US08048258B2
To provide a resin composition for e.g. a temporary fixing adhesive which has a high adhesive strength and which is readily removable in water, and a temporary fixing method for a member by means thereof.A resin composition comprising component (A): N,N-diethylacrylamide and/or N-isopropylacrylamide, component (B): at least one member selected from the group consisting of a homopolymer of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, a homopolymer of N,N-dimethylacrylamide, a homopolymer of N,N-diethylacrylamide, a homopolymer of acryloylmorpholine, a homopolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide, and a copolymer of at least two monomers selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-diethylacrylamide, acryloylmorpholine and N-isopropylacrylamide, and component (C): a polymerization initiator. A temporary fixing method for a member and a surface protecting method for a member, by means the resin composition.
US08048233B2
A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, such as a chest tube, is disclosed in various embodiments. The device features a clearance member in the form of a loop. The loop desirably has a diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the medical tube. Also desirably, the loop presents a substantially unobstructed pathway therethrough for the flow of material from a location in the medical tube distal to the loop to a location in the medical tube proximal to the loop regardless whether the clearance member is being translated or is at rest in the medical tube. Methods of utilizing such a device are also disclosed.
US08048231B1
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a handheld cleaning device that sanitizes an item to be cleaned by, in a single action, dispensing ozone and ultrasonic wave cavitations in an aqueous medium that contains the object to be cleaned. The handheld device comprises a dipping end, which further comprises an ozone generator, dispensing ozone from the dipping end, and an ultrasonic wave generator generating ultrasonic cavitation in an aqueous medium. The device is configured to be held on a holding end, with a side opposite the holding end configured for dipping into an aqueous medium (e.g., water, cleaning fluid, liquids, etc.) which is contained in a vessel. The vessel is a concave structure capable of holding such aqueous medium, such as a sink, a bowl, a basin, and the like.
US08048226B2
A processing system for treating a substrate includes a process chamber, a substrate holder, a gas distribution system, and a flow modulation element. The process chamber has a pumping system to evacuate the process chamber. The substrate holder is coupled to the process chamber and supports the substrate. The gas distribution system is coupled to the process chamber. The gas distribution system introduces a process gas to a process space above an upper surface of the substrate. The flow modulation element is coupled to the substrate holder beyond a peripheral edge of the substrate. The flow modulation element includes one or more gas distribution openings that introduce an additive process gas beyond the peripheral edge of the substrate in a direction substantially away from the substrate. The additive process gas has a directional component substantially parallel to the upper surface of the substrate.
US08048219B2
A method of placing a concrete compositions including a) combining 3-40 volume percent cement, 5-50 volume percent fine aggregate, 5-50 volume percent coarse aggregate, and 10-22 volume percent water; b) adding 1.5-40 volume percent of prepuff particles to form a concrete composition; and c) pumping the concrete composition to a point higher in elevation than the delivery point of the concrete to place the concrete. The concrete composition contains less than 30 volume percent of other light weighting aggregates and the prepuff particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.02 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3. The slump value of the placed concrete measured according to ASTM C 143 is greater than 1 inch and the concrete has a density of from about 40 to about 135 lb./ft3.
US08048208B2
A method and device for separation of chalcogens from waste gases in process installations are provided so that complete and reliable removal of chalcogens occurs continuously during nonstop operation of the process installation in the most effective manner possible. The process installation is connected via a pipeline to an input connector of the device for separation of chalcogens arranged outside of the process installation. The pipeline and the input connector have a heat connection to the process chamber. The device for separation of chalcogens is provided with an outlet connector as well as a gas outlet is equipped with a cooling device so that the input connector is excluded from cooling.
US08048202B2
Systems and methods for treating water. Water containing one or more thermally destructible contaminants can be contacted with steam to provide an effluent containing essentially contaminant-free water and a recycle containing the steam and at least a portion of the one or more thermally destructible contaminants. The one or more thermally destructible contaminants in the recycle can be thermally destroyed using one or more combustion processes.
US08048199B2
A method of preparing a gas separation membrane system and the gas separation membrane system itself, wherein the method includes applying a layer of a gas-selective material to a porous substrate followed by heat-treating thereof in an inert gaseous atmosphere and then polishing and repeating these steps to thereby provide the gas separation membrane system or a structure that may suitably be used in a gas separation membrane system.
US08048194B2
A system and associated process are provided for recovering cadmium telluride (CdTe) that has plated onto components, such as components used in the manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The system includes a vacuum oven configured for maintaining a vacuum and being heated to a temperature effective for sublimating CdTe off of components placed within the oven. A collection member is disposed so that sublimated CdTe generated in the oven diffuses to the collection member. The collection member is maintained at a temperature effective for causing the sublimated CdTe to plate thereon. The collection member is subsequently processed to collect the plated CdTe.
US08048191B2
The present invention provides a compound powder for making magnetic powder cores, a kind of magnetic powder core, and a process for making them. Said compound powder is a mixture composing of powder A and powder B, the content of powder A is 50-96 wt % and the content of powder B is 4-50 wt %, wherein powder A is at least one selected from iron powder, Fe—Si powder, Fe—Si—Al powder, Fe-based nanocrystalline powder, Fe-based amorphous powder, Fe—Ni powder and Fe—Ni—Mo powder; powder B bears different requirement characteristics from powder A and is at least one selected from iron powder, Fe—Si powder, Fe—Si—Al powder, Fe-based nanocrystalline powder, Fe-based amorphous powder, Fe—Ni powder and Fe—Ni—Mo powder. Said powder B adopts Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic powder with good insulation property as insulating agent and thus core loss of magnetic powder core decreases. The decrease of magnetic permeability of magnetic powder core resulting from a traditional insulating agent is remedied and the initial magnetic permeability of magnetic powder core is improved by taking advantage of soft magnetic properties of Fe-based amorphous powder.
US08048190B2
This invention refers to a liquid fertilizer of organic and mineral origin where sabila and humic acid are used as sources of organic matter, to which may be added micronutrients iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium in the form of a soluble compound; furthermore, a chelating agent and a surfactant to make the nutrients more assimilable for the crops may be added. The invention consists of a liquid organic-mineral fertilizer whose organic base is sabila extract and/or humic acid; and the mineral elements conform to diverse added salts so that the fertilizer contains the essential micronutrients for all soil type (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium). Furthermore, the invention contains a chelating agent and a surfactant to improve the assimilation of the nutrients for the cultivations.
US08048185B2
A filter assembly configured to be incorporated into an exhaust treatment device, the filter assembly comprising: a plurality of channel frames secured to each other, each channel frame defining a perimeter for supporting a filter element, the perimeter surrounding a portion of the filter element.
US08048179B2
An air cleaner for a motor vehicle includes a housing having an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, a secondary air inlet opening and at least one peripheral wall defining a chamber therein. An air filter element is provided and received into the chamber and positioned to separate the air inlet opening from the air outlet opening. A vacuum actuated valve is provided in the secondary air inlet opening of the housing and is in communication with a secondary air portion of a dirty face of the filter element. The valve configured and adapted to automatically change from a closed to an open state when a vacuum in the housing increases to a predetermined vacuum value and then to close when the vacuum decreases below the predetermined value, thereby permitting the vehicle engine to continue to operate even though airflow in the primary air intake may be obstructed.
US08048178B2
A process for producing a purified synthesis gas stream from a carbonaceous feedstock, the process comprising (a) oxidizing a carbonaceous feedstock to obtain syngas containing hydrogen sulphide, (b) mixing the synthesis gas with methanol, reducing the temperature of said mixture and separating a liquid methanol-water mixture from a cooled syngas, (c) contacting the cooled syngas with methanol to decrease the content of hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide thereby obtaining a rich methanol stream comprising hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, (d) regenerating the rich methanol stream by separating from the rich methanol a carbon dioxide fraction and a hydrogen sulphide fraction to obtain lean methanol, wherein part of the methanol in the methanol-water mixture obtained in step (b) is isolated and reused in step (b) and/or (c) and wherein another part of the methanol in the methanol-water mixture obtained in step (b) is recycled to step (a).
US08048177B2
A method for treating drain in hydrogen production includes steps of gasifying in a gasifier (1), reforming in a reformer (2), gas-liquid separation in a gas-liquid separator (4), PSA gas separation in a PSA separator (5) and evaporation in a drain treatment unit (6). In the gasifying, a mixed material containing methanol is heated and gasified. In the reforming, reformed gas containing hydrogen is produced from the mixed material by reforming reaction of methanol. In the gas-liquid separation, a liquid component is separated from the reformed gas and discharged as drain. In the PSA gas separation, hydrogen-rich gas and offgas are extracted from the reformed gas by PSA separation using an adsorption tower. In the gasifying, the offgas is burned, and the mixed material is heated by using the combustion gas as heat source. In the evaporation, drain is evaporated using the combustion gas after heating the mixed material as heat source.
US08048163B2
A knee arthroplasty prosthesis includes a femoral component having multiple pieces with engagement means provided for engaging various pieces of the femoral component to one another following their insertion in the incised area of the femur. A tibial component includes multiple pieces designed for assembly following positioning in the incision. The tibial component includes a Morse taper cavity on one piece of the tibial component and a Morse taper extension on another member of the component for receipt therein.
US08048160B2
A stent, or device for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall, or annulus fibrosus, after surgical incision or pathologic rupture, which is inserted through an aperture into the subannular space. The stent has radial extensions which are caused or allowed to expand into an expanded configuration to bridge the aperture. The stent thereby occludes the defective region from the inside of the vertebral disc and prevents the migration of nucleus pulposus therethrough, while also providing a scaffold for tissue growth.
US08048159B2
An intervertebral spacer device includes first and second plates disposed in a spaced apart relationship, each plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the opposing plates facing one another. The device also includes a restoring force providing element disposed between the inner surfaces of the plates. The restoring force providing element includes a slotted belleville washer having a convex shape when unloaded and a flatter shape when loaded, whereby one or more slots of the belleville washer widen when compressively loaded. The second plate has an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the second plate, the device including a retaining wall and a retaining ring, whereby a wide end of the belleville washer is captured by the retaining wall and the retaining ring for maintaining the wide end adjacent the inner surface of the second plate.
US08048157B2
Measuring devices and methods of determining the appropriate graft length for reconstructive surgery, for example for an all-inside ACL reconstruction ligament repair. The measuring device accurately determines the graft length based on the total length between the femoral and tibial tunnels (sockets) plus the intraarticular space between them. The measuring device may comprise two small, cannulated beads (preferably polished metal) and three strands (for example, three suture strands). The beads may have a diameter of about 5 mm and the three sutures may preferably have distinct and different colors.
US08048151B2
A vascular stent comprising a drug-eluting outer layer of a porous sputtered columnar metal having each column capped with a biocompatible carbon-containing material is described. This is done by placing the stent over a close-fitting mandrel and rotating the assembly in a sputter flux. The result is a coating that is evenly distributed over the outward-facing side of the stent's wire mesh while preventing the sputtered columnar coating from reaching the inward facing side where a smooth hemocompatible surface is required. The stent is then removed from the mandrel, exposing all surfaces, and finally coated with a layer of carbon such as amorphous carbon or diamond-like carbon. The carbonaceous coating enhances biocompatibility without preventing elutriation of a therapeutic drug provided in the porosity formed between the columnar structures. The result is a stent that is adapted to both the hemodynamic and the immune response requirements of its vascular environment.
US08048147B2
Branched braided stent or graft devices and processes for fabrication of the devices are disclosed in which a trunk portion and two hinge leg portions are fabricated in one piece braided from a single plurality of filaments, whereby the legs contain the full plurality of filaments and the trunk portion contains a subset of the same plurality of filaments. The fabrication process involves braiding the hinged legs on a mandrel while retaining loops of filament between the hinged leg portions for subsequent braiding of the trunk portion of the stent or graft.
US08048143B2
Medical devices including one or more ceramic fibers are disclosed. In some embodiments, each dimension of the ceramic fiber(s) is equal to or greater than one micron.
US08048140B2
An intraluminal prosthesis is provided for strengthening a main lumen and a branch lumen that branches from the main lumen. The intraluminal prosthesis can comprise two tubular grafts. The first tubular graft can have a flexible body with a fenestration. The second tubular graft can have a flexible body that is configured for intraluminal coupling to the fenestration of the first tubular graft. The flexible body of the second tubular graft can have an outer dimension that is about equal to an inner dimension of the fenestration of the first tubular graft. The second tubular graft can also have a terminal stent that curves outwardly from a proximal end of the flexible body of the second tubular graft, whereby the terminal stent acts to couple the second tubular graft to the first tubular graft.
US08048137B2
Each leg of a U tube blanket is configured to have at least one row of holes extending substantially along the length thereof. The size of the holes is incrementally increased from the proximal portion that is closest to the air inlet cross section of the blanket where heated air is input to the blanket for inflating the same to the distal portion of the legs of the blanket. For an embodiment of the inventive blanket, the plurality of vent holes along each leg of the blanket are grouped into a number of sections, for illustration purposes three, with the vent holes in each section having the same dimension. With the size of the holes being incrementally larger along the leg away from the heat source, a greater amount of warm air is output at the distal portion of the blanket to compensate for the distance the warm air needs to travel before it is vented from the blanket. As a result, a substantially evenly distributed bath of warm air is output from the legs of the blanket to the sides of the patient so that the patient is evenly warmed along his entire body. Straps that are separable from the legs of the blanket are provided to secure the blanket to the patient.
US08048135B2
The present invention provides for a hair restoration device and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In one embodiment, the hair restoration device is comprised of a hairbrush body housing a plurality of wide-pattern laser LEDs configured to cooperate to project a precision laser light pattern at a focal plane proximate a skin area to be irradiated; and bristles extending from the hairbrush body and terminating substantially at the focal plane.
US08048130B2
An implant is provided for fixing neighboring bone plates of the cranial bone in a simple and reliable manner. The implant comprises an outer bearing element for covering a spacing gap between the bone plates, which sits on outer surfaces of the bone plates. The outer bearing element has a first pair of outer openings and a first pair of inner openings. An inner bearing element is provided for covering the spacing gap between the bone plates, which sits on inner surfaces of the bone plates. The inner bearing element has a second pair of outer openings and a second pair of inner openings. A tensioning element is provided which is threaded through the openings of the outer and inner bearing elements in a displaceable manner, such that, when tensioned, the tensioning element draws the inner bearing element and the outer bearing element together.
US08048128B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08048127B2
The invention concerns a bone fixing device (1) for immobilizing a linking rod (2) designed to connect at least one bone fragment (3) to another, said device comprising: at least one anchoring means (4) designed to be fixed on or in said bone fragment (3); at least one receiving part (7), secured to said anchoring means (4), designed to receive at least part of said linking rod (2); locking means (8) designed to lock said part of the linking rod (2) within said receiving part (7). The invention is characterized in that said locking means comprise at least one solid element (8) having a longitudinal axis, said solid element including at least one inclined surface (9) capable, under the action of a thrust directed along the longitudinal axis of said solid element, of gradually wedging by friction said part of the linking rod (2) into said receiving part (7), until said part of the linking rod (2) is completely locked inside said receiving part (7). The invention also concerns an assembly comprising such a device and a linking rod.
US08048125B2
A versatile offset connector for connecting components of a dynamic stabilization system which supports the spine while providing for the preservation of spinal motion. Alternative embodiments can be used for spine fusion. Embodiments of the dynamic stabilization system have an anchor system, a deflection system, a vertical rod system and a connection system. The anchor system anchors the construct to the spinal anatomy. The deflection system provides dynamic stabilization while reducing the stress exerted upon the bone anchors and spinal anatomy. The connection system includes coaxial connectors and offset connectors which adjustably connect the deflection system, vertical rod system and anchor system allowing for appropriate, efficient and convenient placement of the anchor system relative to the spine.
US08048118B2
An adjustable interspinous process brace is disclosed and can include a superior component. The superior component can include a superior spinous process bracket that can engage a superior spinous process. Further, the adjustable interspinous process brace can include an inferior component. The inferior component can include an inferior spinous process bracket that can engage an inferior spinous process. Further, the inferior component can be movably engaged with the superior component from a retracted position to an extended position. In the extended position, a distance between the superior spinous process bracket and the inferior spinous process bracket can be increased.
US08048115B2
A surgical implantation tool and method is provided for implanting a dynamic bone anchor into a vertebra. The tool has an internal bore in which the deflectable post fits and a socket which engages the bone anchor. A quick release mechanism secures the deflectable post in the bore so that the bone anchor and implantation tool are held together during implantation. The implantation tool is sized to fit through a cannula to the operative site to allow minimally invasive implantation of the dynamic bone anchor.
US08048109B2
A method of preventing tissue creep using a surgical retractor apparatus having one or more independent, removable extension members adapted to be mounted at the distal end of the retractor, or between the blades of a spreadable retractor, after the retractor has been positioned in the patient, such that a significant portion of the extension member extends beyond the distal end of the retractor to preclude or minimize intrusion of tissue into the access area created by the retractor. The extension members may vary in size and shape so that the most appropriate extension member can be chosen to address the intrusion problem, and the extension members may be mounted at various fixed locations, using clips, mechanical interlocking structures or the like.
US08048107B2
A forceps includes two arms, two nipping tips and two sleeves. Each sleeve defines a through hole therein and forms a plurality of threads on an inner surface thereof. Each arm forms a first mounting pole towards a corresponding nipping tip. Each nipping tip forms a second mounting pole towards a corresponding arm. The first and second mounting poles each have a thread section and a smooth section. The first mounting pole and the second mounting pole abut against each other and are received in the through hole of a corresponding sleeve. The thread section of the first mounting pole and the thread section of the second mounting pole cooperatively form a thread pole. The smooth section of the first mounting pole and the smooth section of the second mounting pole cooperatively form a smooth pole. The sleeve is threaded with the thread pole.
US08048103B2
An embolic protection filtering device having an improved filter loop and methods of making and using the same. The filter loop may include a coil or coil region and a flattened region. Additionally, the filter loop may include a loop tip.
US08048097B2
A single use lancet assembly having a housing, with an open interior and a piercing aperture defined therein, a lancet, with a body and a piercing tip positioned in the open interior of the housing and movable between a cocked orientation and a piercing orientation, a driving assembly structured to move the lancet into the piercing orientation, and a single use trigger assembly structured to actuate an actuating mechanism thereby allowing the lancet to move, at least temporarily, from its cocked orientation to its piercing orientation. The single use trigger assembly is structured such that it may not be positioned to actuate the actuating mechanism more than one time, thereby preventing inadvertent or intentional re-use of a contaminated piercing tip.
US08048088B2
The invention is directed to manipulator assembly (2) for holding and manipulating a surgical instrument (14) in a telerobotic system. The assembly comprises a base (6) fixable by passive or power driven positioning devices to a surface, such as an operating table, and an instrument holder (4) movably mounted on the base. The instrument holder comprises a chassis (6) and an instrument support (70) movably mounted on the body and having an interface engageable with the surgical instrument to releasably mount the instrument to the instrument holder. A drive assembly (7) is operatively coupled to the instrument holder for providing the instrument with at least two degrees of freedom. The instrument holder is separable from the base and the drive assembly so that the holder can be sterilized. The assembly further includes a force sensing element (52) mounted distal to the holder and the drive assembly for detecting forces exerted on the surgical instrument and providing feedback to the surgeon. The assembly is attached to a remote center positioner (300) for constraining the instrument to rotate a point coincident with the entry incision and an inclinometer (350) for preventing gravitational forces acting on the system's mechanisms from being felt by the surgeon.
US08048085B2
A cartridge for delivering an intraocular lens into the eye of a subject that comprises a body disposed along a longitudinal axis having a distal end and a proximal end, and a tapered lumen disposed along the longitudinal axis having an aperture at the distal end of the body. The aperture and at least a portion of the tapered lumen each consist of an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portions of the aperture and lumen each have a first width and a cross-section that is generally arcuate. The lower portions of the aperture and lumen each have a cross-section that is generally horizontally disposed and have a second width that is greater than the first width of the aperture and lumen. The cartridge may be loaded with an intraocular lens using a packaging system. The intraocular lens may be placed into the eye of a subject using a corresponding inserter having a pushrod with a saddle disposed at the tip thereof. The intraocular lens is preferably draped over the saddle during insertion.
US08048084B2
So that a surgical instrument for inserting an intervertebral implant into an intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of two vertebrae of a human or animal spinal column, wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a first abutment element for abutment against one of the two adjacent vertebral bodies as well as a second abutment element directly or indirectly supported in an articulated manner on the first abutment element for abutment against the other of the two adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the instrument comprises an elongate shank, which defines a longitudinal direction and on the distal end of which at least two abutment-element holding elements are provided for detachable connection to the first and the second abutment element, and a spacer element, which projects from the distal end of the shank in extension thereof and which, when the abutment elements are connected to the instrument, engages between the abutment elements and holds them a defined spacing apart from one another, may be improved in such a way that with it a plurality of different implants, in particular of differing sizes, is insertable through different approaches into the intervertebral space, it is proposed that the spacer element is supported movably relative to at least one of the two abutment-element holding elements.
US08048081B2
Methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions that change the spacial relationship between the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disks, or that cause instability of the vertebral column, or both, and a method and devices that allow the surgeon to access the intervertebral space to restore a more normal three-dimensional configuration of the space, with or without additionally fusing two adjacent vertebrae.
US08048077B2
In a sternum closure device for securing two sternum parts to be connected to one another, comprising an inner contact element to abut the inner face of the sternum, at least one clamping element secured thereto and projecting transversely therefrom, and comprising an outer contact element for abutment on the outer side of the sternum and which can be clamped by means of the clamping element guided through the intermediate space between the sternum parts against the inner contact element, in order to reduce the obstruction by the sternum closure device in the event of a renewed separation of the sternum parts, it is proposed that the inner contact element consists at least partially of a biocompatible plastics material.
US08048072B2
A medical device for ablating tissues within a heart chamber comprising a guiding member intended to be introduced in the oesophagus of the patient and an ablating member comprising an ablation electrode mounted at the distal end or tip of catheter. Both the head of the guiding member and the tip of the ablating member are magnetised and can enter into magnetic coupling when their distal ends are brought in close contact. Once the magnetic coupling is achieved, the tip of the ablating member is guided by moving the guiding member. The guiding member can include sensors enabling to monitor physiological parameters during the intervention.
US08048071B2
A method for creating a channel through a foreign material located in a body of a patient, the foreign material defining a material first surface and a substantially opposed material second surface, the channel extending through the foreign material between the material first and second surfaces, the method using an apparatus including a substantially elongated member defining a proximal end region and a substantially longitudinally opposed distal end region, the apparatus including an electrode located about the distal end region, the method comprising: introducing the distal end region into the body of the patient; positioning the electrode substantially adjacent to the material first surface; energizing the electrode with a radiofrequency current; and using the electrode energized with the radiofrequency current to deliver energy into the foreign material to create the channel.
US08048048B2
A method and system for measuring a urinary flow rate minimizes impact noise caused by urine to measure the urinary flow rate using a plurality of load cells when prostatic hypertrophy is diagnosed. The method includes measuring an amount of urine collected into a container using a plurality of load cells, extracting and averaging urinary flow rate signals from the measured results, and removing the impact noise from the urinary flow rate signals, converting the urinary flow rate signals into digital signals through an A/D converting circuit, and outputting the digital signals using a personal computer or a microprocessor analyzer which is interfaced with the A/D converting circuit.
US08048047B2
A surgical cassette having a filter media sealingly disposed between a first rigid surface and a second rigid surface in a filter chamber of the cassette housing provides improved air filtering for the cassette.
US08048044B2
A drug delivery system including a chamber, which is configured for enclosing or covering at least a surface of a patient, a source of a drug, and a pressure source, which selectively pressurizes the chamber. In addition, the system includes a controller for controlling the transfer of the drug to the chamber wherein the drug is administered to the surface of the patient under pressure.
US08048037B2
An injection device including a drive unit, a delivery unit, a dosing unit, a trigger for triggering an injection, a first coupling mechanism between the drive unit and the delivery unit, and a second coupling mechanism between the dosing unit and the drive unit, wherein the drive unit is tensioned by a rotation of the dosing unit and when the drive unit is tensioned the first coupling mechanism is disengaged and the second coupling mechanism is engaged, and wherein when an injection is triggered first the first coupling mechanism is engaged and then the second coupling mechanism is disengaged. In some embodiments, the device may include a third coupling mechanism which only releases the delivery unit after the engagement and disengagement which follow a triggering.
US08048036B2
A hypodermic needle assembly configured such that the movement of a needle shield into position to block the needle tip occurs as a direct consequence of a longitudinal force applied by insertion of a syringe plunger is provided. The hypodermic needle assembly according to the present invention comprises a needle, a needle hub, and a safety spring clip assembly, the safety spring clip assembly being configured to automatically launch from the needle hub and slide along the needle until the spring clip meets a needle stop at the needle tip, thus preventing the guard from being removed from the needle shaft. A method of using the hypodermic needle assembly according to the present invention is also provided, which includes the method of launching the spring clip with a syringe having multiple advancing mechanisms.
US08048034B2
A sheath for delivering a lead or other device into a body lumen is adapted to be removed from around the delivered lead or device via a longitudinally extending feature. This feature of the sheath may be a ripcord, a seam or interlocking features the releasably engage one another.
US08048028B2
The invention relates to medical balloons, and methods of modifying said balloons by forming a void pattern in their exterior surfaces and filling the voids with a material, such as a fiber or a nanomaterial (e.g., nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes) and a matrix material, e.g., a polymer.
US08048026B2
A deflectable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a deflectable distal tip. A support member is coupled around a proximal portion of the catheter shaft, and the support member includes a first brake portion extending along at least a portion of the support member. A handle is coupled around the support member. The deflectable catheter includes a carriage moveably coupled along the handle, and the carriage includes a second brake portion sized and shaped to engage with at least a portion of the first brake portion. A flexible element is coupled between the deflectable distal tip and the carriage. A biasing device is adapted to bias the second brake portion into engagement with the first brake portion.
US08048024B2
A hand-holdable steering mechanism is used as part of a medical device such as a catheter or an endoscope to allow movement of a steerable distal portion of the catheter or endoscope. The mechanism can include a housing, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to move the steerable portion along a first plane when the first actuator is moved between first and second positions. The second actuator is configured to move the steerable portion along a second plane different than the first plane when the second actuator is moved between first and second positions.
US08048007B2
Disclosed are adjustable powered rehabilitation devices and methods for using the same to rehabilitate and/or train a user. The rehabilitation devices preferably have a plurality of selectable power settings that correspond to one or more rehabilitation-oriented actions or functions of the rehabilitation devices. For example, the power of the rehabilitation device may be selected based on a need, ability, muscle-power and/or physiological characteristics of the user. For instance, a rehabilitation device may be operated at a relatively low power setting to allow a patient to use his or her own muscle power when moving with the rehabilitation device. The rehabilitation device may also include an adjustable sensitivity level that corresponds to a user difficulty in triggering a particular rehabilitation-oriented action. The powered rehabilitation device may also temporarily be used to train a user in interacting with a passive or more conventional prosthetic device.
US08048003B2
A biopsy device is disclosed that comprises a cutting element mounted to a handpiece and a vacuum chamber. The cutting element comprises a stylet assembly and an outer cannula assembly. The stylet assembly includes a stylet that includes an open proximal end and a tissue opening at a distal end thereof. The distal end of the stylet is blunt-shaped. The tissue receiving opening is in communication with a lumen extending through the stylet. The outer cannula assembly includes an outer cannula that is slidably mounted over the stylet and has an open distal end with a cutting edge formed thereon. The vacuum chamber is in communication with the lumen of the stylet. The stylet is selectively advanced distally outwardly with respect to outer cannula to expose the tissue opening to targeted tissue. The outer cannula is selectively advanced over the tissue opening to sever tissue, while vacuum is generated in the vacuum chamber and delivered to the tissue opening through the lumen. The vacuum causes tissue to be drawn into and maintained in the tissue opening while the outer cannula severs tissue to obtain a biopsy core.
US08048002B2
A method of training a subject to improve anticipatory timing includes presenting the subject with multiple sequences of stimuli, receiving sensor signals associated with responses by the subject to the stimuli, and recording response times in accordance with the sensor signals, wherein the recorded response times are associated with the responses by the subject to the multiple sequences of stimuli, and wherein the response times have an associated distribution. The method further includes analyzing the distribution of response times for the subject to determine variability in anticipatory timing of the subject with respect to the stimuli, and generating a subject feedback signal corresponding to a result of the analyzing so as to train the subject to improve anticipatory timing of the subject.
US08047986B2
A molded and undivided medical penetrating device comprises a first portion and a second substantially tubular portion having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the second substantially tubular portion of the device is joined to and is integral with the first portion of the device and is adapted to be maintained essentially outside a body while the first portion of the device is adapted to be retained within the interior of the body. The device includes an opening that extends through the first and second portions of the device and provides access to the interior of the body from outside the body. The opening and the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device define a wall that is thinner at the proximal end of the second portion than towards the distal end of the second portion.
US08047985B2
The present invention provides a confocal endoscope, microscope or endomicroscope including a light source of coherent light for illuminating a sample, a beam splitter and light receiving means, wherein an incident beam of light from the light source is directed onto the beam splitter and hence onto the sample, and light returning from the sample and incident on the beam splitter is deviated or displaced by the beam splitter by a small angle or distance relative to the incident beam, and received by the light receiving means located to receive the returning light and near the light source. The invention also a method for performing confocal endoscopy or microscopy including illuminating a sample by means of an incident or excitatory beam of coherent light, and deviating or displacing light returning from the sample by a small angle or distance relative to the incident beam.
US08047981B2
A sling including a material having a plurality of edges. At least one of the edges of the material has a pattern of projections.
US08047976B2
An item handling system includes a vacuum source, a transport element defining a plurality of vacuum openings in fluid communication with the vacuum source to create a securing force on an item proximate to the transport element for holding the item in contact with the transport element, and a drive element for driving the transport element to transport the item. The transport element further defines a plurality of sensor openings arranged in two substantially parallel arrays along a longitudinal direction of the transport element. The system further includes a sensor associated with each array of sensor openings for sensing energy passing through the sensor openings to thereby sense the item on the transport element. Each sensor is disposed at a common longitudinal position relative to the transport element. Sensing the item corresponds to a condition where the sensor associated with each array is blocked.
US08047975B1
A dumbbell assembly includes at least one bar and a disk is fixedly connected to the at least one bar. The disk has a reception portion. A rotatable unit is engaged with the reception portion of the disk. An arm has an insertion which is connected to the rotatable unit and a disk is connected to the arm. At least one weight member is connected to the wing. The user holds the at least one bar and operates the dumbbell assembly, the wing together with the weight member are rotated about the at least one bar to generate centrifugal forces which exercise the user's muscles.
US08047952B2
A front wheel drive transmission is provided having a transmission input member, a transmission output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake arranged within a transmission housing.
US08047950B2
A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08047942B2
The apparatus includes a hydrostatic stepless speed change section 20 receiving an output of an engine 1, a planetary transmission section 3a having a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms PF, PR and a plurality of output members 41, 42, the planetary transmission section being configured to combine a drive force outputted from the hydrostatic stepless speed change section 20 and an engine drive force that has not been subjected to any speed change action by the hydrostatic stepless speed change section 20, and a speed change output section 3b having an output shaft 70, the speed change output section being configured to output combined drives force outputted from the plurality of output members 41, 42 in a plurality of different speed ranges from the output shaft 70. The speed change output section 3b includes a plurality of transmission mechanisms 71-74 disposed between the plurality of output members 41, 42 and the output shaft 70, and clutches CL1-CL4 provided in correspondence with the respective plurality of transmission mechanisms.
