US07998274B2
A smoking article comprising discrete segments of smokable material having an encapsulated flavourant contained within a component of the smokable material to provide a stable release of flavourant at different points during smoking, and in particular in the final puffs. The encapsulated flavourant is incorporated within a reconstituted tobacco material for ease of manufacture and for improved flavour stabilisation. A method of making a segmented smoking article having encapsulated flavourant therein is also provided.
US07998271B2
New methods for the synthesis of nanocrystals/quantum dots are disclosed. The methods comprise use of reasonably-priced and commercially available heat transfer fluids (such as Dowtherm® A) as solvents to synthesize CdSe nanocrystals. Separation of nucleation and growth is achieved by quenching the reaction solution with relatively cold (room temperature) solvent to lower the solution temperature. Quenching may be followed by raising the solution temperature, to allow controlled growth to take place.
US07998270B2
A cement clinker which necessitates no considerable change in the main chemical components and mineral components of cement, is free from preheater coating problems and adverse influences on cement properties, and is effective in reducing the heat quantity required for burning; and a process for producing the cement clinker. In the process for cement clinker production a substance having a melting point higher than the temperature of a liquid phase of the cement clinker and serving as crystal nuclei for C3S is incorporated include a fine powder of refractory brick, particles of an ordinary Portland cement clinker, a fine powder of a high-early-strength Portland cement clinker, a high-early-strength Portland cement, and a fine powder of quicklime. Due to this, alite generation is accelerated even at a low temperature. As a result, high-quality clinker can be produced through burning using a small unit heat quantity and no decrease in cement quality results. The process contributes to a reduction in preheater coating amount and prolongation of the life of the refractory bricks.
US07998269B2
A cement includes a cement mixture and a permeable, micro-cluster silica material present in an amount from about 10 percent to about 30 percent by weight of the cement mixture. The cement blend may be used in casing a borehole when appropriate fluid loss agents are included in the cement blend. Additionally, a cement additive is added to a cement mixture to provide the cement blend. This cement additive can be formulated in a kit form.
US07998265B2
Asphalt compositions and methods of forming such are described herein. The asphalt compositions and methods of forming such are generally adapted to enable open air processing while producing asphalt compositions that exhibit properties capable of meeting SUPERPAVE™ specifications.
US07998263B2
A sintered silicon oxide for film vapor deposition having a density of 1.0 to 2.0 g/cm3, three-point flexural strength of at least 50 g/mm2, and a BET specific surface area of 0.1 to 20 m2/g is provided. When this sintered silicon oxide is used for evaporation source of a film, pin holes and other defects of the film caused by the problematic splash phenomenon can be reliably prevented and stable production of a reliable package material having excellent gas barrier property is been enabled. This invention also provides a method for producing such sintered silicon oxide, and this method can be used in a large scale production without requiring any special technology, and therefore, this method is capable of supplying the market with the sintered silicon oxide at reduced cost.
US07998262B2
A dust collector is provided in the main body of a POS terminal so that the dust in the main body can be caught into the dust collector.
US07998261B2
An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a collector, a differential pressure sensing device, a differential pressure based estimating device, a partition wall exposure sensing device, and a second regenerating device. The collector captures exhaust particles in exhaust gas. The differential pressure sensing device senses a differential pressure across the collector. The differential pressure based estimating device estimates an accumulation amount of the exhaust particles based on the differential pressure. The partition wall exposure sensing device senses a partition wall exposure state. The second regenerating device forcibly completely combusts the exhaust particles captured in the collector when the partition wall exposure sensing device senses the partition wall exposure state.
US07998257B2
A canister, for inhibiting a diffusion phenomenon in an adsorbent layer as much as possible and certainly adsorbing fed evaporated fuel to inhibit blow-by of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere, is constituted by filling a first adsorbent layer of the canister with activated carbon A having a large evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power, and filling a second and a third adsorbent layers with activated carbon B having an intermediate evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power and therefore having characteristics that the residual amount of the low boiling point components in the evaporated fuel after purge is small, whereby after the high temperature standing of the canister, the discharge of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere can be inhibited.
US07998253B2
An air filtering unit for a factory includes: an entry duct; a flow expander section fluidly connected with the entry duct, the flow expander section including a flow distribution unit and a flow velocity reduction unit; a filter unit fluidly connected with the flow expander section, the filter unit having a plurality of filter bags, the filter bags being suspended from a tube sheet; and an exit duct fluidly connected with the filter unit. The flow distribution unit includes a series of flow distribution members positioned along a flow path, the flow distribution unit located and configured to substantially equally distribute an airstream along the length of the flow axis into a plurality of divided substreams. The flow velocity reduction unit includes a plurality of flow reduction members, each of the flow reduction members positioned and configured to confront at least one of the divided substreams and reduce the flow velocity thereof.
US07998242B2
A metallurgical process involves providing an ingredient enclosure and placing a plurality of granules of a first material in the ingredient enclosure. The first material contains a first ingredient in a metallurgical process. A metallurgical process furnace having a chamber in which ingredients for the metallurgical process are added is provided and the ingredient enclosure and the first material are added to the chamber. The chamber is heated after the addition of the ingredient enclosure and the first material to the chamber, although it may also be heated prior to such addition. In one form, the granules comprise mill scale and the metallurgical process furnace is a blast furnace.
US07998238B2
A sintered sliding member comprises a back metal (21a) and a ferrous sintered sliding body (20) which is sintering-bonded to the back metal (21a). The ferrous sintered sliding body (20) has martensite phase having a solid soluble carbon concentration of 0.15 to 0.5 wt % and contains carbide in a content of 5 to 50% by volume. The sintered sliding member is excellent in abrasion resistance, seizing resistance and heat crack resistance.
US07998234B2
A vacuum cleaner includes a dust collector that compresses dust stored inside a dust container to minimize the volume of the dust. The dust collector would include one or more pressing plates that are used to compress the dust stored in dust collector. Various methods are used to control movements of the movable pressing plates to facilitate the compression operations. Also, various methods are used to determine when the dust collector is full and needs to be emptied.
US07998233B2
An air cleaner unit for a vehicle includes an air cleaner element and an air cleaner housing to be arranged generally above ring portions of a fan shroud. The air cleaner element is disposed in the air cleaner housing such that a predetermined space is provided between a lower surface of the air cleaner element and an inner surface of a bottom wall of the air cleaner housing. The bottom wall of the air cleaner housing includes at least two arcuate portions to correspond to the ring portions of the fan shroud and a projecting portion between the arcuate portions. The projecting portion projects downwardly and is configured to increase the volume of the predetermined space.
US07998225B2
The invention provides methods of synthesizing and purifying methyl esters and specifically biodiesel fuels. The methods include acid-catalyzed transesterification of a triglyceride source followed by formation of an acidic emulsion that is subjected to an electric field to break the emulsion and recover the purified methyl esters. After recovery, the purified methyl esters may be used as a highly purified and stable biodiesel fuel without further treatment. The electric field may be efficiently applied to the acidic emulsion in an electrochemical reactor such as an electrocoagulation chamber.
US07998221B2
The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element. The gap may be filled with a resilient material.
US07998218B1
A modular implant system operable to implant into a selected portion of the anatomy. The modular implant system may include an adaptor to allow for interconnection of disparate connection portions to allow for connecting a plurality of connection types. Expanding the modularity of an implant system by allowing interconnection of a plurality of modular implant systems.
US07998214B2
A vertebral implant comprises a tubular body sized to fit between two vertebral endplates and a pair of ring-shaped cleat assemblies. Each cleat assembly comprises an outer end wall, an inner end wall, and a side wall which defines a hollow bore. One or more spikes extend from each outer end wall, and each hollow bore is sized to fit over an end of the tubular body and slidably pass from the end along at least a portion of the length of the tubular body.
US07998208B2
An apparatus includes an elongate member including a cutting edge disposed at a distal end portion of the elongate member. The cutting edge is configured to cut a portion of an implant when the elongate member moves relative to the implant.
US07998206B2
An osteochondral centrifugation system for providing an osteochondral centrifuged core from a graft such as femoral condyle, for example. The centrifugation system may be used either in the operating room or, alternatively, at a tissue banking facility at the time of processing. The osteochondral centrifuged core is formed by (i) removing an osteochondral core from a graft; (ii) placing the osteochondral core in a centrifugation system to remove blood, lipids, or other potentially antigenic or contaminating materials, and to obtain a centrifuged core; and (iii) optionally, subjecting the centrifuged core to a material that reduces the chance of disease transmission and aids in the healing of the recipient site to which the centrifuged core is to be transferred.
US07998202B2
Disclosed are implantable tissue augmentation devices, methods, and associated tools. The devices include an inflatable body, having an inner layer and an outer layer. A valve is provided for permitting the introduction of and retaining inflation media. At least one pull tab is provided on an end of the implant, to assist in positioning the implant. Kits and systems are also disclosed.
US07998201B2
Disclosed are implantable tissue augmentation devices, methods, and associated tools. The devices include an inflatable body, having an inner layer and an outer layer. A valve is provided for permitting the introduction of and retaining inflation media. At least one pull tab is provided on an end of the implant, to assist in positioning the implant. Kits and systems are also disclosed.
US07998197B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a coated intraocular lens that has a lens body with a first refractive index and an anti-reflective coating. The coating covers at least a portion of the lens body and has a second index of refraction that is less than the first index of refraction of the lens body. The anti-reflective coating reduces the intensity of reflections produced from off axis light incident on the lens body by at least a factor of 2.5 times and enhancing light transmission.
US07998188B2
Stents and methods of using stents are provided. Stents of the invention provide external support structure for a blood vessel segment disposed within, wherein the stents are capable of resilient radial expansion in a manner mimicking the compliance properties of an artery. The stent may be formed of a knitted or braided mesh formed so as to provide the needed compliance properties. A venous graft with the stent and a vein segment disposed within is provided, wherein graft is capable of mimicking the compliance properties of an artery. Methods of selecting stents for downsizing and methods of using the stents of the invention in downsizing and smoothening are provided. Methods of replacing a section of an artery with a venous graft including a stent of the invention are provided. Methods of reducing intimal hyperplasia in implanted vein segment in a venous graft using stents of the invention are provided.
US07998187B2
A connection socket (12) for an end of a stent graft or a side arm (10) of a stent graft. The connection socket has a first resilient ring (14) around the arm at its end, a second resilient ring (16) spaced apart along the arm from the first ring and optionally a zig zag resilient stent (20) between the first and second rings. Each of the rings is of slightly lesser diameter than the side arm. The zig-zag resilient stent can be a compression stent.
US07998184B2
A protective sleeve for a catheter assembly comprising a tubular member composed of a first material. The first material having a first predetermined modulus of elasticity. The tubular member having at least one stripe of a second material engaged thereto. The second material having a greater modulus of elasticity than the first material. The tubular member having a loading state and being crimpable to a reduced state. In the loading state the tubular member being sized to disposingly engage the balloon of a catheter assembly wherein the balloon has a first diameter. When the tubular member is in the reduced state the tubular member is disposingly and retainingly engaged to the balloon. When the tubular member is in the reduced state the balloon has a second diameter which is less than the first diameter.
US07998175B2
Systems and devices for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The systems include a superior component for attachment to a superior vertebra of a spinal motion segment and an inferior component for attachment to an inferior vertebral of a spinal motion segment. The interconnection between the two components enables the spinal motion segment to move in a manner that mimics the natural motion of the spinal motion segment. Methods are also provided for stabilizing the spine and for implanting the subject systems.
US07998170B2
A surgical needle includes an elongated needle body defining a longitudinal axis, and having a main shaft, a needle end adjacent the main shaft, and a needle tip extending from the needle end and having an extreme needle point. The needle end includes a plurality of concave surfaces extending from the needle tip to the main shaft. The needle tip includes a plurality of concave surfaces extending from the needle point to intersect the concave surfaces of the needle end. The concave surfaces of the needle end are obliquely arranged relative to the longitudinal axis at a first angle. The concave surfaces of the needle tip are obliquely arranged relative to the longitudinal axis at a second angle greater than the first angle. The elongated needle body includes cutting edges disposed along lines of intersection of the concave surfaces of the needle end with the concave surfaces of the needle tip. The needle end includes four intersecting concave surfaces and defines a generally diamond-shape in cross-section along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The needle end defines a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than a corresponding maximum cross-sectional dimension of the main shaft. The needle tip may include four intersecting concave surfaces and define a general diamond shape cross-section.
US07998159B2
A cutting accessory for use with a powered surgical tool includes an elongated outer tube with an outer hub attached to the proximal end for releasably securing the cutting accessory within the powered tool. An elongated inner member is received within the outer tube and has an inner hub adapted to be driven by the surgical tool. The dimensions of the outer tube and inner member are such as to form an annular channel therebetween for the passage of irrigating fluid. The inner member carries a cutting tool, such as a burr, at its distal end, the tool being accessible through an aperture in the outer tube. A bearing member is located in the annular channel between the inner member and the outer tube, and a bypass channel runs external to the outer tube to carry irrigating fluid to the cutting tool bypassing the bearing member. An aperture through the outer tube connects the annular channel with the bypass channel.
US07998155B2
Apparatus and methods for performing a surgical anastomotic procedure are disclosed herein. Apparatus according to the present disclosure include a tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a longitudinal axis, the tubular body including an expandable anchor provided near the distal end thereof and an expandable cuff provided near the distal end of the tubular body and proximal of the expandable anchor, and a joining member (200) configured and adapted to be received about the expandable cuff of the tubular body, the joining member having an annular body portion (202) including a pair of opposed terminal edges (204, 206). The joining member has a retracted position in which the pair of opposed terminal edges overlap by a predetermined amount and an expanded position in which the pair of opposed terminal edges overlap by an amount less than the predetermined amount.
US07998154B2
Apparatus (100) for performing a surgical anastomosis include a tubular body (102) having an expandable anchor (114) operatively coupled near a distal end thereof. The apparatus further includes a sleeve (104) slidably received about the tubular body. The sleeve has an expandable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof. The expandable anchor of the tubular body has an annular (116) ring concentric with a longitudinal axis defined by the tubular body.
US07998147B2
A modular hip body/stem inserter comprises a stem inserter and a holder. A proximal body portion of an implant is loaded, or mounted, onto the holder. A distal stem portion of the implant is affixed onto the stem inserter. The modular hip body/stem inserter maintains the proximal body portion and distal stem portion a short distance apart. The stem inserter can be adjusted to control the version of the distal stem, while the holder can be independently adjusted to control the version of the proximal body. Once the version is adjusted to determine a final seating position, the stem inserter portion is removed and the holder is then used to impact the proximal body and distal stem together, thereby locking the implant components together through a taper locking mechanism.
US07998144B2
A surgical instrument for holding and inserting a connection member of an osteosynthesis device into a retainer of a bone anchorage element comprises a distal end, a proximal end and a first connection portion at a distal end. The first connection portion comprises a connection member receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the connection member. The instrument further comprises a locking mechanism which is transferable from a release position, in which the instrument is releasable from the connection member, to a connection position, in which the instrument can be connected to the connection member. Moreover, an osteosynthesis device comprising at least two bone anchorage elements and at least a connection member is proposed, which further comprises a surgical instrument for holding and inserting the connection member into at least one retainer of the bone anchorage elements.
US07998141B2
The invention relates to a variety of catheters provided with an elongate body with an electrically conductive first end. Wherein through said elongate body at least one conductive wire extends which is connected to an electrode. The electrode is coupled to said first end and an irrigation means (e.g. a channel, duct, tube, etc.) for feeding an irrigation fluid through said elongate body, where said irrigation means is provided, in, on, near, through, or adjacent said first end with at least one outlet opening, while said irrigation means is at least partially thermally insulated from said first end. Optionally a temperature sensor couples to the first end.
US07998134B2
A luer connector including a rigid housing having a first end and a second end. The housing further including a rigid tubular male portion at the first end, a rigid tubular female portion at the second end, and a longitudinal opening therethrough. The male portion is configured to be engageable with a female connector. The female portion is configured to be engageable with a male connector and to prevent the disengagement of the male connector from the female portion. In some embodiments, the female portion is configured to maintain a fixed rotational position when the male connector is being threaded therewith, but to rotate with the male connector once the male connector has become fully engaged with the female portion so as to prevent the male connector from becoming unthreaded from the female portion.
US07998132B2
Medical devices such as catheters can include structure or provision that permit a physician or other health care professional to adjust the stiffness of at least a portion of the medical device. In some instances, the medical device may be adjusted prior to inserting the medical device into a patient. In some cases, the medical device may be adjusted while in use within the patient.
US07998127B2
A merchandise system for disposable absorbent articles is provided. The merchandise display system includes a first line-up and second line-up of disposable absorbent articles designed to match a wearer's stage of development. The system also includes various color schemes associated with the first and second line-ups in order to facilitate consumers' identification and selection of the appropriate absorbent article configuration for a particular wearer. A merchandise system for baby care articles is also provided.
US07998122B2
An improved luer lock receiving septum having a configuration which provides rapid and tight resealing and yet allows penetration of the septum by the luer tip with a low penetration force. The elongated septum includes an upper portion of enlarged diameter having a target surface, a central slit, and a central, lower septum extension projecting about the slit below the upper portion and into a housing so that following luer insertion there is provided sufficient room for both the laterally displaced extension of the septum, the luer taper, and the housing to be received into a conventional luer lock connector. The septum is further preferably configured to minimize or eliminate the negative pressure deflection normally associated with the withdrawal of the large diameter luer cannula from an enclosed fluid filled lumen or chamber, by substantially isolating the lumen or chamber from the septum material displacement resultant from luer insertion. In an exemplary embodiment, the luer receiving septum is provided at a port of a stop cock.
US07998121B2
An automatic safety occluder provides an occluder for an infusion set that is biased in a closed position until an electrical signal is received that causes the occluder to open. Should the occluder fail to be installed correctly, or if power is removed, the occluder will return to its biased closed position, preventing free flow. The occluder may also be placed in an integrated unit such that the automatic safety occluder may attach to the tubing as a unit.
US07998104B2
One disclosed embodiment comprises a method for treating lesions in the carotid artery of a mammalian body. The method comprises transcervical access and blocking of blood flow through the common carotid artery (with or without blocking of blood flow through the external carotid artery), shunting blood from the internal carotid artery and treating the lesion in the carotid artery.
US07998097B2
A massage device may include: at least one support; and one or more massage members rotatably mounted on the support. The or each massage member may include at least one pair of flexible lips. Each lip may extend about an axis of rotation of the massage member, may be configured to come into engagement with a region to be treated, and may be configured to flex when the device is applied to the region to be treated.
US07998096B1
The PARAPLEGIC CONTROLLED, CONCEALED MECHANIZED WALKING DEVICE is a thoracic/abdominal harness worn under the clothes, concealed from view, with two Motorized Gait Mechanisms with leg appendages on them, a right and a left, that with the aid of crutches with controls on the handles, that control the motorized gait mechanisms, will enable paraplegics and other types of patients with leg paralysis to stand up and walk. It will improve the quality of their lives, enable them to look and appear normal among their peers, help them maintain a high level of self-esteem and assist them in leading a more active and interesting life.
US07998095B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for repairing defective occlusions are provided. One embodiment includes an elongate body having a first lumen extending from a proximal end toward a distal end of the elongate body. An elongate structure, having a lumen extending from a proximal end toward a distal end of the elongate structure, is extendably and rotatably positioned at least partially within the first lumen of the elongate body. An energy emitting device is coupled to a portion of the elongate body proximal the distal end of the elongate body to emit focused ultrasound.
US07998091B2
A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use. The sensor includes a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin. One or more conductors are coupled to the transducer element. A mass element is compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element. Intervening material is disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, and allows for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element.
US07998086B2
Devices and methods are provided for extracting and macerating tissue, and optionally for depositing the tissue onto a tissue scaffold. The device generally includes an outer tube having a substantially open distal end that is adapted to be placed on and preferably to form a seal with a tissue surface, and a shaft rotatably disposed within the outer tube and movable between a first, proximal position in which the shaft is fully disposed within the outer tube, and a second, distal position in which a portion of a distal end of the shaft extends through the opening in the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a tissue harvesting tip formed on the distal end of the shaft that is effective to excise a tissue sample when the shaft is moved to the distal position, and a cutting member that is coupled to the shaft at a position proximal to the tissue harvesting tip. The cutting member is effective to macerate a tissue sample excised by the tissue harvesting tip.
US07998085B2
An apparatus used in the medical industry, in order to increase transpulmonary pressure and respiratory volumes, to improve inspiratory muscle performance and re-establish the normal pulmonary hyperinflation, through the employment of electronic technology, providing audible, simulated, verbal, human sounding words, that assist, guide and prompt, increasing patient usage. In one embodiment, the Incentive Spirometer uses a capacitive sensing circuit for sensing movement of the float within the tube wall and for obtaining a measurement or reading of the patient's performance with the Incentive Spirometer.
US07998083B2
A method and device for automatically detecting heart valve damage for four heart valves are proposed. The automatic determination method makes use of three or more heart tone microphones to simultaneously record heart tones of a patient's heart, and then separates the heart tones into four heart tone signals of the aortic valve, the pulmonary valve, the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve of the heart based on the timing characteristics and related techniques. Next, these four heart tone signals are digitally processed into sampling signals. Subsequently, the convolution method is used to process the sampling signals for producing system transfer functions. Finally, the system transfer functions and the reference database are compared to verify and determine damage for the four heart valves. The automatic determination method can judge heart valve damage to enhance the quality and convenience of medical treatment.
US07998082B2
The present invention includes machine-enabled methods of, and devices and systems for, simulating thermo-dilution cardiac output measurements based on ambient room temperature measurements via the injectate temperature sensor.
US07998078B2
Embodiments of the present invention may provide an ultrasonic probe having a device for coupling a wire-rope to a transducer. A worker can easily couple the wire-rope to the transducer and can conveniently adjust the tension of the wire-rope. The ultrasonic probe has a pair of wire-ropes transmitting a drive force from a driving portion to the transducer by alternately pulling it at both sides thereof for rotating the transducer. The device comprises a wire-rope tightening bolt having a through-hole to which a wire-rope is inserted, wherein the wire-rope tightening bolt is rotatably coupled to the transducer.
US07998076B2
Contrast agents are characterized with ultrasound. Flowing or unbound contrast agents are distinguished automatically from bound or relatively stationary contrast agents. The bound or relatively stationary contrast agents are highlighted on a display. A processor distinguishes different types of contrast agents or contrast agents in different binding states with relative signal strength or velocity. Attached contrast agents are differentiated from phagocytosed contrast agents. Monitoring absolute signal strength as a function of time may indicate binding. Any one or more of these features may be used.
US07998074B2
A medical imaging system automatically acquires two-dimensional images representing a user-defined region of interest despite motion. The plane of acquisition is updated or altered adaptively as a function of detected motion. The user-designated region of interest is then continually scanned due to the alteration in scan plane position. A multi-dimensional array is used to stabilize imaging of a region of interest in a three-dimensional volume. The user defines a region of interest for two-dimensional imaging. Motion is then detected. The position of a scan plane used to generate a subsequent two-dimensional image is then oriented as a function of the detected motion within the three-dimensional volume. By repeating the motion determination and adaptive alteration of the scan plane position, real time imaging of a same region of interest is provided while minimizing the region of interest fading into or out of the sequence of images.
US07998062B2
Systems and methods employing a small gauge steerable catheter (30) including a locatable guide (32) with a sheath (40), particularly as an enhancement to a bronchoscope (14). A typical procedure is as follows. The location of a target in a reference coordinate system is detected or imported. The catheter (30) is navigated to the target which tracking the distal tip (34) of the guide (32) in the reference coordinate system. Insertion of the catheter is typically via a working channel of a convention bronchoscope. Once the tip of the catheter is positioned at the target, the guide (32) is withdrawn, leaving the sheath (40) secured in place. The sheath (40) is then used as a guide channel to direct a medical tool to target.
US07998047B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton has panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. The carton includes a handle in the closed end of the carton for grasping and carrying the carton. At least one end flap of the at least two end flaps comprises a main panel for closing the closed end of the carton and an extension panel foldably attached to the main panel. The extension panel is positioned above the handle to reinforce the carton.
US07998045B2
An exercise chair primarily directed to employing an exercise method, with independent, adjustable foot bars and a foldable configuration. The seat is supported by a plurality of support elements, at least some of which are hingeably connected with the seat, so that the chair can be folded into a compact shape for storage or transport. The independent foot bars may each be attached to a lever that is hingeably coupled one or more of the support elements. The position of the foot bars may also be adjustable by extending out of the levers and locking into the desired position. One or more resistance elements may be removably attached to a location below the chair seat, and individually connected with the levers via an adjusting assembly that can either slide or be placed in pre-set mounting locations along the lever to provide variable resistance, or can be equipped with a turnbuckle to provide varying resistance. A platform that rests at or near the floor during use may be attached to the two front support elements, which provides stability as well as comfort when the user stands or kneels on the platform when using the chair.
US07998040B2
A physical therapy apparatus for use in conjunction with a treadmill provides an assistive force to a forward movement of the legs. A force assistance device is adapted to attach to the feet or legs of a patient positioned on a motorized treadmill to assist in walking therapy by providing an assistive force to a forward movement of the patient's feet or legs. An adjustment device may vary an interface of attachment, for example, the height or direction, between the force assistance device and the patient's feet or legs. A force arresting device may arrest the assistive force provided by the force assistance device during the forward movement of the patient's feet or legs. The force assistance device provides a substantially constant assistance force during the forward movement of the patient's feet or legs. The physical therapy device may also include a force adjustment device connected with the force assistance device to vary the magnitude of the assistive force.
US07998033B1
A bicycle trainer frame adapted for use with a bicycle includes a frame member having spaced apart ends. A coupler is disposed in at least one of the ends, the coupler having engaging cam elements to cause linear movement of a rod. A lever is connected to one of the cam elements wherein the cam surfaces are configured to cause linear movement for rotation of lever less than one revolution such that the rod moves from a first position to a second position, the first position being spaced apart from a component of the bicycle to allow removal of the bicycle from the frame, and the second position being sufficient to secure the bicycle to the frame.
US07998030B2
A rolling resistance producing apparatus is tethered to trail behind a person includes a longitudinally aligned fabric panel stretched on a frame which also engages the rear end of an elastomeric band that is stretched through a sheath formed in the panel to engage a harness tied to selected limbs of the person to provide resistance thereto. The trailing end of the frame is supported on a wheel to follow the person as she or he are moving. A measurement system sensing the movement of the wheel then records the rate of the movement to provide an indication of fatigue.
US07998029B2
A patient supporting rehabilitating article for providing muscle restoration or restructuring and which includes a body and at least one weighted object arranged upon the body and being positioned at patient specific location during bi-direction repetitive movement initiated by the patient. The body in one variant includes a patient gripping handle terminating in a head support portion exhibiting an ergonomic configured underside. In another variant, the body exhibits a likewise ergonomically configured support portion with opposite attachment ends for receiving opposing looped ends associated with a patient wearable strap.
US07998026B2
A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes selecting a subject device that transmits torque between an input and an output, a providing a mathematical model of the subject device, such that the model employing only static relationships of engine speed and transmission input speed to a desired magnitude of torque produced by the subject device, using the model, the current engine speed and the current engine speed to determine the desired torque produced by the subject device, and adjusting the torque capacity of the clutch to the desired torque of the subject device determined from the model.
US07998022B2
A control device for a vehicle which includes a differential portion controlling a differential state between the number of rotations of an input shaft connected to an engine, and the number of rotations of an output shaft connected to drive wheels, with controlling an operating state of an electric motor, and an automatic shifting portion forming part of a power transmitting path. The control device prevents degradation in operability of the vehicle, even in the presence of a shifting command resulting from a manual shift operation when the automatic shifting portion remains under a limited shifting state. More particularly, if the shifting command is present due to the manual shift operation, the differential state of the differential portion is controlled, thereby causing a variation in a drive force at a rate corresponding to the shifting command.
US07998019B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, four external gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. Each of the external gear sets includes first and second gears. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.
US07998014B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets having six torque-transmitting devices, two fixed interconnections and a grounded member. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one of the planetary gear members, and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US07998010B2
A power transmission device includes a rotatable input shaft, a rotatable output shaft and a ring gear fixed for rotation with the input shaft. A carrier is fixed for rotation with the output shaft. A pump assembly includes an inner rotor supported for rotation on the carrier and an outer rotor encompassing the inner rotor. The outer rotor is in driving meshed engagement with the ring gear. The pump provides pressurized fluid to one of first and second fluid ports. A flow restrictor is moveable to selectively restrict fluid flow relative to one of the first and second ports.
US07998008B2
The invention relates to a power transmission pulley comprising a pulley element having a ribbed outer outline that is adapted to receive a ribbed belt, and a resilient element interposed between the pulley element and a receiver device for coupling to a member driven by the belt. The pulley includes a freewheel device disposed in series with the resilient element between the pulley element and said receiver element.
US07998000B2
A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may generally include a strike face, a top portion, a bottom portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a hosel having a central axis located in a first imaginary vertical plane. A discrete, at least partially curvilinear stiffening element, having generally vertical side surfaces, may be coupled to at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion to improve the dynamic-excitation response of the club head. Preferably, the stiffening element is oriented such that an imaginary horizontal line intersects at least one of the vertical surfaces at at least two points. Additionally, the stiffening element may have at least two inflection points located along a non-linear path characterized by the vertical projection of one of the side surfaces onto at least one of the bottom portion and the top portion of the club head.
US07997998B2
A golf club head is provided with a body that has an address position with a zero degree bounce portion on the sole and a center sole position with a multi-relief surface of the sole having a negative bounce portion. The negative bounce portion may comprise a negative 0.5 to a negative 4.0 degree surface. In one embodiment, the multi-relief surface may comprise the negative bounce portion and a cutaway portion extending to the back of the sole, which may have a depth of about 0.05 to 0.5 inch from a regular sole surface. In another embodiment, the golf club head includes a weight system to adjust the center of gravity. In one embodiment, the weight system is a tube having a weight at one end that may be inserted into the golf club head to move the center of gravity at least forward and backward within 6 mm and up and down within 6 mm. Preferably, the tube is angled downward toward the face by at least 3 degrees.
US07997996B2
Described is a swing training device comprising a first foot plate, a second of foot plate, a connector connecting the first foot plate to the second foot plate, a first foot pad pivotably mounted on the first foot plate, and a second foot pad pivotably mounted on the second foot plate. The swing training device may be useful for teaching balance and developing core muscles used while swinging a sporting device.
