US08029185B2
The disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for securing and adjusting a watch strap. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a wrist watch having a watch strap closing system that allows a watch strap with saw teeth to be locked and secured in place by a locking mechanism having complimentary saw teeth. The watch strap can move in one direction in order to tighten the watch strap around the user's wrist, but is prevented from moving in an opposite direction. To release or loosen the watch strap, the user can apply pressure to disengage the locking mechanism.
US08029174B2
A threshold lighting system for recreation vehicles and the like. The system includes a threshold with a first light cavity extending along one side of the threshold for emitting light inwardly into a recreational vehicle in a first direction generally parallel to the vehicle floor, and a second light cavity on the opposite side of the threshold for emitting light in a second direction down the stairs leading to the threshold. The light cavities are preferably part of an extrusion forming the threshold, and the threshold is typically part of a door frame assembly provided as a unit.
US08029172B2
A system is provided for illuminating a levitating body, the system may include a base that has a light source, and a body that levitates over the base. The levitating body may have a bottom surface and an upper surface. The bottom surface may have at least one aperture to receive light from the stationary body. The levitating body may have internal transmissive surfaces to reflect and scatter the light throughout the levitating body to produce visual decorative displays.
US08029160B2
An illumination device includes a light source positioned on an illumination axis, a lens assembly having at least two biconvex lenses disposed on the illumination axis, and a reflector having a reflecting surface enclosing the lens assembly. The light source emits a first group of light beams which directly impinge of the lens assembly, and a second group of light beams which directly impinge on the reflector. The second group of light beams being reflected by the reflecting surface such that they surround the first group of light beams after being refracted by the lens assembly, without such second group of light beams impinging on the lens assembly.
US08029153B2
An aromatic nebulizing diffuser and color light set assembly includes a fluid container, a base panel carrying two electric fans beneath the fluid container for drawing in outside air, an oscillator for causing automation of an aromatic fluid in the fluid container, a color light set for emitting color light upwardly toward the inside of the fluid container, a power adapter mounted on the base panel for providing the electric fans, the oscillator and the color light set with the necessary working voltage, a shell supporting the fluid container on a flat surface, light guide tubes mounted in the fluid container for condensing emitted color light from the color light set into vertically extending color light beams, and a slotted cover covering the top side of the fluid container.
US08029149B2
The invention is directed to a method for illuminating an object and projecting its image on a ground glass screen. Optical comparators conventionally use incandescent illumination, either mercury arc or halogen. The use of an array of high intensity LED devices, provides many options for packaging the required optical components used in comparators.
US08029147B2
A projection optical system having a magnification side and a reduction side for forming a magnified image on a magnification side image surface conjugate with a reduction side conjugate image surface includes, arranged in order from the reduction side, a first imaging system including a plurality of lens elements and lens components and a second imaging system including a mirror having a concave, aspheric reflecting surface. An intermediate image is formed between the first imaging system and the second imaging system. The projection optical system satisfies specified conditions related to the travel of principal rays through the projection optical system and related to the Abbe number of a lens element having positive refractive power of the first imaging system. A projection display device includes the projection optical system and may include a light valve for modulating a light beam for projection on a screen.
US08029145B2
A peripheral projection, display screen system including (a) a display screen having a rear side and a diagonal dimension, (b) an image-projection source coupled to a peripheral of the system and disposed at a defined, image-projection system depth rearwardly of the screen's rear side, (c) an optical path structure operatively interposed and optically coupling the source and the rear side of the screen, coupling the image from the source to the screen's rear side, and within the mentioned, defined image-projection system depth, a displayable image projected by the source, and (d) system geometry structure organizing the screen, the source, and the optical path structure, whereby the depth ratio of the diagonal dimension of the screen to the image-projection depth is equal to or more than 10:1.
US08029144B2
A system for providing illumination includes a color mixing rod integrator for receiving and homogenizing laser light or output to a spatial light modulator. The rod integrator recombines the light of the primary colors, thus obviating dichroic recombination optics. Entrance and exit faces of the integrator have reflective layers where the length of the integrator is decreased and/or the f-number in the system is increased.
US08029137B2
Methods, devices, and systems establish an optical surface shape that mitigates or treats a vision condition in a patient. An optical surface shape for a particular patient can be determined using a set of patient parameters for the specific patient by using a compound modulation transfer function (CMTF). The compound modulation transfer function can include a combination of modulation transfer functions (MTF's) at a plurality of distinct frequencies.
US08029112B2
An inkjet printer has an inkjet printhead and an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to the printhead. The regulator includes a bubble outlet positioned in a headspace of an ink chamber for bubbling air bubbles directly into the headspace at all operative ink levels. A capillary channel supplies ink from the chamber to the bubble outlet by capillary action and an air channel connects an air inlet with the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.
US08029111B2
A droplet ejection head comprises: a substrate having first through-holes forming reservoir chambers, a second through-hole forming a supply chamber, and a bonding film on one surface; a nozzle plate having nozzles for ejecting ejection liquid and one surface contacting the bonding film, the nozzle plate is bonded to the substrate through the bonding film to cover the first through-holes and the second through-hole; a sealing plate on another surface of the substrate covering the first through-holes, one surface of the sealing plate contacting the substrate's another surface; and piezoelectric means on another surface of the sealing plate for driving the droplet ejection head. The bonding film containing an Si-skeleton constituted of constituent atoms containing silicon atoms, with siloxane (Si—O) bonds and elimination groups bonded to the silicon atoms, the constituent atoms being randomly bonded together, and the elimination groups existing near a surface of the bonding film.
US08029109B2
A lower electrode 60 in a region opposite each of pressure generation chambers 12 is formed to have a width smaller than the width of the corresponding pressure generation chamber 12, and an upper surface and an end surface of the lower electrode 60 in a region corresponding to each of the pressure generation chambers 12 is covered with a piezoelectric material layer 70. An end surface of the piezoelectric material layer 70 forms a slope surface sloping downward toward the outside, an upper surface and an end surface of the piezoelectric material layer 70 in the region opposite each of the pressure generation chambers 12 are covered with an upper electrode 80, and a distance D1 between the upper surface of the lower electrode 60 and the upper surface of the piezoelectric material layer 70 and a distance D2 between the end surface of the lower electrode 60 and the end surface of the piezoelectric material layer 70 satisfy the relationship D2≧D1.
US08029108B2
A liquid droplet jetting head, having: a plurality of dividing walls to divide a plurality of flow channels, wherein at least a portion of the dividing wall is formed with a piezoelectric element; a flow path having a rectangular tubular from formed by an upper wall to close an upper surface of the flow path along an array direction of the plurality of the flow paths, and a lower wall to close a lower surface of the flow path; a nozzle to jet liquid in the flow path as the liquid droplet; and two driving electrodes formed independently on each wall surface of the dividing wall in a longitudinal direction of the flow path having the rectangular tubular form, wherein the nozzle is formed on either the upper wall or the lower wall.
US08029101B2
A micro-electromechanical ejection mechanism is disclosed for ejecting an ink droplet. The mechanism has a wafer substrate and an ink chamber formed on the wafer substrate. The ink chamber has an ink ejection nozzle formed in a roof thereof and an ink inlet port formed in a floor thereof. A paddle device is arranged inside the ink chamber between the inlet port and the ejection nozzle A bi-layer thermal actuator coil is also included with a first end thereof fast with the substrate and a second end connected to the paddle device. Heating of the thermal actuator coil displaces the paddle device, causing ejection of an ink droplet through the ink ejection nozzle.
US08029097B2
A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber with a roof having a nozzle opening defined therein. The roof includes a moving portion moveable relative to a stationary portion, such that movement of the moving portion relative to the stationary portion causes ejection of ink through the nozzle opening. The nozzle assembly also includes an actuator for moving the moving portion and a seal member. The seal member is configured as a bridge spanning between the moving portion and the stationary portion.
US08029079B2
A safety cabinet has a plurality of walls defining a front open side and a pair of doors pivotal about respective horizontally spaced axes on the walls between a closed and an open position. Guides in the cabinet are each associated with a respective one of the doors, and respective links each have a front end connected to a respective one of the doors and a rear end shiftable front-to-back in a respective one of the guides. A connector extends between the rear ends of the links and shifts front-to-back with them. A closer is operatively engageable with the connector, and a spring applies bears on the closer to urge it against the connector for pushing same into the rear end position and closing the doors. An actuator normally holds the closer out of engagement with the connector during movement of same between the front and rear end positions.
US08029072B2
In order to achieve a good brake feeling, a brake control system includes a master cylinder which discharges pressurized operating fluid according to an operating amount of a brake operating member by a driver, a stroke simulator which is connected to the master cylinder and creates a reaction force with respect to that operation according to the operating amount of the brake operating member, and a control portion which calculates a target deceleration using hydraulic pressure in the stroke simulator. The brake control system is also provided with a master cylinder pressure sensor that measures the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder. The control portion may also calculate the target deceleration using an estimated value of the hydraulic pressure in the stroke simulator calculated based on the measured value from the master cylinder pressure sensor.
US08029069B2
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a toothbrush having needle-shaped bristles, and a toothbrush manufactured by the method. The toothbrush manufacturing method of the present invention includes the step of partially tapering ends of bristles, which are made of polyester and are set in a toothbrush body, through a physical grinding process, and the step of completing of a process of tapering the partially tapered bristles by immersing the partially tapered bristles in a chemical. The present invention makes it possible for toothbrush bristles to be tapered through a simple process. Furthermore, the present invention solves conventional difficulties occurring in tapering bristles after setting them in toothbrush bodies.
US08029063B2
A track assembly for a vehicle seat includes a first track member and a reinforcing member. The first track member has a first portion defining a first set of apertures configured to receive a locking device. The reinforcing member, which may be in the form of a plate, is coupled to the first portion and defines a second set of apertures corresponding to the first set of apertures. The second set of apertures are also configured to receive the locking device. The reinforcing member is configured to reinforce the first track member in an area around and between the first set of apertures.
US08029059B2
A folding and stacking chair system includes a plurality of folding and stacking chairs having an unfolded seating position in which the chairs are configured for sitting upon, and a folded and stacked position in which the chairs are folded and stacked together. Each chair has a seat and a backrest carried between opposite frame sides each with a backrest support, a front leg and a rear leg. The seat and the backrest each have a continuous sheet of flexible and elastic mesh or patterned open texture plastic held between the backrest supports of the frame sides.
US08029058B2
A vehicle seat includes a cushion frame having conductivity; a cushion pad coveringly mounted on the cushion frame; and a cushion cover configured to cover the cushion pad. First thread members having conductive fibers are interwoven into the cushion cover. A capacitance measurer is provided to the vehicle seat to measure capacitance between the cushion frame and the conductive fibers.
US08029054B2
A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.
US08029050B2
A vehicle front structure includes: a structural member that is disposed forward of a cabin of a vehicle and that extends in a width direction of a vehicle; a front pillar that extends in a height direction of the vehicle; a pillar brace having a cabin-side end portion in the vehicle width direction that is coupled to the structural member, and an outer-side end portion in the vehicle width direction that is coupled to a cabin-side surface of the front pillar; and reinforcement means for heightening at least a strength of the cabin-side surface and a front surface of the front pillar, the reinforcement means being provided at a height at which the front pillar and the pillar brace are connected to each other.
US08029044B2
To facilitate the production of a cab in the form of a box by joining side, rear and roof panels to pillars, and to improve the productivity. Pillars forming the cab (2) include composite pillars (16, 18) obtained by juxtaposing and joining together the pairs of pillar members (20, 22), and panel assemblies (4, 6, 8) adjacent to the pillar members (20, 22) are joined to the pillar members (20, 22) of the composite pillars (16, 18).
US08029042B1
This air scoop is a revolutionary idea, which allows a portion of drag wind to be used to push an automobile, or to lighten an aircraft. There are no working parts, just the box. This is made possible, by using a car-top box with a wind entrance that narrows down, increasing the wind's velocity as it passes through, then turns approximately 90° at the point of exit, to either push an automobile, or lift an aircraft. The result for either an automobile, or an aircraft is that, as speed in miles per hour increases, the miles per gallon of fuel used decreases asymptotically. In the case of private or commercial aircraft, they can either fly faster, or use less fuel for a given distance flown. In the case of very high-speed military aircraft, they can both fly faster, and stay in the air longer between fueling stops.
US08029038B2
A passenger vehicle comprising a vehicle body and at least one seat is provided. The vehicle body includes a front end and a rear end. The seat is mounted within the rear end of the vehicle for translating from a first stowed position within the rear end of the vehicle to a first deployed position which is exterior to the vehicle.
US08029033B2
A vehicle front structure reinforces a portion around a bumper to prevent local stress concentration. The vehicle front structure includes a first reinforcement (4) attached to the central part in the vehicle width direction of a bumper member (2), and includes second reinforcements (11) attached to the vehicle inside parts of corner parts (10) each defined by a side member (3) and the bumper member (2). The first reinforcement (4) is arranged so as to cover an upper part (2b) and a lower part (2c) of the bumper member (2). A side end part (4b) in the vehicle width direction of the first reinforcement (4), which is arranged in the upper part (2b) and the lower part (2c), is formed so as to extend to the outside in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle. The second reinforcement (11) is formed into a triangular shape corresponding to the corner part (10), and has a side part (11a) tilting to the outside in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of vehicle so as to connect the side member (3) and the bumper member (2) with each other. The side end part (4d) of the first reinforcement (4) and the side part (11a) of the second reinforcement (11) are arranged on the same straight line.
US08029030B2
A pair of restraining plates are pivotally installed in a housing of a lock unit. The restraining plates have respective cam portions that are arranged to put therebetween a striker when the restraining plates are pivoted in respective given directions. A biasing member is arranged to bias one of the restraining plates to pivot in the given direction thereof, and a transmission mechanism is arranged between the restraining plates to induce a synchronized pivoting of the two restraining plates. Thus, when one of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof, the other of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof. With this arrangement, once the striker is locked by the lock unit, at least one of the cam portions of the restraining plates is pressed against the striker thereby to suppress or at least minimize undesirable play of the lock unit relative to the striker.
US08029021B2
A vehicle (100) is disclosed. The vehicle may include a base portion (104) and a modular portion (112). The base portion may be a four wheel vehicle having an operator area (114) with seating for at least two occupants in a side-by-side arrangement. The modular portion may be coupled to the base portion resulting in a six wheel vehicle. The wheels (102) of the modular portion may be powered by an engine (500) of the base portion.
US08029019B2
A mounting assembly is provided for a vehicle ROPS unit which includes two legs. Each mounting assembly includes a base plate fixed to an end of a corresponding leg, a support plate, a top plate and a resilient bushing unit which separates the base plate from the support and top plates. The base plate is sandwiched between the support plate and the top plate. The bushing unit includes first and second resilient bushing members and a rigid hollow central sleeve. The bushing unit is received by a bore in the base plate. The support plate includes hollow mounting towers which project into bores in the base plate. Cap screws attach the mounting assembly to a vehicle axle housing. The top plate and the support plate are fixed to each other and to a frame of the vehicle.
US08029016B2
An airbag of a knee-protecting airbag device is prevented from being damaged during inflation and deployment, and the airbag is allowed to deploy evenly on the left and right sides to improve occupant protection function. The inside of an airbag (10) is defined into a plurality of air chambers (21), (22), and (23) by tethers (24) and (25). An inflator (2) accommodated in a diffuser (30) is disposed in the first air chamber (21). The diffuser (30) is provided with an opening (31) that allows gas from the inflator (2) to flow in the airbag (10) and is disposed so as to face the central portion of the first tether (24). This opening (31) is closed in such a manner that it can be opened by the gas from the inflator (2), and the entirety thereof is simultaneously opened by the gas pressure when the airbag (10) deploys. Thus, the gas in the accommodating portion (32) is supplied from the opening (31) to the airbag (10) evenly on the left and right sides. Furthermore, the diffuser (30) protects the airbag (10) from the gas generated by the inflator (2).
US08029015B2
An airbag cover and an airbag apparatus are provided which achieve cost reduction by integrally molding an instrument panel and an inner case as well as ensure the rigidity of the instrument panel without degrading the aesthetically pleasing of the instrument panel. An airbag cover according to one form of the present invention is an airbag cover that is formed by integrally molding a plate-like portion constituting a vehicle interior surface and an inner case that is disposed on the back face of the plate-like portion and constitutes an airbag inflation and deployment path, wherein the plate-like portion constitutes part of the instrument panel disposed in front of an occupant, and the inner case is formed in a position in front of an occupant in a passenger seat, and the side close to a driver's seat of the plate-like portion is formed so as to be disposed in the back of a convex portion formed in the middle of the instrument panel, into which onboard equipment is set.
US08029009B2
An apparatus including a frame; a drive wheel coupled to the frame; a first and a second foot link, operably coupled to drive wheel to transfer power to said drive wheel so as to propel the apparatus, each including a foot receiving portion for receiving an operator's foot, a front end, and a rear end; and a first and a second foot link guide track, each foot link guide track operatively associated with the front end of the foot link to direct the front end along a reciprocating path of travel while providing retention to the foot link.
US08029001B2
An active roll control system actively controls roll of a vehicle by changing torsional rigidity of a stabilizer bar by using change in tension of a wire connected to the stabilizer bar and both lower arms according to an operation of a pulley unit mounted at the lower arm, simplifies control thereof as a consequence that an electric motor controls operation of the pulley unit, and simplifies layout thereof.
US08028996B2
A brush sealing system includes a plurality of bristles, each having a first end coupled to a holding device and a second end protruding outwards from the holding device. One or more shims are disposed between the first end of each of the bristles and the holding device; wherein the shims are configured to controlling a pinch point diameter of the bristles.
US08028986B2
A printer having a switch gear, first driven gear and second driven gear. The switch gear has a spur gear and is slidable along a direction that is parallel to a rotation axis of the spur gear. The first driven gear has a first spur gear and a cylinder fixed to the first spur gear. The cylinder is concentric with respect to the first spur gear and extends along the above direction. A hole is formed on the second driven gear. The hole is concentric with respect to a second spur gear and extends along the above direction. The second driven gear is rotatably mounted on the first driven gear by inserting the cylinder of the first driven gear into the hole of the second driven gear. The switch gear slides between a first position for engagement with the first driven gear and a second position for engagement with the second driven gear along the above direction. Since the driven gears are formed in this way, the position of the first driven gear in the above direction is not changed even when the second driven gear is not provided.
US08028985B2
Embodiments described herein include a composite feeding mechanism configured to process one or more jobs using a stack of feeder trays. The composite feeding mechanism can include the stack of feeder trays, a base unit, and a feeder unit. The feeder trays can hold substrate media to satisfy jobs and the base unit can support the stack of feeder trays. The feeder unit can remove the substrate media from a feeder tray located at the top of the stack to satisfy a job requirement.
US08028980B2
A sheet folding device includes a sheet guide for holding a sheet bunch, a folding roll device having a first folding roll and a second folding roll, a folding blade inserting the sheet bunch supported on the sheet guide to a nip position between the first and second folding rolls, and a blade driving device for moving the folding blade from a standby position to the nip position on the folding rolls. The sheet guide has a curved guide section supporting the sheet bunch and an outlet guide section connected to the curved guide section to guide the sheet bunch to the folding rolls. The curved guide section has a curved guide plate supporting the sheet bunch so that the sheet bunch rolls back toward the folding roll device. The outlet guide section includes a pair of opposite guide plates in folding the sheet bunch by the folding blade.
US08028966B2
A hanger device includes an open-back metal housing having two sidewalls formed with a notch each, and a hook connected to a bottom thereof; a plastic seat embedded in the metal housing and having a transverse recess; a release control element vertically slidably connected to the plastic seat; and at least one tension spring located between the release control element and the plastic seat. The notches have outward and downward inclined upper edges and a vertical sectional shape the same as the recess. The hanger device can be firmly attached to a horizontal rail with the inclined upper edges of the notches tightly hooked to a rearward and downward inclined upper end surface of the horizontal rail and a projected block on a top of the release control element upward pushed by the tension spring into an open-bottomed channel at a lower end surface of the horizontal rail.
US08028964B2
A mounting system comprising an incremental angular position and locking system. A tilt bracket is configured to operatively connect to a surface, and an adapter bracket is operatively and movably connected to the tilt bracket, with the adapter bracket being configured to operatively connect to an object such as an audio/video device. A plurality of angular position features are associated with one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and an angular positioning element is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular position features. When the angular positioning element is in engaged with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is impeded from moving relative to the tilt bracket. When the angular positioning element is not in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is substantially free to move relative to the tilt bracket.
US08028962B2
The disclosed device provides an improved mounting assembly for securely supporting elongated items against a surface. The assembly provides a mount with an aperture, which interacts with a flexible tie for retaining the items. The aperture contains a tab, which provides frictional force for the flexible tie when it is placed through the aperture in a preassembled state. The device may also include a diaphragm and a mounting stud extending downwardly from the mount. The diaphragm will provide tension and resistance when the mounting stud is inserted into a supporting surface. The stud may also contain staggered or asymmetrical branches that extend from either side of a center section of the stud. Furthermore, the stud may include a pilot branch located at the end of the stud that will be inserted into the supporting surface. The stud may have a spine and rib that assist in securing the device within a surface.
US08028956B2
An aircraft landing gear door assembly includes a door, which is moveable to an open position, in which an aperture is exposed, the landing gear being able to be deployed through said aperture, and moveable to a closed position, in which the door is closed across the aperture. The door is arranged for rotational movement of a first type, in which the door rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the aircraft, between the closed position and the open position. The door is also arranged for movement of a second type, different from the first type, in which the door rotates, about an axis that is substantially transverse to the length of the aircraft, to a position in which it acts as a fairing to reduce the noise caused by the landing gear or a part thereof. In one embodiment, the second type of movement is rotational movement about an axis that is substantially parallel to the door when in the closed position and the door forms a ramp type fairing. In another embodiment, the second type of movement is rotational movement about an axis that is substantially transverse to the door when in the closed position and the door forms a V-shaped fairing (when viewed from above) with an opposite door.
US08028940B2
The disclosed trash comminution apparatus (TCA) is a device designed to work in conjunction with existing residential trash receptacles utilized by both municipal and private trash collection services. The TCA can pulverize, grind and shred most residential trash items into small pieces, while allowing non-shreddable material to be disposed of as well. In some embodiments, the TCA can be installed on the top of a commonly utilized trash receptacle. To install the TCA on a common receptacle, the hinged top of the receptacle can be removed. A rectangular opening can be cut near the top, on the back side of the receptacle. The TCA can then fit directly inside the top lip of the receptacle and can be bolted into the sides of the receptacle with a reinforcing metal band on both the interior and exterior of the lip of the receptacle. An electrical connection box with a three-prong electrical plug can be installed into the rectangular. The TCA can have a metal lid and a latch to latch the lid to the receptacle. When the lid is closed a safety switch can allow comminution to begin.
US08028939B2
The method for nickel concentration processing, which is low cost, simple and convenient, as well as having low environmental load, which is capable of enhancing nickel content of a saprolite ore with low nickel content, which was not conventionally used effectively as a raw material of ferronickel smelting due to having low nickel content, to a level to be utilized economically as a raw material of ferronickel smelting.
US08028938B2
A plastic tailgate mounted spreader adapted to replace the tailgate of a vehicle. The tailgate mounted spreader has a plastic hopper having a width and height generally equal to the width and height of the vehicle tailgate. A frame having at least a top member and a bottom member supports the hopper. In the disclosed embodiment, the frame also includes side members. The top member has first and second arms extending from the top member that are adapted to be connected to the vehicle. The bottom member has first and second rods extending from the bottom member that are adapted to be connected to the vehicle and in particular to the clamps on the vehicle that control the release of the bucket. An auger is mounted within the plastic hopper to auger material to a discharge opening. The auger is mounted between the side members in the preferred embodiment. A material spinner and motor assembly are pivotally mounted below the discharge opening of the hopper so the material spinner and motor pivots with respect to the vehicle to remain generally horizontal with respect to the vehicle.
US08028930B2
A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber whereby fuel exits the fuel injector at the at least one exhaust port for delivery to the engine. An ultrasonic waveguide is separate from the housing, and is elongate and disposed at least in part within the fuel chamber to ultrasonically energize fuel within the fuel chamber prior to the fuel exiting through the at least one exhaust port. An excitation device is operable to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide. A mounting member interconnects the waveguide to the housing, with the mounting member configured to substantially vibrationally isolate the housing from the waveguide.
US08028928B2
The present inventions relate to top dressing vehicles for coating, mixing, and dispensing compositions of top dressing materials comprising agriculturally active ingredients (A.I.s). More particularly, these inventions relate to apparatus for spraying liquid formulations comprising active ingredients A.I.s onto top dressing materials prior to and during delivering top dressing applications. Further, these inventions relate to applying liquids comprising A.I.s to top dressing materials at a point-of-application. Even further, these inventions relate to delivering treated top dressing, specifically, to broadcast spreading of top dressing comprising sand and agriculturally active ingredients as moist and dry compositions.
US08028924B2
A device and method for providing an integrated circuit with a unique identification. The device is usable on an integrated circuit (IC) for generating an identification (ID) identifying the IC and includes a plurality of identification cells each utilizing one of a four wire resistor, thin film resistors, and an inverter pair. A measurement circuit measures a parameter of each cell and is utilized in generating the ID in response thereto.
US08028923B2
An electronic inlay structure including first and second sheets of an inlay substrate arranged in generally side to side, spaced parallel arrangement, having a gap therebetween, a flexible web material arranged to overlie the gap and edges of the first and second sheets of the inlay structure adjacent the gap, third and fourth sheets arranged in registration with the first and second sheets respectively, over the first and second sheets of the inlay substrate and partially over the flexible web material and bonded thereto, electronic circuitry associated with at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sheets and lamination enclosing the first, second, third and fourth sheets, the electronic circuitry and the web material together to create the inlay structure.
US08028919B2
The disclosed bar code reader includes an auto-focusing component for rapidly producing in focus images. An imaging system makes use of an aiming pattern that impinges upon the coded indicia of a target. The imaging system includes a light monitoring pixel array and a focusing lens that is fixed with respect to the pixel array for transmitting an image of the target object onto the pixel array. The imaging system also includes a moveable prism mounted for movement along a path of travel to transmit light passing through the focusing lens onto the pixel array. A drive motor moves the prism relative the lens to adjust a focus of an image of the object formed at the pixel array.
US08028912B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a reading device and a method for determining an identity code is disclosed arranged at a package for a product. At least one embodiment of the present invention is based on capacitive measurements performed in capacitors formed between antennas of the reading device and communication areas of the identity code. The reading device is provided with an antenna or activation element for decoupling or minimizing perturbation signals generated in an electrically conductive foil of the package.
US08028910B2
The present invention relates to a tag anti-collision Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system and a method for tag identification. The method for tag identification consists of a first step of initializing a queue (Q) field and storing a prefix of a candidate queue (CQ) field in the queue field; a second step of transmitting a query including the prefix stored in the queue field to the RFID tags, and deleting the transmitted prefix from the queue field; a third step of inserting a prefix, in which prefixes 0 and 1 are inserted into a rear portion of a prefix of a previously transmitted query, into the queue field if two or more tags respond to the previously transmitted prefix and, therefore, the tags cannot be identified, and inserting the prefix of the previously transmitted query into the candidate queue field and deleting an unnecessary prefix stored in the candidate queue if there is no response or only one tag responds with respect to the previously transmitted prefix; and a fourth step of determining whether a prefix stored in the queue field exists, and returning to the second step if there is a prefix stored in the queue field.
US08028906B2
Ground conveyor, which is provided with one or more labels and/or documentation, which contain information on the use and/or safety of the ground conveyor, wherein at least one label or documentation is provided with an RFID transponder, in which data is saved.
US08028904B2
Systems and methods of distributing, dispensing and validating game tickets provide for the use of radio frequency identifiers (RFIDS). Game ticket consumables may also be tracked with RFIDS. Ticket data such as game numbers, void if removed numbers, theme descriptions, place styles, price points and player account information can be stored to a memory of a game ticket, where the ticket is capable of transmitting the ticket data as an RF signal. Approaches also provide for the use of RFIDS in game sponsor/ticket printer facilities, ticket warehouse facilities and ticket destruction facilities.
US08028901B2
A method of performing a money transfer transaction involves receiving information at an automated kiosk from a user for a money transfer transaction, including a transaction type selection and, responsive to the information from the user received at the kiosk, building a staging record for the transaction. The staging record includes at least a retrieval key to identify the staging record and a transaction type identifier. The method provides to the sender from the kiosk a machine readable staged transaction token with staging information stored thereon, including the retrieval key for use in transaction fulfillment.
US08028895B2
The present invention provides an electronic money charger which can certainly prevent an electronic money from being fraudulently deposited. An electronic money charger of the present invention comprises a reader/writer which reads and writes data with respect to a contactless IC card in which an electronic money balance used in an electronic money service has been stored, a position information obtaining unit which obtains a latitude and a longitude representing a position of the electronic money charger, and a control unit which has control to perform an electronic money deposit process via the reader/writer, and control to disable the electronic money deposit process if the latitude and the longitude obtained by the position information obtaining unit after installation of the electronic money charger are different from the latitude and the longitude obtained at the time of the installation of the electronic money charger.
US08028890B2
Systems according to embodiments of the present invention include a core adapter module configured to receive reservation information from a reservation system in a first format useable be the reservation system, a web service module configured to identify a provider system based on the reservation information and to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system, and a distribution module configured to send the reservation information in the second format to the provider system. Methods according to embodiments of the present invention include receiving reservation from a reservation system in a first format useable by the reservation system identifying a provider system based on the reservation information, processing the reservation information to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system, and sending the reservation information in the second format to the provider system.
US08028889B2
A weld joins a thin overlay of low carbon steel to a base that contains high carbon steel, at least at its surface along which the weld is formed. The weld may be effected by fusion (melting) or by solid-state diffusion. With either it creates a heat affected zone (HAZ) in the base around the weld. The HAZ contains enough austenite, and perhaps bainite as well, to render the HAZ relatively ductile and also crack resistant. Adjacent to the weld the HAZ has a hardness that does not exceed 58 HRC. The weld may be produced with a high energy beam or with resistance welding equipment.
US08028887B2
A portable soldering system has a caddy collar atop the rim of a bucket and a torch, the flame end of which may heat the tip of a soldering iron. A gas canister, connected to the torch, protrudes from the bucket through a seating opening in the side wall of the bucket. A torch mount positions the torch and the gas canister. The caddy collar has a cradle that may seat the soldering iron.