US08047936B2
An electronic catch-and-throw game is disclosed that requires physical skill, logical thought, and advancing complexity in order to challenge players of all skill levels and hold their interest.
US08047929B2
A golf club having a bent hosel. The hosel is approximately five inches long and the bend is approximately centered on the hosel. The hosel is connected to the golf club base to angle toward the golfer. At its middle, or approximately two and one half inches above the golf club base, the hosel is bent away from the golfer to a nearly vertical angle. The shaft of the golf club is connected to the upper portion of the bent hosel causing the shaft to continue at the nearly vertical angle. The novel angling of the hosel and shaft allow an average golfer to consistently hit straighter shots beginning with a putter, but including golf irons and golf woods.
US08047918B2
To provide a network game system capable of switching a server-client machine, while avoiding deterioration in the excitement of a game. A network game system (10) causes each of a plurality of game machines (12) to operate as a client and at least one of the plurality of game machines (12) to operate as a server. In the where a switching determination time arrives, a switching determination unit (52) determines whether or not to switch the game machine (12) operating as a server from the game machine (12) currently operating as the server to another game machine (12) of the plurality of game machines (12), based on the play evaluation value corresponding to each of at least one of the game machines (12). In the case where it is determined not to switch the game machine (12) operating as the server from the game machine (12) currently operating as the server to another game machine, a switching determination inhibiting unit (56) inhibits a switching determination unit (52) from making a decision during a period before a given switching inhibited period elapses.
US08047908B2
In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes for one or more players. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to one or more players (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). This allows one or more players to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). At least one player who is associated with such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith.
US08047904B2
A method for controlling a plurality of fans operatively disposed in a shipping container. The fans are arranged in a plurality of banks within a closed fluid path. Each bank has a sub-set of the fans arranged in a plurality of horizontal layers. Two banks form an adjacent pair in the closed fluid path if a fluid exiting one of the two banks next enters the other of the two banks. The method includes determining a proposed fluid flow rate for each of the banks. The method also includes modifying each of the flow rates by a respective scaling factor such that the flow rates for each adjacent pair satisfy a continuity criteria. The method further includes controlling the fans based on the modified flow rates.
US08047902B2
A device for treating products, in particular massaging meat products, comprises at least one treatment section with a space for receiving the products. The space comprises a treatment device for treating the products. A discharge device is provided for discharging the products from the space of the treatment section. The discharge device can be brought into an active and an inactive operating state with the aid of an actuating device.
US08047897B2
To provide a high-rigidity flat grinding device, a substrate flat grinding device has three fastening plate lifting-and-lowering mechanisms that have kinematic couplings and a cylinder rod that move the fastening plate upward or downward. Being a high-rigidity grinding device in which the load of the fastening plate 6 also is a load on the grindstone 14 that does the grinding, there is little deflection in the thickness distribution of the substrates that are obtained, even if they are semiconductor substrates having a large substrate diameter of 450 mm.
US08047890B1
A toy construction set has a plurality of interconnectable objects each having a plurality of faces. Some of these faces have a connector, while other faces lack a connector but have a fibrous or pierceable material. The connector includes a first hub and a second hub that are concentrically nested. Each of the hubs has on one side thereof a plurality of spiral prongs. The spiral prongs on the first hub spiral in a direction opposite that of the spiral prongs on the second hub. The connector also has a manually operable link connected between the first and the second hub for relatively rotating them in opposite directions. The play activity proceeds by adjoining a pair of the objects with a prominent, connector-bearing face of one of the pair touching a prominent connector-free face of the other one of the pair. The player will counter-rotate the hubs in the connector of the prominent connector-bearing face to embed their spiral prongs in the fibrous or pierceable material of the prominent connector-free face.
US08047889B2
A block set is provided, which comprises at least two blocks, and a container box for storing the two blocks. Each of the two blocks includes a wireless chip. The wireless chip has a memory which stores an identification number. The container box includes a reader for obtaining information of the wireless chip, an interface portion for communicating with a server via the Internet the information of the wireless chip and for receiving a manual from the server via the Internet, a memory for storing the manual, and a display portion for displaying the manual.
US08047867B2
A connecting assembly for an electric cylinder and a control box includes an electric cylinder, an electric control box and a sheathing ring. The electric cylinder includes an actuator and a contractible pipe module perpendicularly connected to an end of the actuator. The electric control box is disposed on an internal side at a right-angled position with respect to the actuator and the contractible pipe module and slidably connected to a side of the actuator. The sheathing ring is sheathed onto a contractible pipe module and slidably connected to a side of the electric control box. The connecting assembly of the invention not only achieves a screwless application, but also provides a quick, simple, convenient and stable assembling process.
US08047866B2
A transmission cable assembly is connected between an ignition coil and a spark plug to transmit a high voltage generated by the ignition coil to the spark plug for ignition of a fuel-air mixture. The transmission cable assembly includes a transmission cable and a grounding unit. The transmission cable includes a high-voltage wire for transmission of high voltage and an insulation jacket wrapped around an outside surface of the high-voltage wire. The grounding unit is made of an electrically conductive substance and includes a grounding layer and multiple grounding wires. The grounding layer completely covers and tightly engages the insulation jacket. The grounding wires each have an end connected to an inside surface of the grounding layer.
US08047864B1
An electrical connector is provided, in which each conductive terminal is respectively provided with a first connecting portion at left and right sides of a contact pin of a chip module. A first contact arm and a second contact arm respectively extend upwards from each of the paired first connecting portions, the two first contact arms and the two second contact arms are respectively used for conducting the contact pin, and elastically deform in directions substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the contact pin. The first contact arm and the second contact arm extending from the same first connecting portion are independent of each other.
US08047863B2
A locking mechanism is provided for locking a removable data carrier in a support structure of an electronic device. The locking mechanism includes a movable locking element, indicating unit and a locking element control unit. The movable locking element is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, where the locking element, in its locked position, prevents the removal of the data carrier from the support structure.
US08047854B2
A detachable element positioning structure disposed at a side of a slot for positioning a detachable element in the slot is disclosed. The detachable element positioning structure includes a first elastic arm and a second elastic arm connected to the slot. The first elastic arm touches a top surface of the detachable element. The second elastic arm connects to the slot and has a protrusion. The detachable element has a side notch, and the protrusion is coupled to the side notch.
US08047853B2
A printed circuit board including a P1 connector, a P2 connector, and a first common connector configured to connect an application-specific connector to the printed circuit board.
US08047843B2
There are disclosed methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth, and interdental matrix stabilizers that can be used in the methods. The matrix stabilizer includes an elongated elastic body having a first end portion, a second opposite end portion, a middle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The middle portion includes a first section attached to the first end portion, a first intermediate section attached to a central section and the first section, a second intermediate section attached to the central section opposite the first end portion, and a second section attached to the second intermediate section and the second end portion. The first side surface of the body includes a curved outwardly extending protrusion on the first intermediate section and a curved outwardly extending protrusion on the second intermediate section. The protrusions stabilize a dental matrix.
US08047840B2
A valve for adjusting the flow of water through an oral irrigation device is connected to a shower head by a flexible conduit. The valve is located on a handle connected to a water-dispensing pick for cleaning teeth and gums. Mixing apparatus is provided for injecting a secondary fluid, such as a mouthwash, into the flexible conduit upstream from the pick in a direct stream from the shower head.
US08047837B2
Candles are provided for dispensing air treatment chemicals in response to heat. There is a lid bearing the air treatment chemical. The candle includes a housing with a combustible fuel. An upper lid includes a cover plate bearing the air treatment chemical and an opening centrally disposed in the plate to allow heated air to pass through when the fuel is being combusted. The plate is suspended across an upper end of a side wall of the housing creating an air gap adjacent the radial periphery of the lid. When the fuel is combusted the air treatment chemical can be heated thereby and carried away by heated air that has passed through the central opening, and the air gap can permit cooler air to enter the cavity while the fuel is being combusted.
US08047831B2
A mold unit is provided for molding an object part to be molded which is arranged on an object. The mold unit includes: a fixed core, having a dividing surface thereon; a molding die which is incorporated in the fixed core to mold the object part to be molded; and an auxiliary die interposed between the molding die and the dividing surface of the fixed core to ensure a positional accuracy of the object part to be molded with respect to the object by modifying the auxiliary die.
US08047823B2
A scroll-type fluid machine has a movable scroll (50) that forms pressure chambers (52) in between the movable scroll (50) and a fixed scroll (40) and is orbitable relative to the fixed scroll (40), a support wall (14) that is provided for the housing (10) and supports thrust load transmitted from the movable scroll (50), and a thrust bearing (74) disposed in between the movable scroll (50) and the support wall (14). The thrust bearing (74) includes a ring-shaped support face (64) formed in the support wall (14), a retention plate (76) fixed onto the support face (64), a retention hole (86) that is formed in the retention plate (76) and opens in both faces of the retention plate (76), and a pressure-receiving piece (88) retained in a retention hole (86) and brought into surface contact with both the support face (64) and the movable scroll (50).
US08047819B2
A tubing holding device for a roller pump is disclosed. The tubing holding device is removable from the roller pump, slidably moveable and able to be opened to allow for easy exchange of tubing in roller pumps. The tubing holding device comprises a clamping mechanism that securely holds tubing in place. Tubing of various sizes may be used within a roller pump by selecting the appropriately sized tubing holding device, or by using a tubing holding device, such as one embodiment disclosed, which may be adjustable for different sizes of tubing. Roller pumps including the tubing holding devices, and methods of loading such roller pumps are also disclosed.
US08047815B2
A pump for use in handling one or more different process fluids includes a plurality of pumping chambers having a process fluid inlet and a process fluid outlet, process fluid outlet coupled to a process fluid valve on each pumping chamber for selectively preventing and allowing the flow of process fluid through the pumping chamber, an actuation mechanism for pumping actuating fluid to a plurality of actuating fluid chambers in fluid communication with the actuating fluid chambers to permit flow into each actuating fluid chamber of actuating fluid, and at least one diaphragm separating each pumping chamber from an associated actuating fluid chamber, for separating process fluid from actuating fluid. Operation of the actuation mechanism displaces actuating fluid and causes actuating fluid to flow only into each of the actuating fluid chambers having an opened process fluid valve, resulting in pumping.
US08047810B2
A double-headed piston type compressor connected with an external device is provided. The compressor includes a plurality of cylinder bore pairs, double-headed pistons, a first rotary valve, a second rotary valve, first suction passages, and second suction passages. In each cylinder bore pair, a first time period from a first top dead center timing, which is timing when the double-headed piston reaches a top dead center in a first compression chamber, to a first communication start timing, which is timing when a first introduction passage starts to communicate with a first suction passage, is different from a second time period from a second top dead center timing, which is timing when the double-headed piston reaches a top dead center in a second compression chamber, to a second communication start timing, which is timing when the second introduction passage starts to communicate with a second suction passages.
US08047808B2
A system pumps liquid. The system includes a compressed air source and a pump for vertically moving the liquid upward. The pump is powered by the compressed air source. The pump includes a first container, a second container disposed interior to the first container, and a U-shaped tube disposed interior to the first and second containers. The compressed air source supplies compressed air to the U-shaped tube at a vertical portion of the U-shaped tube.
US08047807B2
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle transmission with jet pump. The jet pump includes a hydraulic control system that has a nozzle fitted between a first and second housing. The nozzle is separable from the first and second housing. The hydraulic control system is configured to produce a jet stream of fluid through a center section of the nozzle.
US08047805B2
The present invention provides a sump pump control system. The system includes a mounting fixture fabricated from a corrosion resistant material, and an electrical control comprising solid state electrical components supported by the mounting fixture. The sump pump control system also includes a diving bell cover. The diving bell cover has an open bottom, and is dimensioned to cover the electrical components. The diving bell cover is releasably secured to a support surface of the mounting fixture. The electrical control controls the operation of a sump pump. Should water rise to a level of the electrical components due to failure of the sump pump or due to quickly rising water, the diving bell cover will prevent water from contacting the electrical components. A method of removing water from a subterranean vault is also provided herein.
US08047804B2
A method of assembling a tower for use with a wind turbine is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of tower segments. Each tower segment includes a first interface and a second interface. The method also includes bonding the first interface of a first tower segment to the second interface of a second tower segment using an adhesive composition.
US08047803B2
A fan apparatus includes a fan section having a hollow housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a hollow duct section disposed on the outlet side of the fan section. The housing and the duct section are coupled by a coupling member.
US08047799B2
A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member with an internal cavity therebetween. The shell members are joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond paste along a bond line having a designed width. A sleeve is disposed within the internal cavity between the upper and lower shell members along at least one of the leading or trailing edges, with the bond paste contained within the sleeve. The sleeve has a closed end that is impermeable to the bond paste and opposite sides that are permeable to air and permeable to the bond paste. The bond past adheres to the upper and lower shell members through the sleeve sides and the closed end of the sleeve defines the design width of the bond line in the internal cavity.
US08047794B2
The invention relates to a fast-positioning device for assembling blade brackets to a motor housing of a ceiling fan. The motor housing has its bottom provided with plural locations located around its circumference, which are respectively extended downward with at least two restricting plates having a long side aligned as a beam radiated from the center of the motor housing. Each location of the restricting plates is to be connected with a blade bracket, which has a connecting portion extended with at least one positioning projection for being moved horizontally to engage with the restricting plates. As good vision is kept during installation, the blade brackets can be easily assembled on the motor housing and the relative locations to be positioned are in a line.
US08047793B2
The present invention relates to an impeller blade for turbomachine formed by molding, comprising a blade, at one end of which is provided a heel formed of a single piece with the blade, to which it is joined at the level of a connection area, the heel comprising a platform on which is provided at least one sealing plate, a first bath being provided in the platform, characterized in that a second bath is provided in the first bath, at the level of the connection area between the blade and the heel.
US08047790B1
A turbine blade used in a gas turbine engine, the blade includes a plurality of cooled zones each with a plurality of radial extending cooling passages formed within the wall of the blade and connected to a separate collection cavity. A leading edge collection cavity is supplied with cooling air through a plurality of radial extending cooling channels located in the wall around the leading edge of the blade. Film cooling holes connected to the leading edge collection cavity discharge film cooling air to the leading edge. A pressure side collection cavity is supplied with cooling air from a plurality of pressure side radial extending cooling channels and discharges cooling air through film cooling holes on the pressure side. A suction side collection cavity is supplied with cooling air through a plurality of suction side radial cooling channels and discharges cooling air through suction side film cooling holes.
US08047787B1
A turbine rotor blade for use in an industrial gas turbine engine in which the blade includes a root section with a fillet region formed between the root and the platform of the blade. The platform region includes a diamond shaped root slot to discharge cooling air from the internal cooling passage out through the trailing edge of the blade. The diamond shaped cooling slot of the present invention comprises a smaller radius at the upper and lower corners and a much larger radius at the mid section of the slot. The cooling slot is positioned in the trailing edge root section where the upper corner is positioned above the fillet run out location. The diamond shaped cooling slot thus minimizes the high stresses induced by the stress concentration from the cooling slot and the fillet run out location.
US08047786B2
A turbine wheel hole plug that includes: 1) an approximate cylindrical body, the cylindrical body sized such that the cylindrical body fits snugly into a turbine wheel hole; 2) a first flange at a first end of the cylindrical body, the first flange being approximately cylindrical in shape and having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the turbine wheel hole; and 3) a second flange at a second end of the cylindrical body, the second flange comprising a flared flange. The first flange and the second flange may lock the cylindrical body into a preferred position in the turbine wheel hole.
US08047784B2
A lift device for a rotor blade and a method for increasing the lift of a rotor blade for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade has exterior surfaces defining a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The lift device includes a first aerodynamic surface configured for mounting to the pressure side of the rotor blade, and a second opposing aerodynamic surface configured to interact with wind flowing past the lift device. The lift device has a generally increasing cross-sectional area in a flow direction of the wind. The lift device is configured to increase the lift of the rotor blade.
US08047782B2
A hydrodynamic machine, and especially a hydrodynamic coupling, for a turbine compound system includes (a) a bladed primary wheel and a bladed secondary wheel which together form an operating space which is filled or can be filled with operating medium, and (b) a housing which encloses the primary wheel and the secondary wheel and which is manufactured from sheet metal. The housing is manufactured from at least two separate sheet metal components which are placed on the primary wheel and/or the secondary wheel, are aligned with each other at a joint abutment location, and are welded together. In the area of the welded joint abutment, a relief which is open toward the joint abutment is provided and which extends along the joint abutment in the surface of the primary wheel and/or the secondary wheel.
US08047779B2
A system for aligning a shell of a rotary machine with a standard along an axial centerline and a transverse centerline of the rotary machine includes a pair of generally L-shaped hooks on the shell; a generally T-shaped member comprising a base, a post, and a cross member provided to the standard; a pair of axial gib keys provided on opposing sides of the cross member, at least one of the axial gib keys configured to engage at least one of the L-shaped hooks and the other being configured to engage the shell; and a pair of transverse gib keys provided on opposing sides of the post, each transverse gib key configured to engage a respective L-shaped hook.
US08047776B2
A unit for treating air with controlled flow, comprising a free rotor (GL), single or double inlet, combined with a directional conveyor (CD), which is designed so as to be able to directionally exploit the high static efficiencies, typical of free rotors (GL), and so as to be able to obtain the maximum optimisation between the power supplied and the static pressure obtained, at the same time maintaining low sound emissions, low dynamic pressure values at the discharge and no perturbation of the flow and of the performances both at the discharge and at the suction.
US08047767B2
A high pressure first stage turbine and seal assembly are described. In one embodiment, a high pressure turbine section is provided. The turbine section includes at least one stage, at least one rotor and a bucket assembly. The bucket assembly includes a bucket and an attachment fixture. The stage has a high root reaction during operation. An intermediate space is between the bucket assembly and a stationary component of the turbine section. A seal is provided between the stationary member and the rotor to facilitate preventing leakage from the intermediate space toward an end of the stage. Steam balance holes are provided in the rotor or the bucket to facilitate feeding steam towards an end of the turbine stage.
US08047761B2
A device for separation of damp silicon wafers from a wafer stack, whereby the damp wafers may be removed individually from the stack, transferred to a subsequent conveyor device and the damp thin fragile wafers held in the stack can be rapidly separated and isolated even in large format. The device comprises separation rollers on which the wafer stack may be placed. On rotation of the separation rollers, the lowest wafer is displaced under a doctor strip through a wafer-thin gap between the roller plane and doctor strip and withdrawn from the wafer stack by elastic pressure by a pair of superimposed delivery rollers driven at the same speed.
US08047760B2
A conduit connector assembly for attachments on a loader includes a mounting plate with at least one coupler section mounted on the plate and secured rigidly to a forward end of one of the lift arms of a loader. The coupler section or sections are connected with conduits to power or electrical signal sources on the loader. The coupler section or sections on the lift arm are connectable to mating coupler sections attached to conduits from an attachment that requires power and/or control signals for operation. The coupler sections are supported to one side of the lines of vision that an operator in an operator's cab of the loader needs for watching the attachment.
US08047759B2
A manual forklift for lifting, maneuvering, and arranging palleted freight, comprising an extensible wheeled base, a steering handle, a mast, and a boom with a descending standard secured to a support frame carriage and forward extending tines. Hydraulic jack cylinders joining the mast to the boom and the boom to the descending standard in concert with hinge joints connecting the mast to the boom and the boom to the descending standard allow the tines to be manipulated forwardly or backwardly, raised or lowered, and tilted upwardly or downwardly relative to the mast and base, enabling the user to transfer palleted freight engaged by the tines between surfaces with differing heights and angles and across longitudinal spaces. Castered wheels affixed to the base further enable freight to be moved multi-directionally, including laterally leftward or rightward.
US08047755B2
The present invention provides a plate material stocker facility with a simplified pallet loading and unloading mechanism. The plate material stocker facility includes a plate material stocker 4 in which pallets 9 each allowing a plate material to be stacked thereon are stored, and a pallet slide device 2. The plate material stocker 4 has a plurality of pallet support portions 10 arranged in stages in a vertical direction, the pallet support portions slidably moving the respective pallets 9 in a front-back direction, and supporting the respective pallets 9 and switchably moving the pallets 9 between a first position 4a and a second position 4b, and a plurality of posts 11, 12 supporting the pallet support portions 10. A gap is present between the adjacent pallet support portions 10. The posts 12 located at a rear end are arranged inside respective lateral ends of the pallet support portions 10. The pallet slider device 2 has a slider 30 that is movable in a direction parallel to a slide direction of each of the pallets 9, and pallet abutting portions 33 attached to the slider 30 and coming into abutting contact with the pallet 9. The pallet abutting portions 33 come into abutting contact with the abutting target portions 18 of the pallet 9 at positions outside, in a lateral direction, the respective posts 12.
US08047741B2
The invention relates to a road-milling machine or machine for working deposits, such as deposits of coal, ores, minerals, etc. by surface mining. The machine according to the invention has an arrangement 14 for detecting the path followed by a milled edge 13 of a milled strip, with the arrangement for detecting the path followed by the milled edge having means 14 for measuring the distance between at least one reference point I on the machine and the milled edge. The means 14 for detecting the path followed by the milled edge co-operate with the arrangement 6 for steering the track-laying units 3A, 3B in such a way that the machine follows the path followed by the milled edge. The distance between the at least one reference point on the machine and the milled edge can be set in such a way that milled strips situated alongside one another are exactly aligned relative to one another.
US08047737B2
A ring binder mechanism includes a housing, a ring support, and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member that are moveable between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for moving the ring members from the closed position to the opened position. A travel bar has at least one locking element and is moveable between a locked position wherein the ring members are locked in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the ring members are capable of being moved to the opened position. An intermediate connector operably connects the travel bar to the actuator. A biasing member is engageable with the intermediate connector and at least one of the travel bar and actuator for biasing the travel bar toward the locked position.
US08047735B2
Applicator tip for applying fast curing adhesive of low viscosity to a surface. The applicator tip comprises a body with an inner canal for feeding the adhesive to an orifice. Spikes in various shapes and placements are arranged around the orifice for preventing the orifice from contacting the surface.
US08047723B2
A radial anti friction bearing (1) which is configured as a single-row spherical roller bearing, which includes an outer bearing ring (2), an inner bearing ring (3) and a plurality of spherical rollers (5) that are arranged between the bearing rings (2, 3). The spherical rollers have respectively two side faces (6, 7) which are flattened symmetrically from a spherical base shape, are retained with uniform spacing to each other a bearing cage (4) and roll with their running faces (8) in two groove-shaped raceways (11, 12) which are defined, respectively, by two axial rims (13, 14 and 15, 16). The width (bK) of the spherical rollers (5) between their side faces (6, 7) is smaller than the distance (aB) between the radially opposing axial rims (13, 15 and 14, 16), such that the spherical rollers (5) can be in the space therebetween via the axial mounting method in the radial anti friction bearing. The radial anti-friction bearing (1) has an increased axial load capacity suitable for variable axial loads at a operational pressure angle (α) of up to 20° on both sides of the bearing longitudinal axis (17), in which the raceways (11, 12) in both bearing grooves (2, 3) are formed with an increased depth (tLA, tLI) and width (bLA, bLI) and the spherical rollers (5) have a width (bK) between their side surfaces (6, 7) which is arranged to the operational pressure angle (α) at 20°.
US08047718B2
In a bearing device for a roll of a hot dipping bath, i.e., zinc pot, a sleeve is fastened to a shaft of the roll of the hot dipping bath in a continuous hot dip coating line, i.e., a continuous galvanizing line. A bush housing has a bush internally fixed to support the sleeve, and a curved annular outer surface. Also, bush housing fixed rings are fixed to both inner sides of a fixed ring housing which is associated with a rig of the hot dipping bath roll. Each of the bush housing fixed rings has a curved annular inner surface supporting the bush housing at both sides thereof and in abutment with the curved annular outer surface of the bush housing. The invention allows the steel sheet to be coated with molten metal stably and speedily with high efficiency. Also, the bush and sleeve of the bearing device are not locally worn away, thereby extending useful life of the roll.
US08047715B2
Current C-arm examination devices are not capable of performing 360 degrees rotations. The reason for this is that the cabling which connects the external cabinets to the detector, collimator and x-ray tube does not allow for such a rotation. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an examination apparatus is provided which has a connection device connecting the external cabinets to the C-arm which is adapted for enabling a rotation of the C-arm of more than 360 degrees. Such a connection device may comprise a storing device for winding up the cable.
US08047710B2
An electronic device according to the present invention includes an infrared ray absorbing section 12, which comes to have an increased temperature when irradiated with an incident infrared ray, and at least one heat sensing section 13, of which a physical property varies with the variation in temperature that has been caused due to the heat generated by the infrared ray absorbing section 12. The relative positions of the heat sensing section 13 and the infrared ray absorbing section 12 can be changed so as to switch their states from a first state, in which the infrared ray absorbing section 12 and the heat sensing section 13 are in contact with each other, into a second state, in which the infrared ray absorbing section 12 and the heat sensing section 13 are out of contact with each other, and vice versa.
US08047707B2
A system and method for detecting glass breakage using thermal imaging is provided. The system includes an infrared image detector for acquiring an infrared image of a monitored area, and a signal processor for processing the acquired images to determine removal of a glass door or window based on a comparison of the thermal signature of the acquired image against the thermal signature of a reference image. Specifically, signal processor subtracts the reference image data from the acquired image data, which results in a substantially uniform image when the acquired image matches the reference image. On the other hand, the image resulting from the subtraction exhibits significant non-uniformity when the acquired image does not match the reference image, as would be the case if the pane of glass of a door or window were broken, removed or opened.
US08047692B2
A vehicle body includes a fender and a headlamp assembly. The headlamp assembly defines an upwardly exposed and unobstructed surface, and is movably mounted with the fender such that the headlamp assembly moves from a first position to a second position in response to a load having a vertical component acting on the surface.
US08047690B2
A heat removal assembly for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the heat removal assembly includes a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light emitting diode. In the plurality of fins, two adjacent fins are separated by a gap width, and each fin has a fin length. The heat removal assembly also includes a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow through the plurality of fins to remove heat from the plurality of fins. The gap width separating two adjacent fins and the fin length of each of the fins are configured to prevent boundary layer choking the plurality of fins. In one embodiment, the heat removal assembly also includes a conductor and a thermal storage system configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode. A lighting apparatus including the heat removal assembly, a light emitting diode, and a connector plug is also described. In one embodiment, the lighting apparatus can be installed in a recessed can in which incoming and outgoing flows of a stack-effect airflow are separated. Methods for removing heat from a light emitting diode are also described.
US08047687B2
A lighting apparatus comprises a housing and a first reflector. The first reflector is mounted beneath the light source and includes a plurality of segmented reflectors, each having at its top, a installation hole and at its bottom, an opening wider than the installation hole. A second reflector is positioned beneath the first reflector. The height of the second reflector causes a first light shielding angle defined by a straight line passing through the installation hole and the bottom edge of the corresponding segmented reflector to be larger than a second light shielding angle defined by a straight line passing through the bottom edge of the segmented reflector and the bottom edge of the second reflector.
US08047672B2
The invention relates to a mosaic floor (20) consisting of layers and comprising at least one mosaic section (26) comprising illuminating elements (3) that are integrated into the mosaic floor (20) and the structure comprises at least the following layers: a mosaic layer (13) that has a plurality of individual mosaic elements (2) and a plurality of individual illuminating elements (3), said illuminating elements (3) being connected to an electric cable or to a light conductor (4), in particular glass fibres, that are introduced from below, a channel layer (14) that comprises at least one rigid plate (7) having a channel system (15) that is open to the top or to the bottom in which the electric cable or the light conductor (4) are laid.
US08047669B2
A uniform light source having a substrate for providing structural and functional support to the assembly. A bottom reflector provided on the substrate. A plurality of solid state light sources provided in an opening of the bottom reflector for providing a point light source. A plurality of light films and having light redirecting areas provided between the plurality of solid state light sources for redirecting and spreading the point light source to a uniform plane of light; a joining clip comprising a top capping portion and a bottom support portion, the bottom support portion being aligned perpendicular to the top capping portion and having a height sufficient to house the plurality of light films. A top diffuser for diffusing the uniform plane of light. The plurality of light films has a thickness between 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. In addition, the joining clip further comprises a light diffusion means.
US08047661B2
A height adjustment apparatus for a projector includes a lifting member and an operation member. The projector includes a front wall and a bottom wall substantially perpendicular to the front wall. The front wall defines a first opening and the bottom wall defines a second opening. The bottom wall has a protruding portion extending from an inner surface of the bottom wall. The lifting member includes a supporting portion and an engaging portion. An end surface of the lifting member away from the supporting portion has a plurality of teeth. The operation member includes a receiving frame and an operating portion. The inner surface of the receiving frame away from the operating portion has a latching portion for latching with the teeth of the lifting member.
US08047652B1
A method, system and apparatus are provided for portable evaluation of metamophopsia. The method, system and apparatus includes a computer application capable of making any handset or portable display terminal into a portable electronic eye evaluation unit, including clinician's and/or automated assistance, test evaluation and re-test if required.
US08047651B2
A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US08047649B2
The invention relates to a pair of eyeglasses which include a lens stand and a pair of gaskets. Each gasket can be detachably connected to the lens stand. Each gasket has an inner edge that protrudes forwards to accommodate the lens. The degree of the curve of the lens is smaller than that of the lens stand relative to the horizontal direction, so that the size of the lens can be efficiently reduced, and hence the lens with diopter can be used easily and aberration can be efficiently eliminated. Furthermore, after the gaskets are connected to the lens stand, the upper portion of the gaskets may generate gas permeable holes so as to prevent the lens from fogging up.
US08047645B2
A recording apparatus includes a support drum that rotates while supporting a recording medium on a support surface thereof. A guide axis extends in parallel with a rotation axis of the support drum along the support surface. A carriage that is guided by the guide axis moves back and forth along the support surface. A recording head for ejecting ultraviolet curing type ink toward a recording medium is supported on the support surface. The recording head has head units and is mounted on the carriage. Each head unit ejects a different type of ultraviolet curing type ink to a different position along an extending direction of the guide axis. An ultraviolet emission unit of the recording apparatus includes ultraviolet light sources that generate ultraviolet light having at least an intensity, wavelength, or emission time that is different from those of the other ultraviolet light sources.
US08047636B2
A film depositing apparatus comprises: a process chamber; a target holder provided in the process chamber for holding a target; a substrate holder for supporting a deposition substrate such that the deposition substrate faces the target holder in the process chamber; a power supply for supplying electric power between the target holder and the substrate holder to generate plasma in the process chamber; and an anode provided between the target holder and the substrate holder for capturing ions and/or electrons in the plasma being generated within the process chamber, wherein the anode includes: a cylindrical member provided so as to surround an outer periphery of a side of the substrate holder that faces the target holder; and at least one annular plate member attached to an inside wall of the cylindrical member, the plate member having a central opening larger than a surface of the deposition substrate.
US08047635B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a reservoir forming substrate provided with a reservoir serving as a common liquid chamber; in which at least a portion of a wall surface of the reservoir is an inclined surface, a lower side of the reservoir in a vertical direction is provided with a lower portion of which a width is wider than an upper portion of the reservoir in the vertical direction thanks to the inclined surface, a compliance portion which absorbs pressure of the reservoir is disposed at an area which faces the lower portion and has a shape corresponding to the lower portion, and the reservoir communicates with an upper portion of each of the pressure generating chambers in the vertical direction rather than a lower portion of each of pressure generating chambers.
US08047633B2
A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current, a shift register comprising a plurality of successive registers, the shift register receives input data in a first register, and shifts the input data to successive registers upon receipt of a shift signal, a transfer register for latching data in one of the registers of the shift register; a control gate for outputting a control pulse in response to data in the transfer register, and a drive transistor for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator upon receipt of the control pulse. Each energy pulse has a pulse voltage of less than 10 Volt.