US07997991B2
A costume suit modeled after a large size animal having a head and mouth section, a neck section, a torso section, a foot section, a tail section, a skeletal part as a whole, and an outer skin part covering the whole is provided. The torso section is communicated with the foot section forming an internal hollow, just enough for an adult to fit at standing position. The hollow includes a frame pack fixed and installed to the skeletal part of the costume suit, in a position of an approximate equilibrium point of the costume suit. In the hollow, a means for manipulating a movement of the head and mouth section and the neck section, and a means for manipulating opening and closing of a mouth of the head and mouth section are equipped. Moreover, the skeletal part of the tail section is composed of a flexible tabular member placed in an internal hollow of the tail section, imitating a skeleton of a tail, and a plurality of foam blocks fixed and placed on the tabular member at certain intervals.
US07997987B2
Groups are formed, in a computer-based (e.g., on-line) gaming environment, based on social relationships between players. Teams are formed from members of the group. Team formation is based on a game related interest. Each team is assigned an identity that is maintained within a single game and across multiple sessions of a game. The team can interact within the gaming environment much like an individual user can interact. Teams can play games with other in-group and out-of-group teams. Team members can play games with each other. Team statistics and achievements can be accumulated and aggregated. Team profiles provide information about the team, such as a list of the members of the team. Via team profiles, a member of a team can see information about other members of the team, such as other teams to which they belong. Team members can send and receive intra-team messages.
US07997985B2
An interactive multi-channel game method is described. The method includes providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of a multi-channel system, replacing the first representation with a second representation of the game element associated with a second channel of the multi-channel system, providing a clue associated with the second channel, and receiving a user input representing a user's response to the clue. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US07997983B2
A slot machine issues a percentage of one or more progressive awards based upon any wager level (“Percentage Progressive”). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Percentage Progressive concept operates as follows: The game displays the total progressive award amount; The player sets the wager; The game displays a Percentage Progressive value based upon the wager level; The player presses the spin button; The reels to spin and stop; The player collects credits for any winning combinations appearing on the reels, including pay table and progressive awards. In the event of a progressive award, the player receives the Percentage Progressive value * total progressive award amount. The preferred embodiment of the present invention, therefore, allows players to participate in progressive awards at any wager level.
US07997979B2
Chip-Based Gaming includes methods for playing electronic games of chance or skill that provide players with a greater number of options and greater wagering flexibility than previous methods have afforded them. In the present Chip-Based gaming model, players may select virtual betting chips from an onscreen palette and apply those chips to various wagering opportunities throughout a game. Using this model, players are able to make individual bets on each of a slot machine's paylines or wager on making specific hands in Video Poker. Players are also able to buy and/or wager on symbol “nudges” and to buy symbol “re-spins” within a multi-line slot machine, options which provide the player with a much richer, more flexible gaming experience than he or she had heretofore enjoyed.
US07997978B2
A disclosed a gaming machine includes an input mechanism with a non-physical contact data interface. The non-physical contact data interface may be capable of reading loyalty program data from a loyalty program instrument without contact between the loyalty program instrument and the non-physical contact data interface. The input mechanism with the non-physical contact data interface may be one of a bill validator, a bar-code reader and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader. The loyalty program instrument may be a substrate including at least one of a 1-D bar-code printed on the substrate, a 2-D bar-code printed on the substrate, a symbol printed on the substrate, alpha-numeric character printed on the substrate, a RFID tag embedded in the substrate, a RFID tag printed on the substrate and combinations thereof. The loyalty program instrument may be used to store an index to a record in a database or a portable data file.
US07997966B2
A cooling structure for an electricity storage device includes: a secondary battery generating heat; a DC-DC converter generating heat in a quantity different from that of secondary battery; an exhaust path for passing air after cooling secondary battery generating heat in a relatively small quantity, and led to the outside of a vehicle; an exhaust path for passing air after cooling DC-DC converter generating heat in a relatively large quantity, and joining exhaust path; and a circulation path connected to exhaust path upstream of an air flow beyond a position at which exhaust path joins, and led to the inside of a vehicle compartment. With this configuration, there is provided a cooling structure for an electricity storage device in which the suppression of both increase in temperature and decrease in inner pressure inside the vehicle compartment can be effectively achieved at the same time.
US07997961B1
A tool for elevating a sander includes a shaft having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end includes an internally-threaded portion for coupling with the externally-threaded end of a conventional painter's pole, or an accompanying extension pole. Pivotally fastened to the upper end of the shaft is any one of a plurality of removable, interchangeable retaining rings each having a discrete circumference for encircling a power sander. Therefore, a worker can easily manipulate the sander within an elevated area without using a ladder or scaffolding.
US07997958B2
Apparatuses and methods for conditioning polishing pads used in polishing micro-device workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an end effector for conditioning a polishing pad includes a member having a first surface and a plurality of contact elements projecting from the first surface. The member also includes a plurality of apertures configured to flow conditioning solution to the polishing pad. The apertures can extend from the first surface to a second surface opposite the first surface. The member can further include a manifold that is in fluid communication with the apertures. In another embodiment, a conditioner for conditioning the polishing pad includes an arm having at least one spray nozzle configured to spray conditioning solution onto the polishing pad and an end effector coupled to the arm. The end effector includes a first surface and a plurality of contact elements projecting from the first surface.
US07997956B2
To provide a quartz glass tool, for silicon wafer heat treatment, having a transparent grooving face, which is free from the deposition of particles of a transition metal element foreign material derived from glass dust or diamond blade produced by breakdown of acute irregularities based on opening of very small concaves and convexes and microcracks, causes no significant change in dimension also in cleaning with hydrofluoric acid, and can maintain a high degree of cleanness even after use of a long period of time, and to provide a process for producing the same. A quartz glass tool for silicon wafer heat treatment, comprising a wafer mounting member having a grooving face formed by machining, characterized in that the whole grooving face of the wafer mounting member is transparent, the surface roughness is 0.03 to 0.3 μm in terms of center line average roughness (Ra) and 0.2 to 3.0 μm in terms of maximum roughness (Rmax), and a change in center line average roughness and maximum roughness after etching with a 5% aqueous hydrogen fluoride solution for 24 hr is not more than 50%. A process for producing a quartz glass tool for silicon wafer heat treatment, comprising roughly machining a wafer mounting member with a diamond blade having a rough particle size, conducting remachining with a diamond blade having a finer particle size than the above diamond blade, and then subjecting the inside of the groove to firing finishing.
US07997944B1
A bonding device for providing an electrical ground to a plurality of remote devices from a main junction box with a main ground cable. The bonding device includes an elongated electrically conductive housing having a through passage for receiving therethrough the main ground cable. The electrically conductive housing further includes a plurality of passage holes that each extend substantially transverse to the elongated through passage, and with each of the passage holes for receiving a ground wire associated with one of the remote devices. Fasteners retain the ground wire in each corresponding passage hole.
US07997917B1
An environmentally sealed electrical connector comprises a plug connector and a complimentary socket connector. The plug connector includes a plug body, a plug shell, a plug boot, a backshell and an interfacial seal. The socket connector includes a socket body, a socket shell, a socket boot and a backshell. The plug boot and the socket boot each have a plurality of rupturable features, each feature in register with a corresponding aperture through the corresponding connector body. The interfacial seal seats between the plug connector and socket connector when the plug connector is mated to the socket connector. The interfacial seal also has a plurality of rupturable features corresponding to a predetermined contact layout. Thus, when the socket connector is mated with the plug connector, a connector is provided, which prevents contaminants from penetrating the connection.
US07997911B2
A portable electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a motion assembly, a connector, and an ejector. The second body has a hollow portion, and the first body is movable disposed on the second body to cover the hollow portion. The motion assembly is disposed between the first body and the second body, so that the first body is able to move relatively to the second body. The connector is movably disposed in the hollow portion. The ejector is disposed between the connector and the second body. When the first body moves relatively to the second body to expose the hollow portion of the second body, the ejector is capable of driving the connector to move out of the hollow portion.
US07997897B2
A to-be-burned object including a metal Si component or SiC or Si3N4 can be burned in such a manner that vaporized SiO can be safely exhausted without causing SiO attached to a wall of a furnace or an inner face of an exhaust duct. An exhaust method of a continuous furnace for continuously burning a to-be-burned object containing a metal Si component or highly-fire-resistant SiC or Si3N4 includes steps of 1) exhausting in-furnace gas including SiO vaporized during a burning process. An exhaust duct 2 used for this exhaust is provided at an upper part of a side wall 12 of the furnace having a higher temperature (1300 degrees C. or more) than a concentration temperature of SiO vaporized during a burning process. 2) oxidizing the exhausted SiO at the outside of the furnace to detoxify SiO. The in-furnace gas exhausted by the exhaust duct 2 is guided to an exhaust pipe 3 connected to an outlet of the exhaust duct 2 at the outside of the furnace. This exhaust pipe 3 includes oxygen supply holes 31a and 31b. By sending oxygen supplied from an appropriate oxygen supply source into the exhaust pipe 3, SiO guided to the exhaust pipe 3 reacts with oxygen and is detoxified.
US07997896B2
A premix burner with staged liquid fuel supply is described having at least two partial cone shells which on the radial side form the boundary of a swirl chamber which axialwards conically widens, which partial cone shells are arranged in a partially overlapping manner, the center axes of the partial cone shells of which extend with offset effect in relation to each another, and the mutually overlapping partial cone shell sections of which enclose in each case an air inlet slot which extends tangentially to the swirl chamber, with a burner lance which projects axialwards into the swirl chamber, which lance provides means for feed of liquid fuel into the swirl chamber, and also with further means for feed of liquid fuel which are provided in the region of the air inlet slots. As such, additional means for feed of liquid fuel along at least one air inlet slot are formed and arranged in such a way that the liquid fuel delivery, which is conditioned by the further means, takes place in the form of a fuel spray which propagates perpendicularly to the tangential longitudinal extent of the air inlet slot, and also a fuel spray which propagates perpendicularly to an air flow which is directed through the air inlet slot.
US07997886B2
A method and a system for forming a polymeric resin mold for molding plastic items, wherein the method includes: (a) using a rapid-prototyping process to create a polymeric resin shell having a configuration in the form of the mold; (b) introducing a reinforcing material into the shell; and (c) curing the shell. The system includes a rapid-prototyping apparatus that creates a plurality of the polymeric resin shells on a platform; a reinforcing material introduction apparatus that introduces a reinforcing material into each of the shells while the shells are on the platform to form a plurality of uncured molds on the platform; and a curing apparatus that cures the shells while they are on the platform.
US07997883B2
A scroll compressor may incorporate controlled bending of a scroll member to compensate for axial deformations that can occur between the scroll members. The controlled bending may be through the use of fluid pressure in a sealed chamber that communicates with a surface of the scroll member opposite the intermeshing wraps. Fluid passageways can extend through the scroll member between the sealed chamber and the intermeshing wraps. The controlled bending can increase the uniformity of the contact between the scroll members and improve the efficiency of the compressing operation.
US07997882B2
A vane pump with a reduced rotor diameter is provided. The reduced rotor diameter allows a reduction in the overall size of the pump which allows the pump to be used in circumstances wherein sufficient packaging volume does not exist for conventional vane pumps. Further, the reduced rotor diameter permits operation of the pump at a higher speed, in comparison to conventional vane pumps, for a given working fluid and pump rate. The rotor includes an integrally formed drive shaft and a cylindrical rotor head. Both fixed displacement and variable displacement embodiments are shown.
US07997879B2
An axial piston machine of swash-plate construction includes a cylinder block (2) rotatable in a housing (1) and supported in the axial direction against a valve plate (6a) arranged on a housing component (7), a driving shaft (8) coupled in a rotationally synchronous manner to the cylinder block (2), and a cylinder block bearing (10) absorbing transverse forces. In order to achieve a simple construction which is axially and radially compact, the cylinder block bearing (10) is arranged between a central recess (9) of the cylinder block (2) and a supporting journal (7a) fastened to the housing component (7) and extending into the recess (9).
US07997876B2
A wind turbine, tower and method for making same are provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor having one or more blades and a rotor radius distance approximately equal to the distance measured from a centerline of the rotor to a tip of one of the blades. The tower has one or more tower sections, including a first tower section having a generally cylindrical or frusto-conical shape. The first tower section has at least one first diameter. A reduced diameter tower section is connected to the first tower section, and has a waist portion with at least one second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. At least a portion of the reduced diameter tower section having the second diameter is located about one rotor radius distance from the centerline of the rotor, and the reduced diameter section provides increased static clearance to the tip of the blades.
US07997874B2
A blade segment is disclosed for a rotor blade formed from a plurality of blade segments, the blade segment having a span and a chord. The blade segment includes a shell segment having a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the shell segment further having a tip end and a root end. The blade segment further includes at least one joint portion projecting from the shell segment at one of the tip end or the root end and defining a generally span-wise extending joining surface. The joint portion allows the blade segment to be coupled to an adjacent blade segment with a mating joint portion.
US07997866B2
A gas turbine airfoil (1) includes a pressure sidewall (15) and a suction sidewall (16), extending from a root to a tip and from a leading edge region to a trailing edge and having at least one cooling passage between the pressure sidewall (15) and the suction sidewall (16) for cooling air to pass through and cool the airfoil from within. One or several of the cooling passages (3) extend along the leading edge of the airfoil (1) and several film cooling holes (1,2) extend from the internal cooling passages (3) along the leading edge region to the outer surface of the leading edge region. The film cooling holes (1,2) each have a shape that is diffused in a radial outward direction of the leading edge of the airfoil (1) at least over a part of the length of the film cooling hole (1,2). Improved cooling in the leading edge region can be achieved because the cooling holes (1, 2) have a principal axis (17), and the shape is asymmetrically diffused in that it is diffused in the radial outward direction from the principal axis (17) along a forward inclination axis (20), and it is additionally diffused in a second lateral direction from the principal axis (17) along a lateral inclination axis (21).
US07997862B2
A cooling fan includes a fan housing, a rotor and a stator. The fan housing forms an air inlet and an air outlet at two opposite sides thereof, respectively. A base is received in the fan housing and arranged at the air outlet of the fan housing. A guiding wall extends upwardly from an outer periphery of the base. An outer diameter of the guiding wall decreases along a direction from the air inlet to the air outlet. A plurality of stationary blades extend from an outer surface of the guiding wall to the fan housing. The stator is arranged in the housing and mounted on the base, and the rotor is rotatably supported by the stator.
US07997857B2
Numerous cavities exist in a turbocharger for reasons of construction. If such cavities are filled with particles, inexpensive particle vibration dampers can be realized. Moreover, advantages with regard to additional containment security result in the case of possible bursting of the compressor wheel, and also with regard to noise suppression.
US07997846B2
A drywall panel lifter having two stanchions into which jacks are vertically set, wherein each jack has an extending portion capable of rising past the tops of the first and second stanchion respectively; a set of bars hinged to the jacks; a cross-piece assembly connecting the bars, having a crank is operatively connected to the screw gear that operates the jacks; and panel holding grippers mounted on the extending portion of the jacks.
US07997841B2
An electronic device includes a panel, a main body, a button, and a fastener. The panel defines a hole. The main body defines a quadrate through hole. The button resists against the panel, opposite to the main body. The fastener includes an elastic head at a first end and a block at an opposite second end. The elastic head passes through the hole of the panel to be fixed to the button, the block passes through the quadrate through hole of the main body. A panel fixture for the electronic device is provided as well.
US07997838B2
A main spindle device includes: a housing having an air supply passage; a spindle that is inserted into the housing and supported by a bearing so as to be able to rotate relative to the housing; and an air sealing member that is positioned between an outer circumferential surface of the spindle and the housing on a front side with respect to the bearing along a rotation axis of the spindle, has a substantially annular shape, and is detachably fixed to the housing with an inner circumferential surface of the air sealing member facing the outer circumferential surface of the spindle, wherein air supplied from the air supply source through the air supply passage is discharged into a gap between the outer circumferential surface of the spindle and the housing, thereby effecting non-contact air sealing at least between the inner circumferential surface of the air sealing member and the outer circumferential surface of the spindle.
US07997837B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique in a power tool having a detachable bit holder for preventing a bit holder from being detached from the tool body even if unexpected external force is exerted on an operating member for lock release. A representative power tool includes a tool body, a single holder mounting portion. The holder mounting portion removably holds a bit holder selected from multiple kinds of bit holders for holding multiple kinds of tool bits in different manners. Each bit holder includes a cylindrical portion, a through hole formed through the cylindrical portion, an engaging member disposed within the through hole, a cylindrical operating member axially movably fitted on the cylindrical portion between a movement prevented position and a movement allowed position. The operating member is moved to the tool body side in order to be switched from the movement prevented position to the movement allowed position so that the holder mounting portion is allowed to be pulled out of the fitting hole.
US07997832B2
A cutting insert for use in chipforming and material removal from a workpiece wherein coolant is supplied to the cutting insert from a coolant source. The cutting insert includes at least one discrete cutting location and at least one distinct internal channel that corresponds to the cutting location. The internal channel has an inlet to receive coolant and an outlet to exit coolant. The outlet is proximate to the cutting location, and the inlet is radial inward of the outlet.
US07997830B2
Free standing above-ground barrier wall 10 that includes a plurality of sheet-pile planks 16, and optionally one or more support elements 12 that are interconnected together using one or more interlocking connectors 22, 24. The sheet-pile plank 16 has a lower edge located proximate a top surface of the ground 14 upon which the free standing above-ground barrier wall 10 is erected in an upstanding, installed configuration. The sheet-pile plank 16 and the support element 12 each constitute sheet-pile components and in the upstanding, installed configuration, a lower portion of the sheet-pile plank 16 is ground engaged and a substantial entirety of the weight of the sheet-pile plank is supported at its engagement with the ground. The engagement may be merely abutting with the plank 16 resting atop the ground, or the lower edge of the plank 16 may be buried into the ground to a certain degree.
US07997821B2
Variations in the size of a stick-like object are accommodated, and abutments are urged to contact with the stick-like object with an appropriate pressure.A stick-like object feeding container is provided with: an outer sleeve 11 having a front spring shoe 11a formed on the internal circumference of the front portion of the outer sleeve; an inner sleeve 12 slidably inserted into the outer sleeve and having a rear spring shoe 12a provided on the outer circumference of the inner sleeve; a spring 13 abutting at its front and rear ends against the front spring shoe and the rear spring shoe, respectively, to bias the inner sleeve backward; a chuck 17 adapted to be capable of gripping, by its front end portion, the stick-like object inserted into the inner sleeve; and a chuck ring 18. A ring member 21 is interposed between the front end of the spring 13 and the front spring shoe 11a; elastic pieces 22 extending along the stick-like object are linked at the rear end to the ring member; abutments 23 are formed on the front end of the elastic pieces; and the elastic pieces 22 are configured to elastically urge the abutments to contact with the stick-like object. The inner sleeve or chuck having fitted thereon the ring member is provided with engaging pieces for preventing the ring member from moving forward movement.
US07997813B2
A coating and developing system includes processing blocks of the same construction each built by stacking up a plurality of unit blocks including a film forming unit block and a developing unit block in layers. The processing blocks are arranged longitudinally between a carrier block and an interface block. The number of processing blocks like the processing blocks arranged between the carrier block and the interface block is adjusted to adjust the throughput of the coating and developing system. Thus, a coating and developing system capable of achieving a desired throughput can be easily designed and manufactured.
US07997809B1
A camera cap assembly removes moisture from a camera rear lens and/or a camera body. The camera cap assembly includes a main body that has a front end, a rear end, and an inner divider having a number of openings. The camera cap assembly also includes a desiccant holder cap at the rear end of the main body and a storage sealing cap at the front end. A desiccant chamber is defined between the desiccant holder cap and the inner divider for storing a dehumidifying component. The sealing storage cap is secured to the front end of the main body when the camera cap assembly is not in use. The camera cap assembly is to be attached to a camera rear lens or a camera body, without the storage cap, via bayonet mount and a sealing ring.
US07997806B2
An optical fiber connector includes a housing, a ferrule, a bias member and a flexible tube. The ferrule is formed with a first axial hole of a first inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of a jacket of an optical fiber and a second axial hole that is communicated to a distal end of the first axial hole and that has a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter and larger than an outer diameter of a fiber wire of the optical fiber. The flexible tube is inserted around the proximal end side of the ferrule so that at least a part thereof is extended toward the proximal end side than the ferrule to form a proximal-end-side extended part. The proximal-end-side extended part has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the jacket and smaller than the first inner diameter.
US07997789B2
A clock for displaying collectibles and method of displaying collectibles within the clock is disclosed. The clock is a customizable device comprising a core having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a thickness portion connecting the first and the second surfaces. The clock further includes a first structure removably attached to the first surface of the core and a clock movement received in an opening in the core. Also provided is a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses having a depth and configured and dimensioned to receive a collectible. In at least some embodiments, the recesses are provided in the core while in at least some other embodiments, the recesses are provided in the first structure of the clock. The collectibles are additionally secured in position within the clock by way of one or more adaptors.
US07997784B2
A light guide apparatus of a backlight module is provided. The light guide apparatus includes a light guide plate and a plurality of LEDs serving as light sources disposed at one lateral side of the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a circuit configured thereon, and the light sources are welded on the circuit of the light guide plate.
US07997781B2
An apparatus and method for coupling light into a light source in the form of a surface are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a linear light source including a light diffuser. The apparatus also has a sheet having a first edge with the linear light source placed along the first edge. The linear light source diffuses light such that the light emanates in a predetermined pattern along the first edge of the sheet.
US07997780B2
A lighting device includes a housing, a plurality of LEDs arranged on a base of the housing, and a first optical plate positioned above the LEDs. The first optical plate includes a light input surface, a light output surface opposite to the light input surface, and a plurality of elongated arcuate protrusions formed on the light output surface. The elongated arcuate protrusions are substantially parallel to one another. The lighting device may be used as a backlight module.
US07997777B2
A lighted exterior rearview mirror system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element and an electrically-operable actuator. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a breakaway joint assembly. The reflective element has an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from the reflective element. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator lamp that has a light source and a lens. The lamp is included in the exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of the actuator. The breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes. The wire cable includes wires for operating the actuator, the heater and the lamp. The lens of the lamp has a portion that faces rearward of the vehicle and a portion that wraps around an outward side of a casing of the exterior rearview mirror assembly.
US07997775B2
A self-contained battery powered high visibility safety lighting system is integrated within portions of a vehicle or article's frame, such as a handlebar or body assembly of a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter or toy cycle, stroller, wheel chair, baby carriage, cane or ski pole. The system comprises at least one illumination segment having at least one light source located therein. The light source may comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated within a plurality of apertures located within each of the illumination segments. In another embodiment the illumination segments may be composed of a transparent material to yield transparent illumination segments with an inlay cavity therein for accommodating an electroluminescent light strip. Light may further be emitted from illuminated streamers located on the handlebar grips. Multifaceted emission of light from illumination segments integrated within the frame of the vehicle is highly visible from virtually all directions. An omnidirectional light-alert increases safety for drivers and others in the vehicle's vicinity.
US07997773B2
A wire retaining system includes a wire clip and fastening receiver for releasable attachment of a wire clip on a supporting surface to retain a wire. The receiver includes an adhesive backing and touch fastener elements. The wire clip includes two wire receptacles with respective receptacle openings facing different directions and touch fastener elements for engagement with the touch fastener elements of the receiver. A first receptacle is oriented with the receptacle opening facing a desired direction and the wire extends across the receptacle. The releasable wire clip can be reoriented with the second receptacle facing a desired direction and a second wire extending across the second receptacle. The wire clip can be packaged preassembled on a light strand with the touch fastener elements of the wire clip and receiver engaged. A method of forming fastener products includes forming a rigid extrusion having fastener elements formed from extruded rail segments.
US07997771B2
A light emitting diode (LED) array comprises an array of LEDs mounted to a substrate. The LEDs emit light in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. An optical sheet is disposed over the LEDs. At least a portion of light entering one side of the optical sheet from the LEDs is guided within the optical sheet in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. Light extraction features direct light from the optical sheet in a generally forward direction. Such an array is useful for several applications, including space lighting, direct information display and backlighting of liquid crystal displays. The light spreading effect of the optical sheet reduces the amount of black space between LED pixels.
US07997770B1
A replacement for the standard fluorescent lamp tube has a plurality of LED devices mounted on a circuit board. The enclosure within which the circuit board is held has a clear or frosted lens mounted on a heat sink. The lens and heat sink each are arcuately shaped and together form a circular tube. A power converter is mounted below the circuit board and transfers its heat to the heat sink. A pair of pins mounted on the power converter extend beyond one end of the tube. An end cap has means for snapping onto and off the end of the tube and has clearance holes for the pins to protrude through and extend beyond so as to be fitting into mechanical and electrical contact with a standard lamp mounting fixture.
US07997768B2
An LED (light emitting diode) lamp includes an upper base plate, a lower base plate spaced from the upper base plate and a plurality of light emitting modules located between the two base plates. The lower base plate defines a plurality of through holes therein. Each light emitting module comprises a heat sink sandwiched between the two base plates, an LED module embedded in a bottom surface of the heat sink and a lens engaging with the bottom surface of the conductive cylinder to enclose the LED module therein. A lower portion of each lens extends downwardly through a corresponding through hole.
US07997767B2
An exemplary outdoor lamp includes a light source, a light-pervious cover, and a heating element. The light source is configured for emitting light. The light-pervious cover is for transmission of the light emitted from the light source therethrough. The heating element is in thermal contact with the light-pervious cover and is configured for heating the light-pervious cover.
US07997761B2
The present invention relates generally to a lighting apparatus for hazardous locations. In one embodiment, the lighting apparatus comprises a light engine, a heat sink coupled to the light engine, a stalk coupled to the light engine for externally coupling a power supply to the light engine and an electrical wiring splice box coupled to the stalk.
US07997757B2
A luminaire with signage endcaps includes a luminaire housing and one or more light emitting elements. The housing typically includes a top member and multiple side members extending down from the top member. The top and side members define the interior of the luminaire housing. Light emitting elements are coupled to the housing. These light emitting elements generally emit light downward from the luminaire and can be coupled along the interior of the housing or positioned along an exterior side of one or more of the side members. A stencil or stencil plate can be positioned along or coupled to one or more others side members. The stencil and stencil plate include openings in the shape of alphanumeric symbols and/or ideograms and include within the openings or have positioned adjacent to the openings a translucent member. Ambient light within the interior of the housing illuminates the stencil and translucent member.
US07997754B2
Solar component and devices containing the same are disclosed. The solar component includes coupling an upper member, a lower member, and at least two side members to form a cavity for housing a plurality of solar cells. Adjacent solar cells may have unused spaces thereby allowing apertures to be formed therethrough the upper member and the lower member. The apertures are capable of allowing air flow through the cavity thereby leading to reduced wind resistance of the solar component.
US07997750B2
A high power LED lamp comprises a container having a cavity to fill with a liquid, a light source module for providing a high power LED source light to penetrate through the liquid, and an axial thermal conductor having a first portion nearby the light source module and a second portion extending in the liquid along an axial direction of the cavity to far away from the light source module to evenly transfer heat from the light source module through the liquid to the container.
US07997748B2
A stereoscopic display device includes a substrate, a plurality of odd-line light source units, a plurality of even-line light source units, a lens array, and a circuit. The odd-line light source units and the even-line light source units are provided at a first side of the substrate and spaced from each other. Each of the odd-line light source units and the even-line light source units include a plurality of light source pixel units. The lens array is arranged on the substrate at the first side thereof and includes a plurality of cylindrical stripe-like lenses, the cylindrical stripe-like lenses extending substantially parallel to each other. The circuit is configured for alternately outputting a first time sequence display signal to the odd-line light source units and a second time sequence display signal to the even-line light source units.
US07997745B2
A lighting device, comprising a first group of solid state light emitters and a first group of lumiphors, wherein at least some of the first group of solid state light emitters are contained in a first group of packages, each of which also comprises at least one of the first group of lumiphors. If all of the first group of solid state light emitters which are contained in the first group of packages are illuminated and/or if current is supplied to a power line, (1) a combined illumination from the first group of packages would, in the absence of any additional light, have color coordinates on a 1976 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a first point, and (2) at least 20% of the packages would emit light having color coordinates spaced from the first point. Also, methods of lighting.
US07997744B2
A deformable hinge for use in microelectromechanical devices comprises a protection layer that is electrically conductive. The protection layer is on top of another hinge layer; and is more resistive than the hinge layer to the etchant used in during patterning and/or release processes during fabrication of the microelectromechanical device. As a result, the hinge layer can be protected from being damaged during the fabrication process.
US07997741B2
A projector includes a light source device, a optical modulator which modulates luminous flux emitted from the light source device according to image information, a projection optical device which enlarges and projects the luminous flux modulated in the optical modulator, and an outer casing which houses the light source device, the optical modulator and the projection optical device thereinside, in which the outer casing has a ceiling surface and a bottom surface intersecting with respect to the vertical direction and a side surface connecting to the ceiling surface and the bottom surface, in which a concave portion which is recessed toward the inside is formed at the bottom surface side in the side surface, and in which a first connection terminal group connected to an external device through connection cables is arranged at a bottom portion of the concave portion in an exposed state.
US07997738B2
A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is used to attach a plurality of wedge-shaped glass filter segments on a first side to a hub during the color ring build portion of the color wheel fabrication process. A strong adhesive, such as epoxy, is then used to adhere a second side of the filter segments directly to a turning surface of a motor, completing the color wheel fabrication. The epoxy is cured if necessary. The pressure sensitive adhesive can temporarily align the plurality of color filter segments in an alignment. The adhesive between the filter segments and the turning surface can then permanently bond the color filter segments in the alignment.
US07997729B2
Method for correcting patient motion when obtaining retina volume using optical coherence tomography
A computer-implemented method of correcting for motion of a sample during OCT imaging obtains a series of cross-sectional volume scans through the sample at different positions on a first coordinate axis, obtains at least two cross-sectional alignment scans in planes intersecting said volume scans at an angle, and stores the alignment scans and the volume scans in memory. The alignment scans are matched to the volume scans at lines of intersection thereof to determine the relative displacement of the volume scans to the sample due to sample motion. The relative displacement is used to correct for motion of the sample between successive volume scans.
