar or cylindrical grid so that the number of basis functions at different radius positions of the polar or cylindrical image grid is a factor of a number of in-plane symmetries between lines of response along which the projection data are measured by the imaging system; obtaining a system probability matrix that relates each of the projection data to each basis function of the polar or cylindrical image definition; restructuring the system probability matrix into a block circulant matrix and converting the system probability matrix in the Fourier domain; storing the projection data into a measurement data vector; providing an initial polar or cylindrical image estimate; for each iteration; recalculating the polar or cylindrical image estimate according to an iterative solver based on forward and back projection operations with the system probability matrix in the Fourier domain; and converting the polar or cylindrical image estimate into a Cartesian image representation to thereby obtain a reconstructed image.
US07983461B2
Provided is a method and an apparatus for extracting an edge of a distal radius metaphysis. The method includes: setting a region of interest including a distal radius in an X-ray image; setting a potential energy distribution of the region of interest by using a gradient of gray levels; setting a temporary edge adjacent to both sides of a distal radius metaphysis and a side of an epiphysis in the region of interest; and extracting a detailed edge of the distal radius metaphysis having minimum energy by adjusting the set temporary edge using a metropolis annealing technique.
US07983454B2
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a detection module configured to detect a specific color area included in image data, an image processing control module configured to generate an image processing control signal for controlling an image process for the specific color area among image processes including a sharpening process for the image data, and an image processing module configured to subject the image data to the image process on the basis of the image processing control signal.
US07983452B2
The current invention discloses a solution for using a surface based computing device for verification of an identification document, such as a driver's license. A surface based computing device can be a device capable of scanning an identification document, comparing the scanned document against a set of conditions for a valid document, and reporting comparison results. A secured resource can be granted based at least in part upon identity verifications conducted by the surface based computing device. The surface based computing device can include a MICROSOFT SURFACE device or any other computing device able to scan an identification document and to process scanned results. In one embodiment, the surface based computing device can be used in conjunction with a human agent for added security.
US07983442B2
In a method for determining highlight segments of a sport video, the sport video having a plurality of image frames is analyzed to recognize a scoreboard image and a plurality of scoreboard characteristics thereof. The scoreboard image comprises at least one of the scoreboard characteristics. Then, a request message showing at least one recognized scoreboard characteristic is displayed on a user interface to receive a user response, wherein the user response includes a recognized result of one of the scoreboard characteristics. Finally, variations in the recognized scoreboard image among image frames can be monitored according to the user response. Therefore, the highlight segments of the sport video can be determined according to the variations.
US07983441B2
Methods are provided for encoding watermark information into media data containing a series of digital samples in a sample domain. The method involves: dividing the series of digital samples into a plurality of sections in the sample domain, each section comprising a corresponding plurality of samples; processing the corresponding plurality of samples in each section to obtain a single energy value associated with each section; grouping the sections into groups, each group containing three or more sections; assigning a nominal bit value to each group according to a bit assignment rule, the bit assignment rule based on the energy values of the sections in the group; and assigning a watermark bit value to each group. The methods also involve, for each group, comparing the watermark bit value to the nominal bit value and, if the nominal bit value and the watermark bit value of the watermark information bit do not match, modifying one or more energy values of one or more corresponding sections in the group such that re-application of the bit assignment rule would assign the watermark bit value to the group. The bit assignment rule may comprise: a categorization rule for categorizing each group into one of a plurality of categories; and for each category, a unique category bit assignment rule for assigning a nominal zero bit value or a nominal one bit value to each group.
US07983436B2
An apparatus for reducing baffle vibration includes a baffle that is subject to vibration. A first transducer that is seated in the baffle includes a first diaphragm that is acoustically coupled to a listening area in a vehicle and also acoustically coupled to a cavity in the vehicle. A first input signal applied to the first transducer causes the first diaphragm to move in a first direction, thereby generating an acoustic output. A second transducer is mechanically coupled to the first transducer. The second transducer includes a second diaphragm that is acoustically coupled to the first diaphragm and also acoustically coupled to the listening area. A second input signal applied to the second transducer causes the second diaphragm to move in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction to reduce a vibration imparted to the baffle while substantially maintaining the acoustic output.
US07983435B2
The present invention generally relates to assistive hearing devices. In one aspect, an apparatus for use in amplifying certain frequencies and canceling other frequencies is provided. The apparatus is insertable at least partially through a tympanic membrane of a user. The apparatus includes an actuator for stimulating an eardrum. The apparatus further includes an acoustic sensor for measuring a level of acoustic energy transmitted to an ear canal and/or the ear drum of the user. Additionally, the apparatus includes an electronics package for controlling the actuator and the acoustic sensor, wherein the electronics package is configured to transmit amplified selected sound waves while canceling out other sound waves having a particular frequency or frequencies. In another aspect, an apparatus for use in measuring a parameter in a body is provided. In a further aspect, a method of selectively transmitting sound waves having a predetermined frequency or frequencies is provided.
US07983433B2
Disclosed is an earset assembly that has a housing having a microphone port and a speaker port. A microphone is enclosed by the housing and has first and second input ports. The first input port is acoustically coupled to the microphone port to detect air pressure changes of the ear of a user. A speaker is enclosed by the housing and has an output port acoustically coupled to the speaker port to broadcast sounds to the user. The output port is acoustically coupled to the second input port of the microphone so that the microphone cancels at least a portion of feedback from the sounds broadcast by the speaker and detected at the first input port of the microphone.