US08047631B2
A fluid dispensing system, including a photon source disposed on a moveable carriage and a fluid ejector array having a plurality of fluid ejection elements disposed on a substrate. Each fluid ejection element includes a fluid ejector, and a photodetector electrically coupled to the fluid ejector. Moving said photon source over at least a portion of the fluid ejector array, selectively illuminates the photodetectors, thereby selectively activating the fluid ejectors coupled to the illuminated photodetectors.
US08047629B2
The present invention provides an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method, which enable an ink that overflowed to the outside from the edge of a printing medium to be fully absorbed by a platen. More specifically, the present invention provides an inkjet printer, having a platen, which absorbs a pigment ink that overflows to the outside of a printing medium when edgeless printing is carried out on the printing medium by using an ink that employs a pigment as a colorant, moving a printing head along a guide shaft, and ejecting the pigment ink from the printing head, and also an inkjet printing method, wherein the platen is impregnated with a humecant, a base, and the like.
US08047626B1
Estimating the cost of ink in print jobs. The cost of ink in a print job is estimated based on printed area. After determining an ink coverage value for the print jobs and determining a cost of the ink, an ink cost factor is generated over time from the cost of the ink and from the total area ink coverage. The ink cost factor is used to estimate the cost of a print job based on area.
US08047622B2
A storage container of a storage container for a refrigerator, which is configured to mount the storage container for storing articles therein to a storage container seating portion formed in a rear surface of a refrigerator door by using a mounting protrusion and locking mechanism provided on the storage container and a mounting groove and catching protrusion provided on the storage container seating portion. The mounting structure includes a storage container seating portion depressed into a portion of a rear surface of a door; a storage container seated in the storage container seating portion and formed with a space for storing articles therein; a mounting protrusion and mounting groove formed on the storage container seating portion and storage container, respectively, at positions corresponding to each other to be matched in shape with each other and used for fixing the storage container into the storage container seating portion; and a locking mechanism provided on a portion of the storage container for locking the storage container into the storage container seating portion by causing a portion of the locking mechanism to be caught to a protruding portion of the storage container seating portion.
US08047612B2
An armrest for a vehicle seat includes an armrest cushion, an armrest body connected to the armrest cushion, a connection part configured to connect the armrest body to at least one of a back rest of the vehicle seat or to a vehicle interior, a tilting device disposed between the armrest body and the armrest cushion and configured to adjust a position between the armrest body and the armrest cushion, and an arresting device disposed between the armrest body and the armrest cushion and configured to fix the position of the armrest cushion relative to the armrest body. A swivel axis is, formed in the connection part running substantially horizontal and parallel to the back rest. The tilting device has a rotation axis arranged parallel to the swivel axis and the rotation axis moveable towards the back rest linearly against a force of a spring.
US08047606B2
One aspect according to the invention can include a headrest operating device including a backside collision detecting device that can produce an operational force upon detection of occurrence of backside collision. The operational force of the backside collision detecting device can be transmitted to an operation member via an interlocking member. A switching device can switch a path of movement of the interlocking member between an inoperative path and an operative path. When no backside collision occurs, the interlocking member can move along the inoperative path, so that the operational force of the backside collision detecting device cannot be transmitted to the operation member. When the backside collision occurs, the interlocking member can move along the operative path, so that the operational force of the backside collision detecting device can be transmitted to the operation member.
US08047603B2
A plastic crush countermeasure for motor vehicles that includes a plastic insert and a reinforcement structure that provides impact and/or reinforcement characteristics and an attachment interface to the vehicle in a lighter weight structure. The crush countermeasure provides a lightweight crush system that provides comparable protection to current metal crush countermeasures using, in part, a plastic material. As such, the overall weight of a vehicle is reduced without any reduction in safety to passengers.
US08047586B2
The present invention relates to a lock device for a door of the type with seating unit through the door shutter. The seating unit has a first seating body, a second seating body, a first cover and a second cover. There are provided connecting elements, generally self-tapping screws, that engage both the first cover to the first seating body and the second cover, closing the second seating body as a package thereinbetween. Among the other things, the lock device allows a wide rotation of the handle.
US08047585B1
A surface mounted electric strike for use with an exit device such as a rim panic exit device. The electric strike has a housing with at least one keeper pivotally mounted to the housing. Each keeper has an associated cam with a detent. Release pawls engage detents on the cam in the locked position. A solenoid-operated unlock bar has stops, the position of which establishes whether the keepers are in a locked or unlocked position. The electric strike can be installed in either a fail safe or fail secure mode by locating the stops when the solenoid is de-energized in either a position which blocks or releases the release pawls. Other arrangements for establishing a selected operational mode include use of dual solenoids, use of dual locking bars and reversible release pawls.
US08047581B2
A temporary closure device for an opening element on a fixed chassis part of a motor vehicle, in which the opening element includes a housing for receiving a lock and the fixed part includes at least one tapped hole for fixing a strike. The device includes a plastic body equipped with means for mounting it in the tapped hole. An end of the device includes a limit stop element that co-operates with a first rim of the housing as the opening element is closed, while another end of the device includes a means for retaining the opening element in the closed position against the fixed part, which is intended to penetrate the housing behind a second rim thereof. The retaining means is formed by a resilient tongue, which can bend under stress from the second rim when the opening element is moved from the free position to the closed position.
US08047577B2
A hose coupling employs a tailpiece, a sleeve and collar to prevent the hose to be removed from the coupling. The tailpiece includes an exterior having: a first sinusoidally shaped (in cross-section), partially diamond shaped knurled contour, and, a cylindrically shaped interior. The sleeve includes an interior second sinusoidally shaped contour reciprocal to the first undulating contour of the tailpiece. The sleeve includes first and second halves each having two sets of fingers which interengage the fingers of the other half. A hose is disposed between the sleeve and the tailpiece and the hose includes a grounding wire which engages the collar or the sleeve. The collar includes first and second halves and each of the halves of the collar interengage the sleeve urging the sleeve against the hose compressing the hose against the contour of the tail piece.
US08047576B2
A rotating union communicates with a rotor member and is operable with either compressible or incompressible coolant media that enters the union through a media inlet. The union includes a housing having a counterbore and a tubular carrier member axially moveable in the housing. The union includes a primary seal assembly having a rotating seal member mounted to the rotor member and a non-rotating member mounted to the carrier member and a secondary seal member positioned about the carrier member. The range of the balance ratio of the primary seal assembly is disclosed when the primary seal assembly has imposed upon it a closing force, an opening force or no force.
US08047564B2
An occupant side-impact protection apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising an inflatable cushion stored in a folded configuration and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate to protect the occupant of a vehicle. The side-impact protection apparatus further includes a tether to provide tension to tailor the deployment trajectory of the cushion. The tether is coupled to the cushion at a first coupling location and a second coupling location and the distance along the tether from the first coupling location to the second coupling location is less than the distance along the cushion from the first coupling location to the second coupling location.
US08047561B2
A cover for an inflatable airbag that is configured to restrain a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle. The airbag cover is arranged to cover the airbag on a side facing a vehicle interior. The airbag has an opening region configured to form an orifice during deployment of the airbag so that the airbag is deployed through the orifice of the airbag cover and into the vehicle interior. The airbag cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a more dimensionally stable material than the second portion. The second portion includes the opening region, which is configured to tear open and form the orifice for the airbag during deployment. The first portion includes the orifice, which is delimited by a sidewall and is covered by the opening region of the second portion. The sidewall is configured to guide the deploying airbag to the opening region.
US08047555B2
A ground support equipment cart contains one or more removable equipment modules. The cart contains a rectangular module containing airplane air conditioning components mounted upon the cart and extending the width of the cart but occupying substantially less than half of the cart's length. The cart also contains one or more rectangular equipment modules removably mounted upon the cart, one or two of the removable modules containing electrical power converting components. And the cart contains a rectangular module containing power generating components mounted upon the cart and occupying substantially the remainder of the cart. The cart separates into two parts, one part containing the module containing power generating components. The cart also contains a control module having a display and controls for, and that is networked to, the other modules. One or more of the removable modules slide out on a tray and may be locked in position.
US08047554B2
A strap system for securing an object to a dolly. The strap system includes a first strap section having first and second ends and releasably attached to the dolly at the first end and a second strap section having first and second ends and releasably attached to the dolly at the first end. The second end of the first strap section and the second end of the second strap section are releasably attached to each other.
US08047552B2
A Nitinol ice blade includes a blade body having attachment structure by which it is held in a blade holder of an ice travel device, such as an ice skate or ice boat. The processes and products made by the processes. The processes include selecting a Type 60 Nitinol sheet or bar that has been hot-worked at a temperature of above about 900° C. to a reduction of at least 2% in the dimension of said hot-working. Blade blanks are cut from the sheet, and the blade blanks are heated to between 600° C. to about 800° C. and immediately quenched to ambient temperature to produce blanks having a hardness of about 48-53 RC. The running edge of the blade blanks a ground to a desired profile and sharpness. The ground blades may then be heated to an elevated temperature of about 850-1000° C. and immediately quenched to produce a hardness at the edge of above 56 RC.
US08047549B2
A magnetic fluid shaft-sealing device includes a seal cover (3) attached to a pump housing (1) in which a rotary shaft (2) is mounted. The seal cover (3) includes: a shaft hole (33) extending along an axis, an annular recess (36) formed in an outer end face (32) around the shaft hole (33), and an inner ring portion (363) defined between the annular recess (36) and the shaft hole (33). A collar (4) is mounted around the rotary shaft (2) to rotate therewith and includes a first end (41) received in the annular recess (36) and around the inner ring portion (363). A magnet (6) and two pole pieces (5) are mounted between an outer periphery (364) of the inner ring portion (363) and the first end (41) of the collar (4). A gap (71) is formed between an inner periphery (440) of the first end (41) of the collar (4) and outer peripheries of the pole pieces (5), and a magnetic liquid (7) is filled in the gap (71) to provide a liquid seal therebetween.
US08047542B2
In a printing apparatus, even when the measured paper size differs from the scheduled size, it is possible to reduce the frequency of requiring a recovery procedure, and prevent the productivity from decreasing by continuing the operation of the printing apparatus as much as possible. The printing apparatus includes a paper feeding unit for feeding a print sheet from a paper feed tray 120, 130a, 130b, 130c or 130d to a transportation route CR through a paper feed route FR, in-tray sensors 182, 183a, 183b . . . for measuring the paper size in the paper feed trays; a transportation sensor 181 for measuring the paper size on the transportation route, a transportation operation adjusting unit 332 for adjusting the transportation operation on the transportation or paper feed route according to the measurement result of the transportation sensor 181 when the measurement results of the transportation sensor 181 and in-tray sensors mismatch.
US08047539B2
If a jam detecting portion detects a sheet jam, a rear end position of the jammed sheet is computed based on information, when a rear end of the jammed sheet is located within an area A1 and a length Ls of the jammed sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet is equal to or shorter than a distance L between the area A1 and an area A2, driving operations of a pre-registration roller and a registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed to a downstream until a rear end of the sheet passes through a downstream end of the area A1. When Ls is longer than L, the pre-registration roller and the registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed toward the upstream until the rear end of the sheet passes through an upstream end of the area A1.
US08047536B2
An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding portion feeding a sheet; a conveyance passage for conveying the sheet inside the apparatus; an image forming portion forming an image on the sheet; a skewing detector disposed in the conveyance passage between the sheet feeding portion and the image forming portion, detecting arrival and departure of the sheet, and detecting skewing amount of the sheet in the conveyance passage; a display portion displaying an apparatus state; a storage portion storing data; and a control portion controlling sheet feeding and conveying, and grasping the sheet skewing amount based on the output of the skewing detector to stop printing when the skewing amount is at or above a first predetermined amount stored in the storage portion.
US08047533B2
An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, an input tray for placing plural documents, a pick-up module and a stopper module. A guide plate is disposed on the upper cover. The guide plate has a confining aperture. The confining aperture includes a fixing region and a releasing region. The stopper module has a stopping slice inserted into the confining aperture. When the automatic document feeder is enabled and the pick-up module is swung to be close to the input tray, the stopper module is moved from the fixing region of the confining aperture in response to the swinging action of the pick-up module. As such, the stopper module is released and the document is allowed to be fed into the internal portion of the automatic document feeder.
US08047532B2
Provided is a feed device including: a loading unit in which a plurality of sheet members is loaded in a stacked state; a delivery member which performs a feed operation in a state in which a contact surface thereof is in contact with an uppermost sheet member of the sheet members loaded on the loading unit and delivers the sheet member in a feed direction using the frictional force with the uppermost sheet member as the feeding force; a gate member which is configured to move in a direction to and or from the contact surface of the delivery member and has an inclined surface with which a front end of the sheet member delivered by the delivery member collides with; and a gate energizing member which energizes the gate member in a direction approaching to the contact surface of the delivery member.
US08047530B2
A rotary transfer mechanism for transferring flat sleeve cartons (20) from a magazine (22) to a receiving station (23) on a conveyor (24), with opening of the cartons ready to receive end-loaded product, is characterized in that the path of suction cups (32) for holding the cartons during transfer is basically determined by a continuous stationary cam track (34) permanently engaged by a cam follower (37) on a gear segment (35) pivotally mounted on carrier means (29) rotatable by a drive shaft (26), the suction cups (32) being carried by a support shaft (30) rotatable on the carrier means and coaxial with a pinion (38) meshing with the gear segment. (35), and the support shaft being connected to a bracket (48) carrying a manifold (47) for the suction cups (32) by a crank arm (53), which is connected by a link arm (54) to a rocker arm (55) freely rotatable on the drive shaft (26). A servomotor (27) programmed by a computer (not shown) drives the drive shaft (26) through a gearbox (28) to vary the speed of the suction cups (32), especially when passing through the delivery station (23) to effect opening of the cartons (20) by movement relative to flights (64) on the conveyor (24).
US08047522B2
A perfect binder for processing book blocks, including: a conveying device adapted to convey the book blocks along a closed circulating path, the conveying device including a plurality of clamping devices each adapted to convey a book block; and a plurality of processing stations arranged successively along the closed circulating path. One of the processing stations includes a spine-processing station, and another one of the processing stations includes an end sheet feed station following the spine-processing station.
US08047511B2
A humidity control device is for controlling the humidity of air in a target space, and the humidity control device comprises: a processor for controlling the humidity of air in the target space by passing air through a hygroscopic liquid L; a regenerator for regenerating the hygroscopic liquid L used for the process by the processor; a hygroscopic-liquid pipe path (50), provided so as to pass through a ventilation opening (70) intended for ventilating the target space, for transferring the hygroscopic liquid L from the processor to the regenerator; and a discharged-air-utilizing regeneration unit (60) for regenerating the hygroscopic liquid L by passing air to be discharged from the target space through the ventilation opening (70) through the hygroscopic liquid L flowing through the hygroscopic-liquid pipe path (50) toward the regenerator. A humidity control device whose energy utilization efficiency is improved is thus provided.
US08047498B1
A support stand device for a rebar bender featuring a base with a rebar bender mount; three leg mounts disposed in the base in a symmetrical configuration, three legs removably engagable in the leg mounts; securing means for securing the legs in the respective leg mounts; spike shafts disposed near the bottom ends of each leg; a spike slidably disposed in each spike shaft, the spikes can slide between at least a down position wherein the spike is extended downwardly toward and optionally into a ground surface and an up position wherein the spike is pulled upwardly in the spike shaft and out of the ground surface; securing means for securing the spikes in a position; and striking blocks disposed on the top end of each spike.
US08047497B2
A mount structure includes a base and a bearer. The base has a slot, and at least one combining block is disposed protruding from the slot. The bearer has a bearing portion and a combining portion. The bearing portion is connected to a display, and the combining portion is installed in the slot through hooks, buckles, latches, screws, or other combining methods, such that the bearer is fixed on the base. Moreover, the combining portion is provided with reinforcing ribs for enhancing the structural strength of the bearer.
US08047492B2
A hanger includes a body member including two hanging ends, a pivoted portion between the hanging ends and two slide rails provided between the pivoted portion and hanging ends respectively. A fastener unit is coupled to the pivoted portion for positioning the body member in a horizontal direction. Two slide members are respectively slideably disposed on the slide rails, with each slide member including a first receiving groove inserted by the related slide rail and a second receiving groove. Two hook members are pivotally coupled to the slide members respectively, with a longitudinal direction of each hook member being perpendicular to the ground.
US08047486B2
A support bracket comprises a first frame and a second frame. The first frame comprises a bottom surface, two first sidewalls extending from opposite edges of the bottom surface, and two second sidewalls arranged between the two first sidewalls, wherein two gaps are formed in the first frame. The second frame comprises a base plate, two first side plates extending from opposite edges of the base plate, and two second side plates arranged between the two first side plates. The second frame slidably covers the first frame, the first side plates extend through the two gaps and slide along the gaps.
US08047485B2
A universal rail mounting bracket for attachment of a handrail or fence rail to a support structure. A rail end cover may be inserted over the rail end after the rail has been mounted to the support structure with the bracket. A rail end cover is provided to cover any unsightly gaps or uneven cuts which may have occurred during manufacture or installation of the rail.
US08047484B2
A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first coupling member and a second device having a second coupling member. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler coupled to the equipment supporting portion and having first and second clamps. The first clamp is configured to grip the first coupling member and the second clamp is configured to grip the second coupling member.
US08047478B1
A modular post system, in some versions, includes an exterior post extending along a central axis. The exterior post may be composed of multitude of tube segments that are coupled, with each other to form the exterior post. In some cases, each tube segment may have at least four holes arranged in a ring about the central axis. The holes are configured to allow the mounting of articles, such as playground equipment, to the post system. Thus, the exterior post may have a multitude of rings with the rings being located in axial planes a fixed distance apart along the central axis. The tube segments have interior surfaces from which ribs protrude, to define an internal channel of the exterior post. An internal core post may be partly located within the internal channel. A fastening mechanism may secure the coupled tube segments to the internal core post.
US08047477B2
A device to facilitate filling a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle. The device and bag or receptacle are used horizontally. The device comprises a funneled receiver, channel, stakes, and optionally four legs. The receiver is a scoop-like device having semi-frusto-conical cross-sections. The channel is a non-funneled extension of the receiver, having trapezoidal cross-sections. If a bag is used, the device facilitates filling the bag and it also holds open the bag. The optional four legs also hold open the body of the bag and, by contributing to the stability of the device, they allow the device to be smaller and lighter than otherwise. The device is normally placed on the ground, and inserted into either the bag or the receptacle. Leaves, grass clippings and other debris are raked or otherwise projected through the front of the receiver. The front of the receiver has a turned-over lip that facilitates filling the bag and that also acts as a handle.
US08047475B2
When an insertion portion of a clip is inserted into a through hole and passes through the through hole, lug portions revert toward their original shape, and the top faces of the lug portions are contactable with peripheral edge portions of the through hole. An operation lever is inserted into a fixing hole of a body panel in this state, and after passing through the fixing hole, the operation lever reverts toward its original shape, and the operation lever is contactable to peripheral edge portions of the fixing hole. An operation portion is tilted from this state, and a lock bar is engaged with a lock groove. Movement of the operation lever is thereby restricted, and a housing is fixed to the body panel.
US08047471B2
System (1) for providing indication of the position of a refuelling boom (2) in a tanker aircraft relative to a receptacle (17) in a receiver aircraft during refuelling operations, in particular in the approximation operation, the system (1) comprising a plurality of light emitting devices (23-33) mountable on the boom (2), each emitting device (23-33) providing a respective visible light beam, said light beams providing spots of incidence (3-13) when contacting the receptacle (17) in the receptor aircraft, in such a manner that the position of the spots of incidence (3-13) on the receptacle (17) varies depending on the position of the refuelling boom (2) relative to the receiver aircraft in the approximation operation. The invention also relates to a method for the approximation operation of a refuelling boom (2) in a tanker aircraft to a receptacle (17) in a receiver aircraft operating such a system (1).
US08047470B2
According to the invention, a scaled articulation device is mounted on at least one of the branches of a hot-air circulation circuit in the form of a bracket so as to provide a bracket with capabilities of deforming about the articulation device.
US08047461B1
A device for the quick removal of spent fishing line from a fishing reel comprised of a cylindrical housing for a rechargeable battery and a high-speed motor is directly coupled to a threaded shaft capable of holding an empty spool that is held in place by a conventional fastening means. In use, a loose end of the spent fishing line on the fishing reel is fastened to an empty spool, the reel and the spool aligned, and the device activated. The spent line is unwound from the rod reel making it ready for replacement in a conventional manner. The compacted spent line can be kept to be re-used later or discarded.
US08047458B2
The invention relates to a method for producing very fine particles by means of a jet mill using compressed gases as the grinding gas, characterized in that the grinding gas is under pressure of ≦4.5 bar(abs).
US08047457B2
The invention relates to a jet outlet element for a sanitary fitting which allows outlet of a defined gushing jet from the sanitary fitting. The sanitary outlet element is configured as a flat element having two compartments, a water inlet compartment and a water outlet compartment. A narrowed section is interposed between the two compartments and accommodates a flow rectifier. Said flow rectifier rectifies the as yet non-directional flow of the water in the inlet compartment and guides it in a controlled manner to the outlet compartment from where it emerges through the slotted outlet opening.
US08047449B2
An expansion valve for an air conditioning system circulates refrigerant through a fixed-displacement compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. An inlet is provided for receiving refrigerant liquefied in the condenser. An outlet of the expansion valve supplies refrigerant to the evaporator. A valve element controls flow of refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve element is normally closed. A control assembly is coupled to the valve element and is responsive to at least one temperature or pressure in the air conditioning system to open the valve element to variably meter the refrigerant to the evaporator. A bleed passage bypasses the valve element to conduct refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet. The bleed passage is adapted to bleed refrigerant to the evaporator immediately after the compressor shuts off to prime the air conditioning system for a lower superheat when the compressor turns on, and the bleed path has a flow capacity substantially smaller than the flow capacity of the main valve aperture.
US08047447B2
What is disclosed is a system and method for encoding and decoding data in a color barcode pattern using dot orientation and color separability. The spectral (wavelength) characteristics of the CMY colorants, commonly used in digital printing, and those of RGB sensors are exploited to achieve high capacity data embedding rates in color barcodes. The present method embeds independent data in two different printer colorant channels using dot orientation modulation. In the print end, dots of two colorants occupy the same spatial region. At the detector end, by using the complementary sensor channels to estimate the colorant channels, data is recovered in each colorant channel. The method approximately doubles the capacity of encoding methods based upon a single colorant channel and enables embedding rates which match or exceed that of other hardcopy barcodes known in the arts. The method is robust against inter-separation misregistration with a small symbol error rate.
US08047422B2
This invention has an object to provide a method for precisely fabricating transportation pallets readily adaptable to model change and other alterations. In the method for fabricating a transportation pallet according to the invention, in which jig mounting plates are fixed on a steel pallet base, projecting pieces having holes to which jigs are attached are provided on one longer side of the jig mounting plates (12, 13) at a predetermined interval, a positioning member is secured on the pallet base, the jig mounting plates are temporarily secured along the positioning member, and the jig mounting plates are welded to be fixed on the pallet base.
US08047405B2
A volumetric fluid dispensing device can include a fluid reservoir having at least one flexible wall and a dispensing reservoir oriented above the fluid reservoir. The dispensing reservoir can have an overflow return fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir such that the dispensing reservoir holds a measured volume of fluid. A reservoir conduit can be fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir and the dispensing reservoir to allow excess fluid to return from the overflow to the fluid reservoir. A dispensing conduit can also be fluidly connected to the dispensing reservoir to allow fluid to exit the dispensing reservoir. A mechanical wall actuator can be operatively associated with the walls for controllably flexing at least a portion of the walls sufficient to force fluid from the fluid reservoir to the dispensing reservoir via the reservoir conduit.
US08047396B2
A composite pressure vessel comprised of an inner fluid tight liner and an outer reinforced polymer layer. An end boss comprising a short pipe section arranged through an opening of the vessel and extending to a lower end with an outwardly extending flange on the pipe section arranged between the outer layer and the inner liner, and a lid arranged at an upper end of the pipe section. The inner liner extends upwards through the opening of the pipe section to the lid with at least one gas tight seal interfacing against the inner liner. A pre-tensioning device is arranged on the outside of the inner liner, in a groove nearest to the lid and pipe section, around the upper end of the pipe section, which, regardless of the pressure in the vessel, presses the inner liner against the at least one gas tight seal.
US08047394B2
A safety device for at least one container, in particular a blow-molded plastic container, preferably in ampoule form, has a supply part (5) for accommodating a medium which can be dispensed via a container opening (9). The container opening (9) can be closed by a first safety part (11) which counteracts opening forces with a predefinable resistance. The predefinable resistance can be overcome for the release of the container opening (9) with the aid of a second safety part (15) which interacts with the first safety part (11).
US08047393B2
A tank filler neck comprises an outer wall (1), an inner wall (2) and an inner space (19) closed off from the environment during operation. In order to enable the pressure in this space (19) to be equalized in both directions, a negative and positive pressure relief valve (20) is provided in the annular space (18) between outer wall (1) and inner wall (2). The valve comprises a partition (21) with holes (30) distributed over the circumference, said partition dividing the annular space (18) between outer wall (1) and inner wall (2) into a first annular space (22) connected to the atmosphere and a second annular space (23) connected to the inner space (19), a first valve ring (31) in the first annular space (22) and a second valve ring (32) in the second annular space (23), which valve rings have first zones (40, 42) and second offset zones (41, 43) alternating in the circumferential direction, see FIG. 4.
US08047378B2
The present invention relates to shipping containers, and more particularly to a reusable shipping container with reusable cushioning. In one embodiment, a reusable shipping container for shipping an item includes first and second outer trays, and first and second cushions. Each cushion is received in one of the outer trays, and each cushion has an open, hollow dome. The dome extends substantially across the respective outer tray. The first and second outer trays are engageable to close the container, with the domes of the first and second cushions facing each other. Each dome is made of a resilient material that is deflectable into a substantially concave bowl to receive an item between the facing domes during shipment.
US08047372B2
The invention relates to a case for receiving a blister pack, comprising a first case half and a second case half. The halves are hinged on one another. The first case half is designed as a pocket for receiving the blister pack and has an outer part and an inner viewing part and also first apertures in the viewing part and second apertures in the outer part. The first apertures are at least partially aligned with the second apertures, specifically at least where the receptacles are located after the blister pack is received in the pocket. The second case half has a first compartment for receiving a first display displaying days of the week, and first windows for displaying the days of the week in an inner viewing surface of the second case half in the area of the first compartment. The first windows are arranged in such a way that they are aligned with the columns of the receptacles of a medicament pack received in the pocket.
US08047367B2
A containment system includes a vapor resistant container for a material, and a seal for the vapor resistant container.
US08047366B2
A connected fastener assembly is formed by fitting a shaft guide on a shaft section of each fastener, by connecting the fasteners using two connecting sheets made of a synthetic resin and disposed on upper and lower sides of the shaft guides. Since the connecting sheets have through holes thorough which the fasteners pass and connecting sections formed so as to be easy to bend or difficult to bend in the width direction, the connected fastener assembly can be formed into a straight type or a coil type.In a connected fastener assembly, shaft sections of a plurality of fasteners are connected by a connecting band formed of a thin sheet of a synthetic resin. Ring-shaped retaining sections for retaining the shaft sections are formed at constant intervals in the connecting bands. The ring-shaped retaining sections are disposed so as to be overlaid on shaft guides made of soft materials and fitted on the shaft sections. Each of the shaft guides is formed into a cylindrical shape. An outside diameter of each of the ring-shaped retaining sections of the connecting band is larger than an outside diameter of the each of the shaft guides.
US08047364B2
A personal electronic device protective wallet covering. A main housing is dimensioned to fit securely and snugly around a personal electronic device. The main housing includes a window disposed on a front side of the housing allowing usable access to a front surface of a device disposed in the housing. A rear protective face at least partially covers a rear surface of the device disposed inside. A preferably externally accessible pocket is formed coextensively with the rear protective face, adapted to allow insertion and removal of cards or paper currency into and out of the pocket in the manner of a wallet. The window may be an absence of housing material, allowing direct user contact with the front of the device, or it may thin and transparent, allowing functional contact therethrough. The pocket may be formed between the housing and the device or between the housing and an additional layer.
US08047358B1
A cover having at least two elongated members with each member having a hook at one end and a prong at the opposite end. The hook receives the prong of an adjacent member to interlock adjacent members. The members also have downwardly extending flanges that fit over flanges on a conveyor. The cover is connected to the conveyor by one or more brackets.
US08047353B1
A conveyor comprising an endless accumulation chain and at least two sets of devices for effecting incremental movements of the chain at respective stations. Each set of devices includes a first device for engaging and disengaging respectively the chain, a second device engaged to the first device for moving it from a first position to a second position while it is engaged to the chain for effecting an incremental movement of a portion of the chain and for retracting the first device to the first position while the first device is disengaged from the chain, and a third device for engaging the chain to lock the chain portion in a fixed position while the first device is disengaged from the chain and for disengaging from the chain when the first device is engaged to the chain portion so that the first device may be moved to the second position for incrementally moving the chain portion. In order to incrementally move the conveyor chain, the first device is engaged to the chain, the second device is disengaged from the chain, the engaged first device is moved from the first position to the second position to effect incremental movement of the chain, the second device is engaged to the chain to maintain a chain portion position, the first device is disengaged from the chain, and the first device is retracted to the first position to repeat the method for another incremental chain movement.
US08047345B2
A multi-plate clutch (2) having a first plate carrier (48) and second plate carrier (50) and one or more first plates (52) received by the first plate carrier and one or more second plates (54) received by the second plate carrier, a pressure element (58) which can especially be actuated hydraulically for generating an axial load on the clutch pack configured by the first and second plates and closing the multi-plate clutch, in which the pressure element configuring the second plate carrier and/or being connected to the second plate carrier in a rotationally fixed manner.
US08047344B2
A torsional vibration damper (10) and a hydrodynamic torque converter device (1). The converter device has a converter torus (18) which is configured by an impeller (12), a turbine wheel (14) and a stator (16), and a converter lockup clutch (20). The torsional vibration damper (10) has at least one first energy accumulating device (28) with one ere or more first energy accumulators (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring), at least one first wall (92) radially supporting the at least one first energy accumulator (68), where a rolling body device (98) (e.g. a rolling gear) is interposed between the at least one first wall (92) and the at least first energy accumulator (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring).
US08047330B1
A telescoping ladder jack supports a scaffolding plank and comprises a main member. A telescoping beam includes longitudinally spaced holes on each side of the telescoping beam and is inserted into or extracted from the main member. A locking mechanism is mounted to the main member and inserted into one of the holes to fix the telescoping beam at a desired length extracted from the main member. Ladder rung hooks are attached to a first bracket, which receives and is pivotally attached to the main member and has one of the hooks attached to each opposing end of the first bracket. A device for adjusting incline includes a second bracket mounted to a bottom of the main member (the second bracket including at least one series of recessed locking joints) and a bracing arm movably fastened to the second bracket by a locking pin oriented through a first end of the bracing arm and pivotally mounted to the first bracket at a second end of the bracing arm. A securing mechanism includes a third bracket mounted to a distal end of the telescoping beam and an adjustable pin that fits into one of the holes in the telescoping beam by passing through a slot in a top of the main member. The slot extends substantially the length of the main member, and the scaffolding plank is secured between the third bracket and adjustable pin to the telescoping beam and main member.