US08028882B2
An anvil position detector is provided for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The anvil position detector includes a projection formed on a driving or jaw closure mechanism of the surgical instrument and a recess for a notch formed on the jaw or anvil of the surgical instrument. Engagement of the projection with the notch provides a tactile and/or audible indication to the operator of the surgical instrument that the anvil or jaw is in proper alignment with the remainder of the surgical instrument.
US08028880B2
Provided are, among other things, apparatuses for supporting a video camera. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a harness adapted for wearing on a user's upper body, the harness including a front section which, in use, covers at least a portion of at least one of the user's chest and abdomen, and a rear section which, in use, covers at least a portion of the user's back; and a flexible rod having a proximal end secured to the rear section of the harness and a distal end that extends up above the harness when the flexible rod is unweighted.
US08028878B1
A vehicle-mounted equipment carrier includes a hub portion to which is secured a number of vehicle-engaging and equipment-engaging support members. The various support members are each connected to sections of the hub that are movable relative to one another and that include engagement structure to hold the hub sections in desired angular positions with respect to one another. The hub sections can be moved upon disengagement of a clamping mechanism that compresses the hub sections into engagement with one another, and also holds each of the various components of the carrier in connection with one another.
US08028863B2
A fluid dispenser member comprising a dispenser wall (23) defining an outside surface (231) and an inside surface (232), said wall (23) having a dispenser orifice (24) passing therethrough, connecting the inside surface to the outside surface, the inside surface (232) forming a sealing slide-cylinder (233) for a piston (3) that is suitable for being displaced, from a rest position, along an axis X in said cylinder and with leaktight contact, so as to open an outlet valve (25, 35), said piston (3) forming a portion of a fluid chamber (20) in which fluid is selectively put under pressure and flows through the open outlet valve towards the dispenser orifice, the piston forming a closure wall (34) that is suitable for closing the dispenser orifice (24) in the rest position, the closure wall (34) being positioned, in the rest position, over the dispenser orifice (24) beside its inside surface (232), the closure wall (34) coming into leaktight contact with the inside surface (232), the dispenser member being characterized in that, at the dispenser orifice (24), the inside surface (232) slopes relative to the displacement axis X of the piston (3), and the closure wall (34) of the piston (3) slopes in a manner that substantially corresponds to the inside surface (232), so as to create a cone-on-cone contact.
US08028859B2
A foil container (11) has two foil bag chambers (12, 16) arranged next to one another for compound components of a multi-component compound which are stored separately from one another, and a head (21) having a base plate (22) with a contact side (23) at which two receptacle portions (24, 25) are provided, each for one end of the respective foil bag chambers (12, 16), and a mixer connection (31) in which there are provided a first outlet opening (33) for one of the compound components of the multi-component compound and a second outlet opening (34) for an additional compound component of the multi-component compound and arranged in the first outlet opening (33).
US08028852B2
A seal shipping system includes a seal having an outer diameter surface and an inner sealing lip. A sleeve member having a cylindrical body and a radially extending flange extending from the cylindrical body engages the inner sealing lip. An annular collar surrounds the radially extending flange of the sleeve member and frictionally engages the outer diameter surface of the seal.
US08028851B2
A container clearly indicates that it has been opened after a store clerk loads food into the base of the container and closes a covering of the container onto the base. The covering (16) includes a peripheral cover portion (22) that becomes fixed to a peripheral base portion (32) when the clerk initially closes the container. To thereafter open the container, a person forcefully lifts a tab (30) on the covering to tear the covering along a long tear line (26) that separates the peripheral cover portion (22) from a lid (24) formed by a radially inner covering portion. The base (12) is fixed to the peripheral covering portion (22), and together they form a base device (40). After the lid has been torn free of the peripheral covering portion, the lid can be closed and latched to the base device and then can be easily opened again. The container is supplied to the store with an adhesive strip (34) that the clerk activates by shining ultraviolet light (UV) at the adhesive after he/she places the loaded and initially closed container in a UV chamber (86), or mechanical latches with tabs engaging shoulders can be used.
US08028849B2
A reusable container comprises a base provided with a plurality of cut-outs, a lid provided with a plurality of cut-outs, and at least one wall panel comprising a plurality of tabs formed as unitary extensions of the wall panel, wherein the plurality of tabs engage the plurality of cuts-outs, securing the at least one wall panel to the base and to the lid. A back wall, a front wall brace, and at least one side wall brace provide support for the product. A method for electro-mechanically loading the container is also provided.
US08028845B2
A rack having a member; the member having a clip portion; the clip portion having a wall, the wall having a bottom indent and a top indent; whereby the top indent and the bottom indent are capable of being removably secured to an E-track.
US08028840B2
A screening module (10) for a screening assembly includes a panel member (12) defining a plurality of screening apertures; and a support arrangement (16) with which the panel member (12) is fast. The support arrangement (16) includes a plurality of strengthening arrays (22) arranged, in use, beneath the panel member (12), each strengthening array (22) comprising a skirt portion (24) bounding an area on a bottom surface of the panel member (12).
US08028829B2
A laundry treatment system includes a carton holding a freestanding fragrance spray bottle of fragrance together with unscented laundry treatment sheets. The fragrance spray bottle may be used to apply fragrance to the sheets immediately before use by the consumer so as to enable dispersion of the fragrance among the clothing during a laundry cycle. The box may include apertures for supporting multiple bottles to allow the consumer to change or mix fragrances or apply no fragrance at the time of drying.
US08028822B2
Invention describes apparatus automating distributed item processing including pharmacy. Apparatus includes: portable vending cartridges, automatic vending modules, controllers. Cartridge contains conveyor transporting items inside carriers. Cartridges slide-into receptacles inside vending module. Controllers in real-time monitor presence of cartridges; inventory of carries, items; and execute controls of each cartridge and vending module including: indexing conveyors; loading and/or unloading items into/from carriers; maintaining items within specifications: environment, handling, safety with reports confirming compliance. Controllers execute in real-time optimization algorithm achieving required performance: rates of item loading/unloading, power consumption. Pharmacy applications include cartridges handling containers with medications. Apparatus automates distributed processing of medications: at one centralized location cartridges are filled with medications and then transported to assigned destinations for insertion into designated modules for dispensing medications to authorized customers. Number of apparatuses could be configured as closed-loop real-time process control system aimed at achieving optimum utilization of resources and delivering products within specifications.
US08028804B2
An access panel is shown in the present invention to provide easy and safe access to an attic space or elevated structure. The access panel is fully automatic. During opening, the access panel uses an energizing motor to control the gravitational forces for opening a cover and deploying ladder sections. During closing, the access panel is energized to retract the ladder sections and close the access panel. The motor is energized to close the access panel until a stow latch engages to stow the access panel during non-use. A safety switch is mounted inside the attic space to allow a user to open the panel and extend the ladder should the user be trapped in the attic space.
US08028801B2
The present invention provides a soundproof cover comprising: a sound-absorbing material having air permeability; and a skin material impregnated with a viscoelastic material and having air permeability, wherein the skin material is provided on a surface of the sound-absorbing material opposite to a sound source, and wherein the soundproof cover has a three-dimensional shape corresponding to an outer shape of the sound source.
US08028794B1
A case for an electronic device can include two pieces. A first piece can be configured to be attached to the electronic device in a substantially fixed position. A second piece can be configured to be attached to the electronic device in one of multiple substantially fixed positions.
US08028793B2
A noise attenuating method, and a system thereof, for controlling acoustical noise in an electronic equipment enclosure is disclosed. The noise attenuating system includes one or more noise attenuating inserts configured to be removably attached to the electronic equipment enclosure so as to block noise from at least one electronic device contained in the electronic equipment enclosure and to channel an airflow from an inlet point to one or more outlet points of the electronic equipment enclosure. The method includes arranging one or more noise attenuating inserts within an electronic equipment enclosure such that the noise attenuating inserts simultaneously block noise from at least one electronic device contained in the enclosure and channel an airflow path circulating therein.
US08028791B2
A sound reflective acoustic panel includes a panel having a scored surface. The scored surface includes a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart kerfs. The kerfs are configured to allow the panel to flex. A plurality of support ribs are attached to the scored surface of the panel. The plurality of support ribs have a curved shape and a length. A suspension mechanism is attached to the support ribs and is suitable for mounting the panel to a building support surface.
US08028790B2
A megaphone comprises a rigid but bendable material with a tapered shape. When the material is folded, the produced megaphone has a small opening at one end and a larger opening at the other end. The megaphone has edges that form an opening along the side such that when pressure is applied to the edges the opening expands allowing the megaphone to be positioned on a person's arm or leg. Once positioned on the arm of leg the rigidity of the material causes the megaphone return to its original cone shape. The megaphone can enclose around a user's arm or leg for storage purposes during an event. Information can be displayed on the surface of the megaphone. The megaphone of the present invention can be folded and unfolded.
US08028782B2
A hood for a vehicle includes: a hood outer constituting a vehicle outer surface of the hood covering an engine room; a hood inner disposed on a rear face of the hood outer; an insulator for suppressing transmission of sound generated in the engine room to the outside; and an intercooler duct for guiding outer air flowing in the engine room to an intercooler. The insulator includes a through hole at least in a part of an overlap part overlapping the intercooler duct.
US08028781B2
An under-frame shield, particularly useful with crop sprayers and other implements which traverse fields of plants, includes one or more flexible sheet material shields connected to axle structure and to a central rigid shield by resilient connectors to facilitate suspension system movement in all directions without sacrificing ground clearance. The connection structure and sheet material shields maintain a smooth, seamless protective surface on the under side of the machine to reduce vehicle and crop damage.
US08028773B2
A drill bit for cutting a borehole having a borehole sidewall, corner and bottom, includes a bit body having a bit axis and a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body and adapted for rotation about a cone axis. Further, the drill bit includes at least one insert having a base portion secured in the rolling cone cutter and having a cutting portion extending therefrom. The cutting portion of the at least one insert has a cutting surface including at least one flute.
US08028772B2
A percussion drill, and methods of using the same, including a shank in mechanical alignment with a piston-hammer and a valve in fluid communication with the piston-hammer. The percussion drill further includes an internal hydraulic dampening system for reducing the velocity of the piston-hammer when the shank is forward of a power position relative to the velocity of the piston-hammer when the shank is in a power position. Preferably, the internal hydraulic dampening system includes mechanical alignment of a portion of the piston-hammer with a port in fluid communication with the valve, operable to reduce fluid flow into an area surrounding the valve when the piston-hammer is forward of its position relative to its normal operation.
US08028764B2
A drill bit for drilling subterranean formations includes a bit body bearing at least one gage pad and a shank extending from the bit body. An annular chamber is formed within the shank. A data evaluation module is disposed in the annular chamber and includes a processor, a memory, and a communication port. The data evaluation module estimates a gage pad wear by periodically sampling a tangential accelerometer and a radial accelerometer disposed in the drill bit. A history of the tangential acceleration and the radial acceleration is analyzed to determine a revolution rate, gage-slipping periods, and gage-cutting periods. A change in a gage-pad-wear state is estimated responsive to an analysis of the revolution rate, the at least one gage-cutting period and the at least one gage-slipping period. The determination of the gage-pad-wear state may also include analyzing a formation hardness.
US08028760B2
The invention is to provide a hammer drill which is to be capable of restricting rotation of a bit in a hammer mode, and improve usability.A hammer drill includes a lock plate 51 in a housing 2, and the lock plate 51 engages with a second gear 31 so as to lock rotation of the second gear. The lock plate 51 is provided to be slidable between an engaging position with the second gear 31 and a non-engaging position, and is biased to the engaging position by a coil spring. The hammer drill further includes a restriction part 50 on an outer peripheral side of a holding tube 46 in a mode switching knob 44. The restriction part 50 abuts the lock plate 51 in one of two phases for engaging a clutch 37 with only a boss sleeve 32 so as to hold the lock plate 51 at the non-engaging position, and cancels the abutment with the lock plate 51 in the other phase to slide the lock plate 51 to the engaging position. In a hammer mode, a user can select a state for making rotation of a tool holder 3 free in one phase or a state for restricting the rotation of the tool holder 3 in the other phase.
US08028753B2
An electrical submersible pump that regulates pump flow rate based on sensor measurements of the fluid is disclosed. The sensor measures a property of the fluid being processed. The sensor may be located at the intake, discharge or other area of the pump. The sensor measures the relative proportion of gas in the pumped liquid. The pump flow rate is adjusted to maintain a desired level for the gas in a production environment. The pump may be used to operate and control a seabed gas-liquid separation and centrifugal pump system.
US08028746B2
A heat exchanger for a gas boiler for producing hot water is provided with a casing extending along a first axis and through which combustion fumes flow; a tube along which water flows, and which is housed inside the casing and coils about the first axis to form a helix made of a succession of turns; and deflecting means for directing the fumes between successive turns; the tube being provided with a first and a second fins, which extend along the length of the tube, face one another, and are tangent to the tube.
US08028738B2
A window roller blind for motor vehicles having a guide rail arrangement that also forms an interior panel of the vehicle. The interior panel has a gap that forms a guide groove for guiding movement of the window blind between open and closed positions of the vehicle. The guide groove is undercut by being formed with a slot and a larger sized chamber behind interior panel parts. The chamber is defined either partly or completely within a rail fixed to rear sides of the interior panel parts.
US08028736B2
A system for forming a cross-directional fiber reinforcement layer has a feeder for feeding an array of continuous fiber and a chopped fiber dispenser for distributing generally aligned, closely spaced chopped fibers onto the array of continuous fibers in a cross-directional manner.
US08028735B2
There is provided a laminating apparatus laminating an object to be laminated by introducing a fluid into an upper chamber demarcated by a diaphragm and sandwiching and pressing the object to be laminated placed on a heater panel by the diaphragm expanded by the introduced fluid, the apparatus including: a tank part in which the fluid to be introduced into the upper chamber is stored; and a heating mechanism heating the fluid stored in the tank part.
US08028734B2
Presented herein is a unique portable electronic hand-held label dispenser that is adjustable to accommodate labels of various widths by lengthening the pins and replacing a lower guide plate, and which additionally incorporates a sensor mechanism that precisely determines the length of each label, in order to accurately advance the roll of labels according to the captured data and dispense a single label at a time, and which includes the added advantage of a unique slotted uptake wheel that efficiently collects the paper backing for easy disposal. Depressing an electronic switch causes a label to be dispensed and also activates the sensor mechanism, which allows a roll of labels to advance until the end of the next label is identified, indicating that the roll has been advanced the full length of a single label, and additionally the uptake wheel rotates to capture the discarded paper backing.
US08028729B2
The invention relates to a connecting subassembly for connecting an initial container and a target container.According to the invention, the connecting subassembly has an outlet cylinder and a control cylinder, wherein the outlet cylinder and the control cylinder can be displaced relative to each other, and the outlet cylinder and the control cylinder are designed such that they can be displaced with respect to each other, in an operating position in which the connecting subassembly is connected to a target container, between a closed position, in which the control cylinder interrupts a flow path through the outlet opening of the outlet cylinder, and an open position, in which the control cylinder releases the flow path through the outlet opening of the outlet cylinder.Use, for example, for motor vehicle fuels.
US08028722B2
A fluid handling device with an anisotropic wetting surface including a substrate with a multiplicity of asymmetric substantially uniformly shaped asperities thereon. Each asperity has a first asperity rise angle and a second asperity rise angle relative to the substrate. The asperities are structured to present a desired retentive force ratio (f1/f2) greater or less than unity caused by asymmetry between the first asperity rise angle and the second asperity rise angle according to the formula: f3/f2=sin(ω3+½Δθ0)/sin(ω2+½Δθ0).
US08028703B1
Sleep mouthpieces are provided. One such mouthpiece includes an intraoral component including first and second troughs configured to receive a user's upper and lower teeth or ridges. The troughs are separated by a distance, thereby providing an opening that can allow mouth breathing. The mouthpiece includes an extraoral component connected to the intraoral component by first and second columns. The columns can be positioned at first and second ends of the intraoral component. The columns can also be positioned at first and second ends of the opening. The columns can also be positioned between the ends of the opening and the ends of the intraoral component. The extraoral component includes first and second retention portions extending from the first and second columns away from a center of the intraoral component and away from the opening. The first and second retention portions are configured to contact the user's face.
US08028701B2
A patient interface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is configured to be at least partially carried by a patient and to receive gas exhaled by the patient. The patient interface includes first and second cannula tubes each having a first end and a second end, the first ends are configured to be inserted into the nostrils of a patient, the first and second cannula tubes are configured to direct exhaled gas from the patient from the first ends to said second ends. The patient interface also includes first and second sensors positioned near the second ends, and the first and second sensors are configured to provide first and second signals based upon the gas, wherein the first and second signals are indicative of a physiological parameter of the patient. The patient interface also includes a communications link configured to provide the signal to a physiological monitor.
US08028699B2
A patient interface that reliably and comfortably seals a user's face by providing an oral-nasal mask that includes an integrated nasal interface. The patient interface includes a seal member having an oral cushion portion configured to surround the user's mouth and a nasal interface portion that provides an interface with the user's nose. The seal member, including the oral cushion portion and the nasal interface portion, is a unitary member. Finally, the nasal interface portion remains below the bridge of the nose.
US08028685B2
An adjustable cable guide for archery bow provides a housing which supports a pair of rotatable pulleys upon which the cam cables of the bow are received. A slide mounting of each pulley supporting segment is adjustable by a threaded adjustment screw. The entire adjustable cable guide assembly is supportable upon the riser directly or may be supported upon the conventional cable guide bar which extends from the riser.
US08028681B1
This invention is an after market stand alone complete replacement fuel delivery system that works independent of and after disconnecting the standard liquid fuel delivery system for a fuel injected internal combustion engine. This device creates pressurized gasoline vapors at approximately 35 psi to 90 psi mixed and charged with large amounts of processed compressed air to achieve a gasoline vapor in it's purest form to utilize substantially more of the gasoline's energy potential which will greatly reduce engine emissions to much lower levels and improving the general performance of a gasoline fueled internal combustion engine essentially in the same pressurized gas form as found in a propane or natural gas fuel system, and to be refitted to existing gasoline fuel injected engines.
US08028679B2
A control system for an engine having a first cylinder and a second cylinder is disclosed having a first engine valve movable to regulate a fluid flow of the first cylinder and a first actuator associated with the first engine valve. The control system also has a second engine valve movable to regulate a fluid flow of the second cylinder and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure within the first cylinder. The control system also has a controller that is in communication with the first actuator and the sensor. The controller is configured to compare the pressure within the first cylinder with a desired pressure and selectively regulate the first actuator to adjust a timing of the first engine valve independently of the timing of the second engine valve based on the comparison.
US08028672B2
A dry sump oil tank assembly for a vehicle is provided with a housing defining an internal cavity. The housing is configured with a laterally-extending portion to add lateral volume to the internal cavity and has at least one internal baffle attached to the housing within the internal cavity below the laterally-extending portion and configured to reduce sloshing of oil within the cavity. The dry sump oil tank assembly is particularly useful for high performance applications, such as racing vehicles, and may utilize components from standard vehicle applications, thus maximizing the economies of scale of producing such components and being suited for a vehicle that may be typically used in standard driving conditions, but occasionally subjected to high performance use.
US08028665B2
The fuel efficiency of an internal combustion reciprocating piston engine may be increased through selective secondary expansion of exhaust gas in the engine cylinders in order to recover exhaust gas energy which is otherwise wasted by cylinder blow-down at the end of the power stroke. Exhaust valve cam switching, intake valve deactivation, multiple exhaust valves, a specialized exhaust manifold arrangement and an exhaust gas diverter valve can be configured to enable a reciprocating engine to selectively operate in efficient eight stroke cycle compound mode when moderate engine power is demanded, then revert to conventional four stroke cycle non-compound mode operation when high engine power is demanded, without stopping the engine. For a road vehicle application, the benefit is substantially reduced highway cruising fuel consumption, while incurring minimal impact on engine weight, minimal impact on engine manufacturing cost, and no adverse impact on vehicle acceleration performance, hill climbing performance or trailer towing performance.
US08028640B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for creating insulating seals for use in a variety of applications, and to seals created by such compositions and methods. In particular, the present invention provides novel compositions and methods for creating insulating edge seals that provide multiple contact surfaces. The present invention further provides seals that facilitate attachment of flexible covering materials (such as fabrics, plastics, metals, etc.) to hard surfaces (such as plastics, metals, woods, etc.). The present invention is particularly useful for creating insulating edge seals that provide a means of attachment for removable covers for vehicles (such as tops for automobiles, watercraft, and aircraft), structures, and objects.
US08028631B2
A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has a linkage assembly to support and enable movement of a support element. The support assemblies also each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in a desired location for each version of a component. A locking mechanism on each base prevents movement of the support element when in the desired position. To configure the pallet for another version of the component the locking mechanism is released, the support element is moved to another base and the locking mechanism for that base is secured.
US08028629B2
An improved door assembly has a single movable door and may have a separate movable high platform threshold. The door assembly is formed of an upper door section and a lower door section which is fixed to the upper door section. A support member may be integral with or slidably engaged with the door assembly, disposed as an angle iron fixed to the door assembly, or disposed on the side of a stairwell of a rail passenger car.
US08028627B2
The invention relates to a gas generator for an occupant protection system, particularly for an airbag module in a motor vehicle, having an outer housing, an interior space formed in the outer housing for receiving a gas generating substance, an outflow opening for discharging gas generated in the interior space out of the gas generator, and a flow connection between the interior space and the outflow opening. According to the invention, the cross section of the flow connection between the interior space and the outflow opening is designed to be temperature-dependently variable. Further, a method for influencing a gas flow in a gas generator is described.
US08028622B2
A container system for containing a plurality of ink pads comprises a cover defining a cover mounting portion and a plurality of bases. Each base defines a support wall portion defining a support surface, a first wall portion defining a first base mounting portion, and a second wall portion defining a second base mounting portion. At least one of the ink pads is supported on each of the support surfaces. The cover mounting portion is capable of engaging the first base mounting portions to detachably attach the cover to one of the plurality of bases to define a cover chamber. The first base mounting portions are capable of engaging the second base mounting portions to detachably attach at least one of the bases to at least another of the bases to define at least one base chamber. The container system operates in a stack mode. In the stack mode, the cover is detachably attached to a first one of the plurality of bases to define the cover chamber and the first one of the plurality of bases is detachably attached to a second one of the plurality of bases to define a first base chamber.
US08028620B2
An automated system and method are provided for application of inoculant products onto forage material. Real time data measurements are taken for relative humidity and moisture content of the forage material in order to timely adjust the dispense rate of the inoculant applied to the forage material. Data gathering capabilities are provided with this system controller to enable an operator to view, adjust, and record various production records, as well as detailed information as to the amounts of inoculant applied. The components associated with the system of the present invention includes an inoculant bin or container including a dispense auger which dispenses a controlled amount of inoculant which is then conveyed to the intake opening of the baling machine the forage material enters the machine. The control system includes various sensors positioned at the intake opening of the baling machine which measures moisture content, and optionally the mass or volume of the incoming forage material. The control system provides a number of user interface options for controlling the dispensing of the inoculant product, as well as capturing data relating to the operation of the baling machine and the application of the inoculant product.
US08028619B2
A cooking apparatus including a cooking chamber having an opening, a door configured to open and close the opening of the cooking chamber, the door including a channel and an inlet to allow communication between the cooking chamber and the channel, and an opening/closing unit to open and close the inlet in the door. A door including a first surface, a second surface spaced from the first surface to define a channel between the first surface and the second surface, an inlet formed in the second surface, the inlet being in flow communication with the channel, an outlet formed in one of the first surface and the second surface, the outlet being in flow communication with the channel, and an opening/closing unit to open and close the inlet in the second surface is also provided.
US08028611B2
A damping device is disclosed which dampens movement of a weapon on an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the weapon.
US08028603B2
In a flat wave gear device in which a flexible externally toothed gear and the rigid internally toothed gear have the same number of teeth, an arcuate tooth profile is imparted to a flexible externally toothed gear, a contact point C between tooth profiles of a flexible externally toothed gear and a D-side rigid internally toothed gear is determined from an arc center A of the arcuate tooth profile of the flexible externally toothed gear and from a momentary center S of relative movement between the gears, and a main part of a tooth profile to be formed in the D-side rigid internally toothed gear is calculated based on the contact point. The tooth profile of the D-side rigid internally toothed gear can be accurately designed; therefore, meshing between the gears can occur with zero backlash, ratcheting torque can be increased, and continuous meshing can occur across a wide range of the movement locus of the tooth profiles of both gears. The load capability of the flat wave gear device can accordingly be increased.
US08028593B2
At both of the upper and lower faces of flange section (24A) of rotation body (24) rotatably retained between lower case (21) and upper case (23) opposed to each other via inner case (22), inner concavo-convex section (25) and outer concavo-convex section (26) are provided at point-symmetric positions on concentric circles of an inner circumference-side circle and an outer circumference-side circle. Inner elastic contact projection (27C) and outer elastic contact projection (27D) of double ring-like click spring (27) respectively elastically contact inner concavo-convex section (25) and outer concavo-convex section (26) respectively corresponding to both of the upper and lower faces of flange section (24A), thereby providing a clear click feeling and a high click degree.
US08028588B2
A flow meter for measuring flow rate and flow composition of a process fluid includes a microwave source configured to generate a microwave signal. A probe tip is coupled to the microwave source and in near field proximity to the process fluid. The probe tip is configured to apply the microwave signal to the process fluid. A microwave detector coupled to the probe tip is configured to detect a near field microwave signal from the process fluid in response to the applied microwave signal. Flow calculation circuitry determines flow rate and/or composition of the process fluid as a function of the detected microwave signal.
US08028578B2
A composite sensor includes an angular velocity sensor element, an acceleration sensor element, a signal processing IC for processing signals from the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element, an inner package for accommodating the angular velocity sensor element, the acceleration sensor element, and the signal processing IC; a coupler connected to this inner package, and a fixing member connected to this coupler for holding the inner package via this coupler. The coupler is elastically deformable. One of the acceleration sensor element and the signal processing IC is located at the right with respect to the center of the inner package, and the other of the acceleration sensor element and the signal processing IC is located at the left with respect to the center of the inner package. The composite sensor angular maintains its characteristics of the angular velocity sensor element while the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element are accommodated in one package.
US08028569B2
A method for providing a specification about an efficiency of a cooler for recirculated exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine includes: measuring a temperature of the recirculated exhaust gas cooled by the cooler; and ascertaining the specification about the efficiency of the cooler as a function of the measured temperature of the cooled recirculated exhaust gas. With the aid of the specification about the efficiency of the cooler it is possible to determine a failure of the cooler or to calculate a temperature of the recirculated exhaust gas in order implement an engine control system of the internal combustion engine on the basis of a reliable temperature specification that is not influenced by lag effects.
US08028559B2
A roller hemming system for edge hemming vehicle closures from nested metal panels includes an anvil robot moveably supporting a hemming anvil having a working surface, a clamping spider cooperable with the anvil robot for clamping the nested metal panels on the working surface, an anvil register including a base and a registration feature for matingly positioning the hemming anvil thereto, a hemming robot including a multi-axis controllable arm, a roller hemming apparatus mounted on a distal end of the multi-axis arm, the roller hemming apparatus being moveable along edges of the nested metal panels on the anvil to hem the panels together.
US08028557B2
Methods and apparatus of forming stiffening structures in a material are disclosed. In an example method, a first bend line is formed in the material and a portion of the material is drawn toward the first bend line to form an intermediate stiffening structure. A second bend line is then formed adjacent and parallel to the first bend line so that the intermediate stiffening structure is located between the first and second bend lines. A plurality of stiffening structures is then formed in the intermediate stiffening structure without substantially stretching the material.
US08028553B2
A lock cylinder with a lock cylinder housing is provided. A knob shaft, rotatable by way of a knob, is mounted to rotate on one side or both sides of the lock cylinder. An authorization signal causes at least one electromechanically operating coupling device to connect a lock element to rotate in unison with the knob shaft and in order to operate a lock. The authorization signal is generated by evaluation electronics based on an input or input signal. It is proposed that at least one reading unit with an input unit to record the input and/or a receiving unit to receive the input signal is present, that the reading unit with the input unit and/or receiving unit is arranged in at least one knob and are spatially separated from the evaluation electronics, that the knob is connected electrically and mechanically releasable to the knob shaft, and that the reading unit generates, from the input or input signal, an access signal that can be evaluated by the evaluation electronics.
US08028552B2
Provided are a structure of an automobile electronic key for security and a method for performing the function thereof. It is determined whether at least one of a driver seat door closing signal and a brake pedal signal is on. A key fob of an automobile is requested to send the ID thereof, and the ID is received from the key fob when at least one of the driver seat door closing signal and the brake pedal signal is on. The key fob is authenticated using the received ID. An actuator is driven to move a locking member such that a car key is switched to a rotatable state when the key fob passes authentication. The actuator is driven to move the locking member such that the car key is switched to an unrotatable state when the key fob does not pass authentication.
US08028550B2
A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
US08028541B2
Disclosed is a method of producing a barium-titanium-based ferroelectric glass using a containerless solidification process, such as an electrostatic levitation process or a gas levitation process, which comprises the steps of levitating a sample 1 of a barium-titanium-based compound by a levitating force of compressed air, heating the sample up to a temperature greater than its melting point (1330° C.) by about 100° C. to allow the sample to be molten, and, after maintaining the molten state for a given time period (at least several second), quenching the sample from a given temperature range (1400 to 1000° C.) at a cooling rate of about 103 K/sec, so as to allow the sample to be solidified while inhibiting nucleation and mixing of impurities from a container. The present invention makes it possible to provide a glass exhibiting an unprecedented, extremely large permittivity.
US08028540B2
A three-winding induction motor supplies shaft power to an air-conditioning or refrigeration compressor, where both motor and compressor are hermetically sealed, and the wall of the hermetic enclosure has an electrical bushing in the wall of the enclosure, which bushing has four electrical conductors to connect the motor stator windings internal in the enclosure to the external electrical circuits. Four conductors permit the six motor winding terminals for a three-winding induction motor to be connected in the unique semi-hexagon circuit to motor-run-capacitors and to a single-phase supply. A three-symmetrical-winding induction motor with the three windings in series and a single-phase supply connected across two of the windings in series. A circuit for use with a three-winding induction motor. A capacitor bank. An air-conditioning or refrigeration unit. A four-terminal hermetic bushing.
US08028539B2
Disclosed is an air conditioner which includes a plurality of compressors, a common inlet pipe through which fluid flows to the compressors, a plurality of inlet pipes branching off from the common inlet pipe which are connected to the compressors, a plurality of outlet pipes connected to the compressors through which refrigerant discharged from the compressors passes, and a plurality of bypass pipes connected to the compressors through which fluid discharged from the compressors passes. The fluid which passes through the plurality of bypass pipes is distributed to the plurality of compressors through the common inlet pipe.