US07997716B2
A UV curable ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording medium transporting unit; an ink-jet head; and a UV irradiating unit, wherein the apparatus includes a light capturing portion between the UV irradiating unit and the ink-jet head, at least a part of the light capturing portion as seen in a longitudinal section taken vertically along a direction of transporting the recording medium has an opened wedge shape having no base side and comprising: a side vertical to the recording medium; and an oblique side which is in contact with a top of the vertical side, and which extends obliquely downward, the vertical side is located on the side of the ink-jet head, and the oblique side downward extends from the top toward the UV irradiating unit.
US07997712B2
Phase change inks comprising a carrier and a colorant composition including a basic dye component and an acid dye component providing an internal salt composition wherein at least one of the basic dye component, the acid dye component, or both the basic dye component and the acid dye component comprises a waxy moiety.
US07997711B2
A machine, such as a phase change or solid ink printing apparatus, has at least one multiple supply unit in the form of an ink stick disposed therein. The ink stick has an electronically-readable memory device associated therewith, and the memory device has stored therein electronic data related to the ink stick and readable by the machine. The memory device may be attached to the ink stick and removed before the ink stick is used for printing in the machine. In another aspect, the memory device is attached to a container for the ink stick. The container may be a cartridge for use in the machine, or a container for packaging the ink stick. The machine may include a coupler configured to read electronic data from the memory device while the memory device is positioned external to the printing apparatus, thus allowing the machine to verify the suitability of the ink stick before it is installed in the machine.
US07997701B2
The ink tank includes an ink chamber and a cleaning solvent chamber. Ink is stored in the ink chamber. Cleaning solvent is stored in the cleaning solvent chamber. Mounting portions are provided on the bottom surface side of the ink tank. One of the mounting portions is provided corresponding to the ink chamber, and the other mounting portion is provided corresponding to the cleaning solvent chamber. The ink tank is mounted to a scanning carriage by the mounting portions being fitted into a holding unit of the scanning carriage. Deriving ports may be formed on the bottom surfaces of recesses of the mounting portions.
US07997695B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements include a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiOx) insulator film. The lower electrode has a top layer formed of a lanthanum nickel oxide (LaNiyOx) orientation control layer. The piezoelectric layer is formed of columnar crystals, and one part of the piezoelectric layer disposed on the insulator film has a smaller average grain size than the other part of the piezoelectric layer disposed on the orientation control layer.
US07997693B2
In order to provide a liquid ejection head which enables ejection of a droplet at a higher frequency, according to the invention, a piezoelectric vibrator has a multilayer structure. In the multilayer structure, an upper piezoelectric layer and a lower piezoelectric layer are laminated one on another. A drive electrode is formed at a boundary between the upper piezoelectric layer and the lower piezoelectric layer and is electrically connected to a source for supplying a drive signal. An upper common electrode is formed on the surface of the upper piezoelectric layer. A lower common electrode is formed on the surface of the lower piezoelectric layer. An inertance of a nozzle orifice and an inertance of an ink supply port are set so as to become greater than an inertance of a pressure generating portion.
US07997688B2
A unit cell for a thermal inkjet printhead includes a substrate portion that defines an ink supply passage; drive circuitry and interconnect layers positioned on the substrate portion; a nozzle plate defining a nozzle; side walls depending from the nozzle plate and positioned on the substrate portion to define an ink chamber; and a heater element connected to the drive circuitry and positioned intermediate the nozzle plate and the substrate portion, the heater element being suspended in the ink chamber in alignment with the nozzle and being shaped to be symmetrical about two planes that intersect along an axis extending through a centre of the nozzle. The drive circuitry is partially on one side of the ink chamber with a remainder of the drive circuitry on an opposite side.
US07997683B2
A hand-held printer that includes an inkjet array having a plurality of inkjets is disclosed. The hand-held printer may include an inkjet cap sized to cooperatively engage the inkjet array, wherein the inkjet cap is movable between and open position and a closed position, and a plurality of wipers carried by the inkjet cap, wherein each of the plurality of wipers is configured to engage one of the plurality of inkjets as the inkjet cap moves from the open position to the closed position; and wherein each of the plurality of wipers includes a gasket configured to form a seal adjacent to one of the plurality of inkjets.
US07997681B2
A plurality of ejection portions are divided into groups, each containing at least one ejection portion, so that the suction-based recovery operation can be performed for each group independently. Since the number of ejection portions contained in each group differs, if an ink flow resistance varies among the different groups, simultaneous suction-based recovery operations can be done by using a common suction pump, without having to sequentially perform the suction-based recovery operations under an optimum pump driving condition. For this purpose, inner diameters of a plurality of ink discharge tubes running from a plurality of cap units, which cap a plurality of print head units having different numbers of ejection portions, to the common pump are differentiated. This allows different flows to be produced in different ink discharge systems, thus generating desirable ink flows for individual ink supply systems.
US07997675B2
The present invention provides an inspection device for a piezoelectric head. The piezoelectric head includes: a pressure chamber filled with liquid, a liquid supply channel that supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, a nozzle at which droplets are jetted from the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric element that applies pressure to the pressure chamber. The inspection device includes: a detection component that, when the piezoelectric element is driven on the basis of a predetermined detection signal, outputs a signal corresponding to behavior of an acoustic vibration system of the piezoelectric head; and a judgment component that, on the basis of the detection signal and the signal outputted by the detection component, judges for a cause of defective ejections at the piezoelectric head.
US07997672B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a waveform outputting circuit and a current restricting circuit. The waveform outputting circuit outputs to each individual electrode one of ejection signals and a flushing signal, which does not cause any nozzle to eject ink droplets, selected in order in each printing cycle. The current restricting circuit restricts the value of a current to flow from a power supply unit into the waveform outputting circuit, to a value not more than an upper limit current value. The upper limit current value exceeds the value of the current to flow into the waveform outputting circuit when the waveform outputting circuit outputs to all individual electrodes an ejection signal corresponding to the largest amount of ink to eject. The upper limit current value is less than the value of the current to flow into the waveform outputting circuit when the waveform outputting circuit outputs the flushing signal to all individual electrodes.
US07997669B2
An inkjet recording apparatus including: (a) a recording head; (b) an ink supply source; (c) an ink supply conduit interconnecting the recording head and the ink supply source, such that the ink is supplied from the ink supply source to the recording head in an ink supplying direction; (d) a movable body disposed in the ink supply conduit and movable in the ink supply conduit; (e) a moving device configured to move the movable body in the ink supply conduit; and (f) a control device configured to control the moving device. The ink supply conduit includes a small-clearance defining portion in which a small clearance is to be defined between the movable body and an inner surface of the ink supply conduit when the movable body is being positioned in the small-clearance defining portion. The control device is configured to control the moving device, such that the movable body is moved from a first position located in the small-clearance defining portion, to a second position located in the small-clearance defining portion, whereby the ink within the small-clearance defining portion is caused to flow toward the recording head.
US07997668B2
Provided are a refrigerator and an assembling method thereof that enable a storage member provided in a drawer-type storage space to be securely withdrawn and inserted, that improve the external appearance of a storage member when withdrawn and inserted, and that allow easier assembly and installation of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body provided with a storage space, a storage member in the main body and capable of being withdrawn and inserted, an extendable rail member between the storage member and the main body to guide withdrawal and insertion of the storage member, and a cover member at one side of the rail member to cover the rail member. Thus, external appearance is improved, as is assembling convenience.
US07997667B2
A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.
US07997664B2
A hub for off-road motorcycle includes a bearing having a first portion and a second portion respectively formed on two opposite ends thereof. Each of the first portion and the second portion has a connecting flange extended therefrom. A first annular element has a first through hole defined therein. The first annular element has a plurality of first spoke holes defined therein. A second annular element has a second through hole defined therein. The second annular element has a plurality of second spoke holes defined therein. When the hub adapts to be assembled with spokes, the first annular element and the second annular element are slightly pivotally rotated relative to the bearing for adapting to easily adjustably assemble the spokes with a rim.
US07997663B2
A wheel cover suitable for being mounted on vehicle wheels having an outer surface adapted for facing away from a wheel of a vehicle and an inner surface adapted for facing towards the wheel when mounting the wheel cover. Central fasteners and peripheral fasteners extend from the inner surface towards the wheel of the vehicle. The central fasteners are arranged at bolts of the wheel. Both the central fasteners and the peripheral fasteners are shaped so as to make an exclusively snap-type mounting of the wheel cover on elements of the wheel. A ridge projects from the inner surface of the wheel cover to make abutment with the head of the bolt at the same time the rib or tooth abuts onto the sloped section of the bolt head to stop the insertion movement.
US07997662B1
A rim shield device for covering a rim of a tire featuring a circular base having a raised side along its outer edge; a plurality of channels disposed on the base extending radially from the center to the raised side; a cable disposed in each channel, the second end of each cable extends out of its respective channel; a hook disposed on the second end of each cable; and a tightening system comprising a spring-loaded button disposed in the center of the base, the first ends of each of the cables are engaged in the spring-loaded button, the spring-loaded button can move between an in position and an out position, an inner spring of the spring-loaded button biases the spring-loaded button in the out position, wherein in the out position the cables are effectively shortened in length and in the in position the cables are effectively lengthened.
US07997660B2
A sleeve utilizing two methods of retention—a friction fit and a rear retention feature—is disclosed. The sleeve includes a circumferentially compressible portion that provides a friction fit when inserted into a bore and includes a projected portion around an end circumference that is used to mate with the rear of a tool block and urges the sleeve (and the tool) rearward. The disclosure also relates to a tool and block assembly, a method of retaining a tool in a holder and a mining machine incorporating the sleeve.
US07997653B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back that is moveable between a first vertical position and a second vertical position forward and upward of the first vertical position. The vehicle seat assembly has a track assembly providing fore and aft adjustment. The vehicle seat assembly further includes at least one pivot assembly operatively coupled to the track assembly and pivotally mounted to a floor of a motor vehicle. The pivot assembly pivots the vehicle seat assembly between the seating position and a stand-up position. A stand-up link slidingly couples the pivot assembly and the seat back. A link lock locks to present a solid link between the pivot assembly and the seat back. The solid link guides the seat back between the first vertical position and the second vertical position as the vehicle seat assembly moves between the seating position and the stand-up position.
US07997652B2
A tilt control mechanism for an office chair includes a spring assembly therein which controls the tilt tension on the back assembly. The tilt control mechanism includes a control plate mounted to the control shaft on which the uprights are mounted, wherein the control plate rotates in combination with the uprights. This control plate is located within the control body and cooperates with a front stop assembly and a back stop assembly to vary the limits of forward and rearward tilting of the seat and back assemblies. Also, the tilt control mechanism includes a pneumatic actuator assembly having fixed and rotatable cam blocks. The rotatable cam block rotates relative to the fixed block such that the rotatable cam block is driven downwardly to depress the control valve of the pneumatic cylinder and thereby vary the height of the seat assembly.
US07997651B2
An improved knockdown chair having opposing substantially C shaped support arms, substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, sock type seating portion cover, front reinforcing member, and bottom reinforcing member, wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms are of laminate construction and have an upper arcuate arm support, front arcuate portion, and substantially straight bottom, the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement having a tubular seat back and tubular sitting portion telescopically interconnected one to the other, and wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms is opposingly removably fastened to the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, the improvement comprising combination with each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms of a substantially S shaped reinforcing member of laminate construction removably fastened to the upper arcuate arm support and the substantially straight bottom for reinforcing each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms.
US07997650B2
The present invention is a lumbar support system that retreats into the seat back when reclined, providing a constant pressure support. The lumbar support system has a lumbar support basket that can retreat into the seat back. The lumbar support basket is supported by a crossbar that is pivotably connected to opposite sides of a seat frame via a pair of connecting members. A spring is provided for biasing the connecting members to a biased position.
US07997647B2
A chair includes a chair base and seat frame extending upwardly from the chair base. The chair includes an interlock assembly, and an infant chair repeatably moveable between stowed and deployed positions with the chair base. The interlock assembly restricts and allows the ability of the infant chair to move between the stowed and deployed positions. The interlock assembly restricts the ability of the chair base to rotate in response to the infant chair being in the deployed position.
US07997645B2
A holding assembly for a seat of a bicycle has a securing base and an engaging block. The securing base has a connecting segment, an engaging segment, a securing hole and a securing bolt. The connecting segment has a connecting device connected with the seat of the bicycle. The engaging segment is formed on and protrudes from the bottom of the connecting segment and has an engaging recess having an inclined top surface. The securing bolt is slidably and rotatably mounted in the securing hole, extends into the engaging recess and has a threaded portion. The engaging block is moveably mounted in the engaging recess and has an inclined top surface abutting with the inclined top surface of the engaging recess and a threaded portion engaging the threaded portion on the securing bolt.
US07997644B2
A gliding and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism. The actuating unit is configured to move the chair between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman are generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases.
US07997639B2
A lower guide rail is mounted to a lower surface of a vehicle floor panel. Front and rear cable guides are provided on front and rear ends of the lower guide rail. A lower roller bracket fixed to a slide door is guided by the lower guide rail. An electric actuator unit is mounted to the lower surface of the floor panel. The electric actuator unit includes a cable wind/rewind drum. A watertight cover is mounted to the lower surface of the floor panel in a manner to cover the electric actuator unit. A first inner cable is guided by the front cable guide and has one end portion wound on the wind/rewind drum and the other end fixed to the lower roller bracket. A second inner cable is guided by the rear cable guide and has one end portion wound on the wind/rewind drum and the other end fixed to the lower roller bracket.
US07997620B1
An adaptive load-limiting seat belt buckle presenter includes a plow assembly movable within a tube and connected to the buckle by cables. Movement of the plow assembly presents the buckle at various positions relative to the occupant. The plow assembly has a plurality of plow elements that engage with the tube to plow troughs in the tube when an occupant restraining load moves the plow assembly within the tube. A plow actuator mechanism selects a number of the plurality of plow elements to be engaged or not engaged with the tube to thereby adapt the load-limiting capability of the presenter. A controller and various sensors cooperate to operate an adjusting motor for translating the plow assembly within the tube to present the buckle at a desired position and to also operate a rotary actuator to select the number of plow elements that will be engaged or not engaged.
US07997615B2
An occupant restraint system according to one form of the present invention includes a side airbag device having a first airbag for, in a side collision, receiving gas supply from an inflator and inflating to deploy such that the first airbag covers a side internal surface of a passenger compartment, and a rear seat airbag device having a second airbag that is housed in a support section formed in a rear tray, the support section being covered with a lid, and, in a side collision, receives gas supply from the inflator, presses to open the lid, projects out of the support section, and inflates to deploy toward seating surfaces of rear seats.
US07997611B2
The invention relates to a safety device in a vehicle seat with a seat frame on which a seat cushion is fitted, and with an airbag unit with a gas generator and an airbag, which airbag unit is arranged on the seat frame below the seat cushion. It is the object of the invention to provide a safety device which effectively avoids the seat user slipping forwards in the event of an accident and at the same time is simple to produce and fit. The object is achieved in that the airbag when not activated rests in an unfolded and flat manner on the seat frame.
US07997610B2
A knee airbag device includes an airbag module and an airbag door. The airbag module, which is provided inside a column cover that covers the rear end portion of a steering column, includes a gas generation device that generates gas when a collision occurs, and a knee airbag that is inflated and deployed from a folded state when the knee airbag receives the gas from the gas generation device. The airbag door, which is provided in the lower portion of the column cover, is opened when the inflation pressure of the knee airbag is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. When the knee airbag is deployed, at least a portion of the airbag door is positioned between an interfering object that is positioned in an area on the side of the column cover, and at least a portion of the knee airbag.
US07997605B2
A trailer with a pivoting and extendable tongue for use with all terrain vehicles (ATV) wherein the trailer tongue connects to a standard vehicle hitch receiver providing means for pivoting the trailer up in a raised transport or storage space saving configuration supported by the ATV or other vehicle receiver. The tongue is telescoping. The wheels are provided with heavy duty fenders which can be pivotally mounted on the wheel axles to function as sled runners. Support members extend from the axles to a selected point under the trailer frame at a selected angle in front of the wheels to function as brush guards so that the wheels are not caught in brush, hung on stumps, or deep gullies. A keeper can be removed to allow the fenders to be rotated forward and down to be used as sled runners when the ATV is towing a load in the snow. The wheels are also positioned under the trailer bed to extend pass the frame to allow the trailer to be backed over objects such as logs or gullies.
US07997598B2
A link arm (81) for restraining lateral movement of a pivotable vehicle suspension system (1), wherein a first end (90) of the arm (81) is pivotally connected to a wheel-mounting end of the system (1) and a second end (91) of the arm (81) is pivotally mounted to a frame of the vehicle such that the arm (81) may pivot relative to the frame in unison with the wheel-mounting end and restrain lateral movement of the system (1) relative to the frame. The first end (90) has a bearing (90) through which a pivot pin (71) extends. The second end (91) has a ball and socket joint 91 (ball joint) enabling pivoting of the arm (81) relative to the frame about more than one axis.
US07997585B2
The invention relates to a metallic cylinder head gasket for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with adjacent combustion chambers and a cylinder head connected to the said block by bolts, having at least one sheet metal layer of resilient metal, which is provided with a plurality of combustion chamber openings corresponding to the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, and also fluid and bolt passage openings, where, around each combustion chamber opening, at a distance from the latter, leaving a straight sheet metal section in the opening edge area, a bead is provided, whose spring travel is limited by a stopper extending concentrically with respect to the bead the stopper being profiled in terms of height and/or width in accordance with reductions in compression pressure to be expected in specific areas on account of reduced component stiffness of cylinder block and cylinder head in the clamped state of the cylinder head gasket, where, when profiling the stopper height and/or width, the increase in the compression pressure as a result of thermal expansions to be expected because of the operating temperature of the internal combustion engine is additionally taken into account in such a way that the profiling is designed substantially in accordance with a mid-range between an increase in compression pressure resulting from thermal expansions and a decrease in compression pressure resulting from component stiffnesses.
US07997581B2
A set of game cards, such as bingo cards (10) which each display an arrangement of game indicia, such as bingo numbers (27) are configured for use in combination with jackpot tickets (12) in a game of chance, such as bingo or keno, in which numbers are drawn at random from a pool. The jackpot tickets provide chances for a winner of a bingo game played with the bingo cards to be eligible for a jackpot award. The jackpot tickets (12) each include a set of jackpot numbers (28) selected from the same pool as the bingo numbers (27). These are compared with the bingo numbers on the winning bingo card to determine whether the winning card is eligible for a jackpot award. The jackpot numbers may be arranged in regions (22, 24, 26) corresponding to different award levels, whereby a jackpot number or combination of jackpot numbers from a level which match one or more of the bingo numbers on the winning bingo card, and optionally which meet one or more additional eligibility rules, qualifies the winning card for the jackpot award.
US07997576B2
Equipment for processing banknotes in stack, as an example for a banking deposit, including a transport mechanism for banknotes or similar sheets, and a receiving section the banknotes or sheets are transported at a given transport velocity (Vt) and the receiving section is arranged downstream of a section of the transport mechanism for receiving, in superimposition, the banknotes or sheets. The equipment comprises an interface mechanism with nipping members interposed between the transport mechanism and the receiving section and electronic control circuits which cause the nipping members to slow down the banknotes or sheets of the receiving section at a reduced velocity (Vb), in response to information of transit of the banknotes or sheets, making easy a regular stacking of the banknotes or sheets.
US07997573B2
To form stacks of printed products such as books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc., a plurality of printed sheets is delivered by a conveying section and assembled thereon into preliminary products, which are then formed into stacks, where the process for collating the printed sheets into preliminary products is controlled as a function of the size of the stack of printed products to be formed. A device for implementing the process includes a collating device for forming preliminary products and an indirectly downstream stacking device connected to a control unit.
US07997559B2
In a method and an apparatus for replacing old underground conduits (4), the old conduit (4) is first laid bare with the aid of a ground drilling device (8) with an overdrilling head and then, in turn, a new conduit (5) is drawn in with the aid of the drill rods (7) and at the same time—in a uniform operating step—the old conduit is pulled out of the ground.
US07997552B2
A system is provided for suspending a plurality of line array loudspeakers. The suspension system includes a rigging bar having an engaging member, such as a pivotal member, positioned near one end of the rigging bar. The engaging member includes a free end capable of extending outward past the end of the rigging bar in which the engaging member is positioned. The end of the rigging bar opposite the pivotal member is designed to releasably receive an engaging member of an adjacent rigging bar. The free end of the engaging member of the rigging bar may include a hole that aligns with holes positioned in the receiving end of the rigging bar. The engaging member of one rigging bar may then be secured to an adjacent rigging bar by aligning holes of the engaging member of a first rigging bar with the holes in the receiving end of a second rigging bar and inserting a release pin through the aligned holes.
US07997547B1
A bracket for mounting an article, such as a roll-up fabric sign, on a mast, includes a body and a clamp on the body for securing the bracket at a desired location on the mast. A receptacle on the body is provided for receiving a portion of the article. The bracket body may be secured in first and second different orientations on the mast at the desired location, the first operational orientation being one in which the receptacle is positioned forwardly of a forward surface of the mast, for receiving the article portion, and the second non-operational orientation being one in which substantially no portions of the bracket body are positioned forwardly of the mast forward surface.
US07997542B2
A strap with rotatably mounted clip fabricated in a single molding operation. The strap includes a strap retention member and a plurality of teeth. The rotatable clip includes a clip member, a pedestal and a head. The pedestal is retained in a pedestal opening formed through the strap. In fabrication, a top mold insert is slid into a top of first and second mold halves and a bottom mold insert is slid into a bottom of the first and second mold halves. Plastic is then injected into the first and second mold halves to independently and separately form the strap and the clip in a single molding process, wherein the inserts provide a space between the pedestal opening and the pedestal to allow the clip to rotate relative to the strap.
US07997539B2
The invention relates to a device for twisting and clamping a second flap moveable about a rotational axis with respect to a first flap. A device includes a twisting device arranged on the first flap including a drivable shaft rotatable about the rotational axis and a catch connected to the second flap. The device also includes a clamping device including a clamping sleeve arranged along the rotational axis.
US07997526B2
The present invention includes an embodiment defined as a flying vehicle having a pair of wings and a transition assembly partially housed within each of the pair of wings. The transition assembly has ends rotatable with respect to each other and separately secured to the wing in which the end is housed. The transition assembly has a first position defined as having each wing positioned at an angle offset from a substantial horizontal orientation and oriented in an opposite direction from the other wing. When the transition assembly is in the first position the vehicle spins and will fly in a substantially hovering vertical orientation. The transition assembly has a second position defined as having each wing positioned in a substantial horizontal position. When the transition assembly is in the second position the vehicle will fly in a substantially horizontal orientation.
US07997520B2
A spool and method of adjusting the same are disclosed. The spool is configured to provide a retainer for cable. The may include an upper flange, a lower flange, a plurality of access slots, a center portion, and a plurality of support legs. The support legs are configured to support the spool at a first distance above a securing surface, the support legs being adjustable to provide at least one additional distance that is different from the first distance.
US07997518B2
The invention relates to a material bed roller mill having two rollers (1, 2) which are rotatably supported in a machine frame (3) and driven in opposite directions and whose roller gap, which is charged from above with the grinding material to be comminuted, is delimited at its ends during the operation of the roller mill by a grinding material guide plate (5) which can be removed from its operating position, wherein a) the grinding material guide plate (5) is displaceable in an upward direction and away from the end of the roller gap to such an extent relative to its operating position that the rollers (1, 2) can be removed from the machine frame (3) in the horizontal direction; b) during that displacement movement, the grinding material guide plate (5) is guided by guide bodies along an arc-shaped guide and c) in the operating position, the grinding material guide plate (5) is supported towards the outside against the forces exerted by the grinding material by support members which are connected pivotably to the grinding material guide plate.
US07997514B2
A wet ball mill method for fabricating copper/indium/gallium/selenium (CIGS) nanoparticles, comprising an individual milling process, a homogeneously mixing process, a primary milling process, and an advanced milling process, wherein in the individual milling process, the individual particles or compound particles including copper, indium, gallium and/or selenium are milled to the individual milled materials with a particle size 500 nm to 600 nm; in the homogeneously mixing process, the individual milled materials are mixed to a mixed homogenate; in the primary milling process, the mixed homogenate is milled to the primary milled materials with particle size 100 nm to 200 nm; and in the advanced milling process, the primary milled materials are milled to the advanced milled materials with particle size less than 50 nm which are the CIGS nanoparticles for fabricating the absorption layer of CIGS solar cell.
US07997509B2
A portion-controlled dispensing straw assembly includes inner and outer telescoping tubes. The outer tube has an upper edge and a lower edge, and the inner tube has an upper edge, a lower edge and an interior chamber for receiving a substance to be dispensed. A seal is disposed within and attached to the outer tube, below the inner tube, for preventing the substance from exiting the interior chamber in a substance-retaining condition. A cap has a lower edge resting on the upper edge of the inner tube in the substance-retaining condition. The cap, upon being depressed, pushes the inner tube within the outer tube to break the seal and allow the substance received in the interior chamber to fall out of the tubes in a substance-releasing condition. The cap, upon being removed, also opens a passage allowing the tubes to be used as a straw.
US07997504B2
A surface having an optically readable pattern of dots printed thereon. The pattern comprises an arbitrarily shaped constant background pattern of dots and/or blanks. The constant background pattern defines discrete areas of coded data represented by a plurality of dots positioned according to an encoding scheme. Each discrete area contains orientation information for enabling an optical reader to determine an orientation relative to the pattern of dots.
US07997501B2
A wireless IC device that is miniaturized, allows simple and low-cost mounting of a wireless IC, and eliminates the possibility of damage occurring to the wireless IC due to static electricity, and an electronic apparatus equipped with the wireless IC device, includes a wireless IC chip that processes transmission and reception signals, and a feeder circuit substrate that includes a resonant circuit having an inductance element. Feeder electrodes are provided on a surface of the feeder circuit substrate and are electromagnetically coupled to the resonant circuit. The feeder electrodes and are electromagnetically coupled to radiation plates and provided for a printed wiring board. The wireless IC chip is activated by a signal received by the radiation plates and a response signal from the wireless IC chip is radiated outward from the radiation plates.
US07997489B2
A countertop-mounted digital image capture and processing system that includes a housing having an imaging window with an illumination-focusing lens component integrated therewithin. The area-type image formation and detection subsystem, also disposed in the housing, has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and onto an area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in the FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations. The single array of LEDs is disposed immediately behind the illumination-focusing lens structure, for generating a field of visible illumination that reflects off an object within said FOV and is transmitted back through said imaging window and onto said area-type image detection array.
US07997488B2
There is provided a magnetic card reader system in which a magnetic head and a computer can determine mutual validity and unauthorized duplication of the magnetic card can be prevented. In a magnetic card reader system 10, a computer 13 and a microprocessor perform authentication of each other and determine that a mutual authentication result obtained based on mutual authentication is valid, then the microprocessor encrypts a digital signal and transmits the encrypted digital signal to the computer 13, and the computer 13 decodes the encrypted digital signal.
US07997486B2
An RFID Point-of-Sale system for completing a sale transaction to a customer of a plurality of items associated with a plurality of unique RFID tags at a store includes an arrangement of a plurality of RFID tag scanners for detecting the plurality of unique RFID tags associated with the plurality of items, and a checkout platform including a transaction panel, wherein a list of the plurality of items is displayed on the transaction panel based on a matching of the detected plurality of unique RFID tags with information stored in an inventory database.
US07997478B2
Check processing involves scanning a back of a check having no authorization data printed thereon and also scanning a front of the check having preprinted magnetic ink characters, electronically generating authorization data indicating that processing payment of the check has been completed and the check is valid based on a reading of the magnetic characters and a response from an external analysis source, generating an electronic merged image by electronically combining back image data captured during the scanning of the back of the check with generated authorization data, and storing the electronic merged image with the front image data captured during the scanning of the front of the check. Moreover, these operations are performed in a single pass of the check in one direction through a transportation path of a check processing apparatus. No printing of any data is required. The check processing can be embodied in a method, apparatus, or instructions embodied on a machine-readable medium.
US07997477B2
A system and method for a biometric-based identity verification for authorizing a check cashing transaction between a consumer and a merchant using a biometric identification device and at least one consumer biometric identifier scan. Said consumer registers with said system at least one biometric identifier and personal identity-verifying data both used to authenticate the identity of the consumer without the use of a man-made identity token during a check cashing transaction. During said transaction, said consumer enters at least one digital scan of at least one of their registered biometrics and said system authenticates said consumer's identity through comparing said digital scan with at least one digital scan stored in at least one system database. Upon positive identification of said consumer, said transaction is approved.
US07997472B2
When a friction stir weld tool penetrates the interface of two workpieces of dissimilar metal alloy materials, the resultant weld of the different alloy materials may produce a weak weld joint. Such weak joints are often experienced, for example, when attempting to form spot welds or other friction stir welds between a magnesium alloy sheet or strip and an aluminum alloy sheet or strip. It is discovered that suitable coating compositions including an adhesive placed at the interface of assembled workpieces can alter the composition of the friction stir weld material and strengthen the resulting bond. In the example of friction stir welds between magnesium alloy and aluminum alloy workpieces, it is found that combinations of an adhesive with copper, tin, zinc, and/or other powders can strengthen the magnesium-containing and aluminum-containing friction stir weld material.
US07997471B2
A method for production of spacers to hold at least a number of elongated fuel rods (5) in a fuel unit (20) for placement in a re-actor (1) is described. The method comprises the steps of providing at least two spacers (30), to provide a set of mandrels (40) comprising a number of mandrels (42), to arrange at least two spacers (30) with one on top of the other on the set of mandrels (40), and to heat treat the spacers (30) when they are arranged on the set of mandrels (40) so that the cells (31) in the spacers (30) adapts to the mandrels (42).
US07997465B2
A baby holder including a cushioned support having pairs of curved channel or indent undersides at substantially right angles to one another to allow resting of the support on the upper legs of a seated parent with the baby facing the parent's chest or sideways, and with its head supported by the cushion and its legs extended along the cushion.
US07997463B2
A nozzle, which is for in at least one embodiment a hot glue gun, has a resilient cap that is positioned within the nozzle's conduit. The resilient cap has at least one slit that serves as a check valve. The invention solves the problem of resilient caps in hot glue guns becoming unseated and wedging in the tapering section of the glue gun nozzle conduit by adding a collar inside the conduit that prevents the base section of the resilient cap from wedging in deeper into the nozzle's conduit, which would otherwise make the valve fail.