US08047321B2
Herein described is a hybrid propulsion and transmission system for a motorcycle of the type comprising at least an internal combustion engine (10) and at least one driving wheel (22). The system comprises a first electric machine (14), provided with first mechanical connection means (12) to the internal combustion engine (10), and a second electric machine (18), coupled with first electric machine (14) through electric and/or electronic connection means (16) and/or through second mechanical connection means (20), and coupled with the driving wheel (22) through second mechanical connection means (20).
US08047318B2
Air is cooled by a heat exchanger of a vehicle. The cooled air is directed to a cabin and/or battery of the vehicle. Ports in the cooling path direct the cooled air to the cabin and/or battery.
US08047317B2
A power system is provided that includes a first voltage bus, a traction motor configured to generate electrical power during a regenerative braking mode and to supply the generated electrical power to the first voltage bus, and an auxiliary system coupled to the first voltage bus. The auxiliary system comprises a second voltage bus and a power interface unit coupling the first voltage bus to the second voltage bus. The auxiliary system also comprises an energy storage device coupled to the second voltage bus and configured to store energy supplied to the second voltage bus and configured to supply stored energy to the second voltage bus and an auxiliary load configured to receive power based on power in the second voltage bus.
US08047313B2
A method of operating a hybrid vehicle propulsion system includes selectively operating the engine to consume fuel stored on-board the vehicle based on a residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle and further based on a profile of ambient conditions over the residence time.
US08047302B2
Disclosed is a drilling and/or striking hammer that includes a lubricating device having a lubricant reservoir and a volume of lubricant contained therein. The lubricating device conveys lubricant to at least one a transmission system within the hammer's housing, a percussion system, and/or a tool holder at a variable dosing or flow rate. The dosing or flow rate varies as a function of tool stress which can include use intensity and/or temperature. A flexible tube extends between the reservoir and the lubricated component(s). At lease part of the flexible tube vibrates with the lubricated components during use and modifies a viscosity of the lubricant therein, based on tool use intensity. A pressure generating device can pressurize the lubricant, helping convey the lubricant to a targeted area for lubricating movable parts.
US08047295B2
In one illustrative embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device adapted to be positioned adjacent an end of a tool housing of a subsea lubricator, wherein the device includes a structural member that is adapted to be positioned adjacent an end of the tool housing, a non-metallic body coupled to the structural member and a sealing device that is adapted to sealingly engage a wireline extending through the sealing device. The present invention is also directed to a method which includes lowering an assembly toward a tool housing of a subsea lubricator positioned subsea using a wireline for the tool to support a weight of the assembly, wherein the assembly includes a wireline tool and a device including a structural member that is adapted to be positioned adjacent the end of a tool housing, a non-metallic body coupled to the structural member, and a sealing device that is adapted to sealingly engage a wireline extending through the sealing device.
US08047294B2
A valve system for use in a subterranean well, the valve having multiple closure devices, or a closure device and a device for protecting the closure device. A valve system includes a valve with a closure assembly. The closure assembly has a closure device and a protective device which alters fluid flow through a flow passage of the valve prior to closure of the closure device to thereby protect the closure device. A safety valve system includes a safety valve with a closure assembly having at least two closure devices arranged in series for controlling flow through a flow passage of the safety valve. Another safety valve system includes a safety valve assembly including multiple safety valves arranged in parallel. One portion of fluid from a fluid source flows through one of the safety valves, while another portion of fluid from the fluid source flows through another safety valve.
US08047285B1
The subject matter relates to an apparatus for insertion of a conduit into a well system bore to introduce a reactant fluid over a subterranean catalyst to initiate decomposition of the reactant fluid which resultant energy release may be utilized to perform work or perform heating of the subterranean environment. The energy released from the catalytic reaction and subsequent combustion of fuels may also be used for cutting, welding, powering pumps, compressors, turbines, generators, or to heat well system fluids, pipes, subterranean reservoir fluids, subterranean solids, and completion devices in the well system.
US08047282B2
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for sonically activating cement slurries. In some implementations, a method of treating a subterranean formation includes positioning a settable composition including a capsule in a wellbore. The capsule is used to increase a setting rate in response to at least sonic signals. A sonic signal is transmitted to at least a portion of the settable composition to release an activator from the capsule.
US08047276B2
An apparatus and method to internally provide apertures inside polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), or any polymeric pie, plastic pipe-riser (blank casing) in existing landfill gas recovery wells (extraction wells) that have been installed at Municipal Solid Waste Facilities are described. By creating additional apertures in landfill gas recovery well risers, landfill gas derived from the decomposition of waste is allowed to enter the existing riser and extraction/recovery system. This process saves time and cost associated with drilling additional wells to capture landfill gas from subsequent layers of the waste body. The process assists in maintaining regulatory compliance by capturing landfill gas and preventing it from being emitted into the atmosphere.
US08047270B2
A heat dissipation device includes a base, a fin group located at a top of the base, a fan mounted on a top of the fin group, a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe. The first and second heat pipes connect with the base and the fin group and each includes a condensing portion and an evaporating portion. The evaporating portions of the first and second heat pipes are received in the base. The condensing portions of the first and the second heat pipes are located at opposite sides of the fin group respectively and extend through and support the fin group along opposite directions.
US08047261B2
A mold assembly for footwear components is cast as a collection of mold elements having integral attachment members. Attachment members of separate mold elements may then be joined by, e.g., welding. Handles may also be formed into one or more mold elements as part of the casting process. Outsole negatives are juxtaposed with templates for attachment tabs and/or handles and used to form ceramic casting molds. The ceramic casting molds can then be used to cast individual mold elements.
US08047250B2
A postage label dispensing system for dispensing adhesive-backed labels including a face material having an adhesive backing and a liner material detachably bonded to the adhesive backing. The adhesive backing defines a plurality of longitudinal adhesive strips and at least one non-adhesive region disposed therebetween and the face material includes at least one longitudinal cut disposed adjacent to, and aligned with, the non-adhesive region. The label dispensing system includes a system for displacing a supply of label material along a feed path and a peeler guide interposing the feed path operative to (i) guide the label material between upper and lower guide members of the peeler guide, (ii) induce a bend in the liner material along an axis substantially parallel to the at least one longitudinal cut, and (iii) separate an edge of the face material from the liner material along at least a portion of the longitudinal cut.
US08047243B2
A retreaded pneumatic truck tire includes a used carcass having a uniform annular attachment area and a retread element. The retread element secures to the attachment area of the used carcass. The retread element has a tread pattern comprising a first circumferential groove separating the tread pattern into a first shoulder rib and an intermediate rib and a second circumferential groove separating the tread pattern into the intermediate rib and a second shoulder rib. The tread pattern further comprises a first plurality of identical arcuate notches extending axially and circumferentially across the first circumferential groove and a second plurality of identical arcuate notches extending axially and circumferentially across the second circumferential groove. The first plurality of arcuate notches are offset circumferentially from the second plurality of arcuate notches.
US08047240B2
An implement for mechanically filling multiple sandbags at a time is used on a loader bucket of loader-type equipment. The implement has a planar surface in which a plurality of filler apertures are formed in a plurality of rows evenly spaced over its surface area. Each filler aperture has a tensioner ring around the aperture for holding a drawstring held in a sleeve around an open end of the sandbag. A trigger mechanism is movable to a locked position in which the drawstring of the sandbag is pulled tight so that the open end of the sandbag is held in place on the tensioner ring, to an unlocked position in which the trigger mechanism lifts the drawstring off the tensioner ring to allow the sandbag filled with filler material to pull on and cinch the open end of the sandbag closed, and to a release position in which the cinched sandbag is released to the ground.
US08047220B2
A gas cabinet has a housing receiving at least one gas bottle. The housing has at least one intake opening and at least one exit opening. A conduit system is located in the housing to which the at least one gas bottle is to be connected. A scavenging air passage for a scavenging air flow entering the housing through the at least one intake opening and exiting from the housing through the at least one exit opening is provided. The gas cabinet is configured such that an open flow cross-section of the air passage for the scavenging air in the housing is limited to an amount necessary for a reliable scavenging action. At least one displacement body is arranged in the housing for limiting the flow cross-section in the housing.
US08047214B2
A dispenser includes a housing having a reservoir for containing a product. The dispenser includes a flow-through gasket with a concave shape top having a plurality of apertures. The dispenser provides a product delivery passageway through the flow-through gasket when the dispenser is in an open position. The dispenser prevents leakage by providing a seal with the flow-through gasket when the dispenser is in a closed position. In some examples, the flow-through gasket with the concave shape top may be made of a material having elastomeric properties.
US08047207B2
Methods and devices for sealing an orifice are provided. A sealing element is inserted into an orifice. A fluid is transferred into the sealing element. Fluid transfer into the sealing element is restricted when a pressure in the sealing element is greater than a threshold value.
US08047202B2
A nasal delivery device and a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, can be used for mass treatment, especially mass vaccination. The delivery device can include an interface unit, as a replaceable unit, having at least one nosepiece unit for fitting to a respective nostril of a subject, a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, and at least one delivery unit having a substance supply unit for delivering substance to the nozzle of the at least one nosepiece unit. The delivery device can also include an actuation unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit of the interface unit.
US08047201B2
A nasal dilator that includes an upper resilient member for dilating the nasal valve and a lower resilient member for dilating the nostrils. The upper resilient member and lower resilient member may be attached to one another by a flexible substrate having a middle portion that is narrower in length than the upper or lower resilient members. The nasal dilator also may have adhesive tabs extending downwardly from the lower portion of the substrate on either side of the nose and towards the nostril entry, for temporary attachment to the side of the nasal vestibule to reduce nostril collapse. The nasal dilator also may include bendable or configurable hooks extending downwardly from the lower portion of the substrate and towards the nostril entrance for insertion into the nostril to reduce nostril collapse.
US08047186B2
An oil separating device for separating micron and sub-micron particles of oil from crankcase gases is provided. The oil separating device includes a housing having a first chamber in communication with a second chamber, and a narrow wave-shaped passage disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The narrow wave-shaped passage is defined by a first inner wall having a first undulating surface opposite and spaced apart from a second inner wall having a second undulating surface mirroring the first undulating surface. The narrow wave-shaped passage is disposed downstream of the first chamber and above the oil drain so as to allow oil particles in crankcase gases passing from the inlet to the outlet to accumulate on the first and second inner walls and assist gravity in forcing the accumulated oil through the narrow wave-shaped passage into the oil drain.
US08047172B2
A plasma jet ignition plug capable of inhibiting occurrence of channeling while reducing removal of energy of plasma through a ground electrode at the time of emission of plasma. A ground electrode of a plasma jet ignition plug projects inward from a front end face of a metallic shell toward an opening end of a cavity which is open at a front end face of an insulator. A projecting distal end which forms a spark discharge gap between the same and a center electrode within a cavity is located inward, with respect to a diametral direction P orthogonal to an axis O, of a position which is located 0.5 mm radially outward from the opening end of the cavity.
US08047165B2
A medium circulating apparatus of engine oil, which improves startability and warm up ability of an internal combustion engine, includes a microbubble generator that generates microbubbles and mixes the microbubbles into the circulating engine oil. Further, the medium circulating apparatus includes a medium temperature acquiring unit that acquires a temperature of the engine oil. The microbubbles are generated by the microbubble generator when the temperature of the engine oil is less than or equal to a predetermined value in order to decrease a viscosity, a heat conductivity, and a heat capacity of the engine oil in which the microbubbles are mixed.
US08047148B2
A ship designed for use at high speed and heavy seas having a single long and slender hull with a narrow beam and a more or less vertical bow, whereby the front half of the hull has more or less vertical sides, minimal flare in the bow sections and towards the bow an increase in draught at its center line combined with a more or less similar increase of freeboard and whereby the aft end of the hull has a flat or slightly V-shaped bottom with one or more propellers and/or waterjets as propulsion means. In accordance with the invention the bow has a fillet radius of at least 1% of the beam.
US08047145B2
Methods and apparatus for generating a vapor to be injected into a flue gas stream are described. The apparatus includes a fluid vaporization and injection assembly including an input for receiving a non-flue gas, e.g., clean, fluid heat transfer medium, e.g., air; a first sealed coil having an input and an output through which a fluid, such as ammonia, to be vaporized is passed; and a second sealed coil having an input and an output through which a heated second fluid, such as water or steam, is passed. The second sealed coil is arranged to transfer heat from the heated second fluid to the non-flue gas fluid heat transfer medium. The first sealed coil is arranged to absorb heat from the non-flue gas fluid heat transfer medium. An injection unit is coupled to an output of the first sealed coil for injecting the vaporized fluid into a flue gas stream.
US08047142B2
There is provided a protection method and protection system for valuables. An internal enclosure for enclosing the valuables, an external enclosure for enclosing the internal enclosure, a misuse protection device for the valuables, and a triggering device for triggering the misuse protection device in the event of an unauthorized manipulation of the external enclosure are provided. The external enclosure is closable to form a seal. A pressure chamber, which is impinged by an initial pressure, is produced in the external enclosure. A setpoint pressure is generated, which deviates from the ambient pressure, in the pressure chamber when the external enclosure is closed to form a seal. A pressure sensor is used for detecting the pressure in the pressure chamber. The pressure sensor controls initialization of the triggering device. The triggering device triggers the misuse protection device when the pressure deviates by more than a tolerance pressure value from the setpoint pressure.
US08047129B2
An apparatus for disinfecting seeds using hot water. The apparatus includes a disinfection container for holding water. A hopper feeds seeds into the disinfection container. A heater heats the water in the disinfection container. A temperature sensor detects a temperature of the water. A control box controls the heater in response to a detected signal. A cylindrical hot-water circulation chamber moves the seeds from the hopper to the lower portion of the disinfection container. A water jetting pipe jets water fed from a circulation pump towards the upper portion of the hot-water circulation chamber, thus dispersing the seeds. A storage tube temporarily stores the seeds. A feed tube feeds the seeds from the storage tube to the outside. An air jetting pipe jets compressed air from an air pump and discharges the compressed air to an inlet of the feed tube.
US08047124B2
An automatic beverage maker is provided. The automatic beverage maker is configured for storing raw materials of various hot drinks in vacuum, grinding the raw material of a hot drink to be made into powder with a grinding module, displacing an inlet cover at an upper end of a steeping chamber with a translational transport module so as to introduce the powder of the raw material of the hot drink to be made into the steeping chamber, and guiding hot boiled water in an internal water tank to drip into the steeping chamber, thus forming a convenient hot drink making mechanism.
US08047123B2
A piston assembly for an internal combustion engine is provided, including a piston and at least one insert. The piston includes an annular recess, a first surface, a ring belt and a skirt. The annular recess is located between the ring belt and the skirt. The insert may include a longitudinal portion and one or more opposing arms. The insert may be configured to be coupled with the piston. The arm(s) may extend laterally from the longitudinal portion and may be configured to abut the skirt, thereby orienting the insert relative to the piston. The insert may be disposed along the first surface, and aligned with the piston skirt such that the arms of the insert form a circumference about the piston skirt. The arms may at least partially enclose the annular recess at the piston skirt.
US08047121B2
A tank 16 and a main hydraulic pump 17 are connected to head side actuator chambers 13 and rod side actuator chambers 14 of hydraulic actuators 12 via conduits 21, 22. A direction control valve 18 and a quick drop valve 36 are connected to the conduits 21, 22. A hydraulic circuit is provided with an electromagnetic switch valve 42, which switches the quick drop valve 36 from a non-quick drop position 37 to a quick drop position 38. When switching the direction control valve 18 from a neutral position 23 to a lowering operation position 25, if the manipulation speed of a manipulation lever 33 exceeds a criteria speed, an excitation signal is output from a control device 32 to an electromagnetic switch valve 42 to quickly drop a blade 11, and the quick drop valve 36 is switched from the non-quick drop position 37 to the quick drop position 38.
US08047105B2
A machining tool of the present invention is used for finishing an end face having an arcuate cross section on a machined portion of a workpiece. A machining tool 30 has a tool body 31 and a cutting portion 32 provided integrally on a tip of the tool body 31. The cutting portion 32 is formed in substantially semispherical shape, and has a substantially spherical flank 33 and a substantially flat rake 35 joined to the flank 33 via an arcuate cutting edge 34. In the state that the cutting edge 34 abuts the arcuate end face of the rotated workpiece, the arcuate end face is finished using the machining tool 30 by varying the position of the cutting edge 34 abutting the arcuate end face in a circumferential direction.
US08047092B2
In a spiral bevel gear, a contact area between tooth flanks that mesh with each other is increased, thereby reducing teeth knocking noise and strengthening tooth sections.A shape of a tooth form on a normal plane T of a tooth section 15 of a spiral bevel gear becomes gradually larger as the normal plane moves from a small-diameter end section side towards a large-diameter end section side along a tooth trace H, as indicated by (a), (b), and (c). In correspondence, a tooth crest arc section S is provided in a connecting section 21 between a tooth flank 17 on a meshing side and a tooth crest 16. The tooth crest arc section S is formed such that a curvature radius r gradually increases within a range that does not exceed a radius R of an inscribed circle inscribed within two tooth flanks 17 and 18 and the tooth crest 16 on the normal plane T. The tooth crest arc section S can increase contact area when contact is made with a tooth flank of a partner gear and elastic deformation occurs.
US08047087B2
A method for fixing a fuel level sensor in a fuel tank having an upper and a lower wall, the sensor having a foot and a top. The method fixedly secures the foot of the sensor to the bottom wall of the fuel tank through a molded-in retainer, and elastically fixes the tubular top of the sensor to the top wall of the tank through a molded-in retainer as well.
US08047083B2
A flexible sensor is disposed in a power tool. The flexible sensor has an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor. A trigger partially disposed in the power tool, operates to apply a bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor to bend the flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature. A controller outputs an electrical signal to the power tool based on the electrical resistance to control a function of the power tool.
US08047080B2
An electromagnetic flowmeter for giving a magnetic field to a measurement fluid, detecting an electric signal occurring in the measurement fluid according to the magnetic field, and computing a flow quantity value based on the electric signal includes a zero point measurement section for measuring a zero point of the measurement fluid; a storage section for storing the measured zero point measurement value; a determination section for determining whether or not the difference between the preceding zero point measurement value stored in the storage section and the present zero point measurement value is beyond a predetermined value range; and at least either a transmission section for transmitting the determination result or a display section for displaying the determination result when the determination section determines that the difference is beyond the predetermined value range.
US08047079B2
The invention provides a method for controlling an electronic manometer for measuring pressure (p) inside a pressurized gas receptacle. The manometer comprises at least one pressure sensor, an electronic unit designed for the acquisition, storage and processing of data, and at least one information device device capable of transmitting at least one item of information (p).
US08047073B2
A capacitive liquid level detector for detecting a liquid level of a liquid in a receptacle, the liquid being conductive, the detector comprising: a capacitor with a first plate having a fixed size and being insulated from the liquid, and a second plate being formed by the liquid itself, its size being variable depending on the liquid level inside said receptacle, wherein a thin film dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the first plate and located between the first plate and the second plate, the first plate with the thin film dielectric layer formed on its surface is arranged such that it covers an open part of the outer wall of the receptacle, the first plate with the thin film dielectric layer formed on its surface is attached to the receptacle by sealing means in order to seal the receptacle against liquid leakage.
US08047071B2
A portable electronic device includes a housing, a processor unit received in the housing, and an anemometer unit mounted on the housing and electrically connected to the processor unit. The anemometer unit transforms pressure of wind blowing thereon into electronic signals, and the processor unit receives and processes the electronic signals to obtain wind pressures and velocities.
US08047067B2
A sensor structure notably for a harsh environment in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The sensor structure has a sensor body (1) having at one end an element (2) sensitive to the quantity to be measured in the harsh environment and at another end a connection circuit (3) for the latter, placed away from the harsh environment, and physically separated from one another. The sensor structure is connected by means for transmitting information by carrier current on an electrical conductor (5) of the sensor with which the sensitive element and the connection circuit are associated by wireless coupling means and between which are provided means (4) for protecting the connection circuit from the environment.
US08047066B2
A steering angle sensing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus and method sense the steering angle of a steering shaft by using a rotated bit value difference corresponding to the rotated angles of magnets, which are respectively coupled on an axis of one of a plurality of sub gears, when the sub gears with respectively different gear ratios rotate with a shaft gear that rotates together with the steering shaft.
US08047065B2
A diagnostic system and method for operating the same includes a pressure monitoring module generating a diagnostic pressure signal and a camshaft driven engine component correction module generating an engine component oil pressure correction signal and generating a corrected diagnostic pressure signal based on the diagnostic pressure signal and the engine component oil pressure signal. The system further includes a diagnostic module generating a failed variable valve lift mechanism signal based on the corrected diagnostic pressure signal.
US08047063B2
In an internal combustion engine, a sulfur detection sample gas is generated in a sample gas generation chamber by fuel of an amount smaller than the amount of fuel fed to a combustion chamber and proportional to the amount of fuel fed to the combustion chamber. An SOx sensor having a sensor part trapping the sulfur contained in the sample gas and capable of detecting the amount of sulfur trapped in the sensor part from the property changes of the sensor part is provided. The amount of SOx that flows into the catalyst is estimated from the output value-of this SOx sensor.
US08047050B2
A performance test apparatus includes a control unit, an image taking device, and a base having a table and a frame mounted to the table. The image taking device includes at least one image taker and at least one parallel light source. The at least one image taker is movably mounted to the frame and electrically connected to the control unit. The at least one parallel light source faces the table and is electrically connected to the control unit. The least one parallel light source includes a plurality of spot light sources. The control unit controls on/off of the at least one parallel light source, so that the at least one parallel light source flickers at a high frequency.
US08047045B2
An apparatus for cold-forming a workpiece having a substantially round cross-section and an elongate body into a tube having a main portion with a substantially tetragonal cross-section and a reinforced end. The apparatus includes a die in which a received portion of the body of the workpiece is receivable and from which a preselected portion of the body extends, and a first punch adapted to bend the preselected portion radially outwardly to form a curled end. The apparatus also includes a second punch to form the curled end into a round reinforced end, and a die subassembly for forming the received portion of the body of the workpiece into the main portion of the tube having the substantially tetragonal cross-section and for forming the round reinforced end into the reinforced end of the tube.
US08047041B2
A method of reducing thickness of unbroken rolling stock (14) by longitudinal rolling includes deforming the rolling stock (14) in the width direction with deformation regions (26 to 29; 86 to 88) of the rolls (22 to 25; 82 to 84) penetrating in the rolling stock to the same depth.
US08047040B2
A wire winding apparatus for winding a wire on a bobbin includes a forming device forming the wire having a rounded cross section to have a polygonal cross section and a winding device winding the wire formed by the forming device on the bobbin.
US08047037B2
The invention relates to a shaping tool which is used to shape a workpiece, in particular, a sheet steel component, comprising at least two shaping tool halves. Contoured regions are provided in the region of the shaping tool halves in order to give the workpiece a corresponding contour, at least in sections. Each shaping tool half has a shaping surface shell which is oriented towards the workpiece and a support shaping half. The shaping surface shell is arranged on the support shaping half and comprises a shaping surface, which is oriented towards the workpiece, and a rear side which is oriented away from the workpiece. The support shaping half comprises a contoured area which essentially corresponds to the contour of the workpiece which is to be produced and the contoured area is surrounded by a flange area. Grooves are provided in the contoured area in the region of the rear side of the shaping surface shell. The support shaping half comprises receiving surfaces which receive the support shaping half in a positive fit and the receiving surfaces and the grooves form cooling channels. The support shaping half comprises supply channels and discharge channels such that a coolant can be guided through the channels.
US08047033B2
A plurality of press devices 2 are arranged in a plastic working system. The plastic working system includes: a loop correction sensor 13 for watching a slack of a coil material C intermittently delivered from a preceding first press device 2a; and a second slack watching means 19 for watching a slack of the coil material C generated at the time of sending the coil material C to a succeeding second press device 2b. According to the slack generated by intermittent feeding of the coil material C sent from the first press device 2a, intermittent feeding is converted to continuous feeding by the feeding means 15. At the same time, the continuous feeding speed is subjected to speed increasing/decreasing control. On the other hand, by the second slack watching means 19, a slack of the coil material C is watched at the time of feeding the coil material C to the second press device 2b and the preceding first press device 2a is subjected to speed increasing/decreasing control.
US08047030B2
A housing assembly adapted to fit into a mortised recess in a door is provided for accommodating components of an electronic lock mechanism. The housing assembly comprises a housing including opposed major side walls at least partially defining an opening into the housing. A circuit board comprising electronic circuitry for operating the lock mechanism is disposed in the housing. A bracket for holding batteries is adapted to be disposed in the opening in the housing. The bracket is accessible when the housing is in the mortised recess of the door such that the bracket is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position. In the first position the bracket is in the housing and in the second position the bracket is at least partially outside of the housing such that batteries may be inserted into or removed from the bracket.
US08047022B2
Apparatus for opening and closing mold arms in a glassware forming machine includes a gearbox for mounting on a glassware machine frame, a cylinder housing suspended beneath the gearbox, and a mold open/close cylinder disposed within the cylinder housing. The cylinder has a mold open/close piston with an extending piston rod and a gear rack machined or otherwise formed in the piston rod. A first drive gear in the cylinder housing is coupled to the gear rack and a drive shaft extends from the first drive gear and the cylinder housing into the gearbox. A second drive gear is disposed in the gearbox and coupled to the drive shaft. Laterally spaced operating shafts extend upwardly from within the gearbox. Means including an idler gear couple the second drive gear to the operating shafts such that the operating shafts are rotated simultaneously in opposite directions by the cylinder, the gear rack, the first and second drive gears and the idler gear. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, the means include driven gears or connecting links coupling the second drive gear and the idler gear to the operating shafts. Linkages couple the operating shafts to the mold arms of the glassware forming machine.
US08047019B1
An attachment for a brooch enabling said brooch to be suspended by a necklace as a pendant. The attachment comprises a body, a head, and a tail. The body contains multiple pin holes one of which encases the pin of the brooch. After the width is adjusted, said body lies adjacent to the hinge and the locking device of the pin. The proximity of said body to said devices as well as said body's thickness prevents said devices from contacting the wearer. The head, which houses the necklace hole, is of sufficient thickness that it creates a protective space between any sharp projections on the back of said brooch and the wearer above the pin. The tail, after adjustment, covers sharp projections below the pin. The attachment will protect the wearer from injury, make the brooch comfortable to wear, and display the brooch in a cosmetic manner.
US08047014B2
A humidity control system (10) is disclosed which includes a refrigerant circuit (60). The refrigerant circuit (60) includes first and second absorbent-supported heat exchangers (61, 62) and performs a refrigeration cycle by the circulation of refrigerant. In addition, in the refrigerant circuit (60), the circulation direction of refrigerant is reversible. The first and second heat exchangers (61, 62) are disposed in a casing (11). In the humidity control system (10), the distribution route of air is changed such that a first air stream is passed through either one of the first and second heat exchangers (61, 61) that is functioning as an evaporator while a second air stream is passed through the other heat exchanger that is functioning as a condenser. A compressor (63), an expansion mechanism (65), and a four-way valve (64) in the refrigerant circuit (60) are disposed together with the heat exchangers (61, 62) in the casing (11).
US08047012B2
A system and method of controlling a compressor rack having a plurality of variable capacity components is provided. A variable capacity component is selected from the plurality of variable capacity components as a designated variable capacity component. The designated variable capacity component is operated by varying a capacity of the designated variable capacity component. Each variable capacity component of the plurality of variable capacity components, except for the designated variable capacity component, is operated at a fixed capacity corresponding to one of a maximum and a minimum capacity of the variable capacity component.
US08047009B2
A refrigerant additive supply device can include an outer rigid container, an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container and defining a space therebetween where the inner flexible bag contains an additive without a refrigerant, a valve in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag, an actuator operably coupled to the valve, and a propellant sealed within the space, where the inner flexible bag has a device pressure that allows flow of the additive into a refrigerant circuit when the actuator is depressed. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08046999B2
In a dual-source organic Rankine cycle (DORC), the condensed and slightly sub-cooled working fluid at near ambient temperature (˜300 K) and at low-side pressure (0.1 to 0.7 MPa) is (1) pumped to high-side pressure (0.5-5 MPa), (2) pre-heated in a low-temperature (LT) recuperator, (3) boiled using a low-grade heat source, (4) super-heated in a high-temperature (HT) recuperator to a temperature close to the expander turbine exhaust temperature using this exhaust vapor enthalpy, (5) further super-heated to the turbine inlet temperature (TIT) using a mid-grade heat source, (6) expanded through a turbine expander to the low-side pressure, (7) cooled through the HT recuperator, (8) cooled through the LT recuperator, (9) mostly liquefied and slightly subcooled in a condenser, and (10) the condensed portion is returned to the pump to repeat this cycle.
US08046997B2
A screw compressor type supercharger includes an improved supercharger bypass valve including a spring biasing the bypass valve towards an open position. The spring may be a compression spring integrated into a bypass valve diaphragm, an extension spring extending parallel to a diaphragm arm, or a torsion spring on a bypass valve butterfly shaft. The spring is selected and installed to hold the bypass valve open at all vacuum levels and at up to one PSI of boost, and then to allow the bypass to close between one PSI and six PSI boost, and to be closed at above six PSI boost. The resulting control of the bypass valve prevents damage to the supercharger.
US08046992B2
An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) having a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L). The first axle driving unit (18L) is used in conjunction with a second axle driving unit (18R) which is adjacently disposed to the first axle driving unit (18L) on the body frame of the vehicle and which is of substantially similar construction. However, the second axle driving unit (18R) features a single axle (20R) which extends outwardly from a second, opposite side of the housing (40) such that the axles (20L, 20R) are oppositely disposed.
US08046982B1
An apparatus for retrieving soft objects, the apparatus comprising a storage section, a gathering section, a rim and an elongated handle. The storage section is shaped like an open basket on its side and having a top and a bottom. The gathering section extends from the bottom of the storage section, comprises two barrier regions separated by a retaining region, and has a leading edge. The rim is attached at least to the leading edge. The handle projects upward from the top of the storage section at such an angle to permit a raking motion when collecting objects. Also a method for gathering soft objects on the ground including the steps of rotating handle of above apparatus to place its bottom on the ground, pulling the apparatus over fruit-laden ground, and rotating handle so bottom is on top to move the objects elsewhere.
US08046976B2
A method for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid, the method comprising dispensing a first portion of the beverage from a first source into containers, wherein the first portion of the beverage comprises at least a majority of the particulates and a first portion of the liquid, dispensing from a counterpressure filler a second portion of the beverage from a second source into the containers, wherein the second portion of the beverage comprises a second portion of the liquid, and sealing the containers to form packaged beverages. An apparatus for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid. A method for packaging, in sequence, a first beverage comprising particulates in a liquid and a second beverage comprising a carbonated beverage. A method for packaging a beverage comprising a dairy component and a liquid.
US08046975B1
Pallet roping and wrapping machines having a plurality of spools of stretch film supported on a single spool and guides that form ropes of stretch film without cutting. Specific implementations of guides include guides formed or rings and rollers. Positions of guides may be adjustable.
US08046968B2
A multi-layer floor panel unit, which can be assembled with a plurality of similar units to form a floor which is capable of repeatedly being disassembled and reassembled at different times and/or in different locations, includes a pressure-resistant and wear-resistant upper layer; a pressure-resistant lower layer, attached to the upper layer, and having grooves at vertical edges of the lower layer; and connecting strips in the grooves, for connecting adjacent multi-layer floor panel units, the connecting strips having horizontal legs with thickened portions thereon, the thickened portions being for clamping the connecting strips in the grooves.