US07983422B2
A method of establishing a shared secret random cryptographic key between a sender and a recipient using a quantum communications channel is described. The method comprises: generating a plurality of random quantum states of a quantum entity, each random state being defined by a randomly selected one of a first plurality of bases in Hilbert space, transmitting the plurality of random quantum states of the quantum entity via the quantum channel to a recipient, measuring the quantum state of each of the received quantum states of the quantum entity with respect to a randomly selected one of a second plurality of bases in Hilbert space, transmitting to the recipient composition information describing a subset of the plurality of random quantum states, analysing the received composition information and the measured quantum states corresponding to the subset to derive a first statistical distribution describing the subset of transmitted quantum states and a second statistical distribution describing the corresponding measured quantum states, establishing the level of confidence in the validity of the plurality of transmitted random quantum states by verifying that the first and second statistical distributions are sufficiently similar, deriving a first binary sting and a second binary string, correlated to the first binary string, respectively from the transmitted and received plurality of quantum states not in the subset, and carrying out a reconciliation of the second binary string to the first binary string by using error correction techniques to establish the shared secret random cryptographic key from the first and second binary strings.
US07983418B2
A basic idea is to use the AAA infrastructure to assign (S3) an appropriate DHCP server to DHCP client for the DHCP service, and transferring DHCP-related information over the AAA infrastructure for authenticating (S1) and authorizing (S4) the DHCP client for DHCP service with the assigned DHCP server. Instead of the more complex DHCP server discovery process known from the prior art, the AAA infrastructure, and more particularly a suitable AAA server or equivalent AAA component, is used for assigning an appropriate DHCP server to the DHCP client. Consequently, there is no longer any mandatory dependency on the DHCP discovery-related messages. The invention preferably provides AAA protocol support for facilitating assignment of appropriate DHCP servers and providing an out-of-band key agreement protocol for DHCP clients and servers by carrying DHCP related information facilitating the bootstrapping of DHCP authentication extension (RFC3118).
US07983415B2
The system and method for performing iterative scalar multiplication which is protected against address bit attack is provides a methodology, and system for implementing the methodology, for performing an iterative scalar multiplication process utilizing the Takagi algorithm, the most-to-least binary algorithm, or the least-to-most binary algorithm, modified with either a simultaneous register access operation (SRA) or a general simultaneous register access operation (GSRA). Further, a level-based randomization scheme may be added to provide further security to the algorithms.
US07983413B2
An accessory for electronic equipment includes an interface for exchanging data between the accessory and the electronic equipment, and a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) circuit. The VoIP circuit is operatively configured to implement at least a portion of VoIP in the electronic equipment or the accessory.
US07983409B2
A method for location-based communicating includes defining a first service area and a second service area for a service provider. The method also includes associating, at a memory apparatus accessible to a networked data processing apparatus, the first service area with multiple addresses within the first service area and the second service area with multiple addresses within the second service area.
US07983402B2
A controlling system for an electronic peripheral device is provided. The controlling system comprises an electronic peripheral device having a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of functions, at least one terminal device connectable to one of the communication interfaces of the electronic peripheral device via one of communication networks so that the terminal device can use one of the plurality of functions based on as to through which communication interface an instruction from the terminal device is received when the at least one of the plurality of functions is determined to be available, a function availability setting system, by which availability of at least one of the plurality of functions to the terminal device is set, and a function execution controlling system which controls execution of the at least one of the plurality of functions based on as to through which communication interface the instruction is received.
US07983393B2
A betatron is provided for producing pulses of accelerated electrons, particularly in an x-ray testing device, comprising at least one main field coil, one expansion coil for transferring the accelerated electrons to a target, and one electronic control system of the expansion coil for applying an expansion pulse to the expansion coil. The electronic control system of the expansion coil is designed such that the time of the expansion pulse for adjusting the final energy of the electrons is variable relative to the main field.
US07983378B2
Embodiments of apparatuses, articles, methods, and systems for a synthesizer with an extended multi-modulus prescaler are generally described herein. Described embodiments include an offset controller that provides an offset to a first counter value and a multi-modulus prescaler to implement a first modulated division number based on the first counter value and a second counter value. The offset controller may compensate for the offset to provide a second modulated division number based on the first modulated division number. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07983376B2
A boiling water nuclear reactor comprises: a reactor containment vessel including a dry well and a wet well; a vent pipe connecting the dry well and the pressure suppression pool; a gravity-driven water injection pool to hold boric acid aqueous solution; an emergency core water-injection piping system for causing the boric acid aqueous solution in the gravity-driven water injection pool to fall so as to be injected into the reactor pressure vessel in case of reactor accident; a static containment vessel cooling system pool; a static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger; a dry well connection pipe connecting an upper part of the static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger and the dry well; and a gas vent pipe for discharging noncondensible gas in the static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger into the inside of the pressure suppression pool.
US07983374B2
A method and apparatus for varying an output clock signal frequency to match the frequency of an output data signal frequency for a SERDES circuit while maintaining a constant input clock frequency is shown. According to this method and apparatus, a PMA rate signal may control the frequency of the output clock while a datastrobe signal may be used to control the frequency of the data signal. Accordingly, the apparatus and methods may be used to produce an output data signal and a clock signal having frequencies that may be lower than the frequency of the input clock signal.