US07997446B2
A minute quantity viscous material dispenser employing a pressurized material source and a reciprocating piston is driven by a variable drive which is controlled in response to a signal reflective of piston position and wherein the drive can be controlled for direction, stroke distance, speed, acceleration, and force and wherein the drive is coupled to the piston through a quick disconnect.
US07997444B2
The present invention refers to a portable dispensing package comprising a pair of longitudinally opposite end walls disposed in spaced apart relation by an adjacent peripheral wall therebetween, an opening arranged on one of said end walls and a hinged lid for distributing and storing a continuous band of detachable plastic bags.
US07997441B2
Embodiments provide a tank container including a base adapted to rest on an external support, an open frame joined to the base in spaced relation to a tank barrel, the frame defining a space about the tank barrel, an open protective structure supported by the frame, the protective structure impeding contact between the flange and an external structural agent, hoist engagement structure adapted to receive hoist rigging, and rigging protective structure supported by the frame.
US07997440B2
A closure assembly for a container including an internally-threaded annular flange, an externally-threaded closure plug that is received by the annular flange, and an annular gasket positioned between the annular flange and the closure plug for establishing a sealed interface. The container includes a container end panel that is formed over and around a portion of the annular flange and provides an inner axial wall that is positioned between the annular flange and the annular gasket. The clearance between the closing plug and the inner axial wall relative to the size of the annular gasket determines the degree of radial compression of the annular gasket as the plug is threaded into the flange. A radial lip of the plug is designed to contact an upper surface of the container end panel that is formed over the flange as a visual indication when the required tightening torque of the plug within the flange has been reached.
US07997433B2
A device for suspending a rail of an overhead conveyor or a hoisting machine from a traversing gear or supporting structure includes a tension element, which carries the rail by one end via a fixing device. The fixing device grasps a support element of the rail. The support element widens and extends at least partly in the lengthwise direction of the rail. To provide a device for suspending a rail that provides enhanced safety against collapse, the fixing device includes two fixing parts, which are connected like pliers by means of a bolt running in the lengthwise direction of the rail. The fixing parts swivel toward each other from the open position into the fixing position by their fixing regions. The support element of the rail rests against the bearing surfaces of the fixing parts, even in the open position, when the fastening means are released.
US07997432B2
A mobile lift crane includes a carbody and at least four crawlers attached to the carbody, each crawler having a crawler frame attached to the carbody by a trunnion having an axis. The crawler frame is attached to the carbody so as to be able to pivot with respect to the carbody about the axis of the trunnion. The crane also includes a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the crawlers and a boom pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed. A linear actuator is connected between the crawler frame and the carbody and extends through the trunnion.The linear actuator is part of a self attachment mechanism. The trunnion includes a tubular member with a longitudinal axis, a first end configured for connection to the crane carbody and a second end configured for connection to the crawler frame. At least one of the ends is configured to allow rotational movement of the crawler frame relative to the carbody about the longitudinal axis. The linear actuator is mounted within the hollow central tubular member. The linear actuator is preferably a hydraulic cylinder. A carbody connector is attached to one end of the hydraulic cylinder, and a crawler frame connector is attached to the other end of the hydraulic cylinder.
US07997431B2
An assembly has a mechanically movable element (1), by the movement of which an oscillatory system (2) can be excited to perform an oscillation which has a resonant frequency (f) and a corresponding oscillatory period (T). First of all, a control device (4) moves the mechanically movable element (1) at a first speed (v1). If the control device (4) is stipulated a second speed (v2) by an operator (7), the control device (4) determines a jolt profile, by means of which the speed (v) of the mechanically movable element (1) is changed to the second speed (v2), and moves the mechanically movable element (1) according to the determined jolt profile. Said control device (4) determines the jolt profile in such a way that an oscillation of the oscillatory system (2) which is excited at the beginning of the speed change is calmed at the end of the speed change.
US07997430B2
Some embodiments of a product display apparatus may include a plurality of product shelves and a product display sign coupled to a support arm in an elevated position above the product shelves so as to define a viewing gap at a selected height. The viewing gap can provide consumers with see-through visibility toward an adjacent aisle. The product display sign may be releasably secured in an elevated support arm that also receives one or more display containers in a position forward of the display sign and above the product shelves.
US07997427B2
A display cradle for storing and dispensing containers such as beverage cans and bottles. Containers are loaded from the rear of the display cradle onto shelves sloping downward from the back of the display cradle to the front of the display cradle. The bottom shelf of the display cradle includes an exit port at the front of the assembly, allowing containers to be removed from the display cradle. The display cradle includes an exit channel between a front wall and the front end of the shelves where the containers from each shelf drop through towards the exit port. A gate at the front end of each shelf pivots under the weight of the containers, allowing the front-most container on each shelf to enter the exit channel while preventing subsequent containers from entering the exit channel. When the containers have exited the exit channel, the biased gate tilts back allowing the next container on each shelf to repeat the sequence. The biased gates on each shelf may operate in unison with each other.
US07997425B2
A fluted filter medium (74) comprising a corrugated filter sheet, where each flute (120) has an end closure defined by a regular fold arrangement in the corresponding corrugation. Each regular fold arrangement has at least four folds. A process for manufacturing the fluted filter medium comprising deforming a portion of each corrugation to define at least one foldable tip, and folding the said tip in order to close the corrugation.
US07997423B2
A cooking oil container has a filter cup retained at the upper end thereof. The filter cup retains a planar circular filter at the lower end and a seal between the filter holder and the bottom of the filter cup prevents oil from overflowing around the circumference of the filter holder to avoid the filter. The filter cup is spaced from the inner walls of the container to allow air to escape from the bottom of the container. The top of the container has a grip ring and the inverted top is useable as a drip tray for the filter cup while oil is being poured out of the container.
US07997419B2
A fluidizing apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a nozzle, through which a pressurized fluid can be fed into the vessel. The outlets are spaced at different heights from a base of the vessel and are controlled by valves enabling fluidized solids to be removed in layers from the vessel. In a further embodiment, a single outlet is raised or lowered to a desired position in the vessel.
US07997418B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for processing monetary units such as banknotes or coins, in which the monetary unit are conveyed from an input compartment in each case to one of a plurality of output compartments as a function of predefined sorting criteria.In order to widen the range of application of banknote sorting machines, a control device for the processing apparatus is provided, which control device is configured to be able to output in each case a predefined number of monetary units of a plurality of different denominations into at least some of the output compartments in order to process these monetary units in an individualized fashion. In comparison to the previously predominantly manually executed individualized processing, the solution according to the invention permits rapid and reliable individualized processing of cash supported by automatic means.
US07997417B2
The reverse vending machine (RVM) receives, handles, sorts, and stores returnable items or objects. The RVM includes an item supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit, an upright storage chamber for such items, a safety apparatus to avoid operational hazards, a camera aided detection device for detecting at least one of a bar code on and other characteristics, e.g. contour, of an item, a simplified token system , and a drive system with a releasable power coupling for operating the sorting device and a further storage device.
US07997416B2
An oscillating screen comprises a screening container inside which a screening means is disposed lying on a determinate screening plane (P), coinciding or inclined with respect to a horizontal oscillation plane (X), and oscillation means to move the screening container with respect to a fixed supporting structure. The oscillation means comprises a first movement unit provided with a first rotary shaft associated with a first eccentric element cooperating with the screening container, and a second movement unit having at least a second rotary shaft provided with a second eccentric element cooperating with the screening container. A transmission means connects the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft with each other, so that they have the same angular velocity.
US07997415B2
A method, apparatus, and system for coating, singulating, aligning, ablating, and indexing a number of seeds for testing is described. The apparatus has a carrier designed to hold seeds in a predetermined alignment for ablating a seed sample from a seed portion, the seed portions are indexed to the seed samples. The carrier is then located on the apparatus which delivers the seed samples from the carrier to a collector for laboratory testing.
US07997408B2
The present invention relates to a packaging system for airway devices that permits their rapid access. In particular, the packaging system is capable of maintaining the device in storage under sterile conditions, yet be capable of facilitating rapid unpackaging and use.
US07997405B2
A conveyor includes a frame and a bracket assembly attached to the frame, the bracket assembly including a series of mounting brackets having a slot for receiving a member. The slot releasably secures the member to the bracket. The member may be a side rail, a table or a support rail. The conveyor may include a belt, an actuator for driving the belt, and rollers for guiding the belt.
US07997400B2
A transport system for the movement of passengers/goods formed by a moving endless belt having: a series of pallet assemblies; drive equipment for transmitting a drive movement from actuating equipment to the pallet assemblies in a low speed section located in an embarking/disembarking area of the endless belt; drive equipment for transmitting a drive movement from actuating equipment to the pallet assemblies in a high speed section located in a middle area of the endless belt; and drive equipment for transmitting a drive movement from actuation equipment (400″) to the pallet assemblies in a transitional speed section located between the embarking/disembarking area and the middle area of the endless belt.
US07997391B2
A disc brake assembly includes a rotor with an ABS tone ring insert assembly that functions as a rotation indicator in an anti-lock braking system. The insert is positioned in the hat of a rotor disc in a spaced relationship and is mounted to the mounting flange of the rotor disc. Forming the ring insert separately from the rotor disc also allows different coating materials to be used on the tone ring that may be more heat resistant. The ring insert assembly can be made of powder metal or made as a cast iron cylinder with a toothed cap made of powder metal having a corrosion resistant coating. Cost savings can be realized along with high performance when only a portion of the assembly if made of powder metal and coated.
US07997390B2
An industrial truck with at least one driven wheel, which is adapted to being braked during traveling operation by means of a service brake and which is adapted to being immobilized by a parking brake, comprises a braking force generation and braking force transmission apparatus, which is adapted to generating a braking force and to transmitting it to at least one wheel, preferably a driven wheel, the service brake being actuatable mechanically and/or pneumatically and/or hydraulically, wherein the parking brake is actuatable electromagnetically, and the industrial truck comprises a first armature disk, which is associated with the parking brake, has ferromagnetic material and is movable between an active position, in which it activates the braking force generation and braking force transmission apparatus for generating and transmitting a braking force to the at least one wheel, and an inactive position, in which it does not activate the braking force generation and braking force transmission apparatus.
US07997388B2
Platforms for detecting, identifying and/or designating objects. Platforms according to one embodiment of the invention include an extendable mast connected to a skid via a linkage that allows pivoting of the mast with respect to the skid, and preferably does not permit rotation of the mast; at least two actuators connected to the mast; at least one inclination sensor; at least one detection sensor connected to the mast for detecting presence of an object; and circuitry that receives information from the inclination sensors and plumbs the mast. Coupling and actuator mechanisms are disclosed for connecting the mast to the skid in a manner that allows the mast to be stable for accurate use of the sensors, yet easily and quickly deployable for such use, whether the platform is deployed from the bed of a truck or when the skid is on the ground and the mast is fully extended.
US07997374B2
A vehicle occupant safety system has at least one restraint device having at least one adjustable parameter, a vehicle seat having at least one seat sensor detecting the sitting position of a vehicle occupant, a seatbelt system having at least one belt extension sensor detecting the belt extension length, and a control unit determining from the values from the seat sensor and from the belt extension sensor whether a vehicle occupant is in a forward-leaning position. The control unit then specifies the value of the adjustable parameter of the restraint device as a function of a forward-leaning position of the vehicle occupant.
US07997373B2
A steering control device for a vehicle includes a first adjustment value determination means for determining a first adjustment value of a value corresponding to a wheel steering angle based on an actual value and a target value of turning state quantity, the first adjustment value is a value directing to approximate the actual value to the target value, and a steering control means for adjusting the wheel steering angle by modifying the value corresponding to the wheel steering angle based on the first adjustment value, wherein the first adjustment value determination means includes an index value obtaining means for obtaining an index value indicating a probability of an occurrence of a side-slip of a wheel and a regulation means for regulating the first adjustment value so that the greater the probability of the occurrence of the side-slip is, the smaller the first adjustment value is set to be.
US07997372B2
A family of snowmobiles having different tunnel widths is disclosed. A snowmobile having spacers between the tunnel and the sides of the engine compartment and a method of manufacturing such a snowmobile are also disclosed. A snowmobile having a countershaft which is disposed rearwardly of the engine, vertically higher than the air intake opening, and forwardly of the air intake controller is also disclosed.
US07997360B2
Vehicles with open loop hydraulic steering systems may suffer from jerky steering due to the necessity to have safety valves in the open loop system to prevent uncontrolled vehicle movement. Traditional open loop steering arrangements allow steering by controlling fluid quantities flowing from the pump to the drive motors. The disclosed vehicle has an open loop hydraulic drive system including first and second variable displacement motors for driving ground engaging mechanisms at first and second sides of the vehicle, respectively. The system includes a control mechanism configured for steering the vehicle by changing the displacement of one of the first and second motors. This allows the operator to change the drive motor speed range during travel.
US07997358B2
A bit body formed of a mixture of matrix material and superabrasive powder and including pockets lined with superabrasive-free matrix material, and a method for forming the same, are provided. The pockets are shaped to receive cutting elements therein. The superabrasive-free matrix material enhances braze strength when a cutting element is brazed to surfaces of the pocket. The method for forming the drill bit body includes providing a mold and displacements. The displacements are coated with a mixture of superabrasive free matrix-material and an organic binder. The mold is packed with a mixture of matrix material and superabrasive powder and the arrangement heated to form a solid drill bit body. When the solid bit body is removed from the mold, pockets are formed by the displacements in the bit body and are lined with the layer of superabrasive-free matrix material. The superabrasive material may be diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, SiC or TiB2 in exemplary embodiments.
US07997351B2
Pneumatic drifters containing a drifter cylinder with removable feet and associated methods for using the pneumatic drifters are described. The removable feet are connected to feet pad of a drifter cylinder with multiple fasteners. The mating surfaces of the feet and the feet pad are provided with complimentary features that limit the shearing forces on the fasteners during operation of the drifter rock drill. The removable feet can be replaced quickly and easily without have to replace the entire drifter cylinder, thereby saving time and reducing costs. Other embodiments are also described.
US07997345B2
A universal marine diverter converter (UMDC) housing is clamped or latched to a rotating control device. The UMDC housing assembled with the RCD is inserted into a marine diverter above the water surface to allow conversion between conventional open and non-pressurized mud-return system drilling, and a closed and pressurized mud-return system used in managed pressure or underbalanced drilling.
US07997344B2
A crossover tool assembly is run in with a packer and after the packer is set it is released from the packer for independent movement. The assembly is picked up to allow spring loaded dogs to come out so that upon setting down weight the crossover assembly has an outer assembly that is supported on the packer mandrel. The crossover mandrel can then be set down and picked up to operate a j-slot mechanism in the crossover. Relative movement induced by the j-slot with the outer assembly of the crossover supported by the dogs allows a return path within the crossover to be opened or closed independent of any contact with the packer mandrel.
US07997335B2
A seafloor pump assembly is installed within a caisson that has an upper end for receiving a flow of fluid containing gas and liquid. The pump assembly is enclosed within a shroud that has an upper end that seals around the pump assembly and a lower end that is below the motor and is open. An extraction tube has an upper end above the shroud within the upper portion of the caisson and a lower end connected to a jet pump. The extraction tube causes gas that separates from the liquid and collects in the upper portion of the caisson to be drawn into the jet pump and mixed with the liquid as the liquid is being pumped.
US07997334B2
A method and apparatus for containing fluid in ah area of a wellbore annulus, in which fluid is energized to create a fluid flow which is at least partially obstructed and is directed to form in the annulus a localized area of high pressure to contain fluid in an area of the annulus of lower pressure. In an embodiment, the method creates a pressure plug in the annulus.
US07997328B2
In an air conditioner, air-supply passages cross air-discharge passages, and heat exchangers are disposed at intersections between the air-supply passages and the air-discharge passages. This increases the effective heat-exchanging areas of the heat exchangers. In addition, the air conditioner is configured such that the air conditioner can be easily installed and repaired even when the air conditioner is rotated to be properly connected with air-supply ducts and air-discharge ducts.
US07997327B2
The apparatus (1) which combines a heat exchange between a liquid (8) and a heat transporting medium (7) with a static mixing of the liquid includes installed structures (2) in a jacket (3). The jacket extends longitudinally between a head end (4) and a base end (5). The installed structures form a heat exchanging and mixing structure. The heat transporting medium can be conveyed from the base end to the head end as an inner flow in tubes (21, 22) of the installed structures. The liquid can be conveyed from the head end to the base end as an outer flow. Reinforcement elements (6, 6′, 6″) are provided which stabilise the installed structures in the longitudinal direction against pressure gradients generated by the liquid. The installed structures are connected by the reinforcement elements to form a non-expandable part structure (2a) in a main region; they remain at least partly non-reinforced as a longitudinally expandable part structure (2b) and in a secondary region complementary to the main region.
US07997314B2
The invention aims at improving a method and a device (17) for the production of veneers (1) and veneered parts (13) and to veneers (1) and veneered parts (13). To this end, a sealing layer (2) is applied on the surface of the veneer (1) before further processing. The device (17) includes a veneer producing device known per se, a finishing station (6), a transporting device (5) and a polishing station (8).
US07997288B2
A system for processing a substrate is described. The system includes a proximity head, a mechanism, and a liquid supply. The proximity head is configured to generate a controlled meniscus. Specifically, the proximity head has a plurality of dispensing nozzles formed on a face of the proximity head. The dispensing nozzles are configured to supply a liquid to the meniscus and the suction holes are added to remove a used liquid from the meniscus. The mechanism moves the proximity head or the substrate with respect to each other while maintaining contact between the meniscus and a surface of the substrate. The movement causes a thin layer of the liquid to remain on the surface after being contacted by the meniscus. The liquid supply is in fluid communication with the dispensing nozzles, and is configured to balance an amount of the liquid delivered to the meniscus with an amount of liquid removed from the meniscus, the amount of liquid removed from the meniscus including at least the thin layer of the liquid remaining on the surface of the substrate.
US07997276B2
A device for face-down, prone respiration comprising a head support made of resilient material having a facial cavity conformable to the contours of a person's face, a plenum cavity in fluid communication with the person's face, a substantially L-shaped support base removably engaged to the head support, a horizontal member of the base engaged underneath the head support and a vertical member of the base engaged to an end of the head support proximate to the facial cavity and in fluid communication with the plenum cavity, the vertical member having at least one air pump intake pathway and at least one exhalation discharge pathway integral to the base whereby air pumped through at least one air pump intake pathway creates a plenum in plenum cavity which is inhaled by person and air exhaled by person is discharged back into plenum cavity and out the at least one exhalation discharge pathway.
US07997269B2
The system and method includes a treatment device such as an anesthetic machine or IV, a monitor and a display configured to display real-time PK/PD data associated with an anesthetic agent administered to the patient. The system and method further includes a safety control means configured to control the display such that one of a basic display state, an interactive effects display state, and a display inhibited state is selected and displayed according to the anesthetic agents and levels of the same being administered to the patient.
US07997267B2
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. The frame includes a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame. The elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow that defines an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle. The elbow assembly includes an end portion that interfaces with the aperture of the frame.
US07997260B2
A pneumatic paintball marker has, for example, a sleeve that controls the passage of air through the longitudinal barrel or opening within the marker. By sequentially filling separate chambers defined within the opening and the sleeve, the sleeve is able to translate axially through the opening in a sequential manner. When the sleeve is in a forward position, air is caused to be released through the barrel, propelling the paintball. A sear member engages the sleeve and prevents it from inadvertently moving to a forward position. Air filling the chambers returns the sleeve to the loading position.
US07997256B2
An ignition coil assembly mounted on a valve cover whereby the plurality of coils connected to the ignition coil assembly are individually removable. The ignition coil assembly comprises a base plate and coil bracket that rotateably couple, preferably with a hinging element, allowing for access and removal of individual coils as from the engine or valve cover. The coil bracket is also able to be removed from the base member. A preferred embodiment involves locking the assembly in place with fasteners. A method for manufacture of the ignition coil assembly with the steps of rotateably coupling the base plate and coil bracket. A method for replacing ignition coils from an engine comprising separating the coil bracket from the base plate, removing and replacing individual ignition coils, and locking the coil bracket to the base plate.
US07997255B2
An engine ignition control apparatus for controlling ignition of a multi-cylinder, 4-cycle engine includes dual ignition coils for controlling ignition timing of the respective cylinders during engine operation. The engine ignition control apparatus includes a stroke determination unit for determining a stroke based on crank pulses and on an output signal of an intake pressure sensor. The engine ignition control apparatus also includes an ignition map allocation unit for allocating ignition maps to the respective cylinders of two ignition systems, each having a pair of cylinders with a same phase, before the stroke determination. The ignition map allocation unit also allocates ignition maps independently to each of the respective cylinders after the stroke determination. The engine ignition control apparatus also includes an ignition timing calculation unit for calculating ignition timing of the respective ignition coils based on the ignition maps allocated to the respective cylinders.
US07997249B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine including: a piston head located at an uppermost section of the piston; a land located on a circumference of the piston head; a skirt located below the land; and a pair of pin bosses located on the lower section of the piston head. The piston head has a first cavity on the bottom of the piston head. Each of the pair of pin bosses has a second cavity in an outer upper section of the pin boss. The pin boss has a through hole that communicably connects the first cavity with the second cavity.
US07997247B2
A valve plate is formed as a butterfly-type valve plate including a first and a second valve-plate half portions that extend in opposite directions to each other from a valve shaft. When the valve plate is at a first changeover position, the first valve-plate half portion is directed to the downstream side of a first intake passage from the valve shaft and the second valve-plate half portion is directed to the upstream side of the first intake passage from the valve shaft so that a first plate face of the valve plate forms a part of the first intake passage. When the valve plate is at a second changeover position, the first valve-plate half portion is directed to the downstream side of a second intake passage from the valve shaft and the second valve-plate half portion is directed to the upstream side of the second intake passage from the valve shaft so that a second plate face of the valve plate forms a part of the second intake passage. Accordingly, the power needed for changing over the valve plate and for keeping a predetermined changeover position can be reduced significantly.
US07997245B2
A fuel injection control apparatus includes: an internal combustion engine; a fuel injection unit provided in the internal combustion engine; an intake state detection unit that detects an intake state value indicating an intake state of the internal combustion engine, and that outputs an intake state signal; and a control unit to which the intake state signal is input, that determines based on the intake state signal whether or not the internal combustion engine is on an intake stroke, and that controls the fuel injection unit so that an initial fuel injection is performed in order to start up the engine when the control unit determines that the engine is on an intake stroke.
US07997239B2
A breather device of a vertical type engine includes: an engine body having a crank chamber and a cylinder bore; and a timing transmission chamber provided above the engine body and housing a timing transmission device that connects between a crankshaft and a cam shaft which are vertically placed, respectively, the timing transmission chamber communicating at one side with the crank chamber and at the other side with the outside, wherein the breather device includes a breather chamber communicating with the timing transmission chamber via a communication tube, the breather chamber communicating with an intake silencer box. Hence, oil can be efficiently separated from breathing gas of a crank chamber.
US07997231B2
The current invention provides an improved material for the repair, replacement, and/or enhancement of aquatic habitats. It is a composition for use as a replacement for concrete or as a coating for concrete in structures such as artificial reefs. The combination of calcium carbonate (preferably Aragonite), a resin (preferably a marine use resin or Dion ISO 6631), and a catalyst results in a composition that is strong, durable, easy to use, and compatible with aquatic life. The current invention can be used to fabricate structures for use as a foundation for the repair and regeneration of damaged coral reefs. The organically enhanced nature of the composition facilitates the attachment and growth of coral and algae and is compatible with other aquatic life. The composition can be fabricated into slab form and used as a surface for coral farming/seeding for eventual transplantation of live coral species. The composition can be used to fabricate artificial reef modules as described in the prior art and to duplicate certain species of hard coral. This product can also be used to build structures that will help protect shorelines from erosion. When cast in a molded process, the composition can be used for the formation of aesthetically pleasing formations (replicas of hard coral species) that are also suitable for use in aquariums. The composition can also be used to fabricate structures to be used in freshwater environments to enhance habitats used by desirable fish species for spawning.
US07997230B2
A manual litter box provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the manual litter box is configured to use a disposable cartridge which may include a litter compartment and a waste compartment. In another embodiment, the cartridge may be non-compartmentalized. The cartridge may be disposable, thus eliminating the need for the user to clean the litter tray and handle heavy litter containers. In other embodiments, the system includes a rake assembly configured with a manual shuttle chassis drive assembly that is protected from contamination. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the manual litter box is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.
US07997222B2
In a system for controlling outboard motors each mounted on a boat and each having an internal combustion engine and a shift mechanism, an actuator driving at least one of the shift mechanism and a throttle valve of the engine, and a controller controlling operation of the actuator, comprising: a navigation unit having a steering wheel installed to be freely operable by an operator and a steering angle detector producing an output indicative of a steering angle of the steering wheel, wherein the outboard motors are immovably fastened to the boat, such that each of the controllers controls the operation of the actuator cooperatively based on the output of the steering angle detector, to regulate traveling direction of the boat. With this, it becomes possible to control a traveling direction of the boat based on a steering command issued by the operator, while achieving a compact outboard motor.
US07997216B2
An article of furniture comprising, in combination: a core body consisting of first plastic foam material, a first layer extending at one or more of the top and sides of the core, and attached to the core, consisting of plastic soft material, a second layer covering the first layer and covering the top and sides of the body, and which is a waterproof plastic film material, and an outer exposed sheet removably covering said second layer, and consisting of an upholstery material or the like.
US07997215B2
The invention relates to a table (1) comprising an up-and-down movable tabletop (2) and operating provisions to move the tabletop (2) up and down, characterized in that the operating provisions are located under the tabletop (2) and that they can be reached by hand. Said operating provisions preferably comprise an operating ring (3) movable against a resilient force.
US07997188B2
A portable, multipurpose cooking utensil includes a base pan adapted to retain a grill having a dome-shaped, transparent lid thereon. The device also includes a heat control unit that allows a user to select the amount heat delivered to the grill. The heat control unit may be replaced with a broiling pan or frying pan, if desired.
US07997185B2
A piston has a body with a first circumferentially disposed groove. A first ring is movably disposed within the first groove. The first ring defines an inner circumferential groove. A blocking ring is at least partially located in the groove of the first ring and the groove of the piston. One or more vent passages may connect a first volume in the piston to a second volume outside the piston.
US07997182B1
A protective hull for a vehicle has a plate that covers at least a substantial portion of the underside of the vehicle. A plurality of supports extends laterally from longitudinal members, and a plurality of supports extends laterally from another longitudinal member. A plurality of V-shaped supports is disposed between the lateral supports. The supports have a plurality of voids therein. The voids do not have corners that could encourage tearing of the supports. Cells that are protected from puncture contain fire suppressant and are disposed over the supports.
US07997177B2
A miter saw for cutting a workpiece is disclosed. The miter saw has a base section, a holder section, a saw blade section, a saw blade support section, and a guide bar. The base section has an upper surface for supporting a workpiece to be cut. The holder section stands from the base portion. The saw blade section has a circular saw blade for cutting the workpiece. The saw blade support section pivotably supports the saw blade section. The guide bar slidably supports the saw blade support section. The guide bar is slidably supported by the holder section. The guide bar extends substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base section. The saw blade support portion is slidable along the guide bar.
US07997172B2
Disclosed are a method and apparatus in the field of computer numerically controlled machine tools. A rotating workpiece is brought into contact with a tool, the tool being disposed in a rotating tool holder and traversing an eccentric path. By rotating the tool holder and workpiece synchronously, various characteristics forms may be produced. The method in some embodiments is useful in the turning of noncircular shapes, such as ovoid pistons and other parts.
US07997171B2
An attachment for a portable hand-held screw driving tool is provided for use with collated strips of screws. The front portion of the attachment is movable to a great extent, to thereby allow the tool to drive screws almost directly at the corner of two walls. A front “nose piece” is pressed against one of the walls, which causes the nose piece to move rearward “into” the remainder of the tool, in a “first stage” of movement. A screw is indexed to its drive position, and a drive bit is abutted against the screw head during this first stage. The nose piece is pressed further into the tool, which also causes a “feed tube” to move rearward “into” the remainder of the tool, in a “second stage” of movement, which rotates the screw as it is emplaced into the wall.
US07997162B1
The instant invention is a handlebar extension that attaches to the top of a standard motorcycle or comparable vehicle allowing the user to secure the handlebars while positioning the handlebars at an elevated position and moving them forward, away from the rider. This is achieved by the presences of offset openings in the second component of the handle bar extensions. The handlebar extension attaches to existing openings of the motorcycle while the offset feature gives a height and distancing factor. The extensions have a plurality different size opening to accommodate a variety of different handlebars. The extensions themselves have a plurality of sizes as well to accommodate different applications.
US07997160B2
The invention relates to a control device for controlling the engagement of selected gears of a gearbox for a motor vehicle, which control device comprises a control rod with a respective locking arrangement. The locking arrangement includes a locking element provided with one or more grooves or recesses which each define a predetermined setting position of the control rod. The locking arrangement further includes two locking balls, a control ball and a spring arranged in a hollow space in the control rod. The locking balls are movable radially in the hollow space in mutually opposite directions, perpendicular to the control rod's longitudinal axis, against the action of the spring in order for the locking balls to be brought into and out of engagement with the grooves/recesses. The control ball is movable in the hollow space in the control rod's axial direction and is preloaded by the spring against the locking balls so that the locking balls, through the action of the spring and the control ball, are thereby preloaded to assume a protruded position in order to engage in one of the grooves/recesses. The invention also relates to a gearbox including such a control device.
US07997154B2
[Resolving Means] A rolling bearing device with a sensor includes: a tubular fixed bearing ring which is fixed to a vehicle body side; a rotating bearing ring which is rotatably inserted in an interior of the fixed bearing ring and is fixed to a tire side; rolling elements which are rollably disposed between these bearing rings; and a sensor device disposed on a fixed bearing ring side. The sensor device has at least two sensors which are arranged at positions perpendicular to each other in a circumferential direction of the fixed bearing ring, and which are respectively capable of detecting the ground contact load of the tire, the sensor device being so constructed as to be able to detect a ground contact load of the tire based on cycles of outputs obtained from the at least two sensors.