US08046967B2
A translucent wall in accordance with the present invention is configured to provide aesthetic qualities to existing walls using resin-based panels. In one implementation, one or more resin-based panels are mounted to an existing wall using one or more easily assembled frames and one or more standoffs. The panels, frames, and standoffs are configured to mount the resin-based panels away from the wall by a specific distance, thereby allowing light to be transmitted through the resin-based panels. This light transmittance in turn provides a number of decorative advantages in terms of coloring, texturing, and in terms of exhibiting decorative objects embedded in the resin-based panels. The one or more frames used in accordance with the present invention can be easily adapted to any interior or exterior space or finish, such that the disclosed systems can benefit from mass-production techniques.
US08046964B2
In an anchor for the attachment to construction panels including two cover plates and an intermediate support core layer wherein the anchor comprises an expansion body and a wedge body which inserted into the expansion body and includes an opening for screwing or pounding in a mounting means, the installed anchor is disposed in an opening of the panel which extends through the first cover plate and the intermediate support core plate. The expansion body has locking zones and engagement elements which are spreadable by wedge elements. With the anchor installed, a wedging zone spreads out the engagement elements of the expansion body behind the cover plate and the locking zones are interlocked.
US08046948B2
The present invention relates to a safety means for weapons. The safety means comprises an electronic control unit for the authentication of an authorized user and the control of a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism mechanically engages with at least one mechanical part of the ignition chain so that said ignition chain is interrupted and firing is prevented. The safety mechanism comprises an actuator for releasing said engagement of the safety mechanism in case the electronic control unit identifies an authentication signal. The safety means according to the present invention is provided in a retrofit main component part of a weapon, which replaces a corresponding original main component part of the weapon. The safety means is preferably controllable by a transponder.
US08046945B2
A transparent picture frame allows artwork to appear more prominent relative to surrounding wall surfaces. The assembly includes a transparent cover plate having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the artwork, a transparent inner mat portion having a cut-out dimensioned to receive the cover plate and artwork, and a transparent outer mat portion having a cut-out with dimensions less than those of the inner mat portion, resulting in a peripheral overlap. The assembly further includes a transparent back panel, wherein the inner mat portion, outer mat portion and back panel all have the same outer dimensions. One or more fasteners are provided for holding the assembly together in the following order from front-to back: the outer mat portion, the inner mat portion with the cover plate over the artwork, and the back panel. In the preferred embodiment, the inner mat portion, outer mat portion and back panel are made of plastic, whereas the cover plate is made of glass.
US08046916B2
A metallic bellows is manufactured by a first step of bulging a straight raw pipe into a primary formed body having formed on a periphery thereof a corrugated bellows section, and a second step of subjecting at least one of crest portions and trough portions of the bellows section of the primary formed body to roll machining by means of a pair of forming rolls.
US08046914B2
A method of manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board having interlayer insulating layers and conductor layers repeatedly formed on a substrate, via holes formed in the interlayer insulating layers, and establishing electrical connection through the via holes, including containing an electronic component in said substrate, removing a film on a surface of a die pad of said electronic component, forming a mediate layer to be connected to a via hole of a lowermost interlayer insulating layer, on said die pad, forming the interlayer insulating layers on said substrate, and forming the via holes connected to the conductor circuits and the mediate layers, in said interlayer resin insulating layers.
US08046905B2
A method of manufacturing a motor includes coupling a base cover to a sleeve having a penetration hole formed therein, such that one side of the penetration hole is closed; inserting a shaft in the penetration hole; coupling a plate to the shaft such that the shaft is inserted in the plate; and pressing and coupling a hub to the shaft such that the shaft is inserted in the hub while the base cover is supported in an axial direction of the shaft to the base cover by using a jig, wherein the base cover is elastically deformed to make contact with the shaft. In the method of manufacturing the motor, the jig is used to deform the base cover so as to come in contact with the shaft, thereby applying the support load in the axial direction.
US08046893B2
A method for assembling a motor vehicle axle including suspension arms and a cross-member mounted between the arms. The method applys an adhesive element on at least one portion of the cross-member, mounts the portion inside a bore of one of the suspension arms to as to leave a clearance between the suspension arm and the adhesive element, and radially deforms one of the assembling elements of the cross-member and the suspension arm to obtain a contact between the adhesive element and the bore of the suspension arm.
US08046892B2
The present invention relate to a method of inhibiting access. Some embodiments of the method include determining that access to an item needs to be inhibited and positioning a thermal grill relative to the item such that the thermal grill provides a barrier against an individual engaging the item. A thermal grill is a device that has several relatively warm portions which are interlaced with several relatively cold portions. When an individual contacts the thermal grill, the temperature difference between the warm and cold portions causes an individual to feel pain (or discomfort) without physiologically damaging the individual. Therefore, the method inhibits access by notifying individuals that they are performing an undesirable activity when they touch the thermal grill without permanently injuring the individual.
US08046885B1
Thread-crimping machines with enhanced throughput are detailed. One or more drive rolls forming parts of the machines may be grooved to group centrally the entering threads without materially adversely impacting driving and crimping operations of the machines. Thread-focusing components also may be employed upstream of the inlet areas.
US08046884B2
The drive and guide device for a needle bar of a needle loom having a machine stand includes a first crankshaft rotatably supported in the machine stand; a needle bar supported in the machine stand; a first connecting rod supported on a first cam of the first crankshaft and connected to the needle bar; and a guide device for guiding the needle bar along a path extending perpendicular to the needle-punching support surface. The first connecting rod and/or the guide device comprises a leaf spring, which is rigidly connected to the needle bar to transmit a drive or guide force. As a result, lubrication points on elements of the needle loom which move from place to place are eliminated.
US08046878B1
A bag and clothesline clamp is constructed of a pliable, tubular hose that has a slit opening along the length and two opposite ends wherein at least one is notched at an angle of 45° away from the slit opening; a slot opening formed at least partially through the slit opening by removing a narrow strip of hose parallel to an axis of the hose for ease of insertion of the bag or the clothesline.
US08046876B2
A cookware handle designed to be grasped by a user's hand, consisting of a rigid structure attached to the cookware, and a flexible grip surrounding the rigid structure. The flexible grip has at least one part consisting of a wall that is from 2 to 10 mm thick, and preferably 5 mm thick, that creates a hand support surface, and at least one hollow cavity inside the grip is adjacent to the wall to enable said wall to be compressed when the handle is grasped.
US08046874B2
The present invention discloses an anti-pinching structure for supporting frame, in which a slidable or rotatable positioning block is disposed on the hinge portion of the connection base and the supporting framework and a hinge unit is disposed on the hinge portion of the connection base and the supporting framework, such that the torsion spring of the hinge units may form a supporting torsion against the supporting framework and the positioning block may prevent the supporting framework from springing back.
US08046868B2
A vacuum including a housing, a suction device disposed within the housing, a plurality of accessories operable to engage the suction device, a plurality of wheels mounted to the housing and at least one bumper disposed on the housing. The at least one bumper includes a retaining feature operable to store at least one of the accessories, and the at least one bumper is operable to protect at least one of the wheels to minimize damage thereto. At least one pocket is defined by the bumper. The pocket is adapted to store at least one of the accessories.
US08046864B2
The toothbrush body according to the invention has on its top side a hand-supporting section with at least one longitudinal support strip which extends along the longitudinal axis of a handle part and next to which is located at least one recess which extends laterally from the top side to a bottom side. The recesses can take the form of holes located between two longitudinal support strips or of open lateral recesses formed in the broad sides of the toothbrush body.
US08046858B2
A handrail for a gangway and a method for manufacturing the same where the handrail comprises a single, continuous piece of plastic.
US08046857B2
Dock leveler seals and associated methods and systems are described herein. A dock leveler having a rear hinge seal configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a rear support frame and a movable deck. The rear support frame includes a plurality of first support members extending therefrom, and the aft edge portion of the deck includes a plurality of second support members pivotally coupled to the first support members along an axis. The seal of this embodiment includes a first edge portion extending outwardly from a medial portion in a first direction, and a second edge portion extending outwardly from the medial portion in a second direction. The medial portion urges the first edge portion against the support frame and the second edge portion against the aft edge portion of the deck as the deck pivots about the axis in operation.
US08046845B1
A lightweight combat helmet has a rigid helmet shell with first and second flexible and fluid impermeable receptacles nested within the helmet shell. The first receptacle is filled with structures and substances that alter a trajectory of an incoming projectile. When filled, the second receptacle conforms to a wearer's head.
US08046844B2
A torso, around which clothes can be wound, includes a curved incision on the backface. Preferably, an elastic member is provided at least on the periphery of the incision. The torso may also include a first opening on the backface, an elastic member formed to cover the first opening, and a curved incision on the elastic member, where the incision is exposed from the first opening. Preferably, the incision is formed along the longitudinal direction of the first opening. Furthermore, the first opening may include at least two projections formed on its periphery, and the elastic member may include at least two holes formed at positions opposing the projections, respectively. A fixing member may be provided for fixing the elastic member, and the fixing member includes a second opening having the same shape and size as those of the first opening and formed at a position opposing the incision.
US08051487B2
A system and a method are disclosed for sensitive document management. The system includes one or more agents, a behavior analysis engine, a local policy engine, and a local matching service. The method identifies whether a document is sensitive, identifies behaviors applied to the document, determines whether the document contains sensitive information and determines whether to allow the identified behavior to continue based on security policies.
US08051482B2
To nullify any malicious code potentially contained within a data file, a transformation engine randomly selects a transformation from a number of available file transformations each arranged to alter the bit pattern of a file to which it is applied while still enabling manifestation of at least some of the file's semantic content to a user. The selected transformation is then applied to the data file to produce a transformed file. Preferably, the transformation engine runs in a dedicated virtual machine of a computing platform.
US08051481B2
The present invention is directed to methods of and systems for adaptive networking that monitors a network resource of a network. The method monitors an application performance. The method categorizes a first subset of traffic of the network. The categories for the first subset include trusted, known to be bad, and suspect. The method determines an action for a second subset of traffic based on the category for the first subset of traffic. Some embodiments provide a system for adaptive networking that includes a first device and traffic that has a first subset and a second subset. The system also includes a first resource and a second resource for the transmission of the traffic. The first device receives the traffic and categorizes the traffic into the first and second subsets. The first device assigns the first subset to the first resource. Some embodiments provide a network device that includes an input for receiving incoming traffic, an output for sending outgoing traffic, a categorization module that categorizes incoming traffic, and a resource assignment module that assigns the categorized traffic for a particular resource. A traffic category for the device includes suspect traffic.
US08051477B2
State of security in a mobile communications network is communicated. Data regarding nature and severity of security events onboard at least one mobile platform is generated and processed. A message that includes the processed data is generated and transmitted periodically. The processed data makes up a security state vector that includes the number of security events detected since power-up of the mobile platform node, sum of highest severity security events since power-up or counter rollover, sum of the second highest severity security events detected since power-up or counter rollover, sum of the third highest severity security events detected since power-up or counter rollover, highest security event classification, second-highest security event classification, and third-highest security event classification. The processed data may be used in a network operations center to prioritize mobile platforms from which logged data should be retrieved for further investigation and monitoring.
US08051476B2
A system for accessing a secure area. In response to reading a plurality of security device orientations, the plurality of security device orientations are recorded. The plurality of recorded security device orientations are compared with stored security device orientation data. In response to determining that a match occurs between the plurality of recorded security device orientations and the stored security device orientation data, access is granted to the secure area.
US08051474B1
Methods and systems for distinguishing between sources of messages at a computer system resource are provided. In particular, messages are classified according to the physical interface at which the messages are received. A message received at an interface connected to a trusted source has the port address associated with that message mapped to a predefined port address by a firewall computer, before being passed to a server computer or other system resource. A message received at an interface that is connected to an untrusted source is passed to the server computer using the original port address. The server computer may then treat messages associated with one of the reserved port addresses differently from messages associated with a non-reserved port address.
US08051470B2
A method for automatic user authentication is described. In response to a coupling of a separate hardware security device to a data processing system, credential information for each of a plurality of applications that the user uses is received from the separate hardware security device into an authentication credential container associated with the user. A plurality of applications accessible by a user are identified by examining authentication credential container of the user. A view of the plurality of applications accessible by the user is generated. The view is a consolidated user directory that contains user authentication information across the plurality of applications. The view may then be displayed to an administrator.
US08051466B2
A system for controlling access to a network includes a wireless switch configured for radio frequency communication with a mobile unit associated with a radio frequency identification tag. The wireless switch is adapted for determining if a radio frequency identification tag is located within a first area, and enabling the mobile unit to access the network according to a first scheme if the mobile unit is located within the first area.
US08051455B2
Systems and methods for using tokens to link the television and the Internet platforms. The tokens are tightly encoded into the content and a registry controls the linking of the television content to specific Internet-based content. The registry also polices the validity of the tokens and optionally provides the token owner with continued control over the Internet content associated with that token. When the two platforms are linked successfully, the consumer receives quality content, while being protected from unwanted Internet content.
US08051440B2
According to one aspect, an optical read/write device for reading and/or writing an optical disc includes a base, optical pickup head, and a driving mechanism for slidably driving the optical pickup head. The driving mechanism includes a worm gear, a motor for rotating the worm gear, and a rack disposed between the worm gear and the optical pickup head for transferring motion from the worm gear to the optical pickup head. The rack includes a fastening portion for fixing the rack to the optical pickup head, a mesh portion for engaging with the worm gear, a restricting portion connected to the mesh portion for being blocked by the gear seat when the mesh portion is pressed by the worm gear to prevent the mesh portion from disengaging from the worm gear, and a connecting portion for connecting the fastening portion with the restricting portion.
US08051422B2
In order to improve the unbalance of loads imposed on individual database servers at the time of executing individual SQL processing phases, a management computer partitions an inputted query request into the processing phases which are units executable in parallel, calculates resource costs needed for executing the processing phases, assigns the processing phases to the logical computers on the basis of an access right to databases, calculates resource assignment ratios of the individual logical computers in correspondence with the resource costs for the processing phases assigned to the individual logical computers, and assigns assignable resources of a physical computer to the individual logical computers, the assignable resources being equivalent to resource assignment amounts corresponding to the resource assignment ratios.
US08051420B2
A method and system for governing resources in a computing utility receives a demand profile associated with an application that identifies the resources required from a pool of resources during one or more demand cycles, admits an application to the computing utility facility if resources required for the application can be provided from the pool of resources in accordance with the demand profile and associated one or more demand cycles and assigns available resources from the pool of resources in response to a request from the application admitted to the computing utility facility.
US08051415B2
Disclosed is a disk array apparatus which includes disk apparatuses and which reads and writes data of the disk apparatus based on an I/O instruction issued by a host computer, includes: a CPU which carries out a first firmware; a memory which stores the first firmware in a first storage area of physical address space; and a TLB which belongs to the CPU and makes the first storage area of the physical address space of the memory associated with a first logical area of logical address space, wherein in case that the CPU receives a second firmware and an instruction to exchange firmware, the CPU stores the second firmware in a second storage area of the physical address space of the memory, and updates the TLB to make the second storage area associated with the first logical area. A method and program for exchanging firmware are also disclosed.
US08051414B2
A system is provided comprising first, second, and third servers, a medical device, and a database storing a plurality of software updates for various medical devices. The second server stores software update history for medical devices located in a plurality of countries, and the third server is located in a country and stores software update history for medical devices located in that country. A request for a software update for a medical device is sent from the first server to the second server. The second server sends a command to the database, and the database sends the software update to the medical device. After an attempt has been made to install the software update in the medical device, the software update history for the medical device is automatically updated in the second and third servers.
US08051412B2
Performance of a heterogeneous multiprocessor is reduced as much as possible within a short time without any awareness of parallelization matched with a configuration of the heterogeneous multiprocessor. In a heterogeneous multiprocessor system, tasks having parallelism are automatically extracted by a compiler, a portion to be efficiently processed by a dedicated processor is extracted from an input program being a processing target, and processing time is estimated. Thus, by arranging the tasks according to PU characteristics, scheduling for efficiently operating a plurality of PU's in parallel is carried out.
US08051411B2
A method for copy propagations of a processor including two clusters, each cluster comprising a first function unit and a second function unit, a first local register file and a second local register file being respectively accessible by the first and second function unit only, and a global register file having a ping-pong structure to access the first and second local register files, the method comprising the steps of: (a) listing possible copy propagation paths between two nodes of a data flow graph; (b) calculating a profit of machine cycles for each of the copy propagation paths according to constraints of the processor; and (c) performing a copy propagation through the copy propagation path if the profit thereof is greater than a threshold value.
US08051408B1
A method of dynamically analyzing source code to generate usage hints for a user performing program editing is disclosed. The functions in a collection of source code being edited by a user are processed so as to generate a parse tree data structure for each function called. The incoming and outgoing arguments in the parse tree are identified. Subsequently, a user editing code calls the function and either completely or incompletely enters the arguments as part of the function called. Input arguments are identified and associated with the corresponding argument in the parse tree for the function. Relevant preconditions and post-conditions of the surrounding nodes corresponding to the current location are analyzed. Usage hints are provided for the completion of the function call. Arguments for a completed function call argument entered by the user are validated. Error messages are delivered in the event of an invalid call.
US08051400B2
A layout for an integrated circuit includes standard cells positioned at standard cell sites. Programmable cells are positioned at programmable fill sites which have a size sufficient to accommodate the programmable cells and are not occupied by standard cells. The position of these programmable sites is recorded in site data as part of the layout data associated with the layout. Empty standard cell sites remaining after standard cells and programmable cells have been placed are filled with standard fill cells. The boundaries of the programmable cells are not constrained other than by alignment with standard cell sites. This permits a high density of programmable fill sites and programmable cells to be achieved. When it is desired to replace a programmable cell with a programmed cell the programmable cells are all deleted from the layout and then the required programmed cells are subject to an automated placement algorithm to place them where appropriate for their function. The remaining empty programmable fill sites are then refilled with programmable cells. Finally, routing algorithms to connect to and from the newly introduced programmed cells are executed to connect those program cells up to the other points within the integrated circuit layout required.
US08051395B2
The present invention seeks to provide a simple, but novel regime, for re-labelling swappable pins that permits swappability information to be maintained without significantly increasing computational complexity and is conducive to inexact pattern matching for the purposes of developing more complex logical processing blocks from elementary components in design analysis. The method comprises a recursive application of a simple labelling procedure. This method is repeated recursively until all gate instances in the circuit fragment have been assigned a swappability number.
US08051393B2
In one embodiment, a method for determining a contour simplification of an object for a simulation is provided. An object in a layout of a transistor design to be created with the photolithographic process is determined. The object includes a width and a length in the layout. A contour simulation is performed to determine a generated contour object. The contour simulation simulates parametric variation factors that may occur in the photolithographic process. An adjusted width and adjusted length of the object is then determined based on the generated contour object. The adjusted width and the adjusted length are usable to determine a parametric model for simulation of the object. For example, a layout versus schematic (LVS) tool may back-annotate the layout. Then, a SPICE simulation may use the output of the LVS tool to verify the electrical behavior of the transistor using the adjusted width and adjusted length.
US08051379B2
An image-forming apparatus includes a web browser and is connectable to a network. The image-forming apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a menu request including identification information of the image-forming apparatus, a reception unit configured to receive a response to the menu request from a management server via the network, an execution unit configured to analyze and execute a processing command included in content of the response received by the reception unit, and a display unit configured to generate a display file by embedding a processing result of the processing command executed by the execution unit into the content of the response received by the reception unit and to display the display file via the web browser.
US08051377B1
Embodiments for displaying multiple page files are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a plurality of files may be automatically displayed. For the respective files of the plurality of files, a count of pages may be determined, and at least one of the pages of the file may be displayed. If the count of pages is determined to be greater than one, a plurality of pages of the file may be automatically displayed.
US08051375B2
A television Widget movement method involves providing access to a plurality of Widget programs to a television Widget host processor; receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in a Display mode, display Widget representations on a display; receiving a command from the remote controller that establishes one of the plurality of displayed Widget programs as the Widget program that is currently in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, wherein the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08051370B2
Various embodiments utilize an auto-complete module to expose a website's content structure. In at least some embodiments, a user can take an action within an application and, responsively, the auto-complete module can retrieve a site index file or site map and use the site index file or site map to display the website's content structure. In at least some embodiments, a website's content structure can be displayed without navigating to the particular website. In at least some embodiments, the auto-complete module can utilize standard protocols such as HTTP protocols to retrieve the site index file or site map.
US08051369B2
A system and method for the creation and automatic deployment of personalized, dynamic and interactive voice services, including information derived from on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems and other data repositories is disclosed. The system and method includes the ability to deploy personalized voice services through a live or recorded personalized broadcast. In particular, the system and method access personalized information and generate personalized markup documents from the personalized information. The personalized markup document is converted to a form that is suitable for over-air transmission and transmitted to a subscriber of the voice service.
US08051361B2
The present invention provides a distributed clustering method to allow multiple active instances of consistency management processes that apply the same encoding scheme to be cooperative and function collectively. The techniques described herein facilitate an efficient method to apply an erasure encoding and decoding scheme across dispersed data stores that receive constant updates. The technique can be applied on many forms of distributed persistent data stores to provide failure resiliency and to maintain data consistency and correctness.
US08051350B2
A built-in self test circuit includes a pattern generator, an elastic buffer, a symbol detector, and a comparison unit. A pattern generator generates a first test pattern to test a port under test and then a result pattern is gotten and stored in the elastic buffer. The symbol detector detects if a starting symbol exists in the test result pattern. If it exists, a second test pattern is generated to be compared with the test result pattern. As a result, a reliability of data transmission of the port under test is determined.
US08051348B1
An integrated circuit includes logic circuits including the first and second logic circuits, and a scan chain configured to test the logic circuits. The scan chain includes the first scan chain portion for testing the first logic circuit based on an input test pattern and output the first output test pattern, a switching unit for selecting and outputting one of the input test pattern and the first output test pattern as a selected test pattern, and the second scan chain portion for testing the second logic circuit based on the selected test pattern from the switching unit and output the second output test pattern. The switching unit selects one of the input test pattern and the first output test pattern based on at least one of a logic depth, a number of gates, a number of gate inputs and a number of gate outputs of the logic circuits.
US08051346B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with programmable application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) fault injection are described. One example ASIC includes a serializer de-serializer (SERDES). The example ASIC may also include logics to process data in the ASIC. At least one of the logics either receives data from the SERDES and/or provides data to the SERDES. The example ASIC may also include an embedded fault injection logic (EFIL) to control injection of a fault to a path (e.g., data, control) associated with at least one of the logics. The example ASIC may also include an embedded set of multiplexers (ESOMs) controlled by the EFIL. The ESOMs are controllable by the EFIL to inject a fault signal to the data path.
US08051345B2
The embodiments protect an IC against Design-For-Test (DFT) or other test mode attack. Transitory secrets are secured whether stored in registers or latches, RAM, and/or permanent secrets stored in ROM and/or PROM. One embodiment for securing information on an IC includes entering a test mode and resetting each register in response to entering the test mode of operation and prior to receiving a test mode command. An integrated circuit embodiment includes a test control logic operative to configure the integrated circuit into a test mode and to control the integrated circuit while in the test mode, a set of registers, and a functional reset controller coupled to the test control logic and to the set of registers, operative to receive a reset command from the test control logic and provide the reset command to the set of registers in response to a command to enter the test mode.
US08051342B2
A semiconductor memory device including: a memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and memory cells arranged in portions where the plurality of word lines and the plurality of bit lines intersect with each other; a plurality of data bus lines connected to the plurality of bit lines; a plurality of sense amplifiers individually connected to the plurality of data bus lines and configured for detecting memory data stored in corresponding memory cells based on values of currents that are generated in the individual data bus lines in accordance with the memory data.
US08051339B2
A data preserving method and a data accessing method for a non-volatile memory are provided. In the data preserving method, a data is checked according to an error correcting code (ECC) to obtain an error bit number of the data. When the error bit number is greater than a threshold, the data is moved from a first memory unit to a second memory unit and is corrected according to the ECC. Thereby, the data stability of the non-volatile memory is improved.
US08051336B2
In order to provide a recording method for data which have been or are being generated at a data source in a time sequenced manner and are transmitted via a digital network to at least one recording device for storage, by means of which method the data can be reliably recorded, it is provided that the data are stored at the data source before the transmission on the digital network in such a way that, after a fault on the digital network, data which were intended for transmission during the period of the fault can be made available to the at least one recording device.
US08051333B2
Upon occurrence of a memory error which is difficult to correct, CPU interrupts a process under execution in response to interrupt signal output from error detection device, and transfers the control to the OS. The OS references attributes of a page stored in a page frame which has suffered the memory error. When read-only is indicated, physical memory management table is updated to set the page frame, which has suffered the error, into a disabled state. Then, page table is updated such that a virtual page stored in the page frame which has suffered the error is not assigned to any page frame, followed by resumption of the execution of the process. After execution of the process is resumed, a page fault process is invoked to store the virtual page which has encountered the memory error in another normal page frame.
US08051323B2
A multiple-processor system 2 is provided where each processor 4-0, 4-1 can be dynamically switched between running in a locked mode where one processor 4-1 checks the operation of the other processor 4-0 and a split mode where each processor 4-0, 4-1 operates independently. Multiple auxiliary circuits 8-0, 8-1 provide auxiliary functions for the plurality of processors 4-0, 4-1. In the split mode, each auxiliary circuit 8-0, 8-1 separately provides auxiliary functions for a corresponding one of the processors 4-0, 4-1. To ensure coherency when each processor 4-0, 4-1 executes a common set of processing operations, in the locked mode a shared one of the auxiliary circuits 8-0 provides auxiliary functions for all of the processors 4-0, 4-1.
US08051316B2
Systems and methods for power management in an information handling system are disclosed. A method may include determining a power requirement of resources configured to receive power from a plurality of power supply units including one or more online power supply units, one or more redundant power supply units, and one or more standby power supply units. The method may also include determining a power capacity of the one or more online power supply units. The method may additionally include determining if the power capacity of the one or more online power supply units exceeds the power requirement of the resources. The method may further include transitioning at least one of the power supply units based on such determining steps.
US08051307B2
The invention provides a voltage-controlled device, method and computer device capable of dynamically regulating voltage and effectively saving energy. The voltage-controlled device receives a VID from a CPU, determines a core voltage according to a load line defined therein, and supplies the core voltage to the CPU. The voltage-controlled device has a load line register set and a write logic. The load line register set has a plurality of registers, and the values of which represent the defined load line. The write logic changes the values of the registers in the load line register set according to a write signal.
US08051297B2
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of binding a security element to a device, comprising: generating a passkey to encrypt the security element, the passkey being a combination of attributes, and one of the attributes being a Device ID associated with said device. Preferably, the device is a mobile device. The combination of attributes may include the following: a) a build secret, the build secret consisting of a string which is generated when the software application is created; b) a salt, the salt consisting of a random string; wherein the build string and the salt are stored as non-printable strings within encryption code of the passkey.
US08051292B2
In connection with network elements in a network, enhancing security by measuring proximity between elements, that are communicating with each other, by using facilities of secure devices and secure elements in the network. In some embodiments, secured information stored in a device certificate comprises a device processing delay, and the device processing delay is used in calculating a net response time which is compared to a threshold.
US08051287B2
This specification describes technologies relating to imparting real-time priority-based network communications in an encrypted session. In general, aspects of the subject matter described can be embodied in methods that include establishing, based on cryptographic information in a reserved, random-data portion of a handshake communication, a session, receiving parameter values relating to a sub media stream, included in a header of a network communication, storing the parameter values, obtaining state information and a data payload included in a second network communication, identifying, from the state information, a purpose of the second network communication, and whether a header of the second network communication includes one or more new values corresponding to one or more of the parameters, updating one or more of the stored values based on the one or more new values, and processing the data payload based on the identified purpose and the stored parameter values.
US08051274B2
The description relates to an instruction fetch technology of a processor that processes a plurality of instructions in parallel. The processor exploits the use of a compression code fetched during a previous clock cycle when fetching compressed instructions from a program memory and creating an instruction bundle consisting of a sequence of instructions to be processed in parallel. A compression buffer is interposed between the program memory and an instruction decompression unit, such that a compression code read in a previous clock cycle is ready at the beginning of a decompression cycle of the subsequent instruction bundle thereby avoiding a delay due to memory read latency.
US08051273B2
Disclosed is a mixed mode parallel processor system in which N number of processing elements PEs, capable of performing SIMD operation, are grouped into M (=N÷S) processing units PUs performing MIMD operation. In MIMD operation, P out of S memories in each PU, which S memories inherently belong to the PEs, where P
US08051236B2
A medical device system includes a portable medical device and a docking unit on which the medical device can be removably mounted. The docking unit is configured to communicate with a controller of the medical device when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit to instruct the controller to execute a selected program.
US08051219B2
A highly-reliable storage system and data input/output control method, which can ensure priority data input/output performance, is provided. A performance limit, which is the number of data input/output processes per unit of time, is detected; and a processing percentage for each of one or more priority targets for which data input/output processing should be prioritized, and a group of one or more non-priority targets that includes of one or more other targets, which correspond to input/output processing request types, is determined based on the performance limit detected, and a targeted performance; and the storage apparatus executes data input/output processing for the one or more priority targets and the group of one or more non-priority targets at respective frequencies determined by the processing percentage determination unit.
US08051218B2
Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for detecting and managing peripheral devices that perform outside a given performance envelope. In some aspects, one or more threshold values may be determined prior to or during implementation by heuristic or other methods. These threshold values may then be used to determine device performance. In some aspects, threshold values may relate to performance parameters comprising device failures, consumption levels, output quality and other parameters. In some aspects, multiple threshold values may be used to determine device performance. In an exemplary aspect, a sheet usage threshold, a tone usage threshold and a power usage threshold may be used to determine if a device is an outlying device. In some aspects, performance below an excellence threshold value may indicate that a device has excellent performance.
US08051217B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing an extensible information handling system (IHS) bus implemented on predetermined channels of a digital video interface. IHS video signal information is multiplexed with IHS bus information by a host multiplexer for transmission across a digital video connector. The multiplexed IHS video signal and IHS bus information is received by a display multiplexer, where it is demultiplexed. Demultiplexed IHS video signal information is received by a video interface receiver, where it is used to generate an image on a digital display. Demultiplexed IHS bus information is received by a host bus interface transmitter/receiver, where it is used to support peripheral devices attached to the digital display.
US08051205B2
A system and method are provided for peer-to-peer distributed file storage in a network of connected clients. The method transmits data file peer-storage information from a first peer node to a network-connected backup manager. The backup manager creates a mapping plan, for mapping data file segments to a peer group, which typically includes a plurality of network-connected peer nodes. The backup manager transmits the mapping plan to the first peer node. The first peer node distributes the data file segments to the peer group in accordance with the mapping plan, for storage in tangible memory media. Typically, the first peer node accepts a data file and encrypts the data file. In one aspect, the backup manager creates a mapping plan for distributing (n+x) erasure-coded segments. After receipt of the mapping plan, the first peer node creates the (n+x) erasure coded file segments in preparation for distribution.
US08051201B2
Multicast capability in a virtual private LAN service (VPLS) is provided in a provider IP/MPLS infrastructure without headend replications by encapsulating a customer data packet to use an established multicast protocol, such as IP multicast. In one example, the customer data packet is encapsulated by an IP header having an IP multicast group address and an Ethernet header. In one implementation, a DNS type mechanism is provided to distribute the IP multicast addresses for VPLS use. Such IP multicast group address can be set aside from an administratively scoped address range. An efficient IP routing algorithm running on the provider's network provides an efficient distribution tree for routing IP-encapsulated customer packet for the VPLS.