US07983366B2
Techniques are described that can be used to maximize the interference suppression capability of space-time coded systems by managing synchronous transmission signaling. To enhance the probability of the occurrence synchronous interference and accordingly increase interference cancellation capability at a receiver, a network of at least two transmitters in a network may utilize similar structured coding schemes and coordinate transmission so that the receiver receives co-channel signals synchronously.
US07983364B2
Provided is a method of selecting an algorithm in a wireless receiver which supports a plurality of algorithms, more particularly, a method of selecting a suitable algorithm which is adaptive to changes in channel environment and satisfies requirements of applications, using information which is available in the wireless receiver. The algorithm selection method includes: calculating a measure value for selecting an algorithm on the basis of information obtained from the wireless receiver; comparing the measure value with at least one threshold value, and selecting an algorithm that is to be applied to a received packet, from among the plurality of algorithms, according to the result of the comparison; and decoding the received packet using the selected algorithm, wherein the at least one threshold value is adaptively updated on the basis of the information obtained from the wireless receiver.
US07983361B2
A clock data recovery circuit. The clock data recovery circuit comprises a transmission line, a phase locked loop, a voltage controlled oscillator, a phase selector, and a D flip-flop. The transmission line receives an input signal. The phase locked loop receives the input signal via the transmission line and a reference clock and generates a first clock signal. The voltage controlled oscillator receives the input signal via the transmission line and a control voltage from an internal node of the phase locked loop, and generates a clock signal. The phase selector receives the input signal via the transmission line and the clock signal from the voltage controlled oscillator, and generates a clock output signal. The D flip-flop receives the input signal via the transmission line and the clock output signal, and generates a data output signal.
US07983353B2
Methods and apparatus for estimating code-reuse interference associated with a received multi-stream multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal are disclosed. An estimate for the data-to-pilot power ratio, ΓD/P, may be obtained as a by-product of parametric estimation of impairment covariance associated with the received MIMO signal. In an exemplary method, a parametric impairment model is constructed for a received MIMO signal, the parametric model omitting code-reuse interference. Impairment covariance is measured, using, in one or more embodiments, received pilot symbol data. The parametric impairment model is fitted to the measured impairment covariance to obtain one or more scaling parameter values. A per-code energy value for a first data stream is then calculated from the one or more scaling parameter values. In some embodiments, the data-to-pilot power ratio for the received signal is first calculated from the one or more scaling parameters, and the per-code energy value calculated from the data-to-pilot power ratio.
US07983348B2
A system and method for signal transmission, a signal modulation and a signal demodulation device, and a method for signal transmission are disclosed. One embodiment includes transmitting a first pulse signal via a first line; and transmitting a second pulse signal complementary to the first pulse signal via a second line, wherein the point in time of the transmitting of the second signal relative to the point in time of the transmitting of the first signal is varied as a function of the respective digital data to be transmitted.
US07983347B2
In a signal transmitter for a multiple differential transmission system including the signal transmitter, a signal receiver, and a signal transmission path including first to third signal lines, first to third differential driver transmit first to third output signals and inverted first to third output signals from the first to third output signals responsive to first to third bit information signals, the first output signal and the inverted third output signal are combined and transmitted to the first signal line, the second output signal and the inverted first output signal are combined and transmitted to the second signal line, and the third output signal and the inverted third output signal are combined and transmitted to the first signal line. The first to third differential drivers of the signal receiver detect polarities of terminal voltages generated across terminal resistances connected between adjacent signal lines and output bit information signals.
US07983341B2
Statistical content block matching for video pre-processing, for example in fast motion estimation, uses a second-order distortion criterion for processing steps such as identifying a best reference image portion for comparison with a current image portion. The second-order distortion criterion is a Lagrange-optimized combination of a mean squared error criterion with an entropy criterion. Then a fast motion estimation search advantageously includes performing a diamond search using the second-order distortion criterion to identify a candidate best reference image portion, and performing a nearest neighbor search starting using said second-order distortion criterion to identify the best reference image portion within a search range limited by an adaptive search range cap. A better motion vector can then be calculated.
US07983335B2
An Inverse Transform (IT) conforming to MPEG AVC I_PCM that offers better video image quality than the MPEG-2/H.263 based video decoders and real time motion picture processing at 30 frames/seconds is described. The IT module performs 4×4 Inverse Integer transform for AVC for MPEG-2 operations on a given macro block (MB) and all its sub blocks. The IT is the third module in the data flow pipeline of a video decoder, the first two being a variable length decoder (VLD) and an inverse quantizer (IQ). The IT module gets its inputs from IQ module and feeds its processed output to a Motion compensation unit/intra-prediction (MCU-IP) module, thus reconstructing the video picture.
US07983332B2
An eye violation and excess jitter trigger for a digital signal uses a mask within a unit interval of the digital signal, such as a rectangular mask having corners defined by a high threshold, a low threshold, an early clock and a late clock, the early and late clocks being derived from a reference clock. The reference clock may be a recovered clock derived from the digital signal or from high and low threshold comparator outputs, or may be an external clock. For the excess jitter trigger, which is a special case of the eye violation trigger, the high and low thresholds are essentially equal. A status of the digital signal with respect to the mask is determined using the high and low thresholds and the early and late clocks, and a violation signal is output when the status indicates that a portion of the digital signal crossed into the mask. The violation signal may then be used to trigger data acquisition or for other purposes.