US08028538B2
A refrigerator having a main body including a refrigerating compartment, a cool air duct supplying cool air to the refrigerating compartment, and a sub storage compartment provided in the main body independently maintaining a temperature thereof with respect to the refrigerating compartment and being indirectly cooled or indirectly heated by radiation.
US08028537B2
Disclosed exemplary solid state light fixtures use optical cavities to combine or integrate light from LEDs or the like. In such a fixture, the cavity is formed by a light transmissive structure having a volume, and a diffuse reflector that covers a contoured portion of the structure. A heat sink member supports a flexible circuit board so as to position the light emitters to couple light to the transmissive structure and provide effective heat dissipation. The circuit board has flexible tabs mounting the emitters. When installed in the fixture, the tabs bend and the emitters press against a sufficiently rigid periphery of the light transmissive structure. TIM may be compressed between the heat sink member and the opposite surface of each tab. Heat conductive surface pads and heat conductors through vias through the tabs conduct heat from the emitters to the heat sink member, e.g. through the TIM.
US08028532B2
A system for use in freezing, storing and thawing biopharmaceutical materials includes a flexible sterile container means for holding biopharmaceutical material therein and a holder more rigid than said container means. The container means is received in a cavity of the holder and the holder extends along a perimeter of the container means. The holder is fixedly connected to the container means. The holder includes opposing sides defining an opening and the container means extends between the opposing sides of the holder defining the opening. The container means includes a substantially smooth exterior surface extending between the opposing sides.
US08028522B2
The invention relates to a cooling system for a motor vehicle comprising a first heat exchanger (1), in particular, embodied in the form of a main cooler for cooling a first liquid coolant (3) of an internal combustion engine (2) by means of an air flow coming from the ambient air and a second heat exchanger (7, 13, 407, 415) for cooling gases introduceable into the internal combustion engine, in particular, exhaust gases and/or charge air, wherein the second heat exchanger (7, 13, 407, 415) is coolable by the an air flow coming from the ambient air and is spatially separated from the main cooler (1).
US08028520B1
A hydraulic drive device including a center section for rotatably mounting a hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor on respective running surfaces. The center section further includes a pair of ports connecting the running surfaces, where the ports are not located in the same plane but are rather offset from one another with respect to the pump running surface, so that one of the ports is closer to the pump running surface than the other port.
US08028516B2
In order to suppress deposition of constituent of a reducing agent (dissolved matter) in an exhaust passage of an engine enhancing an elimination rate of NOx even when temperature of an exhaust emission from the engine is low, an exhaust emission purifying apparatus is provided with an electro-generative-heat carrier provided on an upstream side of an injection nozzle that supplies the reducing agent into the exhaust emission on upstream side of a reduction catalyst in an exhaust pipe, the exhaust emission being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the dissolved matter whereby deposition of the dissolved matter on an inner wall surface of the exhaust pipe is suppressed to effectively use the supplied reducing agent for catalytic reduction reaction, even when the exhaust emission temperature is lower than the melting point of the dissolved matter of the reducing agent.
US08028512B2
A combustion control system for a turbine engine is disclosed. The combustion control system includes a fuel injector having a main fuel supply and pilot fuel supply coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The combustion control system also includes a sensor coupled to a transfer tube. The transfer tube is fluidly coupled to the combustor, and the sensor is configured to detect a pressure pulse in the combustor. A semi-infinite coil is also coupled to the transfer tube. The combustion control system also includes a controller electrically connected to the sensor. The controller is configured to compare an amplitude of the pressure pulse within a frequency range to a threshold amplitude, and adjust the pilot fuel supply in response to the comparison.
US08028511B2
A gasifying agent supply path A from an axial flow compressor 21 which boosts pressure of a gasifying agent to a gasifying furnace 2 is branched, and a gasifying agent bypass path D having an escaping pressure adjusting valve 23 is provided. The flow quantity or pressure of the gasifying agent supplied to the gasifying furnace 2 from the gasifying agent supply path A can be adjusted according to the degree of opening of the adjusting valve 23 disposed in the gasifying agent bypass path D, whereby providing a control valve in the gasifying agent supply path A is no longer necessary. Thus, pressure loss at the gasifying agent supply path A can be suppressed, and the discharge pressure of the axial flow compressor 21 can be greatly reduced.
US08028510B2
A link for a chain, which is used in a linear actuator, comprises a base member and a plate pivotably mounted on the base member. An arm extends from the plate. A first connecting means is disposed on a distal end of the arm to connect the link with a first adjacent link. The plate has a protrusion for releasably engaging a second adjacent link. A second connecting means is disposed on the base member to connect the link with the second adjacent link.
US08028509B2
The polyethylene naphthalate fiber for industrial material having a low fatigue in a composite is a polyethylene naphthalate fiber for industrial material containing an ethylene-2,6-naphthalate unit in 80% or more, characterize by having a strength of 6 cN/dtex or more and a secondary yield point elongation degree of 8% or less. The production method thereof is a method for producing a fiber in which a fiber having been obtained by melt-spinning a polyethylene naphthalate is subjected to stretching, characterized in that prestretch satisfying such conditions as the fiber temperature of from 80° C. to 120° C. and from 0.05 to 0.3 N/dtex is performed, a first stretch satisfying such conditions as the fiber temperature of from 130° C. to 180° C. and stretch tensile force of not more than the prestretch tensile force is performed, the total stretch magnification including subsequent stretches is set to 5 or more, and finally heat-treatment under tension with a stretch ratio of from 0 to 2% is performed.
US08028508B2
A mower unit includes a housing, a pair of cutting blades arranged inside the housing, each of the cutting blades being rotatable about a respective vertical axis supported by the housing, the cutting blades being driven to be rotated in opposite directions, and a baffle arranged generally between rotation regions of the cutting blades to guide air flows generated by the cutting blades. The baffle defines an upper baffle portion located adjacent an upper region of the housing, a lower baffle portion located adjacent a lower region of the housing, and an air passage formed for allowing the air flows to flow between the upper baffle portion and lower baffle portion.
US08028506B1
A compact row unit positioning structure includes a gear and mating toothed surface to positively position agricultural row units on an implement. An electric or hydraulic motor may be used to drive the gear and move row units individually or in groups to change row spacings, follow rows or move row units to a maintenance position. In one embodiment, position sensing structure such a row finder or GPS device connected to a controller operates the positioning structure. Automatic on-the-go row alignment may be implemented, and various row spacings, skip-row patterns or repair access positions may be provided either manually or automatically.
US08028500B2
An apparatus for producing an absorbent article includes a holding tool, a female tool disposed along a machine axis, and a male tool disposed along the machine axis. The holding tool has an aperture aligned along the machine axis and means for holding a flexible sheet across the aperture. The female tool has at least one folding element extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis, and the male tool has means for holding a fluid storage element and at least one pleating blade extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis. At least two of the holding tool, female tool, and male tool are capable of relative motion along the machine axis. Further the at least one pleating blade and of the male tool and the at least one folding element of the female tool are aligned to permit manipulation of the flexible sheet about the fluid storage element.
US08028499B2
A bale wrapper is provided that comprises a rotating arm holding a film dispenser. The arm rotates around an axis thereby wrapping the film from the film dispenser around the bale. Rotation of the arm is stopped when a sensing arrangement mounted ahead of the arm senses an obstacle. The arm is driven with a first speed sufficiently slow to prevent any risk of injury and the arm and the film dispenser from being damaged by hitting an obstacle detected by the sensing arrangement when an obstacle sensor observing a sensitive range in the environment of the bale wrapper detects an obstacle. The arm rotates at a second speed faster than the first speed when the obstacle sensor detects no obstacle.
US08028494B2
A connector sleeve 22 is disclosed for connecting two beams 2,4 together in the construction industry which is quick and easy to use and which may be moved or removed if required. The sleeve 22 comprises opposing walls 25,26 for receiving the end portions of two beams 2,4 therebetween and clamping means 32 integrally mounted on one of the opposing walls 25,26. The clamping means 32 is configured to releasably engage the beams 2,4 in use so as to fix their location relative to each other. A modular connection assembly for connecting two beams is also disclosed herein.
US08028493B2
This invention relates to a floor construction method and system, and more particularly to a method for producing shallow and ultra shallow steel floor systems.
US08028472B2
A wrapper for wrapping an item to form a decorative cover thereabout is disclosed. The wrapper is constructed of a sheet of material having an extension attached to a portion thereof and provides the decorative cover with the appearance of being formed of two separate, unconnected sheets of material.
US08028462B2
A lineless rigid-rod-anchor-weight assembly provides for anchoring, throwing, and retrieving a decoy or a set of decoys without any tangling of the members of the set. The assembly is attachable to floating object and includes a rigid-rod permanently molded into an environmentally safe, hermetically encapsulated, lead weight. The impermeable encapsulate may be a polyvinylchloride. The rod may be fiberglass or a naturally-occurring material exhibiting rigidity with limited flexure. The floating object may be a decoy, such as a puddle duck decoy with a keel having a receiver aperture for receiving the anchor-weight attachment means. One end of the attachment may be a clip connector means for fastening the attachment means to the floatable object and may also be attached to the rod. Alternatively, if the decoy has a receiver aperture above the keel, the anchor-weight attachment means comprises an adapter to provide for such attachment.
US08028455B1
A firearms magazine has compound tapered side walls and feed lips having substantially parallel end portions for maintaining contact with the cartridge as it is loaded. Removable inserts reduce the interior length and width to hold cartridges of different sizes. One insert has a channel along its height to protect the cartridge noses, and is held by a reinforcing member. A movable cartridge follower feeds the cartridges out of the magazine and has a pair of projections extending along its length for contacting and centering the last cartridge and a projection at one end slideable in the channel of the insert. The follower has one or more downwardly extending members to contact the floor or walls to maintain position of the follower with respect thereto. Projections extending inward from the side walls contact shoulders of the firearms cartridges in sliding relationship as they are fed out of the magazine.
US08028454B1
Loaded chamber indicator systems semi-automatic handguns wherein a loaded chamber indicator is extended by the empty cartridge ejector when the empty cartridge ejector rests on a cartridge in the handgun chamber. In one embodiment, the loaded chamber indicator is in an opening or hole in the back of the slide, with the inner end of the loaded chamber indicator being enlarged and fitting within an inclined slot in the empty cartridge extractor so as to be extended or retracted dependent on whether the empty cartridge ejector rests on a cartridge in the handgun chamber. The empty cartridge extractor may be mostly molded plastic with a metal end for engaging cartridges, and the loaded chamber indicator may be entirely molded plastic. Multiple embodiments are disclosed.
US08028437B2
A hair dryer and vacuum device includes a housing having a nozzle, a handle, and a body portion situated between the handle and nozzle, the nozzle including a first channel extending from the body portion to an outlet port and a second channel extending from the body portion to an inlet port. A heating coil is mounted in the body portion for heating air and a dryer fan is positioned adjacent the heating coil that is configured to blow the heated air through the outlet port when energized. A vacuum fan is mounted in the second channel and configured to draw air into the second channel through the inlet port when energized. The device includes a collection chamber situated between the vacuum fan and the body portion and in communication with the second channel such that fallen hair is collected therein.
US08028436B2
An apparatus for evaluating the condition of a lift sling. The apparatus includes a body with an upper section and a lower section. The lower section includes a cradle member with a load bearing surface that engages an inner surface of a connecting link at one end of a sling. The apparatus includes an engagement section that receives and positions the end of a measuring device so that it is in tangential alignment with the load bearing surface of the cradle member. In use, one end of a sling is positioned on the load bearing surface of the cradle member and one end of a measuring device is positioned on the engagement section of the apparatus. The apparatus is then raised so that the sling and the measuring device are hanging freely. The reach of the sling is then measuring using the measuring device.
US08028433B1
The invention is a method and device for measuring the inclination of a roadway using highly precise digital inclinometer and a frame for holding and suspending the digital inclinometer over the width of a lane of traffic. The device and method require a single, and only a single, human operator. The device is lightweight and highly portable.
US08028432B2
A mounting device for portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine is provided. The mounting device includes a body having an opening therethrough. A lip is disposed on one side of the opening, the lip is sized to engage a flange on a base portion of the coordinate measurement machine. A portion of the opening includes a thread configured to couple with an external mounting fixture. A first arm is coupled to the body and arranged to rotate in a first direction between a first position and a second position.
US08028422B2
To allow trimming body hair by pulling as well as pushing with the same hair trimmer device (1), its comb unit (6) is positioned over the trimming head (16) in at least two different positions (8, 9), one (8) pulling and one pushing position (9). In particular, in the different comb positions (8, 9), the tips (20) of the comb unit's fins (13) point in the direction of the respective movement. Preferably, the comb unit (6) is removably attached. In a preferred embodiment, the trimming head (16) includes shaving means (18) besides trimming means (19).
US08028421B2
A utility tool comprising a body having a first end and a second end positioned on opposite ends of the body; a removable device; as well as a first tool and a second tool configured to be selectively coupled to each other or one of either the first end and second end of the body.
US08028415B2
A unitized pinion seal assembly has a seal portion and a sleeve portion that are assembled in an interference fit relationship. The unitized pinion seal assembly is assembled to a carrier bearing cage and an axle companion flange with proper spacing between non-sealing components, and without a spacer mounted between the two portions.
US08028411B2
This manufacturing method includes a passage forming process, in which a liquid passage including at least a pressure generating chamber 12 is formed in a passage forming substrate 10 (110), a first bonding process, in which an adhesive is applied on one side of the passage forming substrate 10, in which the liquid passage opens, so as to form a first adhesion layer 201 and a nozzle plate 120 is bonded by the first adhesion layer 201, and a second bonding process, in which an adhesive is applied on the other side of the passage forming substrate 10 so as to form a second adhesion layer 202 and a compliance substrate 40 is bonded by the second adhesion layer 202, the second bonding process being executed after the first bonding process.
US08028407B2
A method of producing substrate 3 having feedthrough electrodes for an inkjet head, including: a step of forming grooves in the substrate 1 in the same pitch as that of the inkjet head; a step of setting conductive member 101 in the grooves; a step of adhering covering substrate 2 onto substrate 1; a step of cutting adhered substrate 1 and covering substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to that of the grooves in a predetermined width.
US08028400B2
A method for forming a tapered, electroplated structure. The method involves forming a first mask structure having an opening. A shrink material is deposited into the opening, such that the thickness of the shrink material is less than the thickness of the first mask structure. The first mask structure and the shrink material are then heated causing the sides of the opening in the mask structure to bulge inward. The shrink material is then removed, and a first electrically conductive material can then be electroplated into the opening to a thickness that is much less than the thickness of the mask. The bulbous shaped of the deformed photoresist mask forms a taper on the first electrically conductive material. The first mask can then be removed and a second electrically conductive material can be electroplated over the first electrically conductive material.
US08028399B2
Write elements and methods of fabricating magnetic write poles are described. For one method, a vertical mask structure is formed on a magnetic layer in locations of a pole tip and a yoke of a write pole. The vertical mask structure may be formed by coating vertical surfaces of resists with an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process or a similar process. A removal process is then performed around the vertical mask structure to define the pole tip and part of the yoke of the write pole, and the vertical mask structure is removed. A lower portion of the pole tip is them masked while the upper portion of the pole tip and the part of the yoke is exposed. The upper portion of the pole tip and the part of the yoke are then expanded with magnetic material, such as with a plating process.
US08028393B2
A method for installing the hoisting roping of an includes at least an elevator car provided with safety gear, the elevator car moving in essentially a vertical direction along guide rails in the elevator shaft, a hoisting machine, a traction sheave, and at least a plurality of diverting pulleys as well as hoisting roping and a rope compensation appliance. In the installation phase the hoisting ropes are lifted into the elevator shaft by means of an auxiliary hoist by moving the elevator car situated in the shaft with the auxiliary hoist, in connection with which elevator car the ends of the hoisting ropes are fixed.
US08028386B2
Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height. In another implementation, loop yarn having a first shrinkage performance is formed in first regions to a predetermined loop height, and loop yarn having another, different shrinkage performance is formed in other regions to the predetermined loop height, or other loop height; the loops are cut and finished to a common pile height and the continuous web is exposed to heat to cause loop yarn to shrink to one or more different pile heights.
US08028383B2
Clipping both right and left side edge parts of a sheet or film by right and left pitch-variable clips having flow-directional clip pitches variable along with travel movements, respectively, having positions (AR, AL) for initiation of enlargements of flow-directional clip pitches changed between right clips and left clips, and enlarging flow-directional clip pitches along with travel movements of clips to thereby make an oblique stretch.
US08028378B2
A clamping device, having a plurality of clamp segments, each clamp segment, having an arcuate base, each arcuate base having an interior side and an exterior side, a first pair of sidewalls extruding radially inward from the interior side of the arcuate base, thereby defining an interior channel, wherein the sidewalls are conformable to a fitting inside the interior channel, a second pair of sidewalls extruding radially outward from the exterior side of the arcuate base, thereby defining an exterior channel, wherein each clamp segment is interconnected with at least one other clamp segment by a hinge; and a cable tie to keep the plurality of clamp segments in a closed configuration.
US08028369B2
A mop and wringer combination in one embodiment includes a mop comprising a pivotal handle and a mop swab adapted to rotate with respect to the handle; and a wringer comprising a ratchet type mechanism so that a user may press a spring-biased foot step to wring strands of a mop swab disposed in a mop receptacle in a pail via gear connection, release the foot step to return to its initial condition, and repeatedly perform the above two steps until the mop swab is dried.
US08028357B2
A system is provided for enhancing the interconnectability of a bathtub to a plumbing system. More specifically, provided is a flexible conduit and an overflow assembly that allows for a portion of the overflow assembly to be easily located with the wall of a bathtub. The flexible conduit provided allows for adjustability of the conduit to the openings of the bathtub. In addition, provided are methods and apparatus that facilitate testing of a plumbing assembly. Finally, an apparatus and methods are provided that protect portions of the finished bathtub assembly to decrease in the need for replacing said hardware. It is envisioned that aspects and inventions disclosed herein can be used in conjunction to facilitate the interconnection and protection of hardware associated with a bathtub.
US08028348B2
An ambidextrous glove that includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region and little finger region all aligned along a common axis. The index finger region is rotated through ninety degrees relative to the orientations of all of the middle, ring and little finger regions to provide for easier insertion of a hand into the glove. A textured pattern is provided on the surfaces of the glove used to grip objects. The pattern is one of a raised fan shape and raised diamond shape.
US08032942B2
Systems, methods and machine readable media for configuring virtual platform modules are disclosed. One method includes launching a virtual machine monitor, and determining, with the virtual machine monitor, whether a configuration policy that defines a configuration for a virtual trusted platform module is trusted. The method further includes configuring the virtual trusted platform module per the configuration policy in response to the virtual machine monitor determining that the configuration policy is trusted. The method also includes launching, via the virtual machine monitor, a virtual machine associated with the virtual trusted platform module.
US08032938B2
A method and system to compare rendered publication data. The publication data are accessed from a database and then rendered to produce rendered publication data. The rendered publication data are stored to provide a reference version. After a periodic time interval, the publication data are accessed again and rendered to product a second version of rendered publication data. The reference version and the second version of rendered publication data are compared and a notification is generated when a difference exists.
US08032936B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for applying hard-real-time capabilities in software to software security. For example, the systems and methods of the present invention allow a programmer to attach a periodic integrity check to an application so that an attack on the application would need to succeed completely within a narrow and unpredictable time window in order to remain undetected.
US08032932B2
Described herein are systems and methods for centralizing and standardizing implementation of security tokens so as to provide one token per one user for accessing business applications across an enterprise, providing scalability to support authentication of as many enterprise users as desired or needed, and providing a standardized token management interface that supports both pre-binding and post-binding user registration processes and different types of security token.
US08032920B2
Methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums are disclosed for policy enforcement. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a communication and executing a workflow to apply one or more policies to the communication. The workflow includes a logical combination of one or more conditions to be satisfied and one or more actions to be executed to enforce the one or more policies on the communication.
US08032911B2
According to one embodiment, a relay device includes an address management module which executes processing of acquiring a first physical address assigned to the relay device based on a sink device, processing of acquiring a second physical address assigned to the relay device based on another sink device, determination processing of determining, in the case where it is determined that the command needs to be transmitted to the other sink device, whether to perform conversion of the physical address included in a parameter in the other sink device, and conversion processing of converting, in the case where it is determined that the conversion of the physical address is not performed in the other sink device, the physical address included in the parameter into a physical address based on the other sink device using the first and second physical addresses.
US08032909B2
Electronic program guide (EPG) information is updated based on watermark data conveyed with video. Such systems permit EPGs to be updated automatically to reflect changes to program scheduling caused by sporting events running long, late breaking news, etc. In one arrangement, a system identifies incoming programming by reference to watermark data, and conforms the EPG presentation to match the incoming programming. The electronic program guide paradigm can also be applied to indexing online messaging forums that are related to video programs, and access to such forums can be provided through use of watermark data.
US08032908B2
A system is presented having a graphical indicator in an interface screen of an electronic program guide. The graphical indicator is configured to focus a user's attention on a selectable program instance field. The indicator has a length that depends on the duration of the selectable program instance, thereby conveying the start and stop times of the selectable instance. At least one indicator attribute is controllable by the user. For example, the user may control the indicator height, weight, width or brightness.
US08032907B2
The system enables listeners and viewers of a broadcast to access additional information associated with a broadcast. Listeners and viewers utilize a user device to connect to a database containing program descriptions (e.g. audio, text, video or combination thereof) further describing the programming and ancillary information. The database is indexed by the broadcast's program list or schedule thereby allowing a user of the system to search and select a particular program description of interest. Hearing or viewing program descriptions enables users to preview excerpts and review a broadcast before purchasing an item heard or viewed on a broadcast.
US08032906B2
Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces are disclosed. The program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes encoding a first set of slices for each of a plurality of graphics pages; and encoding a second set of slices for each of a plurality of video streams.The user interfaces are multi-functional and may be used for electronic commerce and other applications. A method of generating the user interface includes encoding a set of slices for each of a plurality of objects, each object being characterized by an identity, at least one attribute, and at least one operation. In one embodiment of this method, the plurality of objects include an electronic commerce object, where the electronic commerce object is attributed with a first hyper text markup language (HTML) page.
US08032901B2
An optical disk drive includes a device body. A turntable is disposed on the device body, for rotating a disk. There is an optical pickup head for reading and/or writing of data with the disk. A multi-segment cover assembly is shiftable between a folded position and a spread position. The multi-segment cover assembly, when in the folded position, allows loading and unloading of the disk on the turntable, and when in the spread position, has a larger area than when in the folded position, and contains and protects the disk on the turntable. The multi-segment cover assembly includes a plurality of pie-shaped cover sectors, rotatable about an axis defined concentrically with the turntable, for extending to nest in one another when in the folded position, and for spreading by offsetting from one another when in the spread position.
US08032899B2
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for providing policy-based operating system services in a hypervisor on a computing system. The computing system includes at least one compute node. The compute node includes an operating system and a hypervisor. The operating system includes a kernel. The hypervisor comprising a kernel proxy and a plurality of operating system services of a service type. Providing policy-based operating system services in a hypervisor on a computing system includes establishing, on the compute node, a kernel policy specifying one of the operating system services of the service type for use by the kernel proxy, and accessing, by the kernel proxy, the specified operating system service. The computing system may also be implemented as a distributed computing system that includes one or more operating system service nodes. One or more of the operating system services may be distributed among the operating system service nodes.
US08032892B2
A method for passing messages in a parallel computer system constructed as a plurality of compute nodes interconnected as a network where each compute node includes a DMA engine but includes only a limited number of byte counters for tracking a number of bytes that are sent or received by the DMA engine, where the byte counters may be used in shared counter or exclusive counter modes of operation. The method includes using rendezvous protocol, a source compute node deterministically sending a request to send (RTS) message with a single RTS descriptor using an exclusive injection counter to track both the RTS message and message data to be sent in association with the RTS message, to a destination compute node such that the RTS descriptor indicates to the destination compute node that the message data will be adaptively routed to the destination node. Using one DMA FIFO at the source compute node, the RTS descriptors are maintained for rendezvous messages destined for the destination compute node to ensure proper message data ordering thereat. Using a reception counter at a DMA engine, the destination compute node tracks reception of the RTS and associated message data and sends a clear to send (CTS) message to the source node in a rendezvous protocol form of a remote get to accept the RTS message and message data and processing the remote get (CTS) by the source compute node DMA engine to provide the message data to be sent.
US08032863B2
A system and method for collecting and correlating information about development of a computer software, including software tools reports. The system and method provides overview of entire software development lifecycle, provides decision support engine for project management, allows estimation of project timelines based upon empirical data, allows evaluation of project quality based upon empirical data, and correlates information from previous projects to estimate progress of current project (confidence factors). The system and method for collecting and correlating information about development of a computer software include collecting data from a plurality of software tools during each point in lifecycle of the computer software; storing the collected data in a database; and correlating the stored collected data to monitor the development of the computer software.
US08032861B2
An extensible object model enables extending the standard methods and/or properties of an extensible object for an application through an extension object proffered at run time by an extension package Information about the extension package is registered in a database when the package is installed, and the database is used to resolve references to the extended methods and/or properties upon execution of the application. In one aspect of the invention, the extension object is cached when first referenced and subsequent references to the extension while the application is executing are resolved to the cache.
US08032859B2
A system for extending data types in software comprises an extension unit that modifies an arbitrary preexisting base data type, the preexisting base data type having at least one member. The system also includes a supplemental member that is included with the extension unit and that provides additional functionality to the preexisting base type. Methods for using the system are also provided.
US08032854B2
A 3-stack floorplan for a floating point unit includes: an aligner located in the center of the floating point unit; a frontend located directly above the aligner; a multiplier located directly below the frontend and next to the aligner; an adder located directly next to the multiplier and directly below the aligner; a normalizer located directly above the adder; and a rounder located directly above the normalizer.
US08032849B2
Disclosed is a procedure or design approach for functional modules that may be used in connection with a multiprocessor integrated circuit chip. The approach includes keeping the dimensions of each module substantially the same and having the bus, power, clock and I/O connection configured the same on all modules. Further requirements for ease of use are to generalize the capability of each module as much as possible and to decentralize functions such as testing to be primarily performed within each module. The use of such considerations or rules substantially eases the design of a given type of custom chips, and based upon an initial chip design greatly facilitates the design of further custom chips, similar in application, but subsequent to the successful completion of the initial chip. The standardization modules and replication of the modules on a given chip also reduces physical verification time in initial chip design as well as redesign time of the initial chip when requirements for chip capability are redefined or otherwise changed. Any subsequent or further custom chips can include more or less of specific modules based upon already established parameters.
US08032845B2
Using phase shifting on a mask can advantageously improve printed feature resolution on a wafer, thereby allowing greater feature density on an integrated circuit. Phase shifting can create an intensity imbalance between 0 degree and 180 degree phase shifters on the mask. An improved method of designing an alternating PSM to minimize this intensity imbalance is provided. Sub-resolution features, called “blockers”, can be incorporated in the alternating PSM design. Specifically, blockers can be formed in the 0 degree phase shifters. In this configuration, the intensity associated with the 0 degree phase shifters approximates the intensity associated with the corresponding 180 degree phase shifters. Intensity balancing using blockers retains image contrast, thereby ensuring printed feature quality.
US08032843B2
Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.
US08032839B2
A method includes determining an initial experience-level of a user based on an initial usage of an application by the user, where the application includes a plurality of selectable features, selecting one or more first features from the selectable features to provide to the user, where the selected first features are based on the initial experience-level of the user, and providing a first user interface to the application to enable the user to utilize the first features. A subsequent experience-level of the user is determined based on the user's interactions with the one or more first features, one or more second features are selected from the selectable features to provide to the user, where the selected second features are based on the subsequent experience-level of the user, and a second user interface to the application is provided to enable the user to utilize the second features.
US08032835B1
Identity plates are described, including importing identity data into an application, the identity data being used to configure one or more identity elements, configuring an identity plate using the one or more identity elements, and presenting the identity plate within an interface associated with the application, the identity plate being configured to display the one or more identity elements in one or more associated positions configured to receive the one or more identity elements.
US08032830B2
The present invention is a system and method for generating quotations from a reference document on a touch sensitive display device or other handheld device, including the following steps: (a) providing a reference document; (b) displaying the reference document; (c) capturing an image of a portion of the reference document; (d) editing the captured portion of the reference document; and (e) generating a quotation comprising an image quotation and a bibliographical reference to a referenced portion of the reference document. The present invention may be used in Apple iPhones®, hand-held devices that inspectors may use to quote reference documents to substantiate statements of problems found during industrial inspections, and in other purposes.
US08032826B2
A method, system and computer program product for mapping and retrieving XML code is presented. Each line of XML code is associated with a node in a node tree. Based on the depth and breadth of the node, the starting and ending positions of the line of XML code are calculated, in order to allow direct access to a particular line of XML code.
US08032806B1
Integrated circuits may include at least an instruction processor and input-output subsystems. Each input-output subsystem includes a wrapper circuit a wrapper circuit controlled by the instruction processor. The wrapper circuit includes two or more scan registers, where a data value stored in each scan register can be shifted out for analysis. The wrapper circuit also includes two or more update registers to transfer stored data values between itself and an associated scan register. The wrapper circuit also includes a set of combinatorial logic coupled to the scan registers, the update registers and the instruction test processor, wherein at least two I/Os of the plurality of I/Os but less than all of the plurality of I/Os couple to an external tester.
US08032801B2
Methods and apparatus for generating and performing digital communications using a randomized generatable interleaver. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a pseudo random interleaver of size n*m with excellent randomness and spread properties may be generated from a set of seed values. The interleaver of size N=n*m is defined by dividing the N possible address in the interleaver (0−N−1) into n subsets. The subsets are preferably generatable from a single value within the subset either using an algorithm or a memory based lookup table. The set of n seeds comprises one value selected from each subset. An improved communication system incorporating the aforementioned interleaver and using turbo codes or other concatenated coding systems is also disclosed.
US08032798B2
Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.
US08032779B2
In an embodiment, a data processing system comprises a repository configured to store a plurality of event message definitions for error messages, syslog messages, or other notification messages that may be emitted by one or more managed network elements; event annotation logic coupled to the data repository and configured to receive and store one or more annotations to each of the event message definitions, wherein each of the annotations specifies event context information to be collected in the managed network elements when an associated event message occurs; event forensics definitions generator logic coupled to the event annotation logic and configured to generate an event forensics definitions file capable of interpretation by one or more managed network elements and comprising event type identifiers and context information identifiers for context information to be collected, and configured to cause distributing the event forensics definitions file to the one or more managed network elements.