US08051198B2
A communication system enabling significant reduction in delay in handover between MAPs without increasing the number of MAPs to install. In the communication system, MAP(101) issues a Router Advertisement to AR(111) to AR(118). Particularly, MAP(101) assigns a plurality of Router Advertisements of a source of care-of address (RCOA) to register with HA to AR(118) of a cell on either side of a boundary of areas for each MAP. MN(107) receives a Router Advertisement transmitted from AR that is a communicating party among AR(119) to AR(126), and using the Router Advertisement, generates care-of addresses, RCOA and LCOA. AR(111) to AR(118) transmit the Router Advertisement RA generated by MAP(101) to MN in communication. Further, AR(111) to AR(118) transmit the care-or-addresses, RCOA and LCOA, issued from MN(107) to MAP(101).
US08051193B2
Systems and techniques by which content and presentation players can communicate are described. In one aspect, presentation system for rendering a presentation for a user includes one or more output devices, a presentation including machine-readable descriptions of content and a service request triggering mechanism to trigger a service request, and a presentation player configured to generate a rendition of the presentation at one or more output devices and to respond to the service request with a service response to populate the rendition of the presentation. The service response includes at least one of information characterizing an arrangement of content in the presentation and information characterizing prior navigation of the user through the content of the presentation. The presentation further includes extraction logic to extract relevant information from a response to the service request for addition to the rendition of the presentation.
US08051184B2
A method for pairing elements of a first set of elements {x(i)} with elements from a second set of elements {y(j)} subject to a plurality of pairing restrictions. In accordance with one embodiment of the method, for each of a plurality of iterations of the method, or until a set of pairings is found that satisfies the plurality of pairing restrictions, a random set of pairings between elements of the second set of elements and elements of the second set of elements is selected. The set of mismatched pairings is identified and, if the number of pairings in the set of mismatched pairings is not greater than a maximum number, pairings in the set of mismatched pairings are interchanged. If the number of pairings in the set of mismatched pairings is greater than one, each mismatched pairing is swapped with another pairing if the resulting pairings satisfy the plurality of pairing restrictions.
US08051171B2
A control server of an apparatus in one example manages a plurality of resource servers that are allocated to handle a load. The control server receives from a first resource server, of the plurality of resource servers, a first status message that comprises a first indicator of a relative availability of the first resource server. The control server receives from a second resource server, of the plurality of resource servers, a second status message that comprises a second indicator of a relative availability of the second resource server. The control server employs a comparison of the first indicator of the relative availability of the first resource server with the second indicator of the relative availability of the second resource server to promote a selected balance of the load between two or more of the plurality of resource servers.
US08051163B2
Synthetic transactions for a network system are generated based on monitoring of the network system. One or more network system monitoring systems receive network system traffic, traffic monitoring data and/or application runtime data during a monitoring process. The traffic monitoring data may be derived from network system traffic and the application runtime data may be data associated with application transactions. The traffic, traffic monitoring data and application runtime data may contain information regarding the scope and frequency of the functionality tested by the actual traffic received by the network system. Synthetic transactions may be generated and transmitted to test the network system based on the scope and frequency of the functionality tested by actual traffic.
US08051162B2
A method for data assurance in server consolidation is provided. The method includes collecting an inventory of a plurality of source servers in a desired environment and performance data of such source servers, evaluating and checking a data structure of the performance data, applying predetermined time stamps, checks, and statistic computations to the performance data, and evaluating a data quality of the performance data.
US08051158B2
A management server 201 transmits information representing a list of additional applications installable on an image forming apparatus 202 to the image forming apparatus 202 (S410). When an application is selected from the list and an instruction to execute the application is issued, a request for installation is issued to the management server 201 if the application has not been installed. The management server 201 installs the requested application on the image forming apparatus if the management server 201 has a license for the requested application and the application can be installed (M470). On the other hand, if the application cannot be installed because of insufficient resources, a resource is freed up by flushing and then the application is installed.
US08051157B2
A discovery apparatus among a plurality of networks including at least one client includes: a transceiver which transmits and receives shared information and a request message to and from the client within the plurality of networks, the shared information being intrinsic information of the clients; a storage unit which receives the shared information from the transceiver and stores the shared information of the transceiver; and a controller which creates a shared space, which stores the shared information in the storage unit, in accordance with the request message received through the transceiver, and manages the shared information stored in the shared space.
US08051156B1
A method for integrating information technology (IT) data with non-IT data, comprising: first identifying a non-IT network for accessing non-IT data, second identifying an IT network from which to access the non-IT data from the non-IT network, first determining that the non-IT network is accessible via at least one interface based on Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) for accessing at least one device in the non-IT network, second determining that the IT network includes an architecture for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) or Web Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) for managing at least one device in the IT network, and providing the IT network with access to data of the at least one device in the non-IT network by accessing the at least one OPC-based interface via either the SNMP-capable architecture or the WBEM architecture of the IT network.
US08051139B1
In some embodiments, a layout-based electronic communication classification (e.g. spam filtering) method includes generating a layout vector characterizing a layout of a message, assigning the message to a selected cluster according to a hyperspace distance between the layout vector and a central vector of the selected cluster, and classifying the message (e.g. labeling as spam or non-spam) according to the selected cluster. The layout vector is a message representation characterizing a set of relative positions of metaword substructures of the message, as well as metaword substructure counts. Examples of metaword substructures include MIME parts and text lines. For example, a layout vector may have a first component having scalar axes defined by numerical layout feature counts (e.g. numbers of lines, blank lines, links, email addresses), and a second vector component including a line-structure list and a formatting part (e.g. MIME part) list.
US08051136B2
Methods, systems, processes and devices are provided for optimizing throughput and quality of service of a presence enabled managed service. The method includes at least a first entity requesting from an aggregator of presence services presence information of a second entity. The method includes looking up a profile of the aggregator stored in a cache of a presence server hosted by the presence enabled managed service. The method includes determining from the profile an aggregator level of service the aggregator has subscribed to from the presence enabled managed service, wherein the aggregator level of service is one of high level service, medium level service, and low level service. The method includes storing presence information of the second entity on a presence document on the cache and returning the presence information to the first entity based upon the aggregator level of service.
US08051135B2
A method and system for reporting availability of a plurality of servers. The method comprises the steps of for each of said plurality of servers, periodically searching a log file for indication of a crash or shutdown or start, computing the time said crash or shutdown or start occurred, and sending said time and indication as an e-mail to a database on a server. The method further comprises the steps of calculating the duration of downtime for each said crash or said shutdown; for each server, sorting said e-mail by order received; and displaying for each of said plurality of servers, said duration of downtime in said order. For example, the sending step includes the step of sending said e-mail to a database on a pre-identified one server; and the sorting step includes the step of sorting said e-mail by order received by said pre-identified one server. Also, with a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of servers includes an e-mail function; and the sending step includes the step of, each server using its e-mail function to send the time and indication to said database.
US08051130B2
A communications system for simulcasting audio or audiovisual program content to a plurality of participating system users via a communication network. Each user operates an access device that reproduces the received program content for the user and also accepts spoken comments from the user concurrently with or immediately following the reproduction of the program content. The spoken comments are transmitted to at least selected ones of the other users so that the selected users can engage in a conversation about the program content as it is simulcast.
US08051107B2
The present invention provides a method and device for creating a relation-type form database, the method comprising: displaying an existing form as a background image on a screen; drawing frames on predetermined positions of the background image with an operation means to create multiple data areas; and creating parallel relations and/or cross relations among the multiple data areas to form a relation-type database of the existing form. The operations of the present invention are easy and low-cost, which enable widely spreading of the application of databases.
US08051099B2
A method and system for provisioning data that has been collected and stored in a source database. The source database is a database that consumes a large amount of power and drains the company's database resources. The method and system determine which data should be provisioned and sent to a target server, the target server being more energy efficient than the source database and less exhausting of company resources. Various factors, such as the amount of data being requested and the frequency of change of the requested data, determine whether a transfer of data from the source database to the more energy efficient target database should be performed.
US08051097B2
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for authentication using a shared table. The method receives an authentication challenge from a first entity including an accumulator with an initial value, lists of elements in a shared table, and a list of sorting algorithms, each sorting algorithm is associated with one of the lists of elements and modified to include embedded instructions operating on the accumulator. The method then generates a temporary table for each list of elements in the shared table by copying elements from the shared table as indicated in each respective list of elements, each temporary table being associated with one sorting algorithm in the list of sorting algorithms. The method sorts each generated temporary table with the associated sorting algorithm, thereby updating the accumulator with the embedded instructions. Finally, the method transmits the updated accumulator to the first entity for verification.
US08051093B2
A method includes defining a general query for extracting data from at least one data store operable to store workpiece data associated with the processing of workpieces in a manufacturing system. The general query specifies at least one ambiguous parameter having a plurality of potential values. Metadata associated with the workpiece data is accessed. The metadata is employed to identify a plurality of candidate values for the at least one ambiguous parameter. A plurality of atomic queries is generated. Each atomic query is associated with one of the candidate values. The plurality of atomic queries is executed to extract data from the at least one data store and generate an output report including the extracted data.
US08051086B2
Some general aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods of processing data, for example, to improve customer interactions. One aspect, in particular, relates to a computer-implemented method that includes accepting user input for analysis of a database having media data and metadata. The media data includes a group of audio recordings and the metadata includes descriptive information of the group of audio recordings. A representation of a set of call series is formed based on user input, and processed to generate an analysis report. A visual representation of the analysis report is formed for presentation to a user.
US08051083B2
Described is a technology by which forum web pages are processed into clusters for classification purposes, including by determining repetitive regions between pages and associating pages that have similar repetitive regions into a common cluster. Patterns corresponding to the regions are determined, and a feature set based at least in part on those patterns (e.g., pattern frequency) is extracted from the page. The feature set of a page is compared against the feature set of another page to determine similarity therewith, e.g., via a feature space distance computation that is evaluated against a threshold distance.
US08051078B2
A multi-media broadcasting system that links a user profiles associated with a first user with a second user profile associated with a second user, where the first and second user profiles each comprise an indication of an interest common to the first and second users. The user profiles allow a user to customize a viewing experience via the broadcasting system. In addition, the system detects a content update to the first user profile, wherein the content update is associated with a content item that comprises content having a characteristic within the interest common to the first and second users. Furthermore, the system notifies the second user of the content update if the second user profile has not been updated with the content update.
US08051076B1
Apparatus, systems and methods for demoting repetitive search results are disclosed. Search results that are identified in both first set of search results and a second set of search results are determined to be repetitive search results. One or more of the repetitive search results can be demoted in the second set of search results. The demotion can be based on a relevancy threshold for the second set of search results.
US08051074B2
Disclosed is a method of selectively displaying comments posted by users. The method comprises setting, by a first user, a threshold value for use in determining whether to display comments posted by users of an Internet service; and sending, by the first user, a request for displaying a page of the Internet service. The requested page contains a comment or a title of a comment posted by a second user who is assigned a reputation index. The method further comprises displaying, on a screen associated with the first user, the requested page, wherein the comment or the title of the second user is selectively redacted based on comparison of the reputation index of the second user with the threshold value of the first user.
US08051071B2
A system may determine an extent to which a document is selected when the document is included in a set of search results, generate a score for the document based, at least in part, on the extent to which the document is selected when the document is included in a set of search results; and rank the document with regard to at least one other document based, at least in part, on the score.
US08051068B2
Techniques that support trail-based exploration by a user of a repository of documents are described herein. In one embodiment, trail definition data that specifies a trail is received. The trail includes an ordered series of waypoints including a trailhead, intermediate waypoints, and one or more trailends. In some embodiments, deadends may also be defined in the trial. A particular waypoint in the ordered series of waypoints is established as a current waypoint. Search terms can be received from a user to cause a search to be performed. It is then determined whether the search satisfies matching criteria associated with a waypoint that immediately follows the current waypoint in the ordered series of waypoints. If so, the user advances to the next waypoint. Otherwise, the user remains at the current waypoint. Finally, if a trailend is reached, then an action such as rewarding the user in some way may be performed.
US08051063B2
Search results are generated using aggregated context data from two or more contexts. When two or more programmable search engines relate to a similar topic, context data associated with the programmable search engines are aggregated. The context is then applied to a query in order to present, in an integrated manner, relevant search results that make use of context intelligence from more than one programmable search engine.
US08051061B2
Cross-lingual query suggestion (CLQS) aims to suggest relevant queries in a target language for a given query in a source language. The cross-lingual query suggestion is improved by exploiting the query logs in the target language. CLQS provides a method for learning and determining a similarity measure between two queries in different languages. The similarity measure is based on both translation information and monolingual similarity information, and in one embodiment uses both the query log itself and click-through information associated therewith. Monolingual and cross-lingual information such as word translation relations and word co-occurrence statistics may be used to estimate the cross-lingual query similarity with a discriminative model.
US08051059B2
A supplier identification and locator system in that allows a user to identify a supplier of goods or services over the Internet; the system includes at least one directory Web site having a domain name that is at least partially descriptive of a class of goods or services. The directory Web site has a plurality of links that access suppliers' Web sites; a supplier descriptive portion located substantially adjacent to the link; a descriptive title portion substantially corresponding to the class of goods or services described in the domain name; a rollover window that displays information about at least one supplier; and an input receiving area where a user inputs data and ranked search results are displayed.
US08051054B2
In a system cooperating a high performance computer and a low performance computer, a load of database processing upon the low performance computer is reduced. In a high performance center running DBMS for managing each version by using logical structure data of a database as physical structure pages and one or more terminals having a lower performance than that of the center, an update difference file is created for a center side received command input to the center, a backup file is created for a terminal side received command input to the terminal, and a version applied with the terminal side received command is updated to a version after update, by sequentially overwrite copying the backup file and update difference file.
US08051053B2
A system and method is introduced for implementing a storage firewall for protecting files when a storage device connects to a digital appliance. A storage device may connect to a number of appliances and is therefore at risk of getting infected with viruses and other malware risking subsequent transfer of these infections to other appliances. The storage device is further at risk of leaking sensitive information or loosing critical information. The storage firewall protects data on a storage device that connects to a digital appliance in various manners using a standard, unencrypted partition and a standard file system. Protected and unprotected files may reside homogeneously on the file system of the storage device. Using the storage firewall, files on digital appliance may be protected from infected files residing on storage device connected to digital appliance. No application is required to be activated on digital appliance when storage device connects to digital appliance. Protection is activated by default and carried out by storage device.
US08051051B2
A first data product that can be read into a computer or a map data processing apparatus, contains therein map data having map-related information of a map. The map data includes: a structure having the map-related information divided into units of a plurality of divisions into which the map is divided; and a structure having management information for the map-related information divided into units of the divisions, and: the map-related information obtained by the computer or the map data processing apparatus can be updated in units of the individual divisions by using the management information.
US08051049B2
A system for providing enhanced matching for database queries. The system includes a data source; a data repository comprising a single-sourced reference file; a database comprising a multi-sourced reference file, the multi-sourced reference file having a first unique business identification number corresponding to a business entity; and an intelligence engine processing incoming data from the data source. The intelligence engine determines whether the incoming data matches the multi-sourced reference file and adds the data to the multi-sourced reference file when the data matches the multi-sourced reference file. The intelligence engine also determines whether the incoming data matches a single-sourced reference file contained within the data repository when the data does not match the multi-sourced reference file.
US08051036B2
The invention includes a method and apparatus for authenticating a visiting node in a wireless network. A method includes receiving a request to transfer a user database of a visiting node, obtaining the visiting node user database from the visiting node in response to a determination to update a master user database to include the visiting node user database, and merging the visiting node user database with the master user database. The request to transfer the visiting node user database is received, from the visiting node, at a primary authentication node of the network. The visiting node user database includes entries for users associated with the visiting node. The master user database includes entries for users associated with nodes authenticated by the primary authentication node of the network.
US08051034B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for parallel processing of assigned table partitions. In general, a group of data may be received and at least a portion of the data may be caused to be assigned to an application server to process the data based at least in part on the application server and the at least a portion of the data being assigned to a same segment. A segment may represent one or more partitions of data of a database, such as a multidimensional database or a flat database. The data that is processed may be payment items that are processed as part of payment order processing by a payment engine.
US08051033B2
A method and system are presented in which predisposition predictions are generated for an individual with respect to an attribute indicated in a query. The predictions are based on the identification of predisposing attribute combinations within the attribute profile of the individual and statistical results that indicate the strength of association of the identified attribute combinations with the query attribute.
US08051032B2
An improved system and method for loading records into a partitioned database table is provided. A translation of records may be generated from a set of source partitions to a set of target partitions by generating a bipartite graph, determining a maximal matching using dynamic programming for a chain of nodes remaining in the bipartite graph after removing singleton edges, and generating a maximal matching after adding back the singleton edges for translation of records from the set of source partitions to the set of target partitions. The partition translation may be executed by traversing from top to bottom the set of source partitions and the set of target partitions in record key order to generate an optimal sequence of operations to transfer the records from the set of source partitions to the set of target partitions.
US08051030B2
Task management supported by analytics has enhanced effectiveness through automated population splitting for generating models that predict task associated outcomes. Subpopulations are automatically analyzed for adequate sample size and selectively recombined based on characteristics of the subpopulations, such as to combine homogeneous subpopulations or to optimize a subpopulation characteristic. As an example, outbound calling campaign models are generated for time periods by splitting a sample population into time period subpopulations and combining subpopulation time periods having inadequate sample size so that combined subpopulations have a minimized total time period or greater similarity relative to other subpopulations.
US08051015B2
A method, program product and system for automated control of pricing of a product or service. The method includes determining an initial price of the product, monitoring actual sales of the product at retail outlets, and adjusting the initial price during a selling season of the product based on the actual sales of the product. The method can further include accepting input from a historical price database, and determining the initial price using historical prices of the product or a similar product. The method can further include repeatedly adjusting a price of the product during a selling season based on the actual sales of the product. The method can further include applying a markdown to the price of the product and using a markdown profile to determine the markdown. The method can further include performing slow seller analysis to determine the markdown. The determination that a product is a slow seller can be made by applying a predetermined rule set to the product.
US08051012B2
A system and method for method for implementing a discounted printing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for implementing discounted printing includes creating a sponsored document including a digital signature using a cryptographic protocol provided in an application by an enterprise, sending the sponsored document including the digital signature to a client computing system including a sponsored printer for printing by the enterprise, dynamically verifying the digital signature by a trusted service provider upon the enterprise sending the sponsored document to the sponsored printer, and printing the sponsored document by the sponsored printer upon a successful verification of the digital signature. The method may also include crediting an end user associated with the sponsored printer by an amount that substantially subsidizes cost associated with the printing of the sponsored document.
US08051005B2
An automated method is provided for processing large deposits that exceed an established deposit insurance limit so that the large deposits are fully insured. The large deposits are received from a plurality of unaffiliated banks from their respective depositors. Orders are received at a processor from the plurality of banks to process large deposits. The processor automatically compares each order to a preset maximum order amount. Each of the large deposits for each order are partitioned using the processor into a plurality of deposit portions if the order does not exceed a preset maximum order amount. The partitioning is performed in a manner so that each deposit portion does not exceed the established deposit insurance limit. The processor assigns at least some of the deposit portions for each of the large deposits for each order to at least some banks that are unaffiliated with the bank that received the large deposit for deposit therein if the order does not exceed the preset maximum order amount.
US08051003B2
One method involves the use of stored value account that may be used, for example, to make internet payments, and that can be credited using a variety of payment techniques. Such a method involves receiving money at a money transfer location from a potential purchaser. The money is then stored as an electronic record in a stored value account of the purchaser. This money is then available for transfer at the request of the purchaser. Upon such a request, the money may be electronically sent to a recipient and the stored value account may be debited.
US08050995B1
Apparatus and methods for providing a banking service are provided. The method may use an electronic information processing platform. The method may include storing, in a computer memory, information relating to a current balance in a first customer account. The method may also include storing information relating to a retirement balance. The retirement balance may be a projected balance that will be present in the first customer account upon the customer's retirement. The method may further include storing information relating to a period of time. The period of time may relate to a time span that spans from a predetermined pre-retirement date to a customer's projected retirement date. The systems and methods of the invention may also include activating a series of withdrawals. The series of withdrawals may withdraw funds from the first customer account and deposit the withdrawn funds in a second customer account. The amount of funds withdrawn from the first customer account may increase at least once during the duration of the series of withdrawals. The funds withdrawn from the first customer account may modify the current balance to be similar to the retirement balance at least once during the duration of the series of withdrawals. The amount of funds withdrawn by each withdrawal may be based at least in part on the stored information relating to the current balance, the retirement balance, and the period of time.
US08050988B2
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method for automatically generating and placing documents associated with a tax and accounting related engagement, for example assessing risks associated with an audit. A user is presented with a plurality of audit items and a set of risk levels associated with the audit items and may also be presented with a plurality of prompts designed to elicit a set of responses from the user. The set of user responses being associated with a set of risks associated with the audit. The set of risk levels being associated with a set of assertions associated with the audit items and may include first and second risk levels of different degrees. The method further includes processing a set of responses received from the user in response to the items presented. The method includes automatically generating a suggested audit approach that is based at least in part on the processed responses. The method further includes automatically generating documents associated with the suggested audit approach and placing the automatically generated documents within a predefined set of folders. The method may also determine a set of procedures that are based on the responses. The set of procedures are presented to the user based on the suggested audit approach.
US08050984B2
Provided herein is a system or systems for influencing shoppers while they consider making purchasing decisions in a retail establishment. Specifically, the method identifies the first moment of truth and attempts to influence shoppers during a shopper's first moment of truth based on the shopper's location within the retail establishment. The method transmits an acceptable influential message and transmits the message through a communication network to a shopper tracking device, which is in close proximity to a shopper during a shopping trip throughout a retail establishment.
US08050983B1
Techniques are described for automatically identifying and inhibiting suspect electronic communications between users, such as for electronic communications that may reflect fraudulent activities by one or more of the users or that are otherwise inappropriate for one or more reasons. In some situations, the communications may relate to transactions in which the users are involved, such as for users that are buyers and sellers of items interacting via one or more electronic marketplaces. The communications may occur via a communication mechanism provided by an electronic marketplace that acts as an intermediary between the sender of a communication and the one or more intended recipients of the communication. The automatic identification of suspect communications that may be inappropriate includes automatically assessing the communications in one or more ways, and identified suspect communications and any associated inappropriate user activities may be inhibited in various ways.
US08050978B2
In one embodiment, a method for an electronic auction transaction includes organizing by a computer each of a plurality of task requests into one or more respective groups. Each task request corresponds to a respective desired use of one or more resources. In addition, each task request has a respective task bid. The computer determines a group bid for each group at least in part by comparing the products calculated by multiplying each first bid within the group by a respective multiplier. The group bid is indicative of a collective value associated with the task bids of the group. The respective multiplier is a number indicative of the comparative value of the task bid relative to the other task bids in the group. The computer determines one or more winning group bids by comparing the group bids to each other.
US08050977B2
An image forming apparatus comprises: a readout portion that reads out from a memory of a supply unit that is replaceably loaded on the image forming apparatus itself, information about a plurality of vendors, which is stored in the memory; and a transmitter that transmits to a terminal apparatus the readout information about the vendors. And a terminal apparatus comprises: an obtainer that obtains information about the supply unit from respective servers owned by the vendors, by making access thereto according to the information about the vendors, which is received from the image forming apparatus; a display that displays on itself the obtained information; and an ordering portion that transmits an order for a supply unit to one of the servers, according to an order instruction issued by a user. After order transmission, information about a vendor owning the server that receives that order is stored in a storage.
US08050976B2
A method for setting a price for a product sold online by a subject merchant is provided. The method comprises accessing price information of at least one other merchant of the same product by applying a shopping robot to two or more shopping sites, including at least one price comparison site, with other offerings of the same product by other merchants; accessing pricing rules for the subject merchant that cover sales originating from the comparison site; applying the pricing rules to adjust the current product price at which the subject merchant offers the product on the two or more shopping sites to be more competitive; and responsive to a price adjustment that would reduce the product price so as to violate a specified profitability goal, increasing the shipping charges with which the merchant offers the product with the price adjustment on the two or more shopping sites.
US08050975B2
A system to manage a supply chain may include a purchase order management module operable on a processor to electronically receive purchase order information from a buyer and to store and track information associated with each purchase order. The system may also include an invoice and trade document management module to electronically store, aggregate and manage invoices and trade documents related to each purchase order and information required for presentment and reconciliation of each purchase order.
US08050973B2
There is disclosed reverse billing in online search. A telephony server may receive a request from a user to cause a telephone call to be established between the user and a merchant. A notice to the merchant may be generated. The notice may include an offer to establish a telephone call with the user in exchange for payment of a definite fee. An acceptance of the offer may be received from the merchant. A first voice communication leg with the user and a second voice communication leg with the merchant may be bridged to establish the telephone call between the user and the merchant. The definite fee may be appear on the merchant's bill for telephone service.
US08050970B2
Methods and systems that allow an Internet distribution partner of an advertisement listings provider to receive filtered and masked listings for display on the website of the Internet distribution partner. The Internet distribution partner defines filters to be applied to ranked advertising listings provided by an advertising listing provider. The advertisement listings provider system applies the filter to the listings in its database and identify matches and/or excludes matches depending on the characteristic specified. The advertisement listings provider may then send the Internet distribution partner advertisement listings based on the application of one or more filter selected by the distribution partner. Thus, the advertisement listings provider and the Internet distribution partner are able to generate additional revenue without risking the Internet distribution partner's valuable relationships with its exclusive advertisers and without jeopardizing the Internet advertising distribution partner's relationships with its end users.
US08050961B2
A method is disclosed for performing comprehensive management for vehicles owned by clients, and according to this method, a vehicle managing apparatus, a client terminal, a workshop terminal and a store terminal are connected via a communication network, and the vehicle managing apparatus includes information acceptance unit, maintenance period calculation unit, business efficiency analyzation unit and information providing unit. First, maintenance history information for vehicles, automotive accessories purchase history information, vehicle operating record information and business performance information for a client, entered by the workshop terminal or the store terminal are received. Sequentially, a maintenance period for a vehicle is calculated based on the above information, and business efficiency is obtained based on the above information. Then, maintenance period calculation results and the business efficiency analysis results are transmitted to the client terminal.
US08050958B2
Systems and methods are provided for planning demand of products, such as configurable products. In one embodiment, a method is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In another embodiment, a demand planner is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method may comprise the steps of: storing master data defining a set of characteristic value combinations relating to the product dependent characteristics of each product; inputting transactional data defining a demand plan with respect to a product or component; specifying at least one product dependent characteristic of one or more products for which an additional characteristic value is to be assigned; automatically generating the additional characteristic value identifying the specified characteristics; and storing the additional characteristic value to the characteristic value combinations in the master data.
US08050957B2
Systems and methods are provided for planning demand of a product, such as a configurable product. In one embodiment, a method is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In another embodiment, a demand planner is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method may comprise the steps of: providing a data storage system to store data relating to a plurality of configurable products in terms of their respective product dependent characteristics; inputting a selection to be represented for a plurality of products in terms of percentage values for a particular product dependent characteristic, wherein the percentage values relate to respective components or qualities of the particular product dependent characteristic; in response to the inputting step, loading data for the plurality of products from the data storage system on at least the product level; copying the percentage values for the respective components or qualities to the product level; and performing the percentage calculation on the loaded data at the product level to obtain absolute values on the product level.
US08050956B2
The successful monitoring of procurement processes requires that dates in the supply chain be calculated exactly and tracked accordingly. The central calculation of dates ensures that different applications arrive at the same results, optimizing their accuracy. Monitoring the dates will allow a user to quickly gain an overview of the current procurement situation and react on time to potential delays. Dates from a purchase order are transferred to the event management system and used to calculate base dates. A schedule bar is provided in the event management system, and includes dates received or calculated by the event management system. An activity is triggered based upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event by a purchaser order date or a calculated date.
US08050953B2
A system is used for the creation, maintenance, and management of an overall project schedule, of individual project member schedules, and of project task assignments over a network. The system comprises three editors accessed through a web browser to perform the various tasks by members of a project. Information is passed between a web server and web browser and a database is used to maintain all information. The project manager can use a task assignment editor to assign tasks to individual project members. The project manager can use a project schedule editor to initially create the project schedule and to show the overall project schedule. After the project schedule is created, each project member can create their own member schedule using a member schedule editor, containing tasks related to the project schedule. After project members complete a task, the project member updates the member's schedule via the member schedule editor.
US08050949B2
A method and apparatus for providing an itinerary planner is described. The itinerary planner generates itineraries for visiting locations which are personalized to the user's preferences. Unknown conditions are handled by contingency plans that the itinerary planner generates in an anytime manner. The first itineraries are derived in a short time, and as more computation time is allowed, additional itineraries that better suit the preferences of the user are obtained.
US08050946B2
A clinical activity navigator facilitates documentation of multiple clinical activities. When a plurality of clinical activities are selected for document, an activity navigator user interface may be presented that includes an indication for each of the clinical activities. The indication for each clinical activity includes a link to documentation for the corresponding clinical activity. A user selection of an indication for one of the clinical activities is received via the activity navigator user interface. In response to the user selection, a documentation user interface for that clinical activity is presented that allows entry of information associated with that clinical activity.
US08050942B1
A system and method facilitate alignment of refill dates associated with a plurality of prescriptions, such that each of the plurality of prescriptions requires a refill on the same date, thus limiting the number of occasions on which a customer must visit the pharmacy to retrieve refills of the aligned prescriptions, and increasing the likelihood that the customer will comply with the medication regimen. The system and method facilitate the alignment of the refill dates to an arbitrary user-selected date, while maintaining compliance with one or more rules governing the adjudication of the prescriptions.
US08050919B2
A speaker recognition system generates a codebook store with codebooks representing voice samples of speaker, referred to as trainers. The speaker recognition system may use multiple classifiers and generate a codebook store for each classifier. Each classifier uses a different set of features of a voice sample as its features. A classifier inputs a voice sample of an person and tries to authenticate or identify the person. A classifier generates a sequence of feature vectors for the input voice sample and then a code vector for that sequence. The classifier uses its codebook store to recognize the person. The speaker recognition system then combines the scores of the classifiers to generate an overall score. If the score satisfies a recognition criterion, then the speaker recognition system indicates that the voice sample is from that speaker.
US08050916B2
A signal classifying method and apparatus are disclosed. The signal classifying method includes: obtaining a spectrum fluctuation parameter of a current signal frame determined as a foreground frame, and buffering the spectrum fluctuation parameter; obtaining a spectrum fluctuation variance of the current signal frame according to spectrum fluctuation parameters of all buffered signal frames, and buffering the spectrum fluctuation variance; and calculating a ratio of signal frames whose spectrum fluctuation variance is above or equal to a first threshold to all the buffered signal frames, and determining the current signal frame as a speech frame if the ratio is above or equal to a second threshold or determining the current signal frame as a music frame if the ratio is below the second threshold. In the embodiments of the present invention, the spectrum fluctuation variance of the signal is used as a parameter for classifying the signals, and a local statistical method is applied to decide the type of the signal. Therefore, the signals are classified with few parameters, simple logical relations and low complexity.
US08050913B2
A method and apparatus for implementing fixed codebooks as a common module are provided. In the method of implementing fixed codebooks of a plurality of speech codecs as a common module, it is possible to include only a part excluding fixed codebooks in a communication terminal or communication system, support various speech codecs without using a chip with high price and high performance, and reduce a memory space that is occupied by the speech codecs by generating a track of a fixed codebook corresponding to a speech codec based on information on the speech codec among the plurality of speech codecs and selecting a codebook vector corresponding to a target signal among codebook vectors constructed with combinations of pulses represented by the generated track. In addition, it is possible to reduce processing complexity as compared with a case of embodying the common fixed codebook module in software by embodying the common fixed codebook module in hardware. In addition, it is possible to improve the entire voice processing performance by applying the latest fixed codebook searching algorithm only to the common fixed codebook, thereby easily applying the latest fixed codebook searching algorithm to the entire voice codec.