US07983327B2
A method for providing digital adaptive predistortion in a subscriber station is provided that includes applying predistortion, based on a set of predistortion characteristics, to a transmit signal to generate a predistorted signal. An amplifier input signal is generated based on the predistorted signal. The amplifier input signal is amplified to generate an amplified signal. The amplified signal is sampled to generate a sampled signal. The sampled signal is processed through a receive channel of the subscriber station to generate a processed signal. A determination is made regarding whether to adjust the set of predistortion characteristics based on the processed signal.
US07983318B2
An optical semiconductor device includes a semiconductor laser, a first optical waveguide, an optical coupler for branching light guided from the semiconductor laser through the first optical waveguide into two lights, two second optical waveguides, diffraction gratings provided individually on the two second optical waveguides, and an optical detector for detecting light guided through one of the two diffraction gratings, and the components are provided on the same substrate. The optical semiconductor device is configured such that reflection returning lights from the diffraction gratings side to the semiconductor laser side interfere with each other and thereby extinguish each other at the optical coupler and the phases of the reflection returning lights from the diffraction gratings side are displaced from each other by π at the optical coupler portion.
US07983317B2
Multi-quantum well laser structures are provided comprising active and/or passive MQW regions. Each of the MQW regions comprises a plurality of quantum wells and intervening barrier layers. Adjacent MQW regions are separated by a spacer layer that is thicker than the intervening barrier layers. The bandgap of the quantum wells is lower than the bandgap of the intervening barrier layers and the spacer layer. The active region may comprise active and passive MQWs and be configured for electrically-pumped stimulated emission of photons or it may comprises active MQW regions configured for optically-pumped stimulated emission of photons.
US07983313B2
A system and a method for coupling multiple pump light beams to an active fiber. The system including an inverted conical disk, concave lens or glass wedge, an active fiber placed in a center of the inverted conical disk (or concave lens) or at a bottom facet of the glass wedge and a plurality of pump light sources. The system further includes a plurality of lenses for focusing pump light beams from pump light sources towards a side of the inverted conical disk, concave lens or glass wedge, wherein the inverted conical disk, concave lens or glass wedge, couples the pump light beams into the active fiber.A method for coupling multiple pump light beams to an active fiber. The method includes providing an inverted conical disk, concave lens or glass wedge. The method further includes providing an active fiber in approximately the center of the inverted conical disk (or concave lens) or at a bottom facet of the glass wedge. The method further includes pump light sources for emitting pump light beams and focusing lenses for focusing pump light beams toward the axis of the active fiber. Pump light beams are emitted towards the side of the inverted conical disk, concave lens, or glass wedge and coupled to the active fiber.
US07983311B2
A correlation unit (32) sequentially obtains correlation values between a baseband signal and a reference signal and outputs the obtained reference signal to a section division unit (33). The output of the correlation unit (32) is divided into symbol time periods by the section division unit (33). A section position detection unit (34) detects a largest correlation value in each of sections resulting from the division by the correlation unit (32) and outputs, to a synchronization judgment unit (35), first position information that indicates a relative position of each detected largest correlation value. The synchronization judgment unit (35) detects an arrival of a packet signal and estimates a symbol timing based on the first position information of the sections.
US07983310B2
Improvements are disclosed for in-band signaling, i.e., transmission of data in a voice channel of a digital wireless network during a voice call session. A family of narrow-band signaling methods is disclosed to successfully pass data-carrying signals through the low-bit rate modes of the EVRC-B vocoder commonly used in CDMA wireless channels. Some embodiments generate a tapered signaling waveform in tandem with another waveform using FSK-modulation. These features can be used in cell phones or other wireless communication devices, including automotive applications.
US07983307B2
A hybrid terminal of a mobile phone and a digital broadcast receiver allows calling on the mobile phone while at the same time receiving a digital broadcast itself even in the event of receiving a call while at the same time receiving the digital broadcast. Upon receiving a call while at the same time receiving a digital broadcast, a caption within the digital broadcast is decoded and displayed. When the user presses a call start/end button, an analog path is switched to an audio telephone path so as to start a call and the broadcast caption is also decoded and displayed. When the user presses the call start/end button to end a call, the audio path is switched to a digital broadcast audio path, and decoding and display of the broadcast caption is stopped.
US07983298B2
Embodiments for bandwidth allocation methods, detecting interference with other systems, and/or redeploying in alternate bandwidth are described. Higher bandwidth channels may be deployed at channel boundaries, which are a subset of those for lower bandwidth channels, and may be restricted from overlapping. Interference may be detected on primary, secondary, or a combination of channels, and may be detected in response to energy measurements of the various channels. When interference is detected, a higher bandwidth Basic Service Set (BSS) may be relocated to an alternate channel, or may have its bandwidth reduced to avoid interference. Interference may be detected based on energy measured on the primary or secondary channel, and/or a difference between the two. An FFT may be used in energy measurement in either or both of the primary and secondary channels. Stations may also monitor messages from alternate systems to make channel allocation decisions. Various other aspects are also presented.