US08032777B2
A control apparatus for accessing a memory card includes a bus, a detecting circuit, and an adjusting circuit. The bus is regarded as a signal transmission line between the control apparatus and the memory card. The bus has a power signal transmission line for providing the memory card with a power signal. The detecting circuit detects an operating status of the control apparatus and generates an indication signal when the operating status exceeds a predetermined operating range. The adjusting circuit is coupled to the bus and detecting circuit, and is utilized for adjusting a current passing through the power signal transmission line according to the indication signal without closing the power signal transmission line thereby making the operating status operated within the predetermined operating range.
US08032776B2
A mechanism for controlling the hardware resources on a blade server, and thereby limiting the power consumption of the blade server is disclosed. The enforceable hardware resources that are controlled include the base frequency of the central processing unit (CPU) as well as power to individual banks of physical memory, for example dual-inline memory modules (DIMMs). The hardware resources are tuned in dependence on actual server utilization such that applications running on the blade only have the allocated hardware resources available to them. Deactivated hardware resources are powered off and are so ‘hidden’ from the operating system when they are not required. In this manner, power consumption in the entire chassis can be managed such that all server blades can be powered on and operate at higher steady-state utilization. The utilization of the powered on resources in a blade center is also improved.
US08032774B2
When an operation mode of an image forming apparatus returns from an energy-saving mode to a regular operation mode, a CPU of a main system outputs a power control signal set to High, and determines the necessariness of information display on an LCD of an operation unit control system to output a starting mode selection signal set to High when the result of the determination is positive. A CPU of the operation unit control system detects the state of a power control signal, and detects mode return from the energy-saving mode depending on the result of the above detection. The CPU of the operation unit control system also detects the state of a starting mode selection signal, and determines the necessariness of information display on the LCD depending on the result of the detection to carry out a display process depending on the result of the determination.
US08032772B2
Method, apparatus, and system for optimizing frequency and performance in a multi-die microprocessor
With the progress toward multi-core processors, each core is can not readily ascertain the status of the other dies with respect to an idle or active status. A proposal for utilizing an interface to transmit core status among multiple cores in a multi-die microprocessor is discussed. Consequently, this facilitates thermal management by allowing an optimal setting for setting performance and frequency based on utilizing each core status.
US08032769B2
The controlling apparatus is provided with: a memory that stores application software; a setting part that sets an operational manner related to power consumption of an apparatus running the application software, corresponding to the application software stored in the memory; and a controller that controls the power consumption of the apparatus according to the operational manner set by the setting part.
US08032768B2
A modular enclosure including first, second, third, and fourth servers, and a chassis management controller. The first, second, and third servers each have reclaimable power. The fourth server is configured to request a specific amount of power needed to complete a power-on request received at the fourth server. The chassis management controller is in communication with each of the first, second, third, and fourth servers. The chassis management controller is configured to reassign all the reclaimable power of the first server and to reassign a portion of the reclaimable power of the second and third servers to the fourth server.
US08032764B2
An electronic device (1640) includes a non-volatile store (1620) holding a plurality of encrypted sub-applications (SubApp n), and application-specific identifications (ASIDs) to respectively identify the encrypted sub-applications (SubApp n), and at least one wrapper having a representation of code to call (2220) a function (KPPA2) and supply a said application-specific identification (ASID) to the called function (KPPA2) to determine a storage location (UU) and access (2250) the storage location (UU) for contents and to call (2260) for decryption of the encrypted sub-application (SubApp n) using the contents of the storage location (UU) as a key; and a processor (1660) coupled to said non-volatile store (1620) and operable to access the representation of code and execute the code (2220, 2260). Various electronic devices, information products, processes of manufacture, and apparatus are disclosed and claimed.
US08032761B2
Aspects of a method and system for memory attack protection to achieve a secure interface are provided. An integrated memory within a slave device may be configured into a plurality of memory portions or regions by commands from a host device. The memory regions may be utilized during operations associated with authentication of subsequent commands from the host device. A first memory region may enable storage of encrypted host commands and data. A second region may enable storage of decrypted host commands and data. A third region may enable storage of internal variables and/or intermediate results from operations performed by the slave device. Another region may comprise internal registers that enable storage of information only accessible to the slave device. Access to some of the memory regions may be controlled by a bus controller and/or a memory interface integrated within the slave device.
US08032758B2
The disclosure describes methods for using digital watermarking to authenticate digital media signals, such as images, audio and video signals. It also describes techniques for using embedded watermarks to repair altered parts of a media signal when alteration is detected. Alteration is detected using hashes, digital watermarks, and a combination of hashes and digital watermarks.
US08032757B1
Processes for fingerprinting a document and for preventing information leakage at a deployment point are disclosed. For fingerprinting a document, a sequence of hash values for a document is generated, a portion of said hash values to be selected as fingerprints for the document. A current window is positioned over a portion of the sequence of hash values. The hash values are examined starting from one end of the current window, and a first-encountered hash value that is 0 modulo P is selected to be a fingerprint for the current window. For information leakage prevention at a deployment point, a rolling hash calculation is performed on a target document, and a determination is made if a hash value is 0 modulo P. A first filter is applied if the hash value is 0 modulo P, and a second filter is otherwise applied. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08032755B2
A method for digitally signing information in real-time, based on a user request for the information. In one embodiment, the method is useful in a Web server, and can be implemented using a server-side API filter. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a data request from a user and determining whether the data requested should be marked. If the data should be marked, the method includes marking the data with a signature identifying at least one component of the user request; and storing information identifying the user with the request and the at least one component. Multiple types of marking techniques can be used on a single data file.
US08032747B2
A method of zero-knowledge document comparison between two parties. Each party performs: exchanging a set of random data and a shared hash function, applying the hash function to concatenations of the document and the sets of random data, and comparing the hashes.
US08032738B2
A method for the start-up of a numerical control of machine tools or production machinery, wherein the numerical control includes a main computer and a follow-up device, which are connected with each other via a data transmission network, wherein the follow-up device is addressable by the main computer via a logical address and a hardware address, with information regarding a physical address of the follow-up device in the data transmission network, is allocated to the logical address. The method includes sequentially requesting in a set-up mode of operation of the main computer allocating information regarding a logical address and a hardware address from an operator for the follow-up device and other follow-up devices to whose logical address no hardware address had been allocated. The method further including storing the logical address and the hardware address in a memory unit after the allocating information has been performed.
US08032729B2
Transfer of data and replication of data among several storage devices are executed without imposing a load on the computer connected to the storage system. For example, a first host computer monitors usage rates of transfer groups TG11, TG12 and physical path usage rate on a storage device interconnect physical path 50, and when either a usage rate or physical path usage rate goes above a predetermined value, issues to the first storage device 20 an instruction to allocate a reserved volume R11, R12. The first host adaptor 21 receiving the reserved volume R11, R12 allocation request allocates reserved volume R11 to transfer group TG1, whereby a virtual transfer volume is formed by transfer volume T11 and the reserved volume R11 allocated thereto. Capacity of the virtual transfer volume is increased by the equivalent of the reserved volume R11 capacity, so that additional transfer frames may be stored.
US08032723B2
A proactive, resilient and self-tuning memory management system and method that result in actual and perceived performance improvements in memory management, by loading and maintaining data that is likely to be needed into memory, before the data is actually needed. The system includes mechanisms directed towards historical memory usage monitoring, memory usage analysis, refreshing memory with highly-valued (e.g., highly utilized) pages, I/O pre-fetching efficiency, and aggressive disk management. Based on the memory usage information, pages are prioritized with relative values, and mechanisms work to pre-fetch and/or maintain the more valuable pages in memory. Pages are pre-fetched and maintained in a prioritized standby page set that includes a number of subsets, by which more valuable pages remain in memory over less valuable pages. Valuable data that is paged out may be automatically brought back, in a resilient manner. Benefits include significantly reducing or even eliminating disk I/O due to memory page faults.
US08032718B2
A computerized method for sharing removable storage media in a network, the method comprising associating, in an index entry, a first piece of removable storage media in a first storage device with at least a first storage policy copy and a second storage policy copy; copying, to the first piece of removable storage media, data associated with the first storage policy copy; and copying, to the first piece of removable storage media, data associated with the second storage policy copy.
US08032711B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for prefetching from a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) to a static random access memory (SRAM). In some embodiments, prefetch logic receives a prefetch hint associated with a load instruction. The prefetch logic may transfer two or more cache lines from an open page in the DRAM to the SRAM based, at least in part, on the prefetch hint.
US08032707B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for managing cache metadata providing a mapping between addresses on a storage medium (e.g., disk storage) and corresponding addresses on a cache device at data items are stored. In some embodiments, cache metadata may be stored in a hierarchical data structure comprising a plurality of hierarchy levels. Only a subset of the plurality of hierarchy levels may be loaded to memory, thereby reducing the memory “footprint” of cache metadata and expediting the process of restoring the cache metadata during startup operations. Startup may be further expedited by using cache metadata to perform operations associated with reboot. Thereafter, as requests to read data items on the storage medium are processed using cache metadata to identify addresses at which the data items are stored in cache, the identified addresses may be stored in memory. When the computer is later shut down, instead of having to transfer the entirety of the cache metadata from memory to storage, only the subset of the plurality of hierarchy levels and/or the identified addresses previously loaded to memory may be transferred (e.g., to the cache device), thereby expediting the shutdown of the computer.
US08032700B2
A hybrid storage system comprising mechanical disk drive means, flash memory means, SDRAM memory means, and SRAM memory means is described. IO processor means and DMA controller means are devised to eliminate host intervention. Multi-tiered caching system and novel data structure for mapping logical address to physical address results in a configurable and scalable high performance computer data storage solution.
US08032695B2
A multiprocessor system includes first and second processors and a multi-path accessible semiconductor memory device including a shared memory area and a pseudo operation execution unit. The shared memory area is accessible by the first and second processors according to a page open policy. The pseudo operation execution unit responds to a virtual active command from one of the first and second processors to close a last-opened page. The virtual active command is generated with a row address not corresponding to any row of the shared memory area. For example, bit-lines of a last accessed row are pre-charged for closing the last-opened page.
US08032689B2
A data storage device comprises virtual storage devices that are each assigned to a subset of data sectors in a non-volatile memory of the data storage device. The data storage device receives configuration metadata for configuring each of the virtual storage devices from a host operating system. The configuration metadata is received in a standard format that is file system independent. The configuration metadata comprises a range of logical block addresses and a virtual storage device number assigned to each of the virtual storage devices. Each of the virtual storage device numbers is a unique identifier used by the data storage device to differentiate between the virtual storage devices. The data storage device uses the virtual storage device numbers and logical block addresses to identify data sectors in the virtual storage devices that are accessible by virtual machine operating systems.
US08032677B2
An aspect of the embodiment utilizes a selection circuit that includes a first storage circuit for storing information of m×n bits each corresponding to a choice. The storage circuit indicates whether the corresponding choice is in a selectable state or not. A first round robin circuit for executing a round robin process on the second storage circuit selects one of the bits contained in the corresponding bit string and indicates that a choice is in a selectable state. A second round robin circuit executes the round robin process on the bit string having the m-bit width to select one of the bits indicating that the corresponding choice, and a control circuit controls the first and the second round robin circuit.
US08032663B2
There is provided an information processing system that includes an integrated circuit chip having stored therein a plurality of file systems, a first information processing apparatus that engages in communication with the integrated circuit chip and a second information processing apparatus that engages in communication with the first information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus includes a command packet linking unit that generates a single linked command packet by linking a second command packet generated by the second information processing apparatus within a first command packet and a first command packet transmission unit that transmits the linked command packet to the integrated circuit chip to be directed to the plurality of file systems. The second information processing apparatus includes a second command packet generation unit that generates the second command packet and a second command packet transmission unit that transmits the second command packet to the first information processing apparatus.
US08032657B2
In a distributed computing system containing multiple entities such as servers and clients, an object passed between the entities is attached with metadata identifying the type of the object and/or types and values of properties associated with the object. Before the object is passed to an entity in the distributed computing system, the object may be serialized into a data format that the receiving entity can understand.
US08032649B2
Systems and methods provide for dynamic generation of media content at the point that content is served. The system and method work within the bounds of simple, existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method is driven by a request for media content from a client specifying an edit list. The server opens one or more source files and selects portions of one or more files to transmit based on edit list instructions, and sequentially writes those portions to an output for serving to the client. The server sorts the selected portions of one or more source media files, combines the selected portions to form a combined media shot, and serves the combined media shot to the client. The method allows for various modifications of the content before serving.
US08032629B2
A computer terminal connected to a manufacturing apparatus as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine providing a maintenance management service by a network, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal monitors whether or not the object apparatus is restarted and transmits restart information indicating restart completion due to maintenance performed on the object apparatus by the customer to the server machine upon determining that the object apparatus is restarted. The server machine generates a random number within the specific range when receiving the restart information from the computer terminal, retrieves points corresponding to the random number from the lottery point setting storage unit, and stores the retrieved points in the lottery point storage unit. This can encourage the customer to perform maintenance on the object apparatus in order to indicate said restart completion to obtain more points.
US08032627B2
A method of enabling transaction probes used to monitor a transaction or modify a primary application handling the transaction. The method begins with retrieving a token associated with the transaction. The token contains information regarding which transaction probes from a plurality of transaction probes will be enabled with respect to the transaction. The token is then read to determine the set of transaction probes from the plurality of transaction probes that will be enabled. The determined set of transaction probes is then enabled.
US08032614B2
A method for automatically configuring a local network in a windfarm is provided, the method including the steps of (a) automatically assigning an IP address to a device connected to the local windfarm network, (b) automatically receiving an identifier tag from the device, and (c) relating the automatically assigned IP address of the device to a specific wind turbine in the windfarm which is identified by said identifier tag.
US08032607B2
Each of mobile terminals and base stations in a mobile communication system detects the file size of multimedia data from normal command file and calculates the communication costs based on the file size and unit price of the call type, and selects either a packet switched call or a circuit switched call for transmitting the multimedia data file based on the communication costs involved.
US08032606B2
Provided is a disk controller comprising a front end FC I/F to a host, a back end FC I/F to a magnetic disk, a processor, and a main memory section. The front end I/F and the back end I/F are provided for performing information exchange with a network (connected) device that is connected to a network and manages storage. The main memory section stores registered information expressing an attribution of the network (connected) device, access information including security and performance of each network (connected) device through the network, and ranking information assigning a rank to each network (connected) device based on the registered information and the access information. An appropriate network (connected) device is selected from various types of information including the ranking information.
US08032592B2
System and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server
A system and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server. An e-mail client generates an e-mail message comprising a surrogate e-mail address and data elements conveyed within standard fields of the e-mail message. The surrogate e-mail address also comprises data and instructions directed to a specialized software program. A message server parses the surrogate e-mail address and the e-mail content. Information relating to a specialized software program is extracted and translated into instructions and data elements. The specialized software program operates on the data elements based on the instructions obtained from the e-mail message.
US08032581B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a control unit receives a request to establish a relationship over a fiber channel connection, wherein a first indicator associated with the request indicates that the relationship supports persistent information unit pacing across a plurality of command chains. The control unit sends a response indicating an acceptance of the relationship, wherein a second indicator associated with the response indicates that the control unit supports persistent information unit pacing across the plurality of command chains. An information unit pacing parameter value is retained across the plurality of command chains, in response to determining that the second indicator indicates that the control unit supports persistent information unit pacing across the plurality of command chains.
US08032580B2
A content distribution system is provided to facilitate e-commerce transactions for products and services associated with distributed content. A content stream comprising content blocks, reference content blocks and floating reference content blocks uses metadata to identify products and services associated with content blocks. The metadata and floating reference content blocks are used to substitute dynamically selected content for content blocks based on profiles of user(s), the broadcast station, the advertisement spot defined in the stream and content available for substitution. A market server determines optimal matches to support content substitution, and performs brokerage and bidding functions among suppliers of products or services associated with content selected by users.
US08032579B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for imaging device event notification administration and subscription. Some aspects relate to selective imaging device event notification based on user credentials and/or the occurrence of a specific event. Some aspects may limit notification subscription to authorized credential holders. Some aspects relate to conditional event notification based on the occurrence of a specific event identified in the notification request.
US08032573B2
The disclosure relates to a system and method for managing data from a number of systems. The method comprises: defining a set of objects for the data; defining a set of classes for the data; maintaining a catalog for each instance of the data; in the catalog identifying each instance's source system and its level of harmonization with other data; applying a set of harmonization rules to identify from the data a group of related data and an owner of the group; identifying differences in instantiations within the group; and initiating update requests to affected systems having the identified differences.
US08032570B2
A stacked file system and method for managing a stack are disclosed. In one embodiment, a stacked file system includes a stack and a stack manager. The stack has at least a file system stacked on top of an underlying file system. Further, the stack manager has a logic for managing the stack, where the logic includes an eject operation for ejecting a first file system from the stack.
US08032568B2
A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for performing a memory leak analysis inside a virtual machine is disclosed. By utilizing thread stack(s), class statics, and/or a list of root objects, a DFS algorithm starts execution at root objects in the thread stack(s), class statics, and/or a list of root objects. Upon fully processing an object, a reachability (sum of sizes of all child objects plus a size of the object itself) of the object is calculated. When the reachability of the object is larger than a threshold and when all reachabilities of children of the objects are less than another threshold (i.e., a largest child reachability of the object is less than another threshold), the object is determined as a potential source of a memory leak.
US08032566B2
Tools for defining and using custom analysis modules are presented. A generic graphical user interface (GUI) custom analysis tool is presented to a user. The generic GUI custom analysis tool is adapted to receive selections and inputs from the user that define many-to-many relationships in a data store and that include user-defined measures. The inputs are used to generate an instance of a custom analysis module that is capable of being processed against the data store. The instance of the custom analysis module may be stored, recalled, executed, and/or modified from the generic GUI custom analysis tool.
US08032562B2
Example embodiment of the present invention provide for assisting a user in managing the user's shared persona on a request-by-request basis. Upon requesting to share one or more types of identity information, the user is automatically presented with an interface through which the user can interact in selecting an amount of identity items to share. A subset of the total identity items selected may then be shared with specified entities. In another embodiment, the present invention assists a user in managing identity information that has been shared with others by providing the user with a visual list of entities for which the user has shared specified identity information. Other embodiments of the present invention use shared information about an entity to automatically provide the user with the ability to update identity information that has subsequently been edited.
US08032561B1
A method for high-speed scheduling and arbitration of events for computing and networking is disclosed. The method includes the software and hardware implementation of a unique data structure, known as a pile, for scheduling and arbitration of events. According to the method, events are stored in loosely sorted order in piles, with the next event to be processed residing in the root node of the pile. The pipelining of the insertion and removal of events from the piles allows for simultaneous event removal and next event calculation. The method's inherent parallelisms thus allow for the automatic rescheduling of removed events for re-execution at a future time, also known as event swapping. The method executes in O(1) time.
US08032558B2
In various embodiments, techniques for role management systems are provided. According to an embodiment, a method is provided to allow a role management system to be configured, modified, and restricted. Specific roles assignments may be decorated to be meaningful to an application but which are not generally applicable to an original role specification. A Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) role request response may be modified by an augmentation service, which evaluates a resource association to identify an appropriate resource profile. Resource decorations are identified by the selected profile, and are applied to the role request response.
US08032549B2
An Internet-based system capable of automatically maintaining contact-related information in any computer software application or digital device which stores or manages contact-related information. More particularly, the system allows users to automatically enter and maintain contact-related information in a digital address book or similar application or device (such as a wireless phone or PDA) with minimal or no manual entry of the contact-related information by the user. The system also allows contacts of the user (i.e. people who's contact information or partial contact information is present in the user's address book application) to make corrections to their contact-related information contained in the user's address book, request reciprocal contact information from the user, deny the user access to additional or corrected contact-related information and take other actions relative to managing the contact-related information which others (users) have about them.
US08032545B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for refining the identification of study candidates. In an embodiment, the method may include receiving a plurality of clinical conditions at a user interface. The conditions may generally be tied to codified terms in electronic medical patient records. The method may also include receiving parameters for tailoring a search of electronic medical data for the clinical conditions. For example, the parameters may weight the conditions and may include ranking the conditions, determining whether the conditions are mandatory for the pool, and determining a percentage deviation for numerical ranges. The method may also include executing an optimization function to create a pool according to the specified conditions and parameters. The method may also include displaying the pool in an order from the most optimal results to the least optimal results.
US08032542B2
The present invention provides tools and techniques for distinguishing a file from any or all copies of the file that may exist. One method ascertains (204) the actual physical location of the file (512) and associates (214) that physical location with the file as the claimed physical location (516) of the file. The file's originality status may then be determined (104) by finding (304) the location claim, reading (306) from it the claimed physical location associated with the file, ascertaining (308) the actual physical location of the file, and comparing (310) the locations. If the claimed and actual locations are identical, then the file is the original file it claims to be. If there is disparity between the claimed physical location recited for or by the file and the actual physical location of the file, then it is not the original file it claims to be.
US08032537B2
A method is presented for generating a list of frequently used words for an email application on a server computer. When a request is received for a word frequency list for emails stored in a user's mailbox, a word frequency list is returned if one exists. If the word frequency list does not exist, an asynchronous process is started on the server computer to generate a word frequency list. If the word frequency list exists but it is older than an aging limit, an asynchronous process is started on the server computer to regenerate the word frequency list. The word frequency list is stored in the user's mailbox along with a timestamp indicating the date and time that the list was created or updated.
US08032523B2
A method and system for migrating source data from one or more databases to a destination database, wherein the destination database is selected based on power consumption of the destination database. A data migration server determines which destination database should be selected by selecting a number of candidates and comparing the power consumed, the available space and the maximum monthly power consumption limit. A user intervention policy is created to evaluate which data should be moved to a destination database. A “payback period” is calculated to determine the amount of time that will elapse before savings are realized.
US08032522B2
Parameterized queries are optimized by a transformational optimizer. The optimizer produces a dynamic plan that embeds multiple plan options that may be selected to execute a particular query. Parameter distribution improves query execution efficiency and performance by exploring a sample parameter space representative of the parameter values actually used. The dynamic plans can be simplified while maintaining an acceptable level of optimality by reducing the number of plan options. The reduction is achieved by eliminating switch unions to alternatives that are close in cost. Both approaches of parameter space exploration and dynamic plan generation are deeply integrated into the query optimizer.
US08032521B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to structured content storage and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for managing structured content stored in a BLOB. In an embodiment of the invention, a performance optimized structured content management system can include a content repository, a content manager configured to provide access to structured content in the content repository and multiple different performance optimized containers disposed in the content repository. Each of the containers can store a portion of the structured content, and each of the containers can include a flattened form of original structured content in a primary binary large object (BLOB) and a parsed form of the original structured content in a secondary BLOB, the parsed form of the original structured content in the secondary BLOB indexing the flattened form of the original structured content in the primary BLOB.
US08032518B2
Web crawlers crawl websites to access documents of the website for purposes of indexing the documents for search engines. The web crawlers crawl a specified website at a crawl rate that is based on multiple factors. One of the factors is a pre-set crawl rate limit. According to certain embodiments, an owner for a specified website is enabled to modify the crawl rate limit for the specified website when one or more pre-set criteria are met.
US08032516B2
A method for presenting a user with a unified bill of material from a plurality of bills of materials respectively stored in multiple databases is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one keyword from the user, querying a taxonomy associated with the at least one keyword, utilizing a semantic based ontology model to generate queries for forwarding to the databases, the queries based on the taxonomy and the at least one keyword, receiving from the databases, a listing of the available information stored in the databases that includes the at least one keyword, presenting the listing to the user, receiving from the user, based on the listing, a selection of the information they wish to retrieve from the databases, generating a query requesting retrieval of the user selected information from the databases, receiving the retrieved information from the databases, and providing the retrieved information in an organized format.
US08032506B1
A facility for generating item recommendations is described. In one embodiment, the facility displays a plurality of item indications each indicating an item. The facility then receives user input selecting one or more of the displayed item indications, and selects as seed items the items indicated by the selected item indications. The facility then uses the selected seed items to generate a list of recommended items, and displays the generated list of recommended items.
US08032498B1
A snapshot copy facility maintains information indicating block ownership and sharing between successive versions by delegating block reference counts to parent-child relationships between the file system blocks, as indicated by block pointers in inodes and indirect blocks. When a child block becomes shared between a parent block of the production file and a parent block of a snapshot copy, the delegated reference count is split among the parent blocks. This method is compatible with a conventional data de-duplication facility, and avoids a need to update block reference counts in block metadata of child blocks of a shared indirect block upon splitting the shared indirect block when writing to a production file.
US08032488B2
A system for improved data sharing within a cluster of nodes having a database management system. The system defines a virtual replicated table as being useable in a hybrid of a shared-cache and shared-nothing architecture. The virtual replicated table is a physically single table sharable among a plurality of cluster nodes for data read operations and not sharable with other cluster nodes for data modification operations. Default owner node is assigned for each virtual replicated table to ensure the page validity and provide requested pages to the requesting node.
US08032481B2
Interactive computing advice facility that infers user profiles from social networking relationships
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for helping a user make a decision through the use of a computing facility, where the computing facility may be a machine learning facility. The process may begin with an initial question being received by the computing facility from the user. The user may then be provided with a dialog consisting of questions from the computing facility and answers provided by the user. The computing facility may then provide a decision to the user based on the dialog and pertaining to the initial question, such as a recommendation, a diagnosis, a conclusion, advice, and the like. In embodiments, future questions and decisions provided by the computing facility may be improved through feedback provided by the user. In embodiments, the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with a third-party application.
US08032480B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for helping a user make a decision through the use of a computing facility, where the computing facility may be a machine learning facility. The process may begin with an initial question being received by the computing facility from the user. The user may then be provided with a dialogue consisting of questions from the computing facility and the answers provided by the user. The computing facility may then provide a decision to the user based on the dialog and pertaining to the initial question, such as a recommendation, a diagnosis, a conclusion, advice, and the like. In embodiments, future questions and decisions provided by the computing facility may be improved through feedback provided by the user. In embodiments, the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with a third-party application.
US08032477B1
The need for a more-readily usable interface for programmable devices is widely recognized. The present invention relates to programmable sequencing devices, or, more particularly, the remote controls for consumer electronic devices. The present invention provides an enhanced interface for facilitating human input of a desired control sequence in a programmable device by employing specialized visual feedback. The present invention also relates to a new interface and method of interfacing with a programmable device, which is usable as an interface for a programmable video cassette recorder.
US08032475B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for optimizing the processing of abstract rules. In general, the results of executing an abstract query may be used as data inputs for processing an abstract rule. In one embodiment, query results may be sorted according to input field values required for processing a deterministic abstract rule. If a record of the sorted query results includes the same input values as a preceding record, then the rule output of the preceding record may be reused, rather than processing the abstract rule again. Accordingly, the demand load placed on a rule engine may be reduced.
US08032473B2
A machine classification learning method titled Generalized Reduced Error Logistic Regression (RELR) is presented. The method overcomes significant limitations in prior art logistic regression and other machine classification learning methods. The method is applicable to all current applications of logistic regression, but has significantly greater accuracy using smaller sample sizes and larger numbers of input variables than other machine classification learning methods including prior art logistic regression.
US08032470B1
Systems and methods to facilitate collaborative or cooperative user thinking about an arbitrary problem in formal and informal settings, which may include social networks. Preferred embodiments of the systems and methods include outputs and interfaces to external systems, components and resources.
US08032461B2
A system and method for facilitating, coordinating and managing the operation of a competitive marketplace via the Internet. The system and method collect bids for market services from a plurality of customers, calculators a clearing piece for the market service and calculates settlement information based on the clearing piece calculated and the bids collected.
US08032460B2
A money receiving system receives monetary payments without using cash or placing restrictions on recipients of such payments. This system uses an authentication management apparatus and a store communication terminal. The authentication management apparatus includes a receiver for receiving customer ID information, store ID information, and monetary amount information from a store communication terminal, an authentication device for authenticating the customer ID and the store ID, and a transfer device for transferring money indicated by the monetary amount from an account of a store to an account of a customer. The store communication terminal includes a memory for storing store information, a receiver for receiving customer information, an input device for inputting a monetary amount that a store is to pay a customer, and a transmitter for transmitting the store ID, the customer ID, and the monetary amount to an authentication management apparatus.
US08032451B2
The invention includes a system and process that employs contractual bargaining with agent-based computational methods for the dynamic allocation, optimization, and pricing of contingent rights and obligations between multiple counterparties with overlapping interests. The processes employ a dynamic and endogenous hierarchy or tiering of binding incentive compatible contingent strategies, which may include optimal liquidation policies for matched assets and liabilities based upon stochastic volume/price schedule related to statistically non-stationary supply/demand elasticities and order-flow, as well as variations in market microstructure. The invention includes a dynamic open system with distributed stochastic control of strategic interactions among dynamic optimizing agents across random states, wherein the actions of any one affects the joint costs and benefits for all the agents.
US08032446B2
A method and apparatus for generating a tradable security includes confirming a vendor's compliance with predefined terms of a commercial transaction, such that a buyer is obligated to make a due payment. The method and apparatus further includes electronically rating a financial commitment relating to a receivable account for the commercial transaction. This receivable account is rated based on conditions and factors known to a system facilitating the commercial transaction. Based on the ability for the financial commitment to be rated, a financial exchange is operative to transfer entitlement rights to monies due under the receivable account where the terms for the transfer of the entitlement rights are based at least in part on the electronic rating. Thereby, receivable accounts to commercial transactions may be tradable by one or more investors as properly rated investment.
US08032443B2
Systems and method of enabling trading in currencies are provided. A method of trading a foreign currency option on an electronic trading system according to the invention may include executing a trade of the foreign currency option between a buyer and a seller, locking the trading system with respect to the traded foreign currency option, querying the buyer whether the buyer desires to buy or sell additional volume of the option, querying the seller whether the seller desires to sell or buy additional volume of the option, and authorizing additional participants to join the trade and querying the additional participants whether each of the additional participants desires to buy or sell a volume of the option. The method may also include starting a countdown timer and displaying the timer on the graphical user interface of the buyer, the seller and the additional parties and receiving buy and sell orders from the at least one of the buyer, the seller and additional participants. Following the expiration of the countdown timer, the method preferably includes matching existing buy orders and sell orders for the option. In one embodiment of the invention, the matching occurs according to a predetermined order priority.