US08050902B2
At a simulation client, a design is simulated utilizing a hardware description language (HDL) simulation model by stimulating the HDL simulation model with a testcase. The HDL simulation model includes instrumentation not forming a portion of the design that includes a plurality of count event counters that count occurrences of count events in the design during stimulation by the testcase. At multiple intervals during stimulation of the HDL simulation model by the testcase, the simulation client records count values of the plurality of count event counters. The simulation client determines, for each of the multiple intervals, a temporal statistic regarding the count values of the plurality of count event counters and outputs a report containing temporal statistics for the multiple intervals.
US08050895B2
A variation simulation system providing for facilitated circuit design with suppressed deterioration in performance otherwise caused by variations. A variation analysis unit 100 extracts statistical features of variations from a large number of samples beforehand. A model analysis unit 200 checks response of a circuit simulation output to parameter variations. A fitting execution unit 300 collates the information, obtained in this manner, to each other to determine the manner of variations of the parameters which will reproduce statistical features of the device samples.
US08050892B2
Method, apparatus, computer program and data carrier for modeling a multidimensional, heterogeneous structure using a digital processing unit, by means of a grid built up of stacks of multidimensional cells. A cell is bounded by boundary surfaces and represents at least one property of the structure. The composition of a stack, the position of the stacks in the grid and the properties represented by cells are stored in memory means by the processing unit. For modeling a discontinuity, a respective stack is divided into two or more substacks separated by separating surfaces. The composition and the position of the substacks in a respective stack are stored in the memory means. The modeling method enables an accurate and fast computation of properties of the modeled structure or space.
US08050879B2
A method to identify phase is presented. The method includes obtaining electrical parameters at a node and a substation of an electrical grid, processing the electrical parameters of the node and the substation into processed electrical parameters comprising at least one of a voltage harmonic amplitude, a current harmonic amplitude, a geometric harmonic modulated signal, and a noise pattern. The method further includes comparing the processed electrical parameters from the node and the substation and identifying phase information of the node with respect to the substation.
US08050878B2
A device and method for dynamically determining an impedance of a network is disclosed. The device includes at least a processing system for measuring a network voltage and network current when said network is determined to be in a first state, measuring a network voltage when said network is determined to be in a second state, estimating said impedance value dependent upon said measured voltages and current, adapting said estimated impedance based on at least one prior impedance value and storing at least said adapted impedance.
US08050876B2
Improved capacitive sensor operation is achieved with improved discrimination between environmental drift and apparent drift attributable to human proximity to the sensor. A proximity algorithm detects conditions interpreted as indicating a user is close to, but not touching, a sensor. When such proximity is detected, ambient value calibration is halted, thereby avoiding treating the human's proximity as environmental drift requiring compensation and preventing miscalculation of calibration. The proximity algorithm employs two moving-average filters (implemented in hardware or software) to monitor the CDC output values over time and to make appropriate adjustments to a signal representing the ambient, while distinguishing environmental drift from proximity-induced pseudo-drift. Accurate ambient values allow for improved proximity detection by providing this environmentally compensated average value to an adaptive threshold algorithm which features a fast attack, slow decay peak detection to automatically track and compensate for different response characteristics (typically finger sizes).
US08050875B2
An electronic steam trap monitor includes an electric generator configure to couple to a stream trap proximate a potential leak location. The generator generates electricity in response to a process variable from the potential leak location. Communication circuitry provides an output when there is sufficient electricity from the electric generator.
US08050874B2
Autonomous remaining useful life estimation equipment interacts with the operator through natural speech, voice and sound and provides active failure prevention through automatic and/or continuous remaining useful life estimation of a material under evaluation. The equipment comprises at least one computer and a material features acquisition system operable to detect a plurality of material features. The features are then evaluated according to rules that capture the multidiscipline knowledge of experts and are already inputted into the computer. The computer iterations are processed until an acceptable conclusion is made regarding the condition of the material under evaluation, thus alleviating the need for multidiscipline experts to examine and analyze all the material data manually, a very slow and expensive process. Further, the natural speech and voice interaction preferably allows the operator to operate the equipment while wearing gloves or with dirty hands as he/she will not need to constantly physically manipulate the equipment. The remaining useful life estimation capability may also be retrofitted into conventional inspection systems by extracting pertinent features through spectral frequency analysis and sensor normalization and utilizing those features in the autonomous remaining useful life estimation system.
US08050872B2
An exemplary embodiment of system, computer-accessible medium and method for comparing a first genome to a second genome. For example, a first genome may be compared to a second genome by building a first library for the first genome and a second library for the second genome, providing a plurality of matches between elements in the first library common to elements in the second library, ranking each match to determine a likelihood of similarity between the common elements in the first and second libraries; and associating matches having a predetermined likelihood. The association may be performed efficiently by a stable marriage procedure.
US08050857B2
A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a roll rate sensor (34) for generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) for generating a yaw rate signal. A safety device or system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. The controller (26) determines an added mass and the height of the added mass on the vehicle, or a roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and/or a roll rate parameter that take into account the added mass and height from the roll rate, the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the yaw rate of the vehicle, and controls the safety system in response thereto.
US08050856B2
The technology described herein provides methods and systems for powertrain optimization and improved fuel economy including multiple displacement engine modeling and control optimization, automotive powertrain matching for fuel economy, cycle-based automotive shift and lock-up scheduling for fuel economy, and engine performance requirements based on vehicle attributes and drive cycle characteristics. Also provided is a reverse tractive road load demand simulation algorithm used to propagate a reverse tractive road load demand and a corresponding component torque and speed, derived from a vehicle speed trace, in a reverse direction through a powertrain system. Also provided is a dynamic optimization algorithm. The dynamic programming algorithm is applied to a matrix of fuel flow rates to find the optimal control path that maximizes the powertrain efficiency over a cycle.
US08050848B2
A method and system for igniting a lean fuel mixture in a main chamber of an internal combustion engine by igniting a rich air-fuel mixture in a pre-combustion chamber which is fuelled using a controlled valve. For a stable and consistent ignition of the main chamber and simultaneous reduction of emission of the internal combustion engine, a closed loop control adjusts the fuel amount and the fuelling time for the pre-combustion chamber in order to achieve a light off in an optimal time window and by sufficient ignition energy.
US08050844B2
A method to supply fuel to an engine of a vehicle is provided. The method includes adjusting a direct injection of fuel into a cylinder of the engine based on whether the vehicle is in a pre-delivery state. In one example, the method includes reducing an amount of fuel in a post injection to reduce cylinder bore wetting effects and lubricant dilution during the engine cold start. After pre-delivery, a normal post injection schedule may be used to reduce emissions.
US08050843B2
The present invention is concerned with the estimation of health parameters p(k) representing symptoms of a slowly degrading system, in particular industrial gas turbines. According to the invention, an estimation of a true health or independent parameter vector at time step k uses the estimation of the true health or parameter vector at a previous time step k−1 as a starting value for the production of a predicted health parameter vector at time step k. Based on the latter and a set of measured values of input variables of an extended model of the system, a prediction of output variables of the model is produced. This predicted model output is compared with measured values of the output variables to yield an error. From this error, a health parameter estimator in turn produces a health parameter estimate as a revision of the predicted health parameters. Preferably, the estimation of a true health or independent parameter vector at time step k includes a generalised process noise representing stochastic uncertainty and/or a-priori knowledge of an evolution of the health parameters.
US08050842B2
The present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus (9) for controlling and regulating a rotorcraft turbine engine (1). The apparatus is provided with an electronic control and regulation computer (3) that receives signals relating to monitored parameters of the turbine engine (1). The apparatus is remarkable in that it is provided with an alarm (4) controlled by the electronic computer (3) via an analog connection (8) to operate whenever an event occurs that might diminish the safety of the rotorcraft.
US08050839B2
A vehicle behavior detection apparatus can accurately detect an unstable state of a vehicle without making an incorrect determination even if a travel environment of the vehicle is abnormal. The apparatus includes a road surface reaction torque detecting unit that detects a road surface reaction torque which a tire of the vehicle receives from a road surface, a steering angle detecting unit that detects a steering angle of the vehicle, a vehicle speed detecting unit that detects a speed of the vehicle, a standard road surface reaction torque calculating unit that calculates a standard road surface reaction torque from the steering angle and the vehicle speed, a vehicle behavior state detecting unit that detects the unstable state of the vehicle, and a vehicle behavior detection inhibiting unit that invalidates the vehicle behavior state detecting unit based on the road surface reaction torque and the standard road surface reaction torque.
US08050837B2
In an inverted pendulum type mobile unit that performs inverted pendulum stabilization control and traveling control based on a velocity target value as an input variable, a change in tilt angle of a vehicle body occurring during traveling is smoothed. The target value generating portion in the inverted pendulum type mobile unit generates the velocity target value VREF of the mobile unit and the tilt angular rate target value ωREF of the vehicle body so that a second-order time derivative of VREF is continuous and ωREF is continuous with respect to time. The controller in the inverted pendulum type mobile unit calculates a torque command value Tcom for the motor drivers using VREF and ωREF as a control target to allow the mobile unit to travel at VREF while maintaining the state where the gravity center of the vehicle body or the gravity center of total mass of the vehicle body and a subject supported on the vehicle body is located above the rotation center of the wheels.
US08050836B2
A method for determining whether a panic braking maneuver has been initiated in a vehicle with a brake pedal includes the steps of receiving brake pedal travel data, receiving brake pedal force data, determining a rate of change of acceleration of the brake pedal from the brake pedal travel data, determining a rate of change of acceleration of force applied to the brake pedal from the brake pedal force data, comparing the rate of change of acceleration of the brake pedal with a first predetermined value and a third predetermined value, and comparing the rate of change of acceleration of force applied to the brake pedal with a second predetermined value and a fourth predetermined value.
US08050833B2
A dynamic model is stored in memory that defines torque transmitted by the lockup clutch as a function of a plurality of torque converter operating parameters. A lockup clutch command is asserted to control engagement the lockup clutch, and thereafter a number of the plurality of torque converter operating parameters are monitored. A profile is selected of one of the plurality of torque converter operating parameters, and the profile is configured to result in an intersection of rotational speeds of the pump and the turbine over time when inserted into the model along with the monitored values of the number of torque converter operating parameters. The model is continually solved over time using the selected profile and the monitored operating parameters to produce transmitted torque values, and the lockup clutch command is modified based on the transmitted torque values.
US08050825B2
A steering-torque detecting unit detects a steering torque applied by a driver as a steering torque signal. A phase-lag compensation unit performs an operation having a frequency response characteristic of multiplying a phase-lag compensation by a constant for the steering torque signal based on a signal obtained by applying an amplification by a first gain and a low pass filter on the steering torque signal and a signal obtained by applying an amplification by a second gain on the steering torque signal. A current control unit controls a current applied to a motor to follow a current command that is obtained based on an output of the phase-lag compensation unit.
US08050820B2
When a vehicle turns, a body and a left and a right wheel are inclined inward of a turning circle. Consequently forces are exerted to an operator in an up-down direction, which leads to reducing discomfort felt by the operator. In addition, since a gravity center of the vehicle is moved inward of the turning circle, a turning stability of the vehicle is improved.
US08050818B2
A roll stiffness control apparatus of a vehicle, which includes a controller that estimates a remaining capacity of front wheels to generate a lateral force and a remaining capacity of rear wheels to generate a lateral force, and that sets a roll stiffness distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels so as to reduce a difference between the remaining capacity of the front wheels to generate a lateral force and the remaining capacity of the rear wheels to generate a lateral force.
US08050817B2
In one example, a network device stores a mapping of application operation modes to vehicle conditions such as a first condition of the vehicle powered but not moving and a second condition of the vehicle moving. The network device receives a wirelessly transmitted request for a particular application to utilize an interface powered by the vehicle. The network device compares an application identifier specified by the received request to the mapping. The network device then identifies a portion of the vehicle interface according to the comparison and signals control software on the vehicle to grant the particular application access to only the identified portion of the vehicle interface itself. The application can reside on the mobile device and utilize the vehicle interface as an extended interface, or the application can reside on the vehicle.
US08050813B2
A control system comprising a powertrain relay diagnostic module that determines a single continuous period that a powertrain relay voltage is less than an ignition relay voltage, that compares the single continuous period to a single predetermined period, and that diagnoses a powertrain relay out of correlation (OOC) error when the single continuous period is greater than or equal to the single predetermined period, and an ignition relay diagnostic module that diagnoses an ignition relay OOC error when the ignition relay voltage is less than the powertrain relay voltage for a first predetermined cumulative period within a first predetermined total period.
US08050812B2
The file name (75) of a second data file is included in a first data file (32a). A position information data (76) is likewise included in the first data file (32a) for specifying the position of specific data in the second data file. A processing unit obtains the specific data from the second data file based on the description in the first data file. Specific instructions are supplied to a quality analyzing apparatus in a vehicle quality analyzing system based on the obtained data. The quality analyzing apparatus supplies electronic apparatuses or devices in a vehicle with predetermined signals in response to the specific instructions, so as to analyze the quality of the vehicle based on responses from the electronic apparatuses or devices. A set of independent files is utilized to establish the data structure. Data can be changed or modified in the individual file in a facilitated manner.
US08050808B2
The device includes a calculation unit to automatically calculate an overall thrust moment of the engines which represents a thrust asymmetry of the engines of a multi-engine aircraft, a determination unit to automatically determine, using this overall moment, a maximum roll rate, and a limiting unit to automatically limit a roll command using this maximum roll rate.
US08050795B2
A drive control system for conveyor utilizes a dynamic chain pull calculation program that is integrated with a PLC, which communicates to a plurality of controllers. The controllers in turn automatically adjust their associated drive motors so as to maximize efficiency at moving material on a conveyor system. Sensing devices provide continuous load parameters to a PLC that in turn, processes the data and adjusts the system's operation based upon desired conditions.
US08050794B2
A method and a device for transporting items, in particular mail items. uses multiple transport processes for transporting the items respectively to a processing system. For each item, a measurement is made before the transportation as to whether the item has a predefined characteristic, and if so, in what form. This measurement is executed afresh, after the item is fed to a processing system. For each item, it is determined by means of which transport process the item has been transported. To this end, it is determined which items with what form of the characteristic have been transported by means of which transport process.
US08050788B2
An apparatus includes a handheld tool for executing an assembly process within a confined work space. A local positioning module (LPM) is connected to the tool to collect raw data describing motion of the LPM and tool within the work space. A control unit communicates with a host machine and the tool, and updates an assembly setting of the tool. The host executes a control action when a position determined using the raw data is not equal to a corresponding position in a predetermined sequence. A method calculates the present position of a handheld torque wrench using three gyroscopes and three accelerometers, and calculating a present position of a fastener using the present position of the tool. The present position of the fastener is compared to a corresponding position in the predetermined sequence, and the torque wrench is disabled when the fastener position is not equal to the corresponding position.
US08050774B2
Apparatus, system, and method that include a pacing apparatus having a stent electrode through which pulses of electrical current can be delivered. Stent electrodes receive energy for generating the electrical current from a variety of sources. Sources include from one or more induction coils that can form at least a portion of the stent. Sources can also include an implantable pulse generator coupled to a lead through which pulses of the electrical current are supplied to the stent electrodes.
US08050768B2
The present disclosure is directed generally to methods and apparatus for effectuating a change in a neural function of a patient. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes implanting an electrode at a cortical stimulation site selected to promote recovery of the affected neural-function, with the cortical stimulation site being at least proximate to the cortex. The method can further include estimating a threshold for the specific patient at which an electrical signal delivered via the implanted electrode directly triggers a neural reaction associated with the stimulation site in response to the delivered electrical signal, and electrically stimulating the cortical stimulation site by passing an electrical current through the electrode.
US08050746B2
Tissue visualization device and method variations are described herein where an imaging hood is temporarily sealed against a region of tissue to be treated while under direct visualization. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. The imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to the tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid is pumped into the hood until the fluid displaces any blood leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element. Temporary sealing against the tissue can be achieved in a number of ways such as circumferential balloons inflatable within the hood or other sealing techniques. A field of view of the imaging element can be expanded by inflating the balloon beyond the imaging hood.
US08050743B2
A three-dimensional detector module for use in detecting annihilation photons generated by positrons emitted from radio-labeled sites within a body is formed from multiple solid state photo-detectors attached to one or more scintillators. Each photo-detector can be attached to a scintillator to form a photo-detector/scintillator combination and multiple photo-detector/scintillator combinations can be arranged in an array. Alternatively, multiple photo-detectors can be attached to the surface of a single scintillator to form an array. Multiple arrays are then stacked to form a photo-detector module. The modules can then be assembled to form a sheet of photo-detector modules. Multiple sheets or multiple modules can then be arranged around a body to detect emissions from radio-labeled sites in the body. Multiple position sensors attached to the photo-detectors, arrays or modules provide the ability to locate the source of the positron emissions from the labeled sites in the body and generate an image of the emission site. A series of novel PET configurations can be constructed from these detector modules, making PET scanners portable, more sensitive and flexible to be used in numerous different operational configurations, such as operating room, emergency rooms, critical care units, or battlefield.
US08050729B2
A device for monitoring a constituent of body fluid continuously or repeatedly over a time period includes a body fluid sampling system and an optical sensor arrangement. The sampling system has a pumping arrangement which pumps body fluid from a cannula to a fluid sink. The optical sensor determines a concentration of at least one constituent of the body fluid. The pumping arrangement preferably ejects drops of body fluid from a fine nozzle. According to certain embodiments, optical sensor arrangements ensure that the optical paths do not pass through surfaces wetted by the fluid to be examined.
US08050714B2
A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. The transmitter is configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.
US08050709B2
A printer comprises a print mechanism and a wireless communication module including a wireless transceiver and a configuration module. The configuration module is adapted to electronically query at least one available wireless device to determine at least one wireless security parameter of the at least one available wireless device and to receive a response from the queried at least one available wireless device, via the wireless transceiver, for configuring the printer for wireless association in a wireless computing network including the at least one available wireless device.
US08050700B2
Communication networks and methods are disclosed for negotiating control over a PTT call between an OMA PoC network and a P25 network. If an OMA PoC PTT server receives a request for the PTT call from a calling party, then the PTT server transmits a call initiation message for the PTT call to the P25 network offering control over the PTT call to a PTT server in the P25 network. The P25 PTT server processes the call initiation message to identify the offer for control, assumes control over the PTT call, and determines whether the calling or called party has the floor for initial transmission for the PTT call. The P25 PTT server then transmits a response message to the OMA PoC PTT server indicating which one of the calling or called party has the floor. The party granted the floor may then initiate voice communications for the PTT call.
US08050699B2
A method, a terminal, and a system for establishing a Push to Talk Over Cellular (PoC) group session in a PoC network based on session initiation information, such as information regarding presence of clients to be invited or session start-up time. According to the method, Universal Resource Indicator (URI) information regarding invitation and Information Reservation Service (IRS) parameters are set up in a PoC eXtensible markup language Document Management Server (XDMS), and a PoC server is requested to provide an IRS so that a session is established.
US08050697B2
A wireless communication method and system using virtual MIMO (“V-MIMO”) are provided. Post processing signal to interference and noise ratios (“SINR”) for a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of mobile terminals arranged as a V-MIMO group are estimated. The one of the plurality of mobile terminals having the highest post processing SINR is selected. Wireless communication for the selected mobile terminal is scheduled. The signal corresponding to the selected mobile terminal is cancelled. Post processing signal to interference and noise ratios (“SINR”) for the signals corresponding to the remaining mobile terminals is re-estimated. The one of the remaining mobile terminals having the highest post processing SINR is selected. Wireless communication for the selected remaining mobile terminal is scheduled.
US08050695B2
Instant messaging clients transmit, to a server, presence information indicating that the respective client is in a communicative state in which the client is receptive to communicating with the other clients. A server determines, for each client, that the respective client is in a communicative state if presence information was received from the client over a preceding predetermined time period, and that the client is in an unknown state if presence information was not received from the client over the preceding predetermined time period. The communicative state and the unknown state are possible presence states of the clients. The server transmits a notification to a second client of the presence state of a first client when both the first client and the second client are in a communicative state. But the server refrains from transmitting the notification to the second client when the first client is in the unknown state.
US08050694B2
A method for extending the use and/or application of messaging systems is disclosed. The method includes embedding non-standard data within a first portion of a header of a message, transmitting the message via the messaging system, and identifying the embedded non-standard data in the first portion of the header of the message and processing the message differently to messages without the non-standard data.
US08050693B2
Communicating data by transforming images or other non-text data into subsets of text characters and communicating each subset in an electronic message that can carry only a limited number of text characters. An embodiment transforms portions of binary data of an image or other non-text data into subsets of hexadecimal data that represents text characters. The subsets of hexadecimal text character data are included in SMS messages that have a predefined maximum number of characters. A header is included in the SMS messages to identify the ordering of the data. The SMS messages are communicated to a receiving device that orders the messages, transforms each subset of hexadecimal text characters back into the binary data, and assembles the binary data into it prior form for rendering to a user of the receiving device. A server may process the SMS messages, such as by inserting additional SMS messages with advertising data.
US08050681B2
A system for controlling connections between a wireless router and unlicensed mobile access capable mobile phones is provided. The system acquires and stores a media access control address and an Internet protocol address of each mobile phone in an address list. The system periodically checks whether each Internet protocol address recorded in an address resolution protocol cache table of the wireless router matches a corresponding media access control address recorded in the cache table. If the Internet protocol address does not match the corresponding media access control address in the cache table, the system further looks up a media access control address corresponding to the Internet protocol address, and sends an address resolution protocol unicast request to a mobile phone having the media access control address.
US08050674B2
A radioterminal may include a transceiver, a hands-free interface, and a satellite/hands-free interlock. The transceiver may be configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications. The satellite/hands-free interlock may be configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications unless the hands-free interface is activated. Related methods are also discussed.
US08050673B2
A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems.
US08050668B2
A RF data communication device operates in at least two states. In a first state, the device transmits a response to an RF transmission if specific data therein represents an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and if specific data therein corresponds to a class maintained by the device. The device does not transmit a response if specific data in the RF transmission is not representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices, or if specific data therein does not correspond to at least one maintained class. In a second state, the device does not transmit a response when specific data is included therein that is representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and specific data therein corresponds to at least one maintained class.
US08050663B2
The present invention relates to a system and a method of providing content for a mobile communication terminal, and a computer readable medium comprising a program for implementing the method. There is provided a method of: providing content for a mobile communication terminal, storing content organized into sub-content files, wherein the sub-content files comprises at least one of an executable file, a DLL file, and a resource file; generating package list data for the multi files; transmitting the package list data to the mobile communication terminal; and transmitting the sub-content files in the package list data to the mobile communication terminal, wherein a download agent program in the mobile communication terminal checks if the transmission completes. By organizing content into a plurality of sub-content files, it is advantageous to transmit the sub-content files efficiently.
US08050655B2
Systems and methods for controlling wireless network access for wireless devices are disclosed. A system can create an electronic record for a device intended for sale in a retail store. The record associated with the device can include an indication that the device has not been sold, and the device can be shipped to the retail store. When the device is purchased, the retail store can communicate to the wireless service provider that the device has been sold, and the system can update the electronic record to reflect that the device has been sold. The sold device can be allowed to access a network. An attempt to use a device marked as unsold can result in the call being routed to a fraud management center for verification of proper device purchase.
US08050647B2
In RF transceivers, a method and a system for a frequency feedback adjustment in digital receivers are provided. A DC offset may result from the difference in frequencies between an RF transmitter and an RF receiver. An adjustment of the receiver's frequency may be implemented after synchronization occurs and may be performed by, for example, utilizing a header portion of a packet communicated via a wireless interface. The adjustment may be performed when the frequency difference exceeds a threshold value. In another aspect, adjusting the frequency of the RF receiver may be performed by modifying and/or changing a phase locked loop (PLL) trimmer register. This approach may allow an RF receiver to operate, in some instances, without the need for an equalizer. In this regard, the power consumed by the RF receiver may be minimized and/or the overall cost of the RF receiver may be reduced.
US08050645B1
A communication system includes a first transmission channel with a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are coupled to first and second transformers. First and second end transceivers transmit and receive signals via the first and second transformers. A first signal is supplied at the first end and comprises a transmission signal component of the first transceiver and a receive signal component from the second transceiver. The communication system comprises a replica transmitter that generates a replica of the transmission signal component of the first transceiver. A filter filters the replica signal. An active resistive summer receives the first signal and the filtered replica signal as inputs to reduce the transmission signal component at an output of the active resistive summer. The active resistive summer includes a feedback element.
US08050642B2
Provided are a variable gain amplifier and a receiver including the same. The variable gain amplifier includes: a gain controller generating a gain control voltage; a variable gain amplifier amplifying an input signal and a feedback signal by using a voltage gain that is linearly proportional to the gain control voltage, and converting the amplified signal into a predetermined magnitude of a signal; and an offset canceller removing an offset from an output signal of the variable gain amplifier and outputting the offset removed result as the feedback signal. The variable gain amplifier includes a plurality of operational transconductance amplifiers.
US08050637B2
An object of the invention is to provide a polar modulation transmitter that can perform adaptive distortion compensation processing without the need for a synchronization adjustment circuit for synchronizing an input baseband signal and an output signal of a power amplifier. An adaptive operation control section 1501 measures the unbalance amount of an output spectrum of a power amplifier 1 and a coefficient adjustment determination section of the adaptive operation control section 1501 performs iteration control so that if the unbalance amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, coefficient information output to a distortion compensation processing circuit 1301 is adjusted and an adjustment is made to distortion compensation processing in the distortion compensation processing circuit 1301 and if the unbalance amount is less than the predetermined threshold value, the coefficient information is maintained, whereby the characteristic change of the power amplifier 1 at the environmental temperature change time can be adaptively compensated for without using a synchronization adjustment circuit for synchronizing an input baseband signal and an output signal from the power amplifier 1.
US08050632B2
A remote monitoring device is integrated as part of a cell phone or personal digital assistant. By sharing computing resources of a communications transceiver, the cost of a monitoring device can be significantly reduced, while still permitting sufficient functionality to effectively observe an area of interest, such as a child's sleeping area. An alert is generated and transmitted to an observer using a separate transceiver when activity at the monitored area (i.e., sound or video activity) meets a specified threshold.
US08050631B2
A remote monitoring device is integrated as part of a cell phone or personal digital assistant. By sharing computing resources of a communications transceiver, the cost of a monitoring device can be significantly reduced, while still permitting sufficient functionality to effectively observe an area of interest, such as a child's sleeping area. An alert is generated and transmitted to an observer using a separate transceiver when activity at the monitored area (i.e., sound or video activity) meets a specified threshold.
US08050625B2
A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.
US08050623B2
A method and apparatus for distributing a media content file wherein a file is received in a node. The received file is then shared with a recognized neighbor node. Once the file is provided by a distributor node to a neighbor node, the distributor node claims an incentive for sharing the file with the neighbor node.
US08050618B2
A multiple antenna system for using a relay station with multiple antennas is provided. The system includes a base station for determining encoded data processing procedure based on first and second channel state information, determining a relaying procedure of the relay station, and sending the relaying procedure to the relay station based on the first and second channel state information; wherein the encoded data is terminating to a mobile station; the relay station for receiving data and the relay procedure which the base station sent, converting and sending the data according to the relaying procedure, and sending the first channel state information to the base station as a measured state of channel which receives the data; and the mobile station for receiving the data which the relay station sent, and sending the second channel state information to the relay station as a measured state of channel which receives the data.
US08050611B2
Plural main cores and plural sub-cores are arranged spaced apart from each other along a direction orthogonal to a rotating direction of a heat belt. The plural main cores are opposed to a first area where a sheet having first width in the heat belt passes. The plural sub-cores are opposed to second areas that are areas excluding the first area in an area where the sheet having second width larger than the first width in the heat belt passes. The plural sub-cores have thickness in the direction orthogonal to the rotating direction of the heat belt smaller than the thickness of the plural main cores.
US08050601B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a roll member that includes one or more piezoelectric tape and methods for making and using the roll member. The piezoelectric tape can be flexible and include a plurality of piezoelectric elements configured in a manner that the piezoelectric elements can be addressed individually or as groups with various numbers of elements in each group. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosed roll member can be used as a donor roll for a development system of an electrophotographic printing machine to create controlled and desired toner powder cloud for high quality image development, such as an image on image development in a hybrid scavengeless development (HSD) system.
US08050596B2
A developer cartridge of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame having a developer chamber holding a developer therein, and a developer discharging port, a developer conveying unit rotatably installed on the cartridge frame to agitate and move the developer towards the developer discharging port, and an elastic damper to change the size of a developer discharge space defined by the vicinity to the developer discharging port according to a developer delivery pressure of the developer conveying unit. The damper contracts to increase a size of the developer discharge space and reduce the developer delivery pressure, when the developer delivery pressure increases above a normal pressure in the developer chamber.
US08050591B2
A powder developer holding apparatus prevents developer leakage. A housing holds powder developer, and includes a discharging opening through which the powder developer is discharged. A shutter is mounted to the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing to an opening position where the discharging opening is opened or to a closing position where the discharging opening is closed. A locking member is slidably mounted to the shutter. When the powder developer holding apparatus is oriented such that the discharging opening faces upward in a gravitational direction, the locking member prevents the shutter from rotating relative to the chamber.
US08050587B2
There is described an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming operation in a N-up printing mode based on a print job. The apparatus includes an image forming section; an operating section to designate the N-up printing mode, and to set an arranging method in the N-up printing mode; and a controlling section to apply image processing to the image data of the plural pages, so that the plural images are arranged onto the single paper sheet according to the arranging method set by the operating section. When implementing the image forming operation in the N-up printing mode, the controlling section groups the plural pages into plural groups, each of which includes specific pages fulfilling a same condition in respect to the image forming operation, and then, aligns the specific pages on a same line among plural lines extended along a conveying direction of the paper sheet.
US08050576B2
A management system includes: an image forming apparatus including a toner storage unit storing toner used in a developing unit, and a toner-transporting unit transporting the toner from the toner storage unit to the developing unit; and a management device connected to the apparatus through a communication unit, and managing a toner-remaining amount in the toner storage unit. The management device includes: an acquiring unit acquiring, from the apparatus, information on toner transportation time and characteristic quantities concerning variation in toner consumption in the developing unit and representing environment in the apparatus; a predicting unit calculating a predicted value of the toner-remaining amount with the acquired information on toner transportation time; a memory storing correspondence between the predicted value and a measured value of the toner-remaining amount; and a correcting unit correcting the correspondence according to the characteristic quantities, and correcting the predicted value with the corrected correspondence.
US08050573B2
The present invention allows a configuration with elements inside the LSI, the elimination of manpower by using automatic adjustment, a reduction in the manufacturing cost, and control of the duty ratio in a wide temperature range and a wide dynamic range and includes: a TIA that converts an optical burst signal from a current signal to a voltage signal and that outputs the voltage signal as a differential signal; a peak detection/adder circuit that detects a peaking preamble signal of the differential signal, sets the peaking level to a normal phase and a reversed phase, and adjusts an offset signal; an ATCBUFFER that controls the duty ratio of the output signal by a threshold voltage; a duty detection circuit that detects the duty ratio from a burst signal; a threshold voltage adjustment circuit that adjusts the duty ratio by a new threshold voltage in accordance with the size of the voltage signal corresponding to the duty ratio; and a reset control circuit that can detect a burst signal of the duty detection circuit by a reset signal that confirms the arrival of the burst signal.