US07997145B2
A system for preloading piezoelectric actuators includes a fixture, a preloading mechanism configured to apply a mechanical force to a piezoelectric element supported by the fixture, and a sensor configured to sense an electrical property induced by the mechanical force in an electrical circuit having the piezoelectric element therein. A control device is coupled with the sensor and configured to generate a signal based on the sensed electrical property. A method of setting or testing preload includes applying a mechanical force to a piezoelectric element, and correlating an electrical property induced by the mechanical force with a magnitude of the mechanical force. Closed loop control allows preload to be set highly accurately.
US07997144B1
A system and method employing a piezoelectric sensor for quasi-static force measurement substantially free of drift and with improved low-frequency response. The output signal from the sensor is sampled and integrated using digital techniques that include a drift compensation algorithm. The algorithm continually monitors the sensor output and estimates bias errors that will cause the output to drift.
US07997142B2
Pressure non-linearity in a low pressure sensor device formed from a silicon diaphragm with an embedded piezoresistive transducer is reduced by using a shallow boss or thin stiffener on an ultra-thin diaphragm while the pressure sensitivity of the device is increased with corner trenches.
US07997136B2
Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a proof mass, a planar coil on the proof mass, a magnet, a first pole piece positioned proximate a first side of the proof mass, and a second pole piece positioned proximate a second side of the proof mass. A magnetic flux field passes from the magnet, through the first pole piece, through the planar coil at an angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane, and into the second pole piece. The first pole piece may extend into a first recessed area of a first housing layer and the second pole piece may extend into a second recessed area of a second housing layer. A method includes sensing a capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
US07997133B2
An acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration comprises a housing including a measuring-plate, which has a first surface. The measuring plate has a second surface in parallel with and opposite to the first surface. A post is bonded via a post-bonding-face to the first surface. A temperature-compensating-element for compensating a temperature-effect caused by a temperature acting on the measuring-plate, is bonded via an element-bonding-face to the second surface of the measuring-plate. In addition, a sensor as described above is in a measuring device.
US07997126B2
A texture measuring apparatus that measures surface information of an object includes: a probe coming into contact with the object while moving on a surface of the object; a first sensor unit, provided at the probe, for detecting a force acting on the probe in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the probe; and a second sensor unit, provided at the rear of the probe, for detecting a force acting on the probe in the lengthwise direction of the probe. The apparatus further includes a third sensor unit, provided between the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, for detecting variations in the forces acting on the probe.
US07997125B2
A miniaturized spring element is intended to be particularly suitable for use as a beam probe or cantilever for detecting atomic or molecular forces, in particular in an atomic force microscope, and, to this end, is intended to make it possible to detect its deflection in a particularly reliable manner and with high resolution. For this purpose, the spring element contains a basic body which is formed from a matrix containing embedded nanoparticles or defects. The spring element is produced using the principle of local deposition with focused energetic particles or electromagnetic waves or by pyrolytically induced deposition.
US07997124B2
A scanning probe microscope has a cantilever mounted to undergo oscillation movement over a surface of a sample. The cantilever has a probe on a distal end thereof. A Z-axis controlling amount calculating mechanism calculates a controlling amount for keeping constant an oscillation amount of the cantilever. A Z-axis driving mechanism drives in a Z direction the cantilever or the sample in accordance with the controlling amount from the Z-axis controlling amount calculating mechanism. A driving range limiting device limits a driving range of the Z-axis driving mechanism. A driving range setting device optionally sets the driving range of the Z-axis driving mechanism.
US07997122B2
The present invention is directed to an analyzer for measuring the vapor pressure of a hydrocarbon liquid. The analyzer includes a pressure measuring system connected to an air saturation system having a circulation chamber with opposing first and second ends. A first opening is disposed toward the first end and a second opening is disposed toward the second end. A plumbing system connects the first and second openings. A pump moves the hydrocarbon liquid through the plumbing system from the first opening to the second opening so as to saturate the hydrocarbon liquid with air. The air saturation system has a cooler for cooling the hydrocarbon liquid and the pressure measuring system has a heater for heating the hydrocarbon liquid. The pump may be a piston actuated pump or a motor-driven pump and the plumbing system may include an aeration chamber.
US07997120B2
A method for pressure testing a threaded component is provided. A cap includes a female threading that is matched with a threading of a first male threaded element. The cap is made up onto the first male threaded element of a component to be tested so as to compress a sealing ring between metal surfaces of the first element and the cap, and a test pressure is established inside the component. The male element has an annular lip which is capable of deforming radially outwardly under the effect of the test pressure. Between a radially outward surface of the lip and a facing surface of the cap, at the end of makeup there exists a clearance having a value which has been selected sufficiently small so that, under the effect of the test pressure, the lip bears on said facing surface without undergoing plastic deformation.
US07997112B2
A system is configured for forming a flange at an end of a tube. The system includes a collar configured to receive the tube. A first roller engages the collar and a second roller is configured to cooperate with the first roller to rotate the collar and the tube. A rotatable cam is disposed about the second roller and includes a cam surface configured to bend the end of the tube to thereby form the flange. The collar may be configured to restrict axial movement of the tube relative to the collar. Additionally or alternatively, the collar may be configured to restrict rotational movement of the tube relative to the collar.
US07997110B2
In substantial volume production operations involving hot blow forming or hot stamping of aluminum alloy sheet workpieces, debris largely comprised of particles of aluminum alloy material adheres to critical forming surfaces of the heated steel tools. This debris mars forming surfaces and causes defects in aluminum alloy parts formed against them. Such aluminum-rich debris may be reactively transformed to change its adherent properties and removed from tool surfaces without removing the heated tool from production. In one embodiment, a hot sacrificial magnesium sheet may be formed on the tool(s) to alloy with aluminum debris and carry it from the forming surface.
US07997106B2
A security apparatus is disclosed. The security apparatus comprises an attachment device comprising a base, and a locking head configured to secure to the base. The attachment device can be small and strong. The locking head can have a securing element and a locking component, associated with a housing. The locking head may be in a secured configuration upon a single motion or movement of the locking head.
US07997100B2
An article of jewelry preferably in the form of a pendant having a hollow compartment therein which is accessible by a threaded or press fitted cap which upon opening the container permits access to an article retaining apparatus. The article retaining apparatus can be solid, hollow or formed of a mesh material which permits visibility of the retained object and includes a slot for insertion of a retained object. The article retained may be an object having a reference to luck, power, love or protection and may include either hair or paper or small object.
US07997087B2
A structure, system and method for controlling a temperature of a heat generating device in a solid medium, wherein heat is extracted from the medium into at least one heat extraction device, the heat extraction device dissipates heat into an environment apart from the medium by a heat sink thermally coupled to the heat extraction device; and heat from the medium is dissipated into the heat sink by a first thermal interface material thermally coupling the heat sink to the medium.
US07997085B2
A method for assembling a gas turbine engine including a core gas turbine engine, a low-pressure turbine, a starter, and a generator is provided. The method includes coupling a starter to the core gas turbine engine, and coupling a generator to the low-pressure turbine.
US07997083B2
A method and controller for identifying lean blowout conditions in a Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustor during a premix mode. An effective approach to quickly and reliably identify a blowout during operation in the premix mode is by the effect on fuel normalized power (FNP). FNP is a useful signal, in that a power reduction from a blowout may be distinguished much slower changes in power resulting from global fuel demand (changing load request). A difference between the FNP and a filtered FNP parameter may be compared against a predetermined threshold. If the difference exceeds the threshold, a lean blowout is identified and a signal may be transmitted to the turbine controller to reposition combustor operation away from blowout conditions.
US07997081B2
A gas delivery system includes a gas booster module for delivering natural gas from a utility gas service to power generation equipment installed in or around a building in a manner that meets the minimum volume and pressure requirements of the power generation equipment. The gas delivery system advantageously uses pipe of a relatively small size for delivering gas to the power generation equipment, thereby substantially reducing installation costs and eliminating the need for a welded gas line. The gas delivery system also provides a control system that facilitates close control over the gas flow and ensures compliance with local building codes and safety regulations and requirements.
US07997079B2
The present invention discloses a self-regulating thermal energy storage system for use in conjunction with at least one thermal energy client, and a method for self-regulating the storage and use of thermal energy in the system.
US07997072B2
A torque converter including a cover having a central longitudinal axis and an outer surface and a pilot stamped from metal. The pilot includes a disc at least partially radially aligned with the axis for the cover. The pilot and the cover central axis are fixedly secured to each other. In a first embodiment, the disc is flat. In a second embodiment, the disc is annular. In a third embodiment, the pilot includes a machined outer circumferential surface. In a fourth embodiment, the pilot includes first and second portions radially off-set with respect to one another. In a fifth embodiment, the pilot includes a portion axially extending from the portion of the disc at least partially radially aligned with the axis for the cover. In a preferred embodiment, the cover and pilot are fixedly secured by welding.
US07997050B2
A clamp for sheets of material. The clamp includes a longitudinal main body with an external clamping side. The external clamping side comprises an external dragging surface for engaging a sheet of material. An internal clamping area inwardly extends from the external clamping side. The external dragging surface is at least partially movable into the internal clamping area so as to frictionally drag at least a portion of the sheet of material, engaged thereby, into the internal clamping area therewith. Clamping devices and bagging apparatus including such clamps are also disclosed. A method of clamping overlaying sheets of material is also disclosed.
US07997043B1
A molding system for use in interior spaces for use either with new construction or finished spaces, and in addition can be used with either a suspended ceiling or conventional ceiling, whereby the molding is incorporated with the wall and ceiling surfaces in such a manner that the joints with the ceiling and wall are plumb and being mounted such that the decorative molding surface of the molding can be installed in a finished form that does not require further finishing after installation.
US07997041B2
A system and method for forming a filter media support system with dual locking mechanisms. The support system comprises two or more interlocking rows of support blocks. One or more slides and one or more guides protrude from the side walls of the blocks. Each guide is conformed to receive one slide from a neighboring block, forming a first locking joint. The side walls also comprise one or more posts and one or more sockets. Each post is conformed to fit within one socket of a neighboring block, forming a second locking joint.In one embodiment, the method for assembling the support system comprises aligning a slide of a first support block with a guide of a second support block. The slide of the first support block is vertically moved into the guide of the second support block. Force is applied so that the posts snap-lock into the sockets.
US07997036B1
A corrugated hurricane panel attachment and strengthening strap system and method for enhanced storm protection for a window of a building. A pair of attaching brackets are each entrappingly connectable along opposing upright edges of the corrugated panel and to the corresponding window frame to hold the upright edges of the panel protectively over the outside of the window. An elongated flexible strap is extendable across the front and rear faces of the panel and is supported through and tensioned against spaced slots formed through each of the brackets, the slots being spaced apart a distance similar to a thickness of the panel. The ends of the strap are lockingly engagable one to another under tension wherein the strap bears against an outer surface of the corrugations of the panel for added panel strength.
US07997035B2
Improvements in a window screen are disclosed. The improvements include the use of a woven pattered window screen. The window screen design includes a woven non-geometric pattern to create a more visually appealing image when looking at and through the window screen. The woven screen material is held onto a base frame with an elastomeric bead. The screen can also be retained in a retractable roll where it can be withdrawn to cover a door, or as an awning. The woven image can include a variety of patterns and pattern variations including flowers, leaves, pictures, images and seasonal patterns.
US07997034B2
An exterior siding mounting bracket assembly used in conjunction with siding placed over sheathing of an exterior wall has a base member having a mounting flange fastened to the sheathing and a water diversion fitting also fastened to the sheathing and flashed in-part beneath the lower end of the mounting flange. A wall arrangement projects laterally outward from the mounting flange and away from the sheathing. A trim member of the bracket assembly has a partition arrangement that preferably snap fits to the wall arrangement and a trim flange constructed and arranged to substantially cover the water diversion fitting and the cut edges of the siding that cover in-part the mounting flange. Preferably, the water diversion fitting has an elongated drip edge spaced outwardly from the siding to shed water collected from generally cascaded from the mounting flange and outward from the siding.
US07997032B2
A snow guard and snow guard cover are provided which allow the cover to be attached to the snow guard to conceal the snow guard from view. The cover allows the snow guard to better match the finish of the roof, and protects the snow guard from sunlight.
US07997026B2
A method of preserving fruit-bearing cut-limbs from cutting at an orchard to receiving by a remote consumer includes cutting a live, fruit-bearing limb off a fruit tree in an orchard; and bagging the cut limb with perforated film substantially to seal the limb therein substantially continuously from the time of cutting at the orchard to the time of receiving by the remote consumer. After the cutting and before the bagging, the method can include dipping the cut end of the limb in a solution of water substantially continuously from cutting at the orchard to receiving by the remote consumer and/or coating the cut limb including the fruit and leaves thereon using a moisture-retentive agent. A perishable-fruit distribution method includes cutting an intact fruit- and leaf-bearing limb from a live tree in an orchard; treating the cut-limb to extend the useful life of the intact fruit and leaf thereon; placing the treated cut-limb with the intact fruit and leaf thereon in a shipping container; and delivering the treated, containerized cut-limb with the intact fruit and leaf thereon within the shipping container to a consumer remote from the orchard. A coating and a shipping container also are described and claimed.
US07997021B2
Shooting rests having elevation adjustment assemblies are disclosed herein. One embodiment of the disclosure, for example, is directed to a shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a buttstock spaced apart from a forestock. The shooting rest includes a first base portion carrying a first support for supporting the buttstock and a second base portion coupled to the first base portion and carrying a second support for supporting the forestock. The second base portion includes a body having an opening extending therethrough, and a height adjustment member slidably positioned in the opening. The height adjustment member has a non-circular cross-sectional shape in a plane that is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the height adjustment member. The height adjustment member is attached to the second support and configured to adjust a height of the second support. The second base portion includes a biasing member contacting the height adjustment member to at least partially inhibit movement of the height adjustment member through the opening.
US07997019B2
A steam generating apparatus includes a boiler for receiving water to be heated and an opening in a wall of the boiler. The opening is closable by a closing device. The steam generating apparatus also includes a steam duct for conducting steam generated in the boiler to a steam applying device such as an iron. A by-pass duct for by-passing the steam duct is provided for discharging steam from the boiler to the iron.
US07997016B2
A self-propelled snow remover has a machine body, a snow-removing implement mounted to a front part of the machine body for undergoing rolling and vertical movement relative to the machine body, and an operating unit mounted to a rear part of the machine body. An alignment operating member is mounted to the operating unit for rolling and vertically moving the snow-removing implement. The alignment operating member is disposed on one of opposite sides of a widthwise central line of the machine body. A return operating member is mounted to the operating unit for automatically returning the snow-removing implement to a predetermined reference position. The return operating member is disposed proximate to the alignment operating member at a position closer to the widthwise central line of the machine body than the alignment operating member and further towards the rear part of the machine body than the alignment operating member.
US07997013B2
An aspect of the present invention includes a footwear assembly comprising: an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly has a footwear assembly comprising a sole assembly connected to an upper. The sole assembly has a midsole made of a first material and having a forefoot portion, an arch portion, a heel portion, and a sidewall extending around a lateral side, a medial side, and a heel side of the midsole. A stiffener is connected to the midsole. The stiffener is made of a second material stiffer than the first material. The stiffener has a base portion adjacent to the arch portion and at least one of the forefoot portion and the heel portion of the midsole. The stiffener has a side stabilizer and a heel wrap coupled to the base portion. The side stabilizer is adjacent to the sidewall in at least one of the arch portion and forefoot portion. The heel wrap is adjacent to the heel side and at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the midsole's sidewall.
US07997004B1
A portable air heating system provides a stream of heated air. The heating system generally has an air transfer assembly for providing a flow of air through the system, a fuel burner assembly having one or more burners for providing heat by combustion, and a heat transfer housing for safely transferring the heat produced by the fuel burner assembly to the air flowing through the transfer assembly. The burner assembly has burners with inlets having generally horizontal axes that are disposed from one or more heat transfer tubes mounted in the heat transfer housing. The burner assembly and the heat transfer assembly are positioned outside the area being heated so that the exhaust gases are completely isolated from the air heated by the system, thereby virtually eliminating the likelihood of asphyxiation by the exhaust gases from the burner.
US07996997B2
A spectacle measuring tool (1) includes a front plate (2) attached to a spectacle frame, and a pair of left and right side plates (40A, 40B) formed on the two, left and right edges of the front plate (2) to extend backward. The front plate (2) includes an interpupillary distance measuring portion (A) and a fitting point height measuring portion (B), and is attached to the spectacle frame such that a height adjusting device (30) can adjust its height. The side plates (40A, 40B) include a pair of left and right pressing/adjusting devices (60) which adjust the side plates (40A, 40B) to be parallel to the temples of the spectacle frame. The pressing/adjusting devices (60) press against the face side portions of a subject using threaded rods (62).
US07996994B2
A manual shaving device that includes a support having at least one razor blade designed to cut a hair as it passes over it mounted thereon and at least one conducting member designed to transmit an electric current to a root of the hair as it passes over it, the electric current being designed to damage a follicle of the hair by electrolysis.
US07996988B2
Methods of making sensors, for determining the concentration of an analyte, such as glucose, in a biological fluid such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry, and potentiometry. The sensor includes a working electrode and a counter electrode, and may include an insertion monitoring trace to determine correct positioning of the sensor in a connector. The sensor is calibration-adjusted, eliminating the need for a user to enter a calibration code or for the meter to read a calibration code.
US07996979B2
A method of coupling a valve assembly to a housing including the steps of orienting a channel and retaining the valve assembly. The orienting step including the orienting of the channel on the valve assembly to dual spring arms on the housing thereby directing a portion of the valve assembly to an opening in the housing. The retaining step including retaining the valve assembly to the housing by way of a biased latch.
US07996973B2
A method for recycling rail is provided wherein the rail is heated, and then slit into two pieces. The two pieces are passed through a single mill pass line such that each piece of the rail is deformed to have a generally uniform shape.
US07996954B2
A path-conversion valve assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprises a valve member rotatably mounted in an air path formed in a cleaner of a vacuum cleaner which includes a socket for receiving a hose nozzle, and a resilient member mounted in the air path to resiliently press the rotating valve member in an opposite direction to the rotating direction of the valve member.
US07996945B2
Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.
US07996944B2
One bridge pier, two bridge girders and two supporting rods are manufactured in an approximately vertical position. The supporting rods are connected to the top of the pier and to the bridge girders. The bridge girders are brought into the horizontal final position by raising the end points of the bridge girders, which end points are located beside the pier. Finally, the end points (9) of the bridge girders are connected to the pier.
US07996943B2
A frame of a dock leveler that positions a deck portion of the dock leveler so that the deck portion is level with a surrounding dock floor at a driveway end when mounted in a pit in the dock floor includes a pit supported portion placed on a floor of the pit, a deck supporting portion providing support to the deck portion, and an adjusting assembly connected to the pit supported portion and to the deck supporting portion and operable to move and hold the deck supporting portion so that the deck portion of the dock leveler is at a selected position with respect to the surrounding dock floor.
US07996941B2
A method for forming a flotation bridge is provided. The method including: forming at least one expandable member used in constructing the flotation bridge, the forming including: expanding a covering to define a cavity; and expanding foam in the cavity in an expansion direction to expand the covering into a predetermined shape.
US07996922B2
A method of making a cuff by obtaining a piece of flexible material in the shape of a rectangle having first and second longitudinal edges, front and back faces, and first and second latitudinal edges; folding over the first and second latitudinal edges to meet the parallel fold lines; uniting the latitudinal edges to the fold lines to form first and second hems; folding a first half of the flexible material back over a second half of the flexible material along the third fold line so that the front face is on the interior and hems are on the exterior forming a tube; uniting the first and second longitudinal edges to form a flat tube having a closed tube edge, which is divided into a first closed tube edge and a second closed tube edge; folding the first closed tube edge over the second closed tube edge along a fourth fold line, which is perpendicular to the closed tube edge, so that the second hem is brought adjacent to but does not overlap the first hem to form a folded flattened tube; uniting the first closed tube edge over the second closed tube edge; turning the folded flattened tube inside out to form a cuff so that the front face forms an exterior surface of the cuff.
US07996921B1
A fishing vest/chest pack has a backpack slidably attached to its shoulder straps to enable the backpack to be flipped between a first stored position and a second in front position enabling ready access to the contents of the backpack without the need to remove the garment.
US07996919B2
An apparatus and method for fitting a person with a maternity garment includes one or more prosthetic devices. Each prosthetic device simulates a belly enlarged by a corresponding stage of pregnancy, to be worn by a person while wearing the maternity garment to simulate the fit and appearance of the maternity garment being worn by a pregnant person.
US08001614B2
A new system and method have been invented to allow a sender/author/user who wishes to send e-mail or a calendar meeting document to someone and make it available to her or his assistant or manager without the need of the sender/author/user finding out who the assistant or manager is. That is, the system and method of the present invention allows the sender/author/user to choose a select number of recipients or even the role who are able to decrypt the email/attached document. Further, the new system and method provides a sender/author/user to choose which level of authority each user or user role.
US08001611B2
System for authenticating a user for logon to a content manager running on top of a database manager. A connect procedure connects the user to a database manager; and then a logon procedure logs on the user to the content manager selectively responsive to the user connecting to the database manager; the user being authenticated by a third party by way of a user exit or a trusted logon environment and privilege; or the user being authenticated by the content manager.
US08001606B1
A reputation server is coupled to multiple clients via a network. A security module at a client identifies an application and determines whether it is on a white list. If the application is not on the white list, the security module monitors the application using a strict set of signatures. If the application is on the white list, the security module monitors the application using a relaxed set of signatures. The relaxed set of signatures can exclude legitimate characteristics possessed by the application as specified by the white list. The security module evaluates whether the application is malicious based at least in part on whether it possesses suspicious characteristics described by the signatures. The reputation server receives reports from clients identifying applications and describing characteristics possessed by the applications and uses the reports to generate the white list.
US08001605B2
A computer in a network runs a verification procedure in which it sends data packets to another computer in the network. Some or all of the data packets contain, either individually or collectively, a secret piece of information, such as a secret code. The computer then makes a determination regarding the network links between it and the other computer. If, for example, the other computer is able to respond by providing the secret piece of information back, then the computer sending the data packets concludes that the devices along the network links en route to the other computer are properly forwarding data packets.
US08001604B2
The present invention provides a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product to protect a first user from authorization limitation by a second user. The computer may receive an authorization command from the second user, wherein the authorization command targets the first user, and the second user is at least partially authorized to operate the authorization command. The computer determines that the first user is an ancestor user of the second user. In addition, the computer, responsive to a determination that the first user is an ancestor user of the second user, prevents operation of code of the authorization command to change an authorization of the first user.
US08001603B1
The file context of a target file to be scanned is determined and the scan level for the file context is determined. Generally, the security risk for each file context is assessed, and the scan level appropriate for the security risk is associated with the file context. The target file is scanned at the scan level. Accordingly, a target file having a file context indicating that the file is a high security risk is scanned at a high scan level, i.e., is subject to a maximum-security scan. In this manner, high-level security is maintained. Conversely, a target file having a file context indicating that the file is a low security risk is scanned at a low scan level, i.e., is subject to a minimum-security scan or no scan at all. In this manner, high security is maintained while at the same time maximum performance is achieved.
US08001602B2
Methods and devices for scanning an incoming datastream for a plurality of target patterns. The scanning system receives an incoming data stream and stores the stream as sequential symbols in a register array. Previously received symbols are shifted in the array as incoming symbols are shifted in. A trigger stage computes a hash value based on the k most recently received symbols. The trigger stage then uses the hash value to determine whether a more detailed symbol by symbol comparison is required between a group of sequential symbols stored in the array and a target pattern stored in external storage. This is done by comparing the hash value with the indices of the target patterns in the external storage. If the more detailed comparison is indicated, a full comparison stage retrieves the relevant target pattern and compares the target pattern with the sequentially stored symbols in the array. To improve the determination of whether the detailed comparison is required, a confidence stage may be placed between the trigger stage and the full comparison stage. The confidence stage computes a hashing function value based on c sequential symbols in the array with c≧k. The hashing function value is then used to determine whether the more time consuming symbol by symbol comparison is needed.
US08001601B2
A multi-staged framework for detecting and diagnosing Denial of Service attacks is disclosed in which a low-cost anomaly detection mechanism is first used to collect coarse data, such as may be obtained from Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) data flows. Such data is analyzed to detect volume anomalies that could possibly be indicative of a DDoS attack. If such an anomaly is suspected, incident reports are then generated and used to trigger the collection and analysis of fine grained data, such as that available in Netflow data flows. Both types of collection and analysis are illustratively conducted at edge routers within the service provider network that interface customers and customer networks to the service provider. Once records of the more detailed information have been retrieved, they are examined to determine whether the anomaly represents a distributed denial of service attack, at which point an alarm is generated.
US08001600B2
A method of facilitating transformation of survey data from being in at least one foreign format used by a survey-tool to being in a desired format may include: receiving instances of foreign data from survey-tools, the foreign data being in foreign format used by the survey-tools, respectively; and appending, to the instances of foreign data, service-keys to identify the service tools which gathered the foreign data, respectively, to produce a data block that includes key-and-foreign-data pairs. Another such method may include: receiving such a data block; culling from the block key-and-foreign-data pairs; and operating upon the pairs to transform respective chunks of foreign data from being in respective foreign formats into being in corresponding desired formats according to corresponding service-keys, respectively.
US08001598B1
Computer implemented methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for detecting suspected spam in e-mail (24) originating from a sending computer (21). A method embodiment comprises the steps of determining (11) the actual IP address (23) of the sending computer (21); converting (12) the actual IP address (23) into geo-location data; and, using the geo-location data, ascertaining (13) whether the e-mail (24) contains suspected spam.
US08001594B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring activity of a user on a network component, such as an end user computer, in a virtual private network for adherence to a security enforcement provision or policy utilized in the virtual private network. A method of determining whether a security provision in a computer network has been violated is described. It is determined whether the network component has violated, modified or circumvented a security enforcement provision of the computer network. If the detection is affirmative, the network component, such as an end user system, is modified in a manner in which the computer network operates at a level appropriate to the degree of the violation, modification, or circumvention of the security enforcement provision. If instructed to do so, a third party operating the virtual private network is notified of the violation and access to the network by the network component is restricted or terminated. A security enforcement distributed system consists of an agent module on the end user computer and a collector module for receiving data from the agent on a security server computer coupled to a data repository. Also on the security serer are a policy inspector for checking compliance with a security provision and a notifier and access control module for informing the network operator of a violation and restricting access by the end user system to the security server.
US08001588B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates secure single sign-on (SSO) authentication for web-services communications. During operation, the system receives a Web Services for Remote Portlet (WSRP) request from a WSRP consumer and also receives a digital signature associated with the WSRP request. The system then validates the digital signature and authenticates a user based on the validation, thereby allowing the user to sign on without providing a password.
US08001587B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for eliminating multiple submission of user credential data in a system with multiple distinct restricted sub-systems wherein a unique credential is required for each sub-system.
US08001582B2
A reputation server associates feedback from previous network transactions with an account of a user in a network. A reputation score for the user is calculated based on the feedback to indicate the probability the user will abuse the network. When an online service receives a request to perform a transaction from the user, the online service performs the transaction based on the user's reputation score. Additionally, a server generates a reputation packet including the reputation score for a user for use by an online service when the user requests the online service to perform a transaction. The online service may authenticate the reputation packet with the server and, if the reputation packet is authenticated, the online service performs the transaction based on the user's reputation score.
US08001576B2
Disclosed is an information providing system which comprises: an information providing apparatus with elements for receiving a TV program, generating image data and sound data representing a received TV program, and transmitting the image data and sound data; and an information processing apparatus with connecting information set to specify whether or not to establish connection with the information providing apparatus, and a storing element for storing the name of the information providing apparatus. If the connecting information is judged set to establish connection, then the information processing apparatus establishes connection with the information providing apparatus based on the stored name of the latter, so that the image data and sound data are received by the information processing apparatus from the information providing apparatus.
US08001569B2
A system communicates video information including television content associated with a plurality of channels and ancillary information. Information may be transmitted with the ancillary information that is indicative of the type of content included in the ancillary information. This provides the user, in one embodiment of the present invention, with a visual indication of the type of information that accompanies television content. This helps the user to decide whether the user wishes to view the ancillary information and provides the opportunity to select that enhancement for viewing.
US08001568B2
In a content distribution system, in which broadcast content is distributed and provided to a television viewer, a method and apparatus for providing a compact guide display of a plurality of television show or program recommendations, optionally with descriptions, which are available and selectable for viewing by a viewer without interrupting the presently-viewed content.
US08001561B2
System and method for automatically rating the content of video media based on video operations performed on a media device and in reference to a plurality of rating rules are provided. Usage of the media device is continuously monitored and user actions with respect to operating the video media on the media device are automatically logged. Each rating rule includes a device usage pattern with respect to operating videos on the media device and a rating action indicating adjustments to content ratings of the videos based upon characteristics described by the device usage pattern that are inferred from the recorded user inputted video control operations. When the device usage pattern of a rating rule is inferred from one or more user actions operating a piece of video media directly on the media device, the content rating of the piece of video media is adjusted based on the rating rule.
US08001560B2
A method for providing subscription-on-demand services for video-on-demand programs within an interactive information distribution system. The method includes associating a plurality of video-on-demand programming packages as a programming bundle and identifying a number of video-on-demand programming packages within the programming bundle that a subscriber has subscribed. When the number of video-on-demand programming packages exceeds a pre-specified number of programming packages, the subscriber is automatically subscribed to all the video-on-demand programming packages in the programming bundle.
US08001558B2
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for a disc player which is able to accurately release a clamper from a turntable while improving miniaturization and thinning. The clamping apparatus for the disc player where the turntable and the clamper clamp a disc by magnetic force comprises a clamper releasing means having a pair of linking mechanisms arranged in symmetrical positions across the axial line of the clamper, and each linking mechanism has a front linking member and a rear linking member with the ability to freely rotate with the frame by centering two rotational axes placed on a single flat surface that is orthogonal to the axial line, and a clamper releasing member which is axially supported at each rotating end of the front linking member and the rear linking member; the mutually opposing ends of both clamper releasing members are moved with a circular trajectory by synchronously rotating the front linking member and the rear linking member, and the ends of both clamper releasing members are engaged to the outer periphery of the clamper, releasing the clamper from the turntable.