US08032442B2
A system 10 for providing logistics for a sale of goods. The system 10 may be implemented over a global computer network 20, and is effective to provide financial logistics for a sale of goods between a seller and a remote buyer, in a manner that does not require interaction between the seller and buyer. The system 10 further implements a geography-based and time-based strategy for executing the logistics of shipping time-sensitive goods from the seller to the buyer.
US08032436B2
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for facilitating the aggregation of carbon reduction credits resulting from finance loans financing the purchase of energy technology. For example, a credit aggregator may receive from a finance institution estimate parameters describing a loan type. The credit aggregator may calculate a value of a carbon reduction credit associated with each loan of the loan type considering the estimate parameters and display the value to the finance institution. In addition, the credit aggregator may receive bid data and booking data from the finance institution. When a credit is booked, the credit aggregator may receive from the finance institution periodic indications of a status of the intervention technology.
US08032414B2
Systems and methods for performing a consumer advertising transaction at a retail device are disclosed. According to one system and method, an identifier associated with the retail device is provided to a personal communication device. An application-specific user interface specific to the retail device is associated based on the identifier. A selection is received for the consumer advertising transaction made by a consumer interacting with the application-specific user interface executing on the personal communication device. The consumer advertising transaction is performed based on the received selection for the consumer advertising transaction made by the consumer interacting with the application-specific user interface.
US08032413B2
An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.
US08032405B2
A system and methods which enable modeling of end consumer interests based on online activity and producing e-commerce reports is described. The method includes scoring and classifying interests and preferences of consumers in relation to various items being offered as function of time and utilizing such scores to predict purchasing activity and revenue yield for n-dimensional combinations of interest for generation of consumer lists for target marketing and merchandising. The method also includes converse modeling of the performance and behavioral profile of items offered as a function of consumer activity. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08032400B2
Described are techniques used in connection with providing insolvency services in connection with guaranty funds, such as property and casualty guaranty funds, upon the occurrence of an insurance company insolvency. A client/server system provides for creating and maintaining a database of state and insurance company member information. Operations, such as calculations, are performed in accordance with different rules that are associated with varying state laws and rules that may vary with insurance account. A range of functions are performed by the system comprising report generation, unearned premium calculations, assessment calculation, claim entry and management, administrative tasks, and other related operations. The system which provides services and operations in connection with managing insolvency funds may interact with other applications and systems, such as an accounting system, word processing system, and the like by generating data used as input in these other systems. Also described is a database schema representing a relationship between the different data entities that may be stored in a database in connection with performing insolvency operations.
US08032395B2
An imaging and workflow method, system, computer readable medium and user interface for processing information efficiently for the processing of medical prescription orders. The system includes support for document scanning, automated rules-based order processing, statistical reporting, document generation and document storage and retrieval. The present invention takes advantage of imaging technology to assist the user in scanning information into the system and software modules to improve the processing of orders. The present invention also includes database tables that identify to application processing logic the types and sequences of actions to be implemented for orders.
US08032392B2
A business enablement method and system. The method includes identifying and retrieving business management data associated with the business. The business management data is mapped to a structure comprised by a business management model. The business management data is categorized into a standard informational structure. An intranet viewable interactive model of the business management data is generated. The business management data is mapped to key result areas of the business. The business management data is integrated with business computing systems. The business computing systems receive reports comprising the business management data mapped to the key result areas of business. The reports are reviewed to determine a status of the business management data. The business management data is improved and displayed.
US08032384B2
The present invention features a hand-held language translation device comprising a microprocessor configured to receive (i) an audio input signal from a foreign speaker, and (ii) a simultaneous visual input signal generated by a camera which captures the facial expression and body language of the foreign language speaker while the foreign language speaker speaks, wherein upon receiving the audio input signal from the foreign speaker the microprocessor is capable of translating the spoken foreign language into a written form in the language of the user, whereby the written translation segment is stored in a searchable and retrievable manner.
US08032374B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for recognizing continuous speech using search space restriction based on phoneme recognition. In the apparatus and method, a search space can be primarily reduced by restricting connection words to be shifted at a boundary between words based on the phoneme recognition result. In addition, the search space can be secondarily reduced by rapidly calculating a degree of similarity between the connection word to be shifted and the phoneme recognition result using a phoneme code and shifting the corresponding phonemes to only connection words having degrees of similarity equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value. Therefore, the speed and performance of the speech recognition process can be improved in various speech recognition services.
US08032372B1
A computer program product for computing a correction rate predictor for medical record dictations, the computer program product residing on a computer-readable medium includes computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to obtain a draft medical transcription of at least a portion of a dictation, the dictation being from medical personnel and concerning a patient, determine features of the dictation to produce a feature set comprising a combination of features of the dictation, the features being relevant to a quantity of transcription errors in the transcription, analyze the feature set to compute a predicted correction rate associated with the dictation and use the predicted correction rate to determine whether to provide at least a portion of the transcription to a transcriptionist.
US08032371B2
Techniques for determining scale factor values when encoding audio data are described. According to one technique, a particular scale factor value (SFV) is estimated using an audio quality estimator function that is non-linear. After a certain point, a decrease in noise results in a smaller increase in audio quality. According to another technique, an initial SFV is estimated for each scale factor band (SFB). When estimating the cost of transitioning from one SFB to another, only a proper subset of possible SFVs are considered. The proper subset is based, at least in part, on the initial SFV.
US08032367B2
A bit-rate converting apparatus and a method thereof, in which bit-rate conversion is executed by low computational complexity, are provided. The bit-rate conversion is executed in a frequency domain, and psycho-acoustic analysis is not needed by using information included in an inputted bit-stream before the bit-rate conversion is applied. With this, the computational complexity is lowered. And in order that many equal values are not contained in a frequency domain signal, which is inputted to a quantizing means, a quantized value before inverse quantizating is applied is modified, or an inverse quantized value after the inverse quantizing was applied is modified. With this, fine control for the bit-rate is made to be easy.
US08032365B2
A method and corresponding apparatus for coded-domain acoustic echo control is presented. An echo control problem is considered as that of perceptually matching an echo signal to a reference signal. A perceptual similarity function that is based on the coded spectral parameters produced by the speech codec is defined. Since codecs introduce a significant degree of non-linearity into the echo signal, the similarity function is designed to be robust against such effects. The similarity function is incorporated into a coded-domain echo control system that also includes spectrally-matched noise injection for replacing echo frames with comfort noise. Using actual echoes recorded over a commercial mobile network, it is shown herein that the similarity function is robust against both codec non-linearities and additive noise. Experimental results further show that the echo-control is effective at suppressing echoes compared to a Normalized Least Mean Squared (NLMS)-based echo cancellation system.
US08032363B2
A method of processing a decoded speech (DS) signal including successive DS frames, each DS frame including DS samples. The method comprises: adaptively filtering the DS signal to produce a filtered signal; gain-scaling the filtered signal with an adaptive gain updated once a DS frame, thereby producing a gain-scaled signal; and performing a smoothing operation to smooth possible waveform discontinuities in the gain-scaled signal.
US08032362B2
Provided is an audio signal encoding method including transforming an input signal from a time domain to a time/frequency domain using a first transformation method, extracting a stereo parameter from a signal of the time/frequency domain, encoding the stereo parameter, and down-mixing the signal of the time/frequency domain, transforming each of sub-bands of the down-mixed signal to a frequency domain by using a second transformation method, and encoding the signal of the frequency domain in the frequency domain.
US08032359B2
There is provided a method for use by a speech encoder to encode an input speech signal. The method comprises receiving the input speech signal; determining whether the input speech signal includes an active speech signal or an inactive speech signal; low-pass filtering the inactive speech signal to generate a narrowband inactive speech signal; high-pass filtering the inactive speech signal to generate a high-band inactive speech signal; encoding the narrowband inactive speech signal using a narrowband inactive speech encoder to generate an encoded narrowband inactive speech; generating a low-to-high auxiliary signal by the narrowband inactive speech encoder based on the narrowband inactive speech signal; encoding the high-band inactive speech signal using a wideband inactive speech encoder to generate an encoded wideband inactive speech based on the low-to-high auxiliary signal from the narrowband inactive speech encoder; and transmitting the encoded narrowband inactive speech and the encoded wideband inactive speech.
US08032356B2
Spoken translation system which detects both speech from the information and also detects meta information streams from the information. A first aspect produces an enriched training corpus of information for use in the machine translation. A second aspect uses two different extraction techniques, and combines them by lattice rescoring.
US08032352B2
Device, system, and method of storage controller simulating data mirroring. For example, an apparatus for simulating data mirroring includes: a storage controller to control a primary storage unit that has data stored therein, wherein the storage controller is able to simulate a process of mirroring data stored in the primary storage unit in response to a mirroring simulation command.
US08032340B2
In a method for generating a model for modeling at least a portion of the process plant, M process variable data sets, where M is an integer, may be used to determine statistical data that may be utilized to scale process variable data sets. The M process variable data sets are scaled and then utilized to calculate intermediate model terms. For each additional process variable data set, it is scaled using the statistical data and then utilized to update the intermediate model terms. When an adequate number of process variable data sets have been processed, the model may be calculated using the intermediate model terms.
US08032333B2
A system and method for collecting and analyzing information from environmental occurrences that may have an adverse effect on electrical components in the vehicle. The information is passed up through a hierarchical structure to a higher level controller where the information can be used to detect the health of various electrical components and sub-systems on the vehicles. The vehicle may employ sensors that are specifically provided to detect environmental disturbances or abnormal conditions on the vehicle, or may use electrical devices on the vehicle used for other purposes that have the capability of detecting such disturbances and conditions.
US08032330B2
A portable diagnostic apparatus is brought proximal to a device to be diagnosed. While the device to be diagnosed is operating, a radiofrequency interference signal emitted by the device is received at the portable apparatus and a data representation of it is stored. The data representation is submitted for matching to a diagnostic signal pattern stored in a database of predetermined signal patterns. From the matching is identified and output an indication of a fault in the device to be diagnosed. In one embodiment the submitting is to the database stored in the portable apparatus itself, and in another embodiment the submitting is outputting (data cable, wireless link) the stored data representation to a diagnostic computer such as a personal computer, a peer device, or a remote diagnostic center. The RF interference signal may be one stream and the portable apparatus receives at least a second stream and both streams are used for the matching.
US08032329B2
Various methods and apparatuses are described that provide instrumentation and analysis of an electronic design. A performance monitoring apparatus may be located on an interconnect of a fabricated integrated circuit. An event measurement module (EM) includes an event generator sub-module that generates monitoring events and event measurements associated with transactions between initiator intellectual property (IP) cores and target IP cores over the interconnect. The EM further includes a software visible register block that provides software access for controlling the EM on which one or more transactions to monitor and to configure one or more parameters associated with that transaction to track. The EM further includes a filtering sub-module that selects transactions to be monitored based on information received from the software. The performance counter module aggregates events and event measurements received from the EM into quantities of performance metrics associated with transactions between the IP cores over the interconnect.
US08032328B2
The invention provides a novel method of monitoring a process. The method also has the ability to take predetermined actions based on the monitored data. These actions avoid or mitigate process abnormalities or upsets that might impact product quality, production, and/or process efficiencies. The method includes the steps of: obtaining at least one input process variable; determining a comparative process value based on the at least one input process variable using a first method having a first time-based weighting function; determining an expected process value based on the at least one input process variable using a second method having a second time-based weighting function; determining a first deviation value based on the at least one input process variable or historical data; calculating a limit range having a maximum limit and a minimum limit using the expected process value and the first deviation value; and comparing the comparative process value to the limit range.
US08032325B2
The invention produces contactless radial position sensors having an equivalent angular aperture greater than 90°, and substantially eliminates the spurious microvibrations due to the imperfections of the current sensors. For this, the invention uses at least four independent sensors and an electronic device capable of virtually placing in series said sensors in groups of two or three in order to spread the equivalent angular aperture of said groups of sensors.
US08032320B2
A position detection system and method in which the accuracy of position measurement of a device is not decreased with changes in the resonant frequency. The system includes a device having a magnetic induction coil; a driving coil generating an alternating magnetic field, applied to the magnetic induction coil, having a position-calculating frequency in the vicinity of a resonant frequency of the magnetic induction coil; a plurality of magnetic sensors that detects an induced magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction coil; a measurement-reference-value calculating section determining a measurement reference value at the position-calculating frequency when only the alternating magnetic field is applied; a position-analyzing section calculating at least one of the position and orientation of the device and the measurement reference value when the alternating magnetic field and the induced magnetic field are applied; and a redetermining section redetermining the position-calculating frequency at a predetermined timing.
US08032315B2
A system and method for analyzing a device that includes a mass configured for motion. The system includes a tri-axial accelerometer disposed to detect acceleration vectors of the device and to output three channels of acceleration data, and a user interface receiving the three channels of acceleration data. The user interface is configured to correlate the three channels of acceleration data with a reference frame defined by three orthogonal axes intersecting at a vertex, and includes a display and a selector. The display shows sets of options that represent dispositions of the device with respect to gravity, placements of the tri-axial accelerometer with respect to the device, and orientations of the tri-axial accelerometer with respect to the device. The selector selects one device disposition option, one tri-axial accelerometer placement option, and one tri-axial accelerometer orientation option.
US08032307B2
A method for establishing the genotype of the locus is provided in which a series of calibration samples are analysed, the results being one of three indication types, a window being defined relative to the indication for each of the indication types, unknown samples being similarly analysed with the window that they fall within being taken to determine the indication type for the unknown sample and hence the genotype of the relevant locus. The technique provides a robust, reliable and accurate method of genotyping which is suited to automation.
US08032303B2
Methods and apparatus to determine a concentration of nitrogen in a downhole fluid are described. An example apparatus to determine a concentration of nitrogen in a downhole fluid includes a fluid measurement unit to measure a first fluid composition and a density of at least a hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in a sample of the downhole fluid. Additionally, the example apparatus includes one or more sensors to measure at least a pressure and a temperature of the sample. Further, the example apparatus includes a processing unit to determine a first theoretical density based on at least the first fluid composition, the temperature, and the pressure the sample. Further still, the example apparatus includes an analyzer to determine a first difference between the density of at least the hydrocarbon and the carbon dioxide in the sample and the first theoretical density. The first difference is associated with a concentration of nitrogen in the sample.
US08032302B1
A computer-implemented method of identifying weather events in geographic regions of interest includes monitoring queries to a weather information system. The queries contain at least one field indicative of a geographic region of interest. A signal indicative of the presence of a weather event in the geographic region of interest is generated when the number of queries pertaining to the geographic region of interest is above the statistically determined value.
US08032294B2
The procedure and device of the present disclosure enable an accurate determination of the composition of the fuel mixture at a self-igniting combustion engine on the basis of present sensor signals. The procedure and device of the present disclosure furthermore enable the detection and compensation of a combustion that is unstable due to the composition of the fuel mixture.
US08032290B2
A control device for an internal combustion engine can quickly control, regardless of variation of the quantity of evaporative fuel gas adsorbed in a canister of the engine, the air-fuel ratio to a target value by performing air-fuel ratio feedback compensation control so as not to cause the emission performance of the engine to deteriorate. For the first canister purge performed after the engine is started up, a purge valve is driven for a prescribed period at a prescribed purge flow rate. During the period, the quantity of purged fuel is calculated using an air-fuel ratio feedback factor. Based on the fuel quantity thus calculated, an adsorption quantity estimation section estimates the quantity of evaporative fuel gas adsorbed in the canister. At the same time, a fuel evaporation quantity calculation section calculates the quantity of fuel evaporating from a fuel tank according to the condition of the engine and vehicle, and the quantity of fuel in the canister is estimated based on the balance between the quantities of fuel charged to and purged from the canister.
US08032288B2
An upshift control system and method of an automatic transmission. The system includes a vehicle speed detector outputting a vehicle speed signal; a transmission control unit for receiving the signal, calculating a target hydraulic pressure based on a change of the vehicle speed, and outputting a control signal corresponding to the target hydraulic pressure; and an actuator for controlling an actual hydraulic pressure of an on-coming element based on the control signal. The method includes determining whether a vehicle speed changes during an upshift; calculating the change of the vehicle speed; calculating a target hydraulic pressure based on the change of the vehicle speed; and controlling an actual hydraulic pressure of an on-coming element based on the target hydraulic pressure. The target hydraulic pressure may be calculated by adding a modified hydraulic pressure, proportional to the rate of change of the vehicle speed, to a constant reference hydraulic pressure.
US08032284B2
A seat apparatus for controlling a side support portion on the basis of a road shape includes a control program cooperating with a car navigation system, a self-directed control program, a sensor error detecting program, and a map matching error detecting program, wherein, during the side support portion is executed by the control program cooperating with the car navigation system, when the error is detected, the control program cooperating with the car navigation system is changed to the self-directed control program, and during the side support portion is controlled by the self-directed control program, when the error is not detected, the self-directed control program is changed the control program cooperating with the car navigation system.
US08032280B2
A control system controls a hardware switch which receives a usage command for utilizing an auxiliary function of a vehicle and a software switch displayed with an information portion indicating the auxiliary function and a command portion for input of the usage command through a screen. When either of the hardware switch or the software switch is operated, information is provided for identifying the other switch that corresponds to the auxiliary function commanded by the operated switch.
US08032275B2
A method and a device for side impact detection in a vehicle. A first signal is generated by a side impact sensor system. A plausibility sensor system determines the direction and magnitude of a lateral speed of the vehicle and/or a slip angle as a plausibility signal. A processor is provided which detects the side impact as a function of the first signal and the plausibility signal.
US08032268B2
Methods and systems are provided for indicating whether an aircraft is below a designated minimum safe altitude level for an altitude sector. A method comprises displaying a graphical representation of a first sector on a display device associated with the aircraft. The first sector corresponds to a geographic area having a first minimum altitude criterion. If a current altitude of the aircraft is below the first minimum altitude criterion, the method continues by displaying the graphical representation of the first sector using a first visually distinguishing characteristic chosen to indicate that the aircraft is below the designated altitude level for the first sector.
US08032267B1
The invention provides, in one aspect, aviation navigational and/or flight management systems and methods that accommodate emergencies requiring provide real-time, built-in guidance to a nearest reachable airport. Related aspects of the invention provide such systems as respond to an operator alert, e.g., pressing of a button, by provide a graphical representation of the flight path to a nearest reachable airport. Further related aspects of the invention provide such systems as take geography into account in (i) identifying a nearest reachable airport, and (ii) determining a path to that airport. Still further related aspects of the invention provide such system as take characteristics of the host aircraft, weather and other externalities into account (i) identifying a nearest reachable airport, and (ii) determining a path to that airport. Other aspects of the invention provide systems as described above that, additionally, accommodate real-time radar vectoring operations and/or course deviation information from a predetermined flight plan between an origin location and a desired final destination.
US08032259B2
An electrical circuit for bi-directional power control between two devices, including a first battery-operated device, including a first battery for providing a source of power to the first battery-operated device, a first power management subsystem connected to the first battery, to power on and power off components of the first battery-operated device in response to a first wakeup event, WE1, and a first on/off button for generating WE1, a second battery-operated device, including a second battery for providing a source of power to the second battery-operated device, a second power management subsystem connected to the second battery, to power on and power off components of the second battery-operated device in response to a second wakeup event WE2, a second on/off button for generating WE2, and a switch for generating WE1 simultaneously when the second on/off button generates WE2, and circuitry including a single connection inter-connecting the first power management subsystem, the first on/off button, the second power management subsystem, the second on/off button, and the switch for generating WE1.
US08032257B2
A field equipment includes: a signal processing section; a first calculation control section for generating a first control signal which controls a start of a signal processing of the signal processing section; first and second insulating sections coupled to the first calculation control section; and a second calculation control section coupled to the first and second insulating sections and the signal processing section, the second calculation control section receiving the first control signal and then transmitting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal to the signal processing section. The signal processing section generates a processed signal based on the second control signal. The second calculation control section receives the processed signal, then transmits data related to the first signal to the first calculation control section via the second insulating section, and then shifts to a low power consumption mode.
US08032255B2
A level sensor, associated with a bin, detects a particular reference level of an agricultural product in the bin and generates a calibration indicator. An input sensor determines an input rate of the agricultural product into the bin. A conveyer is capable of transporting the agricultural product out of the bin. An output sensor provides a status indicator that indicates whether the conveyer is in an active state or in an inactive state during one or more evaluation time windows. A data processor determines an output rate of the agricultural product based on the status indicator. The data processor comprises a level estimator for estimating an estimated bin level of the bin based on the input rate and an output rate. The data processor comprises a calibrator for calibrating the estimated bin level with reference to the particular reference level in response to the calibration indicator.
US08032250B2
A method and system for providing information related to a set of automated resources that may cooperate in an environment to perform an automated process, the method comprising the steps of associating a specific environment location with the automated process, determining the locations of resources with respect to the specific location and, where resources are proximate the specific location, providing information related to the automated process. Also a method for facility communication between distributed resources where location or an attribute akin thereto is used to tag data and to monitor network data for specific required data.
US08032249B1
Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle. The sensor may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection to a mote that may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, each mote may also include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent.
US08032248B2
A method for finding the correlation between tool PM (prevention maintenance) and the product yield of the tool is disclosed. The method uses a moving average method to magnify a curve trend that is formed by the product yield data that is captured during a predetermined days before PM and after PM. The magnified curve trend is shown by a Cumulative sum chart. The Cumulative sum chart is analyzed for informing related workers of the effect between the tool PM and the product yield, so as to accurately estimate PM timing. Thereby, via the method, the effect between the tool PM and the product yield may be determined, which serves as an important reference for workers to execute further PM.
US08032241B2
A method of navigating through audio files and an apparatus for playing back audio files using the method are provided. The apparatus for playing back audio files includes an input module which receives from a user a command to switch the apparatus to a navigation mode, a storage module which stores a plurality of audio files, each audio file comprising a highlight section, a control module which extracts the audio files from the storage module in response to the command received by the input module and plays back the highlight sections of the audio files while adjusting a volume level for each of the audio files, and an output module which outputs to the user the highlight sections of the audio files played back by the control module.
US08032240B2
In one embodiment, channel mapping information is added to configuration information for the audio signal. The channel mapping information indicates to which speaker in a reproduction device to map each channel in the audio signal. For example, the channel mapping information may include a plurality of bits where each bit is associated with a speaker and indicates whether a channel exists in the audio signal for the associated speaker.
US08032239B2
A product for controlling physical properties including data processing means with inputs and outputs is provided. The product has approved bounds of behavior. At least one of the outputs includes a control signal disposed to be output by the product. The product is arranged to control an entity for implementing building functionality. The data processing means includes a processing control means, and a software including at least one application, and having a certificate uniquely associated with the application such that authenticity relating to building regulation, standard or directive of the application can be checked. The processing control means includes means for confirming the application by verifying the certificate associated with the application, and means for checking functions of the application and functions of the product as a whole, such that the control signal does not violate the approved bounds of behavior of the product when the application is executed.
US08032235B2
A technique is disclosed for reducing an error in a controlled variable via model predictive control. A predicted error in the controlled variable is determined for a forward-looking control horizon based upon measured or computed variables. The integral of the predicted error is computed. If the error or the integral exceed a tolerance for a determined time period, the model predictive control algorithm is modified to drive the error or the integral to within a tolerance. The modifications to the control algorithm may include changes to coefficients for terms based upon the error and/or the integral of the error.
US08032228B2
A medical device includes a pulse generator, a lead, and an electrode. The lead includes an electrode and a lead conductor connecting the pulse generator with the electrode via first and second conductive paths. The medical device includes first and second switches. The first switch includes a non-conductive state in the presence of a magnetic field, the non-conductive state preventing formation of the first conductive path between the pulse generator and the electrode. The second switch includes a non-conductive state that prevents formation of the second conductive path between the pulse generator and the electrode. The first switch in the non-conductive state and the second switch in the non-conductive state electrically shields the electrode from electromagnetic radiation and induced voltages during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure.
US08032227B2
An implantable microstimulator configured for implantation beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation to prevent and/or treat various disorders, uses a self-contained power source. Periodic or occasional replenishment of the power source is accomplished, for example, by inductive coupling with an external device. A bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to provide information regarding the system's status, including the power source's charge level, and stimulation parameter states. Processing circuitry automatically controls the applied stimulation pulses to match a set of programmed stimulation parameters established for a particular patient. The microstimulator preferably has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end. The case is externally coated on selected areas with conductive and non-conductive materials.
US08032225B2
Method and device for improving blood flow by a series of electrically-induced muscular contractions
A treatment method and device for promoting a localized increase in the flow of blood through a blood vessel in an area of the body, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a system including: (i) at least a first electrode operatively contacting a first portion of body tissue; (ii) at least a second electrode operatively contacting a second portion of body tissue; and (iii) a signal generator, operatively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, for providing a plurality of electrical impulses to the electrodes; (b) applying the electrical impulses so as to subject the muscular tissue to at least one voltage differential, thereby inducing repeated, contracting, directional movement of muscular tissue associated within the blood vessel, so as to produce a localized increase in the flow of blood through the blood vessel.
US08032224B2
Techniques for controlling delivery of a therapy to a patient by a medical device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD), involve a sensitivity analysis of a performance metric. The performance metric may relate to efficacy or side effects of the therapy. For example, the performance metric may comprise a sleep quality metric, an activity level metric, a movement disorder metric for patients with Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or the like. The sensitivity analysis identifies values of therapy parameters that defines a substantially maximum or minimum value of the performance metric. The identified therapy parameters are a baseline therapy parameter set, and a medical device may control delivery of the therapy based on the baseline therapy parameter set.
US08032223B2
A device, system and method for stimulating a digestive organ is provided where the stimulation is randomized.
US08032218B2
In one embodiment an implantable cardiac device is provided that includes an implantable cardiac stimulation device with an implantable satellite device coupled to it. The implantable satellite device has a charge storage device. The implantable stimulation device having a refresh generator configured to generate a charge and voltage balanced multi-phasic refresh signal with a duration less than a capacitive time constant of an electrode-electrolyte interface of the implantable cardiac device and transmit the charge and voltage balanced multi-phasic refresh signal to the implantable satellite device for charging the charge storage device. In various embodiments, the charge and voltage balanced multi-phasic refresh signal having alternating phase signs and null durations between the alternating phases. In some embodiments, the refresh generator is configured to modulate the multi-phasic waveform refresh signal. The multi-phasic waveform refresh signal may be modulated to contain configuration information, status information, or other information.
US08032213B1
Systems and methods are provided for estimating a patient's ventricular defibrillation threshold (VDFT). Stimulation pulses, which are of at least three different energy levels up to 2 Joules, are delivered to the patient's right ventricle during a window defined between an R-wave and a vulnerable period that follows the R-wave. Voltage potentials, induced in response to the delivered RV stimulation pulses, are measured at a location of the patient's left ventricle (LV) where it is predicted that potential gradients induced in response to RV stimulation pulses will be lowest. Potential gradients are computed using the measured voltage potentials. The patient's VDFT can then be estimated by estimating, based on the computed potential gradients, the RV stimulation energy level that would be required to achieve a minimum acceptable potential gradient at the location of the patient's LV where it is predicted that potential gradients induced in response to RV stimulation pulses will be lowest.
US08032212B2
Techniques are provided for monitoring thoracic fluid levels based on thoracic impedance (ZT) and cardiogenic impedance (ZC). In one example, the implantable device tracks the maximum time rate of change in cardiogenic impedance (i.e. max(dZC/dt)) to detect trends toward hypervolemic or hypovolemic states within the patient based on changes in heart contractility. The detection of these trends in combination with trends in thoracic impedance allows for a determination of whether the thoracic cavity of the patient is generally “too wet” or “too dry,” and thus allows for the titration of diuretics to avoid such extremes. In particular, a decrease in thoracic impedance (ZT) in combination with a decrease in max (dZC/dt) is indicative of the thorax being “too wet” (i.e. a fluid overload). Conversely, an increase in thoracic impedance (ZT) in combination with a decrease in max (dZC/dt) is indicative of the thorax being “too dry” (i.e. a fluid underload).
US08032208B2
Systems, devices and methods are provided for displaying statistical distributions of cardiac events. A device embodiment comprises circuitry adapted to communicate with a medical device that is adapted to acquire data regarding cardiac events occurring at two or more cardiac sites, and display means for displaying a histogram of the data as two or more statistical distributions for the two or more cardiac sites. The histogram includes a number of histogram bins. At least one of the histogram bins includes both a representation for at least a portion of a statistical distribution of a cardiac event for a first cardiac site and a representation for at least a portion of a statistical distribution of a cardiac event for a second cardiac site. Other embodiments are provided herein.
US08032207B2
An electrotherapy apparatus has a sensor for detecting periodically recurring signal peaks, in particular the R-R peaks of an electrocardiogram of a person and a processor for deriving from the periodically recurring signal peaks a time delay corresponding to approximately the end of the next T wave. A trigger system or circuit is initiated by an output signal of the processor or is embodied within the processor for applying electrical stimulations to one or more active electrodes provided on the person at a time that is related to the end of the time delay. The apparatus has a plurality of output channels for applying electrical stimulation to the one or more active electrodes on the person.
US08032195B2
A waterproof protection cover and an acoustic component are each disposed inside a portable device provided with a chassis having one or more holes. The acoustic component emits sound. For the acoustic component, an acoustic component having a maximum acoustic output between 0.25 W or more and 0.8 W or less is used. The waterproof protection cover secures an area of 114 mm2 or more as an acoustically transparent portion for transmitting acoustic energy from the acoustic component.
US08032188B1
A cellular phone apparatus that is designed to mount at least one cellular phone and also alert an individual when any one of the cellular phones mounted within the apparatus receives a call. One embodiment of the apparatus can hold one cellular phones, while another embodiment of the apparatus can hold three cellular phones. The phones are preferably placed into “vibrate” mode when being placed within the apparatus. When a phone mounted within the apparatus receives a call, the vibration of that cellular phone will activate the apparatus, causing the apparatus to make a ringing sound and alert an individual of the incoming call.
US08032187B2
Various embodiments are described for a mobile communication device having a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device; a device memory coupled to the main processor for storing a plurality of battery information profiles; and a smart battery coupled to the main processor for providing supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor; and a battery memory coupled to the battery processor for storing a Battery ID indicating the model of the smart battery. The main processor is configured to communicate with the battery processor to obtain the Battery ID and select one the battery information profiles based on the Battery ID.