US07983297B2
A communications network gateway receives a stream of information formatted to be compatible with a first sub-network and it receives a stream of information formatted to be compatible with a second sub-network. The frames in the second stream are extracted and modified to be compatible with the transmission format of the first sub-network. The two streams of information are then aggregated for transmission over a logical network link in a manner that optimizes the bandwidth utilization of the overall communications network.
US07983295B2
A plurality of downstream channels enables communications between a CMTS and a plurality of legacy and non-legacy cable modems. A dispersion mechanism optimizes channel bonding, such that the downstream channels are interoperable with DOCSIS™-compliant, legacy cable modems. A program identifier field distinguishes between bonded and non-bonded flows. For bonded flows, a bonding group is defined to bond a set of downstream channels. The packets for each bonding group are classified into channel queues at or near a MPEG level or a packet level. To mitigate congestion and multiplexing inefficiencies, the dispersion mechanism collects real-time information to determine which channel receives the bonded packets. The dispersion mechanism includes a queue manager and a priority manager. The queue manager dynamically creates queues and allocates queue memory. The priority manager spools the appropriate bytes to an MPEG encapsulation engine for the appropriate outgoing modulator.
US07983291B2
A network device for processing data on a data network includes a port interface, in communication with a plurality of ports, configured to receive data packets from a data network and to send processed data packets to the data network, a memory management unit, in communication with and controlling memory, configured store data on and retrieve data from the memory and a parser, in communication with the port interface and the memory management unit, configured to parse the received data packets to determine attributes of the data packets and to modify data packets retrieved from the memory, based on the determined attributes, to produce the processed data packets. The parser is configured to modify the data packet on a cell basis, through addition, subtraction and substitution of cells of the data packets, where each cell of the cells has a predetermined bit-length.
US07983289B2
A packet is transmitted such that jitter of a packet transmission time period is suppressed. A transmission apparatus includes a stream data obtaining unit obtaining stream data from a source outside of the transmission apparatus, a coding unit compressing and coding the stream data, a packet generation unit generating a packet, a transmission buffer unit temporarily storing data, a transmission method selection unit selecting any one of “jitter suppressed transmission” and “normal transmission” as a transmission mode, a communication I/F unit transmitting the packetized stream data with a transmission method selected by the transmission method selection unit, a communication medium detection unit obtaining data for controlling communication via the communication I/F unit by identifying a communication medium, a time keeping unit generating time information, an input unit accepting manipulation input, and a storage unit storing data in a non-volatile manner.
US07983284B2
Virtual Private Network (VPN) dedicated to a customer using a physical transmission network based upon Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology including a plurality of Provider (P) devices and a plurality of Provider Edge (PE) devices, the customer owning at least two specific Customer Edge (CE) devices amongst a plurality of CE devices, a specific CE device being attached to a specific PE device and enabling the customer to gain access to any other CE device belonging to the same VPN, by the intermediary of PE devices to which are attached the CE devices. The VPN comprises several billing zones (10, 12, 14) being each defined by the application of a single flat rate. A PE device (18) belonging to each billing zone includes a virtual router (58, 60, 62) associated with each billing zone, two virtual routers being interconnected by a virtual circuit (38, 40, 42) transmitting all the traffic exchanged between the two associated billing zones so that the traffic flowing between the two billing zones can be measured and therefore precisely billed to the customer.
US07983280B2
A method for distributing a session key across GateKeeper (GK) zones in a direct-routing mode, including the following steps: a caller's GK and a callee's GK determine a session key distributing mode for a caller and a callee to distribute the session key according to information contained in a received message and pre-configured rules for selecting the session key distribution mode. An embodiment of the present invention also provides a system for distributing a session key across GK zones in a direct-routing mode. The method and the system make it possible for the caller's GK and the callee's GK to select the session key distribution mode, and improves the flexibility of the session key distribution for the GKs.
US07983279B2
A method for configuring IP network resource and an IP network are disclosed. The method includes: configuring a Plane A and a Plane B to have a reciprocal master-slave relation and to carry services individually, wherein the Planes A and B are connected with each other in a carrying network; configuring two interfaces of an access device with a reciprocal master-slave relation and assigning IP addresses to the Planes A and B respectively, to connect the Plane A with the Plane B; and distributing services to the IP addresses of the two interfaces in turn in the case that the IP address of a peer access device of the access device is unknown. The presently described technology can be easily implemented and can improve the network quality of service effectively, which can solve one or more problems in the conventional master-slave bi-planes networking, such as insufficient usage of the network resource, complex network policy configuration, etc.
US07983278B1
A network device includes an input device configured to receive a data packet, where the input device includes a number of interfaces and the data packet includes a source address and a destination address. The network device also includes processing logic configured to generate forwarding information identifying a next hop for the data packet and determine whether an interface on which the data packet was received is a same interface on which the data packet is to be forwarded to the next hop. The processing logic is also configured to determine whether the data packet originated from a device that is part of a same subnet as the next hop.
US07983276B2
A timing source is provided for sending timing information via a packet network. The source comprises a clock for generating the timing information and a packet-forming section for forming a sequence of packets for transporting the timing information to a destination node. A time-stamping section inserts into each packet of the sequence a transmission time derived from the clock and acts as an output section for forwarding the packets to the network at the respective transmission times. In one mode, the packet forming section forms all of the packets of the sequence with the largest size which the packet network is capable of transporting. In another mode, the packets of the sequence have a distribution of sizes which may be fixed or which may vary in response to traffic conditions.