US08001551B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing localized resources for client-side script execution. Embodiments of the invention facilitate providing culturally localized resources for executing client-side scripts at Web browser. In some embodiments, client-side script reference tags refer to a script handler at the Web server (instead of an actual script). The script handler can a return localized resource sets for use with client-side scripts (that include calls to external resources). Accordingly, execution of client-side scripts can be localized in accordance with resources contain in the localized resource set. In other embodiments, a script manager using a generic script reference to identifying an appropriate localized instance of a script. Client-side script reference tags refer to the appropriate localized instance of the script. Accordingly, execution of a Web page can be localized in accordance with the localizations contained in the localized instance of the script.
US08001550B2
Object identifier readers that are configured to automatically send and/or store data read from an object identifier are disclosed. An exemplary object identifier reader includes a communication port for communicating with a host computing device. The object identifier reader also includes a storage medium. The object identifier reader also includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions are stored in the memory. The instructions are executable to implement a method that involves reading an object identifier to obtain data. The data may be stored in the storage medium. Alternatively, or in addition, an attempt may be made to send the data to the host computing device. The method also involves attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the computing device if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device.
US08001549B2
A multithreaded computer system of the present invention includes a plurality of processor elements (PEs) and a parallel processor controller which switches threads in each PE. The parallel processor controller includes a plurality of execution order registers which hold, for each processor element, an execution order of threads to be executed; a plurality of counters which count an execution time for a thread that is being executed by each processor element and generate a timeout signal when the counted time reaches a limit assigned to the thread; and a thread execution scheduler which switches the thread that is being executed to the thread to be executed by each processor element based on an execution order held in the execution order register and the timeout signal.
US08001544B2
A method for changing self-description data of a functional device in a computing system. The method may include virtualizing the functional device to create a virtual functional device, and adding, changing, or removing information in the self-description information sent from a functional device as a part of virtualization of the device by a hypervisor. Changing the self-description data of the functional device occurs after the self-description data has left the functional device.
US08001542B2
A system and method for providing self-installing software components for network service execution is presented. A basic communication framework is established with a service host system executing a network service software component to provide a network service. Availability of the network service software component is determined and prerequisites against a runtime environment are verified through the service host system. A code bundle providing the network service software component through the service host system logically grouped with installation instructions for the network service software component is executed.
US08001538B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing software accessible metadata on a cache of a central processing unit. The metadata can include at least some bits for each virtual address, at least some bits for each cache line, and at least some bits for the cache overall. An instruction set architecture on the central processing unit is provided that includes additional instructions for interacting with the metadata. New side effects that are introduced into an operation of the central processing unit by a presence of the metadata and the additional instructions. The metadata can be accessed by at least one software program to facilitate an operation of the software program.
US08001536B2
A system and method for controlling execution of an interpreted language. Statements of the interpreted language to be executed by a script engine are intercepted by a protection module and control is passed to a script helper module that is associated with the script engine. The script helper module establishes a secure communications channel with an authorization component and passes the statements and an authorization request to the authorization component. The authorization component sends a reply to the script helper module which either permits the script engine to execute the statement or cancels the attempted execution. When the script engine is loaded, a list is updated identifying the script engine. If a script helper module is not present for the loaded script engine, a boot-strap loader is called to load the script helper module. A special information block contains data as to the location of the interception points.
US08001519B2
The present invention discloses a software development tool that includes a model development interface, an aspect design tool, and a model transformation engine. The model development interface can permit a developer to graphically design at least one software model. The aspect design tool for the model development interface can be configured to permit a user to specify at least one aspect to be applied to a model of the model development interface. The model transformation engine can transform a model of the model development interface having at least one aspect defined via the aspect design tool into automatically generated aspect code integrated with base language code.
US08001517B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes multiple cells each containing transistors. The transistors include a gate and diffusion layers. The multiple cells are adjacently formed in a first direction perpendicular to the gate. The distance between the cell border and the adjacent and corresponding diffusion layer, the first direction, is the same.
US08001515B2
An analog system consists of a multitude of interconnected components. Design of such a system involves optimization of the component parameters to achieve a target behavior, collectively called specification. The present invention provides a generic cost function for analog design optimization. It also provides cost surface modeling to speed up the optimization. The cost function compares the behavior of a design to a quantitative specification, which can be a ‘golden’ reference behavior (specification), and measures the error cost, an index of the behavioral discrepancy. That is, the target behavior is explicitly embedded in the cost function. By using the cost function, one can readily qualify a design and thereby identify good/optimum designs. The cost surface modeling with a Latin Hypercube Sampling design-of-experiment provides a statistical mathematical approximation of the actual design's error cost surface, speeding up the optimization by replacing the costly simulation of the actual design with mere evaluation of the mathematical cost surface model expression.
US08001498B2
A computer implemented representation of a circuit design including memory is abstracted to a smaller netlist, which can be analyzed by standard verification tools and by other tools that operate on netlists. The correctness of such systems can require reasoning about a much smaller number of memory entries than exist in the circuit design, and by abstracting such memories to a smaller number of entries, the computational complexity of the verification problem is substantially reduced.
US08001480B2
A method includes receiving information identifying one or more elements to be presented in a first faceplate. The first faceplate is associated with control of a process system. The method also includes receiving information identifying an auto-selection behavior associated with the first faceplate. The method further includes displaying the first faceplate to an operator and automatically selecting one of the elements in the first faceplate based on the received information. A centralized component (like a faceplate controller) automatically selects elements in multiple faceplates, including the first faceplate. The centralized component could automatically select the element to receive focus in the first faceplate. The centralized component could also identify a specified element associated with a command to be executed, even when the specified element does not have focus in the first faceplate.
US08001479B2
The invention enables a computer user to issue voice commands to open computer readable files and control and/or position their associated graphical application windows on a graphical user interface. Further, the operator can issue voice commands to precisely position and control application window(s) on a graphical user interface displayed on either one or a plurality of display monitors, so that the information contained in the application windows is visible, organized, and available on the computer desktop to the user when and where he/she needs it.
US08001477B2
The invention relates to method for exchanging portlet configuration data. The method includes: providing a graphical user interface (GUI) component as part of a portlet view provided by a portal page for triggering a portlet configuration exchange process between a first user using a first portlet instance and a second user using a second portlet instance within the same portal, the first and second portlet instances being of the same portlet type, providing an export functionality allowing access to stored portlet configuration data of the first portal instance and transforming the stored portlet configuration data into a data structure for exchange purposes, allowing for exchange of the data structure via a defined communication channel between the first user and the second user, and providing an import functionality allowing for parsing of the data structure to provide new portlet configuration data of the second portlet instance and storing the new portlet configuration data of the second portlet instance.
US08001464B1
A communication system includes a number of devices interconnected by a communication network and each operable to communicate with each other using a text-based communication protocol that provides for the exchange of markup language documents. Each of the devices is further capable of segmenting large communications into multiple document segments for communication to other devices. The devices are further capable of reassembling received document segments into original documents.
US08001463B2
A method and apparatus for communicating between components associated with a web page and for communicating between a web page and a service is provided. According to one approach, page designers configure components associated with a particular page to use particular values by mapping parameters associated with the page to parameters associated with components of that page. According to one approach, an event is generated when a user manipulates a component associated with a page. A mapping is inspected to determine that the event is mapped to an action and the action is performed.
US08001453B2
Provided is a CAN system that can generate an error signal without requiring hardware for generating an error signal to be connected to a bus. A protocol processing part within a CAN controller incorporates error data into receive data or send data, based on error data information stored in a register.
US08001446B2
Methods and apparatus to provide a pipelined cyclic redundancy check (CRC) are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of stages determines a plurality of CRC values corresponding to portions of a data packet. The plurality of CRC values are accumulated to determine a CRC value for the data packet. Other embodiments are also described.
US08001444B2
A multiple channel storage device may include a host controller to receive input data from a host device and a buffer memory to store the input data and associated error correcting data prior to downstream storage. Multiple storage channels downstream from the buffer memory may store the input data and associated error correcting data in at least one of the storage channels on a non-volatile storage media. An error correcting engine between the host controller and the buffer memory may perform error correction encoding on the input data from the host device to generate the associated error correcting data for storage in the buffer memory. Such error correcting engine may protect against data errors in the buffer memory and in the storage channels.
US08001443B2
A data storage controller for controlling each data access of a data storage element is disclosed. The data storage controller includes a processing unit and a storage unit. The processing unit is utilized for executing an automated testing program on the data storage element for automated testing. The storage unit is coupled to the processing unit and utilized for storing the automated testing program.
US08001441B2
Data is stored in a nonvolatile memory so that different pages of data stored in the same memory cells are encoded according to different encoding schemes. A first page is decoded according to its encoding scheme and an output is provided based on the decoding of the first page that is subsequently used in decoding a second page.
US08001439B2
Systems and methods of testing integrated circuits are disclosed. The systems include a test module configured to operate between automated testing equipment and an integrated circuit to be tested. The testing interface is configured to test the integrated circuit at a higher slew rate than the slew rate at which signals are received from the automated testing equipment. In order to do so, the testing interface includes components configured for generating addresses, commands, and test data to be conveyed to the integrated circuit. A variety of test data patterns can be produced and the test data can be address dependent. The systems are optionally configured to include a test plan memory component configured to store one or more test plans. A test plan may include a sequence of test patterns and/or conditional branches whereby the tests to be performed next are dependent on the results of the preceding tests. The test plan memory is, optionally, be detachable from the test module.
US08001436B2
Plural scan test paths (401) are provided to reduce power consumed during testing such as combinational logic (101). A state machine (408) operates according to plural shift states (500) to control each scan path in capturing data from response outputs of the combinational logic and then shifting one bit at a time to reduce the capacitive and constant state power consumed by shifting the scan paths.
US08001421B2
A method and apparatus for efficient register checkpointing is herein described. A transaction is detected in program code. A recovery block is inserted in the program code to perform recovery operations in response to an abort of the first transaction. A roll-back edge is potentially inserted from an abort point to the recovery block. A control flow edge is inserted from the recovery block to a entry point of the transaction. Checkpoint code is inserted before the entry point to backup live-in registers in backup storage elements and recovery code is inserted in the recovery block to restore the live-in registers from the backup storage elements in response to an abort of the transaction.
US08001418B2
Systems, devices, software, hardware and networks adapted and arranged for monitoring and correcting faults in networked media player systems that include electronic displays are provided. After detection or notification of a fault in at least one networked media player in a network of at least two, or N, media players operationally connected to electronic displays, the invention provides an alternate source of signal to the affected display. In some preferred embodiments, the invention utilizes at least one additional, or N+1, media player as a backup to substitute for the failed media player. Reconfiguration of the faulted media player by means of the N+1 backup networked media player advantageously increases the reliability and efficiency of ongoing maintenance of digital visual systems operating in commercial and other environments.
US08001414B2
A backup image generator can create a primary image and periodic delta images of all or part of a primary server. The images can be sent to a network attached storage device and a remote storage server. In the event of a failure of the primary server, the failure can be diagnosed to develop a recovery strategy. Based on the diagnosis, at least one delta image may be applied to a copy of the primary image to generate an updated primary image at either the network attached storage or the remote storage server. The updated primary image may be converted to a virtual server in a physical to virtual conversion at either the network attached storage device or remote storage server and users may be redirected to the virtual server. The updated primary image may also be restored to the primary server in a virtual to physical conversion. As a result, the primary data storage may be timely backed-up, recovered and restored with the possibility of providing server and business continuity in the event of a failure.
US08001412B2
An interface alignment pattern for de-skewing data bits received on an elastic interface is disclosed. The interface alignment pattern is “busy” in that it has a high number of logic state transitions. The busy interface alignment pattern can be used for scrambling and unscrambling operational data. The interface alignment pattern has a unique timing sequence for determining the location of a data bit's first data beat.
US08001410B2
There is provided a system for comparing the phase characteristics of three generated clock signals, each having a unique phase relationship with an original clock signal, with the original clock signal and to select a signal based on the proximity of the phase characteristic of the three signals to the original signal. The selection of a clock signal that most closely approximates the original significantly reduces lock time when attempting to synchronize an internal clock with an external clock. Additionally, there is provided a method for comparing three clock signals with an original clock signal and selecting from the three clock signals one that is approximately in phase with the original clock signal.
US08001409B2
A device includes different clock domains. Each clock domain is synchronized to a different clock signal, and the data transfer between clock domains occurs through a FIFO memory. It is determined which clock domain has a slower clock frequency, and the clock domain associated with the slower clock is selected to generate pointers used to access the FIFO memory in both clock domains. Therefore, the pointers are used to read and write data at the FIFO memory resulting in a transfer of the data between the clock domains. Because the pointers used for data transfer are generated and provided by the clock domain associated with the slower clock, the latency resulting from transferring the pointer between the clock domains is reduced.
US08001404B2
A remote wakeup capability for an imaging device, such as a multifunction printer (MFP) device. When the imaging device enters a power saving mode, a remote wakeup web service remains awake and initiates wakeup of the imaging device in response to a valid wakeup request received from a remote wakeup web service client module. Wakeup of the imaging device is thus achieved without a need for action on the imaging device front panel or a local client device connected to the imaging device via a serial or parallel port, and without wasting resources processing a superfluous imaging job.
US08001398B2
A control unit 51 obtains a user ID of a user who enters a room from card reading information read by card readers so as to judge existence or nonexistence of an available image forming apparatus which has been judged in advance in accordance with the obtained user ID. The control unit selects the image forming apparatus with the highest frequency in use and turns on the power source thereof when the power source of any image forming apparatus is not made into an on state even when there are some image forming apparatuses which is available for the user who enters the room. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce power consumption by the image forming apparatus while improving convenience for a user in accordance with entrance and exit of the user.
US08001393B2
The storage control device of the present invention reduces the power consumption amount by stopping the transmission of power to enclosures that are not accessed. A plurality of additional enclosures are switch-connected via backend switches to a base enclosure. Drives that have not been accessed for a predetermined time or more undergo spin-down. When all of the drives in the enclosure enter a spin-down state, the supply of power from the power supply in the enclosure to the respective drives is stopped. The base enclosure that manages the system constitution of the storage control device turns OFF the switch connected to the enclosure when all of the drives in a certain enclosure have spun down. The transmission of power to this enclosure is accordingly stopped.
US08001390B2
Methods and apparatus provide for: entering a secure mode in which a given processor may initiate a transfer of information into or out of said processor, but no external device may initiate a transfer of information into or out of said processor; and programming at least one trusted data storage location using a direct memory access (DMA) command to be one of read-only, write-only, readable and writeable, limited access, and reset, where said at least one trusted data storage location is located external to said processor.
US08001388B2
Software self-checking mechanisms are described for improving software tamper resistance and/or reliability. Redundant tests are performed to detect modifications to a program while it is running. Modifications are recorded or reported. Embodiments of the software self-checking mechanisms can be implemented such that they are relatively stealthy and robust, and so that it they are compatible with copy-specific static watermarking and other tamper-resistance techniques.
US08001387B2
In one embodiment, a storage device with biometric access includes: a biometric scanner adapted to scan a biological feature of a user to provide a corresponding extracted biometric template; and a storage engine adapted to retrieve an encrypted biometric template from a storage medium and to retrieve a corresponding encrypted content key from the storage medium. The storage engine generates a first key and combines the first key with a media identifier from the storage medium to provide a content key. Using the content key, the storage engine decrypts the retrieved encrypted biometric template. If the extracted biometric template matches the retrieved biometric template, the storage engine grants a user access to content on the storage medium.
US08001380B2
A system and method for providing a unique encryption key including a receiver, at a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) adapter, configured to receive a configuration file, a processor, at the VoIP adapter, configured to decrypt the configuration file using a default key stored in the VoIP adapter, update one or more profile parameters of the configuration file, and install an encryption key at the VoIP adapter using the configuration file, and a transmitter, at the VoIP adapter, configured to register, with a network element, for network service using the updated configuration file such that the receiver is configured to receive network service from the network element when the updated configuration file is authenticated by the network element.
US08001377B2
Methods and apparatus provide for placing an apparatus into at least one of a plurality of operational modes, wherein: the apparatus includes a local memory, a bus operable to carry information to and from the local memory, one or more arithmetic processing units operable to process data and operatively coupled to the local memory, and a security circuit operable to place the apparatus into the operational modes; and the plurality of operational modes includes: (i) a first mode whereby the apparatus and an external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, (ii) a second mode whereby neither the apparatus nor the external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, and (iii) a third mode whereby the apparatus is operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, but the external device is not operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus.
US08001372B2
A method and system for securely enrolling personal identity credentials into personal identification devices. The system of the invention comprises the manufacturer of the device and an enrollment authority. The manufacturer is responsible for recording serial numbers or another unique identifier for each device that it produces, along with a self-generated public key for each device. The enrollment authority is recognized by the manufacturer or another suitable institution as capable of validating an individual before enrolling him into the device. The enrollment authority maintains and operates the appropriate equipment for enrollment, and provides its approval of the enrollment. The methods described herein discuss post-manufacturing, enrollment, backup, and recovery processes for the device.
US08001370B2
Reduces message length of encrypted message to be transmitted selectively to plurality of decrypting devices. An encrypting device includes a generating unit for generating node associating information configured to associate respective terminal nodes in a tree structure with each decrypting device in relation to a group of decrypting devices enabled for decryption, an extracting unit for extracting a decryption enabled node containing decrypting devices in descendant terminal nodes and not containing a decrypting device with decryption disabled in any of the descendant terminal nodes, and a unit for encrypting the message by use of a node encryption key for the decryption enabled node. Decrypting devices include specifying unit for specifying terminal node associated with decrypting device based on node associating information, and a decrypting unit for decrypting encrypted message using a node decryption key for any decryption enabled nodes ranging from terminal node to root node thereof.
US08001361B2
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design for improved techniques for executing instructions in a pipelined manner is provided. Such techniques may reduce stalls that occur when executing dependent instructions. Stalls may be reduced by utilizing a cascaded arrangement of pipelines with execution units that are delayed with respect to each other. This cascaded delayed arrangement allows dependent instructions to be issued within a common issue group by scheduling them for execution in different pipelines to execute at different times.
US08001356B2
Integrated circuit systems include a non-volatile memory device (e.g, flash EEPROM device) and a memory processing circuit. The memory processing circuit is electrically coupled to the non-volatile memory device. The memory processing circuit is configured to reallocate addressable space within the non-volatile memory device. This reallocation is performed by increasing a number of physical addresses within the non-volatile memory device that are reserved as redundant memory addresses, in response to a capacity adjust command received by the memory processing circuit.
US08001355B2
This storage system includes a virtual storage selection unit for selecting a virtual storage unit to be allocated to a virtual server unit according to a virtual storage search policy table for searching the virtual storage unit based on a parameter input by a user when a command is issued for allocating the volume to the virtual server unit, a volume selection unit for selecting the type of volume to be allocated to the virtual storage unit allocated to the virtual server unit with the virtual storage allocation unit according to a volume type search policy table for searching the type of volume based on the parameter, and a volume allocation unit for creating the volume selected with the volume selection unit based on the parameter and allocating the created volume to the virtual storage unit allocated to the virtual server unit with the virtual storage allocation unit.
US08001342B2
A method that can simplify a recovery of a system. The method includes storing multiple types of information, and includes: a first stage of storing information representative of a content of a persistent memory entity at a certain point in time; and a second stage of storing information representative of a state of a virtual machine at the certain point in time; and recovering a system that associates between the first stage of storing information and the second stage of storing information.
US08001340B2
A method and computer program product are provided to ensure a timely secure data erase by determining whether allocating an additional tape drive would improve secure data erase performance by evaluating a quantity of physical volumes to be secure data erased, a maximum queued threshold, an average time to an erasure deadline and a minimum expiration threshold. An additional tape drive is allocated for the secure data erase process when it is determined that allocating an additional tape drive would improve secure data erase performance.
US08001334B2
A method and system for sharing banks of memory in a multi-port memory device between components is provided. The multi-port memory device includes multiple ports to which components of a system are attached, and multiple banks of memory within the multi-port memory device that are shared by each of the ports. A bank availability pin is added to each port for each bank of memory. The bank availability pin is signaled when the bank is available to a particular port and unsignaled when the bank is unavailable. Thus, the multi-port memory device can be shared by several components simultaneously with only a small amount of additional hardware to support the sharing. Also provided are methods for refreshing the banks of memory.
US08001330B2
A cache memory logically partitions a cache array having a single access/command port into at least two slices, and uses a first directory to access the first array slice while using a second directory to access the second array slice, but accesses from the cache directories are managed using a single cache arbiter which controls the single access/command port. In one embodiment, each cache directory has its own directory arbiter to handle conflicting internal requests, and the directory arbiters communicate with the cache arbiter. The cache array is arranged with rows and columns of cache sectors wherein a cache line is spread across sectors in different rows and columns, with a portion of the given cache line being located in a first column having a first latency and another portion of the given cache line being located in a second column having a second latency greater than the first latency.
US08001328B2
A method and apparatus in which the observability of cross-invalidates requests within remote nodes is controlled at the time of a partial response generation, when a remote request initially checks/snoops the directory state of the remote node, but before such the time that the cross-invalidate request is actually sent to the processors on a given node. If all of the remote nodes in the system indicate that the cross-invalidates could be sent during an initial directory snoop, the requesting node is able to return full exclusivity to a given cache line to a requesting processor at the time when it receives all of the partial responses, instead of having to wait for the final responses from each of the remote nodes within the system.
US08001323B2
A storage system, a storage management method, and a control program product are provided. The storage system is improved in comfortability, convenience, and economy by reducing the amount of copies in a storage device in a network storage system, by heightening storage efficiency and increasing an access speed. In a network storage system in which a plurality of client terminals are directly connected to a storage device via a network, the storage device includes an MV logical disk that stores read-only shared data and a BV logical disk from/onto which data specific to each client terminal is read/written. A control unit that controls read/write operations includes, with an access management table, an LDK management table which has a reference logical disk number column used to issue a command to refer to the MV logical disk when data other than the write data is read.
US08001312B2
A circuit board system for connecting with at least an expansion card that includes a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) electrically coupled to the expansion slot. The PLD is configured to detect whether the expansion card is compatible with the circuit board system. If the PLD detects that the expansion card is not compatible with the circuit board system, the logic controller cuts off the connection between the main power supply and the expansion slot.
US08001307B1
An apparatus and a method to eliminate deadlock in a bi-directionally mirrored data storage system are presented. In some embodiments, a first and a second storage servers have established a mirroring relationship. To prevent deadlock between the storage servers and to reduce write latency, the second storage server may hold data received from the first storage server in a replication queue and send an early confirmation to the first storage server before writing the data to a destination volume if the first storage server is held up due to a lack of confirmation. In another embodiment, when the first storage server writes metadata of a persistent point-in-time image (PPI) to the second storage server, the second storage server may send a confirmation to the first storage server after copying the metadata, but before exporting the PPI at the second storage server.
US08001297B2
Systems and methods for intermediate buffering of data for the purpose of controlling its delivery to the consumer. The systems and methods for buffering data can arbitrate between the incoming data flow from the generating component and the outgoing data flow to the consumer. In doing so, the systems and methods for buffering of data seek to honor the delivery demands and/or constraints of the consumer, while avoiding the loss of the data generated by the producer. The delivery demands of the consumer may include requirements pertaining to maximum acceptable incoming data rate, the desired incoming data rate, incoming data aggregation, the desired freshness of the data, and tolerance for event loss. The generation component constraints may include the space limitations on buffering data within the data buffer.
US08001292B2
A data transfer controlling device is mounted in an IC card having: a communication device for data communication with an external device; a memory device for storing data received from and transmitted to the external device; and an operation processing device for controlling the memory device and the communication device, and controls a data transfer process. The controlling device comprises: a status information acquiring section for acquiring status information including at least error detection information from the communication device; a determination section for determining whether or not the data transfer process can be executed based on the status information acquired by the status information acquiring section when the data transfer process is being executed; and a data transfer process executing section for executing the data transfer process in accordance with a result of determination as to whether or not the data transfer process can be executed by the determination section.
US08001270B2
A method and apparatus for discovering a network address. An exemplary method provides for communicating between a client device and a peripheral device over a network that includes a server device adapted to control the peripheral device. The network address of the peripheral device is determined to permit direct communication with the peripheral device, thereby bypassing the server device. The method includes reading a first data file of the server device. The first data file includes at least one of (a) the network address of the peripheral device, and (b) a network address of a second data file associated with and including the network address of the peripheral device. The method further includes comparing portions of at least one of the first and second data files with a predetermined data formatting pattern indicative of a network address.
US08001263B2
Disclosed is a method for a method for suspending content transmission/reception, including: transmitting, if content reception within a certain channel needs to be suspended, an error notification message to a server, wherein the error notification message includes a first element indicating that the content reception is suspended, and a second element indicating a name, an attribute, or a value of a message found to be an error; transmitting a channel suspend request message to the server, wherein the channel suspend request message includes a third element for specifying an ID for the certain channel; and receiving a channel suspend response message from the server, wherein the channel suspend response message includes a fourth element containing IDs and status values for the channels requested for the transmission suspension.
US08001261B2
An apparatus for improving the ability of a recipient to review time-sensitive media upon receipt when network conditions are poor. The apparatus includes a media ascertaining element configured to ascertain if media to be sent from a sending node to a receiving node is time-sensitive. A bandwidth-ascertaining element ascertains if there is sufficient bandwidth for transmitting a full bit rate representation of the media at a first bit rate and at a first packetization interval. If the bandwidth is sufficient, a transmitter transmits the full bit rate representation of the media. If the bandwidth is insufficient, then the transmitter generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media. The reduced bit rate representation is generated by performing one or more of the following (i) using fewer bits per unit time of media when packetizing the media relative to the full bit rate representation; (ii) increasing the packetization interval for the packets used to transmit the reduced bit rate representation; and (iii) adjusting the rate of transmission of the packets used to packetized the reduced bit rate representation of the media.
US08001260B2
A system and methods for adapting streaming data for transmission over a connection of time-varying capacity are disclosed. A streaming server individually adapts transmission rates of signals directed to subtending clients according to measurements characterizing connections from the streaming server to the clients. The measurements may relate to characteristics such as transfer delay, data-loss fraction, and occupancy level of a buffer at a client's receiver. A flow controller associated with the streaming server derives metrics from measurements taken over selected time windows to determine a permissible transmission rate from the server to each active client. Metrics related to a specific characteristic may include a mean value over a moving window as well as short and long term tendencies of respective measurements. An adaptable encoder at the streaming server encodes signals to meet permissible transmission rates.
US08001257B2
A system and method communicates data from a web content provider to a wireless computing device (e.g., a PDA, a cellular phone) via a proxy server. The proxy server transforms web content “on-the-fly” into a streamlined format, optimizes it for display, and delivers it to the device, where it is progressively rendered by a browser installed on the device.
US08001253B2
A network system that identifies a home network of a user by a network identification in an access request. When the access request is received in a network, the accessed network extracts a network identification from the access request and determines whether the access request is received from a subscriber or non-subscriber. If a non-subscriber, then a foreign network is identified and a network identification database is consulted to retrieve contact information for the foreign network. If the contact information is successfully retrieved, then the user may be routed to the foreign network (home network of the user). Otherwise (if the contact information is not in the network identification database), the user may be denied any access, and a purchase agreement for connect services may be offered.
US08001241B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement for performance management in a communication network comprising a managing system and a number of managed systems. The arrangement comprises collecting means for collecting traffic measurement data and primary processing means for primary processing of measurement data. Said primary processing means are adapted to be distributed and comprise first primary processing means provided in the managing system and a number of second primary processing means provided in a number of managed systems. The arrangement also comprises processing control means for controlling at least allocation of primary processing of measurement data to a first or to a second primary processing means.
US08001238B2
The invention relates to a remote monitor technique. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for real-time monitoring a remote control process by a third party and a system thereof, which are able to third-party monitor a control terminal and a controlled terminal in the remote control process. The method comprises steps of establishing a connection between a control terminal and a third party monitoring terminal; arranging the control terminal, the controlled terminal and the third party monitoring terminal in one and the same session based on the connection; the controlled terminal sending its desktop video to the third party monitoring terminal via a virtual display driver; and the third party monitoring terminal sending a predetermined control strategy to the controlled terminal.
US08001234B2
The invention is intended to co-ordinate telecommunication services (2) provided to users by means of terminals (3, 4, 5) which are connected to different telecommunication networks (1). For said purpose, the invention comprises the following steps: a service mediation server (10) co-ordinates different telecommunication services activated by users; the terminals (3, 4, 5) connect to the server and transmit users profiles thereto, said profiles specifying availability modes, activate the profiles and availability modes and access the connected services; and the service mediation server determines a reachability state for each user, which is dependent on at least one user terminal being connected to the server and the active availability mode and profile of the user, and transmits said state to the connected user terminals specified in a list of contacts in the active profile of the user.
US08001225B2
Server time protocol (STP) messages and methods of exchange thereof are provided for facilitating synchronization of processing units of a timing network. The STP messages include exchange time parameters (XTP) commands and responses, and STP control (STC) commands and responses. XTP message exchange processing includes: generating an XTP message command at a first processing unit including a command transmit timestamp field set by the first processing unit and a command receive timestamp field which is unset by the first processing unit; transmitting the XTP message command to a second processing unit; setting the command receive timestamp field in the XTP command with the time the XTP command is received at the second processing unit; and generating an XTP message response at the second processing unit, the message response including the command transmit timestamp set by the first processing unit and the command receive timestamp set by the second processing unit.
US08001222B2
A cluster of computer system nodes share direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network using a cluster filesystem. Version information about subsystems is acquired by a leader node when forming a cluster membership and distributed to all nodes in the cluster to enable proper messaging during operation.
US08001207B2
The present invention is a common location-based service adapter interface. The common location-based service adapter interface can include a uniform input interface through which location-based services can be requested using a uniform format which is independent of any specific formatting required by a particular service adapter configured to process the location-based services. The common location-based service adapter interface also can include a uniform output interface through which specifically formatted result sets can be formatted using the uniform format.
US08001203B2
An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period.
US08001202B2
A system, method and computer-readable medium provides configuration data, such as for electronic mail access. A configuration module retrieves the configuration data from a source of configuration data, such as a user system. The configuration in one aspect could be for accessing different electronic mailboxes of a user. Data object are generated. Each data object is submitted as a distributed object module to a web service. The web service in one aspect of the invention could be for a pass-through access for configuring electronic mailboxes.