US08050572B2
An abnormal pulse detection circuit in a receiver of the present invention includes: an incoming pulse edge detection circuit which detects the moment of rise of an input signal and outputs the result of the detection as an edge detection signal; a muting reference pulse generation circuit which generates a muting reference pulse based on the edge detection signal; a logic circuit which outputs a signal indicating a negative AND of the muting reference pulse and the input signal; a muting signal generation circuit which generates a muting signal from the output signal of the logic circuit; and a switching circuit which outputs the input signal or the muting signal. The receiver of the present invention can therefore reduce discomfort in hearing reproduced sound in case where a noise occurs in an audio signal due to a variation in pulse width.
US08050568B2
A free-space network may include: a plurality of geographically distributed free-space sensors for sensing at least one target; a networking apparatus for combining sensed information regarding at least one target from the geographically distributed free-space sensors; a target information device for communicating to at least one user combined sensed information regarding at least one target, from the geographically distributed free-space sensors, as provided by the networking apparatus; and at least one communication link connecting in free-space the geographically distributed sensors, the networking apparatus, and the target information device.
US08050567B2
System and methods are provided, in an Optical Transport Network (OTN), for communicating asynchronous Tributary Slots (TSs) via a synchronous Optical Payload Transport Unit of level k (OTUk) interface. The transmission method accepts a plurality of TSs at a corresponding plurality of asynchronous data rates. The TSs are mapped, using a tangible memory medium, into pseudo-Optical channel Data Tributary Unit (ODTU) frames synchronized to a common clock. Then, the synchronized pseudo-ODTU frames can be interleaved into an OTUk frame, without the need of a phase-locked loop (PLL) or buffering.
US08050562B2
Provided is an apparatus for implementing an electro-optical cable distribution network in which a coaxial cable is replaced with an optical cable in order to provide a service integrating broadcast data and communication data by solving a frequency constraint problem in a cable television (CATV) network employing a conventional hybrid-fiber coaxial (HFC) network architecture. The apparatus includes an optical network unit (ONU) which converts a downstream signal received from a system operator (SO) into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to an optical cable; and an optical cable modem which receives the optical downstream signal from the ONU and converts the received signal into an electrical signal. In addition, the ONU and the optical cable modem control signal quality of an optical path.
US08050552B2
An ergonomic photographic device includes a camera and a shell. The shell has a front portion and a back portion, with the camera being disposed in the front portion. The back portion has a leaning portion which is capable of accommodating leaning of the palm of a user. When the arm and wrist of the user are kept at a neutral angle, the camera is kept at a horizontal angle.
US08050548B2
In a mode in which a lens barrel need not be extended, if it is determined that a vibration is larger than a reference value, the lens barrel is driven so as to be retracted to a predetermined position.
US08050546B2
A capacitor, a coil, a flash lamp, and a switching element such as an IGBT are connected in series. A controller outputs a pulse signal to the gate of the switching element. A waveform setter sets the waveform of the pulse signal, based on the contents of input from an input unit. With electrical charge accumulated in the capacitor, a pulse signal is output to the gate of the switching element so that the flash lamp emits light intermittently. A change in the waveform of the pulse signal applied to the switching element will change the waveform of current flowing through the flash lamp and, accordingly, the form of light emission, thereby resulting in a change in the temperature profile for a semiconductor wafer.
US08050545B2
A personal, portable scent delivery device including a portable housing which is either a housing adapted to be worn by a user in close proximity to a nose of a user, or is a portable electronic device which is used by the user in close proximity to the nose of the user; and a means for selectively generating scent housed in said housing, wherein said scent travels by diffusion to the nose of the user.
US08050542B2
An apparatus and method for reproducing multimedia contents regardless of the type and version of a codec, an apparatus and method for generating multimedia contents, and a storage medium storing multimedia contents are provided. The multimedia reproducing apparatus includes: a reading unit which reads multimedia data including multimedia contents coupled with a codec for decoding the multimedia contents, from a storage medium; and a reproducing unit which reproduces multimedia contents by using the codec extracted from the read multimedia data. Regardless of codec upgrade or introduction of a new codec with a new method, various types of multimedia contents can be smoothly reproduced.
US08050539B2
Information that identifies key frames in video data within multimedia data is generated as reproduction controlling data and the reproduction controlling data is positioned at a predetermined position in the multimedia data. Upon special reproduction, the reproduction controlling data can be used to easily identify, read out, and reproduce key frames that should be used for random access and the like. By positioning the reproduction controlling data in an area within the multimedia data that is ignored by conventional apparatuses, file compatibility can be also maintained. This attains increased efficiency of special reproduction processing of multimedia that has ISO Base file format or a similar format.
US08050538B2
The recording medium includes a data structure with at least one playlist file stored in a playlist area of the recording medium. The playlist file includes at least one playitem, at least one sub-playitem and mark information. The playitem provides navigation information for reproducing at least one still picture from a first file. The sub-playitem is associated with the playitem and provides navigation information for reproducing audio data from a second file. The mark information includes at least one mark pointing to the still picture.
US08050536B2
The CGMS unacceptable recorder accepts transmission frames only when the copyright protection information in a transmission header transmitted to the IEEE1394 serial bus indicates copy free. The CGMS acceptable recorder accepts transmission frames when the copyright protection information in the transmission header indicates copy free. When the copyright protection information in the transmission header indicates compliance with the copyright information contained in the content of the transmission frame, the copyright information in the content is fetched based on the signal format type information of the transmission header. As described herein above, a copy management information changeable apparatus such as a computer cannot accept data other than copy free signals from the digital interface.
US08050529B2
There is provided fiber optic local convergence points that provide preconnectorized functionality to eliminate all or most of the splicing associated with local convergence points in fiber optic distribution networks. The local convergence points provide a plurality of preconnectorized multi-fiber ports adapted to receive a preconnectorized end of a distribution cable within the enclosure of the local convergence point, on the enclosure itself, or outside the enclosure. For example, the local convergence point may provide preconnectorized multi-fiber ports outside the enclosure with an accumulator optically connected to the interior of the local convergence with an accumulator cable, wherein the accumulator comprises the plurality of preconnectorized multi-fiber ports.
US08050520B2
A method for creating a pixel image in a two-dimensional display coordinate system from sampled data derived from a collector of a scanned beam imager adapted to transmit a beam of radiation which traces a trajectory in a two-dimensional acquisition coordinate system. The trajectory contains datum locations in the acquisition coordinate system associated with the sampled data. The method includes receiving the sampled data. The method also includes adjusting a mathematical model of the trajectory based on a function of at least one of rotation, translation, and desired scaling of the model of the trajectory. The method also includes constructing the pixel image in the display coordinate system from the adjusted model of the trajectory.
US08050506B2
An image enhancement device is obtained which is capable of extracting, as regions of interest, still objects or objects with smaller motion vectors, or regions located out of the central area of an image. An image processing module (22) applies memorized-color correction to image data, and then stores, in an SDRAM (7) through a memory interface (26), information about the positions of the memorized-color-corrected pixels and information about the application levels (correction levels) applied to the memorized-color-corrected pixels. A mask signal generating module (23) refers to the positional information stored in the SDRAM (7) to extract the memorized-color-corrected regions of the image data as regions of interest. Also, the mask signal generating module (23) refers to the information about the correction levels stored in the SDRAM (7) to set priorities of the regions of interest in such a way that higher priorities are assigned to regions of interest that are memorized-color-corrected at higher levels (i.e., with larger amounts of correction).
US08050503B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for computer vision including a plurality of images, a signature processor adapted to generate a signature based at least in part on a curvelet transform, and a matching processor adapted to receive a query image. The matching processor is adapted to determine a query signature for the query image using the signature processor. The matching processor is adapted to determine at least one matching image from the plurality of images based at least in part on the query signature.
US08050500B1
Techniques for recognizing discrete multi-component symbolic input from a user can be applied to, for example, handwriting or speech. The techniques can include providing a database of model input sequences, where each model input sequence corresponds to a symbol to be recognized. Input functions, for example, discrete strokes, are obtained from a user and segmented into a sequence of discrete components. Hypothesis symbol sequences are obtained by comparing the discrete components to a database of symbols to be recognized and updating hypothesis symbol sequences based on the results of the comparison and hypothesis symbol sequence history from input previously acquired in time.
US08050496B2
A method for mapping/enhancing the color of an image to be displayed on a display includes receiving an image having a plurality of pixels where each of the pixels has a plurality of color components. The image is processed using a pair of gamut color mapping operations in combination with skin-tone pixels detection to modify the image in a suitable manner for presentation on the display, wherein the technique includes color temperature compensation.
US08050490B2
A method of inspecting for overlay shift defects during semiconductor manufacturing is disclosed. The method can include the steps of providing a charged particle microscopic image of a sample, identifying an inspection pattern period in the charged particle microscopic image, averaging the charged particle microscopic image by using the inspection pattern period to form an averaged inspection pattern period, estimating an average width from the averaged inspection pattern period, and comparing the average width with a predefined threshold value to determine the presence of an overlay shift defect.
US08050487B2
Cabinet doors are compared to color samples as a quality control check on the colors of the manufacture doors. The color samples are obtained by selecting doors which have acceptable color, and capturing those images into a computer readable format. These captured images may then be printed, stored, transmitted, etc.
US08050486B2
A feature of a workpiece can be identified. Two-dimensional data of at least a region of a workpiece and three-dimensional data of a portion of the region of the workpiece are acquired, such as by illuminating at least the region with at least a first light source disposed at a first angle of incidence relative to a plane of the region and illuminating the portion with a second light source, such as at least one laser, disposed at a second angle of incidence greater than the first angle of incidence. An estimated location of an attribute of a feature of the workpiece is determined from the three-dimensional data, and the feature is identified by analyzing the two-dimensional data in an area surrounding the estimated location of the attribute. Attributes of features can include without limitation a point along a line of an edge.
US08050485B2
A system is provided for automatically processing gaming documents. The system obtains the dollar value of the document directly by optically identifying each dollar value characters from a scanned image of the document, instead of forwarding the bar-coded validation number to a remote database to ascertain the dollar value. This is achieved by storing a plurality of templates, each representative of a possible character of the dollar value. Optical character recognition is used to identify each dollar value character image by comparing each of the stored templates in turn with the image. The template with the highest degree of coincidence is selected. The value of the selected template is stored in ASCII format for display, validation and/or manipulation. Each document image is compressed. Periodically, the compressed document images of the documents processed during that period are transferred to a remote location for long term storage.
US08050482B2
A method for online optimization of guidewire visibility in fluoroscopic images includes providing an digitized image acquired from a fluoroscopic imaging system, the image comprising an array of intensities corresponding to a 2-dimensional grid of pixels, detecting a guidewire in the fluoroscopic image, enhancing the visibility of the guidewire in the fluoroscopic image, calculating a visibility measure of the guidewire in the fluoroscopic image, and readjusting acquisition parameters of the fluoroscopic imaging system wherein the guidewire visibility is improved.
US08050479B2
A method of generating a computed tomography image is disclosed herein. The method includes acquiring a first plurality of projections at a first energy level and acquiring a second plurality of projections at a second energy level. The method includes reconstructing an image from the first plurality of projections and generating a synthesized projection from the image that corresponds to one of the second plurality of projections. The method includes comparing the synthesized projection to the one of the second plurality of projections and modifying the image to form an updated image based on the comparing the synthesized projection to the one of the second plurality of projections. A computed tomography imaging system is also disclosed.
US08050478B2
A method and apparatus for tissue border detection using ultrasonic diagnostic images includes searching an initial central point of a target region in an ultrasonic diagnostic image of a detected target and determining an initial region border based on the initial central point and with the initial central point being a pole, searching a position of a target region border along a polar line across the pole and from an initial region border, and calculating an energy function of intensity distribution at different positions, wherein a position corresponding to a minimum value of the energy function of the intensity distribution is the border position of the target region.
US08050468B2
An acquisition system for obtaining images of a fingerprint from a finger, or marks of another kind of target. The system may have two or more cameras positioned at different directions towards the target. Each camera may have a light source for illuminating the target from a direction different than that of the respective camera. The cameras may take sequences of images of the target at different focuses as the whole target might not be in focus in one image due to a depth of focus being less than the depth of the target. Portions of the images showing the target in focus may be cut from the images and stitched together to result in an image revealing virtually the whole target in focus. This target may be a fingerprint to be rolled out on or in a two dimensional medium for analysis, identification, storage, and so on.
US08050439B2
This hearing aid system comprises a first hearing aid (1) and the second hearing aid (2) mounted on the right ear. These each have a microphone (101) for inputting ambient sound, a hearing aid processor (102) for subjecting sound inputted from the microphone (101) to hearing aid processing, a speaker (103) for outputting sound that has undergone the hearing aid processing, a communication component (107) for performing wireless communication, and a battery (104) for supplying electrical power to the microphone (101), the hearing aid processor (102), the communication component (107), and the speaker (103). The first hearing aid (1) and the second hearing aid (2) have a battery charge detector (105) for detecting the remaining charge of the battery. A power consumption controller (106) is provided for reducing the power consumption for whichever of the first hearing aid (1) and the second hearing aid (2) that has the lowest remaining battery charge when it has been detected that the difference in the remaining battery charges of the first hearing aid (1) and the second hearing aid (2) detected by the battery charge detector (105) is greater than a specific value.
US08050432B2
To conclude, in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, the sound system comprises two loudspeakers (LA, LB) which mask their spectral signatures at the ear (C1) of the listener by positioning the two loudspeakers (LA, LB) such that their maxima of the polar radiation patterns have directions which at least differ 30 degrees, and which generate coherent sound in the direction of the listener. These two aspects together cause different gradients of the sound of the two loudspeakers (LA, LB) at the same ear (C1) of the listener, while the information which reaches the ear (C1) from the spatially shifted different loudspeakers (LA, LB) is still coherent and not blurred by diffusion. The loudspeakers LA, LB should be spaced apart to obtain sufficient different gradients of their sound at the same ear.
US08050431B2
An apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal device, a medium, and a sound wave generator. The sound wave generator includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure includes one or more carbon nanotube films. Each carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes entangled with each other. The electromagnetic signal device transmits an electromagnetic signal to the carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure converts the electromagnetic signal into heat. The heat transfers to the medium and causes a thermoacoustic effect.
US08050427B2
There are provided k operators to be used for performing parameter setting. A channel strip screen displays a plurality of parameters for each of selected k channels. In response to selection operation to select a desired one of the parameters displayed on the channel strip screen, a parameter window related to the selected parameter is opened on a display. The parameter window displays, for each of selected k channels, a parameter of a same type as the selected parameter. Each of the parameters displayed for the selected k channels is assignable to any one of the k operators. When selection operation to select any desired one of first-type parameters has been performed, the parameter window is opened immediately, but, when selection operation to select any desired one of second-type parameters while the desired second-type parameter is in a non-selected state, the selected desired second-type parameter is set to a selected state without the parameter window being opened and then the parameter window is opened in response to further selection operation of said desired second-type parameter having been set to the selected state. When the second-type parameters are set in the selected state with the parameter window not opened, each of the second-type operators in the selected state, displayed on the channel strip screen, is assigned to any one of the k operators.
US08050423B2
An n-channel integrated circuit device (n is an integer of 1 or greater) for muting an audio signal includes a control circuit configured to generate a control signal and a delayed control signal, a charging and discharging circuit configured to charge and discharge a time constant control terminal according to the control signal and the delayed control signal, an N-th voltage-to-current converting circuit (N is an integer from 1 to n) configured to generate a (2N−1)-th current corresponding to a voltage on the time constant control terminal and a (2N)-th current corresponding to an intermediate voltage, a (2N−1)-th mirror circuit configured to copy the (2N−1)-th current to generate (4N−3)-th and (4N−2)-th intermediate currents, a (2N)-th mirror circuit configured to copy the (2N)-th current to generate (4N−1)-th and (4N)-th intermediate currents, a (2N−1)-th selecting and combining circuit configured to combine a (2N−1)-th mute control current using the (4N−3)-th intermediate current and the (4N−1)-th intermediate current, and a (2N)-th selecting and combining circuit configured to combine a (2N)-th mute control current using the (4N−2)-th intermediate current and the (4N)-th intermediate current.
US08050418B2
A system and method for updating the software of a digital audio amplifier. The digital data used to update the amplifier's software is transmitted as an analog signal over analog audio channels to the amplifier. The amplifier is adapted to recognize when an audio signal should be used to update the amplifier's software, instead of merely driving the speakers with the audio signal. Upon receiving such an audio signal, the amplifier decodes the analog signal into digital instructions. The digital instructions are processed to reconfigure the amplifier's operation.
US08050416B2
A sound channel detection circuit includes a amplifier circuit and a LED. The amplifier circuit has an input connected to a connector for receiving an AC voltage signal and an output. The LED has an anode connected to the output of the amplifier circuit and a cathode connected to ground, when a sound channel circuit to be tested works normally, the AC voltage is amplified by the amplifier circuit and drives the LED to flash, when the sound channel circuit to be tested is not working, the LED doesn't emit light. The sound channel detection circuit with the amplifier circuit and the LED can improve the accuracy and efficiency of detection in a situation of a batch production in a noisy environment.
US08050408B2
The election of a key server is provided. The key server is a single device that broadcasts an encryption key to other devices in a network segment. Also, automatic reelection of a new key server is provided when a current key server becomes unavailable. Key receivers may separately detect that a new key server is needed and separately determine from state information which key receiver should be elected the new key server. The state information may have been received in previously sent messages. Thus, further messaging is not needed to elect a new key server.
US08050407B2
A method of protecting a media key including obtaining the media key, obtaining an auxiliary key, calculating a split key using the media key and the auxiliary key, encrypting the split key using a wrap key to generate an encrypted split key, assembling the encrypted split key and a communication key to obtain a data bundle, and sending the data bundle to a token, where the media key is extracted from the data bundle on the token to protect data on a storage device.
US08050395B2
An analog telephone adapter (ATA) comprises a dial tone generator, control logic and a packet generator. The dial tone generator generates a dial tone when the ATA is in an unregistered state. The control logic processes a dial-out request when the ATA is in the unregistered state. The control logic directs the packet generator to generate an invite packet for an emergency proxy to handle the dial-out request on behalf of the ATA when the ATA is in the unregistered state.
US08050393B2
The likelihood that a called party to a telephone call has forwarded the call to another party, or has conferenced the call to include another party is estimated by requiring that the called party supply a first signal, illustratively a first DTMF signal, later requiring that the called party provide a second signal, illustratively the same DTMF signal provided by the first signal, and comparing characteristics of said first and second signals as received at a telephone network node.
US08050387B1
A telephone answering system (100) and method (200) that permits a user to immediately generate a customized playback message in response to an incoming call without having to actually answer the call. The system (100) can include a ring detector (104), a command interface (114), a controller (110) and a telephone network interface (102). In response to an incoming call, the ring detector (104) alerts the called party and causes the controller (110) to activate the command interface (114). The command interface (114) is activated for a predetermined time while the call is still ringing. While activated, the called party can select or enter a playback message. The playback message can be a pre-recorded audio message stored within the device, or a voice message spoken by the called party during the activation period. After the playback message is selected by the called party, the telephone system (100) answers the incoming call and automatically plays the customized message to the calling party.
US08050386B2
Automatic Location Indication (ALI) data is digitally transferred from a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to a first responder via a web site accessed by the first responder. The web site lists each live E911 call within their jurisdiction, and appends the caller's ALI and/or other location data relative to each call. Preferably the first responders (e.g., police car, paramedic, ambulance, fire truck, etc.) can view not only the emergency caller's information for those E911 calls that they are responding to, but also information about other emergency callers that other first responders are responding to. This facilitates the actual response to individual emergency calls as well as the overall management of multiple responders to multiple emergency calls.
US08050374B2
A semiconductor memory device is capable of controlling a tAC with a timing margin in an output data process. The semiconductor memory device includes a delay locked loop circuit, a tAC control unit, a reference signal generating unit, and a data output block. The delay locked loop circuit produces delay locked clock signals through a delay locking operation. The tAC control unit adjusts a delay value of the delay locked clock signals in order to control a tAC timing, thereby generating output reference signals. The reference signal generating unit produces a latch reference signal in response to the delay locked clock signals. The data output block latches data in response to the latch reference signal and for outputting the latched data in response to the output reference signals.
US08050370B2
A digital signal receiving apparatus includes a detection-judging portion having a first smoothing filter generating a first smoothed signal by smoothing an auto-correlation signal and judging a possible presence of a desired signal when a signal level of the first smoothed signal is greater than a reference level and an absence of the desired signal when being smaller than the reference level. The smoothing filter includes a limiting portion limiting a fluctuation width of the first smoothed signal; and an adjusting portion configured to adjust the fluctuation width of the first smoothed signal limited by the limiting portion to be reduced while an elapsing time after the detection-judging means judges the possible presence of the desired signal is increasing.
US08050368B2
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of nonlinear adaptive phase domain equalization for multilevel phase coded demodulators. The invention improves the immunity of phase-modulated signals (PSK) to intersymbol interference (ISI) such as caused by transmitter or receiver impairments, frequency selective channel response filtering, timing offset or carrier frequency offset. The invention uses phase domain signals (r, θ) rather than the classical Cartesian quadrature components (I, Q) and employs a nonlinear adaptive equalizer on the phase domain signal. This results in significantly improved ISI performance which simplifies the design of a digital receiver.
US08050360B2
Disclosed herein are exemplary techniques for power conservation in a wireless network. A wireless device identifies another wireless device suitable to act as a relay node. Uplink information is transmitted to the other wireless device, which is in turn relayed to an access point for transmission to its destination. Downlink information may be transmitted directly from the access point to the wireless device. The use of a relay node may reduce transmit power consumption as the relay node may be closer to, or support a higher transmit rate, than the access point with which the wireless device is associated.
US08050358B2
The present invention relates to a transmit diversity method of a mobile communication system and a base station transmitting apparatus using the same. A first code and a second code that is diversity-encoded from the first code are generated, and transmit symbols are spread with the first code and the second code. A first transmit symbol spread with the first code and a second transmit symbol spread with the second code are mapped to symbols in frequency and time domains in a frame and transmitted through antennas. Therefore, various diversity techniques can be provided to the mobile communication system, and the diversity technique is not restricted to symbols transmitted to the same mobile station and can also be applied to a 1-bit channel.
US08050355B2
A transmitter using pseudo-orthogonal code includes a serial-to-parallel converter for converting serial transmission data into 9-bit parallel data, and a pseudo-orthogonal code memory for receiving the parallel data from the serial-to-parallel converter and outputting 16-bit pseudo-orthogonal code by using the received data as addresses. The pseudo-orthogonal code memory has the relationship of the input address and output code, as expressed in the following equation: c(i)=0.5×((−1)b2⊕(i1b1)⊕(i0b0) (−1)b5⊕i2⊕(i1b4)⊕(i0b3) (−1)b8⊕i3⊕(i1b7)⊕(i0b6) (−1)( b2⊕b5⊕b8)⊕i3⊕i2⊕(i1(b1⊕b4⊕b7))⊕(i0(b0⊕b3⊕b6))) where C(i) is a pseudo-orthogonal code value, i is each bit of the pseudo-orthogonal code, 0≦i≦15, and b0-b8 are a transmission data bit stream input in the memory as addresses. Accordingly, the transmission efficiency of the transmitter/receiver using orthogonal code can be remarkably improved.
US08050353B2
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08050339B2
A signal generator and signal processor for single carrier wireless communication systems with frequency domain equalizer operable to use pseudorandom-noise sequences for cyclic prefix, the pseudorandom-noise sequences for coarse timing synchronization, channel estimation, carrier synchronization, signal-noise-ration estimation and channel equalization.
US08050338B2
Digital data Symbols from a transceiver are transmitted to at least two remote transceivers in a wireless Communications System employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, wherein a number of available sub-carriers are shared between said remote transceivers. Information about magnitudes of Doppler effect experienced by the remote transceivers is provided; sub-carriers are allocated to each remote transceiver in dependence of the information about magnitudes of Doppler effect; and a power level transmitted to each of said remote transceivers is controlled in dependence of the Information about magnitudes of Doppler effect. In this way the reception of OFDM Signals for transceivers moving at high speed and thus experiencing a high Doppler effect is improved without degrading the reception quality for transceivers with low or no Doppler effect. Thus the Performance of a System based on OFDM and multiple access is improved.
US08050336B2
A frequency-domain-equalization apparatus for a receiver in single-carrier communication comprising: a selection means (103) for selecting a time-sequence-signal portion from a received signal that is longer than one block; a Fourier-transformation means (104) for performing Fourier transformation of the time-sequence-signal portion that is longer than one block and converting the signal to a frequency-domain signal; a channel-compensation means (105 to 106) for estimating the channels in the frequency domain and performing channel compensation, and a selection means (107, 108; 151) for performing inverse-Fourier transformation of the channel-compensated signal and selecting a one-block time-sequence-signal portion from the inverse Fourier-transformation results.
US08050328B2
An image decoding method includes a first storage step of sequentially decoding pictures in a stream, storing a picture to be used as a reference into a picture memory, and managing the picture. Further, the image decoding method includes a determination step of determining whether or not random access reproduction has been designated, a state change step of changing a management state for managing a picture in the picture memory, when the random access reproduction has been designated, and a second storage step of sequentially decoding each of the coded pictures from a random access reproduction destination, storing, into the picture memory, a picture to be used as a reference, and managing the picture. This image decoding method enables the decoding of pictures with reference to an appropriate picture even when random access reproduction is performed.
US08050320B2
A method and apparatus for video rate control for a video encoding system for encoding a video signal includes determining 12 a variance of pixel values over a time t of the video signal and calculating 13 a quantization parameter for the time t using the pixel variance and a number of output bits for the time t and a quantization parameter, pixel variance and a number of output bits used for an immediately previous time t−1.
US08050314B2
A wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of antenna branches for transmitting and receiving a wireless communication signal, a calibration coefficient calculator for calculating a calibration coefficient for each frequency band, the calibration coefficient correcting an imbalance in phase and amplitude existing between the antenna branches, a coefficient storage memory for storing the calibration coefficient of each frequency band, a calibration coefficient reader for reading the calibration coefficient of a frequency band of one of a transmission signal and a reception signal as a target to be calibrated, a calibration coefficient interpolator for interpolating a calibration coefficient of the frequency band if the coefficient storage memory stores no corresponding calibration coefficient of the frequency band, and a calibration coefficient multiplier for multiplying one of the transmission signal and the reception signal by one of the read calibration coefficient and the interpolated calibration coefficient.
US08050301B2
Systems and methods for stabilizing laser frequency based on an isoclinic point of an atomic or molecular medium are provided herein. A system may include: a transmission cell containing a gas and configured to transmit light from the laser, the gas having an absorption spectrum with an isoclinic point; a photodiode generating an output based on an amplitude of transmitted laser light; and circuitry configured to tune the frequency of the laser to the isoclinic point of the absorption spectrum based on the output. The absorption spectrum may have first and second overlapping peaks respectively corresponding to first and second transitions of the gas, the isoclinic point being a saddle point between the first and second peaks. The first and second peaks may have substantially equal amplitude as one another and/or may broaden substantially equally as each other as a function of a physical parameter of the gas.
US08050296B2
A distributed radio base station includes a first radio equipment controller (REC) node, a second radio equipment controller (REC) node, and a radio equipment (RE) node for transceiving information over a radio interface with one or more radio terminals. The first REC node and the second REC node are physically separate from the RE node. The first REC node and/or the second REC node are/is connected to the RE node by a transmission link. Synchronization reference information is provided to one of the REC and RE nodes. The synchronization reference information in the one node is compared with timing information received from another of the REC nodes to generate a timing difference. The timing difference is used to adjust a timing unit at the another node in order to achieve timing synchronization between the RE node, the first REC node, and the second REC node.
US08050295B2
A transmission circuit and method for transmitting a bit sequence to be transmitted is provided that includes a dividing device for dividing the bit sequence into an even-numbered bit sequence and into an odd-numbered bit sequence, a first device for forming the first sampled values of a first fundamental wave depending on the even-numbered bit sequence, a second device for forming second sampled values of a second fundamental wave depending on the odd-numbered bit sequence, the second fundamental wave being shifted relative to the first fundamental wave by a time period, and includes a summator for summation of the first sampled values of the first fundamental wave and the second sampled values of the second fundamental wave to form an output value sequence.
US08050290B2
A wireless peripheral interconnect bus that enables the transferring of data at a high rate over wireless medium. The bus further enables the wireless connection of peripheral components to a computing device, thereby providing a distributed computing device. The bus implements a layered protocol to provide a reliable link over the wireless medium. The wireless peripheral interconnect bus may be implemented as at least one of a peripheral component interconnect PCI Express™ (PCIe) bus, a PCIe second generation, or a PCIe third generation.
US08050289B1
A method and/or system of transmitting media items using aggregating bandwidths of disparate communication channels between a media source and a media player. By using the combined bandwidth of more than one communication channel, a media item that requires a bandwidth larger than a single communication channel can be transmitted. The media source also converts the media item depending on the available bandwidth of the communication channels. By dynamically changing the formats of the media item, more robust and reliable communication between the media source and the media player can be achieved.
US08050288B2
A method and apparatus for interference suppression in wireless communication systems, especially Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) systems. The array apparatus includes a two-tier adaptive array system which provides for both spatial diversity and beamforming at the uplink. The adaptive array is comprised of sub-arrays spaced at a distance sufficient to provide spatial diversity, ideally 5 to 15 wavelengths at the frequency of operation. Each sub-array is composed of at least two antenna elements spaced in proximity sufficient to provide effective beamforming or scanning, ideally less then one-half of one wavelength at the frequency of operation. The Direction of Arrival (DOA) of signals impinging upon the array can be calculated by comparing signals from sub-array elements. Each sub-array can then be filtered or beamformed so as to provide high gain to desired signals received from the DOA (which may be a multipath signal) while at the same time damping out undesired signals such as co-channel interference (CCI) in the frequency band of operation. The DOA is also used in a method of allocating frequency bins for data signals, such as in an OFDMA system, to provide weighted guidelines for bin allocation to maximize received signal power.
US08050281B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. Merely by way of example, urgent public information, such as an alert message, may be received by, inter alia, an alert gateway device. The alert message may then be distributed to a subscriber in any of a variety of ways, including by telephone, by data message (e.g., to a computer), by video message (e.g., via a television), by display on an alert notification device. In some embodiments, the alert gateway device may process the alert message and/or may determine how to provide the alert message to the subscriber.
US08050280B2
An efficient switching device and a method for fabricating the same using multiple shared memories are provided. The switching device includes: an output time determination unit to determine an output time to an output port; an output time administration unit to administer a possible data output time for each output port; a memory bank selection unit to select a memory bank with an empty data output time position; a memory bank utilization information administration unit to administer utilization information per output time; a connection unit to deliver transmission data to an output time position; a shared memory unit to store the data in the output time position, to administer dispersed shared memory banks according to an output time, and to read and output transmission data; and an output port connection unit receiving output data to read and transmit output port information of the data to a corresponding output port.
US08050274B2
The invention relates to telecommunications systems, in which a subscriber is identified in a network with a first identifier and with a second identifier in a server providing services to the subscriber through the network. In the invention the first identifier is changed (3-3) in a message to be transferred to the server to a second identifier before transferring the message to the server. Thus the message received from the network can be associated with a particular subscriber in the server.
US08050273B2
A method to provide lawful interception of a device in a network, the network comprising defining Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN), wherein a lawful interception device of the network defines a Virtual Local Area Network where at least the device to intercept and the lawful interception device are members.
US08050262B2
A system for parsing frames including a first cell extraction circuit (CEC) configured to identify a first cell from a first frame, a first parser engine operatively connected to the first CEC, where the first parser engine is configured to generate a result based on the first cell, and a first forwarding circuit operatively connected to the first parser engine and configured to forward the result, where the first CEC, the first parser engine, and the first forwarding circuit are associated with a first frame parser unit.