US08032184B2
Techniques are provided for generating downlink beamforming weighting vectors by using channel information about one or more uplink sub-channels in a wireless communications network in the case of frequency mismatch between downlink channels and uplink channels for a specific user. The method comprises calculating an average channel covariance matrix of one or more uplink sub-channels assigned to a specific user, dividing a sector of a cell into a plurality of sub-sectors, transforming the average channel covariance matrix into a plurality of average sub-sector channel covariance matrices and obtaining an average uplink beamforming weighting vector group corresponding to the plurality of sub-sectors, selecting direction of arrival (DOA) sub-sectors from the plurality of sub-sectors by using the plurality of average sub-sector channel covariance matrices, and computing a time delay sequence for the DOA sub-sectors, and generating downlink beamforming weighting vectors by using the average uplink beamforming weighting vectors corresponding to the DOA sub-sectors and the information derived from the time delay sequence.
US08032177B2
The present invention discloses a mobile communication device that allows the user to easily perform simultaneous voice communication and image communication that allows the user to transmit high quality image information to another user and receive high quality image information from another user. The mobile communication device provides multiple cameras and/or display screens that allow a user to easily photograph a subject and view captured images that are received either from a camera located in the device or from another user.
US08032175B2
Aspects of a method and system for using a Bluetooth® PLL/LO to drive FM Transmit, FM Receive, Bluetooth, and NFC functions. A Bluetooth® PLL/LO may be utilized to generate Bluetooth® signal that comprise I and Q components for use in Bluetooth® communication. The Bluetooth® signals may then be utilized by a DDFS to generate FM radio I and Q signals for FM radio reception and/or transmission. The Bluetooth® signals may also be utilized by a second DDFS to generate signals for near field communication (NFC) transmission and/or reception. The Bluetooth® signals may be kept at the same frequency, or reduced in frequency, for use in clocking the DDFS. A frequency word may also be utilized to clock the DDFS. The outputs of each DDFS may be a constant frequency while the inputs to each DDFS may vary in frequency.
US08032168B2
A method, device and computer program product for monitoring data transmission connections. The method comprises monitoring data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal with two analyzers. With the first analyzer, first connection information is collected on a first data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a first cell. With the second analyzer, second connection information is collected on a second data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a second cell. The first connection information is transferred from the first analyzer to the second analyzer. In the second analyzer, the first connection information is used combined with the second connection information for analyzing the second data transmission connection.
US08032164B2
Methods and apparatus for enabling short message service (SMS) and supplementary services (SS) in a long term evolution (LTE) network via evolved packet system (EPS) mobility management (EMM) over the LTE control plane are described. In one embodiment, the radio resource control (RRC) connection signaling radio bearer (SRB) is used for SMS and SS transport over the LTE control plane between a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a mobility management entity (MME). EMM interfaces and primitives are defined for actions towards SMS and SS entities for enabling SMS and SS services in LTE via the LTE control plane media. Message formats for SMS and SS message transport are also disclosed for sending SMS and SS messages within EMM uplink (UL) non-access stratum (NAS) transport and downlink (DL) NAS transport messages.
US08032163B2
A method for performing quick short message functions for a mobile phone is disclosed. The method includes reading short messages from a subscriber identify module card and a memory system of the mobile phone, copying the short messages into a short message status table, if the mobile phone has been started up for the first time, and saving the short message status table into the memory system. The method further includes obtaining the short message status table stored in the memory system if the mobile phone is powered on hereafter, and monitoring the mobile phone to determine if status of the short messages has been changed. The method further includes updating the short message status table and saving the updated short message status table into the memory system, if status of the short messages has been changed.
US08032155B2
Displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, determining a rotation that, when applied to the map, will orient a selected path in a selected direction, such as a current direction of travel, generating a corrected rotation by applying a spherical correction factor, e.g. based on a current location, and rendering the map on a display of the wireless communications device by applying the corrected rotation. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at high latitudes for paths that are neither purely north-south or east-west. When such a path is rotated to face upward to show direction of travel, the path needs to be straightened by applying the spherical correction factor.
US08032149B2
A system and method for determining the location of a mobile appliance where the tasking of the system to determine the location of the mobile appliance utilizes a first communications protocol standard and the reporting of the location of the mobile appliance utilizes a second communications protocol standard, where the first and second communication protocol standards are not the same and can include any of the commonly used communication protocol standards including TIA defined standards, ETSI standards, and SMR/ESMR defined standards.
US08032139B2
An approach is provided for selecting, by a multi-mode device, one among multiple networks. A plurality of overlay parameters associated with a plurality of networks are acquired, wherein the networks are different from one another. Each of the networks is rated using the overlay parameters according to one or more selection criteria. One of the networks is selected based on the rating.
US08032129B2
A Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network that stores, in real time, data, such as motion pictures, still images, audio sounds, etc., collected from outside of the home into a storage device located, preferably, in the home. In particular, a data collecting device requests a device search through the home network, receiving an acknowledgement from a storage device, requests device information from the storage device, receives the device information from the storage device, configures a storage path of the data collecting device using the device information, and stores data it collects into the storage device using the storage path. It is accordingly possible to allow the user to conveniently play back the data collected by the handheld device using the household appliances without additional manipulation for transferring the collected data, despite the limited storage capacity of the handheld device.
US08032128B2
Systems and methods for improving software operations on startup. A system and method can provide for the storage of volatile memory contents of an application upon shutdown of a mobile device, and restoration of the contents upon startup.
US08032123B2
A mobile telecommunications handset is provided. The mobile telecommunications handset includes a component operable to measure a level of an air pollutant and a transceiver operable for a user to send and receive communications wirelessly.
US08032121B2
Disclosed herein are a system and method for transferring voice messages. The system includes a voice message server. When a voice message and called terminal information are transmitted from a calling terminal, the voice message server stores the voice message, searches for a connection mute to the called terminal with reference to the called terminal information, and transmits a reception request signal to the called terminal. Furthermore, when the called terminal responds to the reception request signal, the voice message server reproduces the voice message. Furthermore, when the called terminal does not respond to the reception request signal and the reception request signal is forwarded to a different receiving object, the voice message server checks whether the route of the reception request signal has been changed and interrupts the transmission of the voice message. Accordingly, an additional communication charge may be avoided.
US08032119B2
A method and system for sending information in the form of a wireless message to a wireless device subscriber requesting advertising, product, or service information is described. The method includes assigning an information request code by a service provider to the information provided by an advertiser, presenting or displaying the information request code along with an advertisement to potential consumers, receiving the information request code from the wireless device, and sending a wireless message to the potential consumer's wireless communication device. The system includes an advertisement comprising an information request code, a wireless communication device operable for sending the information request code and receiving a wireless data message, a wireless communication center in communication with a wireless network and operable for relaying, storing, and forwarding the wireless data message to the wireless communication device.
US08032118B1
Messages are received at a server and processed to generate data that may include a call back number, envelope information or contact information. Generated data is transmitted to a device that displays a visual notification that includes some of the generated data. The notification may be displayed on the device even if the device is unable to retrieve the message over a data channel. The notification alerts the user that a message is waiting for the user. If the device is subsequently within a data network, the device automatically retrieves the message over a data channel. The device can also establish a voice call with a message server to retrieve the message and can record the message. The device can establish the voice call with the server at a call back number and/or issue a DTMF message request to directly access the message without requiring menu navigation.
US08032114B2
Embodiments of methods for handling a service authorization request (SAR) from a mobile subscriber are disclosed. The SAR represents a request for access to a given prepaid mobile service. The method includes ascertaining, using suspect subscriber list, whether the SAR is associated a suspect subscriber in the suspect subscriber list. The method further includes authorizing, if the SAR is not associated with the suspect subscriber, the SAR without waiting until response-determinative processing is performed on the SAR.
US08032108B2
This invention relates to a method and an emergency call device for transmitting an emergency call including emergency information from a vehicle using a mobile communication system. Further this invention is related to an emergency call system comprising the emergency call device and an emergency call assistance center. To provide a method for transmitting an emergency call which increases the reliability of data transmission this invention provides a method for transmitting an emergency call including emergency information from a vehicle using an mobile communication system. After an emergency call has been triggered at the vehicle, the method establishes a data connection to an emergency call assistance center via the mobile communication system, transmits emergency information to the emergency call assistance center using the data connection, establishes a first voice connection to the emergency call assistance center via the mobile communication system, and transmits a DTMF message including emergency information using the established first voice connection.
US08032104B2
A radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes an RF transmitter that generates an outbound RF signal at a carrier frequency that is based on a transmitter local oscillation. An RF front-end receives an inbound RF signal that includes a desired signal component that is based on the outbound RF signal and that includes an undesired signal component. The RF front-end includes a first RF combiner module that attenuates the undesired signal component to produce a desired RF signal. A down conversion module generates a down converted signal from the desired RF signal based on a receiver local oscillation. A receiver processing module generates inbound data from the down converted signal. A frequency control module controls the carrier frequency, based on an interference rejection signal, to control the attenuation of the undesired signal component.
US08032102B2
A system for correcting a second order intermodulation product in a direct conversion receiver is provided. The system includes a cross-covariance system receiving a data signal and a second order intermodulation estimate signal and generating a cross-covariance value. An auto-covariance system receives the second order intermodulation estimate signal and generates an auto covariance value. A buffer system stores a second order intermodulation product correction factor. A divider receives the cross-covariance value, the auto-covariance value and the second order intermodulation product correction factor and generates a running average second order intermodulation product correction factor.
US08032095B1
A method and circuit for indicating signal faults in wireless transmissions, particularly, a carrier leak, includes an input to receive a wireless signal, a bias detector that detects a bias in a portion of the signal and outputs a bias value indicative of the bias, an evaluator configured to compare the bias value to at least one allowable transmission signal value, and output a signal when the bias value is outside the allowable transmission signal value, and an output, responsive to the evaluator, to indicate a carrier leakage in the wireless signal. A buffer may be provided between the input and the evaluator. The sensitivity of the circuit may be adjusted and a protocol determination may be made.
US08032093B1
Embodiments of circuits, devices, and methods for a power detection arrangement are disclosed. The power detection arrangement may have a coupler coupled with, and in between, a switch and an output to couple a signal to a detector. The power detection arrangement may include a harmonic suppressor coupled with, and in between, the coupler and the detector to reduce an amount of harmonic signals transmitted back to the coupler. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08032090B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an accessory device for coupling to a portable system having an AM radio receiver. The accessory device includes a housing to house at least one accessory component and an AM antenna.
US08032084B2
A portable data storage device is described, which includes a short range wireless communication interface. The device is configured to communicate with a backup device over a wireless communication link and further comprises an alerting device for initiating an alert procedure on separation of the backup device from the portable data storage device. The alert procedure may include one or more of: disabling at least one function of the portable data storage device, for rendering the portable data storage device at least partially inoperable in the absence of communication from the backup device, locking the portable data storage device, generating an audible, visible or vibrational signal, restricting access to certain functions of the portable data storage device, preventing use of the portable data storage device except to telephone a specified number to report the device as lost or to re-enable the device and/or communicating a unique identifier of the portable data storage device to a network.
US08032081B2
A system and method for allowing vehicle occupants to wirelessly chat with each other over a DSRC channel. A vehicle occupant may initiate a chatting session by wirelessly transmitting a request to speak with an occupant of another vehicle in its vicinity on a certain topic in a multi-hop manner. If the request is accepted by the occupant of another vehicle to enter into a chatting session on that topic, a wireless communications link is established between the two vehicles, where messages may be transmitted through other intermediate vehicles. The chatting session is maintained by monitoring the signal strength of the links between the vehicles in the chain of vehicles and new links are re-established if any of the existing links fail.
US08032079B2
The hearing device is adapted to automatically requesting an establishment of a communication connection to at least one hearing device support provider. The hearing device support provider may comprise a person knowledgeable in hearing devices, at the hearing device seller and/or at the hearing device manufacturer, and it may comprise a computer with a suitable software. Said automatically requesting said establishment of said communication connection will usually happen, when at least one change in internal status of the hearing device occurs, like a failure or a memory overflow or the upcome of a repeatedly occurring event. The hearing device may by itself decide upon the type of change in internal status, which hearing device support provider to connect to. Typically, at least one long-range communication connection is involved.
US08032078B1
An interface device for interfacing a set of wayside systems with a radio transmitter includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input for receiving a signal representing a state of a corresponding wayside system and first and second parallel data paths coupled to the plurality of input ports. Each data path includes input protection circuitry coupled to the inputs of the input ports for preventing short-circuit and open-circuit conditions from triggering a false input state, a multiplexer for selecting between the input port; and a processor for scanning the input ports with the multiplexer to determine the state of current signals appearing at the inputs. In response to determining the state of the current signals appearing at the inputs, the processor generates a message communicating a current state of the wayside systems for delivery to the radio transmitter.
US08032072B2
A method for recording a clean broadcast free of background, such as fade-ins and fade-outs on a receiver includes providing program data associated with an upcoming broadcast, the broadcast being selected by a broadcaster, on the receiver to describe the upcoming broadcast to a user. The receiver records the upcoming broadcast to an internal memory of the receiver in response to either the broadcast being automatically selected based on the user's preferences or the user manually selecting the upcoming broadcast. Start and stop commands, independent of any manual input, are received by the receiver to begin and end the recording of the clean broadcast.
US08032070B2
To provide an image forming apparatus and a double-sided printing method for the image forming apparatus that can prevent occurrence of an image failure by providing a sheet retracting mechanism in a conveying path of an automatic double-sided printing device and preventing occurrence of temporary stop near a high-temperature fixing device during a double-sided printing operation.The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 1A that forms images on sheets E and F, a fixing device 17 that fixes the images formed by the image forming unit 1A on the sheets E and F, an automatic double-sided printing device 81 that has a conveying path 82 for conveying the sheets E and F having the images fixed thereon by the fixing device 17 into the automatic double-sided printing device 81 and reversing the sheets E and F conveyed into the automatic double-sided printing device 81 to feed the sheets E and F to the image forming unit 1A, and a retracting mechanism 106 that stops the sheets E and F, which is stopped to be conveyed in the conveying path 82, in a position away from the fixing device 17 to retract the sheets E and F from heat of the fixing device 17, the retracting mechanism 106 being provided in the conveying path 82 of the automatic double-sided printing device 81.
US08032064B2
A developer apparatus, includes: a container which houses toner; a toner carrier roller that is provided, on a surface thereof, with a plurality of convex sections which are regularly arranged and a concave section which surrounds the convex sections, is shaped approximately like a cylinder, and rotates while carrying a toner layer of charged toner supplied from the container on the surface thereof, and a restriction member that abuts on the surface of the toner carrier roller to form a restriction nip, restricts a thickness of the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller in the restriction nip, and removes the toner layer on the convex sections from among the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller at an upstream-side end of the restriction nip in a rotation direction of the toner carrier roller.
US08032061B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus including first and second photosensitive bodies, first and second exposing units to form electrostatic latent images on the first and second photosensitive bodies respectively charged to a uniform electric potential, a first developing unit to develop an electrostatic latent image of the first photosensitive body by supplying a color toner to the electrostatic latent image of the first photosensitive body, and a second developing unit in which a transparent toner and a white toner charged to different polarities are contained and which develops a transparent toner image and a white toner image by respectively supplying the transparent toner and the white toner to an image portion and a non-image portion of an electrostatic latent image of the second photosensitive body.
US08032053B2
A latch apparatus has a latch base, a latch frame, and at least one flexible bracket connecting the latch frame to the latch base. Connectors are used to connect the flexible bracket to the latch frame and connect the flexible bracket to the latch base. The connectors prevent the outer surface of the flexible bracket from moving along the surface of the latch frame or the surface of the latch base. A biasing member is connected to the latch base and the latch frame. The flexible bracket maintains a gap between the latch base and the latch frame and prevents the latch base from contacting or sliding along the latch frame.
US08032052B2
A developing device containing a developer holding body for executing developing by affixing developer to an image support body, a controlling unit for thinning a layer of developer and disposed to contact the developer holding body, a support unit for supporting the controlling unit, an elastic sealing unit provided with a contact surface contacting the support unit and disposed on an edge side of the controlling unit, and a guiding unit for controlling an installation direction of a developing blade member at a time when the developing blade member is mounted on the elastic sealing unit, provided with a guiding surface formed at a prescribed angle in relation to the contact surface of the elastic sealing unit. The present invention attempts to prevent developer leakage from between a controlling unit and a sealing unit.
US08032043B2
In case new and old toners may be mixed, a developing bias is set as follows. The time is first clocked. The number of times toner is replenished from a hopper into a buffer for a clocked period is counted. If a replenishment amount per clock time is a threshold value or higher, considering that new and old toners are mixed, the setting of the developing bias is changed. An electric field intensity between a developing roller and a photoconductor is set to cause normally-charged toner to fly in an image area but not to fly in a background area. No image fogging is therefore generated in the background area. Thus, an image forming apparatus and method capable of preventing low-charged toner and oppositely-charged toner generated by mixing of new and old toners from adhering to the background area of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, thereby avoiding generation of image fogging.
US08032041B2
A pair of registration rollers are provided upstream in a paper transport path from an image forming position, and a paper transport position detection portion is provided upstream in the paper transport path from the pair of registration rollers. When consecutive print processing on a plurality of sheets of paper is performed, a paper transport position in the paper transport path is detected by the paper transport position detection portion for a sheet of paper that has been set in advance among the plurality of sheets of paper. A correction amount of a position for image writing to a photosensitive drum is determined based on the paper transport position, and correction of the image writing position is performed based on the correction amount. Image forming on the sheet of paper is performed at the image forming position based on the image writing position after correction, and image forming on other sheets of paper after the sheet of paper that was set in advance is performed at the image forming position based on the image writing position after correction.
US08032038B2
A developing device includes a storage portion for retaining developer; a light guide member for forming a plurality of optical paths passing through the storage unit to detect an amount of the developer in the storage portion; a plurality of window members formed in a wall of the storage portion for passing the optical paths therethrough; a blocking member disposed to be movable for blocking the window members; and a drive unit for moving the blocking member. The blocking member is disposed on each of the optical paths. When the drive unit moves the blocking member, the blocking member periodically blocks and opens each of the optical paths in a specific cycle.
US08032035B2
A light detecting apparatus receives input light branched and output by a branching device, to calculate transmittance and reflectivity from the input light, acquires a wavelength corresponding to the calculated transmittance and reflectivity to calculate a gain value corresponding to input light intensity, acquires a driving current value corresponding to a calculated gain value and an acquired wavelength, and outputs an acquired driving current value.
US08032029B2
Methods, systems and computer program products for countering the effects of four wave mixing are described. In one implementation, a controller can be used to shift an operating wavelength of an optical transmitter away from a zero-dispersion wavelength through which signals of the optical transmitter are transmitted. The controller can perform the shifting process while allowing sufficient margin for division multiplexing and minimal dispersion. The controller may determine an appropriate offset to be used for shifting the operating wavelength without subjecting the signals to a significant increase in undesirable effects such as dispersion, crosstalk and signal distortion which can impact the overall bit-error rate.
US08032027B2
Optical devices extending the free spectral range and tunability of, and enabling hitless switching of, integrated optical filters suitable for add-drop filters. Devices include (i) a splitter device configured to split an input spectrum among a plurality of output ports, and a combiner device configured to combine at least a portion of the split input spectrum into a single output port, splitter and combiner having respective first and second input and output ports, and a respective transfer matrix, the matrix of the combiner being the diagonal transpose of that of the splitter; (ii) a first optical path coupling the first output port of the splitter and the first input port of the combiner; (iii) a second optical path coupling the second output port of the splitter and the second input port of the combiner, wherein the first and second optical paths are configured to introduce, at least at a wavelength of the input spectrum, a relative phase shift of π radians; and (iv) an optical filter coupled to at least one of the first and second optical paths.
US08032022B2
A method and system for enabling lightpath monitoring in an optical network is disclosed. A single polarization modulator/scrambler introduces a pilot tone signal as an overlay on a plurality of optical signals on a source node and a performance monitoring unit detects the pilot tone signal to enable light path monitoring and identification through the optical network.
US08032016B1
An arrangement is provided for transporting information from a central information distribution center (CIDC) to locations where such information is intended. Upon receiving a request for narrowcast information to be delivered to a node associated with a head end, the CIDC selects the requested information, generates an optical signal encoded with the requested information using information channels dedicated to narrowcast information transport for the node, and sends the optical signal to the head end via an optical fiber. When the head end receives the optical signal, the narrowcast information transport channels dedicated to the node are translated into subcarriers acceptable to the node before the requested narrowcast information is forwarded to the node.
US08032015B2
A heating apparatus including a filament arranged in a vacuum heating vessel comprises a base plate arranged in the vacuum heating vessel to fix the filament at a predetermined position with respect to a conductive heater forming one surface of the vacuum heating vessel. The base plate comprises a plate body having a carbon fiber.
US08032012B2
To provide means for editing a content data stream quickly.A data processor according to the present invention can edit a content that has been written on a medium. The content is stored in a file as a data stream including multiple packets of the same packet size. And a file system for accessing data on a cluster size basis has been established on the medium. The data processor includes: a receiving section, which receives an instruction on a partial deletion range including the beginning of the file; and a media control section for deleting data, the size of which is an integral number of times as large as the least common multiple of the cluster size and the packet size, from the beginning of the file within the partial deletion range.
US08032010B2
An image recording/reproducing apparatus and a control method thereof to provide the functions of recording image files in a recording medium and reproducing and editing the image files recorded in the recording medium. The apparatus and method enables a user to easily select and manipulate functions of the apparatus using a menu display, and can record, reproduce and edit the image files according to the function selected by the user. The apparatus and method, therefore allows the user to easily select and manipulate the functions using a displayed menu, and more efficiently manage and easily search for the recorded image files.
US08032008B2
There is provided a content recording/reproducing apparatus that can restore a deleted content. An MD recording player (1) as an example of the content recording/reproducing apparatus records, each time a content recorded in a mini disk (90) is deleted, information on the deleted content to a deletion history. Since a personal computer (200) as an external device re-records the content deleted in the MD recording player (1) on the basis of the content of the deletion history, so the user has not to re-record the deleted content by remembering what the deleted content was. Also, even if a content checked out to the MD recording player (1) is deleted, the number of times of check-in or check-out is matched with the content data by making deemed check-in on the basis of the deletion history or recording history. Thus, even if checked-out content data is deleted at the check-out destination, a limited number of times of check-out can be assured so that it is possible to prevent the content data from becoming unusable.
US08031999B2
A photonic band-gap fiber comprises a first core having a refractive index that is not higher than a refractive index of a clad; a second core that is disposed so as to surround the first core and has a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the first core; a clad that surrounds the second core; and a periodic structure portion that is disposed in the clad in a vicinity of the second core and is constituted by high-refractive index portions that have a refractive index higher than that of clad and form the periodic structure, and the periodic-structure portion functions as a wave-length filter. By the function of the periodic structure portion as a wave-length filter, it is possible to reduce the propagation loss of the transmission wavelength and increase the propagation loss of the cutoff wavelength.
US08031992B2
The invention relates to an optoelectronic module having at least one leadframe, at least one carrier element connected to the leadframe, and at least one optoelectronic component connected to the carrier element, which component can emit and/or receive light. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing an optoelectronic module that includes providing at least one leadframe, at least one carrier element and at least one optoelectronic component, connecting the optoelectronic component to the carrier element and connecting the carrier element to the leadframe, and at least partly encapsulating the optoelectronic component, the carrier element and the leadframe with a plastic.
US08031980B2
A disclosed image processing apparatus includes process components configured to input, process, or output image data; and a registration unit configured to obtain a list of the process components available in the image processing apparatus, to display on a display unit a screen for selecting one or more of the process components from the list and thereby defining a combination of the process components which combination implements an application program for performing an image processing task, and to register the combination with an identifier in the image processing apparatus.
US08031976B2
An image processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded portion of a first version of an image. The processor decodes this encoded portion directly into a decoded portion of a second version of the image, the second version having a resolution that is different than the resolution of the first version. Therefore, such an image processing circuit can decode an encoded hi-res version of an image directly into a decoded lo-res version of the image. Alternatively, the image processing circuit includes a processor that modifies a motion vector associated with a portion of a first version of a first image. The processor then identifies a portion of a second image to which the modified motion vector points, the second image having a different resolution than the first version of the first image. Next, the processor generates a portion of a second version of the first image from the identified portion of the second image, the second version of the first image having the same resolution as the second image.
US08031973B2
An original image is converted into a reduced image, based on which a peripheral average luminance image is obtained through a filtering processing. A Retinex image having a smaller size than the original image is obtained from the peripheral average luminance image and the reduced image. The Retinex image is enlarged, and an output image is generated based on the enlarged Retinex image and the original image.
US08031966B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for determining whether backlight exists. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes calculating scattering degrees of luminance values of pixels included in each of images which represent the same photographic subject and have different brightness levels from each other; and determining whether backlight exists on the photographic subject in consideration of the calculated scattering degrees.
US08031962B2
The disclosed implementations relate generally to improved workflows for color correcting digital images. In some implementations, a method of correcting images includes: presenting a user interface on a display device, the user interface including a display area; presenting a digital image in the display area; overlaying a correction interface on the digital image; and performing a correction operation on at least a portion of the digital image in response to a user interaction with the correction interface, where the correction operation is performed with real-time responsiveness.
US08031958B2
An image signal processing apparatus, the method and a camera system are provided, by which highly efficient processing close to 1-path processing can be performed without deteriorating a picture quality or taking too much time for the processing, a capacity required for a compression rate, band and memory in the worst case can be assured and a random accessing property is not impaired when compressing image data: wherein the apparatus has at least a first signal processing unit, a second signal processing unit, and a storage unit accessed by the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit; wherein the first signal processing unit includes at its interface part with the storage unit a band compression expansion unit having functions of compressing input image data based on a predetermined band compression method, writing the same in the storage unit, and expands compressed data read from the storage unit.
US08031957B1
A computer-implemented method can provide compression of a digital representation of an object. The digital representation can include a graphical data structure with graphical data defining the object in terms of a definition of respective faces of the object. Each face can be defined in terms of a surface for the face and each edge of the face on that surface. The method can include, for respective faces of the object, accessing the definition of the face in the graphical data structure, generating a compressed definition of the face and replacing the definition of the face in the graphical data structure by the compressed definition of the face.
US08031955B2
An image processing apparatus includes a block setting unit that sets a block having a fixed size to inputted image data; a determining unit that determines whether or not at least a part of an image region included in the block set by the block setting unit is filled with a single pixel value; a pixel value replacing unit that replaces at least a part of the image region included in the block by a single pixel value according to a result of the determination by the determining unit; and a hierarchical process controller that instructs the block setting unit to set a broader block including plural set blocks.
US08031944B2
This invention relates to an image processing method and image processing apparatus capable of accurately cutting out a desired target from a displayed image. A polygonal area including a cutout target is specified from a displayed image. It is determined whether or not each side of the specified polygon contacts with the cutout target. A side that does not contact with the cutout target is selected as a side for starting cutout processing in accordance with the determination result. The pixel value is examined from the selected side in the inward direction of the polygonal area. It is determined whether or not the pixel belongs to the desired target. Finally, the desired target is cut out in accordance with the determination result.
US08031940B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer program products for recognizing text in images are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for recognizing text in an image is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of images. The method also includes processing the images to detect a corresponding set of regions of the images, each image having a region corresponding to each other image region, as potentially containing text. The method further includes combining the regions to generate an enhanced region image and performing optical character recognition on the enhanced region image.
US08031939B2
A color processing method includes outputting, via an image output device, a chart image in which a plurality of images obtained by applying illuminant corrections corresponding to a plurality of different illuminants to images corresponding to a plurality of representative colors are arranged in a predetermined layout, receiving a user's instruction to select one of the illuminant corrections corresponding to one of the plurality of different illuminants based on the output chart image, and setting the selected illuminant correction to be applied to an original image, wherein the plurality of representative colors are memory colors.
US08031938B2
Method and apparatus for providing improved human observer XYZ functions and calculations for CIELAB
A method for determining color-matching functions includes obtaining spectral data originating from metameric pairs and generating new color matching functions by modifying original color matching functions. The new color matching functions are constrained to be similar to the original color matching functions while reducing calculated perceptual error between the metameric pairs. In another embodiment a method for determining color-matching functions spectral data originating from color matching experiments and from metameric pairs are generated. Color matching functions from a set of parameters and an error function that indicates error due to perceptual differences between the parameterized color matching functions and the color matching experiments are defined. Methods for defining human observer functions, optimizing the definitions of LMS cone response functions as well as other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08031926B2
Locations of the origins of “discrete events,” e.g., photons or other units of radiant energy are acquired from a specimen with reference to a scan frame or other region of interest of the specimen. The location of origin of a discrete event can be determined from the corresponding location datum as derived from a scan-drive signal, a positional feed-back signal, or by a point in time during a unit of sampling time (“image-acquisition period”) at which the event is detected. A probability-density function (PDF) is associated with the detected locations. Summing or other processing of the PDFs is performed to produce imagable data. From the data, images can be produced that require fewer discrete events to converge to an ideal density distribution associated with an image feature than required by pixel-based binning methods. Stored data can be mapped into pixels or voxels of a display or otherwise processed, including post hoc processing.
US08031920B2
A computer system for associating a laboratory report for a patient with a radiology image, such as a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image, is provided. The system comprises at least one image database for maintaining at least one DICOM healthcare image for a patient and at least one laboratory application for documenting one or more laboratory report for the patient. The system further comprises at least one association module for receiving a request from a clinician to associate the one or more laboratory reports for the patient with at least one DICOM image for the patient and for associating the one or more laboratory reports for the patient with at least one DICOM image for the patient.
US08031916B2
The biometric information input apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor which detects biometric information, and moisture absorbing units and which are arranged adjacent to the fingerprint sensor and absorb moisture. The moisture absorbing units and have a groove structure which generates a capillary phenomenon. The fingerprint sensor is of the sweep type which scans biometric information through relative displacement with the finger, and is formed in parallel with the direction of relative displacement between the groove structure and the finger. The groove structure has a width smaller than the pitch of the ridges of an average fingerprint.
US08031915B2
An image processing device includes a deformation processing unit that deforms at least a portion of an area on a target image, which is generated by photographing, based on a distance between a photographic device and a subject of the target image. A deformation amount adjustment unit uses a distance parameter that correlates with the distance between the photographic device and the subject of the target image when photographing to thereby adjust a degree of deformation to increase as a distance indicated by the distance parameter becomes shorter.