US07983272B2
A method for providing network access to a shared access communications medium for a plurality of users includes the steps of conducting predictive admission control by arbitrating user requests for access to the shared medium based on predicted aggregate demands, conducting lookahead scheduling for use in making user channel assignments by forecasting schedule transmission opportunities one or more channels of the shared medium, and balancing load by making channel assignments such that a plurality users are each assigned a respective channel of the shared medium based upon a predicted need. Congestion parameters can predicted for each channel of the shared medium and mapped to a congestion measure using a mathematical function that takes into account packet loss rate, packet delay, packet delay jitter, and available capacity.
US07983259B1
A medium access control (MAC) device includes a first set of transmit pins, a second set of transmit pins, and a first encoder. The first set receives (i) first transmit data signals and (ii) first transmit control signals from a host. The first transmit data signals are received on a first subset of the first set. The second set outputs (i) second transmit data signals and (ii) second transmit control signals to a physical layer (PHY) device. The second transmit data signals are output on a second subset of the second set. The second subset includes fewer transmit pins than the first subset. The first encoder encodes two of the first transmit control signals received on two of the first set of transmit pins to generate one of the second transmit control signals output on one of the second set of transmit pins.
US07983247B2
A method and system for collecting and communicating contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation is provided. Structured hierarchies are utilized for efficient communications of various amounts and types of contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation. Information identifying at least one structured hierarchy, which will be used to carry the contextual information, is transmitted during establishment of a conversation between two VoIP enhanced devices. The structured hierarchy is selected from a set of predefined and declared structured hierarchies. Subsequently transmitted contextual information exchanged between two VoIP enhanced devices is represented in accordance with the identified structural hierarchy. VoIP clients, network infrastructure, and various service providers can collect the contextual information based on the identified structured hierarchy, update the contextual information by adding, deleting and/or modifying the contextual data. The updated contextual information will be transmitted to other clients, network infrastructure, and service providers.
US07983242B2
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to wireless communications. The systems and techniques involve wireless communications wherein a packet data session may be established between a wireless communications device and a packet data serving node to support a network connection to a packet-switched network. The wireless communications device may be configured to receive a notification of an incoming call from a circuit-switched network even when the network connection is active.
US07983229B2
The invention relates to a method for configuring connection parameters of a connection between a mobile terminal and a target wireless access network in a handover between heterogeneous wireless access networks, wherein the mobile terminal is handed over from an originating wireless access network to a target wireless access network. Moreover, the invention provides a packet data gateway and an authentication server which are adapted to participate and execute a part of the steps of the configuration method. To provide a solution for establishing connection to a wireless access network, as for example a WLAN, as fast as possible, in particular in a handover, the invention proposed to pre-configure a tunnel to be established between a packet data gateway and the mobile terminal for packet data service provision via the target wireless access network based on context information already maintained for the packet data service.
US07983227B2
In the conventional network using the PPP stipulated by RFC1661, the LCP phase to establish an LCP link, the authentication phase, and the NCP phase such as address assignment processing of the NCP are sequentially conducted each time the line connection is performed, and hence the connection takes a certain period of time. Particular, in the case of the mobile communication, there is often performed operation in which connection and disconnection are frequently conducted in a short period of time, and hence when the operation up to the connection takes a long period of time, the usability is deteriorated. Therefore, a need exists for a configuration of an apparatus and a communication method to reduce the connection time. In the configuration, control information such as authentication policy and protocols for use beforehand determined in the communication system are set to each apparatus to conduct communication such that the respective processing phases of the LCP, authentication, and NCP processing phases are executed in parallel according to the values set as above. Also, in the configuration, the communication between the apparatuses is conducted using a combined PPP packet created by combining with each other the respective packets of the LCP, authentication, and NCP packets as the PPP packets to be communicated in the respective phases to thereby perform the PPP connection.
US07983224B2
The present invention discloses a method for delivering paging from 1X network in HRPD (High Rate Packet Data) network, and the Secondary Color Code scheme is applied in the present invention, which enables the AN in which a MS/AT is registered to send an A13-paging request message to other adjacent ANs which are together therewith used for paging a mobile phone. For a MS/AT at multiple AN boundary, with the present invention, it enhances the possibility of receiving the paging through HRPD air interface control channel due to the service originated from 1X network, and can ensure the double network operation ability.
US07983218B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to allow a wireless device engaged in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communication session to move between heterogeneous wireless networks without terminating the SIP session.
US07983203B2
A system and method for including aggregation control information in an aggregate frame that facilitates enhanced power efficiency is provided. Aggregation control information may include lengths of frames addressed to different stations and/or transmission opportunities to different stations. A receiving station is then able to calculate an offset within the aggregate frame that identifies the position of frames addressed to the receiving station and/or offset when it can use the medium to transmit it's data. The receiving station may then enter a sleep mode and awaken at a proper time for using the medium to either receive, or transmit data on the medium. Additionally, aggregation control information may include rate information to facilitate aggregation of multi-rate data in an aggregate frame.