US08001165B2
A transaction safe file system uses two sets of file allocation tables and bitmap images to perform file modifications on one of the sets while the other set remains a last known good set. After a modification is complete, a pointer is changed to the newly modified set, and the newly modified set becomes the last known good set. The sets are then synchronized. The file allocation table is used to define cluster chains while the bitmap image is used to determine if a cluster is free or not. In some operations, only the bitmap image may need to be manipulated. The file system may be used in a transaction safe mode as well as a non-transaction safe mode.
US08001161B2
In one embodiment, the process obtains avatar tracking data that identifies a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object. The range includes a viewable field. In response to the location of the avatar being within the range of the object, the process queries a data structure storing cloning data for a record of a clone of the object. Thereafter, the process instantiates the clone of the object in response to the presence of the record of the clone of the object in the data structure. The process then invokes a set of object methods associated with the record of the clone in the data structure.
US08001159B2
Disclosed is a technique for manipulating instance data of a base model. A ViewType, a root object representing an object of the base model, and an operation are received. Whether the ViewType and the root object are compatible is determined. When the ViewType and the root object are compatible, the operation is applied to the instance data of the base model while using the ViewType to traverse the instance data.
US08001150B2
According to an embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal and a device management method performed by the mobile terminal are discussed. The method includes: receiving, by the mobile terminal and from a server, schedule information including a command for generating a specific node for a corresponding resource of the mobile terminal; and generating, by the mobile terminal, a specific node including a common attribute and an additional attribute, according to the schedule. The common attribute includes fields which are common to other nodes of the mobile terminal. The fields which are common include an ACCESS CONTROL LIST field indicating a list of external devices that are capable of accessing the corresponding resource. The additional attribute includes fields that are specified to the specific node.
US08001148B2
A method for determining group membership in a computer system, the method comprising: obtaining an identifier that describes a member of a group, the member of a group having a member hash table that contains group membership information describing to what groups a member belongs; performing a primary search of a plurality of groups to determine if each group contains the member's identifier, each group in the plurality having a group hash table that describes to what other groups the group belongs, caching the results of the primary search in the member hash table, for each group to which the member belongs, performing a secondary search of a plurality of groups to determine what groups contain the group to which the member belongs, and caching the results of the secondary search into the group hash table and merging the results into the member hash table, and reading the member hash table to determine group membership.
US08001136B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for identifying synonym candidates. During operation, the system receives a first term and a second term. The system then determines a length of the longer one of the first and second terms, and determines a longest common subsequence of the two terms. The system further produces a result to indicate whether the two terms are synonym candidates based on the length of the longer term and a length of the longest common subsequence of the two terms.
US08001134B2
A method of externally sorting large files in a computer system is presented. The contents of the input file to be sorted are investigated in order to identify presorted portions thereof. The presorted portions of the input file as thus identified are incorporated as sorted strings into an external sortwork file, by rearranging directory information rather than physically transferring data. If merging is necessary, the data may then be merged by a procedure wherein blocks of sorted data to be merged are incorporated into an output (sortout) file, by rearranging directory information rather than physically transferring sorted blocks to the sortout file. As a result of the process, portions of sorted data incorporated into the sortout file may physically remain in external storage space allocated to the input file, and/or in external space allocated to sortwork, thereby eliminating or reducing reading and writing from disk during sort-merge processing.
US08001133B2
A method of managing a contact list in a communication system includes: a) in response to user manipulation, generating a contact identification (ID) representing a contact person in the communication system, and presenting the contact ID on the contact list; b) keeping track of a contact frequency between the user and the contact person; c) selecting an attribute in accordance with the contact frequency; and d) presenting the attribute on the contact list, such that the attribute is associated with the contact ID. An apparatus for managing a contact list in a communication system is also disclosed.
US08001131B2
A physical computing device receives information regarding a total number of people who are searching on the search term. Information is received regarding an amount advertisers pay for the search term. Information is received regarding a click through rate of the search term. A traffic estimate of the search term is determined. Longevity of the search term is determined.
US08001127B2
A method and system are provided for extracting a valid, self-contained fragment for a node in a XML document stored in a database management system. An XML index is used to identify a location in which XML fragment data corresponding to the node is located. Ancestors of the node are identified and examined for any information needed for the proper interpretation of the fragment. If an ancestor node contains such needed information, this information is patched into the XML fragment to ensure that the fragment is a valid, self-contained XML fragment.
US08001123B2
It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a method of publishing content including the steps of: (a) providing a printed publication having printed content, a storage device storing a content database having digital content, an output device for outputting the digital content, and an interactive user device for generating one or more signals associated with retrieval of the digital content from the storage device; (b) accessing digital content; (c) associating the digital content with the printed content; (d) storing in a mapping database the association and a location of the digital content; (e) actuating the interactive user device to generate the one or more signals; (f) querying the mapping database to determine the association and the location of the digital content; (g) upon determining the location, retrieving the digital content; and (h) outputting the digital content to the output device.
US08001118B2
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide improved organization of documents responsive to a search query. In one embodiment, a search query is received and a list of responsive documents is identified. The responsive documents are organized based in whole or in part on usage statistics.
US08001114B2
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an original search input; detect an excluded term within the original search input; form a modified search input wherein the modified search input includes the original search input without the excluded term; match a plurality of stored terms against the modified search input and forming a modified matched result; and selectively display the modified matched result based on a number of terms within the modified matched result.
US08001113B2
In one implementation, a method is provided for increasing relevance of database search results. The method includes receiving a subject query string and determining a trained edit distance between the subject query string and a candidate string using trained cost factors derived from a training set of labeled query transformations. A trained cost factor includes a conditional probability for mutations in labeled non-relevant query transformations and a conditional probability for mutations in labeled relevant query transformations. The candidate string is evaluated the for selection based on the trained edit distance. In some implementations, the cost factors may take into account the context of a mutation. As such, in some implementations multi-dimensional matrices are utilized which include the trained cost factors.
US08001109B2
A system for automating data partitioning in a parallel database includes plural nodes connected in parallel. Each node includes a database server and two databases connected thereto. Each database server includes a query optimizer. Moreover, a partitioning advisor communicates with the database server and the query optimizer. The query optimizer and the partitioning advisor include a program for recommending and evaluating data table partitions that are useful for processing a workload of query statements. The data table partitions are recommended and evaluated without requiring the data tables to be physically repartitioned.
US08001106B2
Aspects include methods, computer readable storing instructions for such methods, and systems for processing text strings such as URLs that comprise patterns of parameters and values for such parameters, delimited in a site-specific manner. Such aspects provide for accepting a number of text strings that are expected to have a common delimiting strategy, then deeply tokenizing those text strings to arrive at a set of tokens from which are selected anchor tokens used to form patterns having the anchor tokens separated by wildcard portions for recursive processing. The patterns formed can be mapped to a tree of nodes. Information concerning relationships between nodes and between tokens within a given node, as well as other heuristics concerning which tokens are parameters and which are values can be used as observed events for producing probabilities that certain tokens are parameters or values, using a dynamic programming algorithm, such as a Viterbi algorithm.
US08001103B2
In a pay for placement database search system, in which advertisers pay to include their search listings in a database to be provided with search results in response to queries from searchers, each advertiser decides how much money he wants to spend on a search term. The search provider displays the advertisers' listings in proportion to the amount of money the respective advertisers spend. This permits the advertisers to subscribe to the database search system, deciding how much to pay for a subscription for a predetermined time period. The search provider can recommend an optimal spend amount for the advertisers.
US08001100B2
A mechanism for locating information about a target entity in disparate multilevel hierarchical knowledge repositories. Upon occurrence of an event associated with a target entity comprising an information technology solution, disparate multilevel hierarchical knowledge repositories are searched for metadata about the target entity. A determination is made from the metadata about the target entity whether the repositories comprise entities related to the target entity. If so, links in the metadata are used to search the repositories to locate the related entities. Upon locating a resolution to the event in the repositories, a link to the resolution is stored in the metadata. The repositories are also searched to determine owners of the target entity and related entities, and these owners are then notified of the event and the resolution to the event.
US08001099B2
In some embodiments a method comprises detecting a request to copy and determining information related to the copied data from the document. The method can also comprise augmenting a copy history to include the data and the information related to the data, and storing this copy history. The method can also include detecting a request to access the copy history associated with the document, presenting the copy history including the data and the information related to the copied data, and copying the data from the copy history for further use. The method can also comprise blocking copying of data if the document's copy rules are violated.
US08001091B2
An apparatus, system, computer program product and method are disclosed for the hierarchical rollback of business objects on a datastore. The hierarchical rollback method utilizes a non-linear process designed to restore data to a previous point in the case of a data modification failure in order to prevent incorrect linking and data corruption. The hierarchical rollback methods are generated by retrieving existing data and creating commands in an order that will prevent orphan data in a datastore.
US08001087B1
A method involves generating a business rule; the business rule indicates whether a file should be included in a backup operation. Data is accumulated in a file history database, and the data represents one or more associations of the file. A result is determined, indicating whether the business rule indicates the file should be included in the backup operation. The result is based, at least in part, on the data in the file history database. The result is reported.
US08001083B1
Systems and methods of executing and/or provisioning an application in an application specific runtime environment are disclosed. The application specific runtime environment is defined by an application environment specification to include a minimal or reduced set of software resources required for execution of the application. These software resources are optionally stored in a resource repository that includes resources associated with a plurality of operating systems and/or executable applications. Various embodiments of the invention include the development of hierarchical resource metadata configured to characterize the various files, packages and file families included in the resource repository. In some embodiments this metadata is used to select between files and different versions of files when provisioning an application specific runtime environment.
US08001077B2
Multiple computer devices are networked, and each computer device stores a bookmark database. A user can add delete or change bookmarks on any of the computer devices. Alterations made to a bookmark database are stored locally. Every alteration is time stamped. If a bookmark is deleted, it is marked as deleted, but not erased from the local bookmark database. Bookmark databases stored on other computer devices are unaffected by changes made to the bookmark database stored on the local device. In order to update and synchronize all the bookmark databases, the local device receives the data from all the other bookmark databases. Then, the time stamps for each bookmark are compared, and the bookmarks with the most recent time stamps are assembled in a new master bookmark database. The new master bookmark database is then sent to all participating devices in the network.
US08001076B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to time stamp based data synchronization and provide a method, system and computer program product for scalable, ranging time stamp based data synchronization. In an embodiment of the invention, a ranging time stamp synchronization method can include computing a time range for a specified time, and producing time stamp synchronization anchors using the time range for each of the anchors. Optionally, a drift value can be computed for the time range and the computing and producing steps can be repeated when the drift value exceeds a threshold. Finally, the anchors can be used to determine whether to update data items in a remote data source in the remote host computing platform with data items from a primary data source in the primary host computing platform.
US08001074B2
Systems and methods for extracting or analyzing time-series behavior are described. Some embodiments of computer-implemented methods include generating fuzzy rules from time series data. Certain embodiments also include resolving conflicts between fuzzy rules according to how the data is clustered. Some embodiments further include extracting a model of the time-series behavior via defuzzification and making that model accessible. Advantageously, to resolve conflicts between fuzzy rules, some embodiments define Gaussian functions for each conflicting data point, sum the Gaussian functions according to how the conflicting data points are clustered, and resolve the conflict based on the results of summing the Gaussian functions. Some embodiments use both crisp and non-trivially fuzzy regions and/or both crisp and non-trivially fuzzy membership functions.
US08001066B2
A system improves recognition results. The system receives multimedia data and recognizes the multimedia data based on training data to generate documents. The system receives user augmentation relating to one of the documents or new documents from a user. The system supplements the training data with the user augmentation or new documents and retrains based on the supplemented training data.
US08001064B1
Information retrieval systems face challenging problems with delivering highly relevant and highly inclusive search results in response to a user's query. Contextual personalized information retrieval uses a set of integrated methodologies that can combine automatic concept extraction/matching from text, a powerful fuzzy search engine, and a collaborative user preference learning engine to provide accurate and personalized search results. The system can include constructing a search query to execute a search of a database, parsing an input query from a user into sub-strings, and matching the sub-strings to concepts in a semantic concept network of a knowledge base. The system can further map the matched concepts to criteria and criteria values that specify a set of constraints on and scoring parameters for the matched concepts. Furthermore, the system can learn user preferences to construct one or more profiles, including combined internal and profile weights, for producing personalized search results.
US08001056B2
Embodiments are directed towards inferring an online matching profile based on progressively receiving a prospect's inputs. Access to other matching profiles is provided to the prospect, and while viewing such profiles of other participants, the prospect may progressively provide inputs, such that the prospect's profile may be inferred. As the prospect continues viewing and progressively providing additional inputs, a number of compatibility metrics presented to the prospect may be increased, as does a degree of compatibility of matches that may be suggested to the prospect. At any time during the viewing and progressive input process, the prospect may be presented with their inferred profile. The prospect may then accept and/or modify various elements within the inferred profile.
US08001053B2
A method, system and device for sharing rights adapted to be associated with items, the method and system including generating at least one of usage rights and meta-rights for the items; defining, via the usage rights, a manner of use for the items; and defining, via the meta-rights, a manner of rights transfer for the items. The device including receiving at least one of usage rights and meta-rights for the items; interpreting, via the usage rights, a manner of use for the items; and interpreting, via the meta-rights, a manner of rights transfer for the items. The usage rights or the meta-rights include at least one state variable that is shared by one or more rights.
US08001052B2
The present invention provides a method for tracking of digital assets within a system through the use of digital serial numbers. Systems equipped with the present invention can uniquely identify copies of assets within it. Assets that originate within the system can be uniquely identified even outside the system. Their transaction history within the system can be traced by looking up the transaction history associated with an assets' serial number. The serial number applied to an asset is unique to each transaction and applied at the time a copy is made. Database entries are created that link each unique serial number to aspects of the transaction. Each serial number references details about a particular transaction such as parties involved, date and time of copy, ownership, terms of use, and payment terms. Using the present invention any copy of an asset within the system can be copied to another part of the system as if it were the original and with the accompanying terms and conditions in effect for that original at the time of transfer. The serial number does not noticeably interfere with the intended usage of the asset. Serial numbers can be applied to any asset media type or format.
US08001051B1
When the deposit of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, is done electronically by using a digital image of the negotiable instrument rather than the negotiable instrument itself, during the process, at least two negotiable instruments may exist: the physical negotiable instrument and the digital image of the negotiable instrument. To change the physical negotiable instrument to a non-negotiable instrument, a bank or other financial institution may send a transmission to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument, thus effectively “voiding” the physical negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument may have various inks or mechanisms that facilitate the modification of the appearance through the application of a stimulus, such as heat or light. The financial institution may cause the application of the stimulus to modify the appearance of the negotiable instrument.
US08001047B2
One aspect of the invention relates to a technique for effecting payment, and involves: presenting a portable device; and causing the portable device to output a pseudo payment code.
US08001036B2
An electronic trading system and method is disclosed for matching orders for various asset classes including futures contracts and the subsequent settlement and clearance of such contracts. The electronic trading system is configured to be connected to one or more electronic exchanges and is also configured to interface with the existing infrastructure of the front office software of a trading firm, broker or dealer to provide the best fill for traders by enabling electronic trades to be executed both on the exchange and over the counter. In one embodiment of the invention, a local order book is established thereby establishing an independent pool of liquidity of the asset class of interest.
US08001034B2
A portfolio benchmarking system comprises a repository of trade data, a repository of consumer data, a build computer, and a benchmarking query application. The repository of trade data comprises a plurality of data items regarding trade lines. The repository of consumer data comprises a plurality of data items regarding consumers, wherein at least some information in the consumer data is not in the trade data and at least some information in the trade data is not in the consumer data. The build computer periodically generates at least one data file comprising a plurality of data items, each data item combining information from the trade data and the consumer data, such that searches can be performed on the combined data without joining trade data and consumer data at query run time. The benchmarking query application executes queries on the data file generated by the build computer.
US08001033B2
A trading platform computer system for detecting an abnormal trading condition of a security uses real-time and estimated values of one or more variables associated with the condition of the security to generate one or more analytic metrics that are compared to empirical distributions based on one or more peer groups for the security. An indicator can then be displayed to a trader as an indication of the abnormal condition.
US08001032B2
Methods and systems for estimating time-varying factor exposures of either an individual financial instrument or a portfolio of such instruments, through the solution of a constrained multi-criteria dynamic optimization problem, providing an estimation error function and one or more transition error functions to be minimized over a period of time. The factor exposures relay the influence of the factors on the return of the instrument or portfolio. The estimation error function provides the estimation error at each time interval between the return of the asset collection and a sum of products of each factor exposure and its respective factor. Each transition error function provides a transition error of each factor exposure between time intervals. In one embodiment, the constraints can include a budget constraint and non-negativity bounds applying to some or all of the factor exposures. In other embodiments, the method and system can be applied to estimating any time-varying weight that is used in a model, to relay the influence of one or more independent variables on a dependent financial or economic variable, through the solution of a constrained multi-criteria dynamic problem, minimizing estimation error and transition error terms. In other embodiments, the solution of a multi-criteria dynamic problem can be used as part of a method and system to determine structural breakpoints for each factor, and also as part of a method and system for determining optimal parameters to weight the transition error functions and selecting the factors included in the model.
US08001029B2
Methods and corresponding systems are provided for managing investment portfolios that includes the steps of identifying at least one security of the investment portfolio to be sold during rebalancing of the investment portfolio, and rebalancing or deferring rebalancing of the investment portfolio based at least in part on a rebalancing threshold for short-term capital gains or losses, investor specified or otherwise. If an implied total short-term capital gain or loss, e.g., a loss or gain that would occur if the at least one security were sold, falls within the rebalancing threshold rebalancing occurs, otherwise rebalancing is deferred for a later time.
US08001023B2
Methods, devices and systems are provided for event participation. One method embodiment includes a method for generating income for an owner of an entrant to an event. The method includes defining the event by the owner. The method further includes offering remuneration based upon a fulfillment of the defined event. The remuneration can be memorialized by a remuneration right. The remuneration can be granted from the owner to a participant. And, the remuneration right is granted in exchange for the participant accepting to give consideration to the owner for receiving the remuneration.
US08001011B2
Techniques for interacting with an online media store using a first device to identify a digital media item of interest to a user of the first device, using the first device to store an interest indicator for the digital media item of interest at the online media store, and subsequently interacting with the online media store using a second device to purchase or preview the digital media item of interest as identified by the interest indicator. Additionally, ring tones and graphics associated with the digital media item of interest can also be purchased.
US08001009B2
The method of auctioning license plates provides for the public auctioning of state-issued, motor vehicle license plates. The method includes the step of first establishing a market value data set for a plurality of license plates. Next, the market value data set is stored in a market value database, which is recorded in computer readable memory associated with an auction server. An online auction is then established for at least one license plate to be sold. Once up for auction, bidders bid on the at least one license plate. Once bidding has closed, the at least one license plate is sold to the highest bidder, and funds are transferred from buyer to seller. Following the sale, transfer of ownership of the at least one license plate is recorded in a motor vehicle administration database, and both sales and property taxes associated with the sale of the license plate are assessed.
US08001003B1
A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.
US08000998B2
A method of extending promotional discounts and special prices on items for sale to identified consumers. After the identification of a consumer by a unique identifier; a selected item is promoted with a discount or special price to the identified consumer. The discount or special price is granted upon a purchase of the item by the identified consumer prior to the withdrawal or termination of the promotion to the identified consumer. The withdrawal or termination of the promotion is held in abeyance upon an acknowledgment of the promotion by the identified consumer. In other words, the identified consumer must take specific action to prevent a promotional discount from being withdrawn. This inverted promotion provides for greater incentives for the consumer to provide information about his or her purchasing habits.
US08000988B1
A method and system for selecting a shipping method dependent upon a dynamic model of shipping activity. In one embodiment, a method may include detecting a given shipment event for which one of a plurality of shipping methods is to be selected, determining a current output state of a discrete event model representative of shipping method selections for one or more previous shipment events, and in response to detecting the given shipping event, producing a selection of a particular one of the plurality of shipping methods that mathematically optimizes an objective function, wherein the objective function is dependent on a cost of shipping associated with the given shipment event and on a weighted deviation between the current output state of the discrete event model and a target output state of the discrete event model.
US08000983B2
A clinical trial study is modeled for automatically generating business intelligence information regarding the clinical trial study. The clinical trial study has a total budget amount and a total amount of deliverables. A software application program is provided that has equations and business rules that together define a process, a timeline, and deliverables associated with the clinical trial study. The program is populated with items including entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables to the clinical trial study, budget items and amounts related to the deliverables for the respective entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables, and for at least some of the budget items, a time frame in which the budget item is expected to be incurred or paid. Business intelligence information is then automatically generated using the equations and business rules in the program, and the items entered into the program. The business intelligence information includes appropriate invoice payments for the deliverables for the respective entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables at a specific time frame, an accounting for the clinical trial study, and cash flow needs for the clinical trial study.
US08000972B2
A receiver remote controller has a storage device storing electronic program guide (EPG) data that relates content to television channels containing said content. The remote controller is contained in a remote controller housing with the housing containing: a data interface that receives the EPG data provided by an EPG data source for storage in the storage device; a speech interface that receives speech input from a user and produces speech signals therefrom; a natural language speech processor engine that receives the speech signals and translating the speech signals to a query of the EPG database; and a processor that receives results of the query from the natural language speech processor, and either conveys the results of the query to a user utilizing a user interface or sends navigation commands to the receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08000968B1
A method and an apparatus for switching speech or audio signals, wherein the method for switching speech or audio signals includes when switching of a speech or audio, weighting a first high frequency band signal of a current frame of speech or audio signal and a second high frequency band signal of the previous M frame of speech or audio signals to obtain a processed first high frequency band signal, where M is greater than or equal to 1, and synthesizing the processed first high frequency band signal and a first low frequency band signal of the current frame of speech or audio signal into a wide frequency band signal. In this way, speech or audio signals with different bandwidths can be smoothly switched, thus improving the quality of audio signals received by a user.
US08000953B2
Computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code for simulating processor operation in a data processing system. An instruction trace is generated, wherein the instruction trace includes markers specified by a user for identifying interval boundaries for at least one interval of the instruction trace. The instruction trace is divided into a plurality of intervals in consideration of the markers, and the plurality of intervals are formed into a plurality of interval clusters, wherein each interval cluster represents one phase of execution of the instruction trace. At least one interval from each of the plurality of interval clusters is selected as a trace sample to provide a plurality of trace samples, wherein each selected interval is of at least a minimum size, a simulation is performed using the plurality of trace samples, and a result of the simulation is provided to the user.
US08000952B2
A system and method to generate simulations of a target application or software. The method comprises recognizing a start point associated with a multiple path simulation of a target application and automatically generating simulation branches of the multiple path simulation from the recognized start point. The method and system of the invention allows a simulation developer to create “multi-path” simulations more quickly and efficiently by, for example, (i) recognizing which junctions in the simulation are starting points for multiple paths, (ii) where the multiple paths converge, and (iii) the content of the multiple paths.
US08000951B2
A timing analysis apparatus has a block simulation information storing section, a SPICE deck generating section, and a feedback-based static timing analyzing section. The block simulation information storing section stores simulation information for each block when performing circuit analysis by partitioning a circuit into blocks, the SPICE deck generating section generates a SPICE deck by interconnecting the blocks, for a path that needs analysis, by using a result of static timing analysis and using simulation conditions for the each block. The feedback-based static timing analyzing section causes a result of the simulation performed using the generated SPICE deck to be reflected in the static timing analysis.
US08000946B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for simulating a process. Data is received describing a process to form received data. A current discrete event simulation model is formed from the received data in a discrete event simulation engine, wherein the current discrete event simulation model includes a current schedule having a plurality of ordered tasks. A simulation of the current discrete event simulation model is performed in the discrete event simulation engine, wherein results are generated from running the current discrete event simulation model. Finally, a new schedule is generated from the current schedule and the results using schedule analysis tool.
US08000943B2
The Space-Time Mapping Analysis (STMA) method and system provides an engineering method and/or system for modeling and/or analyzing and/or designing and/or building and/or operating complex physical processes, components, devices, and phenomena. STMA can be used in a way for modifying and/or improving the design of many different products, components, processes, and devices, for example. Any physical system, whether existing or proposed, which exhibits, for example, unsteady flow phenomena, might be modeled by the STMA. Thus, STMA can be implemented as a part of an engineering system for design improvements and/or modifications and/or evaluations. The STMA system and/or method uses a space-time mapping technique wherein the space and time directions are treated in an equivalent way, such that, rather than solving a three-dimensional unsteady problem by sweeping in the time direction from an initial point in time to a final point in time, the problem is solved as a four-dimensional problem in space-time.
US08000942B2
This disclosure relates to a design methodology used in manufacturing a broaching tool for cutting slots in aerospace disk applications. The method includes modeling geometry of the slot and the broach tool, which is based upon an initial minimum tooth rise that is determined empirically for the particular disk material. The number of broach inserts and teeth per insert is calculated, and the broach inserts are modeled. The stresses and deformation of the lug are calculated in a finite elements environment based upon simulated incremental broach tool movements. If the lug is not within specifications based upon design constraints, then the broach tool is revised and the simulations are repeated until the slot is within the desired specifications.
US08000941B2
A method of modeling a surface from a plurality of geometry points representing an object generally includes binning the plurality of geometry points into an n-dimensional array of cells and associating a binary value with each cell; applying a dilation algorithm to the binned plurality of geometry points to output a dilated binary representation of the plurality of geometry points; applying an erosion algorithm to the dilated binary representation of the plurality of geometry points to output a segmented volume; and applying a surface construction algorithm to the segmented volume to form a surface model of the object.
US08000937B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for performing waveform analysis on physiological parameters. In one embodiment, a method includes reading measurement values of a first physiological parameter relating to time, and displaying them as a trend display graph in a trend display area that includes first coordinates representing time and second coordinates representing the measurement values. The method also includes acquiring a time selected in the trend display graph, and displaying, in a waveform display area, waveform data of a second physiological parameter associated with formation of the first physiological parameter during periods before and after the selected time. The waveform display area includes time coordinates. The disclosed embodiments allow medical staff to view the curve of a patient's physiological parameters throughout a monitoring/therapy period. Medical staff may make a detailed analysis of the waveform data in real time, which may provide a basis for making decisions in the following therapy processes.
US08000935B2
A diagnostic method of and computer system for root-cause analysis of performance variations of FETs in integrated circuits and a method and computer system for monitoring a field effect transistor manufacturing process. The diagnostic method includes measuring source currents in the linear and saturated regions of two FETs, calculating ratios of the source currents in the linear and saturated regions for the and two FETs and comparing the ratios of the two FETs to determine a probable root cause for a performance variation between the two FETs. One of the FETs has a known good performance.
US08000932B2
A method using statistical parameters (e.g. mean, standard deviation, exceptional values) of performance monitoring metrics to substantially reduce the quantity of performance monitoring data collected and reported, make system performance monitoring scalable and enhance the readability of the system performance display. The number of metrics monitored may be reduced by monitoring only one of any two metrics that are closely correlated.
US08000931B2
Provided is a deterministic component model determining apparatus that determines a type of a deterministic component included in a probability density function supplied thereto, comprising a standard deviation calculating section that calculates a standard deviation of the probability density function; a spectrum calculating section that calculates a spectrum of the probability density function; a null frequency detecting section that detects a null frequency of the spectrum; a theoretical value calculating section that calculates a theoretical value of a spectrum for each of a plurality of predetermined types of deterministic components, based on the null frequency; a measured value calculating section that calculates a measured value of the spectrum for the deterministic component included in the probability density function, based on the standard deviation and the spectrum; and a model determining section that determines the type of the deterministic component included in the probability density function to be the type of deterministic component corresponding to a theoretical value closest to the measured value, from among the theoretical values for the plurality of types of deterministic components.
US08000929B2
Disclosed are method and apparatus for calculating a quantile estimate of a data stream. A quantile estimate is calculated iteratively by calculating a first quantile estimate and then calculating a second quantile estimate by adding a first update increment to the first estimate. A first observation sample is acquired. A first quantile estimate and a first standard deviation estimate are set to the sample quantile and the sample standard deviation of the first observation sample. A second observation sample is then acquired. A second standard deviation estimate is calculated based at least in part on the first standard deviation estimate and the sample standard deviation of the second observation sample. A first update increment is calculated based at least in part on the second observation sample and based at least in part on the product of the second standard deviation estimate times a log odds ratio function.
US08000926B2
A method for determining position and alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of ultrasonic signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from Time of Flight measurements of the ultrasonic signals at respective microphones on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of the first device based on the relative displacement.
US08000923B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to the examples of the present invention is applied to a system using a first power source voltage and a second power source voltage independent of the first power source voltage and includes a first area to which the first power source voltage is supplied, a thermal sensor placed in the first area, and a first input path placed in the first area, for transferring trimming data that determine the control contents of the thermal sensor to the thermal sensor.
US08000914B2
Systems and methods for electromechanical oscillation monitoring are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for monitoring electromechanical oscillation in a power system includes forming a power density spectrum in frequency domain based on phasor measurements collected from a plurality of locations in the power system and identifying an oscillation in the power density spectrum. The oscillation has a power density larger than other oscillations. The method also includes analyzing the identified oscillation in time domain to determine a damping characteristic of the identified oscillation and indicating that an insufficiently damped oscillation exists in the power system if the determined damping characteristic of the oscillation meets a predetermined condition.
US08000907B2
A probe for a thermo-anemometer-type fluid flow rate sensor is disclosed. The probe comprises a tubular body member having a thermally conductive housing disposed within a fluid passageway and a detection module in the housing. The detection module includes a detection circuit and a heating circuit and is adapted to provide an output that varies in response to a change in temperature. The detection module is made from a ceramic substrate upon which the detection circuit and the heating circuit are deposited.
US08000905B1
Computer-implemented methods, carrier media, and systems for determining sizes of defects detected on a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method includes separating the defects into groups based on output acquired for the defects by multiple channels of an inspection system used to detect the defects on the wafer. The method also includes separating the defects in one or more of the groups into subgroups based on the output acquired for the defects by one or more of the multiple channels. In addition, the method includes determining the sizes of one or more of the defects in one or more of the subgroups separately based on the output acquired for the defects by only one of the multiple channels and a calibration parameter. The calibration parameter is different for each of the subgroups and is acquired by using another system to measure actual sizes of defects detected on other wafers.
US08000899B2
The invention concerns a method for determining the porosity of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole. The method comprises conveying a tool along said borehole, wherein the tool comprises a source of neutron radiation and at least two detectors axially spaced from said source at at least two different spacings. At least one near detector and at least one far detector are selected and a correction computed. The porosity of the earth formation is determined by correcting the far detector porosity with the computed correction.