US08031912B2
A biometric sensor apparatus uses an infra red light source and a CMOS image sensor. A platen receives a body part and the image sensor receives light transmitted through the body part. A processor determines from the detected through-transmitted light whether the body part is live or is a spoof body part. This determination is based upon a detected variation of the opacity of the body part due to blood flow through the body part. Digital processing of the collected image signal data is performed, such as by smoothing. The sensor may further function as a pattern (such as a fingerprint) sensor for detecting surface patterns on the presented body part and identifying an individual from those sensed patterns.
US08031911B2
A method for producing mottling in an image includes modifying digital colorant information in a digital image data file for at least one of a plurality of colorants. The degree of modification is based on digital colorant information in the digital image data file, mottling information from a mottling tile, and a colorant gain curve for at least one colorant. The colorant gain curve is obtained by determining a tint percentage, the variation of the tint of the printed at least one colorant when printed at a tint percentage on volume printing stock. The mottling information has a spatial frequency distribution substantially equal to the spatial frequency distribution of the mottling produced by at least one colorant on a volume printing stock. The method allows the digital image to emulate the image that would result if the digital image was printed on a volume printer on high volume printing stock.
US08031903B2
The application discloses a system and methods for remote access and analysis of data collected about items under inspection. The system includes one or more data collection stations, each of which may include an X-ray scanner that scans the items under inspection to obtain data about the items. The data is transmitted to one or more remote stations, where the data is remotely analyzed to determine whether the item contains a potential threat, such as, for example, explosives or other contraband. Data may be aggregated so that correlations between data collected for different items may be used to more accurately detect threats.
US08031902B2
A loudspeaker comprises a diaphragm, an edge operable to support, on a frame, the diaphragm in such a manner that enables vibration thereof, and a voice coil operable to generate a driving force. The voice coil is of an approximate rectangular shape, and a length of a long axis direction of the voice coil is no less than 60% of a length of a long axis direction of the diaphragm. Positions of long sides of the voice coil to be fixed on the diaphragm are positions corresponding to nodes of a primary resonance mode in a short axis direction of the diaphragm, or in the respective vicinities thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a high sound quality loudspeaker having a narrow width (elongated structure), but not easily causing resonance, thereby obtaining a flat frequency characteristic.
US08031901B2
A planar magnetic driver includes covering plates that are maintained under tension to form a buckled or curved surface, thereby providing for a larger magnetic gap, and allowing for a larger excursion of the diaphragm and extended lower frequency response. Another aspect of the driver includes a corrugated region along the periphery of the diaphragm, which provides increased internal dampening.
US08031896B2
An audio device has passive radiators that are driven by acoustic drivers. The passive radiators are arranged so that the net mechanical vibration is minimized.
US08031893B2
Supply of power is ensured on use without requiring troublesome works such as battery replacement work and charging work. Specifically, hearing aids, which collect sound, amplify the collected sound, and output the amplified sound, boosts electromotive force generated by the Peltier module derived from temperature difference between a human-body contact portion and an ambient-air contact portion, and causes sound collecting units, a controller IC, a speaker to operate by the boosted voltage.
US08031891B2
Media may be dynamically rendered by receiving signals from one or more types of sensors sensing in an area, and obtaining from the signals information about one or more locations of furniture, or one or more locations of persons or heads or ears thereof, or identities of one or more persons in common with other data such as time of day, season, or other external metadata. Audio and/or video data may be rendered based on the locations or identities. The identity of a person can be automatically obtained and used to automatically select a rendering profile which is then used to render digital audio and/or video media. A dynamically changing spatial location of a head and/or or ears may be automatically determined and how an audio stream is rendered may be dynamically changed based on the spatial location.
US08031888B2
Two control voltages are generated, one increasing and another decreasing, in response to the rise of the voltage of a condenser of a common time-constant circuit. Based on the two control voltages, a first and a second currents are formed, from which four different combinations of currents are established. By feeding one of four combinations to each of multiple differential output amplifier circuits each having a feedback resistor, the multiple output amplifier circuits can be individually started up or shut down without generating popcorn noise, using only one single time constant circuit.
US08031876B2
Disclosed is an audio system including a group of loudspeakers that form a sound field by delivering into a single space sound signals passed through respective ones of a plurality of sound signal channels. This audio system is comprised of two characteristic-variable equalizers that are cascaded to each other to constitute a part of the sound signal channels; a sound field characteristics detecting part for supplying test signals through the sound signal channels and detecting sound pressure in the sound field and thereby obtaining a sound pressure signal; and a characteristics adjusting part for adjusting, based on the sound pressure signal, equalizing characteristics of the characteristic-variable equalizers individually and with respect to each of the sound signal channels. The sound field characteristics detecting part selectively generates test signals of different bands. The characteristics adjusting part adjusts equalizing characteristics of either one of the two characteristic-variable equalizers according to the band of the test signal.
US08031875B1
A technique for securing information involves encrypting raw data into encrypted data based on an initial key. The technique further involves generating a set of key shares from the initial key via application of error correction code encoding. Each key share has a size which is independent of a size of the initial key. The technique further involves electronically storing each key share on a respective memory device of a set of memory devices (e.g., RFID tags). The initial key is reconstructable from a predetermined number of the key shares read from their respective memory devices to enable decryption of the encrypted data.
US08031871B2
The invention relates to a method of updating an authentication algorithm in at least one data processing device (CARD, SERV) which can store a subscriber identity (IMSI1) which is associated with an authentication algorithm (Algo1) in a memory element of said device (CARD, SERV). The inventive method comprises the following steps, namely: a step whereby a second inactive (Algo2) authentication algorithm is pre-stored in a memory element of the device and a step for switching from the first algorithm (Algo1) to the second algorithm (Algo2) which can inhibit the first algorithm (Algo1) and activate the second (Algo2).
US08031864B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system which supports a dual-purpose aperture for an electronic device. This system includes a first component configured to perform an acoustic function through the aperture and a second component configured to perform a non-acoustic function through the aperture.
US08031860B2
An agent presence application for monitoring target agent resources and rendering agent states to subscribing applications is provided. The presence application has at least one first portion for collecting data regarding states of activity of the target agent resources, and at least one second portion for integrating the data and rendering the agent states to the subscribing applications.
US08031858B2
A call flow guidance system helps a call center agent navigate the maze of complex call flows that apply to an enormous spectrum of caller issues, and further improves adoption rates and training timelines for the call center agents. Through the system, call center agents easily navigate multiple call flows and view information tailored to improve average handle time (AHT) and first call resolution (FCR). The system provides dynamic content attached to call flows and improve call flow navigation by implementing links that bridge nodes between display sections of a particular call flow and links that cross from one call flow to another.
US08031850B2
Systems and methods which collect information regarding users of controlled environment visitation terminals for identification of one or more parties to a visitation conversation are shown. Identifying information may be provided by various means, such as entry of a PIN, RFID, biometrics, etcetera. Embodiments provide a closed circuit visitation communication system in which a single port of a communication control system is used with respect to a pair of visitation terminals. Embodiments operate to prevent communication between a resident of a controlled environment facility and a visitor while identifying information is collected and verified. Thereafter, the resident and visitor may be placed in communication, whilst the identifying information may be utilized for such purposes as associating a recording of the conversation with the resident and/or visitor, issuing an alert to appropriate individuals that a conversation by one or more parties of interest is being conducted, collect investigative information, etcetera.
US08031845B2
A system is provided for viewing extended text information associated with a particular item in place. A user may invoke a text scrolling area in order to view extended text in place without obstructing the view of other screen items. Multiple scrolling areas may be created to view text associated with multiple items.
US08031843B2
A system and method for canceling a message sent to a recipient prior to retrieval by the recipient. A telephone call is received by a network from a calling party who desires to cancel a message left for a recipient through an earlier call from the calling party to the recipient after termination of the earlier call. By mapping the calling party's automatic number identifier (ANI) with at least one call record, a voice mailbox of the recipient may be accessed to determine whether the message has been retrieved by the recipient. If the message is still pending, the calling party is provided with the option to cancel the message. Alternatively, the calling party provides the telephone number from where the earlier call originated to a network server, which looks up the ANI of the originating number and then maps the ANI of that number with the at least one call record to enable the cancellation procedure.
US08031838B2
Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for (a) obtaining an indication relating to an emission module (which may be dangerous, e.g.) or its user (who may be untrained, e.g.) and for (b) configuring the module or causing an irradiation (for imaging, e.g.) in response to the indication.
US08031832B2
A multi-beam x-ray device has a multi-beam x-ray tube with an interior in the form of a circle. Focal spots of the x-ray radiation are arranged along the circle. An x-ray tube control unit controls the x-ray radiation emission such that an x-ray beam is emitted from each segment of the circle in specified sequence. The circle is divided up into at least two segments, and multiple diaphragms, each with at least one diaphragm aperture therein, one mounted to rotate around the center point of the circular path into the beam path of the x-ray tube. A first diaphragm, whose first diaphragm aperture limits the cross section of the x-ray beam emitted from the x-ray tube, is associated with each segment of the circular path. A number of slice images can be acquired without a movement of the x-ray tube.
US08031825B2
Non-destructive testing apparatus may comprise a photon source and a source material that emits positrons in response to bombardment of the source material with photons. The source material is positionable adjacent the photon source and a specimen so that when the source material is positioned adjacent the photon source it is exposed to photons produced thereby. When the source material is positioned adjacent the specimen, the specimen is exposed to at least some of the positrons emitted by the source material. A detector system positioned adjacent the specimen detects annihilation gamma rays emitted by the specimen. Another embodiment comprises a neutron source and a source material that emits positrons in response to neutron bombardment.
US08031824B2
A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.
US08031812B2
The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for deciding a symbol upon the reception of a signal including or coupled with a quadrature signal pair, wherein the decision is made by means of an analysis of the metric of at least one reception point to at least one nominal point in a complex coordinate space, and the metric is analyzed in the non-Cartesian or not exclusively Cartesian complex coordinate space. The decision is made after the analysis, and during the decision process, a second most probable nominal point and a reliability of the decision are determined.
US08031805B2
Beamforming is provided for a wireless MIMO device by using antenna puncturing to reduce the number of transmit antennas that are used to transmit data for certain subcarriers. In a conventional approach, if N spatial streams are being used to provide spatial multiplexing, then N transmit antennas would be used to transmit for each subcarrier. In at least one embodiment of the invention, enhancements in channel capacity are achieved by using less than N transmit antennas for one or more subcarriers.
US08031799B2
Various systems and methods providing high speed decoding, enhanced power reduction and clock domain partitioning for a multi-pair gigabit Ethernet transceiver are disclosed. ISI compensation is partitioned into two stages; a first stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a transmitters partial response pulse shaping filter in a demodulator, a second stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a multi-pair transmission channel in a Viterbi decoder. High speed decoding is accomplished by reducing the DFE depth by providing an input signal from a multiple decision feedback equalizer to the Viterbi based on a tail value and a subset of coefficient values received from a unit depth decision-feedback equalizer. Power reduction is accomplished by adaptively truncating active taps in the NEXT, FEXT and echo cancellation filters, or by disabling decoder circuitry portions, as channel response characteristics allow. A receive clock signal is generated such that it is synchronous in frequency with analog sampling clock signals and has a particular phase offset with respect to one of the sampling clock signals. This phase offset is adjusted such that system performance degradation due to coupling of switching noise from the digital sections to the analog sections is substantially minimized.
US08031796B2
A device for transmitting an information signal having several transmit signals has a modulator for generating a first and a second transmit signal. The first transmit signal is transmittable via a first spatial emitter, and the second transmit signal is transmittable via a second spatial emitter. The modulator has an OFDM control stage to load a first group of OFDM carriers with first information to generate the first transmit signal, and to load a second group of OFDM carriers with second information to generate the second transmit signal. The first group of OFDM carriers differs from the second group of OFDM carriers, and the first information differs from the second information. The present invention further provides a corresponding method and a computer program for transmitting an information signal.
US08031795B2
A method for controlling a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna system comprises at a first communication unit, receiving a table from a second communication unit, the table including a plurality of space time processing schemes based on predicted channel state information, selecting at least one of the schemes from the table, and transmitting data from the first communication unit to the second communication unit according to the at least one selected space time processing scheme.
US08031792B2
A trellis processing technique for estimating a transmitted signal from a received signal acquired through a channel achieves a reduced computational structure when implementing a DDFSE-like branch metrics calculation by pre-storing computed values, which can be re-used. The technique involves storing differences between a received symbol and different products, each of which is a product of a channel coefficient corresponding to a least time delay and a different possible transmitted symbol. A summation of products is calculated, each product being a product of a possible transmitted signal symbol and a channel coefficient other than the channel coefficient corresponding to the least time delay, the summation being specific to a branch-start state in a trellis. The summation is combined with different stored differences in a calculation of branch metrics leading to different branch-end states in the trellis.
US08031790B2
A multiband OFDM_UWB transmitting and receiving apparatus is provided in Low-IF configuration to solve problems attributed to a direct-conversion transmitting and receiving apparatus. A Low-IF receiver performs sorting by rotating a sub-carrier after FFT to eliminate the need for frequency conversion using a second local signal and uses the same AD conversion clock as that for a direct conversion receiver. An FFT-free preamble can be detected by using a sequence resulting from previously multiplying an original preamble pattern and an IF frequency together.
US08031779B2
In an external-device control apparatus, a first section extracts a prescribed descriptor from program specific information in a transport stream. A second section analyzes information represented by the extracted prescribed descriptor to obtain an analyzation result. A third section stores information about setting of operation of an external device. A fourth section generates a signal for control of the operation of the external device in response to the obtained analyzation result according to the information stored in the third section. The fourth section sends the generated signal to the external device.
US08031778B2
A picture decoding device (100) comprises a decoding unit (30), a frame memory (40), a deblocking filter (50), a macro block memory (60), and a control unit (70). The macro block memory (60) stores an unfiltered picture data, for which deblock-filtering is not performed, of the macro blocks adjoining a slice boundary. Decoding and deblock-filtering are performed for the macro blocks of each slice in a manner of pipeline processing, and the decoded picture data for the macro blocks is stored in the frame memory (40). After the pipeline processing for all of the macro blocks is completed, the second deblock-filtering is performed to the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks, and the pixel values of the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks already stored in the frame memory (40) are replaced. Thereby, the encoded picture data of arbitrary slice order can be completely decoded.
US08031772B2
Disclosed herein is a video decoding system of a mobile broadcasting receiver. The video decoding system of a mobile broadcasting receiver for decoding a compression-coded video signal includes: at least one buffer memory for performing video decoding; a plurality of coprocessors including a data processing unit partitioned into one or more hardware blocks, wherein the data processing unit performs actual video decoding via data input/output from/to the buffer memory; and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) coprocessor for performing a direct access operation to an external memory, wherein, the at least one buffer memory, the plurality of coprocessors and the DMA coprocessor take the form of hardware, and operations thereof are controlled via software in a processor.
US08031771B2
A system and method is provided for dynamically adjusting one or more characteristics of a multimedia transmission between a content provider and a content recipient. In one embod, the system responds to a change in available bandwidth between the content provider and the content recipient.
US08031764B2
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a digital signal equalizer that includes a plurality of multiplexers. The number of multiplexers defines resolution of equalization. The plurality of multiplexers are configured in groups. The number of groups is based on number of taps, and the number of multiplexers associated with a particular group is based on equalization range for the group. The multiplexers in each group select a digital value associated with the cursor or a non-cursor tap associated with the group.
US08031759B2
Included are embodiments for reducing interference in a communications network. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving data related to an updated Power Spectral Density (PSD) mask and processing a first Seamless Rate Adaptation (SRA) request. Some embodiments include processing a second Seamless Rate Adaptation request and implementing the updated Power Spectral Density mask.
US08031749B2
Geometrical design of laser microchips is disclosed that allows variation of the optical path length in the different media by simple displacement of the microchip, the movement having a non-zero projection orthogonal to the pump beam. The concept can be implemented to vary optical loss in the lasing cavity, the absorbed pump power, or the optical length of the cavity. Passively Q-switched microchip laser output performance can thus be controlled by simple transverse displacement of the microchip relative to the pump beam. The above microlaser can be combined with voltage-controlled variable-focus output optics in order to control the peak power density of the laser pulses.
US08031748B2
An apparatus and appertaining method are provided in which a transmission entity eliminates a frame word of a payload data service and transmits in payload data service in a common frame with payload of other services. Additionally, a transmission unit can provide first payload data and second payload data in a payload section of a common frame, where an entity provides an overhead section in the common frame, the overhead section comprising a common eoc channel which comprises control information related to a transmission path and to one or more transmitted services or terminal equipment types. A transmission entity can transmit overhead data in an overhead section and transmit payload data of a service in a payload section, wherein the transmission entity is configured to relocate information content of operational bits of the service transmitted in the payload section to an eoc channel provided in the overhead section.
US08031743B2
A multiplexing pattern generator generates a multiplexing pattern signal indicating the order of types of data to be multiplexed. A video remaining size calculator and an audio remaining size calculator calculate, as a remaining size, the size of multiplexable data of an elementary stream. A video packet generator and an audio packet generator generate a multiplex packet containing transmission data of a predetermined size, based on the multiplexing pattern signal and the remaining size. A multiplexer generates a multiplexed stream. The video remaining size calculator and the audio remaining size calculator calculate the remaining size, based on the data size per access unit and the transmission size of transmission data. The video packet generator and the audio packet generator generate a multiplex packet, if the data type indicated by the multiplexing pattern signal shows matching, and the remaining size is equal to or larger than the transmission size.
US08031740B2
A transmitter node includes a first data transmission portion that transmits data in a first transmission time slot on a first transmission channel and a second data transmission portion that transmits the same transmission data from the first data transmission portion in a second transmission time slot on a second transmission channel that does not superimpose in time on the first transmission time slot. A receiver node includes a first data reception portion that receives data transmitted from the transmitter node in a first reception time slot superimposing in time on the first transmission time slot on the first transmission channel and a second data reception portion that receives transmission data transmitted from the second data transmission portion in a second reception time slot on the second transmission channel superimposing in time on the second transmission time slot. Data transmission and reception can be thus ensured even at a trouble.
US08031732B2
A network interface device (15a) has a mass storage device interface (3a), which emulates a hard disk controller to transfer network traffic between a node (Ia) and the network. As a result, the node (Ia), typically a computer, is presented with a virtual hard disk (4a), which network traffic (e.g. data) can be written to and read from using standard hard disk protocols, e.g. SATA or PATA. In a computer cluster (13), several network interface devices (15a-15c) may be integrated in a router (8) having a switch (9). The router may connect to optional components such as hard disks (17a, 17b), a processor (18) and a Ethernet connection (19).
US08031725B2
The ability to maintain communications between wireless nodes (e.g., devices), moving substantially as a group, as the group moves from one domain to another is provided without the need for each member of the group to separately obtain domain access rights.
US08031719B2
Systems and methods for optimizing resources of a packet service gateway are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a telecommunication system includes a servicing node, a gateway node connecting the servicing node to a data network, and a control node virtualizing the connection of the servicing node to the data network when the connection is inactive for a predetermined period of time. The control node can include a memory storing control information of inactive connections to the data network, and a processor processing and generating requests to and from the servicing node and the gateway node. According to another embodiment, a method of establishing a connection to a data network includes requesting a connection to the data network by a servicing node, connecting the servicing node to the data network via a gateway node, and virtualizing, by a control node, the connection of the servicing node to the data network.
US08031715B1
A network device comprises a service card (e.g., a dynamic flow capture (DFC) service card) executing a communication protocol to receive, from one or more control sources, flow capture information specifying at least one destination and criteria for matching one or more packet flows. The network device includes a network interface card to receive a packet from a network, a packet replication module to replicate the packet, and a control unit to provide the replicated packet from the interface card to the DFC service card. The network device includes a filter cache that caches flow capture information recently received from the control sources. The network device may provide real-time intercept and relaying of specified network-based communications. Moreover, the techniques described herein allow control sources to tap packet flows with little delay after specifying flow capture information, e.g., within 50 milliseconds, even under high-volume networks.
US08031714B2
A process of using a cache of outgoing packet identifiers to recover from a protocol error includes assigning a receive identifier associated with a user entity to a traffic stream at a receive node. The receive identifier is sent to a transmit node. The transmit node is instructed to associate the receive identifier with a receive plurality of data packets of the traffic stream. The transmit identifier associated with the user entity is assigned to the traffic stream at the transmit node. The transmit node identifier, the receive node identifier, and the address of the receive node are stored in a transmit cache at the transmit node for each of the receive plurality of data packets. The receive plurality of data packets is sent from the transmit node to the receive node. An error message is received at the transmit node from the receive node, indicating that the receive identifier was not recognized. The transmit cache is searched for the transmit node identifier using the receive node identifier and the address of the receive node. The user entity associated with the transmit node identifier is identified, and the user entity is removed.
US08031711B2
Methods and apparatuses are presented for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving (a) sending a request from a first node, the shared communication medium organized to include (i) a request signal space including a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space and (ii) a scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent in a request segment, (b) obtaining an assignment associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space, and (c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request in accordance with the assignment.
US08031707B2
An apparatus for and method of encapsulating Ethernet frames over a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) transport facility. The VDSL frames are transmitted over a point to point VDSL link where they are subsequently extracted and forwarded as standard Ethernet frames. The VDSL facility transport system comprises an Ethernet to VDSL Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) coupled to a DSL Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) over a VDSL transport facility. The Ethernet to VDSL CPE functions to receive a 10BaseT Ethernet signal and encapsulate the Ethernet frame into a VDSL frame for transmission over the VDSL facility. The DSLAM is adapted to receive VDSL frames, extract Ethernet frames therefrom and generate and output a standard Ethernet signal. Ethernet frames are encapsulated within VDSL frames and transmitted on the wire pair without regard to the state of the SOC signals.
US08031706B2
A network processor for determining one or more network operations to be performed on a packet of data in a network comprises processing circuitry and protocol indicator circuitry. The packet of data contains information populating a plurality of protocol header fields. Moreover, the protocol indicator circuitry comprises a plurality of memory elements, each memory element associated with a protocol header field in the plurality of protocol header fields. The processing circuitry determines the one or more network operations to be performed on the packet of data at least in part by addressing one or more lookup tables with the contents of a subset of the plurality of protocol header fields in the packet. This subset is determined by reference to the memory elements in the protocol indicator circuitry. Each memory element is capable of being programmed to indicate whether the associated protocol header field is to be utilized by the processing circuitry in addressing the one or more lookup tables.
US08031702B2
For controlling charging in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem, it is detected whether a session initiated in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem is associated with a service requiring special charging control, and charging information is added to messages signalling establishment or modification of the session in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem in accordance with the detection result.
US08031688B2
A method for the partitioning frequency resources used in the transmission of control signals and data signals by user equipments in a communication system. The control signals and data signals are for periodic transmission and dynamic transmission. Also provided is an apparatus and method for user equipments to determine the first frequency unit available for the transmission of dynamic control signals, such as acknowledgement signals associated respective reception of data signals configured through a scheduling assignment by a serving Node B. The utilization of the operating bandwidth is maximized by avoiding fragmentation and facilitates the achievement of reception reliability targets particularly for control signals.
US08031686B2
Methods and apparatus disclosed maximize the capacity of serving cells and minimize inter-cell interferences due to power emission from serving cells in a multi-carrier, multi-cell communication system. The control methods and apparatus take into account various factors such as cell configuration, frequency reuse, geometry and path-loss information, transmission priority, subchannel configuration, feedback from other cells, or any combination thereof, and produce signals that control the transmission power levels and the modulation and coding of transmitted signals.
US08031679B2
Disclosed is a method of performing softer handover in a broadband wireless communication system. The method includes granting identification numbers to neighbor antennas around a mobile station currently performing communication, and transmitting a neighbor base station advertisement message including the identification numbers of the neighbor antennas, receiving a handover request message including an identification number of a particular antenna from the mobile station, determining if the particular antenna is located within a current coverage area of the base station, and adding the particular antenna to a diversity set and notifying information on multiple antennas included in the diversity set to the base station when the particular antenna is located within the current coverage area of the mobile station; multicasting an identical frame to the multiple antennas included in the diversity set and receiving a handover indication message from the mobile station.
US08031677B1
A method for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network is provided. The method includes: a user equipment (UE) is handed over or switched from a source network to a target network; a network element on a network side determines whether to detach the UE from the source network, and if yes, the network element on the network side detaches the UE from the source network. A system and a device for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network, and another method for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network are also provided.
US08031674B2
A method and a server acting as a Home Agent are provided for packet switched data transmission between a first mobile node and a correspondent mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of mobile networks. Each of the first mobile node and the correspondent mobile node are allocated to respective home networks, and a network server is provided as a home agent to each mobile node, respectively. Then, data packets are routed from the first mobile node to the correspondent mobile node, over a first data tunnel from the first mobile node to any first one of the home agents and over a second data tunnel from said first one of the home agents to the correspondent mobile node without passing the respective other home agent.
US08031672B2
A method for connection roaming a Mobile Node (MN) to a Network GateWay (NGW) for providing secure data path using Internet Protocol (IP) security procedure. Also Mobile IP (MIP) is required for providing mobility to the user, when the MN moves from one sub-network to another. However, when the Home Address of the network is not known, a cyclic interdependency is observed between the IP Security (Ipsec) procedures and IP procedures. If the home address of the MN is not known initially during the procedure, IPsec Security Associations (SA's) are formed between the MN and NGW such that only IP packets are passed through. After the IP Registration is completed, the Home Address of the MN is known from the MIP registration Reply. MN now forms a data path tunnel with the NGW by exchanging Create_Child_SA messages.
US08031670B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for choosing the size of the control region of a downlink subframe. For example, an apparatus for selecting the size of the control region based on a set of one or more physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) is disclosed. The apparatus, in some embodiments, includes: a module configured to determine, for each of at least two or more control region sizes included in a set of two or more control region sizes, a subset of PDCCHs from said set of PDCCHs that can be assigned to a control region having a size equal to the control region size; and control region size selector for selecting a control region size for the subframe, wherein the control region size selector is configured to make the selection based, at least in part, on information pertaining to the subset of PDCCHs that can be assigned to a control region having a size equal to the selected control region size.
US08031668B2
In a method for optimizing discontinuous reception mechanism in random access or scheduling request, the user equipment behaves according to a TTI window and a contention resolution timer so that the user equipment is at active time to monitor PDCCH. In the random access, the UE is at active time while a PDCCH indicating a new transmission addressed to the C-RNTI of the UE has not been received after successful reception of a Random Access Response for the non-contention preamble. In the scheduling request, the UE is at active time while an UL grant for the UE has not been received after SR has been sent.
US08031665B1
A wireless communication system allocates connection identifiers into a first group and a second group. The system associates sectors or base stations with a reservation zone, and associates the reservation zone with the first group of connection identifiers. The system associates the first group of connection identifiers with a quality-of-service level. In response to determining that a user has the quality-of-service level, the system reserves at least one of the connection identifiers in the first group for the user and uses the reserved connection identifier to communicate with the first user in all of the sectors or base stations associated with the reservation zone.
US08031664B2
Provided are a channel management method and a channel selection method for a wireless node in a wireless ad-hoc network. The channel management method includes the steps of: (a) when a current mode is a first mode, performing channel selection using a method for evenly distributing a channel within an interference range; and (b) when the current mode is a second mode, performing channel selection based on a channel switching probability. According to the method, by preventing a channel change from being continuously repeated in a wireless ad-hoc network using multi-channel multi-interface, it is possible to prevent data transmission delay and network performance deterioration.
US08031657B2
A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to reduce arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, Wi-Fi identity information and GPS location information is detected. The location information is used to reverse triangulate the position of the detected Wi-Fi access point; and the position of the detected access point is recorded in a reference database.
US08031648B2
A packet transmission control device relating to the present invention includes: a storage unit configured to store a transmission resource available for use in the packet transmission, radio quality information on the downlink, and a transmission method to be used in the packet transmission while associating them with one another; a determination unit configured to determine a transmission method to be used in the packet transmission on the basis of the radio quality information, on the downlink reported from the mobile stations and the transmission resource available for use in the packet transmission, by referring to the storage unit; and a packet transmission unit configured to transmit the packet by using the determined transmission method.
US08031640B2
A packet transmission system enabling VLAN packet forwarding of the MAC layer at the RPR layer. An address translation table associates with a VLAN identifier a MAC address and a flag showing validity of the VLAN identifier. A flag set valid means that an own node belongs to a VLAN domain with the VLAN identifier. In a case where a received packet is a VLAN packet, a first node searches the address translation table based on the VLAN identifier for a MAC address, creates an RPR packet with the MAC address stored as an RPR destination address, and transmits the RPR packet to an RPR network. A second node searches the address translation table based on the MAC address stored in the RPR packet, and if a corresponding flag is a valid flag, regards the packet as being addressed to a VLAN to which the own node belongs, and transmits the packet to the VLAN after deleting the RPR header therefrom.
US08031634B1
System and method for managing a virtual domain environment to enable root cause and impact analysis
A virtual domain management system is provided which associates application, physical and virtual domains to enable propagation of events, symptoms and other information across the domains. The virtual domain manager collects events and symptom information across multiple domains by correlating domain topology models. Using a causality matrix and codebook technology the virtual domain manager uses the information to perform root cause and impact analysis across domains. Information from the analysis may be fed back into the domains to enhance domain management.
US08031633B2
An adaptable virtual network system comprises a plurality of network elements and a plurality of virtual links. Each network element is communicatively coupled to at least one other network element via at least one physical link. At least one physical link comprises at least two virtual links. The adaptable virtual network system supports at least two virtual networks, each virtual network comprising at least one virtual link communicatively coupling at least two network elements.
US08031619B2
A modem for use in Digital Subscriber Line communications transmits and receives data over the local subscriber loop in common with voice information over the loop, while avoiding the need for voice/data splitters. The modem responds to disruptions associated with “disturbance events” such as on-hook to off-hook transitions and the like by rapidly switching between pre-stored channel parameter control sets defining communications over the loop under varying conditions. In addition to changing parameter control sets responsive to a disturbance event, the modem may also change transmission power levels and other system parameters such as frequency domain equalizer characteristics. Further, provisions are made for reduced bandwidth communications under selected conditions.
US08031618B2
This invention relates to cognitive radio based wireless communications of dynamic spectrum access networks, and more particularly to a method of addressing radio frequency sensing control and dynamic frequency selection control. A method called Cognitive Dynamic Frequency Hopping that is based on the selective Simultaneous Sensing and Data Transmissions is described. The Cognitive Dynamic Frequency Hopping method is further facilitated by a collision avoidance technique. The described method satisfies both reliable and timely RF sensing for guaranteeing licensed user protection, and QoS satisfaction for services of the dynamic spectrum access systems.