US07983202B2
The present invention relates generally to a cellular telecommunications network. Each cell has at least one base station for sending messages on a downlink of a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) to end user equipments within the cell and for receiving messages on an uplink from end user equipments within the cell. Other end user equipment located within the cell which have no or only poor communication directly with the base station over the FDD communicate with the base station indirectly via an intermediate end user equipment, such as a mobile telephone. The intermediate end user equipment includes an FDD transceiver and a Time Division Duplex (TDD) transceiver and an FDD/TDD interface. The intermediate end user equipment receives signals from the base station over the FDD using the FDD transceiver and relays them via the FDD/TDD Interface and the TDD transceiver towards a relevant one of the other end user equipments over a TDD and receives signals from the other end user equipment over the TDD using the TDD transceiver and relays them via the FDD/TDD interface and the FDD transceiver to the base station over the FDD.
US07983200B2
The performance of a voice conference using a packet-based conference bridge can be improved with a number of modifications. In one modification, the conference bridge receives speech indication signals from the individual packet-based terminals within the voice conference, these speech indication signals then being used by the conference bridge to select the talkers within the voice conference. This removes the need for speech detection techniques within the conference bridge, hence decreasing the required processing power and the latency within the conference bridge. In another modification, the conference bridge sends addressing control signals to the individual packet-based terminals selected as talkers, these addressing control signals directing the terminals selected as talkers to directly transmit their voice data packets to the other terminals within the voice conference. This direct transmission of voice data packets can reduce transcoding and latency within the network. These two modifications could further be combined, resulting in a conference bridge that receives speech indication signals, selects the talkers for the voice conference and outputs addressing control signal to the talkers. In this case, the advantages of the two modifications are gained as well as additional capacity advantages resulting from no voice signals actually traversing the conference bridge.
US07983190B2
In a layer 2 communication device included in multiple layer 2 networks, an identifying unit identifies a layer 3 control packet from among packets passing through, and an embedding unit embeds routing control information for the layer 2 network in the layer 3 control packet. In a layer 3 communication device connected to the multiple layer 2 networks, a selecting unit selects from the multiple layer 2 networks, an optimum L2 network, that is a layer 2 network forming an optimum communication route, based on a communication destination, and a setting unit sets a packet to be transmitted to the optimum L2 network.
US07983186B2
A system identifies when received packets are lost at a node in a multi-node processing chain. The system processing chain may include a gantry interface module for receiving coincident event data from a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) detector array, a DMA (direct memory access) rebinner card, and a transmission line coupled between the gantry interface module and the DMA card. FPGA and FIFO elements in each processing portion receive packets that may be lost if there is insufficient FIFO capacity. Lost packets are marked, discarded, and counted. At specified intervals, set in accordance with a threshold number of packets received a lost tally data packet is generated that includes count information for lost packets. The lost tally data packet is forwarded downstream when sufficient storage capacity exists.
US07983182B2
A method for managing transport node capability information includes discovering a link end of a local transport node, modelling the local transport node's capability information as a first set of information structures, discovering a neighbor transport node, establishing a control adjacency link between control elements of the local transport node and neighbor transport node, modelling the neighbor transport node's capability information as a second set of information structures, exchanging the first and second sets of information structures between the control elements and identifying potential network layer links between the local and neighbor transport nodes, based on correlations in the first and second sets of information structures.
US07983179B2
A system for collecting data from a communications network includes customer premises equipment (“CPE”) for monitoring and storing response data. A CPE data collection module uses a Web-based service to collect information from the CPE and process the information to determine line quality and any errors that may exist on either the WAN side or the LAN side of the communications network, and further determine the root cause based on built-in business rules for trouble shooting customer service. The CPE conducts per-tone diagnostics on the WAN side of the communications network and obtains WAN side data. The CPE obtains response data from devices on the LAN side. Both WAN side data and LAN data may be transmitted substantially in real-time or stored and transmitted periodically to the CPE data collection module upon requests originated from the CPE data collection module.
US07983174B1
A method of diagnosing a fault in a network path comprises the steps, performed at a diagnosing node, of initiating a path discovery test. The diagnosing node receives at least one path discovery test response and identifies the diagnosable node on the network path from a path discovery test response. The diagnosing node remotely accesses said diagnosable node and performs a diagnostic routine at said diagnosable node.
US07983162B1
A network device has a port to allow the device to communicate with user devices. The network device also has a processor to assign any user devices in communication with the device to a group. The processor also monitors traffic of the user devices so as to control a traffic rate of the group.
US07983154B2
The present invention discloses a method including the steps of a) confirming the status of a path corresponding to each node apparatus in the ring network by using a predetermined control information that includes a function of adding/deleting a predetermined path on a physical layer, b) instructing each node apparatus to add/delete the predetermined path by using the predetermined control information when the status of the path corresponding to each node apparatus is confirmed to be normal, c) reporting completion of the addition/deletion of the predetermined path to each node apparatus by using the predetermined control information when the addition/deletion of the predetermined path is adequately performed by each node apparatus, and d) reporting the addition/deletion of the predetermined path to a ring application function included in the ring application of the data link layer when the completion of the addition/deletion of the predetermined path is adequately reported by each node apparatus.