US08000896B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a resolver system has at least one resolver and at least one amplifier in electrical communication with each resolver. A reference circuit is in electrical communication with the amplifiers. The reference circuit provides reference signals to the amplifiers. A non-linearity calibration and compensation circuit in communication with each amplifier uses the amplified reference signals to provide scale factors, so as to enhance a precision of the resolver system.
US08000895B2
A method of detecting a changed condition within a geographical space from a moving vehicle. Images of that geographic space are memorialized in conjunction with GPS coordinates together with its GPS coordinates. The same geographic space is traversed from the moving vehicle while accessing the route's GPS coordinates. The memorialized images are played back by coordinating the GPS data on a memorialized images with that of the traversed geographic space such that the memorialized images are viewed simultaneously with the geographic space being traversed. An observer traveling within the moving vehicle can compare the memorialized images with those being traversed in order to identify changed conditions.
US08000894B2
A vehicular wireless communication system includes a control in a vehicle operable to communicate with an external service provider via a wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider. The control may receive a user input and responsive thereto, may establish the wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider. Data from the external service provider is downloaded to the control via the wireless communication link. The control controls at least one accessory of the vehicle, and the control may control the accessory responsive to at least one of (a) a geographic location of the vehicle as determined by a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle and (b) a biometric characteristic of an occupant of the equipped vehicle.
US08000892B2
The present invention is directed toward a system and method for a web-based mapping and routing service for pedestrians, which may include wheeled transportation (e.g. buses). More specifically, the present invention is directed toward use on a college campus. The present invention provides customized pedestrian routes highlighting campus and community locations while providing navigation options concerning walking distance and safety factors. This provides custom routes to each user that are designed to be optimized for safety or speed depending on user input.
US08000889B2
A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application.
US08000885B2
Target rotation speed at a reference point, which is set at a top dead center (TDC) preceding a target stop position of engine rotation by a predetermined crank angle, is set. A target trajectory of an engine rotation behavior extending since an engine rotation stop behavior starts until the target rotation speed at the reference point is reached is calculated based on the target rotation speed at the reference point and an engine friction. Torque of an alternator (electric machinery) is controlled to conform the engine rotation behavior to the target trajectory during the engine rotation stop behavior. The target rotation speed at the reference point is set to rotation speed that is equal to or lower than lower limit rotation speed of a rotation speed range, where the torque of the alternator is generated, and that is close to the lower limit rotation speed.
US08000881B2
The present invention provides an internal combustion engine control device which is capable of implementing a plurality of functions desired to the internal combustion engine. An adder unit determines a total energy E_total that should be generated by the engine by adding a target work, a target exhaust energy and cooling heat loss, which are calculated in a style of energy. A target fuel supply quantity calculation unit calculates a target fuel supply quantity necessary for generating the E_total. A target intake quantity calculating unit calculates a target intake quantity based on the target fuel supply quantity and a target A/F. A target ignition timing calculation unit calculates a target ignition timing necessary for realizing the target exhaust energy.
US08000877B2
A fuel economy method and system consists of using a signal control unit connected to a throttle of a vehicle and to a mass sensor for sensing a mass of a load carried by the vehicle. When the sensor senses that the mass is within a predetermined mass range below a pre-determined load mass value, the signal control unit reduces the range of power output of the engine. The unmodified engine power output range and modified engine power output range extend from a minimum engine power output to, respectively, an unmodified maximum engine power output and to a modified maximum engine power output lower than the unmodified engine power output and thereby requiring less fuel. Accordingly, the range of engine power output, and notably the maximum engine power output available, is reduced when the mass is in the pre-determined mass range, thus reducing fuel consumption compared to the unmodified engine power output range.
US08000874B2
A vehicle headway maintenance assist system is configured to perform a haptic notification control of an accelerator to prompt the driver to release the accelerator when the accelerator is being operated and to perform a deceleration control of the vehicle based on headway distance when the accelerator is being operated as long as the headway distance from a preceding vehicle is less than a prescribed headway distance threshold.
US08000865B2
A method is provided for transitioning from an initial to a final transmission mode in an electrically variable transmission (EVT), and includes transitioning to an intermediate mode having an additional speed degree of freedom (DOF), changing a transmission ratio, and engaging a clutch to shift to the final mode. The modes include input and compound split, fixed gear ratio, and electric torque converter (ETC), with and without input from an engine. Output torque is maintained by adjusting a charge on an energy storage device. A brake grounds an input member of the EVT. The EVT has the input member, an output member, a stationary member, and first and second motor/generators. An algorithm transitions between modes by releasing at least one clutch to transition to a mode having an extra speed degree of freedom (DOF), and utilizing the extra speed DOF to change the ratio of the EVT.
US08000858B2
A charger can read an ID code from a transponder key of an immobilizer system of a contract vehicle. When an owner of the vehicle connects a vehicle and charger with a charging cable and brings the transponder key close to a reading portion, the read ID code is transmitted from charger toward vehicle where authentication is performed. Vehicle transmits an authentication result to charger. Preferably, these transmission and reception can be performed by power line communication employing a vehicle cable.
US08000853B2
During a first driving cycle, a combustion process is controlled in at least one combustion chamber for the purpose of performing a check on an emission reduction system of an internal combustion engine. During a second driving cycle following the first cycle, a check is performed to establish whether an error in the emission reduction system was detected during the first cycle. An idle time between the first and the second cycles is determined, in the event of an error of the emission reduction system detected during the first cycle. During the second cycle, the combustion process in the at least one combustion chamber is only controlled for the purpose of the check on the emission reduction system, in the event of an error detected in the emission reduction system during the first cycle and in the event of the idle time being longer than a pre-determined repair time.
US08000848B2
The invention relates to systems for preventing off-normal situations when there is a possibility that an aircraft penetrates into a dangerous area of the vortex shedding of a vortex generator. The inventive system consists of information sub-systems for recording and storing information on the expected relative position of the aircraft and trailing vortex areas in line with danger criteria which are specified by a user and concern dangerous aerodynamic forces and torques effecting the aircraft and induced by the trailing vortex of vortex generators, and for conveying said information to said user, who can be the aircraft crew and/or flight attendants, at a preventive distance from the aircraft and at a forecast moment. Said information can be visualised in a human-readable form and in a volume sufficient for forming a directive signal for carrying out a flight manoeuvre by the aircraft in order to move away from the dangerous trailing vortex area.
US08000844B2
A test system for testing a flight control system of an aircraft includes a test device that: (1) accesses information available from the flight control system and (2) controls a computer of the flight control system.
US08000843B2
A fleet management system for remotely monitoring a vehicle is disclosed in one embodiment. The fleet management system includes a data receiver and a display. The data receiver is configured to wirelessly receive information from the vehicle. That information includes a location for the vehicle. The display is configured to present a planned route configured for the vehicle before travel and a driven route of the vehicle. The driven route is determined from the information from the vehicle. The planned route and driven route are displayed simultaneously.
US08000842B2
The disclosed examples illustrate a system and method that prevent excessive current drain through the network access device (NAD) of a telematics unit and provide flexible discontinuous-receive management. Normally, when in a Standby State and where communication service is unavailable, the NAD may dissipate current at rate many times more than where communication service is available. A Standby Counter provides the length of the time interval for Standby State or the sleep cycle. Certain of the disclosed examples prevent excessive vehicle battery drain by operating the telematics unit in a first mode wherein a sleep cycle value of the telematics unit is above a first predetermined threshold, and if the communication service is available, operating the telematics unit in a second mode wherein a sleep cycle value is in a range from zero to the first predetermined threshold.
US08000836B2
The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.
US08000827B2
A plasma-processing tool for processing a substrate using at least a first process recipe and a second process recipe is provided. The plasma-processing tool includes transducers configured to collect process data streams, each process data stream pertaining to a process parameter being monitored during recipe execution. The tool also includes a logic circuitry configured for receiving a set of meta-data wherein each meta-data includes identification data about the substrate and the process recipe being executed. The logic circuitry is also configured for receiving a set of process data streams, each of which being associated with a specific process recipe. The logic circuitry further includes storing the meta-data and the process data streams associated with the first process recipe as a first file and the meta-data and the process data streams associated with the second process recipe as a second file.
US08000826B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that predicts manufacturing yield for a die within a semiconductor wafer. During operation, the system first receives a physical layout of the die. Next, the system partitions the die into an array of tiles. The system then computes systematic variations for a quality indicative value to describe a process parameter across the array of tiles based on the physical layout of the die. Next, the system applies a random variation for the quality indicative parameter to each tile in the array of tiles. Finally, the system obtains the manufacturing yield for the die based on both the systematic variations and the random variations.
US08000825B2
In an embodiment, a system and method for automatically converting a plurality of events in a plurality of channels in a structured representation sequence into haptic events. The method comprises calculating an event score for each event of the sequence in one or more channels. The method also comprises calculating a cumulative score based on the event scores in the one or more channels. The method includes selectively designating haptic events to the events based on the event scores in one or more selected channels, wherein the haptic events are output by a haptic actuator. This may be done by the system by calculating properties of the sound or by taking already existing values associated with those properties to efficiently produce haptic events.
US08000819B2
A manufacturing instruction evaluation support system includes a data reading part that reads a manufacturing instruction parameter group and manufacturing performance data corresponding thereto, a parameter sorting part that calculates a risk rate for each manufacturing instruction parameter configuring the manufacturing instruction parameter group and an average value of risk rates among the manufacturing instruction parameters to identify as available choices the manufacturing instruction parameters having the risk rates no greater than the average value, a parameter identifying part that calculates an explanatory variable selection reference value for the manufacturing instruction parameter group and the manufacturing instruction parameters of the available choices with the multiple regression analysis program to identify the manufacturing instruction parameter group or the manufacturing instruction parameters of the available choices having the greater calculated explanatory variable selection reference value as optimum parameters, and a regression equation calculating part that calculates and displays a regression equation when employing the optimum parameters with the multiple regression analysis program.
US08000817B2
Process controllers, methods, and systems provide for frequency control to account for the effects of periodic disturbances in the feedback signal of closed loop control systems. The frequency components of the feedback signal are determined, including the magnitude and phase of each. Waveforms for each frequency component are generated with substantially the same magnitude and substantially the opposite phase of each frequency component. The waveforms are then summed to produce a compensating waveform that is summed within the output of the control system so that the effects of the periodic disturbances are cancelled from the control system output being provided to the system under control.
US08000809B2
A device for intracavity stimulation of the left atrium and/or ventricle of the heart from the prepectoral region through a less invasive and lower-risk approach is provided that allows the implantation of an intracavity catheter in the left cardiac chambers through a femoral approach atrial transseptal puncture, and the removal of the catheter proximal end by the retrograde venous route.
US08000797B1
The present invention provides methods and systems for selecting one or more channels of a neural implant to stimulate. A channel selection unit is configured to asynchronously and stochastically select the winning channel or channels based, in part, on the richness of the input sensory environment. Thereafter, the channel selection unit reduces the likelihood that the selected channel or channels will be selected again for a period of time.
US08000791B2
A distributed cardiac pacing system comprises a first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker adapted to be placed in an atrial myocardium and a second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker adapted to be placed in a ventricular myocardium.
US08000790B2
An implantable cardiac stimulation device has an atrial detector that detects atrial events of a patient's heart, and a memory in which sequences of IEGM signals are stored, having a predetermined length, and an analyzing unit that analyzes the sequences to determine if the stored sequences contain atrial events having a lower amplitude than the current sensitivity setting of the atrial detector. A control unit is connected to the atrial detector to adjust the sensitivity setting thereof to a threshold that is determined based on the aforementioned analysis of the IEGM signals.
US08000786B2
Cardiac stimulation methods and systems provide for multiple pulse defibrillation, and involve sensing a fibrillation event, determining a fibrillation cycle length associated with the fibrillation event, and delivering a plurality of defibrillation pulses to treat the fibrillation event. Defibrillation pulses are delivered using a combination of subcutaneous non-intrathoracic electrodes. Delivery of each defibrillation waveform subsequent to a first defibrillation waveform is separated in time by a delay associated with the fibrillation cycle length. Delays between defibrillation waveform delivery may be associated with a percentage of the fibrillation cycle length.
US08000785B2
A method and apparatus for diagnosing and treating neural dysfunction is disclosed. This device has the capability of delivering the therapeutic electrical energy to more than one treatment electrode simultaneously. In another exemplary embodiment, this device can perform EMG testing both before and after the therapeutic energy has been delivered, to assess whether the target nerve was successfully treated. In another embodiment, the device has the capability to record and store sensory stimulation thresholds both before and after treatment is described, which allows the clinician to accurately determine whether the target nerve has been desensitized. Energy control may achieved by simultaneously comparing the tip temperature of each treatment electrode to a set temperature selected by the operator, and regulating the therapeutic energy output to maintain the set temperature. In another embodiment, EMG, stimulation thresholds, and graphs of temperature versus time can be conveniently displayed on a two-dimensional graphics display.
US08000782B2
The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
US08000778B2
A system and method provide for detecting atrial arrhythmias within an implantable medical device capable of sensing and pacing at least an atrium of a heart. Arrhythmia of the atrium is detected. In response to detecting atrial arrhythmia, delivery of pacing signals to the atrium is inhibited under certain conditions. While delivery of the pacing signals to the atrium is inhibited, the detected arrhythmia of the atrium is confirmed during a period of further evaluation. Delivery of pacing signals to the atrium is enabled upon ceasing of the atrial arrhythmia. Inhibiting delivery of the pacing signals during atrial arrhythmia evaluation advantageously provides for an increase in the rate at which the detected arrhythmia is confirmed.
US08000776B2
An image processing circuit includes a spectrum estimating portion for inputting image data, obtaining data required for spectrum estimation from an estimation data supplying portion and estimating spectrums of pixels, a scattering feature calculating portion for calculating several scattering features based on spectrums of pixels from the spectrum estimating portion and data required for feature calculation from the feature calculation data supplying portion, and a color image generating portion for performing a display color calculation based on a scattering feature image from the scattering feature calculating portion and for determining RGB values of respective pixels and outputting RGB images in order to display scattering features as a color image.
US08000771B2
A guiding catheter for use in medical procedures includes a flexible shaft with one or more audio transducers and a distal tip. An audio signal may be sent to one or more of the transducers and a reflected signal is received at one or more transducers. The reflected signal is used to detect the presence of an anatomical structure to assist in navigating the catheter to its destination. In another arrangement, the transducer can be used passively to detect physical characteristics of the heart such as sound, subsonic energy or temperature, that indicate relative proximity of a destination vessel.
US08000769B2
Methods are disclosed for calculating a fat fraction corrected for noise bias of one or more voxels of interest using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. A plurality of image data sets are obtained each corresponding to NMR k-space data acquired using a pulse sequence with an individual associated echo time tn. A system of linear equations is formed relating image signal values to a desired decomposed calculated data vector having a component such as a water and fat combination having zero mean noise, or having a real fat component and a real water component. A fat fraction is calculated from at least one component of the decomposed calculated data vector. In another embodiment, the system of linear equations is normalized and can directly estimate a fat fraction or a water fraction having reduced noise bias.
US08000767B2
A detector uses the magneto-optical Kerr effect and exploits the transition region between two magnetization states of a magneto-optical film to detect magnetic fields of less than 100 pT. The magnetic field of a subject is determined by examining the polarization of light reflected from the magneto-optical film. A several μm thick, bismuth doped, YIG film is used for detection as the transition regions are steep, providing large changes in the polarization rotation angle for small variations in the applied magnetic field. The apparatus may be used in the functional imaging of various organs and systems in humans and animals or for the spatial and temporal tracking of nano or micro magnetic particles intentionally introduced into the circulatory or intestinal systems for diagnostic or research purposes.
US08000765B2
The invention is directed to a mapping catheter useful for mapping tubular regions in and around the heart. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter body. A mapping assembly is provided at the distal end of the catheter body. The mapping assembly comprises a tubular structure comprising a pre-formed generally circular main region generally transverse and distal to the catheter body and having an outer circumference. The tubular structure comprises a non-conductive cover over at least the main region of the mapping assembly. A plurality of electrodes are carried by the generally circular main region of the mapping assembly. A control handle is mounted at the proximal end of the catheter body. A contraction wire extends through the catheter body and non-conductive cover of the mapping assembly for contracting the generally circular main region of the mapping assembly. The contraction wire has a distal end anchored in the non-conductive cover and a proximal end anchored to a mechanism in the control handle that facilitates longitudinal movement of the contraction wire relative to the catheter body. The portion of the contraction wire extending through the non-conductive cover is positioned on the side of the generally circular main region closer to the center of the generally circular region.
US08000764B2
A deflectable tip cardiac electrophysiology/ablation lumen catheter includes first and second passages, one of which communicates with an inflatable member or balloon. The second passage terminates in an opening or port downstream of the inflatable member. The second passage is adapted to introduce a liquid during an electrophysiology study while the inflatable member prevents backflow of an injected liquid or dye and blood, or is adapted to alternatively receive a guide wire or other medical device therethrough.
US08000763B2
The present disclosure provides electrode structures and integrated electrode structures having one or more conductive materials coextruded with one or more dielectric materials. The disclosed electrode structures can be configured for use as analyte sensors. Also provided, are methods of making and using the electrode structures and integrated electrode structures described herein.
US08000757B2
A seal section for a side key of a portable electronic device is provided contiguously with a main seal. The seal section includes a flexible exterior and an exposed portion, the exposed portion facing the device exterior toward an adjacent side key. The flexible exterior also includes an extension opposite the exposed portion that extends inward toward the interior of the device. When a user depresses a side key, the inward movement of the side key is transmitted through the seal section via the exposed portion and inward extension. The inward movement of the side key is thus transmitted through the seal section to a switching element to convert the manual user input into an electrical input signal command. In this manner, side keys may be sealed without having to provide separate sealing elements, while maintaining the functionality of the side keys.
US08000753B2
The hands-free function provision apparatus for use in the mobile communication terminal using the ZigBee protocol includes: a mobile communication terminal for performing transmission/reception of a voice signal via a base station; a ZigBee coordinator for transmitting or receiving a predetermined display signal and a call control signal for establishing a call connection state to/from the mobile communication terminal, modulating or demodulating the predetermined display signal, the call control signal, and the voice signal using the ZigBee protocol; and a ZigBee device for performing wireless transmission/reception with the ZigBee coordinator by modulating or demodulating the predetermined display signal, the call control signal, and the voice signal using the ZigBee protocol, and visually providing the predetermined display signal.
US08000752B2
A portable terminal device capable of emitting a random ringtone, includes a call arrival processing device, in which a radio broadcast is set as one of the items of information indicating the type of ringtone in set data, and the frequency of radio broadcast signals set as a ringtone is detected out of the frequency information in the set data. If the power of the signals of this frequency is at or above a prescribed level, then signals of that frequency are fed to a loudspeaker to cause a radio broadcast to sound as a ringtone.
US08000749B1
Ad content for display on a display of a wireless telephone is loaded onto the phone, e.g., at the time of manufacture or distribution, or later after initial sale of the phone. The phone memory also includes software features by which the user of the phone can access specific ad content. The ad content includes information, e.g., a coupon or bar code, for presentation to a merchant on the display of the phone at the point of sale of a product or service promoted in the ad.
US08000742B2
A mobile wireless communication terminal includes a wireless communication module that is configured to communicate with other communication terminals over a wireless interface, and a controller. The controller is configured to establish a connection with at least one participant wireless communication terminal via the wireless communication module, to receive from the at least one participant wireless communication terminal an identification of a compliant song file stored on the at least one participant wireless communication terminal and having a metadata tag associated therewith indicating that the compliant song file is classified in a prescribed song file category, and to execute playback of the compliant song file.
US08000739B2
Providing a single number presentation to the party called by a dual-mode phone. The operation of the cellular side of a dual-mode phone is altered such that when the user attempts to place an outgoing call using the cellular phone, the call is redirected to a preprogrammed incoming phone number associated with the enterprise. When the enterprise PBX answers this call, the dual-mode phone transmits the desired number to the enterprise PBX. The enterprise PBX then places the call to the desired number, and in the process transmits the caller-id information assigned to the dual-mode phone.
US08000737B2
A communications apparatus comprising a first antenna, a first serial configuration of a first power amplifier and a first matching network, a second serial configuration of a second power amplifier and a second matching network, a switching element for switchably selecting the first or the second serial configuration for supplying a signal to the first antenna, the first and the second power amplifiers supplying a respective first signal of a first power and a second signal of a second power different than the first power to the first antenna for transmitting and the first and the second matching networks presenting respective first and second impedances to the respective first and second power amplifiers, the first and the second impedances responsive respectively to a power-related parameter of the first and the second signals.
US08000733B2
A mobile communication terminal makes a disconnection of communications less likely to occur even in a rapidly changing wireless communication environment. The terminal includes a transmission power controller configured to measure a reception SIR, and to control a transmission power of a base station in accordance with a result of comparison between the reception SIR and a target SIR. The terminal also includes a target value updater configured to measure a reception BLER, and to update a target SIR in accordance with a measurement result. In addition, the terminal includes a measurement controller configured to acquire a moving state of the terminal to which the measurement controller belongs, and to control a period of measuring the reception BLER and control a cycle of updating the target SIR.
US08000732B2
A method and apparatus for processing a floor request in a push to talk type service in which a floor is required for a first terminal to distribute media to a second terminal. The first terminal sends a floor request message to a PoC Server. The message relates to at least two different types of media content and indicates how and to what extent the granting or denial of the different media types interrelate. The message may indicate, for example, that if a first media type is denied, the others should be denied; or that the granting or denial of the first media type should not affect the other media types. The message may also indicate other conditions and relationships. The PoC Server processes the request based on the indicated interrelationships and/or conditions, and grants or denies each media type.
US08000730B2
A wireless communication system supporting improved performance in a sparse multi-path environment is provided that uses spatially reconfigurable arrays. The system includes a first device and a second device. The first device includes a plurality of antennas and a processor operably coupled to the plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas are adapted to transmit a first signal toward a the second device and to receive a second signal from the second device. The processor is configured to determine an antenna spacing between the plurality of antennas based on an estimated number of spatial degrees of freedom and an estimated operating signal-to-noise ratio. The second device includes a receiver adapted to receive the first signal from the first device, a transmitter adapted to transmit the second signal toward the first device, and a processor. The processor estimates the number of spatial degrees of freedom and the operating signal-to-noise ratio from the received first signal.
US08000727B1
A communication system wherein a wireless communication device optically receives an image of a location, processes the image to obtain image data, and transmits the image data and wireless communication device user information to a communication network as a control request. A server receives the control request and processes the image data and user information to determine the location. The server then processes the location to determine contact information for an authorizing party and transfers an authorization request to the authorizing party. If the server receives authorization from the authorizing party, then the server transfers a control interface to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device receives a control instruction responsive to the control interface and transfers a control message to the server. The server receives the control message and transfers the control message to a control system at the location. The control system implements the control instruction.
US08000726B2
Embodiments of a location sharing network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other trusted users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. A comprehensive network manager process provides management functions to allow communication with mobile phone users outside of the service network and allows for efficient communication with groups of users within the service network.
US08000724B1
A method and system for reporting mobile subscriber location is disclosed. Upon receipt of a request to report the location of a given mobile subscriber, a server may identify the subscriber's “buddies” and then determine, for each buddy, whether the buddy is located in the same zone as the given subscriber. The zone may be, for example, a subnet of a network. Additionally, the server may determine whether a rule is set to block reporting of the given subscriber's location to the buddy. Provided that the buddy is located in the same zone as the given subscriber and provided that reporting is allowed, the server may then send a location-reporting message to the buddy, indicating the given subscriber's location, preferably in terms of proximity to the buddy. The server may further receive a reply from the buddy and then send a location-reporting reply message to the given subscriber, indicating the location of the buddy.
US08000723B2
A system is described that utilizes the measured characteristics of a cell site or a plurality of cell sites (100, 102, 104) and the cellular identification to selectively provide a wireless device (118) with location aiding from a cellular network server (120). The system may include a basestation (106, 108, 110) located within the cell site, a cellular measurement unit located in the wireless device (118), and a database (214) containing positional assistance information corresponding to the characteristic information. The system may also include a processing unit in signal communication with the basestation and the database (214) and a positional determination unit in the wireless device (118).
US08000719B1
A wireless device including a first communication module, a second communication module, and a processor. The first communication module is configured to communicate with a cellular antenna tower of a cellular network. The second communication module is configured to communicate with a device associated with a Wi-Fi network. The processor is configured to determine a first territorial range in which the wireless device is located based on a location of the cellular antenna tower of the cellular network, determine a second territorial range in which the wireless device is located based on a location of the device associated with the Wi-Fi network, and in response to the second territorial range being within the first territorial range, establish a location of the wireless device as being within the second territorial range.
US08000717B2
An apparatus, system, and method efficiently manage reverse link communication in a communication system having geographically distributed base stations. Coupled load information is exchanged between base stations allowing a base station to determine an appropriate allocation of reverse link channel resources to mobile stations served by the base station. Since the allocation of reverse link channels resources are controlled directly by the base station, delays due to communications with a central controller are eliminated. As a result, adverse effects of load scheduling based on obsolete reverse channel information are minimized.
US08000713B2
In a mobile telecommunications system comprising a network of a plurality of cells and at least one user equipment device, the user equipment is arranged, when the user equipment re-configures itself to enter a new state or performs cell reselection, to read broadcast system information and, when the broadcast system information indicates a change in system information, to update the system information of the user equipment device.
US08000711B2
A procedure for RACH initial access in a mobile terminal is provided such that necessary information is conveyed the for the initial access procedure with less overhead. The method allow an accurate choice of the uplink transport format by allowing the mobile terminal to determine by itself whether a certain transport format may be used for the transmission of a message prior to the first preamble transmission and prior to the power ramping.
US08000709B2
A method and apparatus are provided to allow a mobile communications device to identify and store the locations of femtocells which are not contained on a preferred femtocell list of the mobile communications device. Upon identifying a specific femtocell, an authorized mobile communications device may register with the specific femtocell to initiate and receive calls. Furthermore, the present invention allows the mobile communications device to employ the stored location information to automatically identify the specific femtocell whenever the mobile communications device is in a vicinity of the specific femtocell.
US08000700B2
A diagnostics and monitoring method and system is disclosed for generating diagnostics and monitoring information and transmitting the diagnostics and monitoring information to a remote terminal using an improved diagnostic and monitoring policy. The method includes selecting, at a remote terminal, one of available diagnostics and monitoring policies; transmitting a diagnostics and monitoring configuration information including at least one of a diagnostics and monitoring object, a memory allocation size, and a diagnostics and monitoring cycle from the remote terminal to a device management system; transmitting a diagnostics and monitoring message generated on the basis of the diagnostics and monitoring configuration information from the device management system to a mobile device; generating, at the mobile device, diagnostics and monitoring information with reference to the diagnostics and monitoring message; and transmitting the diagnostics and monitoring information.
US08000698B2
A method of detecting rogue devices that are coupled to a wired network without generating false negative or false positive alerts is provided. When a wireless monitor detects an observed SSID and/or BSSID, various tests are run to determine whether the observed device is actually coupled to the wired network. To guard against the suspect device spoofing an authorized SSID and/or BSSID, location information is gathered so that the network administrator can pinpoint the location of the rogue device. If the device is not recognized, various other tests are run to determine whether the unrecognized device is actually connected to the wired network. These tests include an association test, a MAC address test, an ARP test, a packet replay test, a correlation test, and/or a DHCP fingerprint test. Once it is determined that the suspect device is a rogue connected to the wired network, an appropriate alert is generated.
US08000689B2
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.
US08000687B2
Wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, receive, identify, and measure broadcast signals from a plurality of cells. They determine relative transmission power relationships corresponding to the received measured signals and determine at least two channel gain ratios. A geographic area is determined corresponding to the obtained at least two channel gain ratios and information indicating the geographic region in which such gain ratios may be detected. Each cell's base station transmits broadcast signals, e.g., beacon signals, pilot signals, and/or assignment signals for one more carriers. Some base stations use multiple carriers at different power levels. Some adjacent cells use different power levels for the same carrier. This carrier diversity approach tends to reduce overall interference in the system, yet provides mobiles with a variety of different strength signals which may be monitored and which vary as a function of distance from the source transmitter.
US08000684B1
Disclosed herein is a mechanism to help improve message waiting notification. In accordance with the mechanism, when a RAN transmits an MWI to a mobile station after unsuccessful call setup paging of the mobile station, the RAN will transmit the MWI at a higher power level than the RAN used for transmitting the call setup paging. Using a higher transmission power specifically for the MWI should help the MWI reach the mobile station, particularly in a scenario where a reason for call setup paging failure was noise on the air interface. Consequently, the disclosed mechanism should help improve user experience by increasing the likelihood that mobile stations will receive and process MWIs soon after the associated voice mail messages are left.
US08000676B2
A second intercept point (IP2) calibrator and a method for calibrating IP2 are disclosed. The IP2 calibrator and the method for calibrating IP2 remove any direct current (DC) offset by comparing a common-mode reference voltage with the common-mode voltage measured between a first output terminal and a second output terminal of a mixer, and calibrates the IP2 of the mixer by comparing the common-mode voltage with a calibration reference voltage. The calibration reference voltage is independent of the common-mode reference voltage and may be a quantized variable voltage generated according to digital control code.
US08000674B2
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a method and device capable of canceling self-jammer and one or more other interfering signals in an radio frequency identification system or the like is disclosed.
US08000671B2
A method, algorithm, circuits, and/or systems for demodulation in an amplitude modulated (AM) radio receiver are disclosed. In one embodiment, a radio receiver can include an amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal and a gain control signal, and provide an amplified signal, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit configured to receive a high threshold comparator output and provide the gain control signal, a mixer configured to combine the amplified signal and a local oscillation signal and provide a mixed output, a high threshold comparator configured to compare the mixed output with a reference level and provide the high threshold comparator output, and a low threshold comparator configured to compare the mixed output with the reference level and provide an output of the radio receiver.
US08000668B2
Structurally simple transmit/receive circuits for hearing devices are to be able to be deployed for higher frequencies as well. It is therefore proposed according to the invention that at least two PIN diodes should be connected in an anti-parallel manner between the receive oscillating circuit and the amplifier connected thereto to protect the amplifier. A capacitance diode can optionally be expanded so that larger component tolerances can be permitted for the circuit.