US08031617B2
A system and method for detecting path failure in a network are described. The system and method include a network interface which receives packets over particular connections, and an agent able to monitor the network interface and start a no-traffic timer for each particular connection when a packet is received on the connection. The agent is further able, when the no-traffic timer expires, to check for outgoing data on the particular connection, and compare a count of previously sent test packets against a limit. If the count is below the limit the agent sends a new test packet on the particular connection, the test packet provides an indication of the state of a network path associated with the particular connection. If the count is above the limit the agent initiates failover procedures for the associated path.
US08031616B2
Various systems and methods for intercepting transmissions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes an internet protocol media gateway. The internet protocol media gateway is communicably coupled to a soft switch, an acquisition facility, and a communicator. The internet protocol media gateway is associated with a processor and a computer readable medium, and the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a transmission identified with the communicator, and to direct the transmission to the acquisition facility. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08031615B2
An apparatus and method of propagating a size of a cluster within a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes a gateway within the cluster maintaining information of access nodes within the cluster. The gateway determines a cluster size based on the maintained information, and transmits routing packets that include the cluster size of the gateway. An apparatus and method of balancing clusters of a wireless mesh network is also disclosed. The method includes the gateway of each cluster originating beacons, wherein the beacons include a size of the cluster of the gateway. The access nodes of each cluster, re-broadcasts beacons received from the gateway of the cluster. A connecting access node selects which cluster to connect to at least in part based on the size of each of the clusters.
US08031614B2
A massively parallel nodal computer system periodically collects and broadcasts usage data for an internal communications network. A node sending data over the network makes a global routing determination using the network usage data. Preferably, network usage data comprises an N-bit usage value for each output buffer associated with a network link. An optimum routing is determined by summing the N-bit values associated with each link through which a data packet must pass, and comparing the sums associated with different possible routes.
US08031613B2
An apparatus and method for real-time buying and selling of Internet Protocol (IP) transit is described. Embodiments include a platform for routing IP traffic in real time from at least one network user to a plurality of backbone providers. Embodiments further include sellers specifying a quality, a quantity, and a duration of a contract available, buyers identifying and selecting an appropriate contract, and executing the selected contract. Embodiments further include assigning different ranks to different backbone providers based on network monitoring. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08031612B2
A method includes, at a network interface controller receiving packets from a network connection for a set of multiple coupled processors, distributing received packets to each of a first set of the processors. In response to determining the change in network traffic, operation of the network interface controller is altered to distribute packets to a second set of the processors.
US08031605B2
An ad-hoc network system for computing a proposed number of node-clusters that enable a relative threshold data rate. The ad-hoc network system includes a source terminal, a destination terminal, a plurality of relay terminals, and a cluster determination engine. The source terminal sends a network communication to a destination terminal via a plurality of relay terminals. The cluster determination engine computes a threshold data rate, C, for a number of hops, N, based on a transmission power constraint. The cluster determination engine determines a proposed route for the wireless communication from the source terminal to the destination terminal according to the threshold data rate, C.
US08031604B2
A station grouping mechanism has been presented for a wireless device that collects Multi-hop Relay Base Station (MR-BS) and Relay Stations (RSs) into groups according to their locations in a tree topology and assigns them with a phase. Grouping or partitioning MR-BS and RSs and assigning a distinct phase to the group prevent the MR-BS and the RSs from transmitting and receiving at the same time.
US08031603B1
A technique that allows existing reservations to be partially preempted by higher-priority reservations. An intermediate node receives a request to reserve resources for the higher-priority reservation. The higher priority entitles the reservation to acquire resources allocated to existing lower priority reservations, if necessary. If sufficient unallocated resources are not available on the preempting system to accommodate the higher-priority reservation, an error message is generated and forwarded by the intermediate node towards a receiver associated with the reservation that is to be partially preempted. The error message contains an error code and an amount of resources available on the intermediate node. The receiver processes the error message including selecting a reservation to be torn down, tearing down the selected reservation and re-reserving resources for remaining reservations, as necessary.
US08031600B2
A method for performing a status report procedure in a receiver of a wireless communication system includes forming a STATUS PDU in an RLC layer, forming a Data PDU with a flexible size when a mode of flexible RLC PDU size is configured, combining the Data PDU with the STATUS PDU for forming a concatenated RLC PDU for a MAC layer, forming a MAC PDU for carrying the concatenated RLC PDU, and transmitting the MAC PDU to a peer transmitter.
US08031597B2
A method of processing an error frame that occurs in packet data communication between a mobile station and a communication server which exchanges packets with the mobile station over a radio network may be carried out by a mobile station. The method carried out by the mobile station includes the steps of: a) detecting an error having occurred in received packet data during communication in a radio network; and b) requesting the communication server to retransmit the packet data without reducing the congestion window size. In addition, the method carried out by a communication server includes the steps of: a) detecting an error having occurred in transmitted packet data during communication in a radio network; and b) retransmitting the packet data without reducing the congestion window size.
US08031595B2
A computer-implemented method of predicting a future location of a mobile node can include determining a current location of a first mobile node, determining a location of at least a second mobile node, wherein the second mobile node is associated with the first mobile node via a social network, and generating a list including at least one candidate destination determined, at least in part, according to the location of the first mobile node and the location of the second mobile node. For each candidate destination on the list, a probability that the first mobile node is in route to that candidate destination location can be calculated. A candidate destination can be selected, according to the probabilities, from the list as a predicted future location of the first mobile node. The predicted future location of the first mobile node can be output.
US08031594B2
Disclosed are a system and method of providing communications services. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving data related to an attainable bandwidth of a communications loop coupled to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device, wherein at least one first communications service is provided by a private access network via the CPE device. The method also includes selecting at least one additional communications service to be offered, the at least one additional communications service selected based at least partially on the attainable bandwidth.
US08031593B2
A method, a system and network nodes use an indication of possible duplicates of units, so that these units can be handled differently than other units. The unit is indicated to be a possible duplicate to the entity to which it is resent because no response was received from the entity it was sent to.
US08031589B2
A local access fiber optical distribution network is disclosed in which a dedicated pair of diversely routed optical fibers is routed in the distribution network for each customer. In a preferred embodiment, a dual physical overlay ring core topology is used in the core. The distribution network includes working and protection logical path connectivity. No 802.1D Spanning Tree is required for recovery, providing resilience to any single network failure in any device or link, quick recovery times from failure, and a failure detection/recovery protocol that is not active on any devices other than the devices directly attached to the subscriber.
US08031578B2
An optical head device according to the present invention includes: a light source for outputting laser light; an optical system for allowing the laser light to be radiated onto an optical disk medium; and an aberration correction section for correcting an aberration of the laser light. The aberration correction section includes: a plurality of mirror sections for reflecting the laser light; a plurality of mirror driving sections for displacing the plurality of mirror sections; and a detection section for detecting a physical condition within the optical head device.
US08031577B2
An optical information recording/reproducing device is provided with a first light source 20a for emitting recording light 22a, a second light source 20b for emitting reproducing light 22b, an objective lens 6 for focusing the emitted lights from the both light sources 20a, 20b on an information recording medium including a recording region 3 capable of three-dimensional recording and photodetectors 19a, 19b for detecting reflected lights 7a′, 7b′ from the information recording medium, and records information on recording layers 1a to 1e utilizing a nonlinear absorption phenomenon. At the objective lens 6, an average rim intensity of the recording light 7a is lower than that of the reproducing light 7b.
US08031573B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit to reconstruct data from an analog signal. The signal processing circuit includes an analog to digital converter (ADC), an equalizer, a first timing compensation module, a phase-shift module and a second timing compensation module. The ADC receives an analog input signal, samples the analog input signal based on a sampling clock signal, and converts the sampled analog input signal into a digital output signal. The equalizer equalizes the digital output signal. The first timing compensation module detects a first timing error based on the digital output signal, and adjusts the sampling clock signal based on the first timing error. The phase-shift module phase-shifts the equalized digital output signal based on a phase-shift signal. The second timing compensation module detects a second timing error based on the equalized digital output signal, and adjusts the phase-shift signal based on the second timing error.
US08031572B2
The present invention is aimed at providing an optical disc device and a recording condition setting method which can automatically determine an optical recording condition to an optical disc, and the optical disc device comprises an optical pickup which records data on a disc; a data encoder which modulates data to be recorded; a recording timing setting means which sets a timing of recording the data on the disc; a phase error detection means which measures an error amount of a mark recorded on the disc from a position where the mark should be properly located; an error convergence means which calculates error information indicating an optimum position of the mark; a recording timing calculation means which calculates a correction value of the recording timing to be set on the recording timing setting means, based on the error information; and a control means which feedbacks an output of the recording timing calculation means to the recording timing setting means, thereby to optimize the recording timing.
US08031570B2
An optical disk drive according to the present invention has the ability to read data from multiple types of optical disks, each of which includes at least one information storage layer. The drive includes: a driving mechanism 120, which is loaded with a selected one of the optical disks of the multiple types and which rotates the optical disk 102; an optical pickup 30 for irradiating the optical disk 102, which has been loaded into the driving mechanism 120, with a converged light beam, thereby generating an electrical signal based on light that has been reflected from the optical disk 102; and a control section (ODC 50) for controlling operations of the driving mechanism 120 and the optical pickup 30. The control section 50 includes a right/wrong side determining section for determining, by reference to the electrical signal generated by the optical pickup 30, whether or not the optical disk 102 has been loaded into the driving mechanism 120 with the other surface opposed to the optical pickup 30.
US08031567B2
In a data recording method for a write-once type recording medium capable of pseudo overwrite, it is judged whether data to be recorded in the write-once type recording medium exists. If it is judged that data exists, it is judged that the data is to be recorded from the next writable address (NWA) indicating the boundary between a recorded area and non-recorded area. If it is judged that the data is to be recorded from the next writable address, the data is recorded from the next writable address; and if it is judged that the data is not to be recorded from the next writable address, recording of the data is suspended. While data to be recorded exists, the aforementioned steps are repeated. If no data to be recorded exists, the data whose recording has been suspended is recorded.
US08031564B2
The invention relates to a method for evaluating a wobble signal. Also described is a circuit for performing such method and an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media using such method or circuit. According to the invention the method includes the steps of: determining the sign of the wobble signal, the sign indicating whether a wobble period of the wobble signal is inverted or non-inverted, generating a filtered signal by a weighted averaging of the sign over two or more wobble periods, the weighted averaging being performed by subtracting a sum of the signs obtained from a second stage of delay lines from a sum of the signs obtained from a first stage delay lines, and integrating the filtered signal.
US08031549B2
An integrated circuit comprises a global power supply conductor, a plurality of circuit blocks, a plurality of voltage converters, and control logic. The global power supply conductor is configured to distribute a supply voltage. The circuit blocks are selectively coupled to the global power supply conductor. The plurality of voltage converters are coupled to the global power supply conductor. An output voltage of individual voltage converters of the plurality of voltage converters are selectively coupled to one or more of the plurality of circuit blocks. The control logic is configured to control the selective coupling of at least one of the supply voltage and the output voltage of individual voltage converters of the plurality of voltage converters to corresponding ones of the plurality of circuit blocks. Also, the control logic controls a magnitude of the output voltage of individual voltage converters of the plurality of voltage converters.
US08031548B2
A voltage stabilization circuit includes a control signal generating unit to generate a control signal that is enabled when a supply voltage is unstable and a voltage level maintaining unit for selectively controlling total capacitance of a plurality of capacitors to stabilize the supply voltage in response to the control signal.
US08031540B2
In some implementations, a memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell storing a plurality of data bits; an input/output interface that is configured to, in response to receiving a read signal and an address value that identifies a specific memory cell in the plurality of memory cells, output a plurality of data bits corresponding to the identified specific memory cell; and a delay controller that is configured to delay the outputting to the input/output interface of at least one of the plurality of data bits based on a randomly selected or pseudo-randomly selected delay value. The memory device can further include a delay block having a plurality delay paths having varying delays, and randomly selecting or pseudo-randomly selecting the delay value can include randomly selecting or pseudo-randomly selecting one of the plurality of delay paths through which to transmit a control signal.
US08031510B2
An ion barrier layer made from a dielectric material in contact with an electronically insulating layer is operative to prevent mobile ions transported into the electronically insulating layer from passing through the ion barrier layer and into adjacent layers during data operations on a non-volatile memory cell. A conductive oxide layer in contact with the electronically insulating layer is the source of the mobile ions. A programming data operation is operative to transport a portion of the mobile ions into the electronically insulating layer and an erase data operation is operative to transport the mobile ions back into the conductive oxide layer. When the portion is positioned in the electronically insulating layer the memory cell stores data as a programmed conductivity profile and when a substantial majority of the mobile ions are positioned in the conductive oxide layer the memory cell stores data as an erased conductivity profile.
US08031495B2
A step wave power converter comprises multiple different bridge circuits configured to convert DC voltage inputs into AC voltage outputs. A controller is configured to estimate an average voltage output from the multiple different bridge circuits for controlling the current output from the multiple different bridge circuits. The number of bridge circuits needed to provide the estimated average output voltage is identified and the identified bridge circuits controlled during a next switching period to generate a combined inverter output voltage that corresponds with the estimated average output voltage.In another embodiment, one or more transformers are associated with the different bridge circuits. Inductors are coupled between the bridge circuits and the primary windings of the associated transformers. The inductors filter the current output from the bridge circuits prior to feeding the current into the transformers.
US08031494B2
The invention relates to a switch-mode power converter including a bias circuit. A power converter power transformer includes a magnetic core. The switch-mode power converter power transformer also includes an initial bias primary winding and an initial bias secondary winding, both wound on the magnetic core, wherein the initial bias secondary winding shares at least one magnetic path in common with the initial bias primary winding. A driver is configured to drive the initial bias primary winding with high frequency pulses when enabled by an enable signal. A rectifier and capacitor are configured to provide a voltage to power a control circuit during a power converter start-up. A method provides an initial bias power for a power converter output side referenced controller, powering the output side referenced controller from the initial bias windings.
US08031488B2
A circuit protection element and a circuit board with the circuit protection element are disclosed. The circuit protection element includes a metal base, and at least one opening slot located at the metal base. The metal base forms a positioning portion. One end of the metal base is fastened onto a circuit board. The bottom of the free end of the metal base contacts a conducting point located on the circuit board to make the circuit be in a conducting status. When the current is overloaded or the circuit is over-heated, the bottom of the free end of the metal base is heated so that the bottom of the free end of the metal base separates from the conducting point and the positioning portion is wedged with the circuit board. Thereby, the circuit becomes a broken circuit. The circuit protection element can prevent the electronic components from being burnt down.
US08031486B2
An electrical distribution system provides a Line Replaceable Modules (LRM) with a printed wire board (PWB) which is of a relatively thick construction. The PWB is manufactured of a relatively thick construction to provide structural support for a multitude of electrical components as well as a board mounted contactor. Each contactor is mounted directly to the PWB. As the primary contactor switch function is board mounted, support functions such as coil drivers, economizing switches, auxiliary switches become PWB mounted components that are assembled to the PWB for communication through the board circuit traces rather than the heretofore required wiring harnesses.
US08031481B2
The present invention is provided a structure for mounting a printed board in which each connector that is attached to each of a plurality of sub printed boards, which are juxtaposed to one another with respect to a main printed board secured to a metal backboard, is inserted into each of a plurality of connectors that are juxtaposed to one another on the main printed board so that the sub printed boards are mounted on the main printed board by the connector connections. Parts of both ends of an area in proximity to a semiconductor-device mounted area on each of the sub printed boards ate pinched between a first metal frame and a second metal frame so that each of the sub printed boards are secured.
US08031477B2
An optical assembly is disclosed which may include a lens having first and second electrodes; and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) configured for placement in proximity to the lens, wherein the FPC may include a bottom insulating layer; a top insulating layer; and an FPC electrode configured to contact the second electrode of the lens, wherein the FPC electrode may include a center portion disposed between the bottom and top insulating layers of the FPC; a post connected to the center portion and extending through the top insulating layer of the FPC; and a contact layer connected to the post and configured to provide the contact with the second electrode of the lens.
US08031474B2
A printed circuit board assembly has plural printed circuit boards that are mechanically and electrically connected to each other with them being stacked, and a connection layer that connects the adjacent two printed circuit boards to each other is provided. The connection layer includes an insulation portion and an electric conduction portion. The insulation portion contains an insulating member and is adhered to each of the adjacent two printed circuit boards. The electric conduction portion passes through the insulation portion and connects electrode terminals of the adjacent two printed circuit boards.
US08031470B2
A method for thermal management is provided. The method includes providing thermal isolation between at least one high-power thermally tolerant electronic component and at least one low-power thermally sensitive electronic component housed within an electrical enclosure, providing a first conductive path from the at least one low-power electronic component to a first heatsink, providing a second conductive path from the at least one high-power electronic component to a second heatsink, dissipating heat generated by the at least one low-power thermally sensitive electronic component and dissipating heat generated by the at least one high-power thermally tolerant electronic component to an environment external to the electrical enclosure by channeling the heat generated by the at least one low-power thermally sensitive electronic component and the at least one high-power thermally tolerant electronic component along the first and second conductive path, respectively. The first and second conductive paths are independent from each other.
US08031463B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic apparatus, including: a base chassis formed as a unitary member from a transparent material and having two faces positioned on the opposite sides to each other and individually formed as first and second mounting face sections; a display unit having a display panel thereon and attached to said first mounting face section; a control circuit board attached to said second mounting face section; a rear cover attached to said second mounting face section and configured to cover said control circuit board; a device mounting board having a semiconductor light emitting element disposed thereon; and a luminous lamp section formed at a position of said base chassis on the outer side of said display unit and configured to receive and emit light having been emitted from said semiconductor light emitting element and passed through the inside of said base chassis.
US08031459B2
A micro-device includes a movable part, a frame and a connecting part. The movable part has a main portion, a first capacitor electrode and a first driver electrode. The capacitor electrode and the driver electrode have electrode teeth extending from the main portion. The frame includes second capacitor and driver electrodes, where the second capacitor electrode has electrode teeth extending toward the first capacitor electrode, and the second driver electrode has electrode teeth extending toward the first driver electrode. The connecting part connects the movable part to the frame. The first and second capacitor electrodes have their electrode teeth overlapped in their initial position. The movable part is rotatable for varying the extent of the overlapping between the first and second driver electrodes.
US08031446B2
A method of detecting an output phase loss (OPHL) for a motor drive detects an abnormal OPHL operation when at least one phase of a three-phase current is continually zero. Each phase of the three-phase current is acquired, sampled, filtered, and compared. Hence, a corresponding zero-current counter value is continually added, and a corresponding abnormal current value is set as logic 1 when a zero-phase current of the three-phase current is continually zero. Finally, an OPHL certified value is set as logic 1 to confirm that the motor driver is operated in the abnormal OPHL operation. Therefore, a direct-current and an alternating-current OPHL can be detected before and after the motor driver is operated, respectively.
US08031445B2
A magnetic sensor, formed from a pair of magnetically free layers located on opposing sides of a non-magnetic layer, and method for its manufacture, are described. Biasing these free layers to be roughly orthogonal to one another causes them to be magnetostatically coupled in a weak antiferromagnetic mode. This enables the low frequency noise spectra of the two free layers to cancel one another. Careful control of the SH/TW ratio is an important feature of the device.
US08031442B2
A magnetic head for a hard disk drive having a CPP read head sensor that includes a layered sensor stack including a free magnetic layer and hard bias elements that are disposed on the sides of the free magnetic layer to provide a biasing magnetization for the free magnetic layer. To increase the coercivity of the hard bias elements, and thereby improve the biasing of the magnetization of the free magnetic layer, the ratio (t/H) of the thickness t to the height H of the hard bias elements is fabricated to be within the range of from approximately 1 to approximately 1/15.
US08031440B2
A voice coil includes a stack of a plurality of layers of aligned windings held between an outer holding portion and an inner holding portion of the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly is formed integrally with the voice coil through injection molding. An outermost peripheral layer is a conductive wire wound a number of turns that falls short of the number of turns required to constitute a complete layer. A step is thereby formed between the outermost peripheral layer and a layer adjacent thereto and inner therefrom. The outer holding portion includes a reinforcement portion formed thereon to cover part of a transverse end face of the voice coil. The outermost peripheral layer opposes a force acting on the outer holding portion from top downward and the reinforcement portion opposes a force acting on the outer holding portion from bottom upward.
US08031438B2
An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive selectively locks in place and releases a rotatable swing arm having a front end portion supporting a magnetic head and a rear end portion on which a voice coil motor (VCM) coil is disposed. The actuator latch system includes a notch in the rear end portion of the swing arm, and a rotatable latch lever having a front end portion including a hook and a magnet. The hook is received in the notch in the rear end portion of the swing arm to arrest rotation of the swing arm in a predetermined direction. The magnet of the latch lever faces a section of the VCM coil such that when the hard disk drive is started, the latch lever is rotated by a force generated due to current flowing through the section of the VCM coil faced by the magnet and the magnetic field generated by the magnet. The rotation of the latch lever prevents the hook from interfering with the rotation of the swing arm in the predetermined direction.
US08031434B2
A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The write head has a secondary flare point defined by magnetic structures that extend from the sides of the write pole, but not over the trailing edge of the write pole. The magnetic structures each have a front edge that defines the secondary flare point. By constructing the magnetic structures so that they only extend from the sides of the write pole and not over the write pole, they can be formed by electroplating, while leafing the mask structure (used to define the write pole) still intact, thereby greatly simplifying manufacture and preventing damage to the write pole during manufacture.
US08031431B1
A novel disk drive includes a top cover having a plurality of integral anchor tabs extending towards a disk drive base. Each of the plurality of anchor tabs includes a hooking surface that faces the top cover. The disk drive base includes a plurality of retention cavities, each of the retention cavities including a catching surface that faces away from the top cover. Each of the plurality of anchor tabs protrudes into a respective one of the plurality of retention cavities, and may be deformed so that the hooking surface of the anchor tab is in contact with the catching surface of the retention cavity.
US08031425B2
A method and apparatus for writing magnetization states in magnetic layers of a multi-layer continuous magnetic recording medium with more than two recording levels and a method and apparatus for reading readback pulse shapes representing a magnetization state transition between such written magnetization states. Writing each magnetization state includes selecting the magnetization state, determining a write current sufficient to write the magnetization state, and applying the write current to a magnetic write head to write the magnetization state, including simultaneously writing associated magnetic states in each magnetic layer of at least one pair of magnetic layers. A readback pulse shape representing a written magnetization state transition is read. The written magnetization state transition is uniquely identified from the readback pulse shape of the transition or from both the readback pulse shape of the transition and the readback pulse shape of one or more contiguous magnetization state transitions.
US08031419B2
An imaging apparatus may comprise a lens assembly including one or more lenses, an image sensor to receive light from the lens assembly, and an actuator to adjust a position of the lens assembly. An actuator may be mounted on an image sensor, wherein a surface area of the actuator need not extend substantially beyond a surface area of the image sensor.
US08031418B2
A lens driving mechanism for an image pickup apparatus capable of being reduced in size, and having excellent driving accuracy and tranquility is provided. The lens driving mechanism is characterized in that vibration of a piezoelectric vibration motor is used as a driving source, and the vibration is transmitted to a motor power transmission ring directly or via a gear structure, to rotationally drive a lens driving ring. In a first lens driving mechanism, the motor power transmission ring is rotated by rotating the first transmission gear by use of the vibration of the piezoelectric vibration motor. In a second lens driving mechanism, a thrust bearing is provided on a gear side for rotating the motor power transmission ring, and the gear is rotated by vertically pressing a vibrator of the piezoelectric vibration motor in an urged state against a plane of the gear. In a third lens driving mechanism, the lens driving ring is rotationally driven by directly pressing a vibrator of each of one or more piezoelectric vibration motors in an urged state against the outer periphery of the lens driving ring.
US08031417B1
An optical mount for an optical element includes a mounting plate, a lever arm pivot coupled to mounting plate, and an adjustment plate. The optical mount also includes a flexure pivot mechanically coupling the adjustment plate to the mounting plate and a lever arm. The optical mount further includes a first adjustment device extending from the adjustment plate to make contact with the lever arm at a first contact point. A projection of a line from the first contact point to a pivot point, measured along the lever arm, is a first predetermined distance. The optical mount additionally includes a second adjustment device extending from the adjustment plate to make contact with the lever arm at a second contact point. A projection of a line from the second contact point to the pivot point, measured along the lever arm, is a second predetermined distance greater than the first predetermined distance.
US08031403B2
The invention provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.
US08031390B2
An illumination source and a method therefor. A light source includes a light circuit configured to process light and direct light, and a lighting element optically coupled to the light circuit to provide multiple colors of light. The light circuit propagates light using light guides. The use of light guides eliminates the use of free space optical elements, enabling the creation of more compact light sources. Furthermore, the use of light guides may enable the creation of light sources with fewer mechanical restrictions, thereby making the light sources potentially more reliable and less expensive.
US08031386B2
A galvano motor 10 includes a motor shaft 1, a coil 5 which rotationally drives the motor shaft 1, and an encoder scale 6 which is joined to one end of the rotating shaft, the motor shaft 1 is configured so that a mirror 9 which is heavier than the encoder scale 6 at the other end opposite to the one end to which the encoder scale 6 is joined, a phase crossover frequency fphase in open-loop characteristics of the galvano motor 10, a torsion resonance frequency fscale between a center part of the motor shaft 1 and the encoder scale 6, and a torsion resonance frequency fmirror between the center part of the motor shaft 1 and the mirror 9 satisfy the relation of fphase
US08031379B2
In a system in which a facsimile apparatus is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) to which a plurality of computer terminals are connected, image data obtained by reading an original image by the scanner of the facsimile apparatus under the control of the operation unit of the facsimile apparatus is transmitted to a destination designated by the operation unit. In this operation, if a user ID is designated, transmitted image data and information (destination, transmission time/date, or the like) related to transmission is transferred to the LAN to notify the information to a user corresponding to the user ID. In this manner, data communication performed by a local operation of the facsimile apparatus and data communication performed by a remote designation from the computer terminal can be managed together.
US08031364B2
A printing system includes a control system which processes an input print job to place it in a form for printing on a print engine. A user interface, in communication with the control system, is configured for receiving, from a user, adjustments to at least one geometric parameter for images of the print job to be applied to front and back sides of a sheet, whereby the geometric parameter is adjustable for the front and back sides independently. A print engine renders the print job on print media in accordance with received adjustments to the at least one geometric parameter.
US08031359B2
Job management information is analyzed to extract post printing process information on a post printing process from the job management information on the basis of the analysis result. A stylesheet corresponding to the extracted post printing process information is selected from a stylesheet storing unit which stores a stylesheet functioning as layout data for laying out and outputting post printing process information in accordance with the output form of an output destination. Work order form data of the corresponding post printing process is generated on the basis of the selected stylesheet and post printing process information.
US08031353B2
A data processing device includes a registering unit, a display unit, a settings-acquiring unit, and a virtual device renaming unit. The registering unit registers a plurality of communicable printers as a plurality of virtual devices. Each of the plurality of virtual devices has a plurality of functions. The display unit displays a plurality of virtual device names for the plurality of virtual devices. The settings-acquiring unit acquires a setting for at least one of the plurality of functions for each of the plurality of virtual device. The virtual device renaming unit changes at least one of the virtual device names for the plurality of the virtual devices to a device name representing the setting of a corresponding virtual device acquired by the settings-acquiring unit.
US08031352B2
In an apparatus capable of handing data received by a communication function, such as facsimile function or the like, information for generating a file name to be set for received data is registered so as to correspond to receiving conditions (for example, in facsimile reception, a sender's telephone number, an F code, a password and the like). When data has been received, receiving conditions are determined, and a file name based on the information registered for the data is set in accordance with the result of the determination. Thus, the receiving side can easily discriminate the contents of the data.
US08031350B2
If a user specifies shutdown of the power supply of an apparatus from a console, another apparatus connected to the same network is notified so as not to issue a request for a new shared job, and it is determined whether a scheduled shared job exists. The display on a display screen is changed in accordance with the result of the determination. If it is determined that a shared job exists, shutdown of the power supply is controlled in accordance with the status of execution of the shared job.
US08031345B2
A sensor system for analyzing a feature in a sensing volume. The sensor system includes a laser source and a sensor. The first laser source projects a laser line into the sensing volume and onto the feature forming a laser stripe on the feature. The sensor images the laser stripe where the laser line intersects with the feature. The relationship between the sensor and the first laser source is precalibrated. The sensor uses the laser stripe to determine the position and/or orientation of the feature.
US08031344B2
A stage configuration is provided, wherein a ceramic plate is used as the z-stage body to decrease the use of the metal plates in the conventional configuration, so that the compact structure of the z-stage may decrease the vibrational movements of the z-stage. Further, two Laser interferometer are used to detect a movement of different points along a vertical line of the z-stage sidewall to calculate a movement of the specimen surface, so that a horizontal movement of the specimen surface can be detected more accurately.
US08031341B2
The invention relates to a plasmon resonance optical detection device including a stack of layers comprising: a metal layer based on a noble metal that will generate said plasmon, a layer of dielectric material, at least one first semiconductor bond layer placed between said metal layer and said dielectric layer, said semiconductor layer covering a face of the metal layer.
US08031330B2
Mixed polarization state monitoring is presented. One method may include selecting a set of total dose values, and for each total dose value: exposing a location on a photoresist using illumination having an x-polarization value with an x-exposure dose ratio value of the total dose value, exposing the location on the photoresist using illumination having a y-polarization value with a y-exposure dose ratio value of the total dose value, and repeating the x-polarization value exposing and the y-polarization value exposing to achieve a range of mixed polarization states and a plurality of dose ratio values that range over extremes for the x-polarization exposure and the y-polarization exposure, each repeating occurring at a different location on the photoresist; and monitoring which mixed polarization states causes a change in an image printed at the different locations in the photoresist.
US08031326B2
In some embodiments, the disclosure provides an optical system, in particular an illumination system or a projection lens of a microlithographic exposure system, having an optical system axis and at least one element group including three birefringent elements each of which includes optically uniaxial material and having an aspheric surface, wherein a first birefringent element of the group has a first orientation of its optical crystal axis, a second birefringent element of the group has a second orientation of its optical crystal axis, wherein the second orientation can be described as emerging from a rotation of the first orientation, the rotation not corresponding to a rotation around the optical system axis by an angle of 90° or an integer multiple thereof, and a third birefringent element of the group has a third orientation of its optical crystal axis, wherein the third orientation can be described as emerging from a rotation of the second orientation, the rotation not corresponding to a rotation around the optical system axis by an angle of 90° or an integer multiple thereof.