US07983150B2
A method for communication over a bi-directional ring network includes provisioning a virtual private local area network service (VPLS) over the bi-directional ring network. The VPLS includes connection termination points provisioned respectively on a plurality of the nodes so as to connect each of the plurality of the nodes to a second network external to the ring network. As long as the nodes and spans are fully operational, one or more of the connection termination points are maintained in a deactivated state, so that no more than one of the connection termination points to the second network is active. The nodes exchange messages indicative of a failure associated with the bi-directional ring network, causing at least one of the deactivated connection termination points to be activated so as to maintain connectivity among the users of the VPLS without creating a loop in the VPLS via the second network.
US07983149B2
The present invention provides a line accommodation device comprising at least one first communication control unit for controlling information transmission/reception to/from a first communication system, at least one second communication control unit for controlling information transmission/reception to/from a second communication system using the first communication system as a communication medium and a route control unit for controlling the switching of an information transfer route between the first and second communication unit.
US07983147B2
A method of effectively setting and changing a Receive Channel Set (RCS) of a cable modem (CM) is provided. The method includes: receiving, by a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS), a Receive Channel Profile (RCP) with respect to a downstream physical layer of a CM; composing, by the CMTS, a plurality of channel configuration information required for setting the RCS of the CM with reference to the RCP; encoding, by the CMTS, the plurality of channel configuration information, and transmitting the encoded plurality of channel configuration information to the CM; transmitting, by the CM, an RCP with respect to a downstream physical layer to a CMTS; receiving, by the CM, a plurality of channel configuration information being composed with reference to the RCP and being required for setting the RCS; and setting, by the CM, the RCS using the plurality of channel configuration information.
US07983143B2
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting an orthogonal frequency domain multiple access (OFDMA) signal including a synchronization channel signal transmitted within a localized portion of a bandwidth of the OFDMA signal (818), the synchronization channel signal having predetermined time domain symmetry within the localized portion of the bandwidth (816) and including information for providing at least partial cell identification information (812). The synchronization channel signal enables an initial acquisition and cell search method with low computational load which provides OFDMA symbol timing detection and frequency error detection (1112) and frame boundary detection and cell specific information detection (1114) in an OFDMA system supporting multiple system bandwidths, both synchronized and un-synchronized systems, a large cell index and an OFDMA symbol structure with both short and long cyclic prefix length.
US07983134B2
A method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data is disclosed. The apparatus for recording/reproducing data comprises a diffraction element splitting light diffracted or reflected from a recording medium into a main beam and first and second sub beams, the main beam and the first and second sub beams having no interference from one another; a light-receiving part detecting the main beam and the first and second sub beams; and a controller controlling a position of the diffraction element based on at least one light capacity of the detected beams or the detected position.
US07983126B2
A recording condition approximate to the optimal is obtainable for a media even if unknown to the drive. A technique is provided that is effective for improving the signal quality, particularly, at a Wobble and Lpp. By regulating an intermediate pulse condition PWD, Tmp of a recording pulse configured with a top pulse, an intermediate pulse and a last pulse, the pit width W in a saturation code is controlled. The pit length and phase in the saturation code is controlled based on a front phase correction amount Ttop and rear phase correction amount Tlast.
US07983125B2
An apparatus and method for determining the power consumption of one or more disk arrays are described. Power consumption information for various hardware components of the array, especially that for the disk drives since these consume more than 90% of the required power, are stored in a static data table in a database which may be controller firmware. Through inspection of this table and the chosen state of the individual disk drives as directed by a controller, one may determine the power use of the array.
US07983123B2
A method of defect management for managing on a block-by-block basis a defective area in an information-recording medium is disclosed. The medium has a user-data area, a sparing area, and a defect-management information are. The block is of a predetermined size. The method includes the steps of, when a defective block in which the defective area is included is set to be replaced with a sparing block of the sparing area: dividing the sparing block into multiple subblocks so as to set identifying information, for identifying a sparing subblock in which data are replaced and a non-sparing subblock in which data are not replaced, as defect-management information; and setting block-management information, including information regarding the defective block and the sparing block, and information regarding an area in which non-sparing data not replaced with the sparing block are stored, as defect-management information.
US07983122B2
Defocus detection device and method capable of detecting a defocus accurately during recording of information to an optical disk having a plurality of recording layers and an optical disk unit using the device and method are provided. A temporal restriction is imposed on defocus detection and besides, in comparison with a level for detection of a first change of a focus error signal developing during a defocus, a level for detection of a successively occurring second change of a polarity inverse to that of the first change is made to be smaller. When the first level is exceeded and thereafter the second level is exceeded within a restricted time, a defocus is detected.
US07983115B2
A time management system that includes a first clock having a first counter operating on a first timebase, a second clock having a second counter operating on a second timebase identical to the first timebase and a third counter operating on a third timebase less than the second timebase. The time management system performs a resynchronization of the second clock after the main electrical power supply has been restored, this resynchronization including, on a modification of the first counter, loading the first counter into the second counter and in zeroing the third counter.
US07983114B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a linear submersible body including a plurality of rigid segments that are articulated and can adopt relative to one another an orientation making it possible to form a rectilinear body, or a curved body of which the radius of curvature is adapted to the drum of the winch onto which it is wound. The segments are associated with couplers and configured so that a vertical rectilinear posture is naturally obtained when the device is totally submerged and towed by the ship, while the curved posture is obtained naturally by the winding of the device onto the winch. Embodiments of the invention apply to the production of linear and vertical transmitting acoustic antennas.
